Home repairs. I wish I had more knowledge in the matter.

[Darth-Baiter]

I have a slight leak coming in above a sliding door, and only if rain comes in from a certain angle and intensity.  I have been mitigating it by covering it with a sheet of plastic every winter.  just kinda stuck my head in the sand.  well.  with our recent string of really good weather, I am out of excuses.  in my defense, wildfires burning down a portion of my city over inflated construction pricing to the moon.  then came the pandemic with all it's own problems.  for three years, guys wouldn't even return calls or came in with exorbitant estimates.  I called a few stucco guys.  one guy stood out.  for one, he called me back immediately.  second, he showed up early and waited in his truck to walk up to my door perfectly on time.  I hired him.

 

watching him, I think I could have done it. haha.  I would need some tools, but overall, it didn't seem that difficult.  bah!  I think he will seal the leak with his strategy.  I do know, water is a stubborn thing.  it gets places.  I might not have known the tricks of the trade he does. 

 

oh well, I can DIY a lot around the home but not all of it.  some stuff is beyond my wheelhouse..  this guy wasnt soul crushing expensive, but still. 

if I could do life over again, I think I would have done summer jobs in home construction.  learn a skill that would pay dividends forever.  

[Choporoz]

Haha...similar here.  Put off a small plumbing job for months because I convinced myself the risk was too great....and that it needed a professional.   Had a plumber for unrelated water heater job....asked him to look at the other and he did it in about 35 seconds...lol.  At least he didn't charge more labor for that

[A-Jay]

I'm all about DIY home repair.

Having the right tool for the job has proven very helpful

and over the years I've learned a lot and collected some tools.

But something that I truly believe in is

that a man needs to know his limitations.

I do not dive into anything but The Simplest of plumbing or electric work and 

I never even think about messing with anything to do with GAS. 

Stay in your lane works for me and I do not mind paying for professionals on those deals. 

Finally watching DIY YouTube videos doesn't always end well, can be costly

and even dangerous. 

A-Jay

 

 

[gim]

I just moved from a brand new construction house that was built in 2012 to a house that was built in 1998.  So I was used to having everything working flawlessly.  I am finding out all these things I took for granted at the new house need upkeep or replacing here.  Its getting old already and I've only been here for a month.

I bought this house with the intention of being here until I retire and the better public school system my son will have growing up, so replacing items doesn't bother me knowing that they will last a long time and be more efficient in the long run, but its just not something I'm used to.  Its obvious to me that not everyone maintains their house or property to the high standard that I do either.

I'm capable of doing routine maintenance but I don't have a lot of tools, nor can I do anything advanced.  Just yesterday I fixed my sliding glass patio door though.  It was super sticky and I youtubed how to make it slide with ease.  Loosen up the rollers, clean the slides, and spray it with a non-stick lubricant.  It slides like its brand new again now.  It was a 30 minute fix and made me feel pretty good.

Let's all be honest, being a home or property owner is a lot of work, upkeep, and time.  The finished product is very satisfying but things wear out and break down over time just like we do.

[J Francho]

I'm pretty good with a great many home related repairs and renovations.  My house is nearly a century old, so there things that go wrong where I have to get a little creative, especially if it involves preserving certain things in their antique state.  Pretty much EVERYTHING is original, or at least 50 years old.  All of the gumwood, leaded glass, pocket doors, and hardwood floors are original.  There are upgrades to bathroom facilities, kitchen, and all the electrical has been replaced.  Most fixtures and appliances are high end stuff.  The exterior is smooth stucco, so I am learning about maintenance on that.  The issue is I'm at a point where even though I could do it myself, at 50 I find myself seeing the value of paying someone else and trading that time to spend with my family.  It depends on the quote really.  Some quotes are just too crazy high.  I got one for installing two 6' chain link gates spanning my driveway for $2300.  I see myself installing the $300 worth materials in the future.  I mean is it really $2000 to dig two holes, pour concrete, plumb up two poles and attach two gates?  I'm missing something or they only want big jobs.

