Question: I have a 75-year-old, one-car, detached wooden garage that has started to lean. What do I need to do to straighten it up? I am really handy and would like to do it myself if I could, but I have nowhere to even start.

Answer: Your e-mail arrived as I was watching “Emergency,” in which they rescued a man trapped by a beam that fell when he and a friend were attempting to do to his hillside house what you are asking about.

There are several reasons the garage could be starting to lean, including rot, termite damage, shifting soil from heavy rains, or this winter’s freeze-thaw cycle.

There also is an element of danger involved in simply looking for the cause. You could be lying on the ground and start pulling at some wood and bring the whole thing down on you. Start with a structural engineer or a carpenter or a contractor with structural expertise.

I am all in favor of do-it-yourself, but the jobs you take on should be ones that you know from the start will result in a major improvement or be personally satisfying — woodworking or a paver patio or a nice paint job.

If you have to ask me how to begin, you should hire someone to do it.