Small Home Repairs: Doors, Windows, and Weatherproofing
This is a hands-on class for folks who've done a few small repairs and want to take on the doors and windows that have been bugging them. We'll fix sticking doors, quiet down rattly windows, and get the weatherstripping sorted before it gets cold. Mostly you'll be doing the work, not watching me do it. I demo once and then circle the room.
Big thing I want you to leave with is the habit of diagnosing before you fix. Most stuck doors aren't broken, they're dirty or out of adjustment. You'll also walk out able to do your own fall walk-through, which is the cheapest way I know to make a drafty house comfortable. Bring a screwdriver if you have one.
What you'll learn
- Diagnose why a door drags or sticks
- Adjust hinges, strike plates, and roller height
- Install V-strip, door sweeps, and threshold seals
- Apply caulk correctly for weather and temperature
- Build a seasonal home walk-through checklist
Lessons
- Diagnose Before You Fix
Learn to figure out what's actually wrong before you reach for a tool, because most stuck doors and windows aren't broken.
- Sticking and Dragging Doors
Get a door swinging and latching right without taking off more wood than you need to.
- Sliding Doors and Windows
Most sliders that stick don't need replacing, they need the track cleaned out and the rollers adjusted.
- Weatherstripping That Lasts
The cheapest fix for a drafty house, done once with the right material instead of the felt stuff that quits in a season.
- Door Sweeps and Sealing the Bottom
The gap under the door is where the cold and sometimes the mice get in, and a ten-dollar sweep does the trick.
- Caulk and the Fall Walk-Through
How to caulk so it actually cures, and how to lap the whole house every October to catch trouble early.
Class discussion
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