So, what do you choose not to do around the house? Why?

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I too was very curious about how things worked when I was younger and have taken things apart to figure it out.   As I remember most of the time I would put it back together too, LOL.[/COLOR]</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I have solid mechanical ability, so working on a car or an appliance is generally not a problem.   However I've found if I have never done a certain job or repair before, I am hesitant to do it w/o someone helping or at least giving direction.[/COLOR]</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As for plumbing, electrical or other jobs around the house, plumbing is no problem.  Installing copper pipes, no problem.   I installed a water softener which required building a lot of plumbing (copper), valves, etc.  I also added the copper supply and ABS drain lines for the 4 washing machines I have (connected) in the garage.[/COLOR]</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Also, when we had the master bath remodeled, we told the guy (hired for the tile work, but somehow talked my ex into doing the whole project) the plumbing for the two new sinks had to be a certain way due to their locations and the "floating cabinet" to be hung on the wall.  I came home from work and when I saw he had the new plumbing all jacked up, not the way it needed to be, I stopped him and sent him home for the day.   I then went to Home Depot, bought everything I needed, removed everything he installed and re-did the supply and drain lines myself.   It took quite a while and I only got 3.5 hour sleep that night, but at least I know it was done right.[/COLOR]</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I'm also good with electrical in the house.  Replacing switches and outlets, no problem.   I even installed 17 recessed "can lights" throughout the house.   I also removed the brand new, but O-M-G so cheap, less than $190, POS dishwasher and installed new Kitchenaid at the time.[/COLOR]</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As for other projects, let me just say I'm good with "the meat" of the job, but not the fine details.   Like when painting interior walls for example, give me the roller and I'll get the majority of the wall, but I much prefer leaving the "fine detail work" of cutting in the corners or trim to someone else. I guess I don't have the patience for it.   I'm also OK with cutting lumber, pounding nails, etc.    Big stuff in the yard, trimming trees, etc is fine, but the small stuff like pulling weeds most of the time, forget it.[/COLOR]</span>

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[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">However I have found that as I get older, I’m also getting lazier.   Either that or I need someone here to motivate me.[/COLOR]</span>

 

[COLOR=black; font-size: 12pt]<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Kevin[/COLOR]</span>

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Since we've both retired we've both become extremely lazy in some regards. I used to love cutting the grass, he used to love gardening and woodwork stuff. I liked fixing my small appliances, selling them etc etc. Painting walls etc.. no problem back then. Things had to be done because we didn't have all the time in the world like we do now. Now.. the exact opposite and it shows somewhat. I'd rather be out on my bike cruising around all day, sightseeing, taking photos than fussing with something around the house or cleaning it and I do. And I don't really care. We keep the front of the house respectable and well maintained, the back.. not so much. heck we don't even use it anymore. In the winter perhaps a little more around the house stuff gets done but even then if I can escape in the car with the dog.. I'm outta here LOL Bottom line is I don't like being in the house, I'd rather be outside
 
I'm currently in the process of renovating not one but 2 houses, so I am prepared to have a go at most things but in practice my state of health puts me off tackling big, heavy jobs. There is a stack of concrete slabs on the patio that I bought months ago to lay a new floor in the firewood store. I've put down rubble then sand and roughly levelled the sand but I'm hoping some kind soul will come along and actually put down the slabs. I take HelpX and Workaway volunteers for such jobs. They are not usually experienced so I have to train them but sometimes they do have skills and they can train me! I recently had a tree surgeon come from UK for a few days. He showed me how to fell trees, sharpen my chainsaw chain etc.
In terms of machinery I tend to have a go at repairing most things but a few do defeat me. I currently have a small diesel van that won't start. I think the problem is the immobiliser but I'm not confident enough in my diagnosis to spend money on replacement parts. I will probably end up breaking up the van and selling the bits.
 
As time goes on I realize my limitations and do less and less myself which is something that really bothers me. Ever since my knee gave out and I fell last year in my bathroom cracking my head on the tile floor and breaking a fibula I'm hesitant about tackling some projects. One of the turbine ventilators on my roof is stuck and needs lubricating. I've been up in my attic many times in the past 12 years doing everything from installing a projection system to dragging down the case of empty Budwiser bottles that the original construction guys left up there. The turbines are serviceable from the attic but I not going to try and do the lube job myself. Walking around up there is tricky. Even though there's plenty of head room, you need to be very careful where you step. There's 2 feet of insulation on the top of the ceiling joists and I'd probably step or fall right through. I'd need to grease my body to squeeze through the access panel in the closet too.
 
