Spring Home Fixes for $25 or Less

Warm weather means it's time to take on those spring repairs. But you can do them this year for less.

On "The Early Show," Matt Blashaw, contractor and DIY Network host of "Money Hunters," showed three home improvement fix-up tips that cost less than $25.

HOW TO REPAIR CRACKS IN A DRYWALL CEILING
Cracks in a drywall ceiling; is another challenge for homeowners. This can be caused the wood moving in the framing due to shrinkage of improperly dried lumber or seasonal changes in temperature and humidity. The common approach is to fill the crack with spackling then paint over it, but this is at best a temporary fix, since the crack will usually come back as the seasons change. A better solution is to apply drywall compound and tape over the crack to keep it from telegraphing through.

HOW TO:
1. Remove Old Drywall Patches and Tape - Make sure your workspace is covered with a drop cloth. Remove any old drywall tape or patches with the scrapper. To remove drywall tape, use the 5-in-1 tool to get underneath the lip of the tape and begin to take the whole strip off.
2. Widen the Ceiling Crack - Next, take the scrapper (5-in-1) tool and rip a gouge in the ceiling just to make the crack a bit wider. This will give the joint compound something to adhere to.
3. Apply Drywall Tape and Mud - Apply a single strip of drywall tape to the crack. Then, apply the first layer of joint compound making sure to push the mud through the mesh of the tape and into the crack.
4. Smooth the Surface - Once you've got the first layer on, go over it with a damp double-sided sponge. Use the rough side to smooth out any lumps, then go back over with the smooth side to finish it.
5. Sand and Paint - Sand down the area if needed; prime and paint the area.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:
• Larger cracks might require you to cut a piece of the drywall out and apply a patch. After the patch is in place, all the other steps are the same.
• Cracks can sometimes mean damage that is more serious. Assessing this crack before repairing can save you even more money in the end.
• If drywall is loose you may need to drill some drywall screws into the ceiling. These screws will attach to the wooden support blocks which were installed in the attic above in the first step of this project.

Drywall Repair Products:
Dap Products
Drywall from Lowe's

MORE TIPS:
HomeTips.com on Spring Repairs
DIY Network on Covering a Ceiling Crack

CLEANING DECK FOR SUMMER FUN
Summer is almost here, so it's time to move out the patio furniture and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors. But what about your wood deck? Dirt, mildew and fungus stains can ruin the look of your deck. No need to shell out a bunch of cash for a pressure washer -- use "oxalic acid" and a little baking soda for easy clean-up.

TIP:
Use Oxygen bleach or oxalic acid. This is different than chlorine bleach, but can be found at home-improvement and grocery stores. Oxygen bleach doesn't discolor wood. (REDWOOD MIGHT BE THE EXCEPTION)

HOW TO:
1. Mix four ounces of oxalic acid crystals with one gallon of water
2. Spread solution onto your deck
3. Let solution sit for about 10 to 15 minutes
4. Scrub lightly with a soft deck brush
5. Rinse using a mixture of 1 tbsp of baking soda with 1 gallon of water to rinse. (the baking soda neutralizes acid)
6. Hose deck to rinse

HOW TO MAKE USE THE PRODUCT:
1. Oxalic Acid
Ace Hardware
Product Name: Savogran
SKU Number: 11221
The front of container says "wood bleach", but if the correct portion is used, research indicates it should not bleach the wood, only clean it. (THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OXYGEN BLEACH PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET -- EVEN OXI-CLEAN)
2. One gallon of water
3. Clear one gallon bucket to show mixture
4. Scrub brush standard scrub brush (on a pole if you have enough prop room)
5. Spray nozzle attached to short hose
6. 24" X 24" or larger wood decking sample (borrow from home improvement store)
7. Baking soda
8. Rubber gloves (skin protection)
9. Safety protection glasses (because of the acid)

Additional Cleaning methods to check out.

OUTDOOR SOLAR LIGHTING:
Outdoor solar lights are becoming very popular, especially now that the prices of these lights have dropped dramatically. They can light up a garden path or a dark walkway. The challenge of these lights is they're not all the same and some aren't very bright. There are a few things to know about when choosing and installing solar lights.

Accent solar lights - small all-in-one units
• Stakes directly into the ground.
• Decorative that hangs from a support stake.
• Accent solar lights are not very bright, with possibly as few as one LED.

Pathway solar lights
These are small lights that are directional - either with a reflector reflecting the light downward or a small spot light shape to direct the light as needed. They are typically brighter than accent lights. Use a group of these along a pathway for best effect. They come in a variety of sizes, designs and light outputs, some even include on off switches allowing the homeowner to give the batteries an extra charge in advance of a special evening event.

Task spot lights
These are brightest solar lights on the market -- about 40 watts or more -- at night that's a lot. With their directional spotlight beam they can be used to feature an architectural detail or light up a wall. These units usually come with a separate solar collector to absorb more energy from the sun. One advantage to the separate collector is that the light can be placed in the shade, while the collector is placed in the sun for maximum solar charging effect.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:
• Hiring an electrician to install AC powered light is expensive and can be messy - tearing up a yard. Whereas, solar units require only proper placement so they get sunshine and meet the lighting needs.
• Solar energy is free!
• LED bulbs are what make solar lights possible. Regular incandescent bulbs use too much energy.
• When shopping for solar lights, it's important to match the function you want it to perform: accent, pathway, or spotlight.

Outdoor Solar Lights - where to use and what kind
- Selecting Solar lights

Solar light products:
Solar Illumniations
Solar lights at Lowe's

Drywall Ceiling Repair - tools and techniques
How to instructions for drywall repairs

SWITCH PLATES - A SIMPLE YET STYLISH MAKEOVER FOR THE SUMMER
You don't have to break the bank when it comes to room makeovers to usher in the summer months. As simple a change as light switch plates can make any old room seem new again, and all for less than it costs to install chair rail molding -- with none of the install hassle. Here are some great DIY ideas available for the homeowner:

Painting Switch Plates
Painting on switch plates is an easy way to update the appearance of a plate. With an acrylic paint you can create your own designs or take your inspiration from elements in the room. You'll want to sandpaper the plate first and apply a wall primer to give the paint a good bonding agent. And if the plate is going to be in a high traffic area such as a hallway or living room, a spray-on clear coat for added protection is also a good idea.

Carving Switch Plates
For those skilled carving tools a wooden switch plate might be a great option. Simple wooden plates are inexpensive and can be carved into designs to match the décor of any room.

Papered Switch Plates
With just a little decoupage glue you can cut pieces of paper into whatever design you wish and breathe life into any switch plate. The choice of materials is endless from maps to magazines to children's artwork and even family photos.

Materials Needed:
Small can of acrylic paint
Sandpaper (200 grit)
Small can of primer
Clear coat spray
Wooden plates (untouched and carved plates)
Carving tools
Decoupage glue
Magazine pages, