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Some repairs are better left to the pros when they require a high degree of expertise or involve danger. But if you own a home, trying to find a reputable handyman for little fixes around your house is enough to cause anyone to go broke.
Part of homeownership is learning how to do all sorts of odd job repairs to keep your home in great condition. You’ll be shocked by how simple some repairs are, especially with the help of the right YouTube expert.
So before you pick up the phone for help, give these 15 DIY repairs a shot and put your savings to better use instead.
Don’t Waste Money on These 15 Repairs:
1. Wooden Floor Filling
Who doesn’t love having pets at home? Unfortunately, taking care of them comes with a cost. Most pet owners have to deal with scratches on wooden floors, and replacing them costs too much.
An easy way to hide these scratches is by filling them with stainable wood filler. After the filler sets, wipe it off with a damp paper towel. For the final touch, apply a stain one shade darker on top. The scratches are invisible, and the floor looks great.
2. Rubberbanded Screws
Using worn-out or obsolete screws for a repair is just a recipe for disaster. If the slots in the head are worn, then gripping the old screw with a screwdriver is more complicated than the repair itself. And for older pieces, a new screw may not fit properly.
The solution is simple: attach a rubberband to the top half of the screw for additional grip. The screwdriver can then grip the screw head through the rubber easily.
3. Stopping Leaky Pipes
The most common problem with water pipes is that they leak, and changing out the pipe for a new one is costly and time-consuming for such a minor issue.
Instead, thread and hot glue are usually enough to stop the leak in its tracks. After wrapping the leak with thread, pour hot glue on top. For extra concealment, wrap the entire repair in plastic.
4. Faucet Repair
Over time, the goop that collects in a faucet can cause it to clog, decreasing the water pressure or stopping the flow. Thankfully, this is usually a relatively easy fix, even for an amateur.
Most people aren’t aware there’s an aerator at the end of the faucet. Cleaning it regularly can prevent clogging. All the homeowner has to do is unscrew it and spray water from the opposite direction onto the aerator. If there are hard water deposits, soaking the aerator in vinegar for an hour or two helps dissolve them.
5. Wood Rot
All wood-frame homes are susceptible to rot. No matter how many preventive measures one takes, rot can still creep up in some places. Wood rot in small areas can be fixed using a mixture of Bondo and cream hardener.
After digging out the rotten part, pour the mixture into the opening. Once poured, smooth the mixture and remove the excess. Once dried, it can be sanded for a smooth finish and then painted.
6. Repairing Ceramics
Not every broken ceramic needs to be disposed of. The art of Kintsugi is a fun way to repair any fractured dishes at home. A little fun means you’re more likely to do the repair.
This ancient Japanese method uses lacquer resin sprinkled with powdered gold or silver. The resin is then used to join the broken pieces, celebrating imperfections. The result is often beautiful and well worth the effort.
7. Fixing Furniture Legs
Furniture with torn-off legs is the worst and costs a hefty sum to fix. However, as long as at least one leg is intact, there’s no need to lose hope. The unharmed leg can help create a mold for the broken ones.
First, spray the unharmed leg with cooking spray before covering it with a generous amount of hot glue. Once dried and peeled off, it will act as a mold. Afterward, bondo was applied to attach the broken legs. Make sure to remove the mold once it is dried.
8. Repairing Drywall Holes
Drywall holes can be the most prominent defect in a room. Repairs can be costly and require expertise, but a simpler, budget-friendly alternative exists. Get some scrap drywall and cut out a square larger than the hole. Remember to use scrap drywall of the same thickness.
Before screwing the drywall in place, cut some scrap wood to serve as backing for the new patch. Apply drywall tape around the patch and cover it with mixed joint compound. The entire process shouldn’t take more than an hour. Once dry, the area is sanded smooth and painted.
9. Vinyl Doors and Windows
No matter how clean vinyl windows and doors are, they can still get stuck when moving. While using oil lubricants can be tempting, they can attract more dirt instead.
Instead, try spraying dry PTFE spray lubricant on the contact points. Once that’s done, wipe the points with a towel and see how smoothly the doors start sliding.
10. Fixing Loose Showerheads
Having a loose showerhead is bothersome. When wobbly showerheads aren’t fixed on time, they only get worse. In the worst-case scenario, a showerhead falls on your head while in use.
Rather than delaying the repair, this quick fix will solve any shaky pipe. The showerhead will work like new with just a few squirts of expanding foam. The foam surrounds the pipe within the wall, securing it in place.
11. Hiding Ceiling Holes
Ceiling holes are a different situation from drywall. Fixing them often requires significant time and money.
Patching the entire hole means repainting the whole ceiling. For small hole repair, consider installing a battery-operated smoke detector over it. The hole is hidden, and you have an additional safety measure. This is a cheap alternative to a costly repair.
12. Repairing Cracked Concrete
Cracked concrete can seem intimidating, but there’s an easier way to fix it. A repair mortar, a drywall knife, and some water do the job.
The repair mortar is mixed until it forms a gel-like consistency. Spray the crack with water, then apply the mortar using the drywall knife. Leave it to cure. This is best accomplished when the weather forecast is rain-free for a few days.
13. Smoothing Out Cracked Corners
Wall corners can sometimes start to crumble or crack over time. While cracked corners seem inconspicuous, they can become more obvious if left as is.
Spackle paste helps make the corners smooth and straight again. Apply the paste to the corner and smooth it out with a knife. Once it dries, sand it smooth. If needed, the pasted part can be painted to match the rest of the wall.
14. Filling Nail Holes
Who would’ve thought crayons would save the day? Drawing isn’t their only use. You can also use them to fill nail holes; filling them with crayons is much more affordable than other methods.
Find a crayon the same color as the wall and rub it over the hole. After a while, the hole will be filled, and all that remains is to wipe the excess from the surface. If the hole is larger, the crayon should be slightly softened before using it.
15. Repairing an Air Mattress
A decent air mattress isn’t cheap, and throwing out the entire thing over one leak doesn’t make sense, especially if an ordinary bicycle inner tube repair kit can fix it.
Place a dab of contact cement around the leak on the deflated mattress and glue on the rubber tire patch. Allow both to dry for three minutes to ensure a solid bond. Once the cement is dry, firmly press the patch onto the leak.
30 Tricks to Save on the Electricity Bill No One Talks About
Utility bills are inevitable, but you can reduce your consumption and spending. Here are thirty uncommon tips to help you be more energy-conscious, benefiting the planet, your wallet, or both.
41 Shocking Ways You’re Throwing Money Down the Drain
There are many ways to increase the money in your bank account. Many people start by looking at ways to make more money. And, of course, that is a great solution. But it isn’t always the easiest. A better, easier way may be to examine your spending habits. By tracking your spending and seeing where every dollar goes, you’ll likely find several instances of spending money you don’t have to. It could be little things that add up or recurring monthly expenses that are an utter waste of money.
Once you eliminate your bad spending habits, that money can go toward your emergency fund, paying off debt, or other essential things. Here are the 41 biggest wastes of money to look out for:
Never Put These 15 Things Down the Kitchen Sink if You Want to Avoid a Huge Repair Bill
Many people don’t think about what they put down the kitchen sink. They just scrape all of their food waste into the sink, turn on the garbage disposal, and watch it all disappear. But many things can damage your garbage disposal or plumbing. Here are 15 things you should never put down the kitchen sink if you want to avoid a huge repair bill.
