Home Improvement Is A Comedy About A Serious Topic
Millions of people who watched the popular TV series, Home Improvement over several seasons came to feel as if they knew the lovable characters. While we all knew Tim Taylor would surely find some way to make us laugh as he took home improvement to the extreme, the concept of a homeowner improving their home through DIY projects became a reality.
Fifty years ago there were not many homeowners who actually took on home improvement projects. They were more likely to hire a competent contractor to do the work while they depended on gainful employment to pay the contractor. Perhaps it was Tim Taylor who inspired homeowners to believe they could accomplish certain home improvements themselves. After all, if someone who seemed to have so little common sense could end up with satisfactory results, maybe they could do just as well. On the other hand, it is more likely that they made the decision to try their hand at fixing less complicated problems in their home because the cost of hiring a contractor increased so much.
Many homeowners who might have made the decision to sell their current home and purchase an upgrade were not able to because the resale value of their home fell drastically during the housing crisis. The next best choice they had was to upgrade their current home to meet their needs, and the most cost effective way to do that was to tackle at least some of the work themselves.
Although most homeowners do not have the training and skill level required to add a room to their home or replace the windows, some projects are relatively simple and there are many sources of information they can draw on for guidance. The number of home improvement stores has increased greatly over the past few decades, and nearly any community will have at least one. A homeowner can become educated about home improvement projects by searching the internet for sites that show step-by-step instructions, or detailed information can be found in books available for sale at home improvement centers.
Obviously,the best plan is to begin with a simple project that does not require a lot of materials, time and knowledge. Some of the best projects for beginners involve painting a room or replacing the doors on kitchen or bathroom cabinets with new ones. Outdoor projects such as installing a fence or building a deck are certainly more physically demanding, so the homeowner should make sure enough dependable help is available before attempting these projects.
When a simple project has been successfully completed, the homeowner may feel confident enough to attempt one that is somewhat more complicated. It is important to remember that some home improvements require permits, and electrical or plumbing work should always be completed by a licensed professional. While updating the home through do-it-yourself projects can add a lot of value to it, it is important to make sure the work is done properly and no damage is done.
