DIY Glass Repair – The Pros and Cons
DIY has become a popular pastime as many of us have spent more time inside our homes on the Gold Coast and Brisbane over the last year or so. It was easier to ignore all the odd jobs around the house when we were hardly home to notice them. That chipped glass coffee table, the hole in the wall hidden behind the laundry basket, that small leak at the laundry tap can all be put on the back burner when we are busy. But with the shift to work from home, home schooling and lockdown after lockdown, all those fiddly repair jobs needed around the house are starting to be moved from the ‘One Day’ list and added to today’s ‘To do’ list. So which repair jobs can we save some money on and do it ourselves and which ones should we leave to the experts?
While DIY is all the rage, there are some important factors to consider when taking on your next DIY project –
Do you have the time to repair these items yourself?
Do you have the tools needed to accomplish a professional finish?
Do you have the skills needed to create the best finished product?
Is it worth sacrificing your personal time for this project?
Do you have the mental space to take on another ‘Thing’?
Will your DIY repair add value to your home or item if you were to sell it later?
Is it safe to repair it yourself?
Will you void a warranty if you repair it?
Is DIY really cost effective if you add all these things up?
While some jobs around the home can be a quick fix with a trip to Bunnings and some putty and paint for that small hole, or a new washer or some silicone for the leaky tap – some jobs can end up costing you more than you bargained for.
When it comes to electrical repairs, most of us are aware it is wise to call an expert. We all respect the dangers electricity can cause in and around the home. But what about those small glass repairs? Surely a small chip in a coffee table just needs a glass repair kit, no?
It surprises us daily how little thought we give to the dangers of glass around the home. While we love lots of light and big open windows, streamlined glass balustrades, rimless shower screens and mirrored wardrobes in our homes in South East Queensland, we often give little regard to just how much glass and mirrors can impact our life if something goes wrong.
A small chip in a glass coffee table may appear harmless, yet that chip can lead to some pretty nasty outcomes, while the whole repair job itself can be a painful process if you’re not prepared. Suddenly that little job involves protective gear, the hurried mixing of resins before they set, the holding together with multiple hands with the fear of cracking the glass if pressed too firmly, the razoring of edges to neaten the repair, the sanding that needs the exact pressure and right grade of material as to not create irreversible scratches… It’s stressful even thinking about it.
If you need to pop the pane out of a window frame to repair or replace the glass, there are more hazards to consider. Or if you are hoping to recreate a sharp corner again on the TV cabinet door, we are talking about creating edges with cardboard or plastic and fashioning a new point that matches the other three corners. Is it worth your time to repair these sort of jobs yourself? Is it safe with kids and pets around? Are you prepared if something goes wrong?
If your next DIY is a cracked glass window, chances are you are better off replacing it than repairing it. So in our opinion, glass is another one of those projects better handled by an expert. It is important to engage the services of qualified glaziers who not only have the tools to get the job done fast, but also the experience to handle any potential hazards.
It is also wise to keep in mind the finished product and its resale value before you start your DIY projects. Those few extra dollars spent now could mean better value in the long run and with Glass Now, we can even assist you with fast and efficient processing of your insurance claims.
Remember to consider your personal time in weighing up the cost of any of your DIY repairs. Consider your hourly rate in your normal work life – does the time you are spending on this project add up? Have you sacrificed precious down time for this task? Has it cost you time with your kids, or even the ever important – time to relax? All these things need to be evaluated when assessing your DIY projects.
With our time becoming more scarce and our priorities focused on our families and personal hobbies, some DIY project ideas are worth leaving to the experts. It frees up the stress from our weekends and gives us one less thing to worry about that we just keep putting off anyway. Handing these jobs to an expert and spending the day at the beach, sounds like a wise investment of your time and money.
Glass Now Glass Repair team in action
Also keep in mind any warranties that might be attached to something you are hoping to repair. In most situations, once you have attempted a repair yourself, your chance of a refund or replacement has been voided. It is best to see what is possible with a manufacturing company before attempting a repair yourself.
So before you head to the garage with big ideas, check your warranty, assess for potential hazards and the safety of your loved ones, weigh up the value of your time and energy, and consider whether you can just put your feet up and let the experts take your stress away. It’s important to consider the real cost of your DIY projects and in these times, your local repair business may be very grateful for your support!
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