10 Common Home Repairs You Can DIY

2 April 2023 By Emily Parker Home Repairs 12 Comments

Homeownership comes with its share of maintenance challenges, but many common repairs don't require professional help. With the right tools and a bit of guidance, you can tackle these issues yourself, saving money while gaining valuable skills and satisfaction. In this guide, we'll walk you through 10 frequent household repairs that are well within the capabilities of most DIY enthusiasts.

1. Fixing a Dripping Tap

A dripping tap wastes water and creates an annoying sound. Fortunately, it's usually an easy fix:

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Turn off the water supply to the tap using the isolation valve beneath the sink
  2. Cover the drain to prevent losing small parts
  3. Remove the tap handle by unscrewing the decorative cap and loosening the handle screw
  4. Use your spanner to remove the valve or cartridge
  5. Replace the worn washer or entire cartridge
  6. Reassemble the tap in reverse order
  7. Turn water back on and test for leaks

Most tap repairs take less than 30 minutes once you have the right parts, and can save you £80-150 in plumber callout fees.

2. Unclogging a Drain

Slow or clogged drains are among the most common household plumbing issues, and often don't require harsh chemicals to fix.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. For minor clogs, pour boiling water down the drain
  2. For persistent clogs, pour 120g of baking soda followed by 240ml of vinegar, then cover and wait 15 minutes before flushing with hot water
  3. For stubborn clogs, use a plunger with a good seal around the drain
  4. If the plunger doesn't work, remove the P-trap under the sink (place bucket underneath) and clear any debris
  5. For deeper clogs, use a drain snake or auger to break up or retrieve the blockage

This DIY approach can save you £60-120 compared to professional drain cleaning services.

3. Patching Drywall Holes

Small to medium holes in drywall are straightforward to repair and can instantly improve your home's appearance.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. For small holes (under 15cm):
    • Clean the area around the hole
    • Apply drywall compound with a putty knife, feathering the edges
    • Allow to dry completely (usually 24 hours)
    • Sand smooth with progressively finer sandpaper
    • Apply a second thin coat if needed and sand again when dry
    • Prime and paint to match the wall
  2. For larger holes:
    • Use a drywall patch kit with self-adhesive mesh
    • Apply the patch over the hole
    • Cover with drywall compound, feathering the edges
    • Follow the same drying, sanding, and painting steps as above

A DIY drywall repair can save £100-200 compared to hiring a professional for small to medium patches.

4. Fixing a Running Toilet

A toilet that continues to run after flushing wastes water and increases your bill. The issue is usually with the internal components in the cistern.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Turn off the water supply to the toilet
  2. Flush to empty the cistern
  3. Remove the cistern lid and inspect the components
  4. Check the flapper—if it's worn or doesn't create a proper seal, replace it
  5. Check the fill valve for proper function—adjust the float height or replace if necessary
  6. Turn water back on and test by flushing several times

This repair typically costs less than £20 in parts and can save £80-150 in plumber fees.

5. Replacing a Light Fixture

Updating light fixtures is a relatively simple electrical task that can dramatically change a room's appearance.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Safety first: Turn off the power at the circuit breaker or fuse box
  2. Verify power is off using a voltage tester
  3. Remove the existing fixture by disconnecting the wires (note their connections) and unscrewing mounting hardware
  4. Attach the mounting bracket for the new fixture if required
  5. Connect the wires from the new fixture to the corresponding house wires (typically black to black, white to white, and copper/green to ground)
  6. Secure connections with wire nuts and electrical tape
  7. Attach the fixture to the mounting bracket and install light bulbs
  8. Restore power and test the new fixture

This DIY project can save £60-150 in electrician fees, depending on the complexity of the fixture.

6. Repairing Leaky Gutters

Damaged gutters can lead to water damage on your home's exterior and foundation. Most gutter repairs are straightforward DIY projects.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Clean the gutters thoroughly, removing debris and allowing to dry
  2. For small leaks at seams:
    • Clean the area around the leak with a wire brush
    • Apply gutter sealant to the inside and outside of the joint
    • Allow to dry completely according to product instructions
  3. For loose gutters:
    • Secure loose hangers or add new ones where needed
    • Replace any damaged or bent sections
  4. For small holes:
    • Clean the area around the hole
    • Apply gutter sealant or use a patch kit for larger holes
  5. Test repair by running water through the gutter with a garden hose

DIY gutter repairs typically cost £20-50 in materials, compared to £150-300 for professional repair.

