House Problems?
Huh? Fix a problem you can't fix? Actually, it can be done, and people do it all the time. It's called outsourcing, and it's the same thing you do when you build a home and buy food. You don't have the time to take care of every single thing in your life, so you trade money for it instead. When you have something you need fixed but don't know how to fix, you call in a contractor.
Working with a contractor can be a unique experience, and the more experience you have, the better you'll be at it. But you could also use a few tips that can help you along the way. Here are some great strategies for dealing with contractors.
First, consider a contractor's reputation among the most valuable referrals you can get. You should make sure that a contractor is accredited, sure, but you also want to make sure that the contractor takes each individual job seriously and is willing to go the extra mile for his or her clients. You find out a contractor's reputation by researching them online, but even more powerful is the word-of-mouth reputation that you can find by asking around - in person. Does the contractor have a history of making people happy? Then there's a good chance you'll end up happy with the work they do, as well.
Next, be sure to watch out for potential scams. Make sure that they have general liability insurance so that you're not responsible financially for any damage they might do to your home. Will your home be damaged? Probably not, but there are bad contractors out there who can make life miserable for you. You'll screen out most of these bad contractors by following the "reputation" rule, but you want to make sure you're covered financially in either case.
Once you've got a contractor confirmed and hired, be willing to be on top of them to get your problem fixed, especially if you need the repairs to happen quickly. You're hiring the contractor, after all, and many times a contractor will try to get away with being as lazy as you allow them to be. Stay on top of them, and remember that since it's your money on the line, you get to call the shots.
Photo Credits: pnwra
Originally posted 2009-10-19 03:53:44.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 12, 2010 in
Handyman, House, How to Fix
Patch that screen!
In the summertime, we like to keep the doors open to allow the warm breezes in but the screens still locked to keep the bugs out. Of course, a screen is only effective as long as it's in one piece - and if you have a screen that's patchy or has one glaring hole, it's time to either repair it or replace it. This article will help you understand which option you may need to pursue.
Repairing a Patchy Screen
Believe it or not, repairing a screen isn't a highly complicated affair, involving the stitching of small metal wiring. Actually, you can purchase screen patches that clip on to the rest of your screen at hardware stores and online - but keep in mind that these patches will only fill smaller holes, typically up to three inches in diameter. When you purchase one of these screens patches, you'll need to know how large the hole you're repairing is, and then buy about a half an inch more than that. Make sure to measure the hole you're repairing before you make your purchase.
The patch of screen you're buying will typically have long ends that you can intertwine with the rest of the screen to make it as unnoticeable as possible. Keep in mind that if you have smaller holes in your screening, then you'll be able to use smaller repairs, such as household cementer or even glue.
Replacing a Patchy Screen
Of course, there's a tremendous difference between a screen that has a few tiny holes in it and a screen with one gaping monstrosity of a hole: how you repair it. In the case of these large holes, you're better off simply purchasing a new screen to replace the old one. Install it yourself to save money, and it won't necessarily be a big expense.
To get a good idea of how your screen works, pay attention to how the old screen was put in place. This will help a lot if you're not familiar with household construction at all, as it will give you some context regarding screen installation. Once you've made a couple of notes, prepare the frame for installation and cut down your screen to the right size. Never try to cut a screen to exactly the right size - you're better off overestimating so that any mistakes can be easily corrected with new cuts.
Those are the two most effective ways of fixing your household screen. How much repair does your screen need? Only you can say.
Photo Credits: General Wesc
Originally posted 2009-08-12 03:34:42.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 27, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, doors, windows
Got yourself a leaky toilet?
Although most people don't know this, some toilets can leak water even when you're not doing anything. If you've inspected your toilet before in order to see if it was wasting any water, only to notice that no water was wasted, this article might have the solution for your water wasting problems: your toilet may be inefficient - and even leaking - while you sleep! If you want to make your toilet more efficient and stop wasting water
through either a leak or through simple inefficiency, this article is for you.
The first thing you can do to detect a leak is to place a drop of food coloring in your toilet bowl. If water is leaking anywhere, you'll instantly detect it because of the changed color, so be sure to drop in plenty. Check the toilet tank to see if anything has leaked from the bowl - if there has, you're looking at a very hard-to-detect toilet leak that you've only seen because you've taken the time to look it up.
In order to fix this leak, you'll have to check in a number of places. Check common areas like the flapper. If there are any problems, you may have to replace an individual part of your toilet. In order to do this, try and find the most appropriate part - the same part, if possible - and buy it online or at your local hardware store.
What about a toilet that doesn't leak, but has simply started to become inefficient? If ecology is a major issue in your toilet flushing needs, you can always replace the unit itself in order to have a consistently low flush. But if you simply want to upgrade your current toilet so that you're losing less water each time you flush, you can simply replace the flush valve! You don't always need to get a new toilet in order to flush less each time.
If you're tight on money, you can simply replace the flush valve in order to make your toilet more efficient and lest wasteful. You can also fix the toilet by replacing an individual part if there is a leak and one part is causing the error. Remember to keep mental pictures of all of the repairs and upgrades you make in case you ever have to treat another toilet that has become inefficient. Next time, you'll be ready, and you'll know exactly what to do!
Photo credits: pokpok313
Originally posted 2009-12-17 03:16:50.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 10, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
Potentially increase resale value on your car by taking care of that rust!
Now one enjoys the sight of rust on their car, especially if they ever have plans to re-sell it as a used car. The better your car looks, the more value it has, and doing away with rust can actually help you earn more money on re-sale. But how do you get rid of this rust, and if it was easy, wouldn't everyone be doing it? Fortunately, fixing car rust simply takes a little education and initiative. We'll supply the education; the initiative is up to you.
