Who Am I & What Do I Know?

I’m a guy with some 15 years of experience doing construction work, from concrete foundations to interior redesigns. I’m here to give you a few hints and ideas on how to make your next project easier.

Rules to Doing It Yourself

1. See if it’s going to save you money to pay someone else do it. Seriously, this is a major consideration. If it’s a complete tuckpointing of the outside of your house, it’s probably worthwhile to hire a professional. If it’s a birdhouse, do it yourself. Of course, there are lots of projects in between that will require you to do the research and decide for yourself.
2. Make sure you have the tools for the job. If you don’t, you’re going to have to buy or rent the right tools. Of course, this may be a good time to tell your significant other that you need some new toys. Do the research on what you’re doing before hand and keep rule #1 in mind.
3. Give yourself an estimate of the time to complete the project. Then double it. If you can’t finish installing that air conditioning unit by the time winter hits, you’re the one who’s going to suffer.
4. Know your limitations. If you have some experience doing work like what you’re doing (whether hanging curtains or siding), make sure you really can do it yourself. If you’re not sure, you may need to “hire” some friends (i.e. pay them with beer) to give you a hand.

Absolutely Needed Tools

Here are some basic tools everyone should own if they’re planning on doing any work around the house.

1. A good hammer. Don’t purchase one of those cheap ones that
looks like it will break with one hit, but don’t get one that’s too
large either. You want one that you can swing repeatedly without
getting tired. A 16 oz. one is probably just fine for most projects.
One major thing to keep in mind is the head. If it has a milled face
(it looks like a crossword puzzle), then it is for driving nails into
material that can be dented or otherwise marred. Definitely not for
your new wall. Choose one that’s flat in that case.


2. A good drill. This is a little more expensive (hell, a LOT more
expensive) than a hammer, but a good drill will help you more than you
can imagine. Go cordless, and some major brands (DeWalt, Makita, etc.)
will usually come with a cordless saw as well. It will save you headaches and worries about electrocuting yourself (don’t ask – it happens).
3. An electric saw. Again, go cordless. And be sure that you
know how to use it. Even if you assume you do, read the instructions
and be wary of cutting your fingers off.

4. A tape measure. While it may seem a no-brainer, you’ll go nuts in about 2 seconds without a tape measure. If you’re doing an entire room (even if you’re just measuring the length once), be sure to get at least a 16 foot retractable tape, though it wouldn’t hurt to go up to 25 feet.

These are the tools you’ll absolutely need. With the right drill sizes, bits, nails, etc, you should be able to do almost anything.

Purchase the Proper Materials

Do the research so you know what kind of materials will be necessary for your job. For example, if doing an insulation job, know what R-value you need. If doing some concrete patching, be sure to know the strength rating of the glue you’re using. It’s always a good idea to do the research first before jumping into the project. It’ll save you time and money in the long run.
I hope this guide was a quick intro to what you need and what you need to know before doing any projects.