What do you need to go from IDK to DIY Hero?
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Getting it done right isn’t really about being a guy, even if the old stereotype says that “real men know how to make stuff that works.”
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I’m sure you have heard the quote, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”
(Interestingly enough, I believe this quote is attributed to Napoleon. He certainly knew how to get things done!) I think we can all get things done right without taking it to those extremes.
Getting it done right isn’t really about being a guy, even if the old stereotype says that “real men know how to make stuff that works.” I have three sisters who could DIY most guys under the table. But us guys DO like to make stuff, and we like to do things right.
My father was a carpenter/builder/contractor, and I was bitten by the “how-do-you-do-that” bug at an early age. During years as an unpaid carpenter’s helper (after all I was a kid) and later a (usually paid) builder/contractor I learned a lot from my father and other professionals in the building trades. I am a licensed residential building contractor, but no matter the experience level, we all find ourselves at a “how-do-you-do-that” stage at some point. (Especially when we’re seeing those “see how easy this is” videos or Pinterest posts and we’re thinking, “Easy? I WISH!)
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That is what I want to focus on here. All those things you WANT to do yourself, and you WISH were really easy. Fix things. Make things. Do things right so you don’t have to do them again.
Leave your questions in the comments, share this post, and be sure you’re subscribed to updates so you won’t miss any of the answers! |
My goal as Editor of the DIY Section is to provide ideas, tips, tricks, critiques, advice, (and hopefully a little humor) in the DIY arena.
I’m also going to BEG you for your questions and feedback about favorite DIY projects you’re proud of, DIY projects you would like to tackle, DIY projects that kicked your arse, really anything DIY that we can discuss.
Other areas I want to explore include essential tools you should own for DIY, those that can be rented (and makes sense monetarily), perceptions about necessary skill levels, where to find the appropriate tools and materials, and realistic expectations of how long a DIY project should take to complete.
Leave your questions in the comments, share this post, and be sure you’re subscribed to updates so you won’t miss any of the answers!
For instance, remember that the first essential for a DIY project is a well-stocked first-aid kit!
So welcome to DIY here on The Good Men Project. I intend to have a lot of fun. I hope you do too.
Photo: Flickr/Chris and Jenni
I plan on replacing stairs in my house (they squeak). I am looking for some good tips on the best method to do this.
Great question about stairs! There are several issues to consider when replacing stairs, which I can address in an article. My posts run on Tuesday and Saturday – check back soon.
Thanks for the question.
Tom Gillaspie