SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - When it comes to do-it-yourself home handywork, Yellowknifers seem to flout the usual pitfalls of such endeavours, with no one mentioning any disasters. Either that or they all have very short memories.

Rae Morrison and her father Roger Morrison have been improving Rae's home for the last three years. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

Do-it-yourselfers Heather and Rick Leslie said they only do the work that is within their realms of expertise, saying they would call in an expert if necessary.

"We only do what we can," said Heather Leslie. "If it's beyond the extent of our skills we'll call a tradesman."

The Leslies have been working on their Finlayson Drive home in order to get it ready for sale. They have replaced some baseboards but are generally sticking to new paint jobs.

"I couldn't live without the paint roller; it makes things much faster," said Heather Leslie.

She added that many people in Yellowknife are forced to do their own fix-ups because tradespeople are in such short supply.

"It is difficult to find tradesmen at this time of year; they're pretty booked up over summer," she said.

Roger Morrison and his daughter Rae Morrison, who were toiling away on her Forrest Drive home all weekend, agreed there are not enough tradespeople to go around.

"They're always so busy with bigger projects this time of year," said Rae Morrison.

For the last three years Rae has been working on her property, which was bought as a do-up. She managed to wrangle her dad Roger out of retirement to help with the work.

Roger Morrison, who is not a professional tradesman but has built his own home, said he is a "hobby carpenter."

Not only has this "hobby carpenter" built his own home, he has also helped to put in new windows, a new roof, a new deck and new siding on his daughters home.

After all that, he humbly describes himself as "semi-retired."

Roger said his most useful tool is his power drill, and with its help he hopes to have the improvements to the house finished by September.

He said there have been no disasters during his do-it-yourself jobs. He consults with carpenter friends should he need to.

No consultations were necessary for Brian Baggs, who is a carpenter by trade, and who could be found laying hardboard on his stairs all weekend.

"This is what I do with my weekends off," said Baggs.

Baggs, who said his tape measure was the most useful instrument in his arsenal, said he has had no major do-it-yourself disasters that he can remember.

"Everything ends up going pretty smoothly. This is what I do for a living," he said.

However, when asked, he said plumbing was one thing he would not touch.

"No, I have my own plumber that I call in," he said.