For the most part, I'll do just about everything I can on my own home, both for repairs and upgrades. I like to learn, work with my hands, buy new tools, develop a skill, etc. I've done plenty of plumbing, electrical, concrete, drywall, paint, carpentry, welding, tile, etc. And it's satisfying when the job turns out right.

The big ones I'll pay someone else to do are replace the roof, replace the windows, replace carpet, spray foam, and replace the HVAC system.

I think there are a lot of folks on here that are similar. This is a good DIY community, plus some great folks in the trades. I've learned a lot from people on here.

But I've definitely hit my limit for what I normally consider a DIY job that my house desperately needs: New paint on the soffits and fascia. In particular, I've got several sections that are on the 2nd story (20ft up). It is a hard one to concede because I've done so much painting, but just not worth the risk. I'm also having a hard time finding a painter that I can trust because I don't normally shop it out.

I'll get that one figured out, but I think it's a good discussion for this board. What's your limit?

For me, there is not a limit to what I can do, there is only a limit to what I'm willing to do. I think that's the case with many people. If you can swing a hammer, you can do your roof, but it's going to take a long time and if you aren't familiar with the techniques it's going to slow you down. If you have a leak, it's your problem. That sucks. Happy to pay my guys to do my metal roof in July. Happy to pay a guy to fiddle with HVAC in the summer. That's about it. The last thing I did was add a metal carport to my garage, after spending a year or three learning to weld, I just tackled the whole build. I did roof on that because it's panel and easy to do.

Basically anything that has the potential to cause me pain or additional expense in the future is something I'm willing to pay people to do.

When I was 50, could/would do ... e.g 6x12ft closet add-on everything except
1st class
1. conc.labor fill my foundation digs w/steel & finish
2. berber carpet install

Now need anyone on the roof or 50ft fell dead tree when house in peril
else in hospital, no caretaker for semi-invalid

BTW was NOT allowed to do anything IF paid sit-down was afoot that would pay for all that

I will do what I'm comfortable with and more than my wife wants me to in some cases because I don't want to throw away my retirement funds. I might need a YouTube video (and/or some TexAgs input) to help me get comfortable but I don't mind taking on new challenges. I will definitely hire the "pros" to do roofing, window replacement, etc. Our home is 3 stories, so at 70 years of age, I am also hiring out house painting, siding ,etc. I have recently done some electrical work that involved about 90 feet of trenching and tunneling under a concrete walkway. I tried to hire out the job but couldn't find anyone that wanted to do it. I'm still fine doing "dirt work" in the lawn and garden, even though my wife wants to hire out that work. The physical labor is OK, I just have to pace myself and take more and longer breaks than I used to.

I won't do tile, and i hate painting. Tape/float/texture is awful too.

In both cases, i feel like a professional can do in a day what would take me 1-2 weeks and a lot of frustration.

In my middle age with busy kid schedule, a lot of the decision is based on time.

If I do it, will it take me months since I only have a day a week to work on it? Vs paying and having it done by 2-3 guys in a weekend.

Another factor for me is the multiple of hiring cost vs DIY. For instance last summer I got quotes for a deck, and they were near $20k.
Materials were $4k, so that was an easy decision to DIY, even though it took way longer. It probably took me 10 weekend days, spread long apart.

For the last 10 years, I've worked for a general contractor, and now that I have pretty long standing relationships with many of my subcontractors, I get really good rates, sometimes even free labor, from subs from all trades.

I recently purchased the materials for artificial turf in my backyard, and my landscaper sub had 3 guys work on it for 3 days and not charge me anything... so, of course I'm not DIYing that!

Electrical. If you **** up and burn your house down, good luck getting insurance to cover it.

Does this include changing a light fixture? I'll do that all day. If I have to do anything in the panel I'll have the electrician come out.

boy09 said:

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I won't do tile, and i hate painting. Tape/float/texture is awful too.

In both cases, i feel like a professional can do in a day what would take me 1-2 weeks and a lot of frustration.

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This is me, 100%

Anything behind a panel. Fixtures and switches are pretty easy.

Putting a good size addition on my house currently. So constantly evaluating what is the most effective way to spend a set amount of money.

Excavation and site work: my neighbor does it, did a great job and he charged probably half of what it should.
Concrete: way too much to even think about. I like to do small masonry like walkways and stone walls.
Roofing: 8 guys showed up, did tear-off of existing house and addition in one day. Best money spent.
Plumbing: between waste pipe, a grinder pump, water lines, septic issues...money well spent.
HVAC: way too complicated for me.
Electric: electrician doing 2/3 of it (service upgrade to 400a, bigger stuff for shop), I do small stuff.

I did all the framing, sheathing, windows, doors, etc. And eventually all the painting, floors, tile, and cabinetry.

Insulation, drywall, spackle, ugh. Wanted to farm out at least two of those. But since everything has become so expensive, we had to tackle all of these ourselves.

I used to do projects based on a 'how bad would it be if I completely f-ed this up?" measure.

Now I've added a "Do I have the muscle strength to do this?" measure to that.

Unfortunately, that second measure is becoming more of an issue.

Any detailed carpentry. I can build a great fence, but I suck at trim. And every time I tape and float drywall it looks like crap.

ME92 said:

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I used to do projects based on a 'how bad would it be if I completely f-ed this up?" measure.

Now I've added a "Do I have the muscle strength to do this?" measure to that.

Unfortunately, that second measure is becoming more of an issue.

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lol I just made a 4 post bed out of some 3x3 steel. I had to design carefully to know I'd actually be able to move the headboard (at an angle...through the door...with help). Another 50 lbs and I'm not sure I'd have made it.