THE DIY GOSPEL FROM CAN-DO LOU

Never hold a nail for someone else and other pearls of wisdom from Lou Manfredini

You could call him the guru of grout, the wizard of weather stripping or the patriarch of plumbing. Most do-it-yourselfers know Lou Manfredini as Mr. Fix-It. A native of Illinois, Manfredini began working in a hardware store at age 13 and later became a homebuilder and remodeling contractor. After landing a gig on Chicago’s WGN-AM radio station in 1995, he became a household name in the do-ityourself and home improvement industry.

Manfredini is a regular contributor for NBC’s Today Show, serves as a spokesperson for Ace Hardware and hosts his own syndicated television show, HouseSmarts. And he’s authored numerous books, including “Lou Manfredini’s Bath Smarts” and “Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home.”

Simply put, Lou has a deep passion for offering remedies for household problems — whether it’s a toilet that won’t flush, walls that need painting or showers with clogged drains.

Healthy Living recently caught up with Lou to ask about his career and find out what insightful tips he could offer our readers.

Q: Who have you been inspired by in the industry?

A: I’ve been doing radio for about 20 years now. I constantly have people tell me how smart I am and how much I know. The reason I know a lot is because when I was building and renovating houses years ago I worked alongside professional contractors — plumbers, electricians and painters — who had 30 years of experience in their respective trades. I always made sure to ask them lots of questions so I could educate myself. They always inspired me to do my best and continue learning.

Q: Do you have a philosophy behind home improvement?

A: I have three rules. First, you always want to be smarter than the material you’re working with. In other words, conduct as much research as possible before you make any choices. Whether you’re working with a certain appliance or fixing a door, make sure you know everything before you take the plunge.

Second, make sure you have fun because the entire reason you’re improving your home is to enjoy it. You don’t want home