Issuu

Design Process Book Emily Truelove GR620 | Fall 2021 Instructor: Sandra Isla

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Concept Development Topics for Investigation Research and Insights Concept Refinement

2. Creative Brief Background Personas Keywords Naming

3. Visual Development Moodboards Logo Creation Poster Development Visual Design System

4. Deliverables Event Product App

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Topics for Investigation

This is How was born on a middle-of-the-night phone call to my wife’s dad when a tiny pipe behind our fridge snapped in half. We were a house of adult roommates that had lived in this house for years, but when we were told that the first step was shutting off the main water supply, everyone stopped and stared. We should know how to do this. Dad, an expert millwright, guided us while he drove over. I don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have a home emergency expert on speed-dial. I created This is How to bridge that gap for everyone else that lives in a home or apartment and doesn’t quite know how to take care of it. Home emergencies can happen at any time to anyone and everyone should feel comfortable handling one when it pops up. Whether they’re new to living alone or just new to handling home maintenance, This is How empowers homeowners and renters to tackle any emergency.

Fact: Milennials are quick to tell anyone who will listen that they have no idea how to complete basic life tasks. Do they know how to file taxes? Do they know what those symbols mean on the tag of their now-shrunken favorite shirt? Nope, but they do know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Even older adults, though they are less likely to offer the information, struggle with how to handle certain household situations. An Atlanta newspaper, The Southerner, summed up the issue well: “Reading, writing and arithmetic prepare[d] students to graduate, but Home Economics classes prepare[d] students for life.” Despite the continuing need for real-life skills, home ec classes were removed from most school curriculums over 20 years ago. Many of these courses were replaced with more modern “Technology/Computer Skills” classes. The focus on computer sciences has bred a generation that is more than capable of operating just about any digital system, but generally unable to operate a washing machine correctly. Problem: Because schools no longer teach basic life skills, such as how to properly load a washing machine, many new and young adults are struggling to complete the mundane adult tasks. Goal: I want to increase accessiblity to learn how to complete basic home maintainence and respond to small household emergencies in order to allow adults to thrive in their homes.

Of course, topic selection wasn’t actually that simple. A variety of concepts were explored during the discovery phase.

Extreme Science Museums I want to expose and explore extreme ecosystems in order to increase post-pandemic science museum attendees.

Make it Accessible I want to model and educate on accessible design in order to persuade designers to be more aware of disabilities while designing.

Do You Still Believe in Faeries? I want to compile and revitalize knowledge of spiritual practices lost to colonialism in order to preserve ancestral spiritual practices.

The New Not-So-Normal I want to combat hypernormalization of post-pandemic life in order to provide resources for people still learning how to move back into the world.

Welcome to Adulthood I want to increase accessiblity to learn basic life skills that are lacking in school education in order to allow new and young adults to thrive in their adulthood.

Extreme Science Museums Fact: Earth has some wild ecosystems—including these flowers that grow in the solidified lava flows of Hawai’i. What?! Isn’t that crazy? This is the amazing kind of information that can be found among the exhibits of science museums. Unfortunately, museum attendence rates have dropped between 33% to 80% in some areas (The Art Newspaper, Gareth Harris, 25 June 2021). This could be catastrophic for an industry that supports more than 726,000 American jobs, and contributes $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year—at least prior to the pandemic, that is (American Alliance of Museums). Extreme ecosystems are a fascinating, but little-discussed part of our planet. Currently, only one California science museum has an exhibit related to extreme ecosystems; however, even that exhibit is limited to the specific local ecosystem (California Science Center). The novelty of this topic makes it a great subject for a revival exhibit at a science museum. I was particularly drawn to this one because of my background in science education. Working for a science musuem has long been a dream of mine. For the purposes of this class, however, the topic didn’t come together appropriately.

Problem: Attendance rates at science museums have decreased since the coronavirus pandemic. Parent’s have been home with children for over a year. Now that the world is reopening, science museums need to stake their claim in the activity market for children coming out of the pandemic. Goal: I want to expose and explore extreme ecosystems in order to increase post-pandemic science museum attendees.

Make it Accessible Fact: In a surprising turn of events, the makeup company Urban decay is actually considered by blind makeup enthusiasts to be the most accessible brand. Small details in designs help those with low-vision ensure they’re using the right product. For example, the Perversion mascara packing has textured water droplet designs signifying that it is a waterproof mascara. The other product is the line is a fine-point eye pen, which is missing those textures and is also a significantly slimmer product—aligning with the finepoint aspect of the product. Other disabilities should also be accomodated in public design, but are relatively ignored. Consider the colored caps signifying the different types of milk. Now imagine being entirely colorblind. Let me tell you, mistakes have definitely been made. I still love this topic, but the broad number of accessibility issues proved to be beyond the scope and timing of the class.

Problem: Accessible design could be one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges for a designer; however, there is a lack of resources and education available on the subject. Goal: I want to model and educate on accessible design in order to persuade designers to be more aware of disabilities while designing.

