STORM2K

O'TAY all you Bob Vila wanna be's.....how many here do their own home repairs, remodels? I see Ed and David are doing their own, I do 99.99% of my own repairs, building etc.....the "ONLY" thing I really, really HATE is plumbing me and water DO NOT get along PERIOD!

Dennis

If it's plumbing or carpentry, I give it a shot. Haven't done anything major since I rent, but I can deal with repairs. Electrical I leave to the pros.

Fortunately, Marty is really handy and has done carpentry, electric and plumbing work in both of our houses. I would like to learn how to do somethings, but if I was alone, I'd probably get a pro for most jobs.

Fix it!

Get solder with more than 50% lead..melts faster than tin..

Use ivory cloth versus anything else.. to clean the oxidation off the copper.

Use plenty of Flux.

Swipe the seam with the solder shortly after applying heat,,keeping it out of the flame. Evenly heat the whole joint and when it hits the melting point the whole piece will be ready.

Watch for the solder to get sucked into the joint.

Don't be whimpy on the solder...if it disappears when sticking it into the joint seam it is getting drawn in like it should..it does not evaporate.

Try to prefab a section first if more than one elbow etc. is needed..making sure you can slide the final piece into place.

Don't burn yourself..lol..had too...

Don't burn the house down..always a key issue.

Don't call me if anything goes wrong..

Go for it!!

Just call me the tool man! Why pay someone when you can do it yourself!

In my younger days, I would do anything...electrical, carpentry, plumbing, you name it. I finished two rooms in the house from bare concrete through drywall and ceiling.

These days, I'll still paint, do simple electrical, change a float valve, or put in some replacement plumbing. Beyond that...it is call the expert, get the mess over in two days, and get on with it.

So while I have handyman tendencies, I prefer to leave the work to someone with the right tools.

Most of my projects are repairs since we still rent our house. I never had an opportunity to try plumbing. I've done light electrical work, like fixing lamps, replacing light fixtures, installing ceiling fans, etc. I've repaired numerous holes in drywall from doorknobs (and other causes), and done enough painting to have brain damage. The only professionaly-done job I can remember is repairing window screens (broken frames) and replacing window glass. I put up a 6' wood fence around our back yard to keep our dogs in and built a brick patio with raised flower beds. I've built beds, benches, a plant stand, coat racks, shelves, and a fold-up table in the kitchen. I like to re-cycle materials. The bricks in the patio were "used," obtained from demolished old buildings. They have a lot of character. Often the wood I use in a project appeared in a previous project. I salvaged some nice pieces of hardwood from pallets. Once you figure out how to take them apart, it's an endless supply of free wood.

My biggest limitation is having the right tools. When my wife wants me to make something, and if she's buying the materials, I can sometimes get a free tool out of the deal.

One more thing -- never forget the duct (duck?? ) tape! A million uses, plus essential for homeland security.

Vicki and I made that deal when we got married. Every new project she puts on the list requires one new toll! The bigger the project the bigger the tools

I now have:
a 36 inch wood lathe
24 inch bandsaw
12" radial arm saw
13" planer
drill press

not to mention all the smaller power tools I guess it's worked out great for both of us

Got to call the professionals in....my husband is mechanically declined!

normally call somebody...it runs in the fam i think!!

Aquawind, you should not be using lead solder on water pipes, esp if you have little children in the house. My MIL has a bad case of lead build-up in her body and you would not believe what it does to the brain.

For major repairs, roof, windows, etc, we call somebody. Anything else, or something where completion time is not essential, hubby does the job. He usually milks new jobs for 2 or 3 new tools.

If I try to fix something, I usually make it worse. So I normally call someone who actually knows what they are doing.

Me, I try fixing it, and if that doesn't work, call someone.

We have always been DIY'ers in our family. Hubby hates to spend money anyway but that said, home repairs do tend to be put off. I can count on one hand the big jobs we've hired out - 1. our kitchen tile floor being installed, 2. our wood exterior windows painted once (I was recovering from surgery that year), 3. our 10 year old water heater replaced, 4. wallpaper hung in the bathroom, and 5. 2 sections on one garage door replaced (yep, it was an icy patch I slid on once, oops). Oh, maybe 5 1/2, if you count the furnace being repaired a few times. That's it - I swear! Our home is 14 years old though - so that has to be taken into account. Our next door neighbors hire every single job out - even calling in an exterminator for a bee's nest once. Boy the other neighbors and we were chuckling over that one. When we get out to paint our windows (we're about 1/3 done this time) these neighbors come over to chat - ugh! You're dressed in your rattiest clothes and yes, you just want to shoot the breeze. Sure, that's what I want to do.......but, to have two families smack next door, one major DIY's, the other major call the contractor honey types, is quite a challenge, let me tell you!!!

Mary

Do it yourselfer!!!

Well, I would love to say that I call someone! But I am single and own my own home so I have had to learn to do MANY things that I would normally like to have someone else do. I have remodeled myself and even done some plumbing!! It is really amazing what you can do yourself if you have to!!

I do everything but the plumbing. I always end up with leaks

I am def. a DYI. Our home was built in 1855 and hadn't been updated(decor wise) since the early seventies ! We've been here for 6 yrs and have touched every square inch of this house.....twice. I'm not afraid of trying anything. We've replaced ceilings,floors,tile,water pipes,I've wallpapered,painted,drywalled(including finishing),tuck pointed(brick house),layed concrete,put up fences,tore down fences, there's basicly nothing I won't try and do myself. Hubby on the other hand was very "tool challenged" when we married.His family called someone to fix things. Now I have to say he's come a long way,he even made a rabbit hutch for a rescued bunny we adopted a month ago ! And to top it off,yesterday he hung 5 sheets of drywall (by himself) in his moms garage ! It looked damn good too. I'm proud of him !! of course now he's into all the new "tools".....that's going to cost me alot of $$$$$ !!! LOL!!! ~K

My brother and my mom are DIY'ers. Me... I'd call in the pros, esp. on electric. If it was small enough tho, I'd do it myself.