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Safety & Compliance

DIY vs Professional: When to Call a Tradie

You CAN DIY

  • Painting (interior and exterior)
  • Basic landscaping
  • Installing flat-pack furniture
  • Hanging pictures and shelves
  • Basic gardening and pruning
  • Cleaning gutters
  • Changing tap washers (some states)
  • Installing curtains and blinds
  • Minor tiling repairs
  • Timber deck maintenance

MUST Use Licensed Professional

  • Electrical: Any electrical work
  • Plumbing: All plumbing beyond washers
  • Gas: Any gas work
  • Air conditioning: Refrigerant handling
  • Structural: Load-bearing changes
  • Waterproofing: Wet area membranes
  • Asbestos: Removal over 10m²

Consider a Professional For

  • Large tiling jobs
  • Rendering
  • Roofing
  • Major landscaping
  • Concreting
  • Tree removal
  • High or difficult access work

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Is it legally required to be done by a tradesperson?
  • Do I have the skills and tools?
  • What's the safety risk?
  • What's the cost of getting it wrong?
  • Will DIY affect insurance or resale?

Hidden Costs of DIY

  • Tool purchases
  • Material waste (inexperience)
  • Time investment
  • Potential for costly mistakes
  • No warranty on workmanship

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