How to Repair Home Exterior

Are you thinking of repairing your home's exterior yourself and need some guidance getting started? We at Hometalk are here to help you out with step-by-step DIY video tutorials, discussion boards, and our top, best, and new home exterior projects. You can even ask us a question. Welcome to the world of do-it-yourself repairs, and good luck!

Why Deck Posts Should Not Be Set in Concrete

Maintaining Your Home Exterior

Check the roof from a distance: Broken tiles falling off not only means your roof needs work, but it is unsafe. Use binoculars or a safe vantage point to spot the problem.
Inspect gutters on a rainy day: Check your gutters during rainfall, which will make any leaks or blockages easier to identify. Clear these blockages once the rain stops.
Don’t neglect the window putty: Sunlight can wear down window putty and cause leaks. If there is only small damage to putty, use all-purpose filler on any cracks.
Apply new render to exterior walls: Cracked render looks ugly but is easily solved when in small areas. Remove loose render, allow the wall to dry and then apply new render.
Repair any broken brickwork: Bricks can erode over time and need repairing. Take time to scout suppliers for bricks that closely match yours, but avoid second-hand bricks.

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Top Home Exterior Repair Projects

Check out our top DIY home exterior repair projects. We've got you covered.

Why Deck Posts Should Not Be Set in Concrete

The photo on the left shows a post set in a bracket that has been mounted to the top of a footer. The photo on the right shows a post that has concrete poured around it, which can lead to a crack like you see here. When concrete is poured around a deck post in this way, the post will rot due to moisture buildup by the soil. Concrete tends to absorb moisture and wood expands when it gets wet, so these two factors combined will result in the wood breaking the concrete. By setting the post on top of footing, you're creating a solid foundation for the deck to stand on.

John Temmel Siding Guy

Renew Your Scratched Wood in Minutes

Homes with dogs, kids, or even just aging cabinets and wood doors will strongly benefit from this EASY DIY tip!!!!

Taradaramadeit - DIYin to keep you stylin

Repairing Cracks in Concrete: 7 Minutes is All You Need

Doing fall preventive maintenance should include taking care of all the small or large cracks in your concrete driveway, steps, or walkways. I recently did a small project that as you'll discover is pretty darn easy and can stop cracks from turning into bigger headaches. If you have small horizontal cracks you can use concrete filler to seal them tight. Larger cracks should use polyfoam tubing as a filler then concrete filler on top-kinda like adding ketchup to a hot dog :). Click on this link because I think you'll benefit from the tips as well as my headless home repair tutor video (hey, it's tough producing these short movies by yourself and plus, we're getting close to Halloween anyway) http://www.homerepairtutor.com/repairing-cracks-in-concrete/

Home Repair Tutor

My Flood Experience... hoping you don't need to use it.

Several years ago, the area I lived in received 17 inches of rain in 24 hours and the knee deep trout stream near my house turned into a monster. We were woken by my golden retriever in the middle of the night as trees crashed down around us. We had made no preparations. I heard the roar of a waterfall as it cascaded into my basement. First I hurriedly ran all our camping gear upstairs (cook stove, lantern, etc.), then valuables were cleared from the first floor. After just 20 minutes it became eerily quiet... the basement was full... no more roar of water. I was about out of time. Anything remaining on the first floor was stacked on countertops and tables. Next, I ran outside and tied up the boat, it was already floating away, and we might need it to escape later. I wore a rock climbing harness to do this safely in the waist deep moving water. After the flood there was mud everywhere. The remnants of an old deck was left in my yard by the flood. I salvaged the old decking and used it to make a temporary side walk to keep us out of the mud as we cleaned up. I got old fire hose the fire department had culled out for free and screwed it to the boards... so in my case we really could roll up the sidewalk at night. I later made several more of these walkways, using pallet grade white oak. This was published as a tip for staying clean at muddy construction sites, but it was inspired by disaster: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/tips/roll-up-boardwalk.aspx?nterms=62092

Brian Campbell, Basswood Artisan Carpentry

Fix That Broken Landscape Light Stake!

