handyman skills

5 Handyman Skills Every Dad Should Have

While a cracked sewage pipe leaked profusely underneath the house, it occurred to me that every dad should have some basic handyman skills. Unfortunately, duct tape doesn’t fix everything and that repair cost me $600. Some men are naturals at the do-it-yourself gig, but most are more like Tim the Tool Man Taylor from the old sitcom Home Improvement–full of eagerness, but lacking ability. As Tim’s fictional wife once quipped, “I’m picturing what it’s like every time you renovate, and there’s a big hole in the wall and two paramedics.”

We are all blessed with different skills. Not everyone is going to get their own do-it-yourself reality show. However, as men and husbands, we should at least have these 5 handyman skills.

1. The Right Tools

Every man should have a toolbox. Inside that toolbox, he should have the following: a hammer, a screwdriver set, a level, a flashlight, a tape measure, WD-40, a wrench set, a utility knife, duct tape, and a drill with bits. As your skills grow, so will your tool collection—but these tools are the bare necessities.

2. A Handyman’s Education

Plenty of free education is out there when we seek it and most of the big home centers offer Saturday morning workshops on all sorts of different projects. Most importantly, we now have the power of the Internet to educate ourselves. You also can go to your local hardware store and ask for advice. In my experience, the smaller the store, the better the advice.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice

Sledgehammers are fun, but they also can cause a huge mess in a hurry. Before we start swinging and cutting things up, it is most wise to practice and hone our skills. Whether building a treehouse for our kids or cutting and replacing a section of pipe, we need to be sure we know what we’re doing first. Practice!

4. Safety Application

Once we’ve educated ourselves and practiced our skills to a competent level, we’re ready to apply them to a real project. The first and most important step is to make absolutely certain we have all the safety issues covered. For example, if we don’t shut the power off at the breaker before installing a ceiling fan, we are very likely going to come down from the ladder in a most unpleasant manner.

5. The Satisfaction of a Job Well Done

Never underestimate the feeling that doing something all on your own provides.

Never underestimate the feeling that doing something all on your own provides. Something deep inside our DNA comes alive when we sit back and admire the good thing we just did. Grab a lawn chair, a cold drink, and happily watch the children enjoy their new outdoor fort that was constructed with Dad’s own hands.

Sound off: What other handyman skills should dads have?

Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What things around the house would you like to learn how to fix?”