Are you a real contractor, or do you just play one on television?
Figuring out what's possible and managing expectations is always hard, especially when it comes to doing your home renovations. Because when it comes to television, what you see isn't always exactly real.
All kinds of contestants from across the country compete to prove they are the best Handyman. They are men and women from all walks of life who are weekend warriors and DIYers. Thousands of people tried out to be in this competition, and I tell you, some of them are damn good. But what are they in it for?
Sure, some of them just want to be on TV, and yes, there are prizes. But for some, that is not the reason they are competing. For them, there's another story altogether: They are passionate and proud and want to show what they are made of.
Some are very talented and you can tell on the first day of competition they'll go far. It takes patience to learn these handyman skills, as it does to do any job well. It's creative. It takes curiosity, attention to detail and a good eye.
Contestants are given various challenges to build something, with different options for fasteners: glue, screws, drywall screws or finishing nails. What's the right choice? Or they're asked to build a project using a selection of different products and they have to choose the right one. Is oriented strand board the right material for a lounge chair?
In these competition shows, the contestants are faced with the challenges every homeowner who wants to try DIY faces. And you get to witness why so many DIY projects go so wrong (and why I'm always wary about unqualified people taking on home improvement projects). How do you know?
Part of what I see is they don't ask why, they ask how. They've read it on the Internet or they have picked up a pamphlet at the hardware store that gives step-by-step instructions. But without knowing the why of any project, you aren't always going to get the how right. Understanding and real knowledge is deeper than that.
That's one reason I'm always advising people to not do it themselves. There's a world of experience and understanding that's lacking. You only get that in someone who's done the job a few times. Or, ideally, lots of times.
I'm not against hiring a professional handyman for certain small jobs around your home. There's no need to hire a general contractor to oversee replacing a lock set or changing a light switch. You want to repair some drywall damage and change your baseboards or install a chair rail? That's the job for a handyman.
But you need to make sure the handyman you hire is experienced, and you need to check him out the same way you do a contractor for a bigger job. Make sure the handyman understands his skill level, too. I've come across a lot of these guys who, because they've been doing small jobs for years, somehow start to believe they can take on bigger projects, like a basement renovation. They've seen it done. They've watched television -- maybe a reality show or even a handyman competition. They might have even done their own basements, on weekends, with no deadline pressure.
But that doesn't qualify them to do yours. There's a lot more to doing a full basement than the typical handyman knows how to do, from pulling permits to managing sub-trades -- and let's hope they never think they can do the job of the plumber or electrician! A typical basement renovation project is too complex and requires an experienced professional.
I see a lot of problems that result from handymen who overstep their abilities. Don't get caught. Ambition and the best intentions won't make up for a lack of experience and ability. Let's keep your renovation real.
Catch Mike in his new series, Holmes Inspection, airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV. For more information, visit www.hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.
