Keeping your house livable isn't really optional. While it's possible to ignore minor leaks and squeaky floorboards for awhile, when your roof caves in and the termites start on the walls you've lost your chance for an easy fix. But keeping your house in good shape isn't just about staving off the elements—it's about comfort, and while ascetics might shun comfort as ungodly, there's nothing wrong with a home that's well-insulated, airtight and dry.
On the most basic level, home maintenance is about stewardship. God has given us houses to live in and it is our duty to keep them attractive and in good shape. Regular upkeep is a good way to avoid having to dump money and time in a project that would have been rendered unnecessary by a little work once in awhile. Sometimes, though, bad things happen and unforeseen circumstances result in a huge task like re-roofing or a bathroom remodel.
Why not just call the experts and have them worry about it? After all, they are the experts and could finish whatever you need done a lot faster and more efficiently. And let's face it, the incentive of a job well done isn't much of an incentive—you could be watching the Bucs vs. Green Bay while some greasy plumber messes around with PVC and pipe dope. If you've got the money, why not?
For one thing, calling an expert is expensive. More importantly, the skills gained while patching a wall or grouting tile can come in useful. Which is the real reason men ought to be able to fix and build things—it allows them to maintain a level of self-sufficiency that is both liberating and fulfilling. Because honestly, it might be no fun in the process, but once that new tub's set and caulked you'll definitely feel like a man.
Some things, of course, should only be attempted after adequate research. Projects that involve electrical work especially should be undertaken with great care so you don't end up fried. The books we offer (and yes, it is a developing section) are intended to help you have a feel for what you're doing before you start battering away with a hammer, though of course it's only practice in the end that can suffice.
 |
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
|
Did you find this review helpful?