Do You Still Believe in Faeries? Fact: I come from a Portuguese family, which—if you know anything about the Portuguese people—also means I grew up in a Catholic family. This was something that I had always taken as fact and never really investigated. More precisely, my family is from Flores in the Azores Islands. Catholicism didn’t land on that island naturally. It was brought there like an invasive species that eventually choked out all of the native beliefs. Upon researching the pre-colonial beliefs of my ancestors, I realized how sparse and how disconnected the information was. It was there, in pieces, spread through books, diaries, and word-of-mouth. But slowly, even that memory is fading. This is not an isolated incident. More and more new adults are turning away from “colonial Christianity” and instead embracing the beliefs and practices of their ancestors. (“Christians of Color are Rejecting ‘Colonial Christianty’ and Reclaiming Ancestral Spiritualities”, Deborah Jian Lee, religiondispatches.org) For this topic, there was an unclear audience and less clarity in the goal overall.

Problem: Pre-colonial spiritual practices are on the brink of being lost to history, which would further inhibit people form being able to embrace their ancestors beliefs. Goal: I want to compile and revitalize knowledge of spiritual practices lost to colonialism in order to preserve ancestral spiritual practices.

The New Not-So-Normal Fact: The onset coronavirus pandemic created a sudden need for graphic design solutions. Seemingly overnight, stores proudly displayed branded signage requiring masks, stickers delineating the desired six foot distance, and motion graphics visualizing the effect of the virus. But now there is less of a need for social distancing graphics, as the CDC loosens gathering restrictions for vaccinated adults (“Vaccinated Americans, Let the Unmasked Gatherings Begin (but Start Small)”, Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times). This transition to what many people hope with be The New Normal, is filled with anxiety, unease, and unanswered questions. If I don’t wear my mask, will people think I’m vaccinated, or that I don’t believe in masks? Are people still uncomfortable with a handshake upon meeting? How are we supposed to know? This topic might be a great idea—if the pandemic ever actually ends. This topic was passed on because of the ambiguity of the reopening of society.

Problem: While graphic designers readily answered the call to create pandemic-related designs, there is a lack of design helping people to move out into society again. Goal: I want to combat hypernormalization of post-pandemic life in order to provide resources for people still learning how to move back into the world.

A list of topics I am passionate about gave me a lot to consider when I was brainstorming possible topics. Interestingly, the final topic was not even on the list. Instead it developed over multiple rounds of research.

Research and Insights

Libraries proved to be the most valuable resources in the creation of This is How. Many public libraries offer Adulting 101 courses that cover a breadth of life skills. Libraries also had records of the ages and number of attendees to the different lessons, which helped determine the target audience and specific skills.

Information That is Not Well Known or Understood Insight: When Adulting 101 courses are offered to the public, such as through libraries, the audience is skewed towards older adults—even when the course was advertised for teen groups. Often this is because of the loss of a significant other who usually performed certain tasks. This created an environment where some older adults never needed to learn certain skill sets. Importance: While I assumed the primary audience of this project would be new and young adults, I discovered the target audience is actually much more varying in demographics.

Result of Understanding the Inner Nature of Things Insight: Many younger adults don’t learn how to perform household maintenance until they are encountering a necessary fix. In this instance, most turn to the internet for instructions. Importance: While using the internet is a valid and viable method of learning household maintenance skills, it leads to a serious disadvantage if the small emergency is “my internet just crashed.”

An Introspection Insight: When looking at the search results for queries like ““how do I learn to do home maintenance” bring results from website primarily tergeting men. Importance: Men may feel an extra emphasis to learn basic handy skills, making them a larger part of the target audience than I may have originally imagined.

The Result of an Acute Observation and Deduction Insight: Studies have shown that the most regularly searched terms related to home maintenance are: How to fix a leaky faucet How to unclog a drain How to find a stud How to fix a running toilet Importance: By examining the related trending searches, there is a clear set of basic house maintainence skills that seems to be lacking in many adult Americans

An Understanding of Cause and Effect Based on Identification of Relationships and Behaviors Insight: When it comes down to it, the most telling factors that play a part in adults lacking domestic skills are transitions of life and gender role adherance. Importance: The target audience is much more dependent on behaviors and past experience than any level of demographics. The topic transcends age, economic status, education level, and marital status. It’s important to be specific in choosing the target audience and not try to appeal to everyone.

Concept Refinement

During the course of research and refinement, the topic’s focused shifted slightly away from the broad topic of “adulting.” It quickly became clear that the intended audience extended far beyond Millennials. In fact, the target audience of This is How is captured more accurately when defined by a time of transition, rather than a specific demographic.

The first step I took in refining the topic was to narrow down the specific life skills that would be addressed in the project.

Job Skills Job Hunting Resume Writing

Relationships Communication

Financial

Conflict Resolution

Budgeting Saving Credit

Domestic Cooking Laundry Organization

Home Repair Small house emergencies Basic tool skills

After I narrowed down the life skills, it was time to pinpoint the target audience. Who needed the most help completing home repairs and basic home maintenance?

Fact: An Atlanta newspaper, The Southerner, summed up the issue well: “Reading, writing and arithmetic prepare[d] students to graduate, but Home Economics classes prepare[d] students for life.” Despite the continuing need for real-life skills, home ec classes were removed from most school curriculums over 20 years ago. Many of these courses were replaced with more modern “Technology/Computer Skills” classes. The focus on computer sciences has created a generation that is more than capable of operating just about any digital system, but generally unable to stop a leak without Google. Even older adults, though they are less likely to offer the information, struggle with how to handle certain household situations. Problem: Times of transition can highlight missing skills, especially when it comes to caring for a home. Goal: I want to increase accessiblity to learn how to complete basic home maintainence and respond to small household emergencies in order to allow adults to thrive in their homes.

