How to Fix Stuff: Practical Hacks for Your Home and Garden

by Tom Scalisi, Tanya Watson

Overview

Become your own handyperson with these fifty nifty home hacks!

This helpful guide to DIY home repair will make fixing stuff a breeze. Whether you need to patch a hole in a floor, restore a well-worn piece of furniture, or build a planter in your backyard, this book shows you how to do it with step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and illustrations. With just a quick trip to the hardware store and the know-how from these pages, you’ll soon discover the satisfaction of doing your own home repairs without hiring an expensive specialist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645179467
Publisher:	Thunder Bay Press
Publication date:	05/10/2022
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Tom Scalisi is a writer and editor specializing in home improvement, construction, and men’s interest. Having worked as a mechanic and a contractor, his writing is rooted in his experience and passion for DIY. He has written for a wide variety of publications, including This Old House magazine, Bob Vila, Levelset, and more. He lives in Hudson Valley, New York, with his wife and children.

Tanya Watson runs the popular blog Dans Le Lakehouse, where she documents the DIY renovations and interior design of her Canadian home situated on the edge of Lake Superior. Tanya is passionate about repurposing thrifted items to give them a new life, and has attracted over 100,000 monthly blog viewers with her budget-friendly projects and ideas. Tanya has collaborated with Elle Decor, Buzzfeed, Country Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and many more.

Table of Contents

How to Use This Book 6

What Tools Do I Need? 8

Safety First 10

1 Home Repairs

How to Patch a Hole in a Wooden Floor 14

How to Repair a Hole in Drywall 18

How to Fix a Dripping Faucet 20

How to Unblock a Sink 24

How to Replace Cracked Ceramic Tile 26

How to Fix a Burst Pipe 28

How to Draft-proof a Room 30

How to Replace a Windowpane 34

How to Replace a Screen 36

How to Rewire a Lamp 40

How to Defrost a Freezer 44

How to Fix a Washer 46

How to Fix a Tumble Dryer 50

How to Unclog a Vacuum Cleaner 52

2 Decorating & Upcycling

How to Paint a Room 56

How to Repair Blistering Paint 60

How to Wallpaper a Room 62

How to Install Wainscotting 66

How to Lay a Carpet 70

How to Lay Wooden Flooring 74

Fixing Dented Wooden Furniture 78

How to Regrout Bathroom Tiles 80

How to Fix a Dresser Drawer 82

How to Build Shelves 86

3 Domestic Hacks

How to Remove Stains 92

Keeping White Clothes White 96

How to Clean a Bathroom 98

Keeping a Carpet Clean 100

How to Sew a Button 102

How to Patch a Hole in a Pocket 104

Fixing Glasses 106

How to Repair a Zipper 108

How to Reattach a Bag Strap 110

How to Fix a Shoe Heel 112

How to Fix a Picture Frame 116

Refreshing a Cutting Board 120

How to Sharpen Knives and Scissors 122

Polishing Silverware 124

4 Exterior Fixes

How to Paint the Outside of a House 128

How to Lay a Concrete Tile Patio 130

How to Install a Dead Bolt 132

How to Service Gutters 136

How to Replace an Asphalt Roof Shingle 138

How to Repair Roof Flashing 142

How to Fix a Sagging Gate 144

How to Repoint Brick Walls 148

5 Backyard & Shed Hacks

How to Build a BBQ Pit 152

Choosing a Lawn Mower 156

How to Fix a Lawn Mower 158

Fixing a Dead Grass Patch 160

Controlling Garden Pests 162

How to Fix a Cracked Flowerpot 164

Removing Leaf Stains from a Deck 166

Storing/Protecting Garden Furniture 168

Winterizing Plants 169

Putting Up Backyard Lighting 170

How to Repair a Bicycle Tire 172

How to Fix a Bicycle Chain 176

How to Fix a Skateboard Wheel 182

Where to Buy Your Tools 186

About the Authors 188

Glossary 189

Index 190