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Fix it yourself

Handyman repairs you can do yourself

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

You can do
25
Pro-only
0
Typical time
15 min – 10 h
  1. 01

    Bathroom outdated or falling apart

    List what fails daily versus what looks dated; leaks, loose grout and a running toilet come first, because they damage the walls and floor while you plan.

    moderate 3–10 h· $150–500 in grout, caulk, fixtures and paint

  2. 02

    Bathroom tile grout cracking

    Tap each tile around the cracked grout: a hollow sound or a tile that rocks means the tile is loose and needs re-setting, not just regrouting.

    moderate 2–5 h· $25–60 in grout, caulk and sealer

  3. 03

    Broken door handle

    Tighten first: on most handles the two through-bolts sit behind a cover plate on the inside rose, or under a tiny set screw on a lever — a wobbly handle is usually two loose screws.

    easy 15–45 min· $0–5 to tighten; $15–60 for a lockset

  4. 04

    Cabinet door falling off or misaligned

    Lift the door off by loosening the hinge screws or releasing the clip on modern hinges, and look at the hinge and the holes; a stripped hole is the usual cause.

    easy 15–45 min· $3–15 in toothpicks, plates or a pair of hinges

  5. 05

    Clogged dryer vent

    Unplug the dryer (and close the gas valve if it is gas), pull it out, and disconnect the hose at both ends.

    easy 45–90 min· $15–40 for a brush kit and metal duct

  6. 06

    Cracked Drywall

    Photograph the crack against a ruler and check it again in a month — a crack that is not growing is cosmetic; one that lengthens or widens is movement.

    easy 1–3 h· $15–40 in tape, compound and paint

  7. 07

    Cracked vinyl siding

    Check behind the crack with a flashlight for wet sheathing or house wrap that has torn; a crack that has let water in for a season needs the wrap fixed too.

    easy 30–90 min· $5–10 for a zip tool; $15–40 for a panel

  8. 08

    Cracks in foundation wall

    Classify the crack: a vertical or slightly diagonal hairline in poured concrete is shrinkage; a horizontal crack, a stair-step crack in block, or a crack wider at the top than the bottom is movement.

    easy 30–90 min· $10–30 for hydraulic cement; $60–150 for an injection kit

  9. 09

    Door won't latch or close properly

    Close the door slowly and watch the latch: mark where it hits the strike plate with lipstick on the latch bolt.

    easy 15–45 min· $0–10 for screws and filler

  10. 10

    Drafty windows letting in cold air

    On a windy day, run a candle around the window: a draft at the sash edges means worn weatherstripping or a loose lock; at the frame, the caulk; at the meeting rail, sashes that are not pulling tight.

    easy 30–90 min· $10–40 in weatherstripping and caulk; $15–30 for a film kit

  11. 11

    Garage door making loud noise

    Disconnect the opener by pulling the release cord with the door closed, then lift the door by hand: a balanced door stays put halfway; one that slams down or flies up has a spring problem — stop there.

    easy 30–60 min· $8–15 for lubricant; $30–60 for a set of nylon rollers

  12. 12

    Garage Door Reverses Before Fully Closing

    Look at the two photo-eyes near the floor on each side of the door: each should show a steady LED. A flickering, dim or off light means they do not see each other.

    easy 15–45 min· $0 for cleaning and alignment; $20–40 for a sensor pair

  13. 13

    Garage Door Stuck

    Do not force it: look first for a broken spring (a visible gap in the coil above the door), a loose or frayed cable, or a roller out of the track — any of those means stop and call.

    easy 15–45 min· $0–15 for a battery and lubricant

  14. 14

    Garage door won't close

    Press the wall button and watch: if the opener light blinks and nothing moves, the safety eyes are blocked or misaligned; if the motor runs and the door does not move, the trolley is disconnected or a gear is stripped.

    easy 15–60 min· $0–40 for batteries or a sensor pair

  15. 15

    Garage floor cracking

    Measure the crack and check for a lip with a straightedge: a hairline to 6 mm (¼ inch) crack with both sides level is shrinkage and can be sealed; a lip or a crack that widens is settlement.

    easy 1–2 h· $15–40 in sealant and backer rod; $30–60 for slab sealer

  16. 16

    Hardwood floor cupping or warping

    Look for the moisture first: cupped boards near the dishwasher, fridge, a bathroom door or an exterior wall point at a leak; cupping across the whole floor points at humidity from below or in the room.

    moderate 1–3 h· $20–40 for a moisture meter; $150–300 for a dehumidifier

  17. 17

    Hole in drywall

    Cut away loose paper and crumbling edges with the utility knife so the patch sits on solid board.

    easy 30–90 min· $10–30 for a patch kit and compound

  18. 18

    Kitchen outdated or falling apart

    Walk the kitchen with tape and mark everything that is loose, sticking or leaking — most 'falling apart' kitchens need a dozen small fixes before anyone needs a new kitchen.

    moderate 2–8 h· $100–400 in hinges, handles, paint and sealant

  19. 19

    Loose floor tiles

    Tap every tile in the room with a coin and mark the hollow-sounding ones — the loose tile you noticed rarely travels alone.

    moderate 2–5 h· $20–60 in thin-set, grout and sealer

  20. 20

    Loose or wobbly railing

    Find where the movement is: at the wall brackets, at the newel post, or in the balusters.

    moderate 30–90 min· $5–30 for screws, glue or a bracket

  21. 21

    Mold growing on walls or ceiling

    Measure the patch: scattered spots under about 1 m² (10 sq ft) on paint or tile you can clean yourself; more than that, or mould inside a wall, is remediation work.

    easy 1–3 h· $15–50 in cleaner, primer and paint

  22. 22

    Sliding closet door off track

    Identify the door: bypass doors hang from rollers in a top track; bifold doors pivot on a pin at the top and bottom and slide on a guide; pocket doors hang from trolleys inside the wall.

    easy 15–45 min· $10–30 for rollers or a pivot kit

  23. 23

    Sliding door hard to open or sticking

    Vacuum the bottom track and scrub the corners with a toothbrush; grit in the track is the cause in most homes and the fix takes five minutes.

    easy 30–90 min· $5–15 for silicone spray; $20–60 for a roller set

  24. 24

    Stuck door

    Close the door slowly and watch where it touches: a rub at the top of the latch side means the door has sagged on its hinges; a rub along the bottom or across the top in summer means the wood has swelled.

    easy 20–90 min· $5–20 in screws, shims and sealer

  25. 25

    Stuck window won't open

    Score the paint line between the sash and the frame on both sides, inside and out, with a utility knife; painted-shut windows are the usual case in older homes.

    easy 20–60 min· $0–20 for wax, scraper or cord

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