CREATIVE BRIEF

Brand Identity

Single-Minded Proposition Home maintenance needs to be accessible to all.

Objective I want to increase accessiblity to learn how to complete basic home maintainence and respond to small household emergencies in order to allow adults to thrive in their homes.

Deliverable System The deliverable system seeks to address different forms of accessibility.

Event The Survive a Home Repair Beginner’s Workshop tackles three common small home emergencies that even beginner DIY-ers can tackle. People who attend the open-format, drop-in workshop are able to practice the tasks independently. Of course, expert help is on hand when it’s needed. The hands-on experience solidifies the knowledge and gives attendees the confidence to handle their own repairs.

Product If you’ve ever dealt with a burst pipe in the middle of the night, you likely know the desire for a 24-hour hardware store. Home emergencies don’t have business, so supply stores shouldn’t either. The This is How tool vending machine fills this need by providing a place where home repairs supplies are accessible at all hours of the day.

App The This is How app gives the user access to project instructions and tool tips when and where they need it.

Personas

New adults seem like the most obvious audience for a “how-to-adult” brand, but surprisingly the range of demographics is much wider when it comes to age. From teens to senior citiczens, everyone can use a little help adulting every now and then. What proved to be one of the most overarching traits within the audience is a time of transition. Some of the audience members might be moving into a new living situation, while others might be staying in the same place but with new or fewer house members. For this reason, the personas are based primarily on a type of transition, such as living alone for the first time.

Primary Persona: Lucy

Age: 25 Gender: Female Education: Bachelor’s Degree Marital Status: Single

Relevant Ethnographics Lives alone for the first time after living with parents and then in a college dorm Older condo where she is responsible for routine maintenance, but household emergencies are handled by her landlord Had a pampered childhood with no household responsibilities, so she is not familiar with the work necessary to maintain a home Attended a school system that did not offer any home ec, woodworking, or other related courses

Character Building Traits Navigating post-grad life the best she can, but everything feels very overwhelming and new Cut off from wealthy family with no financial or physical support system Feels like she is constantly just treading water to keep life running without something falling apart

Secondary Persona: Jake

Age: 43 Gender: Male Education: Some high school Marital Status: Divorced

Relevant Ethnographics Lives with six roommates after growing up alone and living on the streets during his early adulthood Spiritual sober house that is maintained equally by all house members Latchkey kid with no adult mentor growing up led to hyperindependence Basic domestic courses during rehab taught him how to cook and clean, but he’s never faced down a leaking faucet before

Character Building Traits Fresh out of rehab after a 16 year opiod addiction and now facing down handling adult responsibilities for the first time Not sure if his parents are even alive so he uses his sober family as his only support system Feels disappointed in himself whenever a roommate has to help him with something that he thinks he should be able to do on his own

Tertiary Persona: Stu

Age: 74 Gender: Male Education: Trade School Marital Status: Widowed

Relevant Ethnographics Lives alone for the first time in 50 years after leaving his bachelor apartment to live with his wife Older townhouse that seems to have more and more problems on top of the routine maintenance Childhood household chores were assigned based on gender roles, so while he can sort recycling appropriately, he’s not sure how to get rid of that slime growing in the shower Home Economics classes in grade school prepared him for the houses of the 1960s, but not for the smart homes of today

Character Building Traits Learning how to live without his wife of 50 years and feels too proud to ask for help, or hire a professional Distanced from three adult children and coming to realize that the men he chats with at the hardware store might be his only family Feels sad and lonely all the time and avoids small domestic tasks like ironing because doing the task himself only makes her absence feel more noticable

Keywords

Trustworthy [adj.] deserving of trust/confidence; dependable; reliable

In a study of young adults gauging whether a company is trustworthy, “trust was [frequently] described as a balance between characteristics of longevity, durability, and strength of the product or service, and the means of creating, promoting, distributing, and managing those products and services.”

Doable [adj.] within one’s powers; feasible

A do-it-yourself brand can only be effective if it inspires in the audience the feeling that they can, in fact, complete the task. A doable brand focuses on making it’s products approachable and user-friendly.

Practical [adj.] mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages, etc of action/procedure

Nooria Khan, content marketer for SIA Enterprises, describes being practical as “making visible and concrete differences in your environment…emotionally stable and effectively takes control of its surroundings at the time of crises.” This can be applied to branding by creating a brand that can provide control in a time of crisis.

Pragmatic [adj.] solving problems in a sensible way that suits the conditions that really exist now, rather than obeying fixed theories, ideas, or rules

A pragmatic view means that one doesn’t think in ideal or abstract terms. For example, words that attempt to explain abstract concepts— freedom, beauty, etc.—have no meaning in and of themselves. Instead, someone who looks at pragmatics would attempt to understand how they are being used in a given, concrete, practical situation. A pragmatic brand’s realm is results and consequences. Reliable Detailed Workable Functional Skillful Utilitarian Efficient Accurate Meticulous Dependable Credible

Naming

Founder: Emily at Home Emily’s Guide EmilyIsabellAdults

Descriptive: Adults at Home How.To The Basics This is How

Fabricated: Extra Credit one.oh.one Your Turn

Metaphor: Capax Triskele Enodia

Acronym: JAM (Jay and Emily) YCA (You can Adult) TBA (To Be an Adult)

Magic Spell: Adlt. lvl up home.own

Combinations: In a Jam TrySkel uplvl own.home

VISUAL DIRECTION

Moodboards

The moodboard explorations created three distinct visual and conceptual styles.

