Question of the Day - December 1, 2024

[fionasmom]

Right now, I have a contractor redoing the patio shade structure. It is long overdue, and the previous owners had installed one which was not up to code; however, the inspector let the sale go through at the time. The very elderly semi-feral, Minxie, has been brought into the "cat" bathroom and seems quite happy with his new quarters. The other two ferals are upset, but they have plenty of food and I reconnect their beds at night. I can't tell the workers to step over cat beds and cat food. Tough boy Rikki, who challenges everyone and has his nose in everything, is hiding under the sofa.

While this job might be too much for an individual who is not skilled with home repair, the sad fact is that I can fix/repair/upgrade/maintain nothing on my own. I am lucky to be able to work a light switch and once in a great while, when it dawns on me that if I found a screwdriver I could fix the loose whatever, I feel as if I have hit a stroke of real insight.

Are you good at home repair or any aspect of home/car/etc repair or maintenance? Do you have particular skills which have served you in this capacity?

 

[denice]

I am not at all mechanically inclined so no. My ex was a heavy equipment mechanic and good backyard car mechanic, so he kept cars going. They are so computerized now I doubt that he could now. Paying for car repairs was a rude awakening after we divorced.

 

[NY cat man]

Well, I spent 40-some years as a heavy equipment mechanic, so there is that. On our own house, I've upgraded the plumbing, gutted and remodeled the downstairs powder room, rewired the upstairs bathroom, built cabinets for kitchen and bathrooms, laid down new flooring, rebuilt the deck, and installed new windows in the laundry area. Aside from that; nah, I don't do home repairs.

 

[neely]

My dad was very handy and I picked up a few basic skills by watching him but other than that I cannot do any major repairs.

 

[DeesCats]

I learned a lot of skills from my Dad growing up but made a big effort to read a lot and do my own home repairs. Along with my boyfriend who is extremely handy, we've done a lot of major home repairs including:
-replacing all the windows and doors plus replace drywall though we had a pro do the skim coat,
-complete remodel of main bath including replacing rotting wood floor and installing new hardwood floor in it and the hallway to match the existing floor,
-remodel downstairs bath and install a full shower enclosure,
- build a deck on the front of the house,
- replace sub-par electrical wiring and rewire the basement bedroom,
-install lighting fixtures, outlets, switches, etc.
-plus a myriad of other side projects.

However we are getting older so it's only a matter of time before we have to breakdown and hire someone for something.

 

[susanm9006]

I have done and can a fair amount of DIY things, flooring, tiling, trim work, and a lot of demo. If It is a simple repair I can do it. What I can’t do is anything mechanical and even moderately complicated, lIke replacing a faucet. Too many parts and I am lost.

 

[game misconduct]

i was able to do most stuff benefit of growing up helping/watching my dad using tools and working around the house. i try to avoid residential electrical stuff thoughwire coding makes no sense to me.wiring for cars easier to figure out.for the most part thoughanything can be worked on you just need to buy or rent the proper tools etc.its fun working with your handsafter losing use of my left hand thoughi lost the ability to do alot of stuffi could ve worked as part of the maintenance crew and cut our rent down by about half

 

[catloverfromwayback]

Nope, never done it, have no idea. My car's in for its annual servicing today. All I ever do is fill the tank and pump the tyres. As for home stuff, I put pictures and curtains up, nothing else. The village organises repairs and maintenance.

 

[vampiric_conure]

I can use a screwdriver and drill, saw and dremel, but anything beyond that and I'm terrified of it!

 

[SueLinda]

Scotch tape, paper, scissors, glue.
That's it, that's all I can do. (except rhyme...)

 

[MoochNNoodles]

My grandpa always let me help and tinker around in his workshop or with whatever projects he had going on. I don’t have employable skills necessarily; but I can manage some things or at least be helpful. DH and I typically work well together on house projects.

 

[iPappy]

Major repairs, no. However, the man who is our construction and fix it guru suffered a heart attack a few months ago. He's much better now but the recovery process is long. Between him coaching me and looking things up online, I surprised myself by fixing some things that were in desperate need of repair that I had no idea I could fix.

 

[PMousse]

I've done a couple of DIY projects like repainting a piece of furniture or re-upholstering a headboard. But other than those I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to repairs. Right now am having trouble sticking plugs into a particularly stubborn socket

 

[maggiedemi]

No, that's guy stuff to me, I can't do anything besides housework cleaning type stuff. I'm a real girly girl I guess. But I do my share of the work I think.