Ladies and Home Maintenance

John Thomas

John Thomas

Member
How do you ladies manage with home maintenance? the bigger and heavier work that some times needs doing or with plumbing and electrical problems
Especially if you live on a tight budget and can't afford contractors or handymen
 

The same way you gents manage home maintenance. We look at you tube videos and figure it out. :D
The same situation can apply to men too. Not all men come equipped with the handy gene.
I can do plumbing but I draw the line at electrical. :D

I suppose if you wanted to be shameless you could flirt and get some guy to do your handy stuff. Not me. Im just saying. :D
 
I try to handle what I can manage myself. Unfortunately, I'm not a carpenter, plumber, or electrician. 🥴

Fortunately, I have a couple of very good friends who are extremely handy and knowledgeable, who are willing to help me, and who have repaired or replaced a number of things for me. One replaced all my water pipes in the basement. I only paid for the parts. That job would have cost me about $4,000.00. He repaired my heater to keep it working until I got a new one. He also installed a new sump pump and propane tank. ❤️

The other friend replaced my medicine chest and installed a new toilet, sink, and heater exhaust fan in the main bathroom. He installed new electrical outlets in my basement, garage, and bathroom. He also restored my basement wall and stairs, fitted three new light fixtures, and repaired ceiling damage caused by a massive tree that crashed on my roof; then he actually dug out the stump. I was amazed. He also installed new fencing around my patio and built me an herb garden. There's nothing this man can't do. He's my hero. ❤️
 
I know how to do most things. I don't have the strength to do all things. I have put in new light fixtures, taken dead leaves off the roof, removed and replaced tires on the mower as well as changing the oil in it, diagnosed why my car wouldn't start and got it going well enough to get to town for a better repair, repaired a frozen plumbing line, put a new gasket between the tank and bowl of the toilet, repaired the roof, repaired the spot in the ceiling where the water got in, taped and mudded the guest house, painted the guest house............ I could keep going.

I spent most of my life sitting in an office and when I retired and was let loose at my little house in the woods I was in heaven and have loved learning and accomplishing all these things. I'm just getting too darned old to keep working like I have been and have started hiring a handyman for things I would have done myself a few years ago.
 
DebraMae said:
I know how to do most things. I don't have the strength to do all things. I have put in new light fixtures, taken dead leaves off the roof, removed and replaced tires on the mower as well as changing the oil in it, diagnosed why my car wouldn't start and got it going well enough to get to town for a better repair, repaired a frozen plumbing line, put a new gasket between the tank and bowl of the toilet, repaired the roof, repaired the spot in the ceiling where the water got in, taped and mudded the guest house, painted the guest house............ I could keep going.

I spent most of my life sitting in an office and when I retired and was let loose at my little house in the woods I was in heaven and have loved learning and accomplishing all these things. I'm just getting too darned old to keep working like I have been and have started hiring a handyman for things I would have done myself a few years ago.
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Good for you you DebraMae
 
I do as much as I can but arthritis now gets in the way of a lot of things.

There are things with the tractors & 4-wheelers I am not qualified to do. DH took care of 90% of the maintenance. I have had to figure out who to call to work on the equipment that are trustworthy and fairly priced. People have been great.

My brother was also down here for ten days and did a lot of things. It seemed like after DH passed, EVERYTHING went to hael in a hand basket, including the two year old POS garage door opener. My brother solved that with a Genie door that was on sale at Lowes.

So yes, it’s rough but, even with arthritis, I can still do a lot myself and I am careful with my money. I would rather live on this farm with little in extra $$$ than be penned up in some apartment in town or residential living where I have zero in common with other residents.
 
Imogene said:
I do as much as I can but arthritis now gets in the way of a lot of things.

There are things with the tractors & 4-wheelers I am not qualified to do. DH took care of 90% of the maintenance. I have had to figure out who to call to work on the equipment that are trustworthy and fairly priced. People have been great.

My brother was also down here for ten days and did a lot of things. It seemed like after DH passed, EVERYTHING went to hael in a hand basket, including the two year old POS garage door opener. My brother solved that with a Genie door that was on sale at Lowes.

So yes, it’s rough but, even with arthritis, I can still do a lot myself and I am careful with my money. I would rather live on this farm with little in extra $$$ than be penned up in some apartment in town or residential living where I have zero in common with other residents.
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you're writing my story tbh... it took about 2 years for everything that I couldn't fix to fall part here after the O/H was gone, and with OA in my hands and in my right knee it was diffuct to do many things I could in the past... .. and none of my brothers live close, so I had to call a handyman in..and it took ages to find someone who wouldn't rip me off..
 
hollydolly said:
you're writing my story tbh... it took about 2 years for everything that I couldn't fix to fall part here after the O/H was gone, and with OA in my hands and in my right knee it was diffuct to do many things I could in the past... .. and none of my brothers live close, so I had to call a handyman in..and it took ages to find someone who wouldn't rip me off..
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My brother lives ten hours away. He is a certified plumber so it took Some planning on his & my SIL’s part to get him down here. My neighbor who bush hogged for me, pointed me toward a tractor mechanic. And once I hunted down the 4-wheeler mechanic who’s last name escaped me, he led me to a mechanic for my autos.

It’s a royal PITA isn’t it?

I know it tisses you off as much as it does me, to be held captive by arthritis. I had stem cell on my left shoulder four years ago and A2M on my right hip two years ago. Both have been a life saver and still working better than expected. Insurance doesn’t cover these treatments so my knees, hands, and lower back have to be content with Excedrin and a topical gel that is for horses but works well on me. I also see the chiropractor and get DRX weekly.
 
Seriously I feel very fortunate that I dont have any major ailments so I can still do a lot of things myself.
I am slower and I need to take more breaks but I still get stuff done. Eventually. :D

I have started to hire out things that I used to do. I dont have any heirs to leave it to so I might as well spend it.
Also my live in handy person(me) is too slow getting stuff done. Takes too many breaks and plays on the internet. :D

While I can do stuff Im also aware that Im getting older and need to be mindful of that.
I forget that Im old sometimes and it gets me in trouble.
Latest episode gave me bursitis in my right hand and took me out of commission for three days.
But it is good to know how even if you dont do your own maintenance. Keeps your workers honest. :D
 
John Thomas said:
How do you ladies manage with home maintenance? the bigger and heavier work that some times needs doing or with plumbing and electrical problems
Especially if you live on a tight budget and can't afford contractors or handymen
Click to expand...
I think man's ability to make home repairs can make up for some shortcomings in other areas and foster relationships between men and women.
 
I do most of the repairs and maintenance since the hubs is crippled up and unable to do anything but supervise. It has become harder, since I am can't do any getting down jobs. If I can't do it, we either hire it done or get one of the grandson to help.
 
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