Keyword: Pragmatic Characteristics: Blueprint style Deep blue and white, with copper Cardboard texture Imprint style sans serif typefaces paired with thin, modern sans serif, with handwritten accents Deconstructed line illustrations Text rotation along page border

Keyword: Doable Characteristics: Color-coded organization Muted brights and deep brown, with white accents (color blind safe) Cardboard texture Condensed sans serif paired with classic, simple serif Straightforward outcome/problem based labels and language Deeply simplified icon imagery Sectioned packaging

Logo Creation

Poster Development

We want you to feel comfortable taking care of your home.

Practical

This sketch was the one carried through to computer comps, displayed to the right.

I really loved this idea of an image with a tear exposing blueprint schematics behind it.

11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

THIS IS HOW DIY Adulting Maintenance Plumbing Handy

DIY + Adulting + Maintenance

THIS IS HOW

Doable

This visual direction was my baby for two weeks. Although not ultimately chosen, the project would be incomplete without a look into the thinking behind this direction.

You need to adult.

WE KNOW HOW TO HELP.

19 out of 20 people don’t know how to find a wall stud. You don’t have to be one of them.

THIS IS HOW D IY + Ad u lt i ng + Ma i ntenance

11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

35% of American adults don’t know how to fix a blown fuse. You don’t have to be one of them.

THIS IS HOW

D IY + Ad u lt i ng + Ma i ntenance

D IY + Ad u lti ng + Ma i ntenance

19 out of 20 people don’t know how to find a wall stud.

Changed colors to be more accessible to low-vision audience members.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM.

11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet.

35% of American adults don’t know how to fix a blown fuse.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM.

Trustworthy

THIS IS HOW DIY Adulting Maintenance Plumbing Electrical

THIS IS HOW Maintenance Plumbing Electrical Adulting DIY

35% of American adults don’t know how to fix a blown fuse. You don’t have to be one of them.

We’re the new adulting brand here to help you tackle adult life’s challenges. You can count on us.

THIS IS HOW DIY Adulting Maintenance Plumbing Electrical

THIS IS HOW Maintenance Plumbing Electrical Adulting DIY

35% of American adults don’t know how to fix a blown fuse. You don’t have to be one of them.

We’re the new adulting brand here to help you tackle adult life’s challenges. You can count on us.

THIS IS HOW

D IY + Ad u lt i ng + Ma i ntena nce

D IY + Ad u lti ng + Ma i ntenance

We help the adults adult.

19 out of 20 people don’t know how to find a wall stud. You don’t have to be one of them.

THIS IS HOW D IY + Ad u lt i ng + Ma i ntenance 11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

THIS IS HOW D IY + Ad u lt i ng + Ma i ntena nce 11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

We want you to feel comfortable taking care of your home. 11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky

11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

We want you to feel comfortable taking care of your home.

We want you to feel comfortable taking care of your home. 11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky

11,000 people a month Google how to fix a leaky faucet. You don’t have to be one of them.

faucet. You don’t have to be one of them. We want you to feel comfortable taking care of your home.

We want you to feel comfortable taking care of your home.

Visual Design System

Color Elements: White Tan Black

Image/Illustration Elements: Black color blocks Close-up photography Rules

Graphic Devices Elements: Cardboard texture

Typographic Elements: Head: Museo Sans Display Black Subhead: Mokoko Bold Italic Body: Mokoko Regular Caption: Museo Sans Condensed 300

Compositional Elements: Flush-left type Less is more compositions Function over form

Typography

The app adjusted this hierarchy slightly as only Museo Sans was used to improve legibility on mobile devices.

HEAD MUSEO SANS DISPLAY BLACK 32PT Subhead One Mokoko Bold Italic 20pt Subhead Two Mokoko Bold Italic 14pt Body Regular 11 pt Caption Museo Sans 300 Cond. 7pt

Imagery

Imagery relies primarily on texture. Each image was chosen as index imagery of its context. Throughout the deliverables, the imagery asks,”What was left behind?”

Colors

HEX Notes about colors:

FFFEFC

B8A28C

141210

R G B

255 254 252

184 162 140

20 18 16

H S B

30 1 100

30 24 72

30 22 8

Graphic Elements

I created flat, line art tool icons. The icons have only as much detail as is necessary to distinguish the depicted tool. In early rounds of development, the stroke width was 3pt; however, this created icons that were too heavy in the overall design,

DELIVERABLES

Event

The beginner’s workshop takes place at a library so that it is free and accessible to the surrounding community.

Upon entering the event, attendees are prompted to check in on a tablet and take a free workbook accompanying the stations.

SURVIVE A

HOME REPAIR PROJECT Workbook Hosted by: Woodward Park Public Library Winter 2021

WELCOME TO THE WORKSHOP

Here at This is How, we believe everyone should feel comfortable taking care of their home. Whether it’s a middle of the night burst pipe, or a long-planned room remodel, we know you’ve got what it takes! We’ve got the tools and knowledge you need to get it done! This Beginner’s Workshop highlights three of the more common home repair emergencies that homeowners and renters face: 1. A jammed garbage disposal 2. An unlit pilot light 3. A hole in the wall We’re sure that when you leave here, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to tackle these and other small home repair jobs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What’s your Home Repair Skill Level?

