Gaining Home Improvement Skills While being a Student

For freshman and sophomores who have not yet delved into their majors or students in general who have some time on their hands there’s an interesting proposition they should contemplate: setting up an apprenticeship or getting a part time job in a home improvement related field. Home improvement? Yes. Think about it. Whether they live at home, off campus with friends, or hope to have a home of their own in the near future knowing more about taking care of one can save a lot of money. I’m not saying they should become contractors or deviate from their dreams. However, with the economic meltdown of recent years and the uncertainty of when the world economy is going to regain its strength understanding a bit more about how to fix things can make a difference and even affect property value. For example, consider the following: 1. Landscaping: Some chores like mowing the lawn are easy enough to do on your own but others take skills. • How and when to prune bushes can make all the difference when they are growing back. • Knowing what a weed is, what isn’t and what plants live well together. • When and how to transplant plants and spacing issues. • How to encourage better water usage across an overall yard. • Good kinds of mulches and how to convert organic debris into self made mulch. 2. Painting: Whether for interiors or exteriors knowing the best way to paint is a great skill to have as hiring others to do the work can sometimes cost thousands of dollars. • Learn the difference between oil and water based paints and where they are best applied. • Learn efficient ways to paint ceilings, baseboard, walls, doors and windows. • Understand what weather conditions are ideal for painting and which are not. • Learn how to remove paint and what are the best tools for the job. • Learn tips on how to avoid spills and fix mistakes. 3. Concrete: Every home has some cracks in it, which are usually the result of moisture. Knowing how to repair walls or foundations can be extremely handy. • Learn how to mix cement well. • Learn how to clean a crack well before filling it. • Learn about good patchwork. • Learn how to replace cracked bricks and cement new ones. • Learn about concrete removal and where to dispose of it.