I put in landscape lighting a few years back. Converted the bulbs to LED and put in a Dusk to Dawn sensor. It worked great... until....We watched the neighbors dog... much much bigger than our little dog... and it proceeded to break the lights of their respective stakes simply by trotting past them during a game of fetch.I am now faced with fixing dozens of stakes.

David McIntosh

Gorgeous DIY Stamped Concrete Tile Driveway For Less $, Much Less!

It's a good thing that I enjoy working on home improvement stuff, because the updates at Mom and Pop's place never seems to end. Recently, I took on giving their driveway a makeover using this innovative new stamped concrete technique. The system is brand new on the market and can be done by a total novice. The basic gist of the system is that instead of pouring concrete on the driveway or patio or walkway, you're laying 1/4" concrete tiles. If you've ever laid tiles, you know how easy it is. And if you haven't laid tiles, then I'm telling you how easy it is. You mix up your mortar, smear on the back of your tile, set in place, and repeat. But the best part of this system isn't how easy it is, it's how cost efficient it is. Traditionally poured stamped concrete will run ya about $10/square foot. This tile system will only run you about $3/square foot. That's a huge savings! FULL TUTORIAL HERE: http://diyfunideas.com/diy-stamped-concrete-tile-tutorial/ Here's the before picture of the driveway...

DIY Fun Ideas

HOW to Add a Window Into a Door and WHY You Should Do It!

It's a dreary walk up the narrow stairs staring at a plain metal door.I brushed a copper red tone over the manufacturer's standard white. That was better. I added intriguing art from my studio on the walls. But a stairwell is NOT a lingering space. Something still was missing.I wanted to see light at the end of the tunnel.I had seen expensive gorgeous doors with frosted or stained glass insets. I wanted one, but they seemed "too much" in several ways. Our home is a personal one, highly creative, country understated. I would need to wait until I found the answer.Years later I was at an antique shop, admiring stained-glass panels that had been ripped out of old buildings.The shopkeeper commented about how they could be used."They look so lovely propped against a window!" she suggested."Or inset into a door," I said. I was holding an authentic leaded glass piece, 14" square. Wheels spinning, happily I turned it to its side, like a diamond.I bought it for a bargain price.And took it home.Here's what we did after that:

Adele Kurtz

Re Roofing an Old Mobile Home is Not a Good Idea.

We don't recommend doing this. What is on the mobile home now is what is suppose to be there. The house can only handle the load that it's rated for.

Les and Gina

Why Deck Posts Should Not Be Set in Concrete

John Temmel Siding Guy

Renew Your Scratched Wood in Minutes

Homes with dogs, kids, or even just aging cabinets and wood doors will strongly benefit from this EASY DIY tip!!!!

Taradaramadeit - DIYin to keep you stylin

Gorgeous DIY Stamped Concrete Tile Driveway For Less $, Much Less!

DIY Fun Ideas

HOW to Add a Window Into a Door and WHY You Should Do It!

Adele Kurtz

Re Roofing an Old Mobile Home is Not a Good Idea.

We don't recommend doing this. What is on the mobile home now is what is suppose to be there. The house can only handle the load that it's rated for.

Les and Gina

Home Exterior Repair Videos

Looking for DIY videos to start your home exterior repairs? Here you go.

Learn How to Repair Cracked Concrete - HWDIY

On this episode, Kim demonstrates how to repair cracked rotting concrete, to help fix damp and dusky basements. If your basement is feeling a little bit damp, you may need to get some water proofing done. A damp basement can lead to all sorts of costly problems. Luckily, parging is a cost effective task that can save you, and your sinking basement, from going under.

