DIY Tools

You never know when you’ll have to fix a leaking roof or make gutter repairs, so it is important to have all of the tools you’ll need on hand. Follow our guide to DIY tools to make sure your set is complete.

• Allen Wrench – You’ll have a hard time assembling furniture without these hexagonally-shaped bars, which come in a set.

• Adjustable Wrenches – A larger wrench can handle most nuts and other fasteners, while a smaller wrench is perfect for tight squeezes.

• Bucket – It sounds simple, but it is a must-have for fixing leaks and tackling plumbing jobs.

• Flashlight – Essential for working under the hood of your car or in another dark space.

• Drill – Need to hang a framed picture or make a hole in a cabinet to run a DVD player chord through? A cordless drill does the job.

• Hammer – Aside from hammering in nails and removing old nails (using the clawed end), a hammer comes in handy for many other tasks.

• Mask – Wear one when drilling or sanding to keep yourself from inhaling dust.

• Sponge – Another tool for drilling or sanding. Use to wipe down a surface post-job.

• Painter’s Tape – Aside from the obvious (keeping moldings paint-free when painting a wall), use it to prevent the teeth of pliers from scratching your pipes.

• Paintbrushes – A complete set of brushes, carrying in size, will let you make touch ups inside and outside your home.

• Multipurpose Screwdriver – Swap out Phillips-head bits, nut bits and slotted bits for different jobs.

• Pipe Wrench – Plumbing job? Use this.

• Long-Nose Pliers - Helpful during electrical jobs. Also, use them to hold nails when beginning hammering.

• Adjusting Pliers – These have many uses, as they can bend, unscrew or manipulate in several ways.

• Utility Knife – Makes making sharp, straight cuts easy.

• Screws and Nails – When you have reinforcements, bending a nail or losing a screw isn’t an issue.

• Tape Measure – A retractable model with 20-25 feet will handle most jobs.

• Old Toothbrush – Ideal for applying grout sealant and other products to small surfaces and cleaning hard-to-reach places.

• Work Gloves – Never hammer your nail or jam or prick your finger again once you start wearing these bad boys.

• Safety Goggles – Shield your eyes from toxic solvents and wood and metal shavings by wearing these.

• Painter’s Tool – Use to remove caulking around showers and tubs, remove and spread putty, spread Spackle and joint compound and clean rollers.

• Sandpaper – Removing material? Choose coarse grit. Finishing or smoothing a surface?

As home maintenance experts, we know a thing or two about DIY projects and with this list you’ll be stress-free the next time you have to install new gutters or complete another DIY home project.

Quick Fixes For Damages to a Roof

Storms can wreak a lot of havoc on a home. Especially to one’s roof. Sometimes so much so, that a significant roof repair is required. But what do you do if something happens to your roof and a repairman can’t work on it in the middle of the storm? You very well can’t let rainwater pour into your exposed house. You should do some emergency patchwork if you can, at least to hold it over until some professional work can be done. Here’s what to do:

The thing to realize about roof repairs in the wake of a storm is that they don’t have to be pretty or permanent. They just have to work long enough to secure your home until a professional repairman can come.

For a small hole – Tuck a piece of aluminum flashing under the nearest intact shingle above the damage. Use one or two nails to keep the aluminum flashing in place. This is a quick fix though so don’t wait too long to repair it with a real shingle. This should only be used to hold your roof over until the storm breaks and you can get it professionally repaired.

For any larger damage – If the storms are bad and you’ve got to cover up a large area quick, drape a tarp over the ridge and fasten every grommet to the roof sheathing with a 2 inch screw and 1.5 inch fender washer. If you have a tile roof that can’t be screwed into, fasten the edges of the tarp to the roof’s rakes and eaves. This should keep rain out temporarily.

For longer-term patching: Although you really need to get a professional roof repairman there immediately after the storm, if you can’t then here’s how to tarp for longer periods of time. First, cover the hole with 5/8 inch exterior grade plywood and fasten to the undamaged areas with 2 inch deck screws. This should prevent water from pooling up on the tarp. Now, pull the tarp so one edge goes over the roof peak and a few feet down the other side. Secure the tarp’s edges with 1x3 strapping and screw to the roof sheathing or fasten to the roof’s rakes and eaves. This should hold intact, until you can get a repairman out.

Emergency Roofing Repair

Emergency roof repair is a must to deal with roof holes and pouring water. Once you get supplies and items ready, you can start up with the work. All you need here are tin snips, staple guns, nails, plastic sheeting and hammers. The first step towards emergency roof repair is cutting out a piece of flashing or sheet metal six inches larger than the area under repair.

Use temporary piece of hammer and wood, nailing through flashing or sheet metal and attaching everything at one time to the roof. You can even use sheet plastic over the wood repair and sheet metal. Get some additional wood pieces and nail them over sheet metal, but as larger patches. In case the damage is close enough to your roof pinnacle, run plastic over to the sides, hammering strips of wood along the exterior edges.

Guidelines

In case you don't have enough wood for emergency roof repair work, use staples to tack the sheet plastic and metal over damaged area. Whatever you do, ensure it is placed tightly against the roof. In case it blows off in another storm, there is a high likelihood that it would injure someone.

Wind is usually a strong force and you would hope to ensure that everything is safe and secure on the roof. Few important tips that would help during roof repair is to use tool belt to prevent you from running errands. This is much safer. For storms, gear up with non-slippery shoes.

Important Tips

Emergency roof repair is highly essential to prevent degradation of your roof. Leaks are pretty major problem, and need to be immediately resolved. Else there is a high risk of widespread damage. Heavy storms such as hurricanes can wreak havoc, and the best way to deal with it is to keep everyone involved.

Queens · Arverne · Astoria · Bayside NY · Bayside Hills · Belle Harbor · Bellerose · Bellerose Harbor · Bellerose Manor · Bellrs Manor · Breezy Point · College Point · Corona · Douglaston · East Elmhurst · Elmhurst · Floral Park NY · Flushing · Forest Hills · Fresh Meodows · Glen Oaks · Hollis · Howard Beach · Jackson Heights · Laurelton · Little Neck · Maspeth · Middle Village · Ozone Park · Queens Village · Rego Park · Richmond Hills · Rockaway Beach ·NY· Z Ozone Park · S Richmond · Saint Albans · South Ozone Park · Springfield Gardens · Whitestone · Woodside · Rosedale · Woodhaven