The Mortise & Tenon Podcast 68 – “In Defense of Maintenance”
Feb 12, 2024
Joshua and Mike explore why maintenance is not just a chore but a valuable practice that fosters participation in life. They discuss the art of adjusting doors and seasonal upkeep, emphasizing the benefits of restoration over replacement. The conversation dives into how learning basic repairs enriches knowledge and independence, while contrasting traditional repairable materials with disposable options. By advocating for broad competence, they highlight how hands-on engagement leads to a deeper appreciation for the world around us.
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Two-Minute Door Fix
- Joshua relieves a sticking exterior threshold with a hand plane and chisel in two minutes.
- He frames small seasonal adjustments as normal participation in owning a wooden house.
Maintenance-Free Often Means Throwaway
- Maintenance-free products are often made from non-repairable materials like plastics.
- Joshua argues the alternative to maintenance tends to be continuous consumption and replacement.
Learn Repairs By Watching And Doing
- Learn basic repairs so you can temporarily fix urgent problems instead of waiting for a professional.
- Use others as mentors while you observe, so you build competence over repeated troubleshooting events.
