How to Do Simple Home Repairs

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (0 Ratings)

There are many simple home repairs that even a person of limited skills and experience can do by himself with a little research. If you aren't intimidated by it, you can have a go at nearly anything. Here are some basic steps to guide you through own simple home repairs.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Use oil for squeaky things. Door hinges will stop squeaking if you use a bit of mineral oil or other light oil on their hinges. Apply oil with a spray bottle or by the drop from an old shampoo bottle if you don't have a proper oil can. Add just a couple of drops and then work the door back and forth until the squeaking goes away.

Step2

Replace items. Pay attention to how it looks before you remove the old one. Use a digital camera to get a picture at different stages of dismantling for reference upon reassembly.

Step3

Turn off power at the breaker box before doing electrical work. To make sure it is off, use a lamp or have the light switch "on" and then turn the appropriate breaker to the off position. The light should go out. A good breaker box will be marked and easy to read, otherwise you may have to go through a few switches before you hit the right one. Turn off computers and TV's while you do this to avoid damage.

Step4

Remember to connect red to red, black to black for wiring. Always strip the plastic coating off the wire before trying to twist wires together. Give yourself about a quarter inch to work with. Use connector caps to twist the wires together. These will also cover up the exposed wire to safely prevent any short circuiting.

Step5

Scrape and clean before trying to fill, whether it is a hole in the wall or whether you need to apply silicon or grout. Clean the area first with warm water or one tablespoon of vinegar in one cup of water. Allow to dry and then apply your filler, silicon, grout or paint. A clean and dry surface is always best for receiving treatment of any kind.

Step6

Use the right stuff. If you are replacing the seat for your tap, an old bolt or an oven element, bring the original one in; that way you can compare the new one right in the store and save yourself a trip back or, worse yet, hours trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole.

Step7

Have a fist full of supplies at hand: 1" finishing nails, drywall screws of several different lengths, electrical tape, duct tape, Teflon tape and several grades of sandpaper are staples for home repairs.

Step8

Ask. When you are starting a project, talk to the folk at your hardware store. Many of the big-box stores employ tradespeople to work in their different departments. These people will always be willing to answer questions for you and give advice; that is what they are there for.

Tips & Warnings

If you only hold one wire at a time, you will not become a circuit.
Never do electrical work without disconnecting power first.
Never do plumbing work until you turn off the water supply. Be aware that this, in itself may cause all kinds of problems in an old house. You may need to contact your water supplier to turn the water off from the main pipes. Consider this before taking on a plumbing project on a Sunday!