DIY Life

My Dad is a handyman of sorts. One day, when I was about 8, my Mom commented that she wished she had a bigger kitchen. She went on about how nice it would be if it were brighter and open onto the backyard. She described a space with big window and French doors. She wanted a table big enough to fit our family of 8 and guests, along with a separate seating area. Obviously she was just dreaming right? Obvious to us maybe, but to my Dad, not so much. She went out for the day and came home to my Dad having torn down the outside wall. "I'm building you a kitchen!" he announced.

This might have been a chivalrous act if he had any idea what he was doing, but he didn't. It may have even been OK if he had free time to finish what he'd started, but the weekend ended and he went back to work. He used his holidays, evenings and weekends building this perfect kitchen. This meant over 5 years without a kitchen sink! With 6 kids and no kitchen sink I don't know how my mother survived, but she did, and she's been enjoying a show-home kitchen ever since (eventually finished by contractors). We all take a bit of fun in giving my Dad a hard time about the projects that he starts and doesn't finish.

According to research done by Saga home insurance, my Dad isn't alone. 52% of homeowners in London have unfinished DIY projects around the house, with an average yearly spending of 2000 pounds. That's almost $4000 USD. Reasons for the unfinished work ranges, but lack of time falls high on the list. My Dad has become better since retirement, seeing most projects through until the end rather quickly. The research reflects this same thing, noting that only 36% of homeowners aged 50 and older have un-finished projects, making them the age group that is most on top of their DIY projects.

Can you top my Dad's 5 year kitchen re-model? Share your stories of unfinished DIY projects in the comments. Also, what's your number one reason for letting time pass on projects?

If you need a little esteem boost, these fools will go a long way in making you feel like the smartest guy around. Why not lift a forklift with a forklift, or use your own body to balance a ladder? Because it's sheer stupidity, that's why. I don't typically like these sort of pictures, pointing out how dumb people are or how dangerous their decisions could be, but some of these guys are really over the top. Here are 8 of what are possibly the biggest DIY disasters just waiting to happen.

A moment of bad judgment could lead to a dangerous outcome. Some of these pictures look more like permanent hacks than just a moment of bad judgment, and are incredibly hazardous. What crazy hacks have you seen? Or better yet, what's your dumbest DIY moment?

Some things are absolutely amazing and some other things are just, well, um...strange. Take for instance the amazing bicycle hack I ran across on the Core77 Industrial design blog. While the concept is positively brilliant in practical application, in execution the results could be less than desirable. Having logged literally thousands of miles in bicycle travel myself, I can tell you that the "Grocycle", a hybrid grocery cart-bicycle, is a major disaster just waiting to happen.

I love the idea but I hope the rider in the picture over there has his health insurance paid for in full because it will only take one pot hole the size of half a grapefruit and that bike rider will get an asphalt nose job, or worse. Perhaps we should all pitch in and buy him some larger wheels for the front of his cart, and a good bicycle helmet also.