Are you sick and tired of having to hire someone and spending hundreds of dollars on simple home repairs every few months? Hiring a professional is easy and a surefire way to get the job done quickly, but it can also end up becoming an incredibly costly affair in the long term. The solution? It’s simple — learn how to do it yourself! If you’re keen on learning how to start taking on home repairs yourself, you’re in the right place. Today, we look at a beginner’s guide on home repairs and we promise that it is far less intimidating as it seems, so read on to find out more!
Gather Your Tools
Before embarking on any home repair project, it is vital that you ensure you purchase all the tools you need from your local hardware store. As a beginner, you may think that you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on various tools but this couldn’t be further from the truth. All you really need are the basics — a couple of saws, hammers, pliers, spanners, a screwdriver set, measuring tape and a quality utility knife. These items alone should be enough to handle any repair, whether that be changing a doorknob, fixing your sink or changing out a light bulb. As you progress further into your home DIY journey, you can consider getting more tools such as an electric drill, paint sprayer or anything else you may require for your repairs. The goal is to start small and then slowly work your way up as you gain more confidence and experience!
Watch Online Tutorials
Thankfully, we now live in an age where you are able to learn practically anything online (and for free!). Platforms such as YouTube are filled with thousands upon thousands of videos that will teach you how to repair almost anything in your home. Online tutorials are a fantastic way of visual learning that you can adapt to fit your own budget and skillset. Most big hardware store chains also feature a number of helpful videos on their website that are able to guide you through exactly what tools and products you will need for specific repair jobs.
Easy Home Repairs That Anyone Can Tackle
Once you have gathered the essentials and educated yourself on home repair basics, it’s time for you to embark on fixing some of the easiest and most common things around your household:
1. Fixing A Leaky Pipe
If you are experiencing a leaky pipe situation in the kitchen or bathroom, chances are all you have to do is tighten a slip-nut near the P-Trap with the help of a pair of pliers. If you find that the leak is coming directly from a hole in your drain pipe, an easy fix would be to use a flexible coupling with hose clamps.
2. Touching Up Wall Paint
Hiring a professional painter can be incredibly expensive, so the next best option is to tackle your paint job yourself. If you are trying to touch up your wall paint, the best way to find a matching shade of paint is to take a chip of paint to your local paint or hardware store for a colour match. Once you’ve retrieved your perfect shade, all you’ll need to get is a paint roller, some brushes, painter’s tape and a disposable paint mask to protect yourself from potential fumes. Be sure that you are working in a well-ventilated area when painting, and always remember to cover your floors and/or ceilings in order to avoid messy splatter.
3. Patching A Hole In Drywall
Patching a minor hole in drywall is actually one of the easiest home repairs that almost anyone will be able to do successfully. All you have to do is use some inexpensive spack filler to cover your hole, allow it to dry and then sand it down so that the surface is flush against the rest of your wall. Next, slap some primer on your repaired spots, allow it to dry and then add a final coat of paint. For larger holes in drywall, a more complex process of cutting, replacing, mudding, taping, and sanding is required and should be reserved for a professional.
4. Fixing Chipped Wood On Furniture
Do you have items of wooden furniture with chips or cracks in them? Instead of throwing them out, there is a very easy way for you to fix them and have them looking brand new in a matter of days. The best way to fix chips, cracks or holes in wood is with some wood filler that is able to fill and camouflage any damage in your furniture. Once you have filled your hole or crack with wood filler, all you have to do is sand it down and then prime and paint or stain your wood in order to have it looking brand new. Yup, it’s as easy as that!
5. Replacing Silicone Caulk
Is all your silicone caulking in areas such as the bathroom and kitchen looking a little mouldy, discoloured or downright disgusting? Well, thankfully replacing your silicone caulk is as easy as pie! Most people think that this is something only a professional can do, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can get the job done for under $50. All you have to do is use a utility blade to scrape off existing silicone, clean the area and then re-fill with inexpensive silicone caulk that you can get at any hardware store. To achieve a neat and professional finish, we highly recommend using a sealant smoothing tool that will help you achieve a perfectly consistent finish, all the way around.
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Things To Leave To The Professionals
While there are indeed a number of repairs that you can tackle on your own, there are also some that are best left to a professional. In general, if you are a beginner and unfamiliar with electricals, we highly advise calling a professional electrician to handle all your electrical needs as making mistakes in this realm of repairs can have deadly consequences.
Some other repairs that should be left to professionals include gas appliance repairs, serious plumping issues and mould or asbestos treatment. It is important to ensure that a licensed professional handles these tasks as they can be incredibly dangerous and you may cause more harm than good to your home and health if you try to tackle these issues on your own.
Don’t Be Discouraged
One of the most important things to realise is that almost everyone will make mistakes when they embark on DIY home repairs and that it is totally normal and part of the learning process. If you don’t get it right the first time or make a mistake, fret not because no one learned to ride a bike without falling off a few times! The best way to learn is by making mistakes, so don’t be too hard on yourself!
And there you have it everything any beginner needs to know in order to start taking on home repairs yourself. DIY repairs will save you a ton of money in the long run and also give you the satisfaction of a job done well. What are some of your favourite home repairs to tackle? Leave a comment and let us know!