Sometimes having skills, sucks..

[recycled sixtie]

I started to work on my old doghouse roof (doggone now) and replace the shingles. Well the wasps building a nest on the underside of the doghouse had other ideas. They did not like being disturbed so one wasp bit me so I dropped that idea and moved on to the tool/storage shed. I took a few days to get that done. So I said to my wife that I could do the garage next. The problem with one person working on it at a glacial pace it could take a month. Plus the taking off the old shingles exposes the the plywood to the rain so big tarps would be needed unless I did a small area at a time. I was advised by the last shingle installer that you have to watch the plywood on old buildings(garage is at least 30 years old) that it is easy to fall through rotted roofs so checking on the condition of the plywood is essential before walking on it.

My wife is trying to talk me out of coz it will take me too long to do. A team of roofers (2?) could easily do the the double garage in less than a day. Probably let them do it....G

[livi]

Originally Posted by Baz

I too am going to build a small greenhouse at my place, Markus - as well as maybe a few shade houses. My plant collection has really grown and I miss having a greenhouse and propagation area - much more efficient and ergonomic if you're a hobbyist. Good luck with yours - please keep us posted.

I will. Good luck to you too!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by zdhztj

Your burned out.....until you see the price that someone else is going to charge you. Then, you just suck it up. [i mg]http://soft warenice.com/u8i.jpg[/img][ img]http://softwar enice.com/hh.jpg[/i mg]

What's with all the high school dropouts on the site these days?

[jyl]

A roof leak caused the wallboard paper on the ceiling of our study to sag and fall. My wife tore off the 4-5 sq ft of sagging paper and waited for me to fix it. And waited. And waited. One day I came home and found her on a ladder, fixing it herself. She did a great job and the repair is undetectable. She was so pleased with herself that she wasn't even mad at me for not doing my manly duty. I told her that her artistic and crafting skills made her a natural talent for home repairs. I am now the one waiting. And waiting.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

This thread is very timely. I usually do one big project around the house per year. (There's plenty that needs doing).
A big new picture window, roofing, fencing, paint.... just something to make the place look a bit better.

This year, I couldn't even find the energy to decide which project to tackle, so I made a conscious decision to take the year off.

I have a million ideas, I know how to do a lot of stuff and I have the tools and the funds to get things done, but this lap of the sun, the mojo wasn't there, so basic maintenance has been good enough for me...

Thanks to all who feel the same way. I'm even more assured that I made the right decision...

I can relate. I used to get up on Saturdays and ask myself... What should I do today?
Strangely if I didn't do something productive I felt guilty.

Not so now... lol

[gsxrken]

Maybe we only have so many projects in us, like heartbeats. Once you've reached your quota, all the knowledge in the world and a shop the envy of the neighborhood can't get you to give a crap.

I know exactly how you feel. I have an ATV that needs a transmission gasket and a drive belt installed. It should be 3 hours or so but I am seriously thinking about dropping it off at the dealership and depending on the estimate just scrapping it. It's tough when you are everyone else's backstop but no has your own back. I just want my mommy to come over and make it all better.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Maybe we only have so many projects in us, like heartbeats. Once you've reached your quota, all the knowledge in the world and a shop the envy of the neighborhood can't get you to give a crap.

I think you may be on to something there. It sure seems that way these days.

Originally Posted by gsxrken

I just want my mommy to come over and make it all better.

Does she make house calls? 'cause I could use some of that too.

[calimedeiros]

I work in hvac and have a truck in my driveway people come all the time can you look at my ac move my water heater etc
After going out twice in the neighbour hood to tell them what's wrong they just say thanks don't offer you 20 bucks nothing I don't know these people
The last 3 times someone had come to my door I said sorry I don't do side work

[dafischer]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I can relate. I used to get up on Saturdays and ask myself... What should I do today?
Strangely if I didn't do something productive I felt guilty.

Not so now... lol

The key is getting over the guilty feelings.

[mikesride]

Lets see.....In my group of friends I am The Guy who...Is big and can lift heavy things, Have a truck, Have a trailer, Have tools....lots of tools, Have access to construction equipment. Plus I am the only guy that does his own auto repair, home reno's and repair, landscaping...etc.. I'm pretty new to this neighborhood and already people are coming over asking if I can do a clutch on a bug....trench in some underground irrigation.....borrow a skid steer.....take wedding photos in the 911.....people will ask for almost everything. I keep busy with my friends and play nice with the neighbours but sometimes a guys just got to say NO...
I go to work to relax.....

[Hugh R]

I just turned 60, I'm in pretty good shape and can work all day, but why should I? I make about $100/hour in my day job. I used to spend hours repairing things like broken sprinkler pipes that were buried a foot down. My illegal gardener will fix them for $25. I save that much in Prep H.

I do maintain my own swimming pool, not that I can't have someone else do it, but my pool is surrounded by Oak Trees and needs netting every day or two, not once a week. The pool chemistry is easy and I understand it much better than the local pool guys who really have no concept of the chemistry.

[VincentVega]

It sounds like a lot of us are alike. I like to learn new things and generally think DIY first. This worked great until I moved from a house that only needed minor things once in a while. Roofing, new plumbing, siding, windows... where do you stop? I got a few estimates for work and was floored. I can do it for less then that, materials are only x....

Thing is, now I'm working on the house instead of enjoying the house. In most cases I have the $$ to pay for the work but I cant stand the thought of being ripped off. Of course, I'm borderline burned out and have 3-4 open projects.

