The laundry room in our house is rather small. The size of the area is only just big enough to hold the washing machine, electric dryer, washing basket and a sink. To make it feel less cluttered we decided to attach a metal bracket to the wall to hang the electric dryer above the washing machine.
A simple task for any “DIYer”, well sort of? You see, I am one of those dads who are physically and mentally challenged in the areas fixing stuff! Usually it is far easier just to get someone in to do it, but this is normally at a cost
In my quest for “Less” I am all for changing these costly habits and giving anything a go! But wait, why would you take tips from me? A self confessed failure at the manly art of DIY, I here you ask? Well, you can look at this way, the tips are what you should do, and my personal experience examples are what you shouldn’t do!
1. Preparation - This was my first fail, you need to have a good think about the job before you start. When is the best time to start? What will I need? Do I need help, and how does this fit in with others involved? I decided with no thought, Sunday evening would be best, after all it was “just a bracket!” how hard could it be? WRONG! This is how a 30 minute job turned into a 90 minute nightmare and mydecision to start it in the evening the night before the start of the week, was a poor one.
2. Right tools for job – It was the quality of my tools that really let me down, especially my fancy looking 42 piece drill accessory pack, made by some no name company, which from memory, was bought for the same price of a standard 7 piece high quality pack made by a well know tool company. “What a bargain” I thought, but when it came down to quality and performance, it sucked! These poorly made drill bits caused me so much grief as they wouldn’t grip, burred easily, and in the end, I had to force the screws into the wall. I recommend you buy the right tools for the job and also make sure that you buy only what you will use.
3. Need a hand? – Is this going to be a one or two person job? Does the job require heavy lifting or guidance? Also, do certain parts of the job require technical assistance from those in the know? Don’t be afraid to call a mate or neighbour for a hand. My helper was my wife, (my pregnant wife, that is) So when it came to lifting and attaching a rather large and heavy dryer to the bracket on the wall, I realised I had a problem. (doh! as Homer would say) I then, stupidly tried to lift the dryer myself, and after only one wobbly attempt and a large scratch on the wall, the final stage of attachment to the wall was aborted until we found another helper the next day.
4. Assessment – After the job is done, take a moment to reflect on the whole experience (a cold beer helps with this tip). How did it go? Was there need for improvement, also what could I have done differently next time around?
The important thing is to be proud that you did it yourself, even if it was a bit of disaster like my experience, be happy that you gave it a go, and that next time you will be able to do it in “Less” time and with “Less” complexity.
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A friend of mine just emailed me one of your articles from a while back. I read that one a few more. Really enjoy your blog. Thanks
Glad you enjoy it Randy, thanks for reading.
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