 

I'll stop rambling.  It's good to learn how to DIY, and it's nice to build up a tool collection.  Always but your tools carefully. There's always a reason some are cheaper, and cheaper may be the way to go if it's one and done.  Depends on the application.  If you're just trimming a bathroom, you don't need a $600 contractor grade lithium powered compound sliding miter saw.  A simple $150 chop box will serve you well.  That's just one example.  Opposite end: hammers.  Seriously, get whatever you want as long as it says Estwing on it.

[flyfisher]

I was lucky to grow up with my dad being an electrical contractor and I did residential construction in the summers in high school and college so I learned a lot.  I usually will try just about anything, not a fan of plumbing but I wil ldo basic stuff.  Electrical i am comfortable with almost anything and if not, I call my dad and he walks me through anything else.  Construction wise, I'll try anything just about but I do know that finish carpentry is not my strength....in the slightest.  I'll pick up tools as I need them and if i think i need them again i get higher quality if not, whoever has the best return policy in cse it breaks   

 

One thing I will add is that water issues are always a pain to deal with as where the water is showing isn't always where it is leaking.  
 

[DaubsNU1]

I was VERY lucky growing up. Dad was a carpenter by trade, and a pretty good back-yard mechanic.

 

He started as a painter, then got in to carpentry back in the early 1960's...when one crew built a house from the ground up.  He knows how to dig and lay foundation, block walls, frame, electricity, plumbing, dry-wall, finish, cabinets, siding, roofing, etc. Not much that man cannot do!

 

And we have tackled some fun auto projects: replaced engines, transmissions, timing belts, cam shafts, brakes, body work, etc.

 

My latest project is replacing pool liner. One side of the pool was sagging...so I took pool apart and re-leveling the foundation before the new liner goes back in.

 

 

Hit YouTube and the internet...not much you cannot tackle!

 

I do draw the line at the power box.  I want NOTHING to do with that level of electricity. I'm okay running wire, outlets, switches, etc., when it comes to that box, I call the electrician. 

 

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

I'm fairly decent with automotive stuff.  I can take a motor out of a vintage 911 Porsche.  I did the clutch on mine without instructions.  hahah.

[padlin]

A lot of DIY is having the confidence to try.

[gim]

1 minute ago, padlin said:

A lot of DIY is having the confidence to try.

 

I lack this.  I'm more worried that I'll screw it up even worse than if I just left it alone, or hired an expert to do it.  I'm sure everyone that does a fair amount of DIY home projects have experienced this through some trial and error.  I'm just slightly apprehensive about the "trial" part.

[MN Fisher]

Growing up - dad taught me electrical, plumbing, carpentry (both framing and finishing) and masonry.

 

Except for big jobs (garage and porch roof replacement a few years ago) I take care of everything around the house...and the big job 'miss' is mainly because of my age...it's work for kids half my years.

[deaknh03]

12 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Growing up - dad taught me electrical, plumbing, carpentry (both framing and finishing) and masonry.

 

Except for big jobs (garage and porch roof replacement a few years ago) I take care of everything around the house...and the big job 'miss' is mainly because of my age...it's work for kids half my years.

I'm calling bs. There was no electricity yet when you were growing up. 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, deaknh03 said:

I'm calling bs. There was no electricity yet when you were growing up. 

[Darth-Baiter]

9 minutes ago, deaknh03 said:

I'm calling bs. There was no electricity yet when you were growing up. 

I just snorted out coffee.  d**n you!!

[BASS302]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

But something that I truly believe in is

that a man needs to know his limitations.

I do not dive into anything but The Simplest of plumbing or electric work and 

I never even think about messing with anything to do with GAS. 

 

Wish I had read this months ago.  I was going to fix some outdoor plumbing, bought all the parts, then when I started I couldn't get the old stuff loose because it had corroded.  Had to call a real plumber. 

So I agree with you.  Simple plumbing and stay away from gas and electricity.

[padlin]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

and the big job 'miss' is mainly because of my age...it's work for kids half my years.

 

I added 700 sq' to the house DIY, in my 40's, no way would I think about it now in my mid 60's.

 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, padlin said:

 

I added 700 sq' to the house DIY, in my 40's, no way would I think about it now in my mid 60's.

 

Ya - I'm in my early 60s now - that roof work was done when I was in my late 50s....nope, not this little gray duck.

[NavyToad]

15 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - I'm in my early 60s now - that roof work was done when I was in my late 50s....nope, not this little gray duck.

