how to be a good handyman at home?

Question

This is a simple question, i have moved out of home for the first time and would like to keep the house "up to scratch" if there are any hints and tips on how to fix things around the house, what they may be and keeping an eye on all things that will need replacing as they wear and tear.

Answer 1

Keep your work space clean and organized. Don't start doing anything until you have all of your tools were they should be. Keep the floor clean. Don't leave things laying around after you finished using it. Don't forget about safety;safatey glasses,fire extinguishers,workig gloves,first aid kit close by,bandages etc. Don't use electronic or high power cutting tools when all alone in the home or on the job site. If you're using or working with adhesives (not including carpenters glue) or sprays. Use the stuff outside or at least keep one garage door fully open and get a electronic fan point it so that it fans the fumes out of the garage towards the opened garage door.
Measure 3 times because you can only cut once. Have a scrap section. Where you can store scrap wood,metals,plastics,cables,paper etc. Scraps can be used again and you save $$$.
Whatever poject you start. Make sure you do some research about it before you spend any money. Don't take on anything too complicated for your skill level just to prove that you're a handy man. Everyone has their limits.

Answer 2

Get a power screwdriver and a holster to put it in, to begin with. As far as hanging pics or towel racks all I need is a tape measure a pencil and my handy power screwdriver.
Wear and tear on a house is a kinda take-it-as-it-comes. When it breaks fix it. You should have already assessed the home for any major repairs(I assume). Check out the ceilings for evidence of water damage, check the foundation for evidence of deterioration, etc. Make sure the heating/cooling systems are up to date and sufficient. Will need an expert for that. Owning a home is an adventure. There are no hard & fast rules. Too many variables for that. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Certainly all valid answers.

DIY is often a trial and error thing,,, and there are those occasional OOPS issues.

"Maintain" is a keyword,,, and on a regular basis.

Consider that a European home might be 400 years older than yours.... WHY? Maintenance, for the most part.

Everything WEARS, most everything degrades or deteriorates over time. Those issues should be addressed as they happen. Forget the notion that "Next week, month, year" might be OK.

Even the most mundane issue such as checking faucet flow and washers; helps. Certainly the cosmetics of a home are relatively easy to notice and keep up with. More valid for any home owner is the FUNCTIONALITY of the house.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

Check your sinks for leaks. Pipes can leak and you may not even know until damage occurs. They can rot your cabinet and even the floor underneath if it gets too bad.

Keep an eye on the siding. Different siding is prone to different issues so read about yours. For example if you have Jim Hardie siding you want to make sure there isn't a nick that will allow water to get inside, because it will make the siding swell. If you have vinyl you want to make sure that alge isn't growing on it.

Make sure your roof is in good condition. This is especially important if you live in an older house. Check around the chimney for leaks. Look at your ceiling for water damage, or go in the attic if you have one. Also go up on the roof to inspect it.

Answer 5

Definitely tackle the maintenance as it happens if you let it go until next week ten more things will need to fixed and your weekends will be shot.Home depot has a book for every part of a home and are very helpful.

Answer 6

I am not very handy anymore but I do have a suggestion that might help. Keep a log. As you see things that need repairing - even if you don't know how to repair them - write it down with a short description of the problem. That way when you are trying to figure out what to do with that 'extra' cash, you won't have to look any further than the list to set you on the right track.

Answer 7

The Reader's Digest Do-It-Yourself manual is the best source of info I have ever found. I built one house and completly refurbished another using it. In 25 years of selling hardware, it was where I got the info needed to advise the customers. It's well written, easily understandable, and has great illustrations. You can't possibly go wrong with the Reader's Digest book.

Answer 8

what i like to do when i have to make a repair is try and fix as much as i can and then i'll start cussin and tell the wife its garbage and to go buy a new one. also when i went to hang a picture and put a hole in the wall, she dosen't ask anymore now she does it. the most important thing is to make sure u tell everyone u do all the work at home, that u are mr. fix it

Answer 9

Practice is the answer to your question.

Dig and and get going on the first thing that breaks. THere are no blanket rules or hints. Best advice I can give is:

a) to buy the most expensive tools you can afford and do not lose them.

b) Make sure that you do not leave tools out after use.

c)And sharpen/grease/clean every tool that needs it every year - this keeps them ready for use.

Wish I had a guy around the house that did the above things!

Answer 10

There is a book called "Home & Repair" that is wonderful!!! It's my bible for home ownership. Check it out at Amazon or you can buy it at Home Depot, at least. Seriously, if there's one book that you can use for a reference any time you need help fixing something, it's this one. I've used it for Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Construction (new closet), and more. It tells you skill levels, etc. Wonderful!!!