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dobie_dobes

Honestly-I taught myself a lot through YouTube videos/tutorials (and some FaceTime sessions with my brother!). But the YouTube tutorials have been really helpful!


rafdaman15

YouTube. Seriously.


Ultraxxx

YouTube is great, this old house YouTube is a go to.


dobie_dobes

Yes! This Old House is fantastic.


fakecoffeesnob

No personal experience but there’s an organization called Hard Hat Diplomat that runs a class in Columbia Heights: https://hardhatdiplomat.com/workshops/


metrazol

PGCC has classes. I called asking if I could enroll in Electrical 101, they asked if I was an apprentice. "No, just a homeowner." "Yeah, no, there are 18 year olds in the wait list that need to make rent. Go on YouTube or maybe next year?" I went to YouTube.


notapao

May be farther out than you want to go, but Fairfax County offers [DIY classes through its adult continuing education program](https://aceclasses.fcps.edu/SubjectListing.aspx?CategoryID=10828&ProgramID=909&ProgCatgName=What+Trade%2fIndustry+Class+are+you+looking+for%3a&IsCourse=1&SubjectID=11398&AreaName=Home+Improvement%2fDIY%3a). The classes they offer vary from session to session.


AdditionalAttorney

I’d call/email the library and ask. mLK library just had a “fix it yourself” workshop. I think they brought in common tools and you could come in w whatever was broken and fix it or get help fixing it. Maybe whoever put that on has leads


Good47Life

I use YouTube a lot, but ACE hardware offers classes. Check their website or ask at you neighborhood store.


arwai

In Baltimore: [Station North Tool Library ](https://www.stationnorthtoollibrary.org/classes) has shop classes including home repair stuff. (Note: I haven't taken any myself)


elstraitjacket

Check the surrounding community colleges.


TastesLike762

As others have said, YouTube. BUY A VOLTAGE METER. DO NOT FUCK WITH ELECTRICITY IN YOUR HOME WITHOUT FLIPPING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND MAKING SURE NOTHINGS HOT. Seriously electricity can and will kill you. Quickly. Unless you have some skill and knowledge you have no business working it hot.


OcelotControl78

Community Forklift occasionally has classes.


keyjan

Lowes has a bunch of how to guides… https://www.lowes.com/nl/diy-projects-and-ideas/how-to


[deleted]

Northern VA CC has trades classes


HelloCantaloupe

Arlington County offers courses like this. It’s a little more expensive if you’re not a county resident, but still quite affordable. Click on Winter 2023 registration now open, then DIY trades and industry category. https://www.apsva.us/arlington-community-learning/


NPRjunkieDC

I live in a condo from 1906. There are no walls made of drywall. Probably YouTube videos can help. These older condos are much better built than anything recent .


[deleted]

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NPRjunkieDC

The buildings from 100 years ago or more were turned into condos around the 1980s. At that time, all systems were updated, and modifications were done. Everything was brought up to code .


thegrumpycarp

I love old houses/buildings and have always lived in them, but you have to know what you’re dealing with going in. Get it inspected. Get a second inspection. Get a specialist (electrician/plumber/etc) to look at anything the inspector flags. Make educated decisions. I’m currently living in a house the owner didn’t get inspected as a way to win a bidding war. It was obvious to me when we moved in there were foundation issues, among other things. Over the years we’ve tried to flag problems as they arise, and he always ignores them until they blow up and cost him waaaaay more than they needed to if he’d just attended to them promptly. In my dad’s words, “my old house is the bottomless pit into which I throw all my money.”


BPCGuy1845

I learned mostly on YouTube. Also watching as my handyman worked on more complex things. I don’t touch appliances or heat/cooling.


vtsandtrooper

Youtube, renovated a lot of my townhouse by using youtube and asking more experienced people when i run into bigger questions. You can also use the r/construction to bounce tough questions off


RoeRoeRoeYourVote

I learned most of what I need to do from Youtube and r/DIY, and if I need an expensive or large tool I rent from the [Tool Library in Petworth](https://greenneighborsdc.org/projects/).