The Handy Woman DIY

Vinyl Siding Corner Post Replacement

We recently purchased a home and the previous home owner damaged the vinyl siding corner post with a weed whacker / lawn equipment. I replaced it over the weekend and made a video showing how to do it. It was easy to do with only a few common tools. Hope this helps.

Mike

Popular Repairing Home Exterior Discussions

Join our popular discussion board on how to repair your home exterior yourself.

How can I salvage a crumbling, cracked 24x24" triangle shaped concrete patio without tearing it out?

/> Denise H

15" deep, but not solid concrete, was packed full of dirt, rocks, etc as fill. Needs to be budget-friendly, maybe DIY perhaps. Was built by my Dad in the 80's when he owned the home. How do I fix the cracked concrete patio?

How can I salvage a crumbling, cracked 24x24

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Inexpensive and attractive way to prevent rain entering screened porch

/> Stelmour450

Best waterproof porch screens!Stay dry and enjoy your porch in the winter with Covers & All screens Amazon reviewers swear by!

View discussion

How do I repair the rotting siding on my shed without replacing it?

/> Int13511261

The lower edge of the siding on my shed is rotting due to splash back from rain. The shed is otherwise in great condition, but not worth a big investment in residing. Is there a way to add trim or something just make it look better for a couple more years? I plan to put wood chips around the base to soak up further splash back.

How do I repair the rotting siding on my shed without replacing it?

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How to remove urine smell from concrete?

/> Thayerlaura

Please HELP!!! Due to dogs, the urine smell in the concrete in out basement will knock you over. It is so bad you can smell it all through out our house. What is the best way to get the urine smell out of concrete? I saw a remodeling show years ago, where they put something on the concrete, covered the whole floor with plastic for something like 24-48 hours, before they sealed it. It was suppose to be the best way to get the smell out, but of course I don't remember. When you do seal it, does it really keep out any further urine smells or should we do more than just sealing it? Any and all advice is very welcome. Thank you in advance.Best odor spray!Get rid of bad pet smells with this recommended animal surface cleaner that Amazon reviewers swear by!

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New Home Exterior Repair Projects

Looking for new ideas in the world of DIY home exterior repair? Look no more.

How to Fix Cracks in a Concrete Patio Yourself

By Judy SchumerA concrete patio is beautiful and durable, but many patios develop cracks over time. And if the cracks are raised, they can be a tripping hazard in what’s supposed to be your backyard oasis.If you have cracks in your concrete patio, it’s time to fix them. Unfilled cracks can become more extensive and deeper, turning a DIY project into an expensive repair requiring a professional. If the cracks or chips aren’t deep or causing separation of your patio, try the DIY fixes you’ll find in this guide first (as soon as you notice the crack).

Judy Schumer

How To Fix A Broken Fence Post And Make Your Life Easier Later!

TIRED OF RIPPING OUT CONCRETE TO FIX A BROKEN POST? HERE'S HOW TO AVOID THAT NEXT TIME! USE A BRACKET, EASY PEASY

Little Homestead In Boise

DIY Repair Hail Damage

We had three raging hail storms this summer: large marble size, golf ball size and tennis ball size. The wind was fierce. It damaged our roof, broke windows, and broke holes in our vinyl siding. Although we have home insurance, it would not cover everything. We saved big money by doing research and taking the DIY approach to some repairs. Professionals repaired the roof and installed the new windows, but we repaired the vinyl siding. Some day we will replace all the siding.

DesertRose

How to Save Money and Repair Vinyl Covered Door

This summer we ordered the Menvyl Repair kit to repair the hail storm damage to our vinyl siding. We also had a hot, windy summer that caked red dust on our front door that would NOT come off. It also blistered and cracked the vinyl on the door. Did you know some mobile home doors come with vinyl adhered to them? I did not know this. I thought it was just painted. To order a mobile home door in our area is $900 plus the cost to have it installed. We repaired the siding and had some of the repair kit left over and some of the Home Depot paint left over. We thought it was worth a try.

DesertRose