Topics
Guide sections
The guide is divided into four sections. The first covers tools: what you really need at home and how to use it safely. The second is about walls and fixings, the third about doors, windows and furniture, and the fourth about water and plumbing. Safety runs through every section, because that is what separates a calm repair from a nasty surprise.
Almost any small breakdown at home looks more complicated than it is. What matters is spotting in time the one that genuinely needs a professional.
The sections cover jobs an ordinary person can do without special training: fixing a shelf, oiling a hinge, changing a washer, regluing edging. We do not cover work on gas, the consumer unit or load-bearing structures: these need professionals, and structural alterations also need official approval.
Tools
A small kit is enough for minor repairs: screwdrivers or bits, a hammer, a tape measure, a spirit level, pliers, a drill and safety goggles. Condition matters more than quantity: a worn bit strips the screw head, and a blunt drill bit overheats and wanders off the mark.
- Your first-year kit (in Russian)
Six items to start your home workshop with.
- Bit, spirit level, drill bit, stepladder
Key tool terms in the guide's glossary.
- Answers about tools
Choosing a drill bit, what to use instead of a cordless driver and how to store your kit.
Walls and fixings
Walls in homes may be concrete, brick, lightweight block or plasterboard, and each needs its own type of fixing. A wall plug is chosen to suit the wall material and the weight of whatever will hang on it. The golden rule before drilling is to think about where hidden cables and pipes might run.
- How to put up a shelf without hitting wiring
A practical article with hypothetical examples, common mistakes and a checklist.
- Wall plug, self-tapping screw, anchor, wood screw
How fixings differ and when you need which.
- Before any repair
Five checks on the guide's home page.
Doors, windows, furniture
A squeaky door, a sagging cupboard door, a wobbly chair and a window that is stiff to open are typical small problems that a screwdriver and a bit of care can fix. Most of the time it is enough to tighten the fixings, clean and lubricate the hinges, or replace a small worn part.
- Answers about doors and furniture
Hinges, cupboard doors, drawers and chairs: what you can sort out in half an hour.
- Collection: "Your first flat"
Small repairs you can comfortably get done in a weekend.
- Article archive
Every published page by date and topic.
Water and plumbing
A dripping tap, a leaking mixer and darkened silicone sealant in the bathroom are common household worries. Any plumbing job starts with turning off the water and checking that it really is off. Leave pipes, risers and anything that belongs to the building's shared plumbing to the managing company or a plumber.
- Collection: "A leak-free bathroom"
Taps, mixers, sealant and what to do about a leak.
- Answers about water and taps
What to do about a dripping tap and how to renew bathroom sealant.
- Stopcock
Where to find it and why it is worth checking in advance.
Read next
- Practical
How to put up a shelf without hitting wiring: steps, mistakes, limits and a checklist. The article catalogue is here too.
- Questions
Short answers about tools and fixings, taps, doors and furniture, and staying safe while you work.
- Collections
Reading routes: your first flat, a leak-free bathroom and DIY together with a teenager.
Sources
- Official home safety guidance from emergency services
- Tool manufacturers' instructions
The advice in this guide describes the general approach as of the date the article was prepared. Every home has its own walls, plumbing and furniture, and every tool and fixing comes with its own instructions: where they differ from our text, follow the instructions.