Home Repair Skill Levels Explained

Project 1: Clear a Jammed Garbage Disposal

Project 2: Relight a Furnace Pilot Light

Project 3: Patch a Hole in the Wall

2.01

WHAT’S YOUR HOME REPAIR SKILL LEVEL?

Have you ever owned a basic toolkit? Have you ever used a dangerous power tool without supervision? Do you know how to fix a broken garbage disposal?

Can you put IKEA furniture together without getting stressed out?

Beginner

Have you ever pulled off a major home repair project by yourself?

Could you fix a running toilet without looking up how to do it?

Intermediate

Expert

HOME REPAIR SKILL LEVELS EXPLAINED

Doing your own home repairs can be satisfying, creative, and fun. With the right set of home do-it-yourself skills, you can save a considerable amount of money and time. Vital to successful home repairs is the ability to accurately gauge the difficulty of the project in relation to your own home repair skill level, whether beginner, intermediate, or expert. Safety is at the heart of this. Pushing your limits may seem like a good idea at first, but you may find yourself in over your head. Never hesitate to stop work on any project that feels uncomfortable to you, and to call in a professional to complete the work.

When to Hire Help In most jurisdictions, licensing is required for general contractors and tradespeople who deal with electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems. Often, separate registrations or certifications are needed for specialty contract work like asbestos and lead-based paint removal, demolition and salvage, mold remediation, fireproofing, and landscaping. As a do-it-yourselfer with beginner and intermediate repair skills, licensed professionals are valuable and necessary for completing home projects effectively and safely. Even do-it-yourselfers at the expert level who are adept at certain skills often hire professionals to perform those same tasks in order to save time.

Beginner

Beginner-level home repairs require few, if any, prior skills before you start. Beginner repairs use common, inexpensive hand tools that many homeowners already own such as hammers and hand saws, along with a limited number of corded or cordless electric tools. Beginner projects usually can be completed within a day, and sometimes within just an hour or two.

Precursor Knowledge As a beginner, you might be starting with no skill base at all. Generally, though, you already possess skills such as sawing wood by hand, using a cordless drill, painting both with a roller and with a brush, and hammering a nail by hand. Beginner level repairs are not overly physically taxing, with a personal lift maximum requirement of around 50 pounds being the norm.

Beginner Skills vs. Other Skill Levels

Examples of Beginner Home Projects Interior painting Patching holes in drywall Changing a ceiling light Fixing concrete patio cracks Fixing nail pops in drywall Fixing a sticking door Relighting a pilot light Planning a bathroom layout Replacing a bathroom fan grille

As a person with beginner home repair skills, you might have just bought your first home. You may not have had prior opportunities to hone your repair skills. Or you might be a long-time homeowner who, because of extenuating circumstances, has decided to take on more repairs by yourself. Intermediate- and expert-level projects such as building a deck or removing a load-bearing wall might feel daunting, but you are curious and have a willingness to learn new skills. While safety should always be foremost in mind, you can rest easier since beginner level repairs tend to remain more on the safer side than do intermediate or expert level repairs.

Intermediate

Intermediate level home repair skills are characterized as skills that straddle a fine line between beginner and expert, with ever-changing factors such as timing, budget, physical strength, or the ability to round up assistants tipping the scale in either direction. Repairs at this level can include some permitted work. Repairs at this level often extend for days or weeks. If niche or special tools are required, they are usually low cost and easy to obtain. Often, it can be difficult to distinguish between intermediate and expert projects, especially since intermediate-level homeowners may want to push their skill level a bit further to save money.

Precursor Knowledge Intermediate home repair skills encompass the entire set of beginner skills, adding experience with a wide range of electric power tools. You may also have an introductory knowledge of dealing with electrical and plumbing systems. This skill level can include tasks that require lifting more than 50 pounds, especially for long periods of time.

Examples of Intermediate Home Projects Exterior painting Floor sanding Toilet replacement Replacing an electrical outlet Building a floating, ground-level deck Building a retaining wall Refinishing a hardwood floor Installing a new circuit breaker

Intermediate Skills vs. Other Levels As a person with intermediate home repair skills, basic repair skills are already second nature to you. You have a full range of hand tools and you are building up a good set of quality power tools. You’re willing and anxious to take on more ambitious projects that extend into the expert level. Safety is important to you, and you are careful to employ strict safety practices at all times.

Expert

The expert home repair skill level is one that encompasses nearly the entire gamut of home repair skills. Many of the projects at this level are also performed by certified or licensed professionals such as electricians and plumbers. Codes, permits, and zoning are often involved. Many of these projects require expensive, specialized tools that have limited utility with other projects such as wet tile saws or PEX crimpers. Expert-level skills often touch upon dangerous projects, such as running new circuits out of electric service panels. Projects at this level often can extend into weeks or months.

Precursor Knowledge

Examples of Expert Home Projects Bathroom remodeling Kitchen remodeling Building a raised deck Roof replacement Water heater replacement Removing a load-bearing wall

As an expert-level do-it-yourselfer, you have experience with most tasks at the beginner and intermediate levels. You know how to use nearly every common electric power tool, plus specialized tools such as electric nailers, powder-actuated nailers, and rotary levels.

