Home maintenance and DIY projects

    DIY (Do It Yourself) home improvements can definitely be very rewarding in both self-satisfaction and saving money.
    Choosing the wrong projects, however, can cost you time and money, and can possibly be dangerous.
    Before you pick up that hammer or drill or knock down a wall, there are questions to ask yourself and details to consider.

Is it worth your time and effort?
    Consider whether you are capable of doing the project and how much time you have to complete it. Do you have the knowledge, skills and equipment needed to do the job right?
    Some projects might be planned for a long weekend and turn into weeks of living in a construction zone. On the other hand, many projects can be completed in a weekend or comfortably be spread out over time for a successful DIY.
    Another thing to consider is the cost of materials. Even though you may be saving on labor cost, materials could cost more than you think. Professionals tend to get better pricing as a business.
    Reuse old material whenever possible to save on costs and maybe add a little vintage flair to the project.
    Use Home Advisor to estimate the cost of a professionally done home improvement project.
    Calculate what an hour of your time is worth by visiting LearnVest.
    You can also find time estimates for some DIY jobs on HouseLogic.
    The Houzz website has a tool available called, “Real Remodeling Cost Calculator.”
    By doing a little research, you can then decide, from a financial standpoint, whether to hire a pro or do it yourself.

How risky is it?
    There are certain kinds of projects that can be ruled out right away (unless you are knowledgeable in the area).
    Some projects have the potential to seriously injure you or severely damage your home.
    Avoid complex work involving plumbing, electrical or roofing repairs which require knowledge, skill and proper safety equipment.
    Gas lines and large gas appliance repairs should also be left up to pros.
Any time you work with gas, there’s a serious risk of fire, explosion or poisoning.
    Knocking down an interior wall might sound pretty simple. But if it’s a load-bearing wall or if electrical wiring or plumbing is behind it, you could be in serious trouble.
    These types of walls are very important to your home. Removing one incorrectly could affect the structural integrity of the house.
    A good warning sign that a project may be over your head is if your town has building codes for it, mandated for safety purposes. In this case, a professional should be hired to do the job.

Check for building permits
    Keep in mind that each city has its own rules about which jobs require permits, how much they cost and how difficult it is to get one.
    In some areas, it is fairly easy for homeowners to apply for a DIY work permit.
    In other places, you may only be granted a permit as long as you are working with a licensed contractor. Always check with your city and ask whether you’ll need a building permit for your project.
    Not all DIY projects require a permit. Painting the inside/outside of your house, adding bookcases, changing out a light or adding a ceiling fan, for example, would probably not require a permit. Anything that could be considered a structural change or upgrade most likely will require a permit.
    Some common DIY projects that require permits follow:
    — Demolition work
    — Additions
    — Adding or removing walls in the home
    — Plumbing work
    — Electrical work
    — Removing or building a stairway
    — Cutting window or door openings
    — Changing or installing a heating and cooling system (HVAC)
    — Installing new siding
    If you work without the proper permits on-site, three things are likely to happen.
    First, the city may order you to cease working.
    Second, the city could order the completed work to be removed from the house.
    And third, you might be hit with huge fines.
    If using a contractor, they may obtain the permits for you. But don’t assume — always ask if they actually got the required permits.

Don’t mix different types of cleaning products
    Six cleaning products you should never mix follow:
Bleach and vinegar produce chlorine gas.
Baking soda and vinegar in a closed container can explode.
Bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine.
Don’t mix two different types of drain cleaners at the same time or use one right after the other. It can explode.
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar when mixed produces peracetic acid, toxic to skin, eyes and the respiratory system.
Bleach and rubbing alcohol create chloroform.
    Bleach mixed with any kind of acidic cleaner releases chlorine gas so toxic it was used as a chemical warfare agent in WWI.
    Make it a rule to never mix bleach with anything but plain water.

Don’t ignore safety
    Simple precautions like wearing protective clothing and safety goggles, not overloading outlets and turning off breakers only take a few minutes, but can save you from disaster. Freak accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.
    Always prep for the work on a project.
    Read the instructions when using a new tool or trying out a new form of paint. Make sure you understand new tools and materials before you go to work.
    Have first aid on hand. A simple kit with ointment, gauze, bandages and eye wash can take care of minor injuries.
    Keep a cellphone nearby if you are working alone.
    Always put safety first, even if your DIY job seems small and simple.
    Part of preparing for a project is also obtaining how-to information. There are many books and manuals giving step-by-step instructions on all kinds of DIY projects.
    Other sources are online videos and instructional classes at larger home improvement retailers like Home Depot or Lowe’s, for example. Some of these companies provide online how-to videos, as well.

