7.1    Introduction

An important step to becoming
a handyperson is evaluating your own unique skills .

In order to be amongst the best, you should be
resourceful, good with your hands and possess a desire to want to work on various tasks around your clients'
homes. However, to be a good handyperson, you need to dominate many more skills
that you can leverage and never stop learning new ones.

The purpose of this module is to go over the basic
skills you will need as a handyperson, in order to maximise the jobs you can perform. Many jobs you will be faced
with will more than likely require you
to know these methods.

Just like you did in the previous module, before
getting into those basic skills, it would strongly benefit you to jot down all of the skills that you have.

Activity
1

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Grab a piece of paper and a pen and start writing
down anything you can think of, no matter how
small the skill may seem.

Know how to unclog a sink? Put that on your list.

Just changed a light bulb yourself?
Write that down too.

 It will benefit both you and your future customers
to know exactly what you can and cannot do. At the end of this module,
you can compare
it to your list and see what you need to add.

7.2    Power Tool Basics

Whilst the previous
module went over the certain
tools you will need
to consider when performing various jobs, there are still quite a few tools
that you will want to have in your
collection, no matter what you think you are going to be doing.

You do not need every single type of saw and you do
not need every single type of drill bit; you just need to know the use of each, so you can purchase
as you need for various
tasks. However, with these tools, you will want to have them in your possession at all times, because they are that handy.

And you want to be a handyperson, don't you?

The Power Drill

Your power drill is going to be one of your most-used
tools.

You will be turning to this for drilling holes in a
variety of materials and perhaps even attaching different bits for driving screws
as well. You are best to have a cordless
drill because you never
know where you are going to be working and cords can give you restrictions.
Without the cord, you can drill
anywhere you need to, but how do you know what the best drill is for you?

The simple answer is that you do not. This is a
personal decision you must make, based on what you are comfortable with. The weight will be one of the most
significant things for you to consider because
there will be times when you will be working at heights. The work will be
easier with a lightweight, cordless
drill.

Before you go shopping for one, there is really
only one type of cordless drill you will want to consider - one with a
Lithium-ion battery, which are sometimes labelled as Li-Ion.

These cordless drills are lighter
in weight and the batteries
last much longer.
It is not a miracle power supply though, as these
batteries do come with their drawbacks. Extreme temperatures will cause the battery
to lose performance. It is unlikely you will be working in extreme temperatures very often, but if you store these batteries in such temperatures, the performance will deteriorate.

Starting out, this type of drill will cost you more
upfront. However, they are absolutely worth it. The batteries have a long life when cared for properly and you can
get a drill that comes with a spare battery. It will
cost you more, again and it is up to you if you want to choose that option. You
can always buy an additional battery
later on when you are using your drill more frequently. Until then, you can manage with just one battery.

Do you need it? No, but it is something to consider because
it will be cheaper than buying a second
battery to keep as a spare. Besides,
spares are not always your best option,
because the longer
they are left unused,
the more they lose efficiency. If you are investing in a spare battery, it would be best
to alternate the use of each, to ensure they get equal charge and equal use.

The Power Planer

When you need to trim wood, this will be your go-to
power tool. Use it to level wood, shave wood and even for shaping food.
If you are bootstrapping, a hand planer
will do the same job. A power
planer just makes your job easier.

The higher the kilowatt or horsepower rating is,
the more powerful the planer. The more power it has, the deeper the shave of
the wood with the first pass. A less powerful motor may require you several passes at a thinner depth.

PowerScrew Driver

You may know these as stick drivers. Your power
drill will be able to do the same by attaching the driver heads for the screw, but the screwdriver is handier when
you do not want to carry a bulky power drill. These are only designed to be
drivers though and are not meant for turning torque screws directly into construction timber, without pre-drilling the
holes first. What you do need is a long-lasting battery
life. The better the battery,
the more screws you will be driving
in with ease.

Fact

The Power Tools Division of the Bosch
Group is one of the leading power tool suppliers in the world - and they are
based in the UK.

Source: Bosch.co.uk

7.3    Concrete Mixing

You might find yourself accepting a variety of jobs in which you are
required to work with concrete.

For this reason, it is a good idea to familiarise
yourself with how to mix concrete, so that you do not have to involve yourself with buying the ready mixed, ready to
use stuff that gets delivered on a truck, which
usually poses a hefty fee.

