Spring is here, which means it’s time to freshen up your home! And what better way to do it than to tackle some home-improvement projects?
You don’t need to spend a lot of time and money hiring a professional if the task is simple enough. All you need is a desire to learn and a few tools.
Here are several projects to improve your DIY know-how and set you up for successful home projects in every area of your home.
1. Install a Sliding Barn Door
If you happen to have a door that awkwardly blocks a room or hallway when open, consider replacing it with a sliding barn door. Begin by removing the hinged door and door frame if you need to lower it.
Then, attach the casing and trim and patch and prep the area. Next, hang the track and use a header to support the weight of the door. After painting and staining your new barn door, attach the hardware and hang your door.
This project will prepare you for removing and installing other doors throughout your home. It will also help you understand the basics of finding studs in your walls and leveling and installing hardware, which is useful in any project.
2. Fix Garage Door Dents
Most garage doors are made out of aluminum or steel which dent easily. Larger dents can affect the mechanics that operate your door and require professional repair. However, some dents are small enough for you to fix yourself. All you need are a few basic household items, a lighter and liquid carbon dioxide.
After following a few simple steps, spray down the area with water and watch as the dent disappears. Repeat the same process to fix any small dents on your car or steel doors around in your house or shed. Knowing how to do this on your own can save you money in costly repairs or replacements.
3. Build a Home Theater PC
While you can purchase a home theater personal computer, you can easily make one and learn a thing or two about technology along the way. All you need are a few pieces of hardware, including a motherboard, a RAM and a hard drive, as well as a case in which to hold all the components.
Once you’ve completed the project, you can install your home theater in you garage, basement or even your living room. The finished result should be powerful enough to handle your gaming, television and work while being compact and quiet. Plus, building your own allows you to personalize your PC using whichever design and components you desire.
4. Remove Car Surface Rust
Prolong the life of your car by removing rust as soon as it rears its ugly head. No, you don’t have to entrust a professional with this job. You can tackle it all on your own with a few basic tools and automotive paint to match your vehicle.
Depending on how extensive the rust is, you may need a few extra materials and the removal process may differ slightly. Regardless, fixing the issue will only take a few hours of your time.
Knowing how to remove rust is a handy skill to have and may save you from costly repairs or having to replace your vehicle prematurely. Plus, understanding basic car maintenance like this will open the doorway for learning other automotive body repairs.
5. Switch Out Your Faucet
Update your bathroom or kitchen by installing a new faucet. Anyone with a wrench can complete this task. As long as you follow the instructions that come along with your new faucet and don’t run into any plumbing issues, you’ll have the project completed in an hour or so.
During the process of installing your new faucet, you’ll learn how to shut off your water valve. You might also have to remove and reinstall the garbage disposal if it’s in your way, which is a relatively easy task.
Disconnecting water supply lines and replacing defective valves may also come into play. However, you’ll likely know more about plumbing than you did before and be prepared to tackle similar projects around the house.
When to Hire a Professional
While you may be able to handle the above projects on your own, some DIYs are more complex than others. For instance, replacing your faucet may have taught you a thing or two about plumbing.
However, if you have a blocked sewer line or a drainage line leak, you may want to leave the problem to a professional. In these cases, it’s better to play it safe rather than attempt to fix the issue on your own and cause an even bigger problem.
That said, you now have a list of simple projects to improve your DIY know-how! It’s time to get to work!
Dylan Bartlett is a men’s lifestyle blogger from the City of Brotherly Love. He runs the site Just a Regular Guide, looking at other topics related to health and wellness, relationships, the outdoors and DIY. You can follow him on Twitter @a_regular_guide to get frequent updates on his work.
