10 DIY Repairs Handymen Secretly Hate Doing (But Won’t Tell You)
Every guy I know wants to DIY most things around their home. They take a look at a how-to video on YouTube and think to themselves, “How hard can this really be?” Well, there are some DIY repairs that just aren’t worth trying to tackle yourself. Here are 10 such repairs that I wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.
1. Popcorn Ceiling Removal
On the surface, it seems simple—just scrape and repaint. But ask any handyman, and they’ll groan at the mention of it. Popcorn ceilings are messy, time-consuming, and often contain asbestos in older homes. The dust alone can turn your living room into a snow globe of misery. If you don’t prep properly, you’ll be scrubbing specks off your floors and walls for weeks.
2. Toilet Flange Repairs
The toilet flange is what secures your toilet to the floor, and fixing it is as unpleasant as it sounds. You’ll need to remove the toilet (heavy and awkward), deal with wax seals, and possibly fix floor rot. It’s smelly, cramped, and hard on the knees. One wrong move, and you could crack the toilet or cause a leak that costs you even more. Even experienced handymen would rather not touch this one.
3. Drywall Patching Over Textured Walls
Patching drywall might seem like a beginner-friendly DIY repair, but textured walls change the game. Matching texture is a craft—too thick, and it stands out; too thin, and it looks like a blotch. Many homeowners assume you can slap on some spackle and call it a day. Handymen know it can take hours of trial, error, sanding, and retexturing to make it seamless. It’s one of the most deceptively tricky repairs out there.
4. Replacing Old Light Fixtures
Swapping out a light fixture sounds simple until you’re face-to-face with old wiring from the 1950s. Handymen hate it because they never know what’s lurking behind that ceiling plate—frayed wires, missing junction boxes, or mixed circuits. One wrong twist, and you’re tripping breakers or risking a fire hazard. Unless you’re confident with electrical work, this DIY repair might be better left to the pros.
5. Fixing Door Frames That Won’t Close Right
Doors that won’t close properly drive people nuts—and fixing them drives handymen nuts, too. It’s rarely just the hinges; you might be dealing with warped wood, shifting foundations, or improperly installed jambs. What looks like a quick fix can spiral into hours of planning, adjusting, and rehanging. That’s why many handymen secretly dread this deceptively simple task.
6. Repairing Water-Damaged Cabinets
Cabinets that have absorbed water are a nightmare to fix. The particleboard swells, warps, and starts to fall apart. Handymen know there’s no real “repair” for that—it’s often a replace job disguised as a fix-it call. Yet customers often expect a miracle. Most professionals would rather install new cabinets than pretend they can bring soggy ones back to life.
7. Caulking Around Bathtubs and Sinks
Caulking seems harmless, right? Not when you’re scraping out layers of dried, moldy, cracked goo from the last ten failed attempts. It takes patience, a steady hand, and a willingness to get messy in tight spaces. Handymen may smile while redoing your caulk job—but inside, they’re cringing. This is one of those DIY repairs that often needs to be redone because people rush it.
8. Painting Over Glossy or Peeling Walls
Painting over the wrong surface is one of the most common DIY mistakes. Glossy walls need sanding and primer, and peeling paint needs full scraping. Many homeowners skip prep and blame the paint later. Handymen get called in to fix these mistakes, and it’s rarely a fun task. It’s tedious, dirty, and takes way more time than you’d think.
9. Fixing Loose Bathroom Tiles
Loose tiles in the bathroom are almost always signs of deeper water damage. What looks like a simple re-adhesion often uncovers rotted backer board or mold. Handymen secretly hate these jobs because there’s no telling how far the damage goes. One tile turns into tearing out half the wall, and nobody likes delivering that kind of news.
10. Trying to Silence Squeaky Floors
That innocent little squeak might seem easy to fix, but finding its source is another story. Handymen often crawl under homes, pull up carpets, or drill into subfloors trying to chase down the noise. Sometimes, the squeak is in a joist that can’t be reached without major construction. While you might think it’s a quick repair, handymen know it’s a hunt with no guaranteed solution.
Think Before You Tackle That “Simple” Fix
When you own your own home, it’s easy to want to tackle “simple” fixes around the house. However, it’s important to proceed with caution. While each of these 10 jobs might look manageable at first, they often take up a lot more time and will frustrate you to no end. Sometimes, it’s worth calling in a pro and saving your sanity.
Have you ever attempted a DIY repair that went completely sideways? Share your story in the comments—especially if it involved caulk, squeaky floors, or popcorn ceilings!
Read More
8 DIY Mistakes That Could Land You in Court (or Cost You a Fortune)
