The DIY Mentor

Specialties

My name is Todd Proulx. I am the founder and owner of The DIY Mentor. We provide full service residential construction and handyman services.

What makes us unique, is my passion for teaching. I love working along side my customers. If you want to learn, I will teach you everything I know. I figured, if your successful, then you will be more likely to take on other projects. Or you may have a new appreciation for the skills needed and hire me to do the entire project next time.

If you want to do it, I want to help. Do you want to tile a bathroom or laundry room? I can teach you everything you need to know and help you along the way. You can do as much or as little of the work as you want.

How much is this going to cost? For handyman services (1 day or less) I work by the hour. For larger projects, I will quote the job complete. The more work you do, the more money you save. It’s just that simple.

Let’s do it together. I’ve got your back!

History

Established in 2010.

I left a good paying, stable job to take a risk… find a way to help people with their homes. I love construction and I love to teach. You may ask why I don’t go teach. Well, I did. I new I wasn’t a very good student in college because I don’t fit into the «academic» world. I found out the same was true as a teacher.

I also wanted to help people navigate the construction business. The system is stacked against the home owner (the one writing the check!). But the system is set up to protect the interests of the contractors. I want to help level the playing field. I want to protect your interests. That’s why we also provide construction management services. We will be your expert eyes to make sure the job is getting done right. From contract negotiation to final punch list and payout, we will be on your side every step of the way.

Meet the Business Owner

Todd P.

Business Owner

Born in a small town in Oregon, I served in the army before moving to Chicago for college. While studying I worked for an electrical contractor. When I finished, I decided to start my owner electrical contracting business. 5 years later and a crew of about 15, I sold the company to my biggest customer.

I spent the next 20 yrs working in the not-​for-​profit sector, primarily in facilty management. I was usually leading staff and volunteers in facility maintenance as well as capital construction projects. From repainting an office to an $ 80 million dollar auditorium with 7000 seats, I have been a part of it all. I also lead staff and volunteers supporting disaster relief efforts. From the Mississippi floods to Katrina and Haiti, my greatest work has been for others.

In between, I worked as a cabinet maker and a 1 yr apprenticeship with a well known furniture maker in Chicago. I also worked as an apprentice for virtually every major trade skill in residential construction.