In the two years that homeowners Billy and Arria Blanton have lived their 1950s brick house, they have compiled a rather lengthy and varied to-do list of home repair projects from door repair to covering ceiling stains.
Home Repair To-Do List Projects:
- Clean Brick Steps: We started by thoroughly cleaning the brick steps on the front of the house using a Generac OneWash pressure washer.
- Repair Brick Steps: We used a hammer and cold chisel to remove any loose mortar between the bricks on the steps, then filled in the gaps using Quikrete Zip & Mix FastSet Repair Mortar (No. 1241-15).This multi-purpose polymer-modified mortar mixes right in the bag, sets quickly, and provides high strength. While you can apply the mortar by hand, a grout bag makes filling mortar joints less messy. Watch How to Repair Brick Mortar Joints to find out more.
- Reattach Porch Railing: The screws holding the wrought iron railing to the concrete slab on the front porch had worked loose over time. To reattach the railing, we used concrete screws coated in fast-setting epoxy glue. Watch How to Repair and Paint Wrought Iron Railings to find out more.
- Attach Vent Cover: To attach the loose heating/cooling air vent cover on the ceiling, we used self-tapping screws drilled into the side of the metal ductwork.
- Refinish Entry Door: Auto body filler was used to fill the damaged area round the center mounted door knob on the entry door. The door was then painted on all sides, including the top and bottom, to prevent swelling. To clean the brass kickplate, we scrubbed it with steel wool dipped in water.
Since the door knob lock was missing the key, we had a locksmith replace the lock cylinder and key it to match the deadbolt. Watch How to Refinish an Entry Door to find out more.
- Paint Ceiling Water Stain: To repair the water stained ceiling, we applied several light coats of KILZ UpShot spray paint. Make sure the leak has been fixed before repairing a stained ceiling. Watch How to Cover Over a Ceiling Water Stain to find out more.
- Install Screen Door Closer: To keep the screen door closed, we installed a new pneumatic door closer to replace the one that was missing. Watch How to Install a Pneumatic Door Closer and read Adjusting a Pneumatic Door Closer to find out more.
- Repair Back Door: We mixed up two-part auto body filler, and used it to fill any rotten spots in the back door. Once the filler had hardened, it was sanded smooth, and the door repainted. Read How to Repair Rotten Wood to find out more.
- Replace Door Threshold: We removed the old threshold on the back door and installed a new metal one, using concrete screws to attach it to the slab.
Other Tips from This Episode
Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Spray Can Storage Tip
Cardboard six-pack drink cartons are great for organizing spray paint cans and glue bottles in your shop. Start by reinforcing the carton with duct or packing tape, then fill it with cans or bottles. The handle on the carton makes it easy to store and carry the cans or bottles to the job site. (Watch Video)
Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Milwaukee Hammer Drill/Driver
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Driver has an 18-Volt Lithium-Ion battery which lasts five times longer, a brushless motor which delivers 25% more power, and a 1/2″ chuck to handle large shank bits. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Driver is available at The Home Depot. (Watch Video)
Ask Danny Lipford:
Brush, Roller, or Spray Paint
When painting large, flat surfaces, such as walls and ceilings, a roller works best. If a roller is used on woodwork, back-brush over it to remove the textured looked. Spray painting gives a very smooth surface but requires covering the area around it to prevent overspray. Brushes are the best choice for woodwork and trimming around walls. (Watch Video)
