10 Home Repairs You Can Fix Yourself and 10 That You Shouldn’t

There are home repairs you really should do yourself and some you should not. Whether you own your own place or rent an apartment, it’s only natural that the odd home repair will arise. You know the score, a cupboard door will feel a little loose but you’ll put it off and next thing you know it’s dangling by a thread, which is not only inconvenient but also fairly hazardous to your household. Few things will sour a homeowner’s disposition faster than a stopped up or runaway faucet drip, and that’s just bathroom and kitchen stuff. From a clogged toilet to a creaky door or drafty window, making occasional repairs is part of the bargain, and even if you aren’t a dedicated do-it-yourselfer (DIY), there are a few around-the-house fixes you should become familiar with. The frequency and urgency of these issues will of course depend on whether your home is brand new or with a little more history.

Either way it’s all too easy to pick up the phone and call a plumber, electrician or other tradesperson when actually some of the most common home repairs can easily be remedied DIY. At the same time, you should know your limits and measure up to the reality that some home repairs will require the intervention of a skilled tradesperson.

Do It Yourself
Roll up your sleeves and spend a few minutes learning how to undertake five simple home repairs that don’t require dangerous materials or lengthy instructions. Even if spending a few hours a week on DIY home maintenance and repairs will never become your favorite pastime, understanding how to conduct a few easy adjustments will help you keep your costs down and get the job done on your timetable rather than the contractor’s.

Professional labor can be one of the most expensive aspects of a homeowner’s budget when it comes to maintenance and repairs. While many people will save money by doing much of the work themselves, not everyone has the ability to repair their own homes, even with the help of instructional web videos. Attempting a DIY project without careful planning and a thorough understanding of the subject at hand could end in costs much above the cost of hiring a contractor. Even if you have the necessary skills and experience, you must factor in the time, supplies, tools, and permits for your home renovation project. So, how can you know which projects you should take on and which you should leave to the experts.

Essential DIY Tools
From silencing creaks to repairing failed fixings, these jobs will take next to no time to complete. You can do a substantial amount of fixing and mending with just a few tools:
Set of screwdrivers
A claw hammer (useful for pulling nails out as well as knocking them in)
A multi-purpose medium-toothed saw
Steel measuring ruler
Spirit level
Pliers
An adjustable spanner
A nail set (for driving nail heads just below the surface)
Craft knife.
One of the best drills will be invaluable.

 

1.Replacing window panes
Replacing a single pane glass window on your home isn’t difficult. Here’s how to go about it.

To replace a broken window pane:Remove the broken glass from around the window with pliers. Wear protective gloves to avoid being cut.

Use a putty knife or paint scraper to remove the old glazing around the window opening.

Measure the window pane opening, and have a piece of glass cut slightly smaller to fit.
Place the new glass pane in the window opening.

Press glazier’s points into the frame around the window using a putty knife.

Apply window glazing (available in a can or caulking tube) around the window frame.
Hold a putty knife at an angle to the frame, and use it to smooth the glazing compound.

Paint over the glazing with exterior house paint after the glazing has set

2. Replacing Taps, Faucets and Shower Heads

Replacing a shower head is a small project with a big impact. Remove the existing shower head, then lay thread seal tape at the base of the shower arm before screwing in the new piece. Don’t fasten it too tightly. Replace the shower arm if you like—they’re often sold separately. Choose a new fixture that has holes in the same locations as the old one to ensure that it will fit properly on the sink. Before working under the sink, snap a picture so you know how to put everything back together. Shut off the water, drain the faucet, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions

3. Replacing Door Locks
Tackling common problems with door knob locks and deadbolts, such as stuck or frozen door locks, latches that don’t latch, and keys broken off in door locks should be no brainer. Many door knob and lockset problems can be corrected before they become so serious that the lockset does not work at all. Often, a malfunctioning latch assembly or lock mechanism causes the problem. The lock mechanism may not work simply because the lock is dirty or dry and needs to be lubricated with graphite (do not use any type of oil because this will gum-up the works). An improperly functioning latch may be the result of a poorly fitting door.
For serious lock problems, it is usually best to call a locksmith or to replace the lock entirely. Most interior door knobs are relatively inexpensive to replace; it doesn’t really pay to have interior door knobs or locks professionally repaired unless they are special.

