As guys we have to meet certain expectations and requirements. There is very much a stereotypical archetype of your typical ‘man’ and if we fall short of that in any way it can lead to ridicule from our fellow man and derision from females. As such it’s important for every man to go through several ritual rites of passage as they develop the skills and abilities that will enable them to stand tall among their fellow men as capable providers and alpha males.
Among this crucial sills set is a lot of DIY, which is considered a very manly job and one that every guy should be adept in. Woe betide the man who, upon learning from his wife that the radiator isn’t working, doesn’t know what to do to fix it…
Of course no man is going to be able to fix every DIY problem – DIY is simply too broad and varied a subject. However if you can be of use in just the following situations, then you should at least be able to get by…
Put Up Shelves
Putting up shelves is like a by-word (or phrase) for DIY. This is the basic DIY job that women want their men to be able to do, so if you can’t put up a shelf and be sure that it’s going to hold a pile of books, this is something you had better learn. Of course how easy this is depends on the shelves in question, but generally you should be able to drill into a wall and know to avoid power cables, and you should know how to actually build the shelves as well.
Hanging Pictures
Hanging pictures is another very basic requirement of most men. The good news is that if you can put up shelves you should be able to hang pictures. However slightly more tricky is attaching the string to the frame and making sure that the picture hangs straight.
Basic Plumbing
Being able to drain a radiator is a basic home maintenance task that every guy should know how to do. This is when we expose how easily pleased we are with ourselves – it’s an incredibly easy job but when it’s done we feel like Einstein mixed with Tony Stark… Meanwhile other skills you should learn for your plumbing involve unclogging drains and fixing leaky faucets. The good news once again is that both these jobs are pretty easy.
Building Flat-Pack Furniture
Building flat pack furniture is something that you will need to do from time to time and that will call into question a number of different skills and abilities. Every can build flat pack furniture, but what’s important is that you can build it to last and so it doesn’t rock from side to side when you breathe on it. Take your time, screw things in carefully, and be sure to think ahead – is this really the way round you should be facing the door panel?
Basic Electrics
This might sound like a broad challenge, but if you generally understand the wiring in a home you should be able to deal with a number of problems. Key skills here include finding and switching back on the fuse box, replacing bulbs, and replacing blown fuses in power plugs.
The article is written by Sarah Jones, home decor blogger and interior designer. She often writes guest posts related to DIY home improvement. She recommends BD Joinery for the best interior and exterior doors that will enhance your home’s aesthetic value.
