10 DIY home fixes to save you serious cash

2. Seal an asphalt driveway

A pro knows how to remove tough oil stains by burning them off with a torch before seal-coating. Pros also have access to commercial-grade sealers that contain more latex than those sold to DIYers at home centers. "The extra latex gives it a longer-lasting, more durable finish. We also add sand, which provides better traction," says Arthur Alexander, owner of Midlothian Paving in Powhatan, Va.

You can do it if you can master the sealant brush, which resembles a push broom paired with a squeegee, to apply the sealer evenly. "Squeeze out heavy lines or buildup," Alexander says. Repair fissures with a crack filler, scrub oil stains with a liquid laundry detergent, and add a pound of silica sand per gallon of sealant. But leave the torching to a pro.

Pro's cost: 20 cents per square foot

DIY savings: For 1,500 square feet, you could pocket $240

Difficulty: 3/10

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3. Build a closet storage system

A pro knows how to factor in odd shapes and angled ceilings to create a design that maximizes utility. A familiarity with useful accessories helps. "We can install lots of bells and whistles, like ironing boards that pull out of drawers, and tie racks," says Mike Musick, owner of the Custom Closet Co. in Auburn, Wash. "With tall ceilings, we can install racks that pull down so you don't need a ladder."

You can do it if your jigsaw skills are sharp enough to precisely trim shelves to span from one out-of-square wall to another. Musick suggests doing a bit of research into standard rod and rack heights to keep clothes from dragging on the floor. To make a sturdy shelf that can take a lot of weight, Musick recommends laying half-inch plywood atop three level 1-by-2 cleats.

Pro's cost: $85 per linear foot, plus $85 per drawer

DIY savings: A 10-foot-wide closet could tuck away up to $2,300

Difficulty: 7/10

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4. Hang a ceiling fan

A pro knows how to install new electrical cable to an open spot on a ceiling safely. Electricians can also evaluate the breaker panel to see which circuits will handle the new load. "We know the codes, which are very strict," says Tony Wilcoxon, a service technician for Discount Electric in Fremont, Calif. Another detail a pro can nail: the need to securely mount fan-rated electrical hardware to hold the heavy, gyrating weight.

You can do it if you don't have to run new cable but rather are replacing an old light fixture with a fan, switch and a fan-rated electrical box. "The job is a lot easier if you have access to the ceiling from above," Wilcoxon says. Just be sure to walk on joists only, so you don't step through the ceiling. Oh, and turn off the circuit breaker for the wires you're connecting. Safety first!

Pro's cost: $185 (using existing wiring) to $350 (running new wire)

DIY savings: As much as $350

Difficulty: 8/10

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5. Tile a backsplash

A pro knows how to compensate for problems such as wavy walls, bumps or irregularities, which affect the finished look. An expert also makes sure the tiles frame outlets and gaps with symmetry and uniformity. "If your lines are not level, a contractor can adjust the tiles to flow with the wall," says Tony LaPelusa, president of LaPelusa Home Improvement in Niles, Ill. Pros also have their own tile saw, and they're masters at mixing Thin-Set, a common tile-setting mortar.

You can do it if you rent a wet-cutting tile saw at about $10 an hour. LaPelusa says to buy 10% to 15% extra tile for waste and practice cuts. Use spacers between the tiles. Install box extenders in electrical boxes first, then tile around the extenders. Expect it to get messy.

Pro's cost: $20 per square foot. You buy materials either way.

DIY savings: An 18-by-120-inch job scores $260

Difficulty: 5/10

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6. Install a water softener

A pro can recognize signs that you need a water softener to reduce mineral content. "It's not just a water-quality issue, but also a financial issue," says Tim Franklin of Culligan Water Conditioning in Northfield, Minn. Stopping calcification buildup caused by hard water, which has a pH well above neutral, or 7, can help plumbing fixtures and appliances, particularly tankless water heaters, last up to 15% longer.

You can do it if you have basic plumbing skills, including the ability to sweat metal pipes and connectors or work with PVC tubing, the latter being somewhat easier to handle. Being familiar with your system helps you set up the softener so that water used for drinking or gardening is not unnecessarily softened.