Expert Skills vs. Other Skill Levels You may have already owned a home and this home is your second or third remodel. You might be interested in purchasing and flipping homes for profit. You have done home repairs and improvements for years rather than for months, and you have remodeled entire rooms by yourself or with a partner, allowing you to experience a diverse range of home repairing and remodeling skills. Scale can often define the expert skill level. If replacing a toilet is at the intermediate level, then replacing a toilet plus a myriad of other difficult tasks that constitute an entire bathroom remodel represent the expert level.

1. Disconnect the Disposal

2. Check for Obstructions and Remove by Hand

3. Loosen the Jam

It’s much better to be safe than sorry here: Triple-check that the disposal is disconnected from power and cannot be turned on accidentally before moving on to the next step.

PROJECT 1: CLEAR A JAMMED GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Skill Level: Beginner Time: 20 min to 1 hr Estimated Cost: $0 Materials: 1/4-in Allen wrench Bucket Paper towels/rags

There’s nothing sharp inside the disposer, including the impeller lugs, which are blunt metal.

Garbage disposals may occasionally get jammed when a bone or other hard object gets between the internal impeller blades and the wall of the disposal. When a jam initially occurs, you will continue to hear a humming sound as the motor strains against the foreign object, jamming the impeller plate. As the motor heats up, the automatic shutoff feature included in nearly all newer garbage disposals will shut off the motor entirely. Inside a small, round hole on the bottom of the motor housing is a socket for a 1/4-in Allen wrench. This socket is connected directly to the impeller hub, and the wrench movements usually loosen the object jamming the disposal.

Clearing the disposal is a simple matter involving unplugging or disconnecting it, removing whatever object is causing the jam, and then resetting the motor using the reset button.

Safety Considerations It’s much better to be safe than sorry here: Triple-check that the disposal is disconnected from power and cannot be turned on accidentally before moving on to the next step. If you can’t find the breaker that controls the circuit, turn off your home’s main breaker, which will cut power to the entire house.

Tool Knowledge You will need an Allen (hex) wrench to fit the socket on the bottom of the garbage disposal housing. Most disposals come with a little wrench just for this purpose. (It’s probably somewhere at the bottom of your sink base cabinet.) If you don’t have a disposal wrench, you can use a standard 1/4-inch Allen wrench.

The Break Down

1. Disconnect the Disposal

4. Restore Power

Unplug the garbage disposal unit from the outlet it is plugged into. If the unit is hardwired and has no outlet, make sure the switch controlling the disposal is in the OFF position, and then turn off the disposal’s circuit breaker in your home’s service panel (breaker box). This ensures that the disposal can’t be turned on accidentally.

Plug the disposal back into the outlet, or switch the disposal’s circuit breaker back on to restore power.

2. Check for Obstructions Use a flashlight to peer down into the sink opening of the disposal. You may be able to see the object jamming the impellers. If you see an obstruction, you can attempt to remove it by hand. Alternatively, you can use needle-nose pliers if you’re uncomfortable with using your hand. (There’s nothing sharp inside the disposer, including the impeller lugs, which are blunt metal.)

3. Loosen the Jam Identify the hex socket on the center of the underside of the garbage disposal unit. It’s inside a small, round hole in the motor housing. Insert the hex wrench into this socket, and then move the wrench back and forth to free the jam or confirm that the impellers are freed. This socket is connected directly to the impeller hub, and moving the wrench usually loosens whatever object is jamming the disposal.

5. Reset the Disposal Press the small reset button on the disposal unit; this is usually a red button located on the bottom of the unit. The reset button works like a circuit breaker that automatically trips to prevent the motor from overheating. Pressing the button resets the little internal breaker.

6. Test the Disposal Run the cold water at the kitchen faucet, and then turn on the disposal. If it spins freely, you’re done. If the motor hums but doesn’t spin (and may shut itself off), it’s probably still jammed. Repeat the same process to free the jam and reset the unit. If the motor won’t turn on at all, it’s likely that the disposal has burned out and needs to be replaced.

1. Set Gas Valve to “Pilot”

2. Light the Standing Pilot

To turn off the gas to the furnace, use the valve handle located on the gas pipe running into the furnace. When the handle is perpendicular to the pipe, rather than parallel, the gas is off.

Pressing the button or knob for about 30 seconds maintains gas flow to the pilot until the thermocouple heats enough to open the main gas valve.

PROJECT 2: RELIGHT A FURNACE PILOT LIGHT

Skill Level: Beginner Time: 15 mins Estimated Cost: $0 Materials: Flashlight Long matches Wand lighter

The burner in your gas furnace is ignited either by an electronic ignition, found in most modern furnaces, or with a standing pilot flame, which is common in older-style furnaces that have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of less than 80 percent. A gas furnace’s standing pilot, in which the flame is lit at all times, is sometimes referred to as a pilot light.

Safety Considerations

3. Set Gas Valve to “On”

If the burners fail to ignite, then it may be because the thermocouple did not get hot enough to open the gas valve. Wait a few minutes, then repeat the above procedure., holding the red reset button or depress the knob for about 45 to 60 seconds.

Before getting started, turn off the electrical power to the furnace by rotating the toggle switch mounted on the furnace to the off position. This switch is usually mounted on the furnace housing, but it may also be located on the wall near the furnace. To turn off the gas to the furnace, use the valve handle located on the gas pipe running into the furnace. When the handle is perpendicular to the pipe, rather than parallel, the gas is off.

