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Home Improvement – These are the 3 main cons of DIY

There is no dispute that opting for DIY when it comes to your home improvement projects has tremendous benefits. It’s however worth noting that if you do it wrong, it can end up being disastrous for you. In this article, we are going to highlight the 3 main cons of DIY when it comes to home improvement projects especially if they involve a lot of construction work.

1 It’s likely to be more expensive in the long run

The belief or rather assumption that engaging in DIY for your home improvement projects is a very good cost cutting  measure will only hold true if things go well, and in most occasions, they seldom do. The main reason professional contractors don’t come cheap is because they invested time, money and sweat in building their skills therefore they will charge you a premium for it. Assuming that you can simply go online, look at a tutorial and become a master in construction is a fallacy especially if you have no background in construction. What this means in summary is that you may opt for DIY but end up making a mess of the work and this will force you to bring in a professional to repair your errors and do the job how it was meant to be done in the first place, and this will ultimately cost you more.

2 It’s a very time consuming venture

Considering the fact that you have very little or no experience in the task you are about to engage in, you will need to set aside time to learn the skill itself as well as about the tools and material you will need for the job. This, plus the time it will take you to do the job itself factoring in all the errors before you finally get it right will take you triple or even quadruple the time it would have taken a professional to get it done. Therefore DIY is only practical if your project is not time sensitive.

3 The work will be of low standards

The reality is that as long as you haven’t had sufficient experience which has to be gained over time, the quality of work you are likely to produce will be nowhere close to the quality of work a professional will produce. In fact, you should be content with work that is of low standards during the period you are still a DIY novice. Before you make the decision on whether to engage in a DIY project, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons first. A word of advice would be for you to first start with smaller construction projects around your home as you slowly hone your skills before you take up larger home improvement projects.

Do You Have a Cockroach Infestation? Signs to Look Out For

When it comes to infestations, cockroaches can be deemed the most serious. The very fact that cockroaches can carry some serious diseases showcases how important it is to use cockroach control services in Edinburgh should an infestation be suspected. Recognising a Cockroach Infestation In some instance, cockroaches will make their presence known without much investigation, whereas other instances could require some exploring. Some of the checks that should be carried out in relation to cockroach infestations are as follows. An Unusual Smell: If you’ve recently noticed a lingering and unpleasant odour around the property, then it could be due to a cockroach infestation. Smear Marks: in locations where there is a lot of water, it’s not unusual for cockroaches to leave brown smears around the home. Signs of Shed Skin: A cockroach will shed its skin between five and eight times a day, and the sight of shed skin is normally near the location of they’re nesting. Small Droppings: Although the appearance of droppings can point to towards different types of infestations, the appearance of droppings in conjunction with strange smells or shed skin could help establish as to whether a cockroach infestation is present or not. What Type of Cockroaches Are There? Although it would easy to assume that all cockroaches are one and the same, there are actually different species. Those that are more common in the Edinburgh area are as follows. German Cockroaches: German cockroaches thrive on humidity, so will often reside where there is moisture, such as the kitchen and the bathroom. German cockroaches are also able to climb surfaces with ease due to the sticky pads on their feet. Oriental Cockroaches: Whereas German cockroaches settle in damp conditions, oriental cockroaches prefer cooler environments so will often reside in drains, bins and basements. Brown Branded Cockroaches: Brown-banded cockroaches are more adaptable than their German and oriental counterparts and can often survive further away from food sources. They are also able to run, and in some instances, fly should the need arise. The Dangers of a Cockroach Infestation As well as being unsightly, the presence of a cockroach infestation can mean a series of different diseases are introduced into the environment. Some of the diseases that can be introduced into the home include Salmonella Typhi and Poliomyelitis, which contribute to Typhoid and Polio respectively. The shedding of a cockroach’s skin can also lead to allergies and trigger the onset of asthma. As such, it’s important to call a pest control professional in the first instance. Can Cockroaches Be Eradicated Without a Professional? Some people may assume it’s cheaper to deal with the eradication of cockroaches themselves rather than call on the services on the professional. Although there are kits and bait traps available, they won’t always get to the root of the problem. This isn’t to say that the use of store-bought solutions should be dismissed, but for more problematic cockroach infestations a professional should be sought as soon as possible, as trying to approach the issue alone could mean the infestation worsens.

The 4 main benefits of working with a professional contractor

Before you engage in any major improvement project that will require construction work to be done whether it involves your home or office space, it’s very important that you consider getting a professional contractor to be in charge of the project. If you are wondering why, in this article we are going to share with you the 4 main benefits of working with a professional contractor.

1 Professional contractors will always have the necessary licenses

It’s important to know that most of the home improvement activities that you engage in especially those that involve a little bit of construction work require a license. Whereas this will mostly be dependent on the jurisdiction you’re in, licenses are usually necessary because such work has to be done by licensed professionals because of the potential hazards that come with the job. This means that working with a professional contractor ensures that you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

2 Professional contractors will always have insurance

As a rule in most jurisdictions, any laborer working on a construction site must have an insurance cover and is also entitled to workman’s benefits. Because your home or office space essentially is a construction site during the time improvement work is being done on it means it’s a legal requirement for the workers on your site to have insurance. The benefit of working with a professional contractor is that they will have this covered and every employee under them will be their responsibility therefore taking any liability from you.

3 Professional contractors are specialists

When you intend on doing any major improvement work on your home or office space, the main reason it’s in your best interest to hire a professional contractor is because they are specialists in the field and this means they have all the necessary knowledge and expertise to get the job done and ensure it’s a very high quality job.

4 Professional contractors will get the job done quicker

When working with a professional contractor, depending on the agreement you have with them on the timelines for the project, in most cases they will get the job done much quicker because they have a team they are working with in addition to their familiarity with such kinds of jobs. As long as the scope of the work and the timelines have been agreed, your project will be completed much faster. As a caution, not every contractor is the same therefore it’s always important for you to do the necessary due diligence in order for you to settle on a seasoned contractor with a proven track record of producing quality work.