Home Remodel - Knowing When to Call a General Contractor

Improving your home can be both fun and rewarding. It is exciting to plan a home remodeling project and imagining new functional spaces for your changing needs and updating the design of your home. However, depending on your project, it may be better to work with a general contractor rather than do the whole project by yourself. Here are a few things to keep in mind to know when you should consider calling a general contractor in your area.

Avoid work with high-stakes mistakes

While you may be working on a home project to fulfill a current need, every home project also contributes to your home’s long term value. When considering whether to work with a professional general contractor vs. completing the project yourself, it is important to take into account your learning curve. Some projects, such as painting, can be done again if the first attempt is not correct. However, other types of work such as roofing, electrical, or plumbing are not as easy to tell whether the work was done correctly until they fail. In these cases, failure can result in expensive damages to your home. These types of projects are best handled by an experienced general contractor.

Consider if you can safely complete the work

Next, think about if you have the equipment to perform the work safely. For example, with exterior work, painting requires unique material preparation and ladders. Even cutting lumber, tiling, or stone work can be hazardous without the correct equipment and training. Lastly, any work that includes structural changes, such as creating an addition to your home, requires professional understanding of structural engineering and cannot be completed safely an average homeowner. These types of projects should be completed by a professional residential general contractor.

How difficult will it be to create an acceptable result?

Other projects may simply take you a long time to learn. While you can learn a lot from YouTube and other DIY home remodeling videos, many aspects of home remodeling take years of experience to do well. This can be anything from knowing how to plan the remodeling project itself to being able to install tiling professionally. Many projects which require design elements, when not done professionally, can decrease the value of your home. This can also include pouring concrete or installing tiling. In these situations, depending on the time you must learn the craft, it may be best to hire a general contractor to ensure that the quality of the project is at the highest standards that will reflect the design you want now and in the future.

Mares & Dow Construction has been serving the Bay Area since 1983.  Our experienced and knowledgeable general contractors can help you with your next home remodel - ensuring the project is done correctly the first time.  If you are looking for a general contractor for your next home remodel project, contact us today!