Tool Knowledge The thermocouple—which is technically called a thermocouple junction—is a device that contains two metal wires welded at the ends and placed inside a protective metal case. The thermocouple sensor is found at the business end of the pilot flame and is designed to be placed in the hottest part of the flame. The other end is connected to the pilot valve body.

The Break Down

1. Turn off the Gas Turn your thermostat to 80 degrees or to a setting that will demand heat. Make sure the thermostat is set to the “heat” mode. Go to the furnace, and find the pilot valve, a box-shaped device into which the main gas line will run. It is located near the gas burners and will usually have a gas cock or valve knob that reads “on,” “pilot,” and “off.” Turn the knob or gas cock to the OFF position and wait about three minutes for any residual gas to clear away.

2. Find the Pilot Tube Find the pilot tube and nozzle located near the gas burner tube assembly inside the furnace. Get your match or lighter ready. Sometimes the pilot is hard to reach. If possible, try and use a long fireplace match when you light it. If you don’t have a fireplace match, then a butane barbecue grill lighter works well, too. If you don’t have that, fasten a match to the end of a stick as you light the pilot.

Depress the button or knob for about 30 seconds. This maintains gas flow to the pilot until the thermocouple gets hot enough to open the main gas valve.

5. Set Gas Valve to “on” Once the pilot stays lit, slowly release the button or knob and then turn the gas cock or knob from the “pilot” position to the “on” position. This will ignite the burners and keep the flow of gas supplied as required for the burners. If the burners fail to ignite, then it may be because the thermocouple did not get hot enough to open the gas valve. Wait a few minutes, then repeat the above procedure. This time, hold the red reset button or depress the knob for about 45 to 60 seconds. Once the main furnace burners ignite, adjust the thermostat to the desired setting.

3. Set Gas Valve to “Pilot” Turn the gas valve from “off” to “pilot.”

4. Light the Standing Pilot Place the lit match or ignited lighter tip at the pilot while depressing and holding the reset button or depressing the knob, if appropriate.

1. Prepare the Opening

2. Install the Drywall Patch

PROJECT 3: PATCH A HOLE IN THE WALL

Make sure there is no wiring or plumbing behind the drywall surface before cutting by looking through the hole with a flashlight. If the hole is more than 10 inches wide, use drywall screws to frame in the entire opening with lumber strips.

Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 1-4 hours Estimated Cost: $50 Materials: Drywall saw 6-in Drywall Knife Drywall joint compound

The patch must be the same thickness as the existing drywall; typically, this is 1/2 inch.

Repairing large holes in drywall—anything over six inches—is different from fixing a small hole in drywall. Small holes can be patched over with drywall tape or a self-adhesive drywall patch, but large holes need a more rigid material to span over the larger opening.

3. Tape and Mud the Seams

The simplest solution is also the best: cutting a patch from another piece of drywall and securing it with wood backing strips and drywall screws. Once the patch is in place, tape and “mud” (apply joint compound) over the seams, just like when installing new drywall. The result is a permanent repair that is just as strong as the surrounding surface, and, if you finish the patch carefully, it will not be visible.

Cover the drywall tape with a thin layer of drywall joint compound, using a 6-inch drywall knife. You should see the mesh through the compound.

Safety Considerations Make sure there is no wiring or plumbing behind the drywall surface before cutting by looking through the hole with a flashlight.

The Break Down

1. Prepare the Opening

4. Tape the Seams

Trim the edges of the hole to create straight sides and a square or rectangular overall shape. Use a framing square and a pencil to mark cutting lines on the drywall. Then cut along the lines with a drywall saw.

Cut strips to length of drywall joint tape using a utility knife. Cover each seam with a strip of joint tape. Overlap the tape strips at the corners. Make sure the tape lies flat, with no wrinkles or bulges.

5. Mud the Seams

2. Install the Backing Strips

Cover the drywall tape with a thin layer of drywall joint compound, using a 6-inch drywall knife. You should be able to see the mesh through the compound. Let the compound dry. Then scrape the surface with the knife to remove any burrs or clumps.

Cut two pieces of lumber or plywood a few inches longer than the long sides of the hole (if it’s a rectangle). Place one piece into the hole, parallel to one of the long sides, so the strip is centered over the drywall edge (half is behind the drywall and half is exposed).

Apply another thin layer of compound, extending it beyond the edges of the first layer. Use the knife to feather the edges of the wet compound over the surrounding drywall so it gradually tapers to nothing. Let the second layer dry. Then scrape again. Add a third layer. Let the third layer dry.

Secure the strip with drywall screws driven through the drywall and into the strip. Keep the screws about 1 inch from the drywall edge, and space them about 6 inches apart. Repeat the same process to install the other backing strip along the opposite edge of the hole. If the hole is more than 10 inches wide, frame in the entire opening with lumber strips.

6. Sand the Mud

3. Install the Drywall Patch

Sand the dried compound with a sanding sponge to smooth the surface. Be careful not to oversand, which would cause the mesh tape to show through.

Cut a piece of drywall to fit the hole. The seams should be not more than 1/8 inch wide. Position the patch over the hole and secure it to the backing strips with screws. Keep the screws about 1 inch from the edges of the patch and space them 6 inches apart. The patch must be the same thickness as the existing drywall

If preferred, wet-sand with a wet-sanding sponge to keep down the amount of dust. Clean off all sanding dust with a dry rag.

