Fix the annoying jobs list: a weekend of small repairs

A weekend project to clear your snagging list: doors, a dripping tap, bath seal, a drawer, a radiator and a toilet seat.

Guides in this project

01Fix a squeaky door hinge 02Fix a door that won't latch 03Fix a dripping tap by replacing the washer 04Reseal a bath 05Replace a lever door handle on a rose 06Fix a wooden drawer that sticks 07Bleed a radiator 08Replace a toilet seat

PH-01Plan the weekend and buy everything firstWalk round the house and write down every small job on your list, then check which guides below cover each one. Buy all parts in one trip so you're not stopping mid-job: hinge screws, a latch repair kit, a tap washer kit matched to your tap, bath sealant, a lever handle, drawer wax or new runners, a radiator key, and a toilet seat. Set aside a full weekend, since the bath resealing needs 24 hours to cure before you can use the bath again, which affects your order of work.

1 pack · Assorted hinge screws

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1 each · Door latch repair kit

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1 each · Tap washer kit

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1 tube · Bath sealant (mould-resistant)

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1 each · Lever door handle set

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1 each · Drawer runners or candle wax

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1 each · Radiator bleed key

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1 each · Soft-close toilet seat

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PH-02Start with the squeaky door hingeFollow the guide 'Fix a squeaky door hinge' first, since it's quick and gives you an easy win before the bigger jobs. Do this on any internal doors on your list before moving on. This is a good warm-up job to check your screwdriver set and get into the swing of the weekend.

1 can · Fine machine oil or silicone spray

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PH-03Fix any door that won't latch properlyFollow the guide 'Fix a door that won't latch' next, while you're already working on doors. If a door has both a squeak and a latch problem, sort the hinge first so the door hangs correctly before you adjust the latch plate. This step can take longer than expected if the frame has swollen or moved, so allow extra time.

1 tub · Wood filler

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1 pack · Replacement strike plate screws

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PH-04Fit the lever handle while the door's already apartFollow the guide 'Replace a lever door handle on a rose' now, while you're still working on doors and have your screwdrivers out. Doing it straight after the latch fix means you can check the new handle works the latch properly. Check the new handle's spindle length matches your door thickness before fitting.

1 each · Lever handle set with spindle

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PH-05Sort the dripping tapFollow the guide 'Fix a dripping tap by replacing the washer', turning off the water to the tap first, at its isolating valve or the stopcock. If the isolation valve or stopcock is seized or won't turn, stop and call a plumber rather than forcing it, since a damaged valve can cause a much bigger leak. This job usually takes under an hour once the water's off.

RULES

1 each · Tap washer and O-ring kit

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1 roll · PTFE tape

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KNOW THE RULES

If a stopcock or isolation valve is seized, stuck, or leaking when turned, call a plumber rather than forcing it.

PH-06Reseal the bath and leave it to cureFollow the guide 'Reseal a bath' once the tap is sorted and the bathroom is dry. Do this early in the weekend, ideally on day one, since most sealants need around 24 hours before the bath can be used again. Plan to use another bathroom in the house, or shower only, until the seal has fully cured.

1 tube · Mould-resistant bath sealant

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1 roll · Masking tape

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1 each · Sealant smoothing tool

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PH-07Fix the sticking drawerFollow the guide 'Fix a wooden drawer that sticks' while the bath seal is curing, since this job doesn't need the bathroom. It's a good one to fit into a spare half hour between other tasks. Check the drawer slides smoothly both empty and loaded before calling the job done.

1 each · Candle wax or drawer runners

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1 sheet · Fine sandpaper

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PH-08Bleed the radiatorsFollow the guide 'Bleed a radiator' for any radiators with cold spots or that are noisy. Do this when the heating has been off for a while, so the radiators are cool and the water won't scald you. Check your boiler pressure gauge afterwards and top up if needed, as bleeding radiators can drop the pressure.

1 each · Radiator bleed key

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1 each · Old cloth or small container

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PH-09Replace the toilet seatFollow the guide 'Replace a toilet seat' last, as it's quick and self-contained. This is a good job to finish on, since it needs no drying or curing time and gives you a tidy end to the weekend. Check both fixing bolts are tightened evenly so the seat doesn't rock.

1 each · Soft-close toilet seat with fixings

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PH-10Final walk-round and snagging checkOnce the bath seal has fully cured, test everything on your original list: open and close doors, run the tap, check the bath edge for gaps, open the drawer fully, and check radiators heat evenly. Total cost for this whole project is typically £70 to £130 in parts, and realistically takes a full weekend, or two if you spread jobs across evenings. If anything feels beyond a straightforward repair, such as a door frame that's badly warped or pipework that looks corroded, get a carpenter or plumber in rather than pushing on.

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