Do It Yourself: Find satisfaction in home improvement projects
When tackling do-it-yourself projects, experts suggest starting with easier tasks and build from there.
Doing projects yourself at home can bring satisfaction.
MetroCreative
Those who want to try do-it-yourself projects should always consider cost and if it fits into the budget.
Sandy Costello Vargo of Scottdale remembers well when she acquired her own set of tools.
As she wrote on her website, Pink Tool Girl, 鈥淎fter my son got locked in our bathroom and I could not find a screwdriver in the house to rescue him, I wanted my own set of tools. Why not pink? I鈥檓 in a house full of boys so at least everyone knows which tools are mine.鈥�
Vargo said her husband, Andy, went out after the bathroom incident and bought her a tool kit. But this was not the first time Vargo handled tools. She had been taught by her father, the late Paul Costello, of Connellsville, and had fixed up apartments in which she lived as well as worked on sets and scenery for productions at Laurel Highlands High School in North Union Township where she formerly taught music and theater.
Vargo explained her husband was taught by his father and grandfather, and the couple enjoy fixing up their home. That鈥檚 how they developed the Pink Tool Girl website (www.pinktoolgirl.com), helping others with their own Do-It-Yourself projects through how-to articles, courses, videos and check lists.
鈥淚t started as a blog in May 2015 and then it morphed and adjusted into what I was good at,鈥� said Vargo, who handles the creative end while her husband handles the engineering aspects. 鈥淚 like helping people find the right tools for what they鈥檙e doing 鈥� bridge the gap between what they want to do and showing them how to do it.鈥�
DIY has been around for decades, including mechanics, crafts and gardening as well as home improvement. The U.S. Census Bureau notes on its website that 37 percent of home improvement projects between 2009-11 were do-it-yourself.
There are some things to consider before getting started. That includes the size of the project.
鈥淪ome people try a project that鈥檚 too advanced at first and say 鈥業 can鈥檛 do this,鈥� said Vargo. 鈥淵ou have to build up to it.鈥�
She noted people also need the desire to do the project.
鈥淐an everyone paint? Most people yes, but me 鈥� I hate to do the edges. I know that about myself, so my husband does it,鈥� Vargo said.
People handling a do-it-yourself project for the first time may want to start with something small. Vargo advised taking a piece of furniture, such as a chair, and painting it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so easy and so practical. It鈥檚 something you can do in a day and say 鈥業 didn鈥檛 know I could do this,鈥濃�� observed Vargo. 鈥淪ome people are afraid to mess up. Take a chair and a can of paint and see if you can do this. Most people find once they transform one thing, they might go from a chair to a table to a cabinet. Little projects end up being big projects.鈥�
Those tackling a project need to consider the cost and if it fits their budget.
鈥淥ne of the first things I did was I found a table at Goodwill for $10. I painted and stenciled it, and we still use it as our dining room table,鈥� Vargo said.
Research is important with Vargo noting sometimes a product may cost more but will last longer.
Also consider the time needed to complete a project. For example, installing a new floor in a small bathroom takes less time than installing a floor in a kitchen and living room.
And do they have the tools needed for the job? Some tools must be purchased while others can be rented or borrowed. Vargo also advised checking store policy to see, for example, if they will cut wood for a customer.
Vargo said most people will try a home improvement project to save money but many do it for creative reasons.
鈥淪ometimes you want to customize it to your style 鈥� whether it鈥檚 French country or farmhouse. So many people won鈥檛 buy something because it鈥檚 not the right color. Make it your color,鈥� Vargo said.
She said people try DIY because they may be curious to see if they can build or customize something.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of creative people, and I love to see what they can do,鈥� Vargo commented.
The Vargos have done flooring, countertops and taken down walls. They learn along the way.
But Vargo advises knowing the difference between what someone can and cannot do.
Vargo noted, 鈥淧eople will say 鈥極h, I hate the color of this bathroom.鈥� Then paint it 鈥� that鈥檚 easy. 鈥業 don鈥檛 like the layout of this house.鈥� Not so easy.鈥�
The Vargos use contractors for projects they鈥檙e not able to handle or to save time. And Vargo noted she doesn鈥檛 do plumbing and electrical work.
鈥淲e know our limits. Some people can do plumbing. That鈥檚 not in my wheelhouse,鈥� said Vargo, adding, 鈥淚 think safety first. You may be dealing with water damage. That鈥檚 why we always call a plumber.鈥�
She added, 鈥淜now your limitations and when to call in the professionals. It鈥檚 different for everybody.鈥�
But those who are able to accomplish DIY projects find a sense of satisfaction.
鈥淚 love it,鈥� said Vargo, 鈥渁nd I find when someone does it themselves, it鈥檚 a good bragging right because that was something they were able to do.鈥