How to Repair

Ready to try DIY repairing? You already know that when something in your house breaks, it's on you to find a professional repairmen (which is often expensive and may include extra time to wait for availability). Here at Hometalk we will help you with the tools, tips, and techniques you need to get you on your way to DIY repair success.

What do you want to repair?

Top DIY Repair Projects

We've gathered the top DIY repair projects on Hometalk. Check them out!

Fixing a Crack in a Wall or Ceiling

Did you know that fixing a crack in some drywall on a wall or ceiling can be quick and easy? We have had a long crack in the ceiling of our living room for quite some time and I thought I might as well go ahead and try to patch it up. With a couple of standard items from the hardware store you can eliminate a crack and have it patched up in a jiff!

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

How to Unclog a Toilet in a Few Easy Steps

By Marilyn SyartoToilets are pretty hassle-free—until they’re clogged, that is. Knowing how to unclog a toilet is a life skill that takes minutes to learn and comes in handy at the most important times.

How-To Guides

How to Get Rid of Mice and Keep Them Away for Good

By Marilyn SyartoAs cute as mice can sometimes be (hence why some people keep them as pets), they can carry diseases into your home that are best left outdoors. They may transmit dangerous bacteria and disease through their feces or fleas and mites that hitch rides on their skin. Not only are humans at risk, but so are your pets, because mice can leave traces of bacteria in water and food bowls. Our guide gives you the best tips on catching a mouse, disposing of a mouse, and making your home as mouse-proof as possible.

How-To Guides

Jewelry Box With Missing Molding Fixed With Bondo

I found this vintage jewelry box that looks like a mini dresser. I absolutely adore it ❤ I came up with a refinishing game plan...a gorgeous green (Dixie Belle's palmetto), with copper accents and metal leaf (full tutorial here https://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/jewelry-box-makeover-using-metal-leaf-41494528 ) I got started with my typical prep...clean, sand, fill, sand, clean. Then started to lay on the palmetto, two coats to be exact. Then I finally noticed a piece of molding was missing on one of the small drawers! It don't know how it took prep and two coats of paint before I noticed 😄 My OCD wasn't going to allow me to let it slide. If you've checked out my previous projects, you know how much I love bondo! I use this stuff all the time! And again for this problem. I was able to make a mold using one of the good drawers and use that mold to make the new piece of molding that I needed. Here is step by step how I was able to save this project....

Deer Run Revamps

7 Ways to Unclog a Bathroom Sink

Learning how to unclog a bathroom sink is almost like learning how to unclog a toilet. You need the right tools and techniques, but it should be a quick fix, and you don’t need to be an expert plumber. The culprit is usually a built-up greasy ball of soap scum and hair in the drain or tangled around the sink stopper’s rod. Sometimes, no tips or tricks will work, which means you’ll need to call in an expert because there’s probably a clog too far down the drain system or too dense for you to remove yourself. But before you call a plumber, try these classic, proven ideas in our guide to unclogging a bathroom sink.

How-To Guides

Insulating A Crawl Space/Attic Door

I love our nice big closet in our bedroom but I don’t love the uninsulated access door to our crawl space which is in the closet. It gets a little frigid in there winter mornings.

Alicia W

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies With Homemade Traps

By Marilyn SyartoFruit flies are some of the most persistent and annoying tiny insects you’ll ever come across. They’re a close match to mosquitos! They don’t bite humans—they don’t even have teeth, but they do carry and spread germs and bacteria. So even if you spot just a single fruit fly, take immediate action because they’ll quickly propagate like crazy. We've put together a guide that'll show you how to get rid of fruit flies for good.

How-To Guides

Easy Fix for Missing Drawer Pulls

I found this desk at a thrift store and fell in love with it at first sight! Overall it was in good condition except the center drawer was missing the drawer pull. No worries though -- there's an easy fix!