Other home maintenance advice not to ignore
    Now that we have covered bigger “stuff,” what about all the other “stuff?”
    Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested once a month and batteries changed once or twice a year.
    Air filters should be changed an average of every 6-12 months in a single occupancy home with no pets or allergies.
    In an average family home without pets, filters should be changed every 90 days and every 60 days in homes with dogs or cats.
    When cleaning or working on an appliance or electrical outlet, always unplug or turn off power/breakers first.

Mouseproof your home
    Other critters you don’t want in your home are mice, which carry disease and are very destructive.
    Plug any holes where mice can get into your home — holes in the foundation, gaps around doors or windows, pipes coming into the home and openings under the house in crawl spaces are likely places mice gain entrance.
    When cleaning up mouse droppings, wear a mask to prevent possible exposure to diseases like hantavirus.

Asbestos removal—Don’t do it!
    Homes built before asbestos was banned, especially ones from the 1920s through the mid-1970s, may still have asbestos-containing materials in place.
    Asbestos removal follows a strict set of regulations set by the Department of Environmental Quality and needs to be done professionally.
    No amount of asbestos exposure is considered safe, and people should always take precaution to avoid inhaling toxic dust.
    Because asbestos fibers are so light and because of their shape, they can float in the air for long periods of time.
    It can take 48-72 hours for asbestos fibers to fall in a still room. In a room with air currents, these fibers may stay in the air much longer.
    Asbestos fibers are easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lungs where they can cause fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis) and changes in the lining of the chest cavity with scarring of the lungs from inhaling the tiny fibers.
    Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibers increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
    An extremely intense short-term exposure also increases the risk of disease later in life.
    The good news is that asbestos is only dangerous when the tiny fibers are “friable,” which means loose and able to float in the air.

Beware of mowing obstructions
    Mowing the lawn is a common everyday activity during summer months. There’s nothing like the aroma of fresh cut grass in the summertime air.
    It seems safe enough, but things can go terribly wrong if precautions are not followed.
    Before mowing, pick up any debris or rocks from the area to be mowed. These objects can become missiles when the mower blades pass over them.
    Keep hands and feet away from the bottom of the mower while running.
    When working on a mower, cleaning out debris from underneath or removing blades to sharpen, always pull the spark plug first.
    Doing DIY projects on your own can definitely save you money, especially if you have the know-how. And maintenance of your home is an ongoing effort.
    But before performing any job or project around your home, be properly prepared. Use common sense, expect the unexpected and remember — the first rule of safety is safety first.

Be wary of spiders
    When working around your home, yard and garage, look before sticking your hands into dark places.
Attics, basements or stored boxes in the garage or elsewhere should be approached carefully.
    Spiders may have taken up residence in hidden dark places. “Look before you leap.”
    Most spiders are absolutely harmless to humans. In fact, of the over 20,000 different species of spiders that inhabit the Americas, only 60 are capable of biting humans.
    The brown recluse and black widow spider are the two associated with significant disease and very rare reports of death.
    The brown recluse spider, for example, seeks out dark, warm, dry environments such as attics, closets, porches, barns, basements, woodpiles and old tires.
    These spiders are not aggressive and bite only when threatened, usually when pressed up against the victim’s skin.
    The brown recluse’s venom is extremely poisonous, even more potent than that of a rattlesnake. Yet recluse venom causes less disease than a rattlesnake bite because of the small quantities injected into its victim. The venom of the brown recluse is toxic to cells and tissues.
    Symptoms usually develop two to eight hours after a bite. Severe pain at the bite site occurs after about four hours, along with severe itching, nausea, sometimes vomiting, fever and myalgias (muscle pain).
    The photos accompanying this article show how fast the bite progresses.  After several courses of oral antibiotics and creams, this bite eventually healed in six to eight weeks, but with severe pain during the first two to three weeks.

Click here to read the entire "Home Improvement" special section online for free.