DIY Home repairs Videos
How-to guides for home repairs jobs around the home. If it’s more than you want to take on, find a local pro.
Home repairsHow to Fix a Squeaky Floor
Squeaky floorboards happen when boards rub against each other or the nails holding them down. Most can be quietened from above. You'll need: a stud or joist finder, trim-head screws or a squeak repair kit, a drill, and wood filler or touch-up crayons. Key steps: 1. Walk the floor to find exactly where it squeaks. 2. Locate the joist under the noisy board. 3. Drive a screw through the board into the joist to pull it tight. 4. Fill and touch up the screw head. When to call a pro: bouncy, sagging or sloping floors can mean problems with the frame or stumps underneath. A builder or building inspector should take a look.
Video by This Old House
Home repairsHow to Stop a Dripping Shower Head
A shower that keeps dripping after you turn it off is usually a worn washer or cartridge in the tap, not the shower head itself. You'll need: a shifter, screwdrivers, plumber's tape and the right replacement washer or cartridge for your tapware. Key steps: 1. Turn off the water to the bathroom or the whole house. 2. Remove the tap handle and cover plate. 3. Unscrew the tap body and replace the washer or cartridge. 4. Reassemble, turn the water on and check for drips. When to call a pro: if the taps are behind tiles and you can't isolate the water, or the drip continues, a plumber can replace the parts without damaging the wall.
Video by Anytime Plumbing
Home repairsHow to Replace Flyscreen Mesh
A torn flyscreen lets insects in, but re-meshing the frame is cheap and takes about half an hour. You'll need: flyscreen mesh, a spline (rubber cord) to match your frame, a spline roller, a utility knife and a flat screwdriver. Key steps: 1. Lift out the screen and remove the old spline and mesh. 2. Lay the new mesh over the frame, leaving a little extra on all sides. 3. Roll the spline into the channel, keeping the mesh tight and straight. 4. Trim the excess mesh and refit the screen. When to call a pro: bent frames, security or pet-proof screens, and doors that won't slide are quicker to have a screen repairer or handyman fix.
Video by Bunnings Warehouse