Want daily home improvement and tool reviews, news, and tips, all in one masterfully written comedic masterpiece? If so, you’ve come to the right place. HomeFixated.com nails what’s useful and entertaining. We’re not afraid to talk about getting hammered, or even screwing. Frankly, it’s our job. Power tools are particularly revered here, for virtually every task (including simple jobs best done by hand). We’re also not above bribing you to read our site frequently.
Every month HomeFixated features an exciting Free Stuff Giveaway. That’s right, you can win super cool power tools, home improvement products, or junk collecting in our shop! HomeFixated is your definitive resource for home improvement and tool knowledge. Tune in daily, pick up a few tips, find some great resources and hopefully have a laugh or two! And, if you’re on Twitter, be sure to follow us at @HomeFixated Oh, and if you’re interested in Writing for HomeFixated, please let us know.
Who We Are:
Marc Lyman
Nickname: Tool Fool
Official Position: Executive Editor & Diabolical Mastermind Plotting HomeFixated Global Supremacy
Fixations: Power tools, the obscure but useful, wood, organization, historic integrity, geeky home automation, sunshine, and innuendo.
Favorite Tool: It’s like asking a father who his favorite child is. Answering this question could overtax my brain, not to mention permanently scar unlisted tool companies. They’re all my babies. In fact, I sometimes get confused and try to rock my power tools to sleep at night. That’s normal, right?
Worst DIY Job: The time I was rewiring in the crawl space and found animal prints that were suspiciously skunk-like. It turned out there was actually a chupacabra living under the house.
Moment of Glory: Custom designing redwood balcony balusters to be cut with a CNC machine.
Fix-It Mantra: If you can afford it, DIY what you enjoy, pay a pro for the rest. Runner-up mantra: measure twice, cut until it’s too short.
Phil Brind’Amour
Nickname: USED to be Flip (attributed to my parents many years ago; all I can figure is they wanted to shorten my full name, Philip, to one syllable, to expedite whatever punishment was forthcoming…)
Official Position: Contributing writer
Fixations: Doing it right (I tend to overbuild, and to be too much of a perfectionist at times, according to some spouses I know…); staying hydrated with a tasty craft beer, AFTER the tools are put away, naturally; hangin’ with my family every chance I get.
Favorite Tool: Still searching. Among the favorites I own: Craftsman reciprocating saw, still kickin’ butt after 26 years; Estwing 20-oz framing hammer (35 years); Bosch 5312 sliding compound mitre saw (recent); Hitachi DS18DL drill (2 years); Bosch MX25E multitool (recent). And so many more…
Worst DIY Job: A complete, foundation to roof renovation of a 100-plus year old house. Original estimate was to finish in one year, upgrade where required, and spend roughly $40,000. Final tally: four years, total gut job, new wiring, plumbing, furnace, windows, roof, siding, etc., total expenses north of $100,000. Still made a profit, and learned a LOT (best lessons: hone estimating skills, avoid large projects). Responsible for loss of nickname.
Moment of Glory: Signing the sales contract on the aforementioned house.
Fix-it Mantra: “While we’re at it…” (the most expensive four words in the DIY universe). Use sparingly, as extensive damage to your finances can and will result.
Eric Brennan
Nickname: The Dude
Official Position: Contributing Writer
Fixations: Sawdust in bologna sandwiches at noon, old houses, new tools, zombies, fancy cheeses, clever woodworking solutions and cold beer.
Favorite Tool: Anything that plugs in, has a gas engine, can cut your fingers off or gets really loud.
Worst DIY Job: I once leveled a 150 year old house built on an old limestone rock foundation. The crawlspace I worked in had hundreds of snake skins lying around. A snake crawled through my legs in a three foot tall space. Lots of screaming like a girl, bumping of the head and flailing like a mental patient. It looked like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie.
A close second was a remodeling job at a kidney dialysis clinic. We watched a plumber stick his bare hands in a mix of nasty poop and kidney juices, and then later in the day, eat a sandwich without washing his hands.
Moment of Glory: Working on a home bigger than 10,000 square feet, caulking a mile and a half long flashing at an outlet mall, and finally beating Super Mario Brothers.
Fix-it Mantra: Measure twice, cut once or buy extra material.
Leroy Demarest
Nickname: The Griz (Cro Magnon Man, given by his dad)
Official Position: Contributing Writer
Fixations: Fire, Big Tools, the Wilderness, Family
Favorite tool: Tie between my table saw and 23 oz framing hammer. The table saw has made short work of a lot of wood for me as well as my fingertip. The framing hammer has driven in and through plenty of things helping to get the job done fast and relieving stress at the same time.
Worst DIY Job: Another tie between a jewelry box and hanging rafters. In college I made a jewelry box for a girl I was dating complete with a hand carved rose top. In the process of carving I stabbed myself in the leg and bled/stained the lid pretty seriously. Then a few years ago I was helping a friend level some trusses when the braces gave way and down came the truss with us surfing among them. On the positive side my left arm got scissored between two trusses and for three weeks I had an arm like Hulk Hogan!
Moment of Glory: Laying my son down in the crib that I built for him.
Fix-It Mantra: Don’t force it, get a bigger hammer. And… “If it isn’t broke you’re not trying.” (from the Red Green Show)
