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Fix it yourself

Carpenter repairs you can do yourself

9 carpenter problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.

You can do
9
Pro-only
0
Typical time
30 min – 6 h
  1. 01

    Catio Mesh Sagging or Torn

    Push on the mesh every 30 cm (12 inches) around the frame: note where it flexes, tears or lifts; sagging in the middle of a panel is a spacing problem, tearing at the edge is a fastening problem.

    easy 1–3 h· $30–90 in mesh, screws and lath

  2. 02

    Creaking or buckling floors

    Walk the floor and mark every creak with tape; a creak is a board moving against a nail or a joist, and the fix is to stop the movement.

    moderate 1–3 h· $15–40 in screws and shims

  3. 03

    Deck boards rotting or splintering

    Probe every board and, from underneath, every joist with an awl; soft wood that the point sinks into is rot, and grey splintered wood that stays hard is weathering.

    moderate 2–5 h· $40–150 in boards, screws and tape

  4. 04

    Fence leaning or sections falling over

    Push each post: a post that moves at the ground has rotted or its footing has failed; a post that is solid but the panel leans has a broken rail.

    moderate 2–6 h· $30–80 per post in concrete, a post and hardware

  5. 05

    Gaps in crown molding

    Photograph the widest gap against a ruler in winter and again in summer; a gap that opens in winter and closes in summer is seasonal movement, and the fix is flexible caulk, not more nails.

    easy 1–2 h· $10–25 in caulk and nails

  6. 06

    Kitchen cabinet veneer peeling

    Take the door off and lay it flat; peeling near the stove or dishwasher is steam damage and will keep coming back unless the source is handled — a vent hood that works and a dishwasher with a steam deflector.

    moderate 1–3 h· $15–40 in glue, banding and filler

  7. 07

    Scratched or damaged flooring

    Sort the damage: a scratch you cannot feel with a fingernail is in the finish; one you can feel is in the wood or wear layer, and a chip or crack needs a filler or a replacement piece.

    easy 1–2 h· $10–40 for markers, filler and pads; $30–120 for a spare plank or tile

  8. 08

    Squeaky floors

    Walk the floor and mark each squeak with tape; have someone step on it while you listen from below if you can access the joists.

    moderate 1–2 h· $10–35 for a squeak kit or shims

  9. 09

    Windows drafty, foggy, or leaking

    On a windy day, hold a candle or incense near the sash edges, the frame-to-wall joint and the lock; where the flame bends, you have found the draft.

    easy 1–2 h· $15–40 in caulk and weatherstripping; $20–40 for a film kit

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