Exactly. Push come to shove I’m still physically able, but I’ll leave it for the younger guys. I put down all new laminate flooring throughout the house 2 years ago. My hips, knees, and back didn’t appreciate it. It wasn’t hard work and I’ll be d#*ned if I was going to pay for it but……….

[TnRiver46]

I know exactly where you went wrong…….

 

bought a stucco house 

[Darth-Baiter]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I know exactly where you went wrong…….

 

bought a stucco house 

true.  I got pretty well versed in changing out wood siding.  

 

my next house will be straight up Concrete with a tin roof.  

[DitchPanda]

I can be fairly handy but like mentioned above sometimes I feel like my time with family or even fishing is worth more to me. Besides my brother in law has spent alot of time over the years working on various home construction/ repair/ renovation projects for several different contractors so he has a wealth of knowledge. So I've got a list of things I'm gonna have him do...redo my garage door framing and install a new overhead door and man door, some minor wiring and light installation, etc. Last summer he shingled part of my roof...what a roofer would have charged me $1000 to do he did it for $600.

[TnRiver46]

22 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

true.  I got pretty well versed in changing out wood siding.  

 

my next house will be straight up Concrete with a tin roof.  

Hahahah! Just messing with ya. My buddy actually lives in a concrete house with metal roof, he’s had problems just like all of us. I think stucco can be really good once you get it squared away. The styrofoam excuse for stucco they use here is comical, it’s pretty much tropical weather so obviously it soaks up moisture 

[Darth-Baiter]

just learned a new term.  "scratch coat".  

 

I stand corrected.  there is no way I could have done this job.  guy has so many tools I dont have.  Including a cool scaffold system.   he will come back to do the "brown coat" (I think that is what he said) tomorrow.  then Friday the texture.  the man shows up the minute he promised he would.  so far so good.  

[Bird]

Pretty sure I've posted before on a similar topic.

My very 1st full time job was a roofer, shingles.

Then on to framing, then to drywall finishing, then to residential electrician.

The wife and I built our very 1st house from the ground up back in 1988.

 

That very 1st house we had several roof leaks so maybe I wasn't that great at roofing. Lol

[12poundbass]

Growing up and into my early 20’s I did roofing, siding, a brief plumbing apprenticeship, Heating (didn’t stick around long enough to get into the cooling side), framing, concrete work, and minor electrical. My dad has been doing interior finish work for 30+ years, and did frame work before that.
 

Over the years I’ve met and stayed in contact with guys who do these trades for a living so if I can’t do it I can count on them. The one who has always eluded me is a sparky. I’ve never became good friends with an electrician, but I can do minor wiring. 

 

I’m pretty fortunate. 
 

11 hours ago, gimruis said:

I just moved from a brand new construction house that was built in 2012 to a house that was built in 1998.  So I was used to having everything working flawlessly.  I am finding out all these things I took for granted at the new house need upkeep or replacing here.  Its getting old already and I've only been here for a month.

I bought this house with the intention of being here until I retire and the better public school system my son will have growing up, so replacing items doesn't bother me knowing that they will last a long time and be more efficient in the long run, but its just not something I'm used to.  Its obvious to me that not everyone maintains their house or property to the high standard that I do either.

I'm capable of doing routine maintenance but I don't have a lot of tools, nor can I do anything advanced.  Just yesterday I fixed my sliding glass patio door though.  It was super sticky and I youtubed how to make it slide with ease.  Loosen up the rollers, clean the slides, and spray it with a non-stick lubricant.  It slides like its brand new again now.  It was a 30 minute fix and made me feel pretty good.

Let's all be honest, being a home or property owner is a lot of work, upkeep, and time.  The finished product is very satisfying but things wear out and break down over time just like we do.

 

I’m the opposite of you this year. We sold our house that was built in 2008 I believe and into a brand new house. The house we sold was a lake house cottage at one time, then sold a few times, then we bought it. It wasn’t maintained very well before we got it, so it felt like I was constantly doing something to get it where we wanted it. So now this new house is like a breath of fresh air. Clean slate, everything is brand new, and under warranty. My only battle now is getting a lawn established which is taking longer than I’d hoped for but I’m winning the battle.