First, you'll need the right tools. An effective way to prep a rust area for re-painting is to sand it down. This is difficult to do by hand, so a sanding wheel will be most effective - use 150 grit. Don't necessarily aim to get rid of all of the rust at this stage of the game; instead, simply work to make the surface consistent with the rest of the car. You'll want to notice the change in level as little as possible. While you're using the sanding wheel, don't try to do too much work at once. Instead, work in small increments so that you avoid large mistakes that will be difficult to go back and fix.
After using a power sanding wheel, it's time to use sandpaper by hand - again, using 150 grit. You'll use this sandpaper to wear down any of the stubborn rust spots that still seem to be hanging on. Make sure that the area is now fully smoothened out and ready for a new paint application.
Using painter's tape (that doesn't leave behind much adhesive) to corner off the section of rust, you're going to be applying some primer next. Apply a few coats of primer but make sure to focus on thoroughness rather than thickness. You want the primer to get in as many little areas as possible so that the layer of paint you apply afterwords will be complete.
After applying a few coats of primer, let it dry overnight. When you're ready to paint, use your color-matched paint and apply in thin coats similar to the way you applied primer. When you apply one coat, wait a few hours for it to dry before applying another one, and once you're finished, let the area dry overnight.
If you already had a power sander handy, this repair probably didn't cost you much money at all - it's a great way to keep your car looking fresh and new, and possibly increase the re-sale value.
Photo Credits: OpenSkyMedia
Originally posted 2009-09-18 03:46:34.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 29, 2010 in
Car, How to Fix, Mechanic
Clean out that debris!
If there's one thing that separates the do-it-yourself professionals from the amateurs, it's the ability to conserve. Using old things in new ways is the hallmark of the savvy home improvement fanatic, and nothing is when it comes to gutters. If you have an old gutter and want to install a modern rain removal system, there's no reason you can't teach the old dog new tricks and make it work it better ways. It will save you money and time, so why not?
The first thing you'll want to do with an old gutter is to clean it off - cracked-on dirt, debris, and dust can hide some leaks and holes that you need to know about. Be generous with the house and scrub the thing so that it looks as new as it can. After you've let it dry a little, try running some water through it as a test. If there are any leaks or holes, it's time to make sure that those leaks are no more.
In order to repair a leak or a hole in your old gutter, you're going to need to re-seal it. Gutter sealer from your hardware store (if you have caulk-like substances around the house, you might be able to use those) will fill the cracks and trap the water like the gutter was originally meant to. Be sure to check the overlapping on these old gutters, as they are sometimes less efficient than modern ones and may need to be sealed themselves.
Small holes and leaks aren't the only ways you can salvage an old gutter - even the big gaping cracks can be fixed if you have the right materials. If you have two old gutters, for example, you can use the metal of one of them to replace the metal of the other; if you use some roof cement you should be able to press one piece of metal to the other, sealing it off and making the old gutter like new. It might not be the prettiest gutter in the world, but you don't exactly have to put it out front for everyone to see.
Remember that gutters are rarely used for decoration: their primary function is simply to move water in a way that keeps the house dry and interacts with the natural environment. When you come across an old gutter that you think might have some life in it, don't necessarily toss it away instantly. Instead, ask yourself more practical questions, like what you can do with the metal, whether you can salvage the gutter, and where it might belong if it can be salvaged. It's up to you to make the most of your possessions. Will you?
Photo Credits: Mitia dd
Originally posted 2009-08-13 03:38:59.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 13, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, gutters
Sinking deck to fix deck.
Your backyard deck might be the pride and joy of all the landscaping and additions you've made to your house; you get to bring guests to it, raise a family on it, and enjoy quiet summer evenings in comfort. That's why it can be so disconcerting to see a problem like a sinking deck post - all of that work and money sometimes still can't prevent the Earth from throwing a wrench in the engine. That's why you'll want to fix your sinking deck post as soon as possible.
First, you'll need the right equipment: a jack, pea gravel, and a pipe. Of course, without the instructions, these might sound like odd equipment for a job like this, but bear with me.
Make a diagnosis. Using a balance to measure the actual problem with your deck, you want to make sure that your sinking deck post is the only one sinking. After all, if you have two posts sinking, you should use this opportunity to treat the problem as a whole - while you have the equipment out.
Once you know which deck post - or posts - to fix, try to take a look at the kind of access you can get. Some people have decks with plenty of room underneath, and if this is the case with your deck, you shouldn't have ot move too many object around in order to get at the sinking deck post. But if you have a smaller deck without a whole lot of room, you'll probably need to remove some floor boards in order to get at the right post. This might also require that you set aside some time to remove furniture, hopefully at a time when no one will be needing the deck at all.
With the access to this sinking deck post secured, raise the deck (and the post) up with the jack to the point at which the deck is level again. Then, using the pipe you have ready, slide it into the hole where the sinking deck post had just been. Pour the pea gravel into this hole through the pipe and try to make sure that you pack as much gravel into the hole as you can, keeping an eye on how balanced your deck is overall.
This should add some stability to your deck and hopefully prevent further sinking. Remember to be careful with each step so as to do the best overall job possible. If you removed floor boards, you can replace them now, and move the furniture back onto the deck.
Photo Credits: MrPhilDog
Originally posted 2009-09-02 03:42:10.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 5, 2010 in
Backyard, Deck, Floors, Handyman, How to Fix
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