About
Mike Larson is a journalist by profession, with almost 2 decades of experience covering everything from business to sports to environmental issues. However, he’s also the cost-conscious owner of a 100-year-old home in Pittsburgh, which makes DIY work a very important part of his life.
Experience
Mike is a journalist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, primarily covering the business community. In 2019, he and his wife Amanda bought their first home: a three-story, brick American foursquare. With a limited budget, Mike has spent a significant amount of time doing DIY renovations around the 100-year-old house, including hillside landscaping, a complete refinish of the main staircase and installing new flooring on the ground floor. Before moving to Pittsburgh, Mike lived in the Detroit area and worked for publications such as the Metro Times, DBusiness Magazine and Autoweek. He’s spent almost 2 decades working in professional journalism and has won awards from the Colorado Press Association, the Michigan Press Association and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Education
Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University. (It’s in Oakland County, Michigan. You may remember them as the No. 14 seed that defeated No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament—Go Grizzlies!)
Highlights
- Specialties and interests: Landscaping, DIY renovation, whole home water filtration systems and carpentry
- Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in journalism
- Other publication experience: Pittsburgh Business Times, City Paper (Pittsburgh), Dbusiness Magazine, Autoweek magazine
Proudest DIY
After getting a quote of nearly $6,000 to replace the rotting and leaking box gutters on his house, Mike, with the help of his 13-year-old son, removed and replaced the entire wooden box gutter and repaired and sealed the metal trough, all for about $300 in materials.
