Please help me to repair a roll up matchstick shade or refer me to a web site with directions in plain English. [more inside]
posted by kbar1 on Nov 8, 2009 - 5 answers

[PlumbingFilter] Ack! The toilet sprang a leak and is now acting like an impromptu bidet when flushed! What is the proper way to fix this? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by Nanukthedog on Sep 23, 2009 - 9 answers

What do you wish you had done to your new house before you moved in? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding on Feb 18, 2009 - 52 answers

Every 3,000 miles, I change the motor oil. But what about the house? I need a home repair and maintenance schedule? I'm looking for the best books and online resources that describe optimum home repair schedules and practices. [more inside]
posted by Cool Papa Bell on Aug 18, 2008 - 9 answers

My cooktop is shocking me. What's wrong? [more inside]
posted by condour75 on Aug 6, 2008 - 4 answers

What is the best (most cost effective way) to insulate my apartment windows? [more inside]
posted by judge.mentok.the.mindtaker on Jul 7, 2008 - 9 answers

Home electrical problem/mystery: I accidentally plugged the phone charger into an outlet incorrectly and now that outlet and the dishwasher don't work. Help? [more inside]
posted by mundy on Jun 27, 2008 - 10 answers

I am shoring up a sagging fence that I will help replace in a year. The original posts are not in cement and are rotting at the base. I'm trying to figure out how to attach some support posts. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Jun 27, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me diagnose repeated failure of my lighting dimmers. [more inside]
posted by jon1270 on Jun 26, 2008 - 20 answers

What's the best home-repair / fixit manual for someone with little-to-no experience in such matters? Also, web sites and / or blogs in the same vein? [more inside]
posted by dersins on Apr 25, 2008 - 19 answers

Help me identify and fix a possible water intrusion / water damage near my sliding glass door. [more inside]
posted by escher on Apr 7, 2008 - 3 answers

Who is responsible for power line repair? [more inside]
posted by slowtree on Nov 5, 2007 - 7 answers

Does anybody have experience with painting a bath tub? I heard about using the plastic krylon spray paint that you can buy at wal-mart which is supposed to bond to acrylic, I'm wondering if anybody has tried this? How about using a refinishing kit?
posted by ets960 on Sep 5, 2007 - 15 answers

Looking for advice on rebuilding / repairing a section of concrete block (cinder block ) wall that once upon a time separated two yards. If nothing else, the dog is happy with the new expanded yard. [more inside]
posted by korej on Sep 5, 2007 - 4 answers

2 outlets & a ceiling light stopped working at the same time. None of the circuit breakers were flipped. What would cause this, and how can I troubleshoot it? [more inside]
posted by designbot on Aug 30, 2007 - 15 answers

When I turn the cold water tap, the faucets in my upstairs bathroom are putting out room temperature water. How do I fix this? [more inside]
posted by ND¢ on Aug 23, 2007 - 15 answers

How should I treat burn marks in a bathroom laminate counter top so that my corporate landlord doesn't ding me? Any advice before I start into it with sandpaper, chisels and paint? [more inside]
posted by GPF on Aug 8, 2007 - 15 answers

Ten-year old air conditioner, busted compressor. Get a new compressor, or replace the whole thing? [more inside]
posted by commander_cool on Aug 7, 2007 - 7 answers

How Much to Replace Copper Gas Lines in a small house? [more inside]
posted by slowtree on Aug 7, 2007 - 14 answers

Yesterday we painted a very large interior wall. Today we tried to spackle and sand down a blemish in the wall done by curtain hangers. When we started hand sanding it, the paint began peeling. On closer inspection, it is not just the paint we recently put down but also the layer of paint directly below it. The layer remaining after it has been peeled has a chalky texture to it. I've searched the 'net and have seen a suggestion for spackling/drywall mudding around the edges and then painting over it. Does anyone know if this will actually work? The wall is huge so I really want to avoid sanding the entire wall if at all possible. The peeled paint area is about a foot in radius. Photo here. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
posted by GlowWyrm on Jun 8, 2007 - 8 answers

