Homeownership requires more than relaxing weekends on the deck or intimate evenings in front of the fireplace; it also involves maintaining its functionality and safety.
Home repairs don’t have to be difficult or time consuming; DIY projects are simple ways to add a more polished, comfortable atmosphere in your space.
Fix a Wobbly Showerhead
An unstable showerhead can wreak havoc with your morning routine, but fortunately it’s quite straightforward to fix. First, shut off the water supply to your shower; then use expansion foam to tighten your showerhead. For anything more complicated–for instance a faucet handle that moves behind walls–it could indicate a leak in cartridge valve, in which case professional services should be sought immediately.
Shower arms connect from the wall to showerheads via a drop-ear elbow located within the wall. Over time, this connection may become looser and cause movement of both arm and showerhead. You can prevent this by applying masking tape around any hole where trim detaches from the wall before spraying expanding foam around its perimeter.
Hide Tough Ceiling Water Stains
Water stains can quickly ruin the aesthetics of any room and lower your spirits, but with just a few easy steps they can be concealed from view.
Locate and repair the source of water stain. This could range from roof leaks or radiator leaks to cracked plaster surfaces or cracked plaster boards.
Once you have addressed the source of the staining issue, wait until it dries completely before painting over it. Painting over wet spots while they remain damp will only damage paint or drywall and lead to another round of staining.
Use a solution of bleach and water to treat the stain. This will fade the mark while eliminating mildew that prevents primer or paint from adhering properly. Make sure that when applying this treatment on white ceilings you use a sponge without any color left behind on it.
Fix a Stuck Window
If your window simply won’t budge, try one of these strategies to open it. Before taking drastic measures like breaking out a crowbar (common in older homes), be sure that all your windows haven’t been painted shut and painted over with tape.
If paint isn’t an issue, use a putty knife to slowly pry each corner off with each side of the frame, starting from inside and moving outward. Be sure to start from within before moving outside; work your way from interior window outward. Also place a block of wood under a pry bar to protect sill and hammer from potential damage.
Once you’ve taken off the stops, sand the edges of the window to smooth away any bumps or snags that caused it to stick. Candle wax may help your window move more freely.
Fix a Scratched Appliance
Deep scratches on stainless steel appliances can be an eyesore. But with some simple household products, you can invisibly repair them without ever being noticed by anyone. Light scratches may need buffing out with fine-grit sandpaper and kitchen oil such as olive oil; or some appliance manufacturers provide their own nonabrasive cleaners which you may be able to use (with instructions provided from them).
If you decide to sand your black appliances yourself, be sure to always rub with the grain, never in a circular motion as doing so may cause further damage. If scratches still won’t go away after trying this approach yourself, consult a professional who may offer special treatments tailored specifically to your type of stainless steel that don’t involve rubbing – though this might be more expensive but could still be worthwhile depending on their severity.
Fix a Sagging Door
Finding your front door scraping the top of your door jamb or not aligning properly with its latch plate can be an infuriating sight, often caused by humidity that causes wood to expand and push out of alignment hinges. While removing, sanding, planeing and repainting might provide one way out, this approach takes both time and money to fix.
Instead of spending hundreds on professional help, consider trying these DIY solutions yourself. Family Handyman recommends starting by tightening the hinge screws using a screwdriver rather than a drill in order to avoid over-tightening, which could chew up screws and strip holes. Another simple yet effective fix involves replacing the middle screw on jamb side top hinge with 3-inch screw which pulls closer toward jamb side while drawing door frame closer towards stud.