DIY Carpentry Videos
How-to guides for carpentry jobs around the home. If it’s more than you want to take on, find a local pro.
CarpentryHow to Fix a Squeaky Door
A squeaky door is almost always a dry or dirty hinge pin, and you can quiet it in a few minutes. You'll need: a hammer, a nail or nail punch, steel wool, and a lubricant such as white lithium grease or silicone spray. Key steps: 1. Close the door, then tap the hinge pin up and out from underneath, one hinge at a time. 2. Clean the pin with steel wool to remove rust and old grime. 3. Coat it lightly with lubricant and tap it back in. 4. Open and close the door a few times and wipe away any excess. When to call a pro: if the door drags, won't latch, or the hinges have pulled out of the frame, a carpenter or handyman can re-hang it or repair the jamb.
Video by This Old House
CarpentryHow to Install Floating Shelves
Floating shelves look clean and modern, but they only hold weight if they're fixed into studs or with the right wall anchors. You'll need: a stud finder, a spirit level, a drill and bits, a pencil, the shelf's hidden bracket and suitable screws or plasterboard anchors. Key steps: 1. Find the studs and mark the shelf height with a level line. 2. Hold the bracket on the line and mark the fixing holes. 3. Drill and fix the bracket, into studs where possible. 4. Slide the shelf over the bracket and secure it with the grub screws. When to call a pro: for heavy loads, tiled walls, or walls that may have pipes or cables behind them, a handyman or carpenter will fix it safely.
Video by Bunnings Warehouse
CarpentryHow to Fix a Sticking Door
Doors often stick after wet weather or as a house settles. Before you reach for a plane, check the simple fixes first. You'll need: a screwdriver, longer screws, a pencil and, if needed, a hand plane or sanding block and paint to reseal. Key steps: 1. Close the door slowly and mark where it rubs. 2. Tighten all hinge screws; replace a loose top-hinge screw with a longer one that reaches the frame. 3. If it still rubs, lightly sand or plane the marked edge. 4. Seal any bare timber with paint so it doesn't swell again. When to call a pro: large gaps or cracks around the frame can point to movement in the house. A carpenter (or a building inspector for big cracks) can check what's causing it.
Video by MrFixItDIY