4. Silence Squeaky Doors
There are few things more annoying than the whine of metal on metal every time you open or close a door. Wooden doors can sometimes cause squeaks because they put extra pressure on the hinges. Hinges can also get noisy when they begin to oxidize. If your door hinges announce anyone entering or leaving the room, you might be able to silence them with a little lubricant.

First, cover the area under the door with a cloth and then apply penetrating oil to the hinges. Be sparing at first. After applying a few drops, open and close the door to work lubricant into the moving parts of the hinge. Give it a couple of minutes, and try opening and closing the door one more time. If there’s still a squeak, apply a few more drops and go through the process again.

If greasing the hinges doesn’t solve the problem, try cleaning the hinge pins. Put cardboard below to avoid scratching your floor, and just take the door off — removing hinge pins from the top with a flathead screwdriver or putty knife, or by inserting a nail or small screwdriver from below. Remove the hinge pins one at a time Scour them with steel wool, and clean the pinholes with a small circular wire brush. (You may have to tap upward with a hammer.) Wipe the pins with oil, alcohol, or WD40 and slip the pins back into the aligned hinges.

Wise DIYers will make removing and replacing the door a two-person job.

5. Repairing a Dripping Faucet
A dripping faucet is one of the most common household repairs. It sounds like an insignificant problem, but all those drips add up. Besides being annoying, leaky faucets can do some damage.

If you want to stop a leaky faucet without expert intervention, the process can be pretty simple, depending on the type of faucet you have. Start by shutting off the water to the faucet. There’s usually a shutoff valve somewhere nearby. If not, you can always temporarily shut off the water to the entire house and turn it back on again later.
Compression-type faucets are pretty common, so we’ll address replacing washers on that faucet style. You can complete a compression-type faucet washer replacement by following these steps:

Unscrew the faucet handle and remove it. The screw may be hiding under a decorative metal or cap, or at the back of the handle. For aesthetic reasons, the screw is probably concealed, but it’s there, so keep looking.
Remove the packing nut. You’ll need pliers for this, and it may put up some resistance.

Unscrew the valve stem and remove it from the housing.
Take out the screw that holds the washer in place. If the washer’s been in there a long time, you may need penetrating oil to loosen the screw.

Remove the washer and examine it. If it hasn’t deteriorated too much, you can use it as a template to help you locate a replacement. If the washer fell apart when you removed it, you may have to check the valve-body to get a better idea of the size washer you’re looking for. Check the valve seat at the bottom of the valve body to determine whether the washer fits into a space with straight or angled walls, too. If you’ve identified your faucet make and model,

you’ll be able to find the right washer using that information and may even be able to locate a washer made specifically for your model by the manufacturer.

Source a replacement washer at your home improvement retailer or plumbing supplier. Your retailer will also have generic washer kits that include dozens of washers in different shapes and sizes. Having a kit on hand may help with your next plumbing project.

Once you’ve located a new washer, reverse the steps you took to remove the old one to complete the installation.

Deteriorated washers account for most faucet leaks, but in a small percentage of cases, the washer won’t completely eliminate the leak because another part of the faucet may be worn. In most instances, addressing a leak by changing out the washer is the most logical place to start diagnosing the problem.

Please note that a dripping faucet is a plumbing problem, and leaky faucets can do great damage. So if the problem is big, call a plumber by all means.

6. Fix Leaking Plumbing Pipes
Like a leaky faucet, a leaky pipe under the sink often can be addressed without calling a professional. Generally, you just need a new washer or nut, but in some cases the entire p-trap (the curved section) has to be replaced. The parts should be easily and cheaply bought at a local hardware store, depending if they’re plastic or metal. Be sure to turn off the water flowing to the sink before taking anything apart. Leaking pipes can cause a lot of damage to your home if they’re left untreated. There are many temporary fixes for leaking pipes you can use, such as epoxy putty or pipe clamps, while you wait for a plumber. If you want to fix the pipe yourself so it’s up to code, you can use a slip coupling to make the process easy. No matter what you use, be sure to turn off your water supply so your pipes don’t leak while you’re working!

