DIY Sat. #165 Simple & Cheap Fall Home Repairs (Video)

Entry #2896, October 12, 2013

Happy DIY Saturday! Ever get tired of having to call on a professional for the simplest break downs in the home?  Autumn or Fall is the best time to take care of pesky repairs before the cold weather sets in. How about saving yourself the financial and mental aches of trying to get others to do something that you, yourself can do on your own.  So take a look below and see some do-it-yourself fixes that can help you out.

Make DIY repairs easier

Image via: Remodelista

How to Repair your Garbage Disposal

Video Link to –> How to Repair your Garbage Disposal

Home Repairs: A spitting faucet

Hate having to deal with that spitting faucet and paying $100 or more to have someone check it out then repair it?  Then purchase two rags, an adjustable wrench or plier’s planters, masking tape, dish detergent and a sponge.  When dealing with a spitting faucet, you will learn that the aerator is dirty (the mesh piece located inside the tip if the faucet) and needs to be cleaned.  Place one rag over the drain to catch any falling parts.  Cover the jaws of the wrench or pliers with tape to avoid scratches.  Wrench the tip of the faucet, turning it counter clockwise with your fingers or if it’s on too tight one of the tools. The aerator may be made up of several components.  Set them down in the order you removed them. Wash each with warm water, dish detergent and a sponge; use a wire brush for caked-on grime.  Put the parts in the reverse order, screw the unit back on.

Spitting Faucet

Image via:  Cole Plumbing

Home Repairs: Small cracks in drywall

Whether you slammed something in your wall or just have those annoying pesky cracks this is a do-it-yourself fix.  First, get your supplies: spackle, putty knife, fan or hair dryer, fine grit, sand-paper, interior latex prier, a small paint brush or roller and paint (preferably the paint that is on the rest f the wall).  What you are going to do is scoop the spackle onto the putty knife to cover the crack and make sure you spread completely over the crack and do not scrape it off.  Then take the fan or hair dryer and aim it towards the spot on low for 10-15 minute.  Once dried, lightly sand the surface with the sand paper until the patch is smooth and disguise your work with a thin coat of primer using a small brush or roller.  Turn the fan or hair dryer for three minutes to promote faster drying.  Apply two coats of match wall paint and use fan for 2-3 min.

Small Wall Cracks

Image via: M Live

Home Repairs: Securing sliding windows

This is a simple task once you have the supplies and directions you will be on your way.  Pick up a ruler or dowel, a pair of window controls, box nails, a hammer, a measuring tape, and a pencil.  First, push up the window as high as you desire to open it; use a ruler or a dowel to hold it in place.  Next, place a window control in the channel on one side then align the top edge of the control with the bottom of the sash and nail it into place.  (The wavy part of the control holds the window up and, when pushed in allows the window to slide over it and close). Be sure to measure the distance between the nails and the sill and mark the same distance for the other channel; nail the second control into place.  To lower the windows remove the ruler.

Repairing Sliding Windows

Image via:  Lowes

Things break and sometimes we just do not know how to fix them.  And sometimes calling in a professional to get the job done is necessary however, there are quite a bit of messes that we can fix on our own.  So take a look at the tips above and also research for more ways that you can fix things around your own home like pipe drains or replacing doorknobs.  Be empowered to do it yourself!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.