Do It Yourself Home Improvement

You know the feeling. That drip, drip, drip from the kitchen faucet echoes through your house, but you don’t want to call in a plumber for such a little thing. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and tackle some home repair projects yourself. Just as importantly, you also need to know when it’s time to roll your sleeves back down and call a professional.

Do It Yourself

Get ready for a trip to the hardware store. Here are some home repairs you can do yourself with a little bit of patience, the right tools and a willingness to learn.

Install a new ceiling light: That 1970s chandelier isn’t working for you anymore. You’ll need a sturdy ladder and a new fixture. Be sure to turn off the electricity before you start. Follow the instructions that come with your new light for connecting up the wiring and securing the fixture.

Tile a floor or counter top: Tiling can be a fun and challenging weekend project. You’ll need supplies like a notched trowel, grout, a grout float and possibly a tile cutter or tile nipper to make smaller or irregular pieces. Tile saws can be rented if you just need it for one project. Keep a tile instruction book handy to refer to during the process.

Patch a wall: Wall patching may be needed to cover up unsightly holes, or it may be a prelude to a paint job. Either way, there are a good selection of tile patching solutions like spackle, putty, caulk and drywall joint tape. Sandpaper will smooth out irregularities and bumps.

Don’t Do It Yourself

You were gung-ho when the bathtub drain got clogged, but now that your basement is flooded you can’t afford to experiment with your own attempts at fixing it. Here are projects that are better left to a licensed and insured professional:

Natural gas smells: You might be tempted to just start tightening everything in sight when you smell gas, but it’s time to call in the pros. If you notice a very strong smell, your first order of business should be to get out the house and call for assistance away from the home.

Roof leaks: That sag in your ceiling isn’t a good sign. If you think you know the location of the leak, you can try a quick patch job, but serious leaks can require serious work. It’s notorious hard to locate the origin of a leak, and leakage problems may indicate that it’s time for a more extensive roof overhaul.

Electrical upgrades: Lights, ceiling fans and switch replacements are do-able home repairs. When you get into major projects like upgrading outdated wiring in old houses to meet new codes or troubleshooting why you’re always tripping the circuit breaker, get an electrician to safely handle the tricky tasks.

Fix-It Sites

Let these sites be your helping hand as you journey through the world of home repairs.

• Bob Vila – The home repair host lends his expertise to this Web site. The step-by-step how-to videos are particularly helpful for tackling a variety of projects including cracked stucco repair, thermostat replacement and hardwood floor installation.
• This Old House – The popular PBS show has its own home on the Web with information on tools, planning, repairs and how-tos. The discussion forums are a popular place for do-it-yourselfers looking for advice and sharing their knowledge.
• Lowe’s Creative Ideas – These how-to projects are geared for creative home improvements like building a garden pathway, building storage units and dressing up children’s rooms. The site also features practical videos on subjects like preparing surfaces for painting and how to use a circular saw.