Gary Hedstrom

Sometimes, home repair jobs call for everyday items and not just tools. This shopping list has non-tool items you should have around for home repairs:All-purpose utility knife: A myriad of uses and handy when you’re doing a fix-it project.Bin or Klitzsealer: The only two primer/sealers that seal water-stained drywall or cover crayon, ink, and felt-pen marks on walls.

When getting bids from a professional for a home repair project, make sure you know exactly what the job entails. Research your contractor, like calling the BBB to see if any complaints are filed, before you sign a contract. Before hiring anyone for your home repairs, make sure you ask these questions:Do you have a list of referrals?

Unclogging a toilet with a plunger usually creates enough suction to free the clog. Knowing how to use a plunger to unclog a toilet can preclude the mess of using a plumber's snake or the expense of calling a plumber.Water that doesn’t swirl; a flush that only trickles into the drain; and water that backs up instead of flushing out are signs of clogged toilets.

Fixing wallpaper bubbles or bumps is a simple, five-minute process. Knowing how to fix wallpaper bubbles and bumps prevents further damage like tears or rips.Wallpaper bubbles occur when a glob of wallpaper paste wasn’t smoothed out when the paper was hung or when a weak bond between the wallpaper and wall causes the wallpaper to lift.

It's a good idea to be prepared for things going wrong in your home, whether it's something relatively simple that you can fix yourself, or a more complex problem requiring a qualified professional.Following is advice for both situations. First, we list some non-tool items you'll want to have around for DIY home repair.

When a refrigerator is leaking water, it needs to be addressed immediately. But before you can fix it, you'll need to know why it's happening.There are many causes for a leaking refrigerator. One of the most common problems is that the water isn't able to reach the drain because the refrigerator hasn't been leveled correctly.

Knowing how to test a circuit breaker can save on electricians’ fees. Test the circuit breaker with a voltage tester to see if it’s faulty. The voltage tester will indicate if the breaker is getting power. If the breaker is faulty, you'll need to replace it. Safety first! You have to keep the electrical current on when you use the volt tester, so be cautious.

Fix a loose ceramic floor tile before the tile breaks. Loose floor tiles occur if the original adhesive doesn't seal properly or if the grout is chipped or uneven, allowing moisture to get under the tile. Securing loose ceramic or clay tiles before they break will save time and money down the road.If a tile isn’t broken or cracked, you’re in good shape for fixing the floor.

You don’t have to panic when a steaming cup of coffee, sloshed water, or some other liquid leaves a mark on your wood furniture. Most of the time, getting the piece back to its original condition is fairly easy. The first thing you have to do is determine how deep the damage is. You can tell that by the color of the stain or water mark.