I punched a hole in the drywall on my apartment. I probably should be asking about managing my anger, but instead I need advice about fixing the hole. [more inside]
posted by owenville on Mar 8, 2007 - 15 answers

My significant other and I are having an ongoing arguement about leveling our 80 year-old house. [more inside]
posted by thebrokedown on Nov 26, 2006 - 17 answers

[Klutz Construction Filter] Insulating a daylight basement with the wrong size of insulation, can I safely make it work? [more inside]
posted by KneeDeep on Nov 25, 2006 - 6 answers

Our water heater pilot light won't stay lit. Is it time to call a repair man? [more inside]
posted by MrMoonPie on Sep 20, 2006 - 9 answers

How do I fix a door that won't close? [more inside]
posted by team lowkey on Sep 15, 2006 - 7 answers

I have a sharp carousel r1750 above the range microwave. Back before the warranty was out the control unit (a box with all the buttons and display died) and the warranty guy replaced it. It was as easy as plugging in a hard drive. How do I get the unit to replace it myself, now that it has died again
posted by spartacusroosevelt on Jun 21, 2006 - 5 answers

I'm having all the carpet in my (pretty big) house replaced and I've got 6 carpet installers in my house right now. So far they seem to be doing an excellent job in putting in the carpet _and_ they've willingly agreed to move my son's furniture in my daughter's room and vice versa (they're switching rooms) when they put the furniture back. I know I need to tip them and I really should make it a pretty good tip since they're doing extra work, but how much would be a good tip? Because there are 6 of them, even $20 is going to add up to a pretty fair amount of money. But I want to do what's fair, particularly since they're doing a little extra and I don't want to give just $20 if they really are expecting more. So what's fair? $20? $40? More?
posted by katyjack on Apr 6, 2006 - 14 answers

How to re-hang a fallen hand railing on real plaster walls? [more inside]
posted by kdern on Jan 6, 2006 - 30 answers

I had to buy an air compressor to blow out some outside plumbing for the winter. What are some other fun/useful things I can do with it? Already know about: airbrush painting, snowmaking, inflating tires. Others?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders on Dec 7, 2005 - 18 answers

I need some advice on how to best break up a seemingly indestructible concrete slab in my backyard. It is about 8 feet by 4 feet by 2 feet deep. I've tried a sledge hammer and also a relatively low-power jackhammer, with little success. [more inside]
posted by krudiger on Nov 28, 2005 - 22 answers

What are some usual (or unusual) home maintenance things/tips/hints that you do/use/follow periodically? Anybody have a link to a good list of these? [more inside]
posted by gwenzel on Nov 11, 2005 - 11 answers

How much, ballpark, does a new garage door cost? [more inside]
posted by zogbie on Oct 20, 2005 - 7 answers

Is there a safe, easy way to ground a household outlet? [more inside]
posted by Gilbert on Sep 1, 2005 - 11 answers

How do I fix a light fixture which causes a bulb to blow out, but only after a month or so? [more inside]
posted by mono blanco on Aug 25, 2005 - 6 answers

I have a 1940s/50s-era Cookmaster stove and oven. Four burners, white, with stove and warming compartment. It's in great shape, with one problem: whenever I light the pilot light to turn on the oven, a few seconds later there's a "WHOOOMP!" sound - surely some gas build-up lighting - and then the oven is on, and it works fine. How can I fix this? [more inside]
posted by mark7570 on Aug 17, 2005 - 11 answers

What might cause a hot water boiler's pilot light to repeatedly go out? We've replaced the thermocouple, inspected the pilot assembly, and had the boiler cleaned. Twice. [more inside]
posted by zogbie on Aug 17, 2005 - 6 answers

How can I fix a leaking above-ground pool filter (with epoxy or something)? Should I try or will this mess it up further? [more inside]
posted by Morrigan on Aug 3, 2005 - 3 answers

Am I being ripped off? And by whom? [more inside]
posted by archimago on Mar 9, 2005 - 9 answers