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A recent survey by Porch reveals that DIY projects can cause disagreements among couples (to put it mildly), and some of these arguments can get quite heated. Whether DIYers are married or in another stage of the relationship, fights among couples are pretty common during a DIY project. Sometimes they fight over whether the other person made a mistake or not. They also fight over the direction or the duration of the project, the cost, or the final result.

As a general rule, it’s important for couples not to bite off more than they can chew – and that’s advice for the budget and the work, according to Michael DiMartino, Senior Vice President of Installations at Power Home Remodeling in Chester, PA.

Some DIY projects can cause stress, mistakes, and arguments. Image: Wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

“This is an area where I see couples struggle a lot during the remodeling process, both DIY and professional,” he says. “Oftentimes homeowners will choose to DIY a project because they think it’ll save them money. But if they take on too much, too fast, it can become overwhelming,” Di Martino says.

“Especially with older homes, I recommend breaking down the long list of remodeling jobs to do into smaller ones, thinking carefully about what can be accomplished in the next three months, six months and twelve months,” he says. “Prioritize any time-sensitive projects — big or small — first.” In fact, when buying a fixer-upper, know where to draw the line before it turns into a money pit.

Below are the DIY projects most likely to cause disagreements and the percentage of survey respondents who admitted they did indeed fight either before, during, or after, the project. In addition to DiMartino, Freshome also asked a few experts to weigh in on why these projects could lead to complications – and arguments.

There’s no room for mistakes when dealing with electrical wiring. Image: Sturti/Getty Images

Electrical wiring or rewiring: 43.6%

Our experts are in agreement that the potential for serious errors outweighs any money that might be saved. “I always recommend that people avoid doing DIY electrical work because the consequences of a poorly done job can be as simple as a light not working or as extreme as a hidden fire source,” warns Nathan Outlaw, President of Onvico, a construction company in Thomasville, GA.

It might look like a simple project, but Mark Scott, President of Mark IV Builders, which builds luxury homes in Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC., warns that there are more than a handful of mistakes you could make when taking on an electrical project. “Not only is it unsafe, but it could also cost you much more to fix than you ultimately saved by taking on the project yourself.”

With the stakes so high, it’s no surprise that couples would argue over this project. “I always recommend to my customers to save their energy and their sweat equity for a project where the consequences of an incorrect or incomplete job don’t have the potential to be dire,” DiMartino says.

It’s going to take a long time to achieve the desired effect. Image: Welcomia/Shutterstock

Drywall hanging or patching: 41.7%

This isn’t a difficult project, so why would it lead to so many disagreements? Unless you have a lot of practice, it may be difficult to achieve a high-quality finish,” warns Outlaw. “Hanging drywall is something that is easy to start and hard to finish for DIYers. Even a good-looking patch can take several coats of drywall with sanding.” While he says it’s not difficult to learn the technique of hanging, Outlaw warns it can be hard, dusty work – and most people don’t enjoy doing it.

That’s why Michael McDermott, Owner/Production Manager at CRD Design Build in Seattle, WA, doesn’t find it hard to believe that this project could lead to relationship strife. “There’s a reason general contractors almost never have their own crews hang drywall. They practically always give that task to professional drywall subcontractors, because it’s extremely dusty, physical work that usually takes even handy people much longer than they expect.” If you’re doing anything besides minor drywall patches, McDermott recommends leaving the hanging, taping, and mudding to a pro.

The ceiling box is as important as the ceiling fan. Image: AntonioDIaz/Shutterstock

Installing a ceiling fan: 38.2%

Although this borders on the side of electrical work, Scott thinks it’s a fairly simple project that any couple could take on. “If you don’t have much experience with this kind of project, we recommend ‘easy-install’ ceiling fans, which often come 90% assembled, and only require the homeowner to click the different parts — blades, bowl — into place.” However, as with any new fixture, he says you need to test that the ceiling box can hold the weight of the new fan. “That’s a mistake that can create some serious damage that’s costly and dangerous,” Scott warns.

Preparation is the key to a professional job. Image: Brian McEntire/Shutterstock

Exterior paint: 32.7%

This sounds like an easy project, but it can be more complicated than you think. “One thing that is important to proper painting is proper prep work. Many DIYers find themselves not applying the correct paint or primer for an exterior application, which can lead to flaking, mildew issues, or just an unprofessional look,” says Outlaw.

And there are other considerations if you want to do the job right. “When doing work on the side of the house or the roof, make sure you’ve got someone to hold the bottom of the ladder, so you can be sure you complete the project safely,” Scott advises. Also, you can run into a variety of problem if you don’t know the right temperature range for exterior painting.

Measure twice so you can cut once. Image: dotshock/Shutterstock

Flooring installation: 30.0%

Our experts believe that flooring installation is a very doable DIY project, but there are some caveats. “Proper flooring installation also comes down to prep. The existing subfloor or concrete slab may need to have leveling completed or repairs made,” explains Outlaw. “Use measuring tapes, start or lay out from the center of the room, and use spaces when laying tile.”

Scott agrees that it can be done by DIYers and reiterates that measuring is critical. “This is one case in remodeling where it’s not ok to cut corners. Ensuring that you’ve got the right measurements, especially near obstructions like fireplaces or islands, is crucial to the success of the project.” Scott recommends consulting a remodeling professional or someone at a local hardware store, if you have any questions.

The post DIY Disagreements: These Home Improvement Projects are Most Likely to Cause Fights With Your Significant Other appeared first on Freshome.com.

In the U.S., fire departments respond to one fire every 88 seconds, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Cooking is the most common cause of home fires and smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths. But there are many other ways that you could inadvertently start a fire. These are some of the hidden fire sources in your home.

