Save thousands on home repairs
I've spent 30 years fixing houses. This book is every cheap repair I know that actually works, step by step, in plain words. Walls, floors, plumbing, appliances, heating and more.
Get the HandbookWritten by Drew, 30 years fixing houses
Why this book
A drip under the sink. A door that won't latch. A hole where the doorknob hit the wall. A washing machine that won't drain. A toilet that runs all night.
None of these are big jobs. But a call-out fee alone can cost more than the whole fix, and the store will happily sell you a $40 kit for something a $6 tub of compound does better.
This handbook shows you what's really causing the problem, the cheapest fix that lasts, the mistakes to avoid, and exactly when it's time to call a pro instead.
A cheap fix that fails is the most expensive fix there is. Everything in here is the version that lasts.
The book pays for itself
A few of the jobs inside, side by side. Do two or three of them and the book has paid for itself many times over.
| The fix | You pay | A pro charges |
|---|---|---|
| Stop a running toilet | about $5–15 | about $100–400 |
| Clear a washing machine that won't drain | free | about $125–450 |
| Patch a fist-sized hole in drywall | about $5–20 | about $125–200 |
| Fix a dripping faucet | about $2–40 | about $150–350 |
| Replace a dripping shower valve cartridge | about $10–60 | about $200–400 |
| Flush a tank water heater | free | about $110–200 |
| Re-hang and reseal leaking gutters | about $15–50 | about $195–660 |
| Replace one damaged laminate plank | about $0–30 | about $300 and up |
Pro prices are typical US ranges from national home-improvement cost guides. Prices vary by area and country.
What's inside
The $100–150 kit that handles most repairs, and which filler, caulk, glue and anchor to use when.
Nail holes to stud-to-stud patches, cracks, stains and texture, done so nobody can find the repair.
Recaulk the tub properly, fix cracked grout, replace a single tile and touch up chips.
Close floor gaps for almost nothing, hide chips and scratches, swap one damaged plank.
Quiet squeaks, fix dents and scratches, patch carpet burns and tighten loose handrails.
Sagging doors, latches that won't catch, drafts, torn screens, sticking drawers.
Leaks under the sink, dripping faucets, clogs without harsh chemicals, frozen pipes.
The running toilet, the rocking toilet, weak showers and dripping tub spouts.
Shingles, flashing, flat roofs, gutters, concrete cracks, rotten trim and fence posts.
The electrical jobs you can safely do, plus a year-round calendar that prevents big repairs.
Washer, dryer, dishwasher and fridge fixes that save you the call-out fee.
No hot water, boiler pressure, radiators, AC not cooling, and proven ways to cut bills.
Shelves and TVs that stay up, drilling tile, stiff locks and changing a lock cylinder.
Burst pipe, gas smell, flooding, power cut: what to do in the first 10 minutes.
Fair quotes, red flags, common scams, and how renters get their deposit back.
Take a look inside
The little trick that makes the job easier or the result invisible.
How to do it with stuff you already have instead of the pricey product.
What people get wrong over and over, so you don't have to.
An honest list of when a job is bigger than a DIY fix.
Meet the author
I've spent 30 years fixing houses. Rentals, family homes, old places with plaster walls and new builds with floors that click together like toys.
Every small job has an expensive way and a cheap way. I'll always show you the cheap way that lasts, and I'll be straight with you when something shouldn't be touched.
You don't need to be handy and you don't need a garage full of tools. Go slow, read the steps once before you start, and don't be afraid of a little mess.
Drew
Author of Drew's Home Fixes and Drew's Mold Handbook
Get your copy
Read it on any phone, tablet or computer, or print it out.
Questions
Yes. It's written for people who've never done a repair. Every fix tells you how hard it is, how long it takes, what you need and every step, plus the mistakes to avoid.
You get instant access right after buying. It's a PDF that works on phones, tablets and computers, and it's laid out to print nicely too.
Yes. It covers US and UK/European homes, with differences explained where they matter (like combi boilers vs furnaces, or RCD vs GFCI outlets). Measurements are in inches with metric alongside.
No. Chapter 1 covers a small starter kit that handles most jobs, and many fixes use things you already have at home.
Only the safe, homeowner-level electrical jobs, like resetting breakers and testing outlets. Gas work is never DIY, and the book tells you clearly when to call a licensed pro.
Very. Chapter 15 covers getting your deposit back, what's your landlord's job to fix, and the small repairs worth doing before you move out.