All guides

Tighten hinges, repair stripped screw holes, and adjust a door that hangs crooked, using a screwdriver and a few toothpicks.

Beginner15 to 30 minutes

Find what is rubbing under the floor and quiet it with screws or shims, from above or from the basement, without damaging the floor.

Intermediate1 to 3 hours

Find out why a door rubs or won't latch, and fix it with a screwdriver, a longer screw or a bit of sanding, without removing more wood than you need to.

Beginner30 to 60 minutes

Find the studs, pick the right anchors for the weight, and avoid the pipes and wires behind the wall, so a heavy mirror or shelf does not come down.

Intermediate30 to 60 minutes

Check a deck for rot, loose railings and the hidden connection to your house, and learn what is safe to repair yourself and what is not.

BeginnerAbout 1 hour

Fix nail holes, dents and holes up to about six inches so the repair disappears, plus the checks to do before you cut or sand anything.

Beginner1 to 2 hours of work, spread over 2 days

Remove old, moldy caulk and lay a clean new bead that seals the gap, with the one trick that stops it from cracking again.

Beginner1 hour of work, plus 24 hours to cure

Re-screen a torn window screen in about 30 minutes with a roller tool, new mesh and spline, without buying a whole new frame.

Beginner30 to 45 minutes

Match the sheen, use the right roller and feather the edges so a touch-up blends in, plus the older-house warning before you sand or scrape.

Beginner30 to 60 minutes

Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts with a ladder set up correctly, and know when the job is better left to someone else.

Intermediate1 to 3 hours

Track a leak from the inside and the ground, protect your home while you wait, and know what to tell a roofer. No roof climbing required.

Beginner30 to 60 minutes

Work out whether it is a clog, the wrong slope or a missing downspout extension, and fix what you can safely from the ground.

Beginner30 to 60 minutes

The jobs to finish before the first freeze, from hoses and gutters to detectors and storm prep, so winter does not catch your house off guard.

BeginnerA weekend, spread over a few weeks

How much mulch to buy, how deep to spread it, and how to keep it off tree trunks and your house, so it helps your plants instead of hurting them.

Beginner2 to 4 hours

Stop a burst pipe before it happens. Drain the outdoor spigots and put the hoses away before the first hard freeze in New England.

Beginner15 to 30 minutes