Our Mission
DIYtalk exists for one reason: to help you take pride in where you live. There is something deeply rewarding about stepping back from a project you built with your own hands and knowing you did that. That feeling never gets old. Whether it is your first drywall patch or a full kitchen renovation, we are here to give you the knowledge and confidence to get it done right.
How I Got Here
I grew up with two grandfathers who built things for a living, and both of them shaped who I am today.
Every summer through my teens, I headed up to Lake George, New York, to work alongside my grandfather in his plumbing and heating company. Five summers of crawling under houses, running pipe, wiring panels, and doing whatever handyman work came through the door. He was the kind of person who could fix anything, and he expected me to figure it out right beside him. Those summers taught me more about problem-solving than any classroom ever did. He was a role model in every sense of the word.
My other grandfather was a boat builder. His workshop was the coolest place I had ever seen. He made everything from detailed model boats to full-size yachts, and watching him work is where my love for woodworking took root. The patience, the precision, the way a pile of rough lumber becomes something beautiful if you respect the process.
The toy bin mid-build — three weeks of work for something built to last.
That influence stuck. When my son was born, I built him a toy box from solid wood. It took me nearly three weeks. Then I built him a table. Three more weeks. Then a chair. Another three weeks. I am not fast, but I am meticulous, and when I finish a piece of furniture, I want it to look like it was carved from a single piece of wood. That is the standard.
From Airplanes to Home Improvement
I studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where I worked as an apprentice aircraft technician in the Spruce Creek fly-in community just south of campus. I worked under the supervision of a mentor with an impressive Corvette collection and got my hands on some truly rare aircraft: a Sukhoi Su-26, a Pitts Special S1, and a Pitts Special S2. We rebuilt the Pitts from the ground up. If you think furniture joinery demands precision, try rebuilding an aerobatic biplane where every connection is structural.
After college, I spent seven years building custom timber frame homes in upstate New York. Framing, plumbing, electrical, roofing, finish work. I also worked as a remodeling electrician and framer. Between those years on job sites and the 30-plus years of DIY work on my own homes, there is not much I have not torn apart and put back together.
I am also a U.S. Army veteran, a licensed real estate agent and broker, and an outdoors person at heart. Camping, hiking, getting outside. When I am not writing about home improvement, there is a good chance I am out doing something that involves dirt, tools, or both.
Why DIYtalk
I have spent 27 years building and selling companies online. DIYtalk is different. This one is personal.
I started this site because I believe everyone deserves to enjoy where they live, and the fastest way to get there is to learn how to improve it yourself. Not every project needs a contractor. Not every repair needs a service call. With the right guidance, a free weekend, and a willingness to learn, you can handle more than you think.
Every article on this site comes from real experience. When I write about repairing an air conditioner, it is because I have done it. When I walk you through a roof leak repair, it is because I have been on that roof. No filler content. No generic advice written by someone who has never held a tape measure. Just honest, tested guidance from someone who genuinely loves this stuff.
Build something worth talking about.
Have a question or want to say hello? Reach me at [email protected]
— Alex Schult, Founder of DIYtalk