1/4-INCH

ALLEN WRENCH

6-INCH Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$20

JOINT KNIFE

Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$10

6 inch 1/4 inch

DRYWALL

JOINT COMPOUND

DRYWALL

6-INCH Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$20

DRYWALL SAW

6 inch

Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$20

MESH TAPE

Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Seam Tape Estimated Cost: $5—$15

CLEAR A

JAMMED GARBAGE DISPOSAL 1. Disconnect the Disposal

2. Check for Obstructions and Remove by Hand

3. Loosen the Jam

Skill Level: Beginner Time: 20 min to 1 hr Estimated Cost: $0 Materials: 1/4-in Allen wrench Bucket Paper towels/rags

It’s much better to be safe than sorry here: Triple-check that the disposal is disconnected from power and cannot be turned on accidentally before moving on to the next step.

There’s nothing sharp inside the disposer, including the impeller lugs, which are blunt metal.

Inside a small, round hole on the bottom of the motor housing is a socket for a 1/4-in Allen wrench. This socket is connected directly to the impeller hub, and the wrench movements usually loosen the object jamming the disposal.

DRYWALL

JOINT COMPOUND

6-INCH Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$20

JOINT KNIFE

Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$10

6 inch

DRYWALL

MESH TAPE

6-INCH Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Seam Tape Estimated Cost: $5—$15

DRYWALL SAW

6 inch

Skill Level: Beginner AKA: Hex Key Estimated Cost: $5—$20

PATCH A

HOLE IN THE WALL 1. Prepare the Opening

2. Install the Drywall Patch

3. Tape and Mud the Seams

Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 1-4 hours Estimated Cost: $50 Materials: Drywall saw 6-in Drywall Knife Drywall joint compound

The patch must be the same thickness as the existing drywall; typically, this is 1/2 inch.

Cover the drywall tape with a thin layer of drywall joint compound, using a 6-inch drywall knife. You should be able to see the mesh through the compound.

SURVIVE A

HOME REPAIR PROJECT 1. Drop In the Workshop

2. Learn from Our Demos

3. Bring Your Skills Home

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate Dates: December 16, 2021 January 5, 2022 Time: 9:00AM‑11:00AM Cost: $0

Stop by our workshop any time between 9:00AM and 11:00AM to get hands‑on help with three of the most common home repair jobs.

Each station is manned by a volunteer expert ready to guide you through the repair process.

Grab a workbook to bring your knowledge home.

Product

Time (minutes)

24 Hour Home Repair Support

Anatomy of a Hammer

16-OZ CURVED CLAW

HAMMER

Head Throat Cheek

Face

Skill Level: Beginner Perfect for: Household chores General carpentry Finishing Nail pulling

Claw

Handle

Eye

Grip

Safety Considerations

How to Hammer

Wear Eye Protection

Although this sounds self evident, striking the nail square on the

Because it is not a power tool, most people don’t realize how important it is to wear eye protection while using any hammer. But nails can get deflected and sent flying toward your face, pieces of concrete or wood can splinter off and get sent hurling, or pieces of the hammer face itself can chip off and go flying. It is a very easy protective measure to wear a pair of lightweight,

head is the goal when using a hammer. If you’ve ever watched a beginner, though, you’ll understand that this isn’t as easy it sounds.

The proper procedure 1. Hold the nail near the top, just under the head, with the sharp tip positioned where you want to drive the nail. Hold the nail perfectly perpendicular to the nailing surface.

inexpensive eye protectors whenever you are hammering. Never go

2. Place the hammerhead centered on the head of the nail.

without eye protection.

3. Draw back the hammer primarily with elbow motion, along with

Hold the Hammer Correctly

4. Watch the head of the nail (not the hammer), as you swing

Get used to holding the hammer correctly. Don’t “choke up” on the hammer and grab it by the neck to start a nail by tapping on it. Nothing sends the message “I have no idea what I am doing” like using a hammer this way. To properly hold the hammer, grab it near the end of its handle. Get used to the feel. Swing it loosely in your hand. A well-made hammer

a slight backward bend of the wrist. forward with an accelerating motion. Just as you contact the nail head, there should be a slight forward snap of the wrist. The blow should not be violent, just a gradually accelerating swing. Once you get the hang of nailing, you’ll find that using few smooth, well-placed blows is far more successful than trying to ferociously pound a nail with great force.

will have a nice balance to it and a little sweep or widened section at

If you watch a good professional carpenter at work, you will notice

the end of the handle to help you hold on.

that most of the force applied when using a hammer comes from

Hold the Nail Properly A very common mistake when starting a nail is to hold it down near the bottom, against the wood. This is exactly wrong, because if you miss the head of the nail (and this will happen, especially when you are a novice), the hammerhead will very likely crush your fingers against the wood. By holding the nail near the top, you have a bit of leeway and are less likely to badly bruise or break fingers when mishaps occur.

elbow and shoulder action, with the energy coming from the momentum of the hammer’s head. Novices, on the other hand, tend to use an excessive amount of muscular wrist bending when they hammer, leading to inaccuracy and a lot of wrist stress over time.

App

Prototype https://xd.adobe.com/view/d9017634-0bdf-464a-b09f-811232627d48-8c52/

BACK

1 1

BACK

Search by project, tool, or keyword…

How many people will be attending?

CONFIRM

Search by project, tool, or keyword…

Tap to start t ping…

FUTURE GOALS