For the handyman
Grant Panchuk has a knack for fixing just about anything. He and his brothers Mark and Neal come by their skills for handy work from their father, Andy Panchuk.
“My dad did everything, from putting on additions to doing electrical, plumbing and even working on and building cars,” says Panchuk, 44, who now runs a sheet-metal manufacturing business with his older brother.
One of his fondest memories is seeing his father head-deep in a car engine, overhauling a 1976 Honda Civic. Moments like these inspired the brothers to carry on their father’s legacy. They have each renovated their houses, including handling the electrical, plumbing, carpentry, tiling and more.
Panchuk converted his Guelph home from a mid-century modern bungalow to a Frank Lloyd Wrightinspired home. This involved removing the roof, converting five rooms to an open-concept design, building a fireplace, installing oversized windows and constructing an entire second floor.
And the tradition appears to be ongoing: his three children, Larson, 5, Nolan, 3, and Stella, 1, are already into building. “They tell me I should do things a certain way when we’re working on projects,” says Panchuk, laughing. Father’s Day vision: “I’d just like to hang out with the family and go to the Hamilton Airshow.” (Panchuk is in the process of earning his pilot’s licence.) On his gift wish list: “I’d say a screw impact driver (it’s fast and cuts down on stripping screw-heads), a battery charger, a good flashlight that you can clamp on anywhere. And, of course, screw drivers, because you can never have enough of them.”