As homeowners, we all take pride in caring for our home. From the day that you get the keys, there are dozens of tasks that you have to tackle, ranging from the simple, everyday maintenance to larger projects that require some skills. Most DIYers have a basic skillset that allows them to keep their house running, but if you really want to take it to the next level, there are three skills you should learn.
Electrical
We are not suggesting that you learn every aspect of rewiring your house. However, if you can understand basic electrical concepts and how to apply them, you can save yourself a lot of money in handyman expenses. Things like rewiring and installing light fixtures, moving power outlets, or even adding power to a shed or workshop can all significantly improve your home.
To learn basic electrical fundamentals, there are a lot of DIY books that you can pick up at a hardware store or on Amazon. Start with understanding how your house is wired in the first place and then you can learn to take on small projects. You will always want to make sure you know your electrical panel well and shut off all power to your house before you begin any electrical work. Good starter projects are installing new light fixtures or even smart light switches if you are a fan of a connected home.
Welding
While you won’t use it every day, knowing how to weld can be invaluable in taking on new projects in the house, garage and yard. Everything from creating cool DIY shelving units to decorative pieces to repairing gates or cars can benefit from a basic understanding of welding. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need a degree to learn the basics of welding.
Lower end welding machines can be bought for around $100 and you can learn in just a couple of days with YouTube videos or books. There are literally thousands of cool projects that you can take on once you know a little bit about joining and altering metals. Be sure to understand safety procedures before getting started.
Plumbing
Learning plumbing is about both home improvement and disaster prevention. Chances are, you are not going to take on a lot of DIY plumbing projects for fun, but being ready to fix a leak, unclog pipes, or even replace hardware will come in handy. Just like electrical, you should start by understanding how your sewer or septic system works and make sure that everything is currently running smooth. Check out the signs of plumbing issues in this article and see if there is any low hanging fruit that needs to be fixed.
You can learn plumbing through YouTube videos, tutorial websites, books or even just by asking questions at your local hardware store. The key with plumbing is to start small and build your confidence before taking on large projects. This is not the type of DIY skill where you want to start projects without finishing them.
While those are just a few of the many skills that a seasoned DIYer can draw from, they are essential in being able to take on the vast majority of projects that you will face as a homeowner. With some basic training and investing a few hundred dollars in tools, you can pick up a new skill that you’ll use for the rest of your life. Your home will thank you for it!
