Nothing could be more cost efficient than for you to do the job yourself. Hiring this job done could cost five times as much as renting the equipment and doing it yourself. But, working on a sloped roof can be very dangerous - especially when it's wet. And unless you are, strong, agile and well coordinated, it may not be a wise task for you to perform. It can be difficult to decide on whether to do-it-yourself or hire a contractor. Here are a few ideas that may help in the decision making process.

Projects that are labor intense (where labor costs far exceed the value of the replacement part and/or equipment costs), and that do not expose the family to danger or inconvenience, are prime candidates for big savings by a do-it-yourselfer. Examples: Hiring a plumber to replace a 30-cent gasket can end up costing over $100. Hiring an electrician to install a $9 dimmer switch can cost over $100. Hiring a painter to perform a pressure washing of the exterior (water and do-it-yourself rental equipment cost approximately $200) can cost over $2,000.

Even though labor intense, for less experienced do-it-yourselfers, working on gas lines and major electrical wiring are projects that are wisely left to professionals. Done improperly, they can result in fires or explosions.

Hiring a contractor to do small repairs or alterations can be expensive. In addition to expertise, part of the price they charge pays for the time that it takes to get from their shop to your home, having the proper tools, going to the store to purchase the part (or the cost to keep it in stock), the cost to do the paperwork for the project (for you, themselves and Uncle Sam), a contingency cost in case something goes wrong and the cost to maintain a warranty.

Jobs where material costs are equal to, or exceed, the value of the installation cost, or that expose the family to unsafe conditions or major disruption, may not be cost-effective as do-it-yourself projects. For example: If a countertop manufacturer will charge $150 to install a $500 countertop, hiring the manufacturer to do the installation makes sense. This is because the person that both supplies and installs a product is usually liable for its replacement if it is damaged during installation. In this case, saving $150 might not be worth the risk of having to purchase the $500 countertop a second time. On the other hand, mixing responsibilities (hiring a contractor to install something you supply) might prove to be a problem.

A contractor may not agree to accept liability for damage caused during installation of a product that you supply. For example: You have purchased a light fixture and want an electrician to install it. The fixture is scratched during installation and you want the electrician to replace the fixture. This is where it is important to read the contract before you sign it - to insure that such a waiver doesn't exist.