There are simple ways to find and stop common water leaks before they cause rot and other expensive damage. You’ll find most of these leaks around bathtubs and showers, drains, sinks and toilets.

Shut off the water supply to your home
Turn on the faucets connected to the pipe to drain them.

Dry the leaking area on the pipe.
Put on latex or nitrile gloves.
Mix plumbing epoxy putty by hand to combine it.

Wrap the putty around the leaky area.

Let the putty set for 5-10 minutes before turning your water on
Please note that like a dripping faucet, a leaking pipe is a plumbing problem, and leaky pipe can do great damage. So if the problem is big, call a plumber by all means.

7. Unblocking a Clogged Toilet
Toilet problems are stressful because there’s usually some urgency involved. The first thing to do is to use a plunger to clear the toilet. Flanged plungers are best for toilet clogs because they make a better seal and increase the amount of pressure you send down into the discharge siphon tube. Accordion style plungers are effective, too. Just make sure that the suction cup is completely covered with water before you start plunging. A quick trip to the bathroom followed by a single flush and, boom, you’re dealing with a clogged drain or—much worse—a nearly overflowing toilet. Add water to the bowl if you have to.

When Plunging Doesn’t Work
If you find yourself without a plunger or if using a plunger doesn’t work, consider your unclogging options before hiring a plumber. There are a number of ways to take care of a toilet overflow or toilet clog, many of which require nothing more than the items you already have in your bathroom or kitchen cabinets. Read on to learn how to fix a clogged toilet (and be sure to wear protective gloves).

Heat Wave. Filling a pan with hot water is your best bet when you find a serious clog. Heat it on the stove or in the faucet, but don’t allow the water to boil. Pour it down the drain and wait a few minutes to see if it helps to clear the clog. When the water starts to drain, you’ll know your efforts were successful. Then flush the toilet a couple of times. In many cases, simply running hot water will dissolve whatever is causing the blockage.

Dish Duty. If you need to speed up the unclogging process, grab some dish soap from the kitchen and squirt a liberal amount into the toilet bowl, roughly a quarter cup should enough. Allow 5 to 10 minutes for the soap to work its way down the drain and reach the clog. After that, fill the dish with hot water (not boiling water) and let it sit for a while. In most circumstances, dish soap will function as a lubricant, lubricating the blockage in the toilet drain and allowing it to clear.

Fizzy Fix. This is something you probably leant in science class in primary school to good use! If your toilet bowl is already overflowing, either empty some of the water or brace for a minor overflow. Pour one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar down the toilet drain next. The natural chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda will bubble up and dislodge the clog. Follow up with some hot water after about thirty minutes to check if it drains. You’re fine to go if it does. If it still doesn’t work, repeat the process.

Brush Battle. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have access to a plunger, take a toilet brush and slant the bristles down the drain. Pumping up and down a few times should loosen things up enough to dislodge the clog in no time. (If you need a plunger for your next clog, check out our list of plungers.)

Helping Hanger. If you don’t have access to a drain snake, a wire coat hanger from your wardrobe can be used to make one. With the exception of the hook, unwind the hanger until it’s fully straight. Then, while wearing rubber gloves, gently angle the hanger down the drain until you reach the clog by wrapping a little rag around the hook to assist prevent scratches or damage to the porcelain. To empty the toilet, flush it a few times after the water starts to drain.

Bathroom Bomb. Instead of running out to buy Drano, make your own DIY de-clogger by combining the following ingredients: 8-10 teaspoons dish detergent, 2 cups baking soda, 1/4 cup salt (add one tablespoon at a time). Fill individual muffin liners halfway with the mixture, then set aside to dry and firm overnight. Drop one into the toilet bowl the next morning, add four glasses of water, and wait a few hours to see what happens.

