Some do-it-yourself projects are worthwhile and very valuable. If you need to fix a bad spot on your deck or repair a faulty step on your front porch, chances are you can handle the job without calling in (or paying for) a professional.
In other cases, the DIY approach is considerably less wise. Unless you are an experienced electrician or plumber, you would not want to rewire your house, install a new fuse box or replace the worn out pipes under your sink. In those cases, trying to do the job on your own will probably make things worse, and those DIY projects could even put your safety at risk.
Automotive upholstery is another area where the DIY approach is not the smartest one. When it comes to your car, you should leave the upholstery repairs and other restorations up to the professionals, and taking the DIY approach could leave you with a vehicle that is less valuable, or even unsafe to drive. Here are a few reasons why DIY automotive upholstery is a very bad idea.
Poorly Installed Upholstery Will Hurt Your Resale Value
Even if you do not mind that crookedly installed and discolored rug, the next owner of your vehicle surely will. Trying to install or repair your own automotive upholstery will hurt your resale value down the line, and it could cost you far more than a professional repair job would have.
Resale value is an important consideration whenever you work with your car, so do the smart thing and call in the experts for your automotive upholstery needs. The money you spend now will come back to you many times over when it is time to sell your car.
DIY Automotive Upholstery Could Put Your Safety at Risk
A poor resale value is one reason to avoid DIY automotive upholstery work, but it is not the most important one. The upholstery and carpeting in your vehicle may look nice, but it also plays an important role in your safety and the safety of your family.
Just think what would happen if your DIY headliner job failed while you were driving, leaving you temporarily blinded and unable to operate your vehicle safely. What would happen if your newly installed carpet gives way, trapping the rug under the accelerator pedal just when the light turns red? Safety concerns alone should be reason enough to leave automotive upholstery to the experts.
There is no reason to take the DIY approach to automotive upholstery repairs and restoration. If your vehicle runs good but looks bad, it is time to call in the experts and get the job done right the first time.
