Fundamentals of Home Maintenance: From Repairs to Renovations

Working on your home may feel like a lost art, but with the help of this course, you’ll be on your way to mastering the basics of maintenance and renovations. To get started, let’s identify what you can tackle as home maintenance—and some rules of thumb for budgeting and planning your projects.

Let’s delve into the guts of your house. Plumbing is one of the most important aspects of your home. Fortunately, it is easy to perform simple plumbing tasks yourself. In this first segment, get to know the ins and outs of your home’s plumbing, from copper pipes to PVC joints.

One of the most common plumbing tasks is dealing with a clogged drain. We all are familiar with water that takes forever to drain. See how to unlodge those pesky clogs.

Shift your attention from pipes to faucets, those decorative fittings where you get incoming water for your sinks. What happens when a faucet leaks? Or if you want to upgrade your style? Get your toolbox and hone your flair for faucet repair.

Nothing makes a house feel like a home as much as curb appeal. Whether you want to take up gardening as a hobby or beautify your home’s exterior, learn the basics of decorating your yard with plants that match your house and your personal style.

One of the most common home ailments is the running water sound of a leaky toilet. From flappers to flush valves to frightening clogs, grab a wrench, hitch up your pants, and get started on a surprisingly simple repair.

Sometimes repairs won’t cut it, and you have to replace the whole toilet. This may seem intimidating, but with the right tools and elbow grease, you can feel pride in doing the job yourself—and save a bundle!

This motorized piece of kitchen magic is a lifesaver for cleaning up after dinner. But when you flick the switch and hear an angry noise—or nothing at all—what do you do? Let’s look under the sink to find out.

Mood lighting is one of the best things you can do for creating the right ambience. Installing a dimmer switch is a great introduction to electrical work. From the fuse box to the light switch, tour your home’s electrical systems and upgrade your lighting today.

Electricity is the life blood of your home and working outlets are crucial for working circulation. If you have a malfunctioning outlet, don’t panic. This step-by-step lesson will get your power flowing in short order.

Along with dimmer switches, your home’s light fixtures are some of the most dramatic upgrades you can make. Pick up your voltage tester and other tools, and let’s create a little lamp magic.

As with interior lighting, replacing exterior light fixtures is an easy upgrade; but there are a few nuances to keep in mind for lights exposed to the elements. Learn about safe upgrades here.

Along with plumbing and electricity, your home’s HVAC components make up one of the most critical systems. In this lesson, you’ll review thermostats, ducts, furnaces, and more. See how a little up-front maintenance extends the life of your home’s heating and cooling system.

We live in a digital world, and a digital “smart” thermostat is one of the most exciting upgrades you can install. Connect and control your HVAC system from anywhere with this nifty gizmo.

Have you ever wanted to grow your own food and live more sustainably? Get a 101 introduction to growing goodies in your own backyard.

What are batts? What does R-value mean? Can you really install your own insulation? Jump into this cozy project and find out how to install your own insulation safely, from garages and attics to basements and crawl spaces.

The job of hanging drywall may look daunting, but with your expert guidance in this lesson, you’ll be hanging, drilling, taping, and painting like a pro!

Holes happen. Maybe a child or pet ran a little too fast into a wall, or maybe you’re taking down a piece of art. Regardless of how it happened, find out how to cover up drywall scars so your walls will appear as good as new.

Your home’s paint colors are key markers of your style and sensibility. From accent walls to repainting the whole house, gain insight into the tips and techniques of the pros.

As houses settle, cracks may appear all over—particularly where molding meets the wall. With a bead gun, a tube of caulk, and a little patience, you can seal your home with ease.

Home maintenance doesn’t just include preventing problems or major renovations. Mounting a flat screen TV in your den or media room can set you up for hours of entertainment. Here, get a few tips for mounting your TV so it is sturdy and level.

One rule of thumb about houses is they almost never have enough storage. Hanging shelves can add storage, help you organize your stuff, and give your home an expressive design flair. Take the first step to a new home today!

Like TVs and shelving, a mirror on the wall will do wonders for making your home expressive and practical. In this helpful lesson, learn to hang a bathroom mirror properly.

With their heavy usage, doorknobs are one of the home fixtures that break most often. Replacing a doorknob is a quick, inexpensive job to do yourself. So, take a few minutes to review this simple task in this lesson.