Don’t store batteries near metal. Image: Mariva2017/Shutterstock

Batteries

All batteries pose a fire risk, even those with a weak charge, according to Craig Gjelsten, VP of Operations at Rainbow International, which restores damage caused by fire, water and mold. Gjelsten says that 9-volt batteries are the biggest fire culprit. Since their terminals are in close proximity, they can easily short. “I recommend a battery storage case or just leave batteries in their original packaging instead of lying around loose.”

Gjelsten also recommends storing batteries standing upright and placing electrical tape over the ends of each battery — regardless of the battery type. Other tips include not storing batteries in metal containers or placing them near keys, steel wool or other metal objects. “Also, be sure to store 9-volt batteries separately,” Gjelsten says.

Check for dust bunnies around sockets. Image: NothingisEverything/Shutterstock

Damaged electrical equipment and dust bunnies

If your electrical equipment is damaged, it can easily overheat and result in a fire, according to Tom Wallace, a Certified Master Inspector at Home Check Inspections in Riverview, FL. “It is important to regularly inspect the electrical equipment in your home for damaged or frayed cords and plugs,” Wallace advises.

You may be thinking that you’d know if you had damaged or frayed cords and plugs. But that’s not necessarily the case. “Power or extension cords hidden behind a bed or table that are repeatedly knocked against can become worn out,” explains Bill Timmons, Marketing Manager of Residential Products at Legrand. He also warns against walking over cords — for example, under carpets or on your hardwood floors — since this can also result in damage.

And don’t forget the dreaded dust bunnies. When they form around electronics, sockets and heaters, Gjelsten says they can ignite and start a fire. “Regularly vacuum dust near outlets, wires and appliances, including crevices and areas behind furniture,” he says.

Turn off your coffee maker when it’s not being used. Image: John Kasawa/Shutterstock

Coffee makers

“Your coffee pot could overheat and start a fire,” says Battalion Chief Raymond Williams of the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department in Birmingham, AL. He says coffee pots with plastic components can get too hot if you forget to turn them off. Although most coffee pots with digital clocks have an automatic two-hour shut off, that’s still plenty of time for them to overheat. Also, several years ago, Kenmore recalled 145,000 coffee makers due to faulty wiring. So, to be on the safe side, don’t leave your coffee maker unattended and manually turn it off when you’re not using it.

Use care with flammable liquids. Image: Elder von Rabenstein/Shutterstock

Flammable liquids

It’s probably no surprise that gasoline or kerosene can inadvertently start a fire. “These flammable items should be stored away from heat sources in appropriate containers,“ says Wallace. “The containers should be labeled and easily identifiable.”

However, there are other flammable liquids that can also start a fire. For example, a woman in Texas opened a bottle of nail polish remover and left it near a candle in an unventilated room. The bottle ignited and she suffered third-degree burns.

Keep laptops off of soft surfaces. Image: Twin Design/Shutterstock

Laptops

If you’ve ever held your laptop in your lap for an extended period of time, you know it can get very hot. However, you might not have known that it can actually catch on fire. “Laptops can get pretty hot during normal operation. When placed on a blanket or similar surface, the batteries can overheat and cause a house fire,” Gjelsten says. He warns against leaving your laptop on any type of soft surface. If you don’t have a home office or desk, consider using a laptop stand.

Use the proper wattage for your light fixture. Image: Darin Echelberger/Shutterstock

Light bulbs

Are you familiar with the term “overlamping”? It occurs when the light bulb wattage is too high for the lamp, and Gjelsten warns that overlamping can start a home fire. For example, if you use a 75-watt bulb in a 40-watt lamp, you’re overlamping.

“If the fixture is unmarked, stay under 60 watts to be safe,” Gjelsten says. He also advises caution with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). “Avoid using CFLs when the base of the bulb is enclosed by the fixture, such as with track and recessed lighting,” he says. “If your CFLs are burning out early and they’re brown at the base when removed, the bulbs are overheating.” Gjelsten recommends a cooler option, like LED.

Perform preventive maintenance on your dryer. Image: Good moments/Shutterstock

Dryer vents

While you’re sprucing up your laundry room, don’t forget to clean your dryer vent on a regular basis. You should empty the dryer lint screen before every load, according to Dave Lavalle, Founder of Dryer Vent Wizard. “While the dryer vent and duct system carries the air and lint outdoors, some of it gets trapped in the lint screen,” he explains. And since lint is very combustible, he says the screen should be emptied before every load. “Also, on a quarterly basis, clean the lint screen in soapy water,” he adds. That’s because detergent, fabric softener and other materials can build up and create a transparent film.

In addition, you need to check the vent cover on the home’s exterior to ensure that there’s no mulch or bird/rodent nesting materials. “Lastly, check the flexible tube-shaped transition duct that connects the dryer and the duct,” Lavelle says. Every other month, he recommends checking behind the dryer to ensure the transition duct hasn’t been crushed or broken.

Don’t let paper pile up. Image: Nongnuch L/Shutterstock

Other hidden fire sources

Gjelsten also warns that if you leave stacks of newspapers and magazines too close to a heat source, they can ignite. “And if you use heating blankets and pads, do not place the cord between the mattress and box spring,” he adds. Gjelsten also advises against using these heating items on anything but the lowest setting.

“Also, throwing that unused bag of charcoal in the closest storage closet is never a good idea.” He says that damp coal can ignite and start a serious fire. Instead, Gjelsten recommends storing the bag in a metal pail or garbage can with a tightly closed lid.

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