I don't do major electrical work or plumbing work. Minor jobs are no problem. The big jobs that are physically demanding are better left for the younger hired help. I did one roof tear-off, and never again.

Oil changes are no problem as long as I can slide under the car without jacks or ramps. Our Honda is too low to the ground so I let the shop do that one.

I used to mow the lawn and liked doing it, but we pay someone to do it now because I don't have the time. We have someone clean the house every other week, and then we do touch-up in-between.

The biggest problem is lack of time. For most jobs, I will probably do it better, even if I'm learning how to do it for the first time. However, it will take me longer and thus it often makes more sense to hire someone to do certain jobs.
 
For me it really depends on the scope of the project and the time I have available to do it. There really isn't anything around the house I wouldn't do if I had unlimited time. Big jobs like roofing, siding or windows etc I think I'd hire out though. Masonry work and big tree removal probably too.

Pretty much anything inside the house I will do myself. I really don't trust anyone else to do it anyhow, with the possible exception of other members of my family... Any appliance or electronic service, plumbing or wiring I will handle myself. This includes natural gas plumbing which is really quite simple(hand tight is gas tight). I guarantee I'm more of a perfectionist then any trades person I'm likely to hire.

I have found that lately I am working WAY more then I used to so I delegate some things now. I have a lawn service guy that I sometimes have handle the mowing. Also automotive or motorcycle work might be outsourced today when years ago I wouldn't let anyone else do it. I have a 23 year old motorcycle that has never had anyone touch it since it was built, except for tire mounting for example.

Being raised in a mechanical family and having a shop in the basement since before I can remember takes out all the worry. Add in electronics training/experience and having a full machine shop at my disposal doesn't hurt a bit either! My time is mine and I know I will do it right and not cut corners.
 
P.S....

 

 

I forgot to add... I do not like cleaning the house, especially the bathrooms.   Not that they are that dirty, I just don't like doing it.   I'm fine with vacuuming but don't do it often enough.

 

I have a woman that comes in every two weeks to clean the house and she does most everything except windows.   When she first started she would also do the laundry, but I quickly put a stop to that! 
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I also have a gardener which does the "mow & blow" thing every week.   This is due to pure lazyness on my part (or maybe it goes back to the whole yard work thing).

 

Kevin 
 
Very briefly.......

Why else would I live in a rental?

Love and laughter!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

(not really. Dad died when i was five. he was a Navy Seabee {construction engineer} in Korea. i change lightbulbs--not worth bothering the landlord. when we still lived in a house, we had someone mow because of my pollen allergy, which is severe.)
 
Wonder where I get it from?

When I was a youth, I remember my mother mentioning, one too many times, to my father that she wished there was a closet in the dining room for linens, dining room stuff, etc. She did this during breakfast one Sunday. My father got up, went to the garage and grabbed the small sledge and wrecking bar, popped a hole where the closet was to go and cleaned out most of the sheetrock between the studs and a stud in the middle. He turned to my mother and said something to the effect of... 'there's your GD closet.' Needless to say, they had a laugh over it a bit later and worked to clean it up and make it a closet.

I don't mind appliance installs, though with this house there's always something that makes the project more of a project. I look at it as a challenge. Non-major electrical (up to wiring a room, splitting a 220 line), plumbing... no problem. I loathe dusting and don't like painting.

Chuck
 
scary are the ones who seek help to do repairs and such, and yet have no clue what they are getting into....

working on appliances is one thing, asking how to open the lid is another, which makes one think, if your not that knowledgeable for the task, you really should have a pro do it....

but even more amazing are the ones where a hose burst open, and have no clue how to turn the water off!...... or even think TO turn the water off!....

believe me, its happened!

I have a friend, whose toilet plugged up and overflowed on the floor, called a plummer, in the mean time, water is still running into the tank, and onto the floor....tearing off Bounty paper towels and laying them on the floor....two hours later as the plummer turns off the water, and a simple plunger got it unplugged....200.00 to the plummer......unreal the water damage to the house!....and this is a well educated person....
 
NYCWriter-Oh boy we seem to be the broadcast guys here-In do the radio transmitter work-Short wave transmitters-at the last non military gov't SW broadcast site in the US.Staffing is down so we cover for each other-When one guy takes off-sort of "bumps" the rest of us.Don't mind the extra money-and working out here isn't so bad.Most nights things go quietly.Some nights hell breaks loose!Arcs and sparks everywhere!The "honey do" list is building hewre-one transmitter needs a new HV rect transformer.One of our sat dishes was "taco'ed" over during a bad rainstorm.One of our antennas needs of repair.so these go thru DC for funding.They do get done.Just takes a little time.We get by here despite the problems.And other things I HATE working on-COMPUTERS-don't mind using them-just hate having to try to fix them-esp programming issues-a real Pain in the---.To put it sort of bluntly-I AM AN ANALOG MAN!!!
 
