Best way to learn rehab/remodeling?

[Sylvester E.]

Hi everyone. I recently signed up to a free DIY course at a local Home Depot and have participated in a couple Habitat for Humanity homes (mostly caulking and painting).

Does anyone know of other methods to get experience in remodeling and rehabbing homes? I have been living in apartments so I've been limited to the actual changes I can do. Pretty much just installing curtain rods, changing the thermostat, and painting.

[Jeff Berg]

Hi Sylvester,

Start with getting educated on the fundamentals of what makes a house structurally sound, function well, and look appealing. Your local community college should offer night classes in Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Kitchen & Bath Design. Learn them all. You don't have to be a professional architect or designer, but you'll have an incredible advantage if you know at least the basics, and it'll give you the ability to recognize potential where others can't. Plus, you'll learn the vernacular of building, and the structural principles of construction.

Getting hands-on knowledge is always good as well. Working on a crew, even if it's just painting, will give you experience and appreciation for what it actually takes to get the job done. Without any prior experience, you'll start at the very bottom, a grunt laborer, but you'll still see the nuts-and-bolts of the process.

Nothing wrong with DIY Home Depot courses (especially when they're free), but you'll find working on a pro sub crew is worlds apart.