Guest Blogger: DIY Tools & Resources for the ‘Handywoman’

Guest Blog #142, Entry #613, August 9, 2011

When growing up. my sister and I were taught how to do everything by our parents. Especially our dad, who taught us how to change the oil in the car, fix a leaky faucet, and replace the air filters in the house air conditioner. There was never a thought of gender roles in our house! Everyone knew how to DIY.

Are you armed with the correct tools?

Today’s Guest Blogger gives tips for women who may feel a bit apprehensive in starting DIY projects, or even purchasing the correct tools. Every person should feel comfortable in taking on small DIY projects around their home. These helpful tips will ease your mind and increase your confidence.

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These days, the notion that home repairs are a man’s job is probably as passe as slow mail.  It’s now not surprising to find many handywomen, doing basic plumbing repairs, soldering, even rigging the toilet tank so it would flush.

Women are increasingly taking on DIY home projects

DIY skills are especially useful for divorced, widowed and single ladies. Even if you’re with a partner, learning how to use DIY tools for minor home improvements and repairs can save you money because you won’t need to call in the professionals. Your DIY skills will also come in handy when there are emergencies like leaking water pipes and blocked drains while your husband is at work. Who knows, he might be more encouraged to cook, wash the dishes or change the baby’s diaper if you also do your part in doing minor household repairs.

DIY Tools

Having a DIY tool kit in the house is as important as learning how to use these tools. A single trip to your local DIY shop or a dollar store can already provide you the stuff for your basic DIY tool set.  Make sure you have an assortment of screwdrivers, a lightweight hammer, a small drill, a small level, a tape measure, and different sized screws, nuts, and bolts. You can store these in a small box or plastic tote and placed in the kitchen pantry for easy access for minor fixes like putting up curtain rod hooks.

Small tools can be color coordinated with other tools in your collection so you will know which ones are yours and which ones are your husband’s. Your small DIY tool kit can be stored separately from your husband’s which contain all the major tools and is usually stashed in the garage.

Arm yourself with the proper tools and resources

You can hone your DIY skills by watching your husband or you can enrol in inexpensive and short-term basic DIY courses tailored specifically for women. You will learn the tricks and techniques to give you the know-how and confidence to tackle your DIY projects.

The Martha Stewart Show is a favorite among female DIY enthusiasts. You can pick up valuable DIY tips from home decoration to small furniture projects. You can also get plenty of ideas from TV’s home improvement series, This Old House which is broadcast exclusively on PBS. The DIY Network airs various shows that focus on do-it-yourself home projects.

DIY Resources

There are various DIY how-to books and magazines that you can add to your arsenal of DIY resources. Two particularly good DIY books you should get your hands on are Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet’s Dare to Repair: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home and Reader’s Digest’s New Fix-it Yourself Manual. These books help demystify the concept of DIY, teaching readers anything from choosing a screwdriver to repairing faucets, to changing a furnace filter. Dare to Repair includes detailed illustrations of simple and complex DIY projects.

Attend DIY Exhibits and Trade Shows

Attending DIY exhibits and trade shows should will expose you to DIY experts and get plenty of tips from them. Another very useful resource for all things DIY is the Internet. The DIY Network website, diynetwork.com, offers a step-by-step guide to various DIY do-it-yourself home projects.

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For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.