Projects requiring this knowledge involve
using cement to secure fence
posts, decking foundations, or maybe to lay a short
concrete pathway. Do not turn the client away due to a lack of knowledge about working with concrete - it is as
straightforward as any other mix, such as wallpaper paste and drywall/plaster repair mixes.

 There are three very simple
steps involved:

*Put the mix in a tub

*Add some water

*Mix

That is how simple it is to mix concrete.
Of course, there is a little more to it than that, but that is
the gist of what you are doing.

You will find it better
to mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow than using a mixing bucket,
but either will do the job, provided you are mixing a few bags of concrete mix. If you need to mix large volumes
of concrete mix, hiring a cement fixture
will make the job easier
for you.

Use a hoe, spade, or shovel to mix the cement. The
bags will be available at local hardware/DIY
supplies stores and will have mixing instructions on the bag, including
how much water to apply to the mixture.

Concrete Mix Design

Modern concrete designs
tend to be complex. The choice of the proper mix will depend on the needs of
the project, both in terms
of strength and appearance and in relation
to local building
codes and regulations. The design requirements of the
concrete take into consideration the required design strength and the weather conditions the finished product will be
exposed to.

Concrete has been used since ancient times and throughout
the years has taken on many different types
and mixes.

The most commonly
used modern concrete
mixes include:

*Regular concrete

*High strength
concrete

*Stamped concrete

*High performance concrete

*Ultra, high performance concrete

*Cellular concrete

*Micro-reinforced, ultra,
high performance concrete

*Self-consolidating concrete

*Vacuum concrete

*Shotcrete

*Limecrete

*Pervious concrete

*Cork-cement

*Glass concrete

*Asphalt concrete

*Rapid strength
concrete

*Rubberized concrete

*Geopolymer concrete

*Roller-compacted concrete

*Refractory cement

*Innovative mixtures

*Gypsum concrete

 7.4    Marking and Measuring

Whether you want to drill
a hole in the wall or mark your wood for
cutting, you will always need to measure accurately and mark with precision.

To do that, you need to have more than a tape measure at your disposal.

If you are cutting wood, you may want to invest in
a precision T-ruler. Attach it to the edge of the wood and insert the sharp tip of your pencil through the tiny, pivoted holes and mark to a fraction of a millimetre.

Whatever the job you are tasked with, your marking
and measuring will need to be accurate,
so here is how to do that right,
for complete customer
satisfaction. The final
result will be based on you
getting your measurements accurate and sticking to them.

There are a variety of tools you will want in your
possession, in order to help you accurately mark and measure.

Those tools include:

A pencil: the darker the lead, the better.

 A felt
tip pen: This is needed for marking plastics and PVC. There are some homes with
curved walls where no hardwood
skirting will fit to the wall. The solution is cellular PVC and to mark
it for cutting, you will need a felt tip pen. Some homeowners may just opt for this to save on
the repainting costs
each time it begins to tire. Use a felt tip pen to mark any PVC trim for cutting and/or installing. This is
also the material used for the walls in wet rooms.

 A scribe: If you are marking metal, you will find it hard to see your markings with a pencil, pen, or felt tip pen.Instead, use a scribe to score the metal.

 Nail
punch: You can mark your measurements on walls with a pencil, but to get a
starting mark for drilling, use a nail punch to make a guide hole, which will
help keep your drill in place when you first turn it on.

Engineer's square:
This is handy for any carpentry work you will be doing, but don't mistake
the try square used for traditional woodworking projects for that of an
engineer's square. They are designed differently. The traditional try square is
mostly wood and metal and isn't always accurate. An engineer's square must be
manufactured and tested to building code standards. There is also part of the design that prevents debris from
gathering, which can throw the straight edges off. For perfect 90-degree
angles, use an engineer's square to get straight lines.

Activity 2

Estimated time: 10 to 20 minutes

Take this moment to get your tool belt or toolbox
in order. Take out what you do not need and stock up on the basic tools that
you know you will need for almost every job.

If you have come across tools in the above list
that you do not yet have, make sure to take note and go to your favourite hardware store to purchase the item.

If you like some online pricing better, you should
still go to the store to get a first-hand feel of each item and really narrow this down to the ones you
want.

7.5    Work on Your Own Appliances

A lot of your jobs will involve broken
appliances needing repair.

What better way to ensure you know how to repair
it, than getting a full idea on what is going inside that machine?