Patricia

Bubble Wrap Window Insulation Hack

If you're like me and come from a small town with old houses, you can remember insulating your windows for the winter. My dad would take plastic sheeting and double sided tape and seal up all the windows we didn't absolutely need to open. Well, now we live in a house with much better windows, but that doesn't mean there isn't an advantage to adding insulation. We’re still losing heat through our windows, just a smaller amount. Extra insulation not only helps you save the environment (by using less electricity) but can save you anywhere from $100 to $500 dollars over the course of the winter (depending on how large your house is and how many money saving tips you implement). Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Shawna Bailey

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Before They Do Damage

By Marilyn SyartoAnts are hard workers, and carpenter ants like to work hard to destroy your home. So, if you see one carpenter ant, don’t dismiss it as a non-problem; there are likely thousands more quietly doing their job in your walls. Their job? To chew away wood in homes and furniture to make safe pathways—called “galleries” in the extermination world—for their colonies and nests.Carpenter ants do like to chew, so believe it or not, they can be beneficial outdoor insects that feed on annoying plant-damaging bugs such as aphids and scale. They also aid in composting rotting wood, and they help eliminate pest carcasses and debris in the garden. Unfortunately, carpenter ants are not so tasty to many other predators, except for the occasional passing bat that snags a winged one. Carpenter ants are less damaging outside, but you don’t want them to ruin your shed or wooden structures, either. Our guide gives you tips and steps to take to manage a carpenter ant infestation and keep them from doing more serious damage to your home.

How-To Guides

Fixing a Crack in a Wall or Ceiling

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

How to Unclog a Toilet in a Few Easy Steps

How-To Guides

How to Get Rid of Mice and Keep Them Away for Good

How-To Guides

Jewelry Box With Missing Molding Fixed With Bondo

Deer Run Revamps

7 Ways to Unclog a Bathroom Sink

How-To Guides

Insulating A Crawl Space/Attic Door

I love our nice big closet in our bedroom but I don’t love the uninsulated access door to our crawl space which is in the closet. It gets a little frigid in there winter mornings.

Alicia W

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies With Homemade Traps

How-To Guides

Easy Fix for Missing Drawer Pulls

Patricia

Bubble Wrap Window Insulation Hack

Shawna Bailey

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Before They Do Damage

How-To Guides

Repair Videos

Watch our video tutorials on how to repair it all, from appliances to leaky faucets.

Fixing a Crack in a Wall or Ceiling

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Insulating A Crawl Space/Attic Door

I love our nice big closet in our bedroom but I don’t love the uninsulated access door to our crawl space which is in the closet. It gets a little frigid in there winter mornings.

Alicia W

Bubble Wrap Window Insulation Hack

Shawna Bailey

5 Hacks to Use Bubble Wrap Around the House

Let's be honest, bubble wrap isn't just intended for wrapping delicate items and moving. It's also meant for popping! But, did you know there are even more ways to use bubble wrap around the house? Check out these 5 helpful hacks.

Julien K., Hometalk Team

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Repairing Projects

We've collected the best DIY repair projects for you right here. Prepare to be wowed.

How to Correct Your Oven's Temperature

Have you ever noticed that food cooked in your oven comes out overcooked or undercooked, even though you followed the directions perfectly? It's quite possible that your oven isn't baking at the right temperature! Whether your oven is gas or electric, or has knobs or a digital display, calibrating it is easy!

ChickFix

Repairing rotted door jambs.

My customer had 6 door jambs that had rot in about the same place and size. These were large double door units and I did not want to remove the unit and replace the complete jamb.

Jim P

5 Hacks to Use Bubble Wrap Around the House

Julien K., Hometalk Team

How to Identify and Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard

By Marilyn SyartoIf you ever wondered how the “molehill” got its name, it’s because moles love to make little hills of dirt and grass. It’s no wonder you want to know how to get rid of moles. Those little molehills, though made by these somewhat cute and nearly blind-as-a-bat animals (they have teeny-tiny eyes), may have made a mess of your garden and yard. If you’ve caught moles in your yard and don’t know what to do about it, we’ve got the guide for you.

