How can I become a better at DIY home improvement projects?
My dad never even taught me how to change a car tire, let alone rewire a lamp! Since living on my own, I have figured out how to do these simple things, but only after help from my boyfriend. How can I learn DIY project basics now? Are there any good general guide line books I should read through?
Answers ( 1 )
The same way you improve any skill: You practice.
There are many, many books on DIY home repair and maintenance available on Amazon or at you llibrary, and, with the advent of tech, many of those how-to's have moved to You-Tube and other websites. Here's an excellent one: https://www.doughroller.net/smart-spending/homeowners-guide-money-saving-diy-home-maintenance/
I know a number of very good... Jack-of-All-Trades type folks, and the one thing they have in common is they love taking broken things apart, figuring it out what went wrong, and fixing it. Cars, toasters, lamps, doorknobs-- take 'em apart, put 'em back together. Everything learned taking a toaster apart can be applied to taking a lamp apart; everything learned installing new faucets in a sink can be applied to fixing a running toilet tank.
What your next project should do is provide you the practice and knowledge to do an even more difficult or important project after that. Learn how to strip and refinish some awful oak pedestal table some nut decided would look better in white "milk paint" with stenciled geese and ducks on it, find the real wood underneath and bring it back to life. Then move on and get that battered roll top desk and fix it- make it new again disturbing its aged-in patina and early carpentry tricks as little as possible. Get up on your roof and replace a few shingles; open up your HVAC system and replace the filters; install Frost King faucets on your exterior hose bibs before winter sets in.
There are books, websites and videos that can show you how to do each of these projects- what you will need are the tools. Good tools are like good paint brushes- pricey things. But, you can find them for less at pawn shops, garage sales and antique stores- just keep your eyes open.
Practice, and very soon, you'll discover you actually do know how to install a ceiling fan because you installed that exhaust fan in the bathroom with just the few instructions in that box....