[VINMAN]

Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one. It's really been getting to me lately. I don't mind doing stuff,I even enjoy it. But at my leisure. Everything lately is under pressure and a deadline. Even the simplest mundane thing seems like a major chore. I guess thats whats really stressing me out. Especially with my house. It's at the point where its driving a wedge between my wife and me, and we normally never fight or argue.
I'm getting ready to put my papers in at work, but I'm seriously having second thoughts. When I'm at work, at least I can relax . It is probably my least stressful enviroment.

[sc_rufctr]

Vinny

You need to relax a bit. Honestly... Look for some "passion". Something new or something you've been putting off for a long time.
It doesn't have to be expensive or overly time consuming but it does have to be something important to you.

For instance. Recently I bought myself a nice fountain pen and I've started to practice my hand writing.
.... It's just a little thing that I do for myself so when I need to write a card or something it looks decent and it takes me away from the world for a while.

[GH85Carrera]

We recently decided to replace our gas water heater. It was 20 years old and they never quit at a convenient time on their own.

I looked around on Pelican at the threads, did my research and talked to friends. In the end we just paid a plumber to do it. He had to make a few minor modifications to keep it a current code. The new unit is way more effective to run according to the published data. We don't notice any difference.

I could have done it myself and not messed with the code updates. In the end it was just worth it to me to write the check to a plumber that does two or three of them every single day.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

For instance. Recently I bought myself a nice fountain pen and I've started to practice my hand writing.
.... It's just a little thing that I do for myself so when I need to write a card or something it looks decent and it takes me away from the world for a while.

That is really cool.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

In the end it was just worth it to me to write the check to a plumber that does two or three of them every single day.

One of my neighbors is the most talented construction/pier builder/fish hatchery/clam bed owner/musician/all around cool guy I know. His motto is, "You can't be a man at his trade".

Unless I want to do it, I have the choice now to let the tradesmen prove it, and they always do. We are in the midst of a complete kitchen redo and the electrician did in two days what most certainly would have electrocuted me in one.

My search-foo is lacking today, but Dottore wrote an elegant post years ago about downsizing and simplifying. I'll keep looking.

[DanielDudley]

My Dad is 91. Someday soon I am going to wish he was around to pester me with projects. And if I get too mellow, I start to ripen, and eventually I rot. Then I am just rotten. I worked seven days a week for maybe 20 years, and I understand the frustration of Not Being Able To Pace MY SELF. Nobody did it to me, it was all me.

I started to do it all over again last year, working 4 months straight, Getting Lyme disease, throwing my back out, doing a kamikaze bathroom remodel for my parents, and then putting all new sills on my 180 YO farmhouse, so I could have the whole thing insulated properly, all while working full time.

This year was shaping up to be the same, so I decided to take a few Sundays off, rebuild a convertible, and just have fun with things. Now I am rebuilding the porch I ripped off my house last year to get at the sills. For FUN. Which means I am not putting myself in a pressure cooker, not working until I pop OR drop, and just being a little casual about the whole experience. I have seen some good movies and read some good books. I have taken my wife out for drives in the ''new'' convertible.

Balance is the hard part for me, but if you think taking a break will do you some good, I HIGHLY recommend that you do so, and see how it feels. Nobody should feel trapped by life. I find that I am actually happier when I do stuff, as long as I remember to edit out the suffering. Have some fun.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I've picked up a few skills working on my house, sometimes I think myself into thinking I'm not up to doing the job and once I get stuck into it I usually find I should have just started it instead of worrying.

The only work I leave to a professional is plastering, I'm quite happy to do plumbing, landscaping, stone walling, block work, woodwork, concreting, roofing, painting, tiling, you name it. Only downside I've found is it takes a lot longer but the upsides of getting exactly what I want and saving lots of money makes up for that. I also find it very relaxing working with my hands and creating something that should be around for a long time.

I'm coming to the end of a 7yr spell of renting and will move back into my house early next year, I can't wait as I have a huge job list lined up, first job is a dry stone wall, then an oak framed man cave/garden shed. I will also have somewhere permanent to work on my lightweight 964 project and am looking forward to learning some new skills like TIG welding, carbon fibre mould and component laminating.

I work hard but work harder on my own projects, I'm a firm believer in having more projects lined up than lifetime left as I never want to get up in the morning wondering what do I do today no matter how old I am.

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one. It's really been getting to me lately. I don't mind doing stuff,I even enjoy it. But at my leisure. Everything lately is under pressure and a deadline. Even the simplest mundane thing seems like a major chore. I guess thats whats really stressing me out. Especially with my house. It's at the point where its driving a wedge between my wife and me, and we normally never fight or argue.
I'm getting ready to put my papers in at work, but I'm seriously having second thoughts. When I'm at work, at least I can relax . It is probably my least stressful enviroment.

Man do I know how you feel...station life is a vacation from home sometimes. No you are not alone...trust me.

[Matt Smith]

Too many great posts in this thread to quote, but there is very obviously a common response from the can-do/tool owner/ learn stuff rather than pay/enjoy working with their hands guys here. I salute, and join all of you.

Best thing I can offer is to work on extra curricular projects only when you feel inspired. It's not your day job and doing it should be enjoyable. Make some ground rules, and swap effort with those that will reciprocate. The rest? Suggest some good reading on-topic to educate themselves, or purchase some tools or skills, exactly the same way you had to..