DIY Projects The Property Brothers Recommend Leaving To The Professionals

If you have any interest in home projects and design, you probably know the Property Brothers from HGTV. They provide excellent advice for many kinds of pursuits — one episode focused on home renovation design tips, while another dove into paint colors. Encouraging people to try DIY projects is a point of emphasis for Drew and Jonathan Scott, and they offer dozens of DIY tips on their website. However, they have plenty of advice for homeowners about the kinds of endeavours they should not try to do themselves. Some are simply best left to professionals like the Property Brothers. 

According to the duo, one of the DIY jobs that homeowners most often screw up and should leave to a pro is epoxying their countertops. "Don't epoxy your countertops," Jonathan Scott says in an Instagram video for Good Housekeeping. "People are always trying to find a solution to change it out ... no! It doesn't last! And it starts to look even worse once it peels away." Instead of using epoxy, they recommend having a professional install a new countertop. They say quartz is a great material for those who want maximum durability and little to no maintenance requirements. Honed porcelain and concrete are also recommended. Granite is a popular selection, too, but it requires a bit more maintenance to keep in pristine condition compared to quartz.

If your DIY project involves any electrical work, the Property Brothers always recommend hiring an electrician. If you attempt to do this type of project on your own, you run the risk of getting electrocuted — sometimes lethally. And if you do the work incorrectly, you could damage the entire power system or start a fire, which almost certainly will cost you far more in repairs than simply hiring an electrician from the start. "Why are you DIY-ing to save money when, in the end, it's actually going to cost you money?" Drew Scott asks while making an Instagram video for Good Housekeeping.

In America, you need a license to perform most kinds of electrical work at either the state or municipal level. Some states allow you to do minor work on your own, such as relocating electrical outlets or adding circuits. Don't DIY major electrical projects, though. If you fail to obtain permits or use a licensed electrician, you could run into major problems in the future if you ever attempt to sell the house. Most real estate contracts require you to disclose any work you did without permits. "If you don't disclose in writing that you did not get those permits and, say, 10 years down the road, 20 years down the road, the house burns down for faulty electrical work, you're still liable," Jonathan Scott said at a New York City event in 2019 (per Mossy Oak Properties Land and Luxury).

The Property Brothers say plumbing work is another area where most homeowners should avoid a DIY job. Any errors can lead to significant water damage in the home, which can ruin flooring and walls. Replacing these items can be quite costly — even more than the initial cost of hiring the plumber. "There are a lot of things you can learn online nowadays, but just be realistic," Drew Scott said in an interview with Parade. "I'd say when it comes to electrical, plumbing, roofing, big things like that, leave it to a professional."

Some types of DIY plumbing work could involve dangerous situations. If you attempt to replace a broken pipe, for example, you might need to use power equipment to dig into the ground or go inside a wall, which could lead to injuries like cuts, bruises, and burns. Most plumbers working in the United States need a license to operate, and they may also need to obtain a local permit. Similarly to what happens with DIY electrical work, if you try to do the project yourself, you could run into problems if you try to sell the house later. "Plumbing and structure, you don't want to cheap out on, and you want to use a professional," Jonathan Scott said at the 2019 NYC event (per Mossy Oak Properties Land and Luxury).