Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Exterior
Instant fixes for roof leaks 10
Repair gutter seams 13
Repair squirrel damage 14
Replace a damaged shingle 15
Replace vent flashing 16
Seal a valley joint 16
Straighten sagging gutters 17
Stop overflowing gutters 17
Ice dams 18
Patch leaky gutters 23
Reattach a rain gutter end cap 24
Easier gutter cleaning 24
Patch holes in aluminum and vinyl siding 25
Stop soffit rattle 25
Patch stucco 26
Reattach loose vinyl siding 27
Replace a sprinkler head 28
7 fixes for a safer deck 30
Replace popped deck nails 35
Refinish your deck 36
Crack cleaner 40
Patch rotted wood 41
3 ways to stop peeling paint 44
Chapter 2 Concrete & Asphalt
Renew a driveway 52
Resurface a garage floor 57
Renew concrete steps 58
Fix a chipped step 61
Repair cratered concrete 62
Eliminate efflorescence 63
Repair brickwork 64
Protect exterior stonework 68
Chapter 3 Electrical
Replace a ceiling fixture 72
How to reset a circuit breaker 77
Super easy USB outlet 78
Pro tips for troubleshooting a dead outlet 82
Replace smoke alarms 86
Replace a pull-chain light fixture 87
Install a dimmer switch 88
Repair an extension cord 91
Repair a dead doorbell 92
Fix a broken fluorescent light socket 94
Tighten a loose outlet 95
Chapter 4 Plumbing
Repair a rotary ball faucet 98
Repair a cartridge-style faucet 100
Repair a ceramic disc faucet 102
Repair a leaky spout 103
Repair a washer-type faucet 104
Restore free flow to a clogged faucet 105
Replace a sink sprayer and hose 105
Replacing shutoff valves 106
Replace a sweat valve 107
Remove and replace a compression shutoff valve 108
Unclog a kitchen sink 110
Unclog a bathroom sink 113
Clear a clogged toilet 114
Unclog a bathtub drain 115
Unclog a showerhead 115
Unclog a main drain 116
Stop a running toilet 117
Troubleshoot toilet tank problems 123
Hush a rattling lid 123
Replace the drain assembly in a kitchen sink 124
Replace a sink strainer 126
Repair a leaking copper pipe 128
Emergency shutoff valves 129
Reset and fix a rocking toilet 130
Clean the rinse holes of a poorly flushing toilet 131
Replace a leaking wax ring 131
Tighten connections and straighten crooked pipes 132
Stop leaks 132
Shutoff valve leaking? 133
Install a new adapter on old steel pipe 133
Chapter 5 Appliances
Fix an icemaker 136
Fix a leaking fridge 137
Restore cooling power to a fridge or freezer 138
Quiet a noisy fridge 139
Clear the freezer vents 139
Deodorize a dishwasher 140
Fix a bottom-freezer refrigerator leak 141
Check the ignition system on a gas range 142
Repair an electric burner 143
Troubleshoot a gas oven 144
Clean the burner assembly on a gas range 145
Adjust your oven temperature setting 146
Fix a slow-filling washer 147
Replace a noisy bath fan 148
Stop washing machine walk 151
Flush a water heater 152
Fix a water heater pilot light 154
Instant air conditioner fixes 156
Chapter 6 Walls & Ceilings
Patch large holes 162
Fix small holes and nail pops 164
Repair cracked corners 165
Patch drywall fast 166
Dust catcher 167
Repair a drywall crack 167
Counterattack closet mildew 168
Patch a water-stained popcorn ceiling 169
Recaulk your tub surround 170
Regrout a shower 172
3 solutions for a popcorn ceiling 177
6 tips for a neater paint job 180
Chapter 7 Doors & Windows
Cures for a sticking door 186
Bifold door fixes 190
A new window in one day 195
Stop drafts around doors 200
Repair split trim 202
Silence a squeaky hinge 202
Free up a sticking dead bolt 203
Fix a loose hinge 203
Adjust a dragging shower door 204
Patch dents in a metal door 205
Align a patio screen door 205
Fix a sliding patio door 206
Replace your weather strip 207
6 slick window fixes 208
Replace a broken sash cord 213
Fix a broken window jamb liner 214
Replace a window screen 215
Garage door tune-up 216
Chapter 8 Floors & Floor Coverings
Patch damaged carpet 222
Rescue wet carpet 224
Eliminate floor squeaks from above 225
Stop squeaks with shims 226
Block squeaky joints 226
Stop squeaks with screws 227
Stop squeaks with construction adhesive 227
The easiest flooring ever 228
Replace a damaged tile 234
Replace a laminate floor plank 236
Stiffen a bouncy floor 237
Chapter 9 Refinish furniture without stripping 240
Fix a wobbly chair 244
Clamp irregular objects 244
Tighten a worn joint 244
Renew a wood finish in 30 minutes 245
Reglue loose laminate 246
Fix sagging shelves 247
Instant cabinet fixes 248
Re-cover a chair seat 252
Clean a yucky pullout cutting board 253
Chapter 10 Solutions for Tough Cleaning Jobs
Remove oil stains from concrete 256
Remove paint stains from concrete 257
Remove rust stains from concrete 258
Remove rust from a toilet 260
Remove mineral deposits from faucets 261
Remove soap scum from tile 262
Remove any glass stain 263
Wash windows like a pro 264
10 tips to stop mold & mildew 268
Make your gas grill look like new 272
Bonus section Get Rid Pests!
Seal up your house to keep pests outside 276
Seal them out 272
Repair screens 278
How NOT to attract pests 279
Our favorite sealing weapons 280
Pro tips for pest control 281
Joe's pest tool chest 282
Joe's tips for outsmarting pests 284
12 simple steps to prevent pests 285
Index 286
Chapter 1 Exterior
Instant fixes for roof leaks 10
Repair gutter seams 13
Repair squirrel damage 14
Replace a damaged shingle 15
Replace vent flashing 16
Seal a valley joint 16
Straighten sagging gutters 17
Stop overflowing gutters 17
Ice dams 18
Patch leaky gutters 23
Reattach a rain gutter end cap 24
Easier gutter cleaning 24
Patch holes in aluminum and vinyl siding 25
Stop soffit rattle 25
Patch stucco 26
Reattach loose vinyl siding 27
Replace a sprinkler head 28
7 fixes for a safer deck 30
Replace popped deck nails 35
Refinish your deck 36
Crack cleaner 40
Patch rotted wood 41
3 ways to stop peeling paint 44
