Disclaimer

Home projects can cause injury and property damage when they go wrong. Please read this page before you use any guide on the site.

General information only

Everything on Your Home Handbook is general information for education. It is not professional advice and it is not tailored to your home, your materials or your local rules. Reading a guide does not create a professional relationship between you and the site, its authors or its reviewers.

Know when to hire a licensed professional

Electrical, gas, structural, roofing and some plumbing and heating work can be dangerous and is often regulated. In many places it must be done by a licensed contractor or needs a permit. If you are unsure whether a job is safe for you to do yourself, hire a licensed professional.

You take the risk of DIY work

If you choose to do a project yourself, you do so at your own risk. Use the right safety equipment, follow tool and product instructions, and stop if something does not look right. We are not responsible for injury, damage or loss that results from following or misreading anything on the site.

Codes, permits and manufacturer instructions

Building codes, permit rules and licensing requirements differ by city, county and state, and they change. Before you start, check the rules that apply where you live. If a manufacturer's instructions or a warranty disagree with a guide here, follow the manufacturer.

Costs and time estimates

Prices, cost ranges and project times in our guides are estimates. Real numbers depend on your location, materials, the condition of your home and the contractor you hire. Use them to plan, then get written quotes.

Accuracy

We work to keep guides accurate and up to date, but we cannot promise that every detail is complete or current. Products, standards and rules change. If you spot an error, please tell us.

Authors and reviewers

Guides may be written or reviewed by professionals. Their views and advice apply to the topic in general, not to your specific situation, and a credential does not make any guide a guarantee of results.

External links

We link to outside websites for convenience. We do not control them and do not endorse everything on them.

Questions

Email hello@yourhomehandbook.com. See also our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.