How-To Guides

A Comprehensive Guide on How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

By Marilyn Syarto Finding out you have bed bugs in your furniture and bedding can be a nightmare. Just like head lice, it takes patience to eradicate these little bugs from your life. On the bright side, bed bugs are more annoying than they are dangerous because they don’t carry or spread disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But bed bug bites can itch, leading to scratching and secondary skin infections, or serious allergies that can take a toll on you and your family. The bottom line: Eradicate them, pronto. Luckily, our comprehensive guide will teach you how to get rid of bed bugs for good.

How-To Guides

Ten Tips to Save You Money

We all want to save money and some of the biggest money wasters are simple things we never really think about. Here are some tips for an “ah ha”, green saving moment!

Alicia W

How to Correct Your Oven's Temperature

ChickFix

Repairing rotted door jambs.

My customer had 6 door jambs that had rot in about the same place and size. These were large double door units and I did not want to remove the unit and replace the complete jamb.

Jim P

5 Hacks to Use Bubble Wrap Around the House

Julien K., Hometalk Team

How to Identify and Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard

How-To Guides

A Comprehensive Guide on How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

How-To Guides

Ten Tips to Save You Money

We all want to save money and some of the biggest money wasters are simple things we never really think about. Here are some tips for an “ah ha”, green saving moment!

Alicia W

Popular Repairing Discussions

Check out our popular discussions happening right now on how to do DIY repairs.

What is the best tankless hot water unit to buy what about

/> Donald long

is the cost

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How do I get rid of ants from my house?

/> Lori

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Generator won’t start tried everything?

/> Barb

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Will tarp protect hose outside in freezing temps?

/> Anonymous

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New Repair Projects

Here is our collection of new DIY repair projects at Hometalk. Check it out.

The Easiest Way to Fill a Hole in Your Wall

This little tip on how to quickly fill a hole in your wall is perfect for renters or people dorming. I remember quickly filling in holes at 3 in the morning with my roommates the night we moved out of an apartment and I can imagine how relieved I would have been if I had known this hack back in those days. When I tried this, I was pleasantly surprised that it worked as well as it did. Step 1: Grab white craft glue and plastic wrap

Shawna Bailey

How to Get Rid of Roaches Inside and Outside Your Home

By Marilyn SyartoYou’re sitting at home, minding your own business, and spot one: A cockroach, with its shiny coat of armor, creepy-crawly legs, and moving antennae. Don’t panic yet—there are ways to get rid of roaches, and you don’t always need a professional for the job. There are also some DIY methods to get rid of roaches naturally so you don’t need to rely on roach-bombing pesticides. Our guide will give you some of the best proven methods and tips for blasting these creatures out of your home.

How-To Guides

How to Repair Water Damaged Furniture

My SIL dropped off this poor coffee table at my garage last week that had been sitting in her shed in the mud for a couple of years. She didn't understand why I was so excited. I knew this solid oak table had great potential with a little TLC.

Pamela Field

How to Temporary Repair Your Vertical Blinds With a Flat Head Screwdri

My Vertical Blinds are always breaking. So one day I found a way to temporary fix them by using a flat head screwdriver. I take the screwdriver and heat it up on the stove allowing it to melt a hole through the blind for a quick fix.

Bibi Sweet67

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away for Good

By Marilyn Syarto Mosquitoes are one of the most dreaded and prevalent pests in the summer—they aren’t just a nuisance, they can actually pose a health threat. If only you could drape your property in mosquito netting, that would solve the problem of those annoying little pests. Thank goodness for screened rooms and screened gazebos. However, the more practical approach: natural prevention methods that won’t fog up your yard with clouds of chemicals.In this guide, we'll walk you through how to keep mosquitoes away, and we'll answer a few important questions: What attracts mosquitoes? Are mosquitoes dangerous? What are some DIY methods to keep mosquitoes away?

How-To Guides

Repair Termite Hole in Hardwood Floor

Termites may be important for the ecosystem, but no homeowner would ever be happy finding these insects crawling around their home. These creatures are capable of causing great destruction to homes and of course, their favorite hardwood floors. Repairs of these damages can be quite costly. Fortunately, some termite damage to hardwood floors can be salvaged without replacing the hardwood.Check out how we repaired this termite damage in hardwood floor without removing and replacing the whole board!Read this guide for advice on how to get rid of termites naturally before repairing the damage.