We all have some delusions of grandeur when it comes to any home improvement project— some more so than others (looking at you, DIY-electrical-next-to-the-pool-guy). We think we can tackle projects that turn out to be a little bigger than we expected, or that require materials we can’t put our hands to. Again, some much more egregiously than others (looking at you, tape-people).
I believe the quote is “Effort + Wrong Tool = No Results.” When it comes to your home, “no results,” is probably the luckiest outcome.
This week’s Upon Closer Inspection is dedicated to all the Ms. and Mr. Fixits out there who went ahead and fixed it whether they had the right tool or not.
Give My Brother a Call. He’s a Roofer, But He Does Sidewalks, Too.
Wouldn’t want to let those extra shingles go to waste. If your home improvement project is adding a walkway, and you’re on a budget, check Facebook Marketplace or your local Buy Nothing group for free or used paving stones or gravel. People are always giving these away or selling cheap.
Creative Security Measures
Seems legit. Why spend money on a deadbolt or a chain lock when you have a butter knife right there in the kitchen? I mean … it works?
Sigh. I can’t. Buy. 👏 A. 👏 Lock. 👏
Mosaic Wanna-Be
They tried y’all. The tile broke, and it looks like the first time, they got all the pieces and glued them back together like a jig saw puzzle. Then something worse happened, and they (just making up stories here) either lacked the funds or the know-how to buy new tile for the whole floor, so they thought, “I’ll make a beautiful mosaic with these pretty pebbles.” Then they gave up and covered the whole thing with a rug.
When You’re The Tool
In Texas, residential bathrooms are required to have a mechanical exhaust vent unless they have a window. In addition to alleviating (ahem) odors, bathroom vents prevent moisture buildup which can lead to mold, damaged sheetrock, and peeling or cracked paint or wallpaper. You should run the vent when you shower or bathe.
In the video, what inspector Alex didn’t say is that the vent is present, it’s just that someone sheetrocked over it when they replaced the ceiling during renovation. His handy little tip would actually work temporarily, but long term, they’re going to need to redo the ceiling. Good news? If a pro did that job, they can get it done for free! Bad news? A pro probably didn’t do that job.
The moral of the story? If you are going to DIY your home improvement project or repairs, make sure you have thought the whole project through from start to finish. Make a list of the materials you need, a step by step plan, and an approximate budget, so you can ensure that you are prepared and qualified for the task. Remember these three rules of DIY:
- Don’t improvise except in an emergency.
- If you have improvised in an emergency, get a permanent solution asap.
- Don’t DIY electrical.
