DIY Home Improvement

[Dr Dave]

I'm AGAINST it!

[Jimmy Cantiello]

So hire someone to do the job for you and pay at least twice as much for work you probably will take more care with and do a better job on in the long run...........

[claude]

It is a conundrum. It seems to me that hiring someone to do work around the house is at least as frustrating as doing it yourself if not moreso. I haven't figured out the answer yet. BTW, I have a carpenter coming this week to re-do our front entryway followed by a roofer to put on a new roof and finally a siding contractor to put on new siding. I guess I won't be getting too many new CDs this summer

[Gary Sisco]

I recently attempted to "fix" the guide wheel mechanism on an insanely heavy, sliding door on a horse stall in our barn. Wrong. Now I have to figure a way, and get some stalwart backs to help, take *off* that insanely heavy door, fix the mechanism properly (which can't be done any other way), and then put the insanely heavy door back on.

Lesson learned: Never send a pothead to do a real man's job.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I do as much as I can myself around the house, within reason, of course. It's been my experience, more often than not, that I do a better job than the so-called "professional" and at a fraction of the cost.

An old timer I once worked with told me the best way to learn is to always volunteer to help a friend with his/her projects. That way you get to practice and make mistakes on sombody else's house..............

I just took a home electrical wiring course to hopefully waylay my unreasonable fear of electricity and I'm still fucking scared to death of the shit. [I had a ceiling fan that wouldn't stop spinning, replaced its switch and it burned up. Maybe replacing the wall switch will work.]

[clinthopson]

Home maitenance - that's why god invented illegal aliens.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

I'm AGAINST it!

I am with you Dave. Can I hire you to tell my wife?

[edpack]

Most of the time when I hire someone to do a job around my house, I wind up thinking "I would've done it better". It's not a question of $$, it's TIME!

I'm so mechanically/technically inept that accomplishing anything in the realm of repairs/maintenance is a personal coup. I just recently figured out how to change the oil in my lawn mower and actually accomplished this feat, I'm proud to announce.

[rollhead]

You live in the south. I would find some good Jesus freak who would do the job for a song.

Down in Little Rock, I had a guy who would work on my home appliances. He usually only charged me $20 a visit, but I had to join him in prayer before he left.

DEAR JAY-SUS THANK you LORD for raising the spin cycle from the dead!

[rollhead]

Originally Posted by jazzbluescat

I'm so mechanically/technically inept that accomplishing anything in the realm of repairs/maintenance is a personal coup. I just recently figured out how to change the oil in my lawn mower and actually accomplished this feat, I'm proud to announce.

I always make a point of spraying some WD40 on anything I "fix" around the house.

If that doesn't work, I call in reinforcements.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Now you're on the right track, Rollie. WD-40 and duct tape is all you'll ever need. Those are two of the best products ever invented..........

Amen....and the hammer.

Did you know they've got a little gizmo that looks kinda like a big fountain pen that can tell you if there's electricity(hot) in a wire, switch, etc., simple by holding it on the item? It actually detects it through insulation and everything! flabbergasting

[claude]

I have added another to the list of handyman must-haves:



This stuff has fixed everything from broken lawnmower parts to a chipped saxophone mouthpiece. Great stuff!