From time to time, everyone has to do minor repairs in the apartment: update ceilings, glue wallpaper, change plumbing or sockets. Of course, some work requires special knowledge, permissions (for example, a qualified electrician must carry out wiring replacement), but many tasks can be solved independently. For some, this work turns out to be simple, someone has to invite a master for minor repairs.
What is meant by "minor repairs"?
What tasks have to be solved by those who are thinking of putting things in order in the apartment with their own hands? As a rule, these are construction, finishing, tiling, plumbing, carpentry, as well as many small operations related to electricity, but requiring special skills (replacing sockets, switches, turning on / off electricity).
The most common types of work are:
- hanging various shelves, cabinets, paintings, mirrors;
- wallpapering;
- installation of curtains, horizontal bars;
- laying of tiles, repair and restoration of crumbling areas;
- whitewashing or painting ceilings;
- installation and dismantling of chandeliers, lamps, etc.;
- replacement of switches, sockets;
- connection of complex household appliances;
- installation of ventilation systems, gratings;
- work on laying laminate, linoleum and other floor coverings;
- installation of ceiling or floor plinth;
- painting various surfaces;
- repair of interior doors;
- replacement of locks;
- installation and dismantling of doors, jambs;
- installation of thresholds;
- replacement, repair or installation of plumbing and much more.
Minor repairs also include the installation and connection of household appliances. Most of the difficulties arise with the preparation of washing machines and dishwashers, because they require a perfectly level installation, electrical and plumbing connections and draining equipment. Often you have to change pipes or wiring sections to provide the device with everything necessary for work.
Service "husband for an hour"
In some cases, special equipment and skills are required to work with it. Many jobs 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 is invited home who performs certain types of work. A contract is concluded with an organization providing services for minor repairs. 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 carrying out minor repairs in your home:
- The incoming master has the necessary knowledge and qualifications for the work.
- He has all the necessary tools for repairs.
- The specialist will help you choose the right materials for repairs or even buy them himself, the customer will only have to pay according to the invoice.
- Serious companies guarantee high quality of work.
- If there are any problems after the repair, then you can submit your claims. Good companies will make sure that all repairs are corrected in a timely manner.
- Saving time and effort, which is especially important when there are not enough of them.
- Efficiency: the incoming master is not distracted by external stimuli, does not waste time watching movies or news on social networks, he is only busy with repairs.
- If a complex of services is required, for example, a complete renovation in the bathroom with laying tiles, replacing plumbing, rearranging and connecting a washing machine, then there will be no need to search for several apartment renovation masters. Typically, firms are staffed with specialists in various fields: plumbers, finishers, etc.d.
Of the negative points, one can only answer the high cost of this method, because in some cases, the payment for repair services can cost several tens of thousands of rubles (if complex maintenance is required). 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 hard.
Another questionable point is the reputation of the company involved in minor repairs. Quite often, one-day firms are created that do not provide the proper quality of order fulfillment. Therefore, when ordering services for minor repairs, you need to ask how long the company has been on the market, and also find out what guarantees it gives regarding the quality of work.
Minor do-it-yourself repairs
Home craftsmen prefer to do everything with their own hands. On the one hand, this is good, because you can save a lot on repairs. On the other hand, it can lead to problems due to lack of experience. Therefore, when starting any work, it is advisable to study the topic in as much detail as possible, watch training videos, find out how you can repair something, prepare in advance, because it is far from always possible to figure it out during the repair.
Work on the installation of new household appliances
So, when installing and connecting household appliances, you need to remember a few important rules:
- Site preparation: the surface where the household appliance will be installed must be flat.
- You need to install equipment according to the level.
- Due to inaccuracies in installation or uneven ground, increased vibration can occur, which is detrimental to most devices. So, because of this, washing machines can become unusable after six months of work, because the settings get lost.
- Be sure to have grounding for all appliances, especially for electric stoves. The absence of it leads to the accumulation of static voltage. In this case, the grounding should lead to the shield and join the general one made for the whole house or entrance. Do not ground electrical appliances using objects inside the apartment, as this will also lead to the accumulation of static electricity.
Electric installation work
Electrical work must also be carried out according to the rules. Most often you have to change sockets and switches. In this case, the material from which the internal 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 outlet with plastic inside.
Replacing electric lamps can also be attributed to minor repairs in the apartment. There are many types of lamps: LED, incandescent, fluorescent. When choosing, you need to 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 at full strength.
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 elements of doors: 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 one or improve the old one. Of course, a variety of materials allows you to choose materials to your taste and budget. 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, is of good quality and needs to be repaired.It is better to work on updating the door: remove old paint, varnish or something else, add patterns, insert colored glass or mosaics, etc.