8. Hanging a Picture
Hanging a picture is something every homeowner should know how to do. All you need is a measuring tape, a pencil, and a small level. It doesn’t matter if you use nails, or fancy hanging strips, it really all comes down to math.

9. Mowing the Lawn and Pruning Shrubs
Lawn mowing is a life skill that everyone should learn. Whether you have a little or large yard, learning a few easy dos and don’ts will help you get the job done faster and with better results. Before mowing, make sure to edge and trim the lawn. Mowing should be done later in the day, after the dew has evaporated, and no more than 1/3 of the grass blade length should be cut at one time. To prevent lawn wear and soil compaction, change up your mowing pattern. Lawn mowing is a task that provides near-instant enjoyment!

Tree and shrub care should be a regular component of any homeowner’s landscaping routine. It’s not difficult, and you’ll only need a few basic tools: hand pruners, loppers, and a pruning saw for larger branches. Any pruning procedure should begin with the removal of any dead branches or timber. Then you can work on symmetry and size of the tree or bush. These tasks are best completed in the late fall or early spring, although they can be completed at any time of year for most types.

10. Light Fixture and Switch Replacement
While electrical work can be tricky, replacing faulty light fixtures and switches is often a simple enough task for amateurs. Installing new energy-efficient lighting also saves money.

10 Home Repairs You Should Never Do Yourself
When it comes to home renovation projects, saving money isn’t the sole consideration. When it’s time to hire a pro, know when to do so. It’s acceptable if you want to save money on upkeep by performing fixes yourself. There are some chores that are out of your skill set, and attempting to remedy them will just make matters worse. The key is to find the correct contractor so that there are no problems later on, particularly with electrical repairs.

Because life isn’t a reality show about house renovations, there are some projects that are best left to the professionals.

1. Electrical Repairs
Number one on the list for homeowners not to do themselves would be electrical—it’s just too dangerous. There have been too many electrical jobs where people have done it themselves, or had a brother or an uncle do the wiring, and a lot of these people are lucky they’re alive to tell their tale because I find all sorts of buried wires or things wired improperly. It’s so dangerous. I just can’t stress that enough.

Electrical repairs and installations are best left to electricians, from replacing switches to repairing bulb holders. Investing a little time to learn about and understand your electrical system can equip you with the skills you need to tackle various electrical work on your own. Low voltage projects, such as installing a light fixture, can be safely completed by a homeowner because they are less likely to cause structural or personal harm. However, if you are unsure of your expertise or skill, or if your job requires more than 50 volts, it is preferable to hire a professional.

2. Gas Appliances
When things go wrong with gas appliances, they can cost a lot of money, just like electrical repairs. Fixes to gas furnaces, stoves, water heaters, and dryers are among the home repairs you should never attempt on your own. Only qualified professionals should do these repairs. Even though a homeowner takes every measure to cut off the gas and properly manages a repair, if the equipment is not reinstalled perfectly, a leak can arise. A gas leak can cause serious health problems, as well as a fire or explosion in your home. As a result, any job involving gas should never be attempted as a do-it-yourself project.

3. Installing Wallpaper
Since they first appeared in the 16th century in the form of black-and-white hand-blocked prints, wallpaper remains a favourite way to bring colour, texture, and personality to a home. Bold patterns and deep colours still make any room seem more intimate, while light-toned papers with delicate prints convey a feeling of spaciousness.

The challenge with hanging wallpaper is getting it straight on the wall and matching up the patterns correctly. It typically requires two people to do the job. Sometimes bubbling can happen, which means a strip of paper will need to be removed and a new strip reinstalled. This can result in not having enough wallpaper and needing to order more. While only you can decide whether the DIY savings outweigh potential risks, hiring a professional guarantees a smooth and predictable outcome.

4. Painting the Exterior of Your Home
Painting the exterior of a house is a big job. Most homes require all of the trim, soffits, and rake boards and, depending on the type of home, all of the siding as well. This requires extensive use of ladders at high levels and sometimes climbing up on the roof. Homeowners need to consider safety requirements before tackling an exterior job. We recommends hiring a professional with experience and the correct equipment.

