Minor repairs in the apartment with your own hands

From time to time everyone has to make minor repairs in the apartment: update the ceilings, glue wallpapers, change plumbing or sockets. Of course, for some works, special knowledge and permissions are required (for example, a qualified electrician must carry out the wiring replacement), but many tasks can be solved independently. For someone, this work is simple, someone has to invite a master for minor repairs.

What does the concept of “minor repairs” include?

What tasks do you have to solve for those who think to clean up the apartment with their own hands? As a rule, these are construction, decoration, tile, plumbing, carpentry, as well as many small operations, associated with electricity, but requiring special skills (replacing sockets, switches, turning on / off electricity).

The following types of work can be called the most common:

• hanging various shelves, cabinets, paintings, mirrors;
• Wallpapering;
• installation of curtains, horizontal bars;
• relocation of tiles, repair and restoration of crumbling areas;
• whitewashing or painting ceilings;
• installation and dismantle of chandeliers, lamps, etc .;
• replacement of switches, sockets;
• connection of complex household appliances;
• installation of ventilation systems, grilles;
• laying of laminate, linoleum, etc. floor coverings;
• installation of a plinth ceiling or floor;
• painting of various surfaces;
• repair of interior doors;
• replacement of locks;
• installation and dismantling of doors, jambs;
• installation of sills;
• replacement, repair or installation of plumbing and much more.

Also, minor repairs include installation and connection of household appliances. Most difficulties arise with the preparation of washing and dishwashers, because they need perfectly smooth installation, connection to the electric network and water supply, and drainage equipment. Often it is necessary to change pipes or wiring sections to provide the device with everything necessary for operation.

The service "husband for an hour"

In some cases, special equipment and skills are required. Many works require great physical strength and endurance. In these cases, it is better to resort to the help of professionals and order the service "husband for an hour"Or" master for an hour. " In this case, a specialist who performs certain types of work is invited home. A contract is concluded with an organization providing minor repair services. Of course, it costs money, and prices even within the same city can vary greatly.

The cost of minor repairs depends on the complexity of the work, their volume, timing and some other factors.

The advantages of this method of minor repairs in your home:

• The incoming master has the necessary knowledge, qualifications for the work.
• He has all the necessary tools for repair.
• A specialist will help you choose the right materials for repair or even buy them yourself, the customer will only have to pay according to the invoice.
• Serious companies guarantee high quality work.
• If there are any problems after the repair, then you can make your complaints. Good companies will make sure that all repair flaws are corrected in a timely manner.
• Save time and effort, which is especially important when they are few.
• Efficiency: the incoming master is not distracted by external stimuli, does not lose time watching movies or news on social networks, he is only busy repairing.
• If you need a range of services, for example, a complete repair in the bathroom with laying tiles, replacing plumbing, rearrangement and connection of the washing machine, then there will be no need to search for several masters by apartment renovation. Typically, firms are staffed with specialists in various fields: plumbers, finishers, etc.

Of the negative aspects, only the high cost of this method can be answered, since in some cases the fee for repair services can cost several tens of thousands of rubles (if complex service). But in most cases, some single actions are necessary (for example, installing new plumbing or hanging a cornice), the payment of which will not hit your pocket much.

Another dubious moment is the reputation of the company engaged in minor repairs. Quite often, one-day firms are created that do not provide the proper quality of order fulfillment. Therefore, when ordering minor repair services, you need to ask how long the company has been on the market, and also to find out what guarantees it gives regarding the quality of work.

Do it yourself minor repairs

Home craftsmen prefer to do everything with their own hands. On the one hand, this is good, since you can save significantly on repairs. On the other hand, it can lead to problems due to lack of experience. Therefore, starting any work, it is advisable to study the topic in as much detail as possible, watch training videos, find out how to repair something, prepare in advance, because it is far from always possible to understand along the way repair.

Installation of new household appliances

So, when installing and connecting household appliances, you need to remember several important rules:

• Site preparation: the surface where the household appliance will be installed should be flat.
• You need to install the equipment according to the level.
• Due to inaccuracies in the installation or unevenness of the site, increased vibration can occur, which is detrimental to most devices. So, because of this, washing machines can become unusable after six months of operation, because the settings get lost.
• Be sure to have grounding on all devices, especially on electric stoves. Its absence leads to the accumulation of static voltage. At the same time, grounding should lead to the shield and join the common made for the whole house or porch. Do not ground electrical appliances using objects inside the apartment, because this will also lead to the accumulation of static electricity.

Electric installation work

Electrical work must also be performed according to the rules. Most often you have to change sockets and switches. At the same time, the material from which the inner part of these devices is made is of great importance. So, if the "filling" is ceramic, then the product will last an order of magnitude longer than a similar socket with plastic inside.

Replacing light bulbs can also be attributed to minor repairs in the apartment. There are many varieties of lamps: LED, incandescent, fluorescent. When choosing, consider the type of switch. So, the latter are incompatible with a dimmer, but incandescent lamps burn out faster during operation, when electricity is immediately supplied to them in full force.

Door Repair

Often, home craftsmen have to deal with the need to repair interior doors. It happens that over time there are problems with various door elements: locks, handles, hinges. All this is subject to replacement, and, as a rule, small works do not cause great difficulties.

Things are much more interesting when the home master wants to completely update the door itself or the jamb. There are 2 ways: buy a completely new or improve the old. Of course, the variety of materials allows you to choose the materials to your taste and wallet. But there is such a pattern: the more wood and other natural materials, the higher the price of the finished product. Therefore, do not rush to throw out the old door if it is completely wooden, has good quality and needs to be repaired. It is better to do the work of updating the door: remove the old paint, varnish or something else, add patterns, insert colored glass or mosaics, etc.