When you’re pulling weeds, you don’t just take the leaves or the stem, you want to remove it root and all so it doesn’t come back.
The same goes for tackling a home repair. Look for the cause instead of just treating the symptom. The trouble can usually be traced to what’s causing the problem.
Take a door that sticks, for example. The door sticks because the gap between it and the casing has changed. Now you can sand and plane it, adjust the hinges and pins; or you can get to the root of the problem.
Why does the door perform differently than it did before? Did the house shift? Has the wood frame been affected by humidity, or maybe lack of it?
Treating the symptom only sets you up for more repairs later on. Getting to the cause will provide a lasting solution.