NOT to do around the house...hmmmm

 

 

I guess serious electrical work, like dealing with the circuit breaker box. Or electronics repair, like a TV.  Everything else, I've done or am willing to try.
 
Will do most stuff...

but hate plumbing and painting and won't do HVAC, no knowledge base there. My Dad was super handy and built his first 2 houses himself. Most post WWII guys were big DIY'ers.

I built most of my VT house myself, including all of the electrical, but subbed out the metal roofing, plumbing and most of the painting. Restore antique cars and stereos, and particularly love auto body work, we have a pretty good set-up in our 3 car detached garage. Built a Heathkit tube amp in 1964 while in Jr. High and still restore old stereos, a main hobby. Also restore boats & outboard motors, working on a Starcraft 19' cutty cabin right now, replacing the wood transom.
 
The funny thing for me is that my dad was the opposite of me.  He was a guy who should have never owned a home.  I still have a piece of his plumbing I cut out -- it had a leak at a coupling so his fix was plastic lead!  I may not sweat a fitting with the best of them but my plumbing never leaks when I cut in a fitting.

 

I will say he did great yard work, something I hate but still make an attempt at.  He was a hard worker in the yard almost to the end.
 
I choose not to do almost everything

I keep the house clean, and I do gardening.  After that things get iffy.  

 

Inside I will paint some rooms with low ceilings, but many rooms are wall papered and I choose not to do that because exact measurements are required and I would be very upset if I ruined a strip of paper, plus I want it done exactly correct. If I hang it I would put up with mistakes, if someone else does it I will demand perfection.

 

I don't paint rooms with taller ceilings because I don't have a ladder tall enough to reach and even professionals use scaffolding which I am not going to buy just to paint.

 

I will change plates or sockets on electric outlets but I cannot run wire in the house.  All of my house wires run through conduits from the basement to the upper floors through the walls and fishing wires through that and then getting to the correct wire is more than I want to deal with.  So that's it for electrical.

 

I will install washers in faucets, replace a faucet, replace the insides of toilets, even replace a toilet, but do not do any other plumbing work in the house--after the pipes leave the basement I don't know exactly where they run through the walls and the pipes are old and stuck together...let a pro take care of that mess.

 

I will clean my HVAC air filters and wash the outdoor AC unit, I know how to select the speed ranges on my HVAC blower and I let the HVAC pro take care of the rest because I am not messing around with natural gas.

 

I clean the filter of my DW every 45 days, and I know how to change the cycle parameters in the technicians menu and other than that I let the repair person fix the DW.  Fortunately in the 8 years I've had it I had one repair under warranty.  I've seen the inside mechanicals.... I recognize nothing. Oh wait I know what the motor looks like.  It is so big and long I would never attempt to do anything with it...I just look.  It's a Miele so I couldn't get the parts even if I knew plus I would have to remove it from my cabinets and I want everything reinstalled perfectly - so not a job for me.

 

Same for the washer one repair in 11 years It looks nice inside--- full of 240V stuff - not touching it.

 

Outside there is not much I can do.  I keep the area clean. I spray down the outside shutters.  I cannot wash a window because the bottom of the windows on the first floor are about 7 feet above ground and that requires a taller ladder. The upper floors require an even taller ladder and I am not getting up that far to do anything..besides I can have the outside windows washed and the gutters cleaned for $120 and that is better than me on a ladder about to fall off while doing a crappy job. 

 

There is not much to paint outside except for around the windows and I can paint, but again that requires a tall ladder.  I am dizzy enough sitting down so no point getting on a ladder outside. Heck the pros won't even get on a ladder, they paint using a cherry picker(?)  I think that what it's called. They drive down the street, get in the basket raise it and then paint...no sense me on a ladder to fall to the ground.

 

So compared to what many on the site install and maintain -  I know I am  limited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
What don't I do? (And why!)

1. Ladders- Anything over 6 feet, I can't do anything but cling to the ladder for dear life!

2. Cars- I can tell if something is wrong, but I don't attempt any repairs. I can do minor maintenance (wipers, check fluids, add freon to the a/c)

3. Gas. Gasoline or Natural gas, I can use equipment that runs off of either, but one wrong move and you could get blasted skyward!

4. 220 volt electrical- not a clue on how it works and won't risk taking the chance.

I can pretty much sum it up by *I do inside repairs, my Dad does outside repairs* I do mow the lawn, but that's about it for outside.
 

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