If you're at the point where the sight of a screwdriver makes you break out in a cold sweat, you might have a DIY problem. While you may not ever achieve the ability to build your own deck, it's important to have a basic familiarity with tools and simple DIY tasks. You'll save a substantial amount of money, and the satisfaction of having solved a DIY project, however many times you hammer your own finger or invent new, terrible curse words, is incomparable.
The long-running and reliable ‘The Family Handyman’ website contains an enormous trove of information for all skill levels. The website strikes such a positive and encouraging tone, maybe you WILL build your own deck.
If you keep meaning to look up DIY solutions on the internet and you wind up in a social media hole instead, you might be better off with a book. The Family Handyman has compiled such a book and so has Black & Decker. Both are packed with pictures and a glossary:
If you want to learn by doing in an environment that is not your vulnerable, costly home, go to a workshop at any one of your 5 local Home Depots:
In no time at all, you'll be strutting around in a toolbelt, daring your home to break something so you can fix it.