Seriously, you can save some while holed up at home during the pandemic. A 2018 study revealed homeowners in the U.S. spend an average of 10,000 dollars for home repairs. Any way you look at it, that’s huge. Well, if you’re not careful, things certainly add up. The way to go forward, therefore, is to apply yourself. Even if you haven’t lifted a hammer, you’ll learn to DIY if you put your 101% focus into it. That’s assuming your hands are perfectly fine.
The trick is to see which home repairs you can actually do with all the time you’ve got. Come to think of it, the pandemic is actually a mixed blessing. It has afforded you tons and tons of time like never before. Of course, that means plenty of opportunities to learn. You can watch YouTube and do your due diligence to get started. As long as you put your heart to it, the resources should follow. Then again, getting the experts may just have to wait for now.
- Cracks in concrete
Cracks in concrete are common. As hard as concrete is, it’s vulnerable to wear and tear and the weather. For one, this is as a result of the pressure and load on the surface of the concrete. Usually, cracks start really small. At first, you might not even notice it.
But cracks grow and if you don’t attend to them, you might have a problem in your hands.
It’s tricky though. You can’t just repair concrete by using a fresh round of concrete. You need to use concrete mixes. If the crack is about ¼ inch in width, then you can utilize a liquid filler or concrete caulk. Typically, you can use a trowel to mix patching compounds. It’s just like grout. You can smooth them over, and they’ll easily blend with the area.
As easy as it may sound now there are some things you have to pay particular attention to when fixing concrete. A good guide should get you going. Once you get the hang of it, doing bigger tasks shouldn’t be a problem.
Then again, if the job seems too hard for you. Getting professionals to do the repairing of concrete may bid you well. This is especially true when you’re looking at concrete slabs that are already sunken. Or when the size of the crack is beyond small.
- Pipe leaks
One of the most annoying problems at home that people try to deal with is pipe leaks. There are different pipes at home and so a pipe leak can happen anywhere in the house. It could be in the toilet, bathroom, or even in the kitchen. Some people have even had to deal with pipe leaks with their washing machine.
The sad part is that just a simple pipe leak could easily flood your home. Well, the good news is that this can be a DIY job.
The first step to resolving this issue is blocking the source of water. It might take a visit to your basement to put off the general home water supply. Needless to say, leaving the water source open can be disastrous in a pipe leak.
Thereafter, comes the unscrewing of the nuts. Check if it’s the whole pipe that has a problem. If so, then you might need to completely change it. If it is just the compression nuts that is the problem, then it’s easy. Clean the pipe well before screwing it properly back into place.
- Clogged toilets
Right off the bat, a clogged toilet is one of the most common problems people face in their houses, not to mention most frustrating. But this can be a walk in the park for you. Instead of getting some professionals to unclog it for you, you can focus on getting the right equipment needed.
So what equipment would you need for this?
The name of the tool is a toilet plunger. But it’s not just your everyday sink plunger. There is a special type that is designed to deal with all the mess. A dozen thrust and your plunger should do the trick.
Then again, if the problem persists, getting professionals to do the job may be wise. The important thing is your house gets fully functional in no time.
- Stuck windows
Usually, this could be the case if you haven’t cleaned your windows in a while. The cause of this is usually dirt that piles up at the sides of the windows. When this happens it becomes very difficult for you to open the windows. Well, there is an easy way out with this as well.
Get a good lubricant that is suitable for this purpose. The best lubricant for this should be a WD-40. After applying the lubricant, you can use a putty knife to remove the dirt trapped in between. Once you do this, you should be able to open the window completely. And factor regular cleaning to keep it that way.
When you’re all set, DIY jobs can be a big help in keeping your precious abode fully functional. The right information should guide you. In hindsight, DIY jobs really aren’t too hard to do. That’s as long as you bear in mind you’re saving dollars while keeping everyone in your house safe and sound.
