Construction · Lesson 12 of 13Beginner5 min read

Doing Your Own Work

Plenty of house work is within reach of a careful beginner, and some of it isn’t. This lesson covers a starter tool kit, how to work safely, when a permit comes in, and a skill ladder from first jobs to the jobs that belong to licensed contractors and engineers.

A starter tool kit

  • Measuring and marking: a 25-foot tape measure, a pencil, a 2-foot or 4-foot level, a speed square or combination square, and a stud finder.
  • Fastening: a hammer, screwdrivers, and a cordless drill-driver with bits.
  • Cutting: a utility knife and a handsaw; a circular saw when you’re ready for it.
  • Finishing: putty knives, a sanding sponge, caulk and a caulk gun.
  • Protection: safety glasses, hearing protection, work gloves, and dust masks or a fitted respirator for dusty jobs.

The first jobs in hanging a picture and patching drywall use most of these.

Work the way the pros are taught

OSHA’s basic tool rules apply at home too: keep tools in good condition; use the right tool for the job; examine each tool before use and don’t use a damaged one; follow the manufacturer’s instructions; and wear the right protective gear. Unplug a tool before changing a blade or bit, never carry it by the cord, leave the guards on, and clamp the work so both hands are free.

On ladders, set the base about a quarter of the working length out, extend the rails 3 feet above any landing you step onto, face the ladder, and keep three points of contact. In a house built before 1978, assume painted surfaces may contain lead and work lead-safe. If you’re about to cut into old flooring, ceiling texture or insulation, find out first whether it might contain asbestos.

Permits: ask before you start

Which jobs need a permit depends on where you live, so the first step is a call to your city or county building department. Changes to structure (walls, beams, foundations, roof framing), additions, and new or enlarged openings commonly need one, and so does most electrical, plumbing and gas work. A permit isn’t just paperwork: the plan review and the inspections are a second set of trained eyes on work that will be hidden inside the walls.

Plan the jobdrawings, materialsApply for a permitbuilding departmentPlan reviewchecks against the codeDo the workpermit posted on siteInspectionsbefore walls are closedFinal approvalthe work is signed off
Every jurisdiction runs its own process, and some small jobs need no permit at all. Call your building department before you start. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (what plans examiners and building inspectors do).

The skill ladder

Climb one rung at a time, and do new jobs with an experienced helper the first time.

  1. First jobs

    Basic tools, no permits, and nothing structural.

  2. Next steps

    More tools, more care, and an experienced helper the first time.

    • Weatherstrip doors and windows
    • Paint a room (lead-safe in pre-1978 homes)
    • Replace baseboard or door casing
    • Adjust a sticking door: hinges and strike plate
    • Patch a larger drywall hole with a patch
    • Run a dehumidifier and track humidity
    • Set up and use an extension ladder by OSHA’s rules

  3. Intermediate jobs

    Check with the building department first; some of these need a permit.

    • Frame a non-load-bearing partition wall
    • Hang, tape and finish drywall in a room
    • Install a pre-hung interior door
    • Lay a floating floor or tile
    • Air seal the attic, then add insulation (watch for vermiculite)
    • Build a small shed (permit rules vary)

  4. Leave these to licensed pros and engineers

    They need a permit, training, special equipment, a license or certification, or an engineer’s design.

    • Removing or changing load-bearing walls, beams, headers, posts or trusses
    • Foundation repairs, underpinning, and cracks that keep growing
    • Roof work at height (OSHA requires fall protection at 6 feet for workers)
    • Digging trenches 5 feet or deeper (OSHA requires protective systems)
    • Paid work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes (EPA certification)
    • Anything that may disturb asbestos (trained, accredited professionals)
    • Mold over about 10 square feet, or after heavy water damage
    • Gas piping, electrical panels and service, and refrigerant (see those courses)

Jobs for licensed contractors and engineers

Some work belongs with professionals because the consequences of a mistake are serious, because it takes equipment and training a homeowner doesn’t have, or because the law requires a license or certification:

  • Structure: removing or changing a load-bearing wall, beam, header, post or truss; foundation repairs. These need a permit and usually an engineer’s design.
  • Roofs: roof work means working at height, where OSHA requires fall protection for workers at 6 feet and up.
  • Excavation: trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system.
  • Lead and asbestos: paid work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes needs EPA certification; suspected asbestos needs a trained, accredited professional.
  • Big mold and water jobs: mold over about 10 square feet or after heavy water damage.
  • The other trades’ licensed work: gas piping, the electrical panel and service, and refrigerant handling. See the Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC courses.

Hiring? Many states and cities license building contractors, so check a contractor’s license with your state or local licensing office.

StopIf in doubt, don’t cut

Before you open a wall, find out what’s inside it. Pipes, wires and ducts can be anywhere, and the wall itself may be holding up the house. When you’re not sure, stop and ask a pro.

Check yourself

Tap an answer to check it, or open “Show the answer.”

  1. What should you do before changing a saw blade?

    Show the answer

    Disconnect the tool. OSHA: disconnect tools when changing accessories such as blades and bits.

  2. You want to remove a wall between the kitchen and living room. What comes first?

    Show the answer

    Find out if it’s load-bearing and what’s inside it, then talk to the building department and an engineer. A load-bearing wall is part of the load path; changes need a permit and usually an engineer.

  3. Does EPA’s lead renovation rule generally apply to homeowners working on their own homes?

    Show the answer

    Generally no, but EPA urges lead-safe practices. The RRP rule generally covers paid work, but EPA strongly recommends lead-safe practices for do-it-yourselfers.

  4. According to OSHA, how should you never carry a power tool?

    Show the answer

    By its cord. Never carry a tool by the cord or hose.

Go deeper

Sources

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