Home Installations: Should You DIY or Hire a Pro? Here’s How to Know

Tackling a home installation project DIY-style is great, but only if you’re up to the task. You’ll gain knowledge, acquire skills, and best of all you’ll save money on outsourcing the work. However, some installations may be beyond your comfort level. If that’s the case, you’d be better off hiring a professional contractor. Home Hardware’s Home Installs service is also available to help. Here’s some DIY vs. pro tips to consider, along with some common home installations. These are grouped by level of difficulty to help you decide when to DIY and when to hire a pro.

DIY Installation Considerations

Before starting any DIY installation make sure to research the skills and tools required to do the job right. You also want to be sure it’s worth your time vs. hiring a contractor. Here’s some pros and cons to consider:

DIY Pros

• Lower Cost: DIY projects are always cheaper (if you do it right) because you don’t have to pay for labour 

• More Control: You’re in charge so you can better ensure the final result matches your vision 

• Timing: You can start whenever you want and work at your own pace 

• Gain Experience: You can learn new skills that can be applied to other home installation, renovations or fix-it projects

DIY Cons

• Lack of Tools: You can probably justify adding an extra power tool to your collection, but if more are required you should factor that into your decision process 

• Timing: Your progress may be slower than a professional resulting in a longer installation time 

• Mistakes: These can end up costing you more money to fix, and can also make the finished installation look less than optimal Damage: Depending on the type of installation, mistakes could result in damage to your home

Professional Installation Considerations

Hiring a professional may alter your original vision for the project, but through good communication you may end up with a more cost-effective and manageable solution. Here’s some other factors to consider:

Contractor Pros

• Permits: If your installation requires a permit, a contractor can get it approved faster and you’ll know the project will be up to code 

• Peace-of-Mind: Contractors are licensed and insured so any faulty work will be fully covered 

• Timing: Your only time investment will be reviewing the work and consulting with the contractor 

• Home Value: If it’s the type of installation that can increase the value of your home, you can likely benefit more from a proper, professional job

Contractor Cons

• Higher Cost: A contractor will always cost you more because you’re paying for labour in addition to your material costs 

• Less Control: Any miscommunication issues could steer the project away from your vision 

• Timing: The work should go faster but contractors can be called away to other jobs which could impact your timelines 

• Privacy: Depending on the job, you may have one, two or a whole crew of workers inside or outside your home

Easy DIY Installations

These installations require few prior skills (if any) and can be done in less than a day with inexpensive tools you may already have on hand.

Updating Your Cabinetry Hardware

Replacing the knobs and drawer pulls on kitchen and bathroom cabinets can really freshen up the space at minimal cost. In most cases the mounting hardware will be included, but in case it isn’t, here’s what you’ll need: 

• Door & cabinet knobs

• Door & cabinet pulls

• Screwdriver

• Cabinet screws

Weatherproofing Your Home

Sealing your home up for winter is necessary task. Remember to check all your doors and windows, and your garage door too. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Caulking

• Caulking gun

• Weatherstripping

• Foam tape

• Door sweeps

• Thresholds

Adding Shelving

Putting up shelves is one of the easiest DIY home décor projects you can do. There are really only two things to make sure of: the shelves need to be straight and they need to be sturdy. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Wood shelving or 

• Glass shelving 

• Shelf brackets 

• Portable drill 

• Shelving screws 

• Anchors

• Screwdriver 

• Level 

• Stud finder

Painting

Although not an installation, painting is a popular home task. A good paint job is important because not only does it add to the décor and ambience of your home, but it can increase the value. Painting the inside of your home is simple enough to DIY, but there are many professional painters out there that can give you a hand. Exterior painting can’t be done piecemeal so for that you might consider hiring professional painters. The tools and materials are relatively inexpensive given the return on investment: 

• Paint

• Primer 

• Surface prep materials 

• Brushes & rollers 

• Drop cloths, paint trays, extension poles etc.