7. Fixing Squeaky Floorboards

Squeaky wooden floors are usually caused by loose boards rubbing against each other or against nails.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Locate the exact source of the squeak by walking on the floor
  2. For a quick temporary fix, sprinkle talcum powder or powdered graphite between the boards to reduce friction
  3. For a permanent fix from above:
    • Drive a deck screw through the floorboard into the joist below
    • Make sure the screw is countersunk slightly below the wood surface
    • Fill the hole with wood filler if desired and sand when dry
  4. For access from below (e.g., through a basement ceiling):
    • Have someone walk on the floor above to locate the squeak
    • Insert a wood shim glued with wood adhesive between the joist and the underside of the subflooring

This repair costs £10-20 in materials and saves £100-200 in professional flooring repair costs.

8. Replacing a Broken Tile

Cracked or broken tiles detract from your home's appearance and can lead to water damage if in wet areas.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Remove the damaged tile:
    • Break the center of the tile with a hammer and chisel
    • Work from the center outward to remove pieces
    • Clear away old adhesive from the substrate
  2. Prepare the replacement tile:
    • Ensure the new tile matches the old one
    • Apply adhesive to the back of the tile with a notched trowel
  3. Place the new tile:
    • Press firmly into place, ensuring it's level with surrounding tiles
    • Insert tile spacers if needed
    • Wipe away excess adhesive
  4. Allow adhesive to dry (typically 24 hours)
  5. Apply grout:
    • Remove spacers
    • Use a rubber float to press grout into joints
    • Wipe away excess with a damp sponge
    • Allow to dry according to product instructions
  6. Apply grout sealer if required (especially for bathroom or kitchen tiles)

DIY tile replacement costs £15-30 for materials compared to £100-200 for professional repair of a small area.

9. Repairing Damaged Wooden Furniture

Minor damage to wooden furniture—scratches, dents, or wobbly joints—can often be repaired at home.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. For scratches:
    • For light scratches, use a touch-up marker or stain pen that matches the wood color
    • For deeper scratches, fill with a wax stick or wood filler, then sand smooth and apply matching stain
  2. For loose joints:
    • Disassemble the joint if possible
    • Remove old glue with sandpaper
    • Apply fresh wood glue to all contact surfaces
    • Reassemble and clamp until dry (usually 24 hours)
  3. For water rings:
    • Apply mayonnaise or a mixture of olive oil and salt, let sit for an hour, then wipe away
    • For stubborn rings, lightly sand the area and apply matching stain or polish

These simple furniture repairs can save £80-250 in professional restoration costs.

10. Installing a New Doorknob or Lock

Replacing doorknobs and locks is a simple way to update your home's appearance or improve security.

What You'll Need:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Remove the old doorknob:
    • Locate the small slot or pin hole on the neck of the knob
    • Press the latch or insert a small tool to release the knob
    • Remove the screws on the faceplate and pull out the mechanism
  2. Install the new doorknob:
    • Insert the latch mechanism into the door edge, ensuring the angled side of the latch faces the direction the door closes
    • Secure with screws
    • Install the exterior and interior knobs according to the manufacturer's instructions
    • Test operation several times
  3. For deadbolts:
    • Ensure the hole in the door and frame are properly sized (drill new ones if needed)
    • Install the bolt in the edge of the door
    • Insert the cylinder and thumbturn, connecting to the bolt
    • Install and adjust the strike plate on the door frame

This DIY task costs £15-50 for materials versus £60-120 for professional installation.

Essential Tools for Home DIY Repairs

To tackle these and other common home repairs, we recommend maintaining a basic tool kit including:

When to Call a Professional

While many repairs are DIY-friendly, some situations warrant professional help:

Conclusion

Taking on home repairs yourself not only saves money but also builds valuable skills and confidence. Start with simpler projects and gradually tackle more complex ones as you gain experience. Keep a well-organized tool collection, document your home's systems for future reference, and always prioritize safety and proper technique over speed.

With practice, you'll develop an eye for preventive maintenance that can help you spot and address minor issues before they become major problems—perhaps the most valuable DIY skill of all.

For any specialized tools you might need for occasional repairs, remember that Fact-Eco offers equipment rental services to help you complete projects without the investment in tools you'll use infrequently.

Have questions about a specific repair? Leave a comment below or contact our team for personalized advice!

DIY Home Repairs Plumbing Maintenance Tools