Common Do-It-Yourself Home Repair Mistakes
People are really creative when it comes to home repairs. We will find ways to repair a leaking faucet or some ducts in innovative ways with household items, or develop creative wiring methods to provide electricity where we need it. Truly concerning is our ability to repair items in such a way that they can cause serious damage. For this reason, I would like to mention a few things that I see frequently, so that you can avoid these mistakes.
Note: There is not enough space here to go into details on how to perform these tasks. In addition, there are several good books, which have easy-to-follow diagrams and steps. I’ve found repair manuals like these in used bookstores, but they’re not too bad elsewhere. These volumes are great for homeowners who want to tackle projects on their own.
Extension cord plugs seem to be a favorite means of supplying power to equipment outdoors. I have seen small extension cords cut in half and through the wall where there is a small opening. The wires are then taped back together, so water can get in and short out the circuit. Most cables of this size are not rated to withstand the type of use you plan to handle, so they start to overheat and the case will melt. If you need an outlet for the holiday lights, I recommend installing an outlet in your ceiling. The soffit is the board under the roof overhang. Look for a junction box in the attic that you can run a cable from. Find where a beam descends to connect the outlet box to it. The outlet does not need to be GFCI at this location, but it would be a good idea to go ahead with a GFCI outlet here. Secure the cables to the joists and joists with wire ties. If you need an outdoor tool outlet, the simplest method would be to run the cable through conduit to the outlet box. Here you would definitely need a GFCI outlet with a cover. Make sure the conduit and box are securely attached to the wall. Any wiring that extends outside the building must be secured with clips every few feet. The other big wiring problem I see is using the wrong junction box, especially without a cover.
Putting silicone balls seems to be the common solution to a plumbing leak. The really surprising thing is that most of the plumbing parts that need to be replaced due to a leak aren’t really that expensive, but here’s the kicker, you have to buy the right part. If you know the manufacturer of your accessory, finding a replacement part is much easier, but I have found that by going to a good hardware store you will find someone to help you find the correct part. Gaskets, seals, and o-rings eventually fail over time. However, sometimes pipes or tubes are struck causing damage to their threads or walls. In this case, you will want to buy a new one. Some mysterious leaks in the bathroom come from the wax seal under the toilet. Trying to make a similar-looking part fit and do the job will cause more problems.
About silicone, one type of silicone is not always acceptable for every use. Look at the label to make sure you are getting the product that will work. The best product may not be a silicone. There are latex and polyurethane putties that are far superior to silicone for one application. Latex putties are great for painting jobs and polyurethane putties are great for outdoor situations.
The masking tape is not for ducts. If you need to repair an attic duct, use the shiny tape that is intended for this job. Also, a conduit is not a conduit, which means that there are actually several different types of conduit, so you need to make sure you install the correct one for your application. Ducts for different uses are not designed to be joined together.
The last common mistake has to do with bras. Screws, nails, and bolts come in different sizes and types. There are special nails to hold the roof tiles and there are specific drywall screws. We like to wear what we have on hand (or what we can easily find in the garage or shed), which is the best fastener for the job. I’ve seen people nailing cabinet hinges. What made it worse was the fact that the nails were too long, so you could poke them inside the cabinet. Some hardware stores sell boxes with a variety of fasteners. This is a great deal if you don’t want to buy a lot of different packages. The right bra will make the job easier to do (and undo).
Perhaps I should say that all these errors boil down to planning, preparation and execution errors. Think about what needs to happen before you start. Then think about how to correct it if you need to redo it. (How will they get that nail out of the hinge?) Plan all the steps and you will be fine.