Intermediate Level DIY Installations

These installations are well-suited to someone handy with small to medium DIY projects and repairs. You should have experience with a range of tools and be comfortable familiarizing yourself with new tools and skills if necessary. Project completion may take several days. Remember, you can always consult with a contractor first for advice before trying to do it yourself.

Installing Vinyl & Laminate Flooring

Replacing or laying down vinyl flooring is a big job but it’s not a particularly difficult one. Your biggest challenge might be physical due the bending and kneeling required to lay the floor. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Vinyl flooring 

• Laminate flooring 

• Floor scraper (if you need to remove previous flooring) 

• Mallet 

• Pull bar 

• Spacers 

• Tapping block 

• Utility knife

Installing a Toilet

Toilets are heavy! The hardest part of replacing a toilet is lifting the old one out and the new one in. However, you do need to carefully follow the right steps, which you can find in our Toilet Installation Guide. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• New toilet and seat 

• Toilet gasket & bolt kit 

• Screwdriver 

• Adjustable wrench 

• Scraper 

• Bucket, sponge & rubber gloves

Installing a Faucet

The faucets in your home are subject to a lot of wear and tear and will eventually need replacing. The job can be done in a couple of hours but again, you need to make sure you follow the right steps. Here’s the tools and materials you’ll need: 

• New faucet 

• Adjustable wrench 

• Basin wrench 

• Bucket, sponge & rubber gloves

Hanging a Door

Most interior doors are lightweight, but they’re big and unwieldy. The process of hanging one can be done by one person, but it’s much easier with two. Your measurements must be precise for the door to close properly and look nice. Exterior wood or steel doors are much heavier and could benefit more from a professional installation. Necessary tools include: 

• Portable drill 

• Circular saw 

• Mitre saw 

• Wood plane 

• Wood chisel 

• Mallet 

• Screwdriver 

• Utility knife

Advanced DIY Installations

These installations are recommended only if you’ve mastered a range of skills and are familiar with at least some of the specialized tools required. Even if you consider yourself an advanced DIYer you should definitely consult with a contractor. In the end, it might be best to let a pro handle the job.

Installing Kitchen Cabinets

DIY cabinet installation is really a two-person job. They’re heavy, cumbersome and require precision placement. Even if you buy your cabinets partially assembled, you may still need to do some cutting and sanding to make them fit. Here’s what you should have on hand: 

• Portable drill 

• Circular saw 

• Mitre saw 

• Belt sander 

• Screws 

• Anchors

• Screwdriver 

• Level 

• Stud finder 

• Clamps 

• Block plane 

• Tape measure

Installing Windows

Replacing a broken windowpane is relatively easy, but replacing an entire window complete with frame is much more involved. Also, this is usually done when upgrading all the windows in your home, so you’ll need to set aside several days for the job. Here’s what’s required: 

• New windows 

• Portable drill 

• Caulk and caulking gun 

• Shims 

• Pry bar 

• Putty knife 

• Utility knife 

• Tape measure 

• Level 

• Screwdriver 

• Mallet

Installing a Skylight

Installing a skylight is even trickier than installing regular windows. It should only be done with a partner, and you should both have experience working at height, especially on uneven surfaces. Here’s the tools and materials that will be required. 

• Skylight

• Fall protection kit 

• Roofing nailer 

• Roofing nails 

• Portable drill 

• Circular saw 

• Chalk line 

• Stud finder 

• Tape measure

Installing a Bathtub & Shower

Installing a bathtub, shower or tub/shower combo is a big, complicated job. It requires plumbing expertise and masonry skills if you’re doing tile work. It also requires two people because the tub is very heavy. Here’s the essentials: 

• Bathtub 

• Bathtub spout 

• Shower 

• Showerhead 

• Waste & overflow drain 

• Teflon tape 

• Pipe wrench 

• Allen wrenches 

• Caulking 

• Shims 

• Level 

• Pry bar 

• Plumber’s putty 

• Putty knife 

• Mallet

In addition to cutting cost, DIY installations can be very rewarding. You’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment from completing the entire project yourself. Do your research to make sure your skill level is up to the task. Remember too, you can always consult with an in-store Home Hardware expert before getting underway.