Fact

Most service technicians agree that the
majority of their house calls are for minor malfunctions that the customer
could have corrected
themselves.

Source: Motherearthnews.com

7.6    Diagnostics and Treatments
for Appliances

Regardless of your mechanical know-how, these guidelines should help you to determine the issues
with various appliances.

These scenarios are with the intent that the major
components (such as the electrical motor or compressor) are in good working
order.

If the following information does not help you to
figure out the issue to a certain appliance's
problem, that is when you can conclude
that you may need to seek out an expert in the field.

One reason you might want to call a professional is if you think you may need to install
a certain part to the appliance that you are not entirely sure how
to do. It is best to keep in mind, however, that electrical parts are typically not allowed to be returned once
used.

You will, therefore, want to go through these steps before determining
that you need to go out and buy a specific part:

First
and foremost, you should fully inspect the machine or appliance you are going
to be attempting to repair. Although
most manufacturers use most of the same basic parts in their products, each of them will “brand” their
line of products by locating the parts differently from their competitors. It is imperative to familiarise yourself
with the appliance
or machine at hand, even if you have worked on
something similar in the past. You might find aid in reading the user's manual for the product, if available.

If the
machine is not running at all, you will want to make sure it is plugged in
properly, then check for a blown fuse
or tripped circuit breaker. After ruling out all of that, be sure to fully unplug the machine before attempting to work on it.

Once
you have ensured that the machine is unplugged and there is no source of power connected to it, you can begin looking
below the surface to try to figure out the issue. This is where the user's manual can help, as there is usually a diagram of the machine
itself, labelling every part
for you.

7.7    Common Appliance Issues and Their Simple Solutions

No, every single problem is not on this list, and
no, the solutions here are not always the answer.

Knowing these basic issues and how to go about
trying to solve them can help you incredibly when dealing with a customer's faulty appliance.

Low pressure at water faucet

This is usually the result of a dirty aerator. Over
time, they get clogged with minerals or bits of the inside of the pipe that break off. You can remove the aerator by rotating it clockwise whilst looking down onto it. You can clean the pieces inside,
however, it is almost always better to just replace them. Take it with you to the hardware store to find the exact
match.

Unclogging a toilet

As a handyperson, you will find that a lot of your customers are calling you about a clogged toilet and you will witness
first hand just how many people use their toilets
as a rubbish bin. When plungers will not do the trick, you
will have to remove the toilet to look at it from underneath, which is where you will almost always find clogged rubbish
that should have been thrown in the rubbish
bin.

Leaky Pipe

The most common problem causing a pipe to leak is
when the valve stem packing nut just needs a
little tightening.

You can pinpoint this by checking
the valve stem and seeing if this is where the leak is coming from.

No hot water

Remove the metal cover on the bottom of the water
heater, or simply look through the glass door
and check to see if the pilot light is on. If you do not see the flame, follow the instructions on the
panel that tell you how to relight the pilot light. Some modern,
high-efficiency heaters are more commonly
being made with pilot lights that do not stay on the entire time.

Refrigerator hot cooling

Immediately check out the cooling coils and
temperature dial. The issue might be as simple as turning the temperature dial to the proper setting. A customer
may have unknowingly bumped the dial when putting groceries away.

It is also incredibly common for the cooling coils
to become clogged with dust and pet hair. Remove the coils and vacuum them out if you notice this. The
refrigerator should immediately start to feel
cooler.

Gas burners on the stove not lighting

When you turn the burner on, lean in close and
listen. If you do not hear gas, this means gas is not getting to the stove. If you do hear the gas, but the burner is not lighting,
first you should make sure that the stove is plugged in.

If the problem still ensues, clean the igniter,
as well as the pilot light hole.

If this does not work and you still hear/smell gas
coming out of the stove, that is when you know it is time to call out a
professional.

Electrical outlet not working

You should reset the GFCI electrical outlets
at this time. Look in the breaker
box for the according breaker
and for the outlets in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Test and reset
all of them. This may solve your
problem with just the one outlet.

Beyond this, it would be better to call a
professional to come out and take a look, as working with electricity can be very dangerous when
done improperly.

Module Summary

This module covered a few basic skills you need to
be a handyperson; from possessing certain tools, to creating your own concrete, to familiarising yourself with
the common issues and solutions for certain appliances.

You should feel more comfortable and have a grasp on a beginner's
guide to various tasks.