When a dangerous stunt is shown on TV, it often comes with the disclaimer: "Don't try this at home."
But what if the stunt you're attempting doesn't seem so dangerous? What if it's so ordinary it doesn't even count as a "stunt"?
Nope, you tell yourself, this is just a simple chore on the to-do list that a reasonably intelligent person could handle without working up a sweat. Yep, this looks so everyday-easy you wonder why you haven't attempted it before. Surely there's no harm in saving a little time and money by doing it yourself.
Partly by choice and partly by necessity, that mindset has helped us get through the last two years of quarantine lockdowns and economic slowdowns. Spurred by a renewed self-sufficiency related to the pandemic, we've attempted some of these tasks: cutting our own hair, grooming our pets, attempting electrical repairs, trimming tree limbs.
And let's just say the results have been mixed. Turns out DIY videos on YouTube can only take you so far. And there are plenty of other internet sites with clips of epic fails meant to emphasize the wisdom in "Don't try this at home."
Here, four Chattanooga-area service professionals give their best advice for why you might rather call in an expert. Note that having the proper tools figures prominently into their answers.
HAIRCUTS— The expert:Terri Thomas, owner of Terri's Salon
— You think it's easy, butTraining requirements may vary, but a license is required in all 50 states to practice cosmetology, which includes cutting hair professionally.
"It looks easy — and parts of it are easy — but there are little things you don't think about," says Thomas, who has 40 years' experience.
And just remember that you're likely looking at your mirror image to accomplish the task. Maybe the mirror doesn't lie, but it can definitely alter your perception when you're trying to cut your own hair. Your hair stylist has a 360-degree view of your head.
— Her best recommendation:Bangs are the worst offenses for at-home haircuts — "definitely the bangs," Thomas says. The biggest problem is people trying to cut too much too soon.
"What I tell people, if you're going to try to cut your own bangs, that's fine, but do it a quarter-inch at a time. If it's not enough, you can always do it again tomorrow. When people think they need an inch off, it really needs to be about a half-inch. I tell them a half-inch or a quarter-inch at a time."
— Something else to consider:"Most people don't have hair-cutting scissors at home," Thomas says. "They may have an inexpensive pair they've picked up, and those are great the first few times. But they get dull really quick because they're made with cheaper metal. They don't hold the blade."
Following a six-week lockdown during the pandemic, Thomas says one of her clients returned looking as if he'd been using maybe craft scissors to cut his hair. "He said he didn't care" [because he was home alone], she recalls. "It was just whack whack."
DOG GROOMING— The expert:Norma Belford, owner of House of Pets Grooming
— You think it's easy, butWhen it comes to dog grooming, the unkindest cuts are often at the hands of the pet's owner, says Belford, who opened her first grooming shop in the Chattanooga area in September of 1976.
"[The dogs] come in with their hair all chopped up, and then the areas that really needed work, like mats around their legs, [the owners have] left that," she says.
Even as well as she knows her craft, Belford says she'd rather have a happy dog than a "perfect" cut, so she heeds each animal's temperament and mood.
"My main thing — and it always has been — is I'm not going to traumatize a dog in order to get it groomed," she says.
"Today I had an older Shih Tzu. He comes in every week for a bath, but this time he needed a haircut, and he didn't want me to do it. I'm not going to muzzle and hogtie a little dog. I had his mommy come in [to the grooming space], and that helped a lot. I don't try for perfection. I don't want dogs stressed or traumatized. We do the best we can without pushing too far."
Belford says she always tells her new employees that she wants all of her doggie clients to look good, but their well-being is her highest priority.
"I want them to leave here happy and with their tails wagging," she says.
— Her best recommendation:Get the right tools. "Clippers are not that expensive, but what most people buy [off the shelf] just won't hold up to serious grooming," Belford says. "And you have to have quite a few blades. Blades determine the length of the cut."
Do-it-yourselfers too often try a "one size cuts all" approach, Belford says. Using a blade that's too short or too dull can leave the dog's fur uneven. A short, dull or hot blade, when it contacts the skin, can cause clipper burn.
