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While owning a home can be one of the greatest achievements of your life, it will come with a lot of responsibility as well. Over time, things will need fixing and you may just want to do a little remodeling also. Well, rather than pay someone to do all of the work for you, here are some things that you might be able to handle on your own.
Repair Cracks in the Driveway
When it comes to repairing cracks in your driveway, rather than hire a contractor to come and charge you hundreds of dollars, you can actually tackle this job on your own. The first thing you will need to do, before you start pouring any concrete, is you will have to assess whether your cracks are hairline cracks or deep and wide in order to know how to best approach it. For cracks that are under 1/4 of an inch wide, you can use a crack filler that has a formulation that is adjustable. If the mix is looking a little thin, you need to make the concrete stronger.
Refinish Your Hardwood Floor
The first thing you want to do is to remove the base molding and then hammer down any protruding nails before you begin sanding. If you don’t own a sanding machine, you can always rent that and other equipment and still not spend nearly as much as you would when hiring a professional. Once you’ve sanded and buffed the floor, sweep up all of the dust and then you can give your floors a nice stain and finish.
Fix the Garbage Disposal
If you notice that your garbage disposal isn’t working at all, the first thing you should do is make sure it is receiving power. If it is plugged in, and you have turned it off and on as well as checked the breaker to no avail, then you may need to get a new unit. Just unscrew the mounting brackets, remove the flange, and scrape away the plumber’s putty. If you are using an identical model, simply reattach the unit in the same way that you removed it and you’re all set.
Mend Scratched Cabinetry
Fixing scratches in your wood is easy and doesn’t require you to spend a lot of money on hiring a professional. To conceal any scratches in your cabinetry, you have a number of options you can choose from. You can first give the scratch a light sanding and then use a cloth to apply a little stain, then go back over it with a finish. While you could also use a touch-up pen or even a wax pencil if the scratches are rather deep, rubbing a regular walnut over a scratch can not only fill it but also color your scratches as well.
Cleaning Out Your Gutters
Although cleaning your gutters may require a little bit of elbow grease along with some common tools that you most likely have on hand, this job is definitely something that you can do yourself. While there are special tools such as pressure washing equipment and hoses that you can use, if you have a scooper on hand, then that can work just fine. Simply start by scooping out all of the leaves and debris and dump them into a bucket that you have hooked onto your ladder. Once you’ve removed all of the debris from the gutters, you can then use a gentle soapy solution to clean out any remaining grime, and then use a hose to wash everything off and finish up the job.
Regrout Your Bathroom Tiles
When the grout around your tub and tiles begins to age, it can start to become discolored as dirt settles into it, making it more difficult to clean. Once this happens, not only is it an unsightly thing to see, but it can also be quite unsanitary as this can be a breeding ground for bacteria, mildew, et cetera. You can easily give your bathroom a makeover by regrouting it yourself and save hundreds of dollars. First, make sure that you choose a grout that is right for your bathroom such as acrylic latex, sanded, epoxy, or unsanded which is determined by how far apart the tiles are. When applying, make sure you are filling the joints thoroughly and then use a moist sponge to wipe away the excess.
Patching a Hole in the Wall
Whether you are wanting to fix holes that have been caused by hanging up pictures or if a doorknob caused a ding in your wall, fixing this issue can be pretty quick and easy to do. With just some putty and a spackling knife, you can have your walls looking as good as new in no time. Start by filling in the holes with the putty, pressing it in until the product has reached surface level. With your spackling knife, simply scrape away the excess putty in order for it to lay as flush as possible with the wall. Once the putty is completely dry, you can take a sander to it until it is smooth and ready to be painted.
Fixing a Leaky Pipe
Although there are many plumbing repairs that may require the help of a professional, certain things may simply require a bit of patching up, something that you can do yourself. If you have noticed a leak in a pipe underneath your sink, first you want to see if you can locate where the leaking is coming from. The pipe may just need a little tightening of a slip-nut which is something you can do in a matter of seconds. However, if you notice that there is an actual hole, this too can be easily fixed by adding a flexible coupling along with hose clamps.
While there are many jobs that you can DIY around your home, if you are unsure or the job is a bit dangerous, then you should definitely hire a professional. Repairs such as roofing or gutter cleaning that require you to climb a ladder would either be best done with two people or performed by a professional.
Read more great household tips in this article: 3 Parts of Your Kitchen That Take a Little Extra Care to Clean
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