Can you replace your own windows, siding or deck boards, or should you hire a contractor?
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Can you do exterior work on your own house?
Yes. Pennsylvania's home improvement law does not apply to work an owner does without pay on their own home, and several official sources treat caulking, painting and reglazing as do-it-yourself jobs. The harder questions are about what you might disturb, what the code still requires of you, and what you give up. Three things decide most cases: the age of the paint, whether the work is structural, and whether a product warranty depends on who installs it.
Which jobs do official sources treat as DIY?
Maintenance first. Utah State University Extension lists inspecting and redoing window caulk where it is cracked, gapped or peeling, and touching up exterior paint to keep moisture and rot out, among routine homeowner tasks. The National Park Service says some window repairs, such as reglazing, are relatively simple and suited to do-it-yourself work, while more extensive repairs may require a professional. It also says caulking, weatherstripping and replacing deteriorated glazing compound should come before any decision to replace historic windows, which puts the first and cheapest step within reach of most owners.
Does the lead rule apply when you do it yourself?
Generally not, but the hazard does. The EPA says its renovation rule does not apply to homeowners working on their own pre-1978 homes, but does apply if you rent out all or part of the home, run a child care center in it, or buy, renovate and sell homes for profit. For everyone else it recommends hiring a certified contractor and, if you do the work yourself, following its lead-safe practices for do-it-yourselfers: find out whether lead paint is present, set up the area safely, protect yourself, minimize dust, clean up daily, control waste and clean once more at the end.
The details are specific. The EPA suggests a certified lead inspector or risk assessor to test the paint, and says that if you cannot tell the home's age, assume the paint contains lead. It suggests a disposable N-100 respirator, coveralls, shoe covers, gloves and eye protection; misting surfaces before sanding or cutting; a HEPA vacuum; and, if you strip paint with heat, a low-temperature heat gun under 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Scraping a window sill in an old house without those steps is the kind of job that creates the dust the rule exists to prevent.
What about old siding that might contain asbestos?
This is where the EPA is most direct. It says you generally cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking, that if in doubt you should treat it as if it does and leave it alone, and that taking samples yourself is not recommended. Its do's and don'ts for homeowners say to have removal and major repair done by people trained and qualified to handle asbestos, and not to saw, sand, scrape or drill material that may contain it.
Federal law does not require people who remove asbestos from a detached single-family home to be accredited, the EPA says, though some states and localities do. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Labor and Industry lists asbestos removal contractors and workers among the few trades it certifies.
Does a permit still apply to an owner?
Yes, where the job needs one. The state regulation's permit rule is written for "an owner or authorized agent", and it exempts an uncovered deck whose floor is no more than 30 inches above grade; a higher or covered deck needs a permit whoever builds it. The regulation also says removing or cutting a structural beam or load-bearing support, or changing a required means of escape, is not an ordinary repair. Enlarging a window or door opening in a load-bearing wall falls on that side of the line; replacing a window in its existing opening, with only a minor framing change, does not.
Philadelphia allows a resident owner to do work under a building or EZ permit on an existing one- or two-family home. If you build a deck yourself, the code still applies: footings at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground and protected from frost where the deck is attached to the house, a minimum 2-by-8 treated ledger with galvanized or stainless fasteners, and guards and stairs to the code's dimensions, as set out in the International Residential Code.
What do you give up by doing it yourself?
Two things. First, the protections of Pennsylvania's home improvement law: the act excludes work an owner does without pay on their own home, and it does not reach a store that only sells you materials. The written-contract, deposit and cancellation rules exist only when you hire someone.
Second, possibly the warranty. ENERGY STAR says some window manufacturers void the warranty if their installation instructions are not followed, and some warranties require an installer certified by the manufacturer. Read the warranty before you buy a window or door you plan to install yourself.
Are there any safety points for deck projects?
Treated wood is one. The EPA says older decks may be built of wood treated with chromated arsenicals, which manufacturers stopped making for homeowner use at the end of 2003. Its advice is to wear goggles and a dust mask when sawing it, wash your hands afterward, and never burn it at home, because of the smoke and ash. It adds that households can usually put it out with ordinary trash, but that state and local rules may differ.
So which jobs should go to a contractor?
On the sources' own terms: anything that disturbs paint in a pre-1978 home you rent out, any removal of material that might contain asbestos, any structural change to an opening or a deck, and any product whose warranty requires a certified installer. Everything else is a judgment about your skill and time. When you do hire, questions to ask sets out what to check, and listed businesses are on the exterior remodeling directory page.
Sources
- Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Lead-Safe Renovations for DIYers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
- Weatherization of Historic Buildings: Repair and Upgrade Windows and Doors, National Park Service
- Home Maintenance Checklist, Utah State University Extension
- 2008 Act 132 (Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act), Pennsylvania General Assembly
- 34 Pa. Code 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- 34 Pa. Code 403.1. Scope., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
- Get permits without plans (EZ permits), City of Philadelphia
- Residential Windows, Doors, & Skylights, ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
- Chromated Arsenicals (CCA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Chapter 5 Floors, 2021 International Residential Code, International Code Council