If you were planning on enclosing the pool this year, the rising prices may have put a crimp on your budget. Someone who is handy with tools might consider doing the job themselves. It would definitely save money. However, there are some things to think about before deciding whether the job should be DIY or completed by a contractor.
We’ve got some things for you to consider. By the time you finish this read, you should have a pretty good idea whether or not a DIY pool enclosure signs off as complete with a notch in your toolbelt—or someone else’s.
Safety first
Completing the job without injuring yourself or anyone else is number one on the list of things to do. There are a couple of major signs that you would be better off hiring a professional contractor. Start by asking yourself the question, “What’s the worst that can happen?” If the answer comes anywhere close to being, “I might die,” then leave it to a professional contractor.
Next, determine if the job is going to require a permit. If the answer is yes, it’s probably best not to tackle the job yourself. A building permit guarantees the job is done safely and in accordance with local building codes. Some cities don’t allow anyone but licensed contractors to obtain a permit.
Know what you’re doing
It’s never a good idea to jump off into the unknown when you’re building an addition to your house. Sure, there are how-to videos galore out there on the internet that can teach you how to build enclosures. Even so, run through this checklist before you make any decisions.
- Is it dangerous? The danger factor bears mentioning again—there’s only one of you and your family would much rather you be here in one piece than any home improvement perk you can think of.
- If it involves electricity and you’re not an electrician—leave it alone.
- Saving money is a huge plus under the DIY heading, no doubt about that. Accidents happen though. What if you botch the job and wind up spending more to replace your inventory? And, after all that, you may decide to hire a professional to take over. You could wind up spending twice the original cost.
Time verses cost
The main reason to consider a DIY project—other than the satisfaction of a job well done, that is—is because it’s cheaper. However, if the job is going to take you a while to complete, you might want to consider having a pro come in and knock it out for you.
You can figure your labor cost to see if completing your pool enclosure DIY style is truly feasible for you. The most accurate way to know how much it would cost to have the job done professionally is to get some estimates. Most contractors come out and do them for free.
You also have to figure out how much it would cost to do the job yourself—time and materials both. Add up the cost you’ll spend on materials, tools, and permits. Subtract this total from the cost of the professional estimate to discover how much you can save doing the job yourself.
Time is harder to estimate because your experience plays a large part in how quickly you can complete the task. You can research it online by searching for home repair and new construction. These sites often give estimates of how long specific jobs take for beginner, intermediate, and expert do-it-yourselfers.
To calculate your hourly wage, divide the potential savings from DIY by the time required to do the job. The result is the amount of money you will “earn” hourly. Of course, you’ll actually just be keeping the amount in the bank, still, though, is it worth giving up your time? If not, hire a pro.
Saving on professional jobs
Are you already leaning towards hiring a professional to complete your new pool enclosure? If so, choosing the right contractor is the single most important thing you can do to get the best value for your money. Around here, we believe word of mouth is the best form of advertising. That said, ask family and friends who they have used and whether or not they were happy with the work. Contact them to come out for an estimate if you feel confident in the person who gave you the reference.
It’s still a good idea to get estimates from a few different companies. Actually, three is the magic number. That way you can compare overall costs and determine if any of them are—well—out to lunch actually.
Keep the line of communication open between you and your contractor. According to Consumer Reports, faulty communication accounts for most of the reports of problems between homeowners and their contractors. Establish clear guidelines, working conditions, cleanup, and who to ask if there are questions. Taking time to distinguish these things at the beginning makes for a happy working relationship.
Weighing the decision
It’s true that installing a mesh screen pool enclosure isn’t rocket science. If you’re handy with a tape measurer, have experience cutting and installing mesh screens, and have a helper handy, you may decide DIY is the way to go. Good luck!
We’ll tell you though, that many professional companies, like ours, for instance, offer a customization feature that you need to know about. You can customize your screens using digital imagery. The results are really amazing. You can change the look of your surroundings completely! It does wonders for the ambiance.
You can literally create your own private getaway right outside your back door!
If that sounds like something you want to look into, reach out! We’ll be glad to answer any questions. In the meantime, pop over to our gallery and check out our work. You’ll like what you see and it may be the catalyst that causes you to hire a pro after all.