10 Home Reno Projects You Should Always Hire a Professional For

Even the most die-hard DIY’er needs to know when to call in the professionals. Here are 10 times in this season of Help, I Wrecked My House! where Jasmine Roth brought in specialists to rescue homeowners in over their heads.

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Jasmine Roth (blonde woman in green tshirt and jeans) demolishing a wall

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1 / 10

Next-Level Demolitions

Homeowners Matt and Sarah knew they needed help after taking their house down to the studs without consulting a contractor or an inspector, resulting in a potentially unsafe home for their children. Jasmine’s first order of business was to call in the pros to check the structure before starting from the ground up. Not only is this the safer (and necessary) route for any major reno, but it also allows you to properly plan and build any custom features in your new place.

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2 / 10

Rescue From Rodents and Pests

It may have looked cute in animated movies, but pest takeovers of your house are definitely dangerous. When Jasmine finds rat droppings above the ceiling of homeowner Maddie’s kitchen, she knows that only the experts can properly and safely sanitize this space for cooking (and check for any other infestations in the home). Creepy crawlers and unwanted rodents may delay your reno plans, but it’s best to leave it to the pros to get rid of them.

Mould Stains on Damp Wall and Door behind Cabinet

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3 / 10

Dealing With Black Mould

Although mould can play havoc with allergies and asthma, black mould is especially dangerous and needs professionals with proper PPE for a thorough removal. When Jasmine finds black mould in Kadie and Bryan’s bathroom, it needs to be dealt with carefully. Not only does she call in the experts, but she also puts measures into place to avoid trapped water that could lead to future issues.

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4 / 10

Repairing Water Damage

You may think that a little drip from an upstairs bathroom is a small matter, but Jasmine knows better. What lurked underneath the tile in the sub-flooring of Nathan and Paige’s bathroom seemed harmless, but in reality, they were facing potential rotting and weakening in the upper levels – a huge safety hazard Jasmine flagged right away. When dealing with water damage or its aftermath, it’s always best to get it repaired as soon as possible to prevent a collapse (or mould, which has its own dangers).

renovated kitchen with exposed wooden beams

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5 / 10

Removing Load Bearing Walls

Before you take a sledgehammer to open up a space, check whether or not it’s functioning as a load-bearing element to your house structure. Maddie’s DIY demo leaves holes that have Jasmine calling for an engineer to check the house’s structural integrity, and she eventually puts in posts to open up the space in a safe and sound manner.

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6 / 10

Remodeling a Built-In Fireplace

Fed up with a fireplace that they hate, homeowners Nathan and Paige try removing it themselves, breaking tile and exposing the inside of the fireplace. Jasmine ends up replacing the tile and making the fireplace a safe yet aesthetically pleasing centrepiece to the living room. Remember codes extend to fireplaces, too, so be sure to have them inspected by the experts.

poured concrete floors in home under renovation

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7 / 10

Pouring Concrete Slab

An ambitious DIY home addition had homeowners Sam and Katrina pouring their own concrete on a slope noticeable enough that Jasmine was able to roll a ball down it. Not the foundation you want for any new reno! Right away, Jasmine calls in an inspector to sign off on the structure’s safety, and both Jasmine and contractor Scott Cross end up properly levelling out the floor before beginning to build anything. Moral of the story: it’s not always as easy as it looks!

person installing electrical wire with black electrical tape and pliers

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8 / 10

Installing Electrical Panels

Electrical work is fraught with danger to the inexperienced, as amateur contractor Anthony finds out when his attempt to install can lights leaves exposed electrical wiring, almost leading to a fire. Jasmine turns to an electrician to make sure all panels are grounded and up to code, replace the electrical panel and safely install lights.

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9 / 10

Exposing Gas Lines

Jasmine is shocked at the exposed gas line in homeowners Liz and Anthony’s kitchen island, which creates a major safety hazard for the whole family. Whether you’re doing interior renos, or digging around outside for landscaping, demos without checking for gas or sewer lines can leave you with expensive repairs and angry neighbours. Make sure to get the proper inspections before doing any demolishing.

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10 / 10

Installing Windows

Jasmine noticed that Mike and Sarah’s house had front windows with non-tempered glass – vulnerable to shattering, which is a danger to the couple’s children. She replaces the windows with vinyl ones that are harder to break. Window replacement is a big, expensive job working with highly fragile materials, and improper installation can lead to big energy bills, so leave it to the professionals.