The 5 Essential Skills of Home Improvement
July 13, 2011, By Eric Brennan 0 comments
Imagine this: You're stranded on a deserted island, only to find a box of portable power tools and a solar panel to recharge them. It's only you, the tools and the five essential skills of home improvement.
What? You don't know the five essential skills of home improvement? Time to fix that right now.
- Measuring. This is the key to all of the other essential home improvement skills. Without a good sense of how a tape measure works, your projects might resemble Homer-improvement projects instead of home improvement ones. Use this printable tape measure test to hone your measuring skills. Remember: Measure twice, cut once.
- Sawing. Good sawing skills may mean the difference between a well-built shed and being called Stumpy MacOnehand the rest of your life. With so many different saws available, familiarizing yourself with each one might be a little difficult without owning a construction company. Beef up your sawing skills by signing up for the Home Improver Club at your local Home Depot and by joining a weekend workshop.
- Cutting. What's the difference between sawing and cutting? Sawing uses power tools or some other form of saw; cutting uses sharp objects (such as a knife or snips) and the power of your hands. This essential home improvement skill is a lot different from just peeling the carrots for dinner. Cutting correctly with the correct tools means less time fixing mistakes and less time being the next viral star on the YouTube video channel "Men Who Bleed a Lot."
- Fastening. Now that the cutting is all done, putting your project together is the next essential home improvement skill you'll need to master. Using a hammer is just the beginning. Nail guns, staplers, brad nailers, screw guns, caulk guns, Ramset guns—the list goes on and on. Got a new fastening tool? Get some practice on some scrap materials before you take on the real deal.
- Assembling. Now that all of the pieces are there, can you put them together? Reading directions, using step-by-step instructions and tackling projects chronologically is the final home improvement skill that draws on all of the rest of your skills. Without good assembly skills, you'll never be able to put together the kids' toys during the holidays!
With these skills you're ready to take on most any project around the house—or on that deserted island.
