Living in your own home has perks. You have the freedom to do as you wish. You can get up anytime that you want, as long as it won’t get you in trouble at work. You can also sleep as late as you wish. However, being the man of the house is not all fun and games. It comes with responsibilities that you must face and do.
Part of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is ensuring that your home is functional and in order. This includes doing simple maintenance and repairs. With the threat of the virus still rampant, you would want to have fewer people come into your home. That includes your trusted plumber, carpenter, and repairman, among others.
While there are repairs that warrant the attention of a professional, you can save with simple repairs by doing them on your own. Of course, some projects can only be done by licensed professionals, and you should not even dare to do them on your own.
With that said, here are some simple repair jobs that you can do by yourself.
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Replacing your faucet.
A faulty faucet can throw your daily routine off course. You can’t wash the dishes. Food preparation becomes difficult. You can’t even wash your hands. You need a working faucet to maintain order and comfort in your home.
Modern faucet design has helped make replacing your faucets easier. The first thing that you need to do is to shut off the supply of water. You can check if the water supply was shut off by turning on the faucet.
It is now time to remove your old faucet. Depending on your sink and faucet configuration, you will find two or more nuts beneath the sink. Remove all nuts and washers. Lift the faucet out from the sink.
Installation of the new faucet will depend on the brand of your faucet. Check the installation manual that comes with your new faucet. You can mock assemble it first so you will have a fair idea of which parts go where. If you have the type of faucet with several hose connections, you can call a plumber to help you.
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Patch drywall holes.
Drywall is inexpensive and fairly easy to install. The drawback of using drywall is that it can easily get damaged. It can get dents, cracks, and holes. Nails can cause holes in your drywall, doorknobs jamming on it when you swing open your door.
The fragility of drywall is what makes it easy to cut to your needed sizes. It’s also what makes it easy to fit into your installation. Lucky for you, you can fix drywall holes on your own. All you need is a drywall compound called mud and paper joint tape.
Use a utility knife to clean any stray materials protruding from the hole. The borders that surround the hole must be flat before you put the paper tape and the mud. You need more than one application of the mud. Once it is dry, use a drywall sanding sponge to smooth the area. You can then paint the patched area to match the rest of the drywall.
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Replacing your showerhead.
There is nothing like a shower to freshen you up and relax you. If you want to upgrade your showerhead, you can do it on your own. With a pair of pliers, an adjustable wrench, a wire brush, and a step stool, you can replace an old showerhead with a new one.
Before you remove the existing showerhead, make sure that you turn off the faucet first. Unscrew the showerhead with your wrench. Remove the showerhead by turning it counterclockwise. Clean the end of the extension with a wire brush or an old toothbrush. Dry the end before you apply a thread-sealing tape. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s manual before you attach your new showerhead for the attachment procedures. Check for leaks, then make the necessary adjustments.
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Hanging wallpaper.
If it is your first time to hang wallpaper, you can start with an uninterrupted wall, preferably without a doorway. Doorways, windows, and corners require additional trimming. Prime your wall first if it has dark-colored paint. Line up the pieces and allow for an overlap of around two inches. It is important to make the pattern look seamless. You can go for stripes if you want an easier pattern to work with.
Being a homeowner comes with responsibilities. Knowing how to DIY some repairs and maintenance tasks allows you to have the freedom to do upgrades and changes whenever you wish. Of course, some tasks, such as those related to electricity and your home’s structure and foundation, are best left to the hands of experts.
