When working with a home repair contractor, it's always a good idea to be on the look out for signs that their organization isn't entirely legitimate. Be careful of hiring any contractor that:1.Suggests that the job is going to be a demonstration project, that will help him attract new business and will save you money.2.Quotes a lower price for building materials because he is going to use left-overs from a previous job.3.Wants you to accept a longer than normal guarantee.4. Informs you that you that building permits, inspections,and building codes are not a problem.5. Leaves you a phone number   read more

Image by pattie74_99 via FlickrWhen deciding on a home repair contractor, there are some basic rules are crucial decision makers. These include getting and checking references, getting at least three written estimates, getting a thorough description of the work to be done, verifying that the work is satisfactory, and being aware of the warning signs that the contractor isn't legitimate.A good way evaluate the need is by getting recommendations and references from family, friends, other small businesses and neighbors you trust. You can also check with your city or state for a list of licensed contractors   read more

Image via WikipediaThe results of last year's poll on home repair are in and the results are quite clear. Most homeowners stated that they were going to spend less on home repair (80%) than before. Others said that they were planning to spend just about the same on fixing up their homes.The outlook for the current year isn't much better. Incomes haven't grown, in fact, according to some economists, real income has been falling for quite some time now as the cost of health insurance continues to take a bigger chunk out of most non-government employees. Many homeowners that still have jobs are faced   read more

Image via WikipediaMost DIY Home Plumbing Repairs can be made with only a few ordinary tools. It shouldn't be surprising to know that all of these plumbing tools are available from your local plumbing supplier, hardware retailer, or even from online retailers that offer a wider variety and selection of plumbing tools than you might think.What's in the DIY home repair plumber's toolbox?The first tool you'll need to have on hand is a screwdriver. Many plumbing fixtures are held in place with #2 Phillips head screws, but there are also plenty of places where you'll need to have a selection of Allen   read more

Image via WikipediaIf your water heater isn't working, or isn't supplying enough hot water, you can troubleshoot it by looking at the few components most likely to fail. Naturally, a water leak is a sure sign of a problem. Luckily, however, leaks are caused by only a few components such as the water heater's thermostat or internal corrosion.Another suspect component is the T&PR valve, which releases hot water if the heater overheats its contents. . The Temperature and Pressure Relief valve releases overheated water if the thermostat fails. The valve protects the water heater, and your home   read more

In the old days, if you were going to attempt to repair your own plumbing, you would have to have a select set of plumbing skills and tools. If you lacked either one, you had to call a plumber to repair a leaky faucet or unclog a toilet. You had to know how to sweat copper pipe together and how to install faucets, traps, clean-outs, and mixing valves. Installing a toilet, or even fixing a toilet was usually out of the question.Image via WikipediaNow-a-days, home owners are taking up the challenge of making their own home repairs. Home repair self-help blogs and sites, like this one, have provided   read more

How to Repair a Leaky Faucet.Faucets with a single lever that you lift and turn on the hot or cold water are regarded as "Ball" type faucets. If a faucet in your house leaking, and is ball faucet you can improvement it without much difficulty. A leaky faucet is not only annoying, it detracts from the beauty of your sink and will eventually lead to unsightly water stains.Repairing your faucet begins with identifying the manufacturer and making a trip to your neighborhood hardware or plumbing supply store and purchasing a repair kit. You can also purchase a service kit from the manufacturer or through   read more

This time of year, many homeowners with older homes are frustrated with the cold and the high cost of energy needed to warm them. Newer homes with vinyl clad windows don't have the same problem, because vinyl window frames have a better energy rating than either aluminum or wood frame windows.Of the two, aluminum and wood frames, aluminum frames are definitely the least energy efficient windows. Because they are a metal, the cold passes directly through them, making the windows the coldest places in the house, except the basement or an unheated garage. The only solution so far has been to either   read more

The first question that needs an answer is "How are Practical Repairs different from any other kind of home repair?" The answer to that is clear when you consider what goes in to making any type of repair in your home. First, there has to be an awareness that something is broken and needs fixing.Second, the person making the repair has to have some level of background knowledege about how the various plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, and structural systems work to make a house a home.Third, one has know how to troubleshoot these systems and identify the source or cause of the problem.The   read more

I have given in to creating Christmas Shopping Lists for all of those Do-It-Yourself people, like me. I think that a Christmas Shopping List should be tailored to the interests, or wishes of this special group of people that includes homeowners, for the most part.For instance, why browse a shopping list that includes clothes, toys, dishes and electronic toys when you can browse a list that has been pre-screened for all the best selling tools and accessories? If that's what you're looking for, check out the Tool Crib and the Christmas Shopping List at PracticalRepairs.com . It could just save you   read more