Anyone who’s owned a property for a while knows that it takes a lot of hard work and money to keep the house up to par. As a result of the financial strain, many homeowners opt to forego the middle man and take matters into their own hands. With a few how-to guides and the right tools, they can essentially complete home improvement projects on their own and save a lot of money in the process.

DIY home improvement is convenient. In taking this route, however, there are risks involved. Beyond making a home issue worse, you could end up hurt. While a cut or scrape is nothing to worry yourself with, a serious injury could alter your life.

Some end up so severely injured that they end up needing surgery and prescription medications to recover. The pressure of being out of work, not being able to complete normal tasks, and other stresses even force some to end up needing prescription drug rehab for addiction treatment.

Playing it safe, therefore, is the only way to protect yourself,  your family, and your home. Below, are some DIY home improvement safety tips to keep in mind.

Know Your Limits

One of the first safety tips when DIYing is to know your limits. Though doing your own maintenance and repairs to save money, it can backfire. If you’re uncomfortable completing a task but attempt it any way you could end up getting hurt. Imagine having no electrical experience but trying to rewire your house to bring it up to code. You could get electrocuted, blow fuses, or even burn the house down.

If something needs to be done in your home that you’re not skilled in, whether it’s heating and cooling, plumbing, or electricity, ultimately, it’s best to hire a professional.

Keep Work Area Clean and Organized

You’re going to need a lot of tools and equipment to complete a home improvement job. Depending on the type of job you’re doing, there’s also tons of debris. To prevent tripping, getting scraped, cut, poked, stabbed, or otherwise, it is important to keep your work area clean and organized. Keep all cords together to avoid tripping, discard all debris after demolition, and keep all tools in their required cases and shelves.

Dress for Protection

To reduce your risk of getting injured while working on your home it is imperative that you dress for protection. Wearing protective gear shields some of the most sensitive parts of your body from getting hurt. This can include wearing steel-toe shoes, a hard hat, goggles, a dust mask, and gloves.

Educate Yourself

Even if you believe yourself to be a pro in a particular area it’s a good idea to educate yourself. Lack of knowledge can cause you to make mistakes that hurt you physically and financially. Review the owner’s manual, watch a tutorial on the internet, or consult a contractor to get advice on how to complete the job from start to finish.

Rope Off Work Area

You aren’t the only person who could end up hurt during a home improvement project. Your family and pets are also at risk. To reduce the chances of them getting injured it is best to rope off the work area. Placing caution tape, installing child safety gates, and locking doors let everyone know to steer clear and prevents young children and pets from entering when you’re not looking. If necessary, make arrangements for your family to spend time elsewhere while you work on the house. For instance, if you’re renovating the kitchen or working with a system that could expose them to certain toxic chemicals, it may be best for them to stay with family or at a hotel.

Keep a First Aid Kit

Remember, there’s always a risk of injury when working on your home. While you can’t prevent every incident from occurring it is recommended that you’re prepared. At the very least, this should mean having a fully-stocked first aid kit nearby. Having ointment, bandages, and other supplies on hand allow you to quickly deal with any small injury.

Doing your own home improvement maintenance and repairs isn’t uncommon. In fact, it is preferred because of its convenience. Be that as it may, there are serious health and safety risks involved with doing things yourself. To protect yourself, family, budget, and property, take extra precautions and complete the safety tips listed above.