Things you have fixed, that you didn't know you could!

[minkah]

Or..101 Ways With Putty..

Please share any experiences here, for DIY uplift vibe, for those of us that have tons to do, and are going to have to be the ones that do it!

replaced the element in the washing machine. Youtube video on supplier's site, cost of new part 25, time taken, about 30 mins.

Brilliancy extreme!

Discovered a lightly running tap in the utility room one wintery Saturday evening, about 9pm. Couldn't stop it running, didn't have anyone to ring and help, and to make matters worse I was going out early the next day, 5am, until about 9.30pm! And no one to come to the house and wait for any emergency plumber I might get hold of!

Total panic at the thought of the amount of water going down the drain, well actually I would have switched the water off at the stop cock.

Then went on YouTube, found a video of replacing a washer and hey presto, sorted! I was very proud although I nearly broke my hand and the tap as it was so full of lime scale!

Have since found a very local plumber, next road, to call on in hour of need.

After a flood, and new radiator pipes,the old pipe boxing in ,was left undone,I could not get anyone to fix this, too small a job, Dp crap at DIY etc- 10 monhts later got up on sunday morning, and bloody well done the job myself! cut new skirting, cut angles with a hacksaw, new boxing in, new skirting, cost 14 in materials, ( this had been left 10 mnths ) and within tw hrs, was done as good as any joiner/bf, son, son in law could ever manage!!! Very proud of myself!!

Filled in a massive hole where the electrician cut in new electric cables into the wall. Not a pollyfilla job, needed to mix up plaster apply to wall and smooth over. Then sanded down and wallpapered the entire hall, stairs and landing.
It looked great

Took out the washing machine drain hose and cleared it of cement which had set hard. Re-fixed it to connections and put the back back on.

I now know they can hold current so it was probably rather stupid of me but anyway, it worked fine. I never felt quite safe after that though as I found the drainage tube connector ended above the electrical junction box in the machine which seemed a very silly place to put a jubilee clip so I got a new machine last year.

I am not taking this one apart in case I find anythign weird.

Have also tiled an entire bathroom after the tiler we had was SHIT. I had to take off loads after we sacked him, wash them and start again with the proper cement. Two weeks later, it was beautiful and amazing and very carefully done right down to the corners and I didn't use any edging or anything. No cheats, just loads of care and time to get it perfect.

Have also gutted the entire kitchen and rebuilt it from scratch including removing floor to ceiling tiles and the whole tiled floor, which I then had to screed and retile so it was level.

At the time you think 'way hey! Go for it!' but afterwards you think 'How the hell did I cope with that?!' It seems impossible in hindsight.

Fixed the boiler when it stopped working in the snow (looked on the Internet and diagnosed a frozen condensate pipe, which I defrosted with a hairdryer, fed through the kitchen window, which saved ourselves a hefty call-out fee).

Replaced a broken pane of glass.

Broken thermistor in refridgerator. (UK white goods forum, and photographed whole dismantle so could easily put it all back)

Electrics frighten me, so years ago (20+), I was quite impressed with myself when I reconnected the wires inside a plug socket.

About 5 years ago, I replaced the electric showers on/off unit. Scared me, but it's still working.

Have taken my electric whisk apart, wiggled it about and cleaned a few bits and put it back together, ditto my electric knife. There is an electric theme here!

replaced taps, removed asbestos, relayed brickwork in chimneystack, removed old fireplace and fitted a marble one, smashed through and rebuilt a wall or two, rewired a whole bloody house, re plumbed the toilet cistern the list is endless when you use all your money buy a wreck that hasn't been touched since the 60's. you get there in the end but just slowly and bit by bit.

This is very impressive. Thankyou all for sharing. I feel more competent, just reading what you all have done.

Soonish, super impressed at clearing of cement etc, and skilfull tiling. And rebuilt a kitchen from scratch?! Wow.

Everyone here deserves

Laid laminate flooring and put new skirting boards on afterwards, loads of mitred corners. Still looks great 12 years later.

Best tip ever, Decorator's Caulk, fraction of the price and much better than Pollyfilla.

Things I've had to do to save money as a LP:

Rodded blocked drains several times;
Replaced kitchen tap washer and waste;
Replaced American fridge-freezer chiller unit;
Fixed recessed downlighter wiring and
Replaced and fixed cable lighting fittings;
Replaced washing machine drive belt;
Lots of painting, decorating and curtain making

Now looking at the boiler thermostat which is playing up ... do I or don't I?

Replaced the element in my oven, YouTube video, 10 minute job.

Noooo. Boilers are scary!

Letthem - but it's just the electric bit, not anything to do with the gas

Whattodoforthebest - why wouldn't you replace it? Is it just a cost thing?

Yes I'm thinking of replacing it but not sure how easy that would be to do.

Personally I think you could open a can of worms. If you was looking to move in the future I wouldn't however if this is your forever house then I would get an expert in to have a look.

You've all jogged my memory for other things I've done! :)

I have wallpapered almost my whole house including hall, stairs and landing.
Fixed wooden venetian blinds in place alone (very heavy!).
Put together flat packed furniture.

Fitted shelving to the walls.

Fitted 8ft and 12ft curtain poles.

Rodded the soil pipe to the toilet.

Cleared the gutters.
Made slatted shelves including the side supports for under the stairs with bits of wood found in the shed.

Wow. Impressive stuff, Solo.

I tend to be one of those people that will just give it a go. I do though, doubt myself and my abilities more as I get older. Maybe that's a confidence thing.
I've replaced vacuum cleaner parts over the years. Take things apart to see if there's an obvious problem I can solve.
I also mend things (sewing, knitting) that other people would just throw away, but then again; I know I can do that!
I need to get a spare part for my ancient microwave and replace that now.

Pulled up floorboards and laid, stained and varnished new ones throughout the whole downstairs in our old house. I was scared of the jigsaw before that.

Love this thread...it's quite inspirational to know we can get stuff done if we just have a go!

Ooh yes, just remembered another one - replaced a broken laptop screen. That was very satisfying. I did need to borrow some itty-bitty screwdrivers, though. Thanks YouTube!

And I've rodded drains too many times to mention - our kitchen sink drain has a right angle and always blocks up, so we have to drag the drain cover off and get stuck in. Lovely job.

It's good isn't it?! For me, it's very much "I don't need a man" I think!! but sometimes of course I do for jobs I can't do (got to get a man or two in to take down some very tall trees).

Have considered rewiring my own house, but again...it's electrics!!!

CointreauVersial I'm impressed with the laptop thing!