Groomers will typically use several blade lengths depending on the fur they're cutting. Different blades would be appropriate "around the face, the feet and the sanitary areas," Belford says. "And there are four or five different lengths you can go with [the fur on] the body."
— Something else to consider:It's not just about having the right tools. Belford says she's learned over the years that some people are just better at dog grooming than others.
Long before she was hired, one House of Pets employee, who also runs a dog rescue, picked up on the fundamentals of technique just by watching Belford work on the rescued dogs she brought in for Belford to groom.
"Little by little, she taught herself," Belford says of the eventual employee. "She caught on in no time. Some people struggle for years and can only go so far. It's all about having the knack for it."
TREE WORK— The expert:Tyler Schievelhud, owner of Lumberjacks Tree Service
— You think it's easy, but"I've seen people grab a ladder and go up in a tree to cut a limb, and the limb ends up knocking them off the ladder," says Schievelhud, who has 12 years of experience. "I know of one guy who tried to do that and broke his hip in three places.
"Maybe you can change your ceiling fan or redo your flower beds or paint your kitchen, but most all aspects of tree work are dangerous. It takes highly trained professionals. We carry well over a million dollars of equipment to do this work, and it's still dangerous. Having the right tools makes a huge difference."
— His best recommendation:Schievelhud says many problems with trees could be avoided if new plantings are given room to grow and established trees are trimmed back by professionals.
— Something else to consider:"People do things that will kill their trees thinking they're being helpful," he says. Two big mistakes: Making mulch mounds around the base of trees and planting new trees too close to the house.
Schievelhud says it's common to see homeowners make large mounds or "volcanoes" of mulch around the base of the tree, but that can lead to an unhealthy growing environment.
"When mulch or yard debris is piled too high, the trapped moisture creates ideal conditions for fungus, insects and root rot," he explains. "While a small amount of mulch can be beneficial to your tree, it is best to err on the side of caution and keep the layer no thicker than 2 to 3 inches."
As for planting new trees, give them room to grow. Some species can reach heights of more than 25 feet in only seven to 10 years, he says. Homeowners should pay attention to the plant tags attached to trees at purchase. In addition to detailing the trees' sunlight and water needs, the tags give specific planting distances in relation to structures, roads and other trees.
"Large trees planted too close to the house not only run the risk of roots damaging the foundation but will also require constant maintenance to keep limbs off of the roof," he says. "The rule of thumb for large trees is to plant 18 to 20 feet away from the house."
ELECTRICAL WORK— The expert:Nathan Smith, Chattanooga branch manager for Mr. Electric
— You think it's easy, butSmith says something as seemingly simple as changing an electrical outlet can pose problems, even if the basic function is fairly straightforward. Most people know to shut off the power to the outlet at the breaker box, and there are voltage testers to make sure there's no juice still flowing where you're working. Some do-it-yourselfers may feel more confident by flipping the main breaker to turn off all the electricity.
But what do you know about hot, ground and neutral wires? Do you have a screwdriver and wire strippers to complete the job? Are you confident that when you turn the power back on, you'll feel safe plugging in a toaster or hair dryer?
Smith says issues with getting it right are more likely to arise in an older home. "A newer home is a little more up to date and up to code," he says.
Depending on the age of the house and the codes in place when it was built (or updated), it's possible that the color coding of some of the electrical wiring has changed. Knowing the difference could save your life. You're dealing with the potential for fire or an electrical shock. "A tenth of an amp [ampere] can kill you," Smith says. "That's not very much."
— His best recommendation:Unless you know the latest code requirements, hire a professional.
— Something else to consider:Smith says as more home appliances switch to electronic components, whole-house surge protection is a wise investment. Whole-house surge protection is installed at the breaker box, rather than individual outlets where a computer or television might be plugged in.
"Almost everything we use nowadays needs surge protection because almost everything we use is electronic," he says. "You used to have a dial on your stove, and now it's a pushbutton. There are circuit boards on refrigerators. Washers and driers have boards. Your TV has sensitive electronics."
It's not just larger appliances. Even LED light bulbs can be affected. "Surges can cause those to go bad," Smith says.