Peg Hedstrom

Fixing a ripped or torn carpet is essential because loose carpet tears easily. Fixing a ripped carpet while the tear is small can prevent accidents and keep the damage from spreading. Sharp objects can fall, cutting carpets, but most often, tears and rips occur along the seamed edges or at the edges of badly worn carpeting.

It's a good idea to be prepared for things going wrong in your home, whether it's something relatively simple that you can fix yourself, or a more complex problem requiring a qualified professional.Following is advice for both situations. First, we list some non-tool items you'll want to have around for DIY home repair.

Replace window sash cords when the cords fray and break; or repair sash cords if they become disconnected from the weights that give balance to the window. Some windows have chains instead of ropes and they, too, can break. The process of fixing chains is the same as with ropes. Sash cords help sashes stay open (without a stick to prop it up), move up and down easily, and close properly.

Filling small cracks in concrete keeps them from turning into big holes. If you know how to fill small cracks in concrete, you’ll restore your concrete to a smooth finish. This technique will work for cracks smaller than 3/8 inch wide in the sidewalk, driveway, garage floor, basement, or steps. For this project you'll need a 10-ounce tube of latex, epoxy, or vinyl concrete patch; a caulking gun; a wire brush; and a wet rag.

Fixing a squeaky floor that’s carpeted can be challenging. To fix a squeaky carpeted floor, you might have to try a few times until you get the squeak to stop.Floors get squeaky when wood dries out (either finished wood or a wooden subfloor). This can cause subfloor nails to pop loose and the subfloor to separate from the floor joist.

Fix a loose ceramic floor tile before the tile breaks. Loose floor tiles occur if the original adhesive doesn't seal properly or if the grout is chipped or uneven, allowing moisture to get under the tile. Securing loose ceramic or clay tiles before they break will save time and money down the road.If a tile isn’t broken or cracked, you’re in good shape for fixing the floor.

Patching mortar on brick walls keeps moisture from getting behind the brick. Knowing how to patch mortar on brick walls can help you to repair the damage to your walls and prevent further structural damage.To replace the mortar, you'll need a chisel with a narrow blade, a stiff brush, mortar mix, a trowel or pointing tool, and a scrub brush for wiping off excess mortar.

Patching a pile carpet that’s damaged or stained can renew its look. Fixing damaged pile carpet with a patch is cheaper than replacing a whole carpet. Just cut out the damaged or stained spot and add a section of matching carpet. When patching a pile carpet, make sure that the nap in your patch runs in the same direction as the rest of the carpet or it’ll stick out like a sore thumb.

Repointing a brick walls keeps moisture from getting behind the brick. Knowing how to repoint brick walls can help you to repair the damage to your walls and prevent further structural damage.To repoint a brick wall, you'll need a chisel with a narrow blade, a stiff brush, mortar mix, a trowel or pointing tool, and a scrub brush for wiping off excess mortar.