DIY Network

DIY Women: Lynda Lyday

These days, DIY Home Improvement expert Lynda Lyday is difficult to keep up with! In between hosting the upcoming Best Built Home workshop for DIY, promoting a new book (Lynda Lyday's Do It Yourself), and developing a new line of clothing and tools, this dynamic host finally sat still long enough to discuss the role of home improvement in empowering women.

(Lynda's story is continued below.)

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Lynda Lyday

Q: How did home improvement turn into a personal passion?

A: Growing up in my household, I wasn't permitted to touch a paintbrush, much less a tool. It just wasn’t seen as "ladylike." Once, when my Dad left to go on a business trip, I made a house for this kitten I had found. I remember how proud I felt after it was done.

In my late teens, I moved to Manhattan with $150 in my pocket -- to become an actress -- and knew only one person. A year and a half after I moved there, I realized that I wanted to be a carpenter and got into the Carpenter’s Union.

Q: Obviously, with a background in acting -- combined with your construction skills -- a transition into how-to television was a natural evolution. Are you surprised at how the do-it-yourself industry has grown?

A: I am pleased with the response of homeowners tackling their projects. When viewers see a woman tackling a project, they feel more comfortable to tackle it themselves. For women, I think this has given them a more "can-do" attitude in the way they look at construction.

Q: What has been your most challenging project to date?

A: I got my contractor’s license and opened up my own construction company -- West Village Construction -- in the 90s. My favorite and most challenging project was renovating an apartment for Betsey Johnson, the fashion designer.

Q: What education or training have you undergone to obtain the necessary skills for a career in home improvement?

A: I attended the New York City District Council of Carpenter’s Labor Technical College for 4 years to become a certified union carpenter. It was there that I won a Golden Hammer Award (which recognizes excellence in the industry). Later, I became the first woman to teach carpentry at the school.

Q: Did you encounter difficulty in gaining acceptance in what was once a male-dominated industry?

A: I had to deal with a lot of deplorable conditions and a great deal of harassment on job sites. In the mid-90s, I was able to testify at a Human Rights Hearing for women in construction to help improve working conditions and attitudes.

The up-side is that I worked with a lot of talented and fun men, too. I will always feel more comfortable around a guy in overalls than a guy in a suit.

Q: What's a typical day like on "the set"?

A: The show consists of so many different elements. At the end of the day, I’m tired from having my senses overloaded. But it’s all 'luxury exhaustion'. The work itself is a blast and I pinch myself everyday to make sure I’m not living in a dream. I think 'Wow! This sure is a far cry from pulling that 60-lb. toolbox through Manhattan with sawdust all over me for 15 years!'

Q: What tips can you offer a woman who is about to tackle her very first project and may feel a great deal of intimidation?

• Women are wonderful researchers. Once you research your project, you’re ready to get started.
  
• Remember, it’s okay to make a mistake.
  
• Don’t feel bad about asking questions at the hardware store.
  
• Know your tools: what they do and how to hold them properly.

Lynda is on her way to becoming a powerful force in the home improvement industry and we're proud to feature her as part of "DIY Women".

Don't forget to catch Lynda as host of Best Built Home and Talk2DIY: Home Improvement.

COULD YOU BE NEXT?
Are you saw-savvy? The self-proclaimed queen of crafts? If you're a woman with a do-it-yourself project you'd like to show off, then we want to hear about it. You might see yourself featured in an upcoming article as part of our new monthly series, DIY Women!

E-mail us your story!