We all need a place to call home. Somewhere to rest, restore and recharge our batteries after a long week of whatever it is that keeps us busy. Home is for relaxing, connecting with family, our home base amidst the chaos of daily life.  However, homes, like most things in life, need upkeep and maintenance. Otherwise, they can suffer from wear and tear and become run down and in need of repair. In this helpful article, we’ll share some foundational findings, and you’ll learn a DIY guide to minor home construction work. So, pick up some tools and birch plywood and let’s get to work.

Replacing Cabinet Doors and Handles

A basic home DIY task that you can easily accomplish by yourself is replacing cabinet doors or handles. This is worth doing if your cabinet doors are scratched, dented, hanging loose or otherwise in need of some TLC. All you’ll need is a drill, some screws, and a screwdriver for this job. To replace a door, you unscrew the hinges, mount the new door, screw them back in, and Bob’s your mother’s brother.  Replacing the handles is straightforward too. Simply unscrew them from behind the door and affix the new handles firmly. If you want them in a different position, but don’t want to leave unsightly drill holes where the previous handles were, you can fill the holes left by the old handles with some builders’ putty.

Fixing Torn Window Screens

Do you have worn out or scratched window screens? This is a common issue that can be caused by many different things, including pets clawing at the windows, damage due to windswept debris, or simply by natural wear and tear.  The screen will come off quickly enough; it usually pops right out without too much force (just make sure you’re ready when it does pop out to avoid any unfortunate accidents). Then it’s simply a case of picking up a screen to fit (you’ll need a measuring tape) and putting it in, usually using a spline roller. 

Painting 

There’s nothing quite like a fresh paint job to make an older house feel new again. Conversely, nothing will age a house like cracking or blemished paint on a facade. Houses usually need a good coat of paint every five to ten years, inside and out (if you have weatherboards). This is an easy but time-consuming task. So, you need to have the time to dedicate to painting to ensure that it’s done right. It can take a whole weekend or two sometimes, so if you can, try to enlist the help of friends or family if you don’t want to get it done professionally.   First, use a power sander to sand back the old area. Then, apply your coats of paint. A roller is best to use here, as it can cover a large area quickly. Use a brush for skirting boards and cornices and to cut in at the edges and corners.  Two coats is a good rule of thumb. If painting exterior weatherboards, you’ll want to use weatherproof paint to protect the outside of your home. Your house’s exterior, after all, is constantly at the mercy of the elements, and it doesn’t take long for improper paint to start showing signs of damage.

Caulking and Seal Repair

The caulking and sealing in your bathroom don’t last a lifetime. As a rule of thumb, it tends to last five or so years before requiring work. You’ll need to do this as soon as you notice the caulking coming loose, as an unsealed bathroom can cause moisture to get into the floor and walls, which can lead to mould, a severe health hazard. Using a sharp blade or knife, cut away the old caulking and seal. Then, using a caulking gun and some caulk/sealant, apply a consistent caulking line to the areas you removed it from. Allow 24 hours for it to dry, so don’t have a shower or bath at this time. 

DIY Conclusions

In this article, we’ve shared some DIY tips for minor home construction and repair tasks. You learned how to replace cabinet doors and handles and how to repair a torn window screen. Also, we shared how to paint your home inside and out and how to replace worn-out caulking and sealant. So, get your tools and materials, plan ahead for the time you’ll need, and get ready for a better, happier home.