Cleveland DIY Neophyte!

Greetings from The Land!

I'm a production graphic designer by trade who's slowly but steadily learning all about the world of being a beginner handyman. Got married 4 years ago, got 2 kids and an endless list of projects since we bought our home a few years ago. Fun, but man, a lot of learning!

Here's a top 10 list of things I learned over the last few years as a burgeoning handyman...

#1. No matter how much research you do, most of what you end up doing is pure improvisation.

#2. When in doubt, use brute force. It works. Sometimes.

#3. There's always a problem/issue/hitch in every project. *ALWAYS*

#4. For many projects, you will inevitably go back to the hardware store for something you need/forgot.

#5. You'll do #4 more than once for the same project sometimes.

#6. There will be projects that you realize you have to go all the way back to the beginning because of a stupid mistake and you have to correct it.

#7. You will invariably lose your temper at some point.

#8. You'll go back to the hardware store because you need to buy a new part or tool because of #7.

#9. If you got kids, do your projects when they're not home.

#10. The satisfaction of seeing a job well done is unmatched and you love talking about it until your wife tells you to shut up about it already.

Welcome from just up the road in Pa.

I bought a house one block from a hardware store. Best move I ever made. Now as I'm leaving the store Ed asks me what did i forget? I tell him nothing and then watch him laugh a half hour later when i come back.

Wait 'til you get older. Then you'll go to the hardware store and walk up and down the isles until you remember what you needed. Then you'll buy something else you remembered you needed. Then half way home, you'll remember why you made the initial trip, and you'll turn around and head back to the hardware store hopefully before you forget a second time. You might ask, why not make a list. Been there done that. Couldn't remember where the list went.

to House Repair Talk!

Any project for me always requires 3 trips to the local hardware store...

And another rule of home improvement is, if you can't fix it with a hammer, you're not using a big enough hammer...

Welcome, CLE_diyer! I grew up next door to you in Parma. I'll say, it's a good place to be from. I agree with very single one of your points.