10 Surprising Home Projects You Can Do TODAY!

text by Vicki     Sign up here to join our weekly email newsletter!

In eight years time since starting MDP, we've done a lot of home maintenance projects. Some have been massive, but others, like these, are simple and can be started and finished in the same day!

1. Clean & Replace Window Screens

Clean screens go a long way in improving the outside look of your home, as well as letting in more light. If you have damaged screen, your can replace the screen with new screening, spline, and a spline mouse. Blog Post

2. Replace Wood Expansion Joints

If you live in an older home, you probably have wood expansion joints. These rot over time allowing water to get under your driveway and sidewalk creating issues. We replaced the ones at Steph's house with vinyl ones which instantly improved the look of the sidewalk. Blog Post

3. Replace Broken Brick Mailbox

Steph lived with this rusted, broken door mailbox for a long time. We ordered a door and rust sleeve kit to cover up the rust and replace the door. Super easy fix! Blog Post

4. Attach a New Mailbox Flag

Another easy mailbox fix--if you use the right tools. You'll need a drill and masonry drill bit. With those two tools you'll install a new flag in no time!
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5. Replace Front Door Handle 

Due to many years of use, plus harsh Florida weather, we needed to change out the front door handle at Steph's house. The handle we originally used was still in production so it was easy to switch out. Kwikset has a lifetime warranty on their handles. The catch is, you have to have your original proof of purchase. Steph DID have her original recipe so we were able to provide documentation and get a new handle from Kwikset! Blog Post

6. Clean & Lubricate Sliding Door Track

Sliding doors need a bit of maintenance over time. The track gets dirty making it difficult to open and close the door. We cleaned out the track and used WD40--not the one you're thinking of, but their Specialist gel lubricant to allow the door to slide more easily. Blog Post

7. Replace Screen Door Closer

Wait! Before you replace your screen door closer, see if adjusting the adjustment screw fixes the problem. (Check out the video to see how to do this.) If adjusting the screw doesn't work, it only takes a few minutes to replace this part on your screen door. Blog Post

8. Patch Hole in Screen

For small holes, Screen Mend is a quick fix product to use. There was just this tiny hole in the screen door so replacing the entire screen didn't make sense. The Screen Mend is self-adhesive and a hot hair dryer sets it in place. Blog Post

9. Re-route Condensation Drain

With hot weather quickly approaching, it's a good idea to inspect where the A/C condensation tube is dripping. Mine was dripping onto the outside garage wall and over time had flooded into the garage. A little bit of PVC pipe to reroute the pipe was all that was needed so that it now drips away from the house. 
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10. Replace a Fence Picket

Because of a build up of organic material below the fence, the bottom of several of the pickets had rotted. Pickets are inexpensive and the repair was easy. Blog Post