It’s a fact of life: things break. Whether an item wore out over time, broke by accident or it was a result of faulty manufacturing, things will always fall apart.
No one is asking you to be handyman of the year, but knowing how to repair a few things around the house can save money in the form of not having to completely replace an item or hiring a contractor to come in and fix it.
Here are a few common problems and some cost-saving solutions:
Torn Vinyl
There are a couple of options available for repairing tears in vinyl flooring. Head down to your local hardware store and purchase a silicone-based seam sealer to fill in the tear. Use a dry cloth to wipe off the excess.
Another unique and cost-effective option is to rub a bar of soap across the tear until it is filled in. It would seem as though the soap would dissolve when cleaning the floor, but the soap actually stays in place unless the floor were to be covered in water and the tear was scrubbed.
Broken Tile
Using a grout saw (available for a few dollars at hardware stores), remove the grout from around the broken tile. If the tile has not started to chip away, use a masonry drill to make a hole in the center. After the tile is broken, remove the pieces from the center and work your way outward.
If the tile has already started to chip, break off small pieces at a time until it is removed. Using an adhesive like Liquid Nails, glue the new tile in place. Apply fresh grout around the edges.
Scratches on Wood Cabinets
There are a large number of scratch-fillers that resemble crayons, pencils and felt-tip pens available at hardware stores. Select the shade(s) closest to your cabinets and simply fill the scratches in.