Pro's cost: $150 to $250, plus a $380 softener

DIY savings: At least $150

Difficulty: 6/10

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7. Replace countertops

A pro knows how to take precise measurements and keep a steady hand on a laminate trimmer. "A contractor sees potential layout problems that a homeowner never thinks of," LaPelusa says, citing a DIY counter installation that prevented the dishwasher door from opening.

You can do it if you can accurately cut medium-density fiberboard as a base and mount laminate with contact cement on the first try (once it sticks, it's stuck). LaPelusa's tips: Use old countertops as a template for new ones, trim the fiberboard with a belt sander and shape the laminate with a router.

Pro's cost: $725 for 18 feet of laminate countertop

DIY savings: Up to $565

Difficulty: 6/10

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8. Build a fire pit

A pro knows whether it makes sense to run a gas line for the fire, which can cost as much as the pit, or whether a wood-burning pit is a better alternative. Either way, the right contractor has the masonry skills and design experience to create an outdoor social hub. "Masonry is always a good investment. A pit will last for decades if it's constructed properly," says Geoff Thomas, owner of GPT Construction Masonry & Design in Orangevale, Calif.

You can do it if your bricklaying skills are satisfactory, and you add a 6-inch gravel layer below grade to ensure drainage. "If not, you'll be out there bailing water," Thomas says. He avoids prefabricated pits. "About 50 percent of my work is replacing old prefabs."

Pro's cost: $1,000, plus the price of masonry materials

DIY savings: For an 18-inch-tall, 3-foot-diameter pit, you could keep $850

Difficulty: 8/10

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9. Put in a stone path

A pro knows the secrets to laying flagstone over a stone-aggregate base for an attractive, long-lasting path. "Water drainage is key," says James Tucker, general manager and co-owner of Phoenix Home Services in Burke, Va. "You want ¼ inch per foot of slope so water doesn't pool." To cut the stones, Tucker scores the top with an angle grinder, then hits them with a dead-blow hammer.

You can do it if you can haul rocks and dig all day long. Place landscape fabric under the aggregate to prevent weed intrusion. Tucker says to dig to the depth of the base and flagstone so the path top will be at ground level. He points out that square-cut stone, like a 12-by-12-inch style, is easiest for a DIYer to install. "If you're using irregular stone, start by laying the big pieces first, then fill in the path with smaller pieces," he says. Tamp the aggregate base to aid drainage and prevent the stones from shifting in winter.

Pro's cost: $18 to $22 per square foot, based on stone type

DIY savings: 20 by 20 feet nets $5,500

Difficulty: 4/10

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10. Lay a French drain

A pro knows how lawn topography can be used to eliminate standing water. Experts plan and dig a trench, lay perforated pipe on a bed of gravel and redirect water to a well or a creek. "Divert surface water and you'll keep it out of your basement," Tucker says.

You can do it if you have an itch to use a baby backhoe to dig it out. (Bobcat's E42 excavator rents for about $275 a day.) "Wrap perforated pipe with a nylon sock," Tucker advises. "It lets the water go in and keeps dirt out, to prevent clogging."

Pro's cost: $30 to $40 per foot, not including dry well

DIY savings: For a 100-foot run, save up to $2,495

Difficulty: 4/10

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When to hire a pro

DIYers with sweat equity to invest can successfully undertake an impressive range of projects. But sometimes it makes sense to call in the experts. Put away your tools and pick up the phone if:

You need a license
Running gas lines or electrical wiring usually requires a license. A pro's work is also insured, while a DIYer can be liable for future problems. "You always want a contractor to run gas," Thomas says. Accidents can happen years later.

The work is dangerous
For example: Cutting trees and large limbs can challenge even pros with years of experience. "Limbs definitely carry a high danger factor," says Dylan Saito, an arborist with Oregon Tree Care in Portland, Ore. "You have to understand how quickly things can go wrong."

The project could cause a hazard
As a general rule, amateurs should not reconfigure the breaker box. "Never go into that circuit panel," LaPelusa says. "If you do something wrong, you could start a fire. You could literally burn down your house."

The work is beyond your expertise
Avoid jobs in which errors could go unnoticed. For instance, an incorrect window-flashing installation can cause hidden leaks. "The entire side of your house could rot away before you know it," says Bob Peterson, co-owner of Associates in Building & Design in Fort Collins, Colo.

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