The Older Home Easy Repair DIY

Older homes have so much charm, but can come with those rattles and squeaking floors that are annoying and can also keep you awake all night.  Two of the most common problems are rattling doors and squeaking floor boards that are actually very easy to repair you can do it yourself with a few simple tools.

Rattling Doors - Moving the strike plate
Doors that rattle in a draft are usually fit too loosely their frame.  This is often due to the strike plate being in the wrong position.  The strike plate is the metal recess on the door frame that the lock set click into when the door closes.

Tools Required:  Pencil, Screwdriver, Chisel, Combination Square

1. The first step is to measure the area accurately to successfully fit the strike plate. Take the combination square and on the door, measure that gap between the door latch and the edge of the door (closing edge, the side that closes first).

2. Take the measurement from above and transfer to the door frame, to the area between the door frame edge and the front edge of the strike plate opening.

3. Now move the strike plate to this new position.  Drill holes into the door frame to guide the screws into position.  Then Chisel out wood from the door frame to allow for the strike plate's new position and finally screw it in place.


Repair a Loose Floor Board
In older homes loose or creaking floor boards are a common problem, they are easy to repair though.  Screws are the most effective rather than nails at when securing loose floor boards, but when used on exposed flooring they finished job may not look right with screws so choose nails.

Tools required: Drill, Hammer, Nail Set

1. Select one side of the loose floor board and drill a pilot hole through the board and into the joist below.  Ensure that you use a drill bit that is smaller (thinner) than the actual nail that you are going to use.

2. If the floor is going to be exposed, hammer a nail into the hole.  If the floor will be covered then choose a screw as it will provide a much more secure connection.

3. If using a nail, knock nail heads just below the surface using a nail set.  If necessary repeat the process on the other side of the floor board.

Now you should have quieter home on those cold drafty evenings and you are one step closer to knowing how to repair anything and everything.