5. Replacing a Door
Your home’s doors might suffer from a variety of concerns, particularly older doors that may begin to sag, stick, create drafts, or have other issues. Most homeowners are capable of repairing or replacing a door, especially if they have a partner to assist them. You have doors all around your house, and despite their innocent appearance, they require maintenance and repair on a regular basis. Door difficulties, which range from squeaks to sticking, are usually minor but can be inconvenient. Inspect the door for any loose hinge screws or deteriorating hinges that could be the source of the issue. To balance the weight, use a door wedge on the latch end of the door before tightening loose screws. If the screws appear to be in good condition yet the door closes with reluctance, make a note of the tight spots. It may be necessary to plane a door that only sticks during humid months or during the rainy season. Consider whether the condition will go away on its own in a few months before taking this approach.

While a new door can brighten a room and save money on heating and cooling, the money saved is better spent on making sure the installation is done correctly. A specialist should undertake any substantial door overhaul.

6. Window Installation
A window can become stuck for a variety of reasons. It’s possible that dirt and debris have accumulated in the window casing. Windows might become misaligned and stuck due to issues with your home’s foundation. When a window is painted and then closed before it has completely dried, the window is glued shut. Humidity can cause doors and windows to swell, causing them to become stuck in the jamb. Using a belt sander or planer to fix a stuck window often necessitates removing the window. Leave it to the professionals if you don’t have a lot of expertise with house repairs and don’t have or know how to use the tools safely.
You can perform certain window maintenance yourself, such as cleaning the interior and outside of the window.

However, if you need new windows installed, it is advisable to hire a professional to do so. Although window installation may appear simple, you should hire a professional to ensure that your windows are correctly sealed and that no warm or cold air escapes your home. When you’ve finished installing your windows, make sure to wipe them down.

7. Roofing Repairs
For one good reason, repairing a roof isn’t recommended for a do-it-yourselfer: it’s simple to slip off it. Repairing a shingle or two on a roof isn’t the most difficult task in the world, but climbing up and down and carrying your equipment offer a risk of injury or death. It’s also exhausting labor, and fatigued people are more likely to make mistakes. A simple slip can send you tumbling off the edge of a second-story roof.

You can probably get away with gutter work and minimal shingle repair if you live in a one-story ranch with a slope of less than 20 degrees. It’s possible that your roof is low enough that you can accomplish it from a ladder. These little repairs, however, can be dangerous, and you should never attempt them alone at home. At the very least, a spotter should be present to hold the ladder and assist in the event of an accident. Aside from the hazard, roofing work necessitates experience to be done correctly. If you take on more than you can handle, you risk having a leaking roof and costly water damage.

8. Structural Work
You are capable of installing new kitchen cabinets. Moving a wall or making a big structural adjustment to a house, on the other hand? Those aren’t insignificant responsibilities. Demo day should be left to the professionals.

Anything that involves reorganizing your home — such as blowing out a room or adding on — is probably not a job you should take on yourself.
Trying to save money by doing significant improvements yourself can end up costing you more in the long run, especially if you have to hire someone to clean up your mess. Any structural work could wreak havoc on the house’s foundation. A botched job might jeopardize the home’s structural integrity, putting everyone at risk. Even if you believe you can fix the roof rupture, it is critical that you contact the appropriate professional to provide a long-term solution to the problem.

9. Tree removal
If you want landscaping as stunning as the most enchanting forests around the world, get a professional to cut your trees. When it comes to tree removal, it is possible to remove a small tree in your yard with the right tools. But if you have a large tree on your property that needs removed, it is best to call someone who can handle it. Professionals have the equipment and expertise to cut down a tree safely without causing any other damage to your property.

10. Pest infestations
Do you have rats in your home? Are there termites eating away at your house? Is your home infested by stubborn roaches? There are short-term solutions that you can do on your own. But, for long-term answers, it might be best to bring someone in to get to the root of the issue and end the infestation permanently.