Home renovation could bring a new life and add value to your home. We understand that many homeowners want to limit their overall expense by doing some of the work and save on labour and installation costs.
However, done wrong, a renovation can quickly turn into a money pit and you will end up spending more than your initial budget correcting mistakes. One area that some homeowners fail to consider in planning is their home’s plumbing.
In this article, we’ll review some of the plumbing mistakes homeowners make when doing DIY renovations and how you can avoid making these mistakes.
1. Lack of proper planning
Proper planning requires having everything, from toilet size to measurements and sizes of pipes and size and number of tiles figured out. Otherwise, you could end up ordering too much material or have the project delayed because you didn’t order enough.
Renovating requires precise measurements. Measure everything precisely, multiple times. Being off by a few centimetres could result in a sloppy outcome or a redo which could easily inflate your budget.
If you are not confident with the project or have little to no project management experience it is better to bring in a professional and do it right from the start. This will give you a better idea of the work ahead and help you decide how much and what kind of work you can handle yourself. At World of Plumbing and Gas we offer complete Project renovations, we can take care of your reno from the start, ensuring that each tradesperson whether it be the plumbing, tiling or electrical are all scheduled accordingly so no delays and everyone is across all jobs and their individual timeline.
2. Overestimating your DIY skills.
TV shows and YouTube videos make it look easy. But if you have never done a home renovation before, don’t make your house a practice project.
We are not saying you should not renovate your home yourself, but it is a good idea to talk to a professional first. A contractor can help you identify which tasks you allowed to do and which tasks should be handled by experts. As a general rule, you should leave plumbing and electrical installation to the experts. These tasks require experience, the right tools and most importantly, a license to handle them correctly and legally.
If you want to handle some of the work to cut costs, your contractor might be able to help you identify tasks that you can do yourself and provide tips that could help save costs or payment options that will help you manage your cash flow better. For example, at World of Plumbing and Gas, we allow various payment methods and payment plans including Visa, Mastercard and Payright.
Click here to know more about our Payright Payment Method
3. Failure to consider building and plumbing regulations
In Australia, regulations are clear about what homeowners are permitted to do and which jobs need to be handled by professional plumbers. Before starting your DIY project, make sure to check out the list.
Here are some plumbing problems which you are permitted to DIY:
- Showerhead replacement
- Irrigation systems downstream from a tap, or an isolating valve.
- Changing a tap washer
- Replacement of caps on the openings on sanitary drains.
- Maintenance and cleaning of ground level grates to traps on the drains.
- DIY drain clearing with a plunger or drain snake
By law, any work that deals with sewer or drinking water system can only be done by a licensed plumber. Gas plumbing issues on the other hand should be handled by a plumber with a gasfitting licence and require a gas compliance certificate to ensure it’s done to standard.
Depending on the size of the project, you might need to secure other permits and comply with other construction and safety standards. A contractor can help you secure proper permits and avoid possible hassles in the future. If regulations are not followed, you could be fined or required to redo the project.
4. Hiring the wrong plumber for the job
Hiring any plumber is not a guarantee that things will run smoothly. Make sure you are working with a licensed plumber. As in any trade, there are unqualified contractors who could take advantage of inexperienced homeowners. Do not just go for the lowest bid without doing further research. Check online and read reviews about other people’s experiences.
Make sure the contractor has experience with renovations. If you are doing bathroom remodelling, choose a plumber who has positive reviews about their bathroom remodelling work. Not all plumbers, even a good emergency plumber, can do renovation work.
Before hiring your plumber, ask them about their experience with the specific project you are working on as well as the insurance, permits and licensing required. This will ensure that you are working with an experienced and qualified contractor.
Ready to kick off your renovation project? Start by getting a consultation from a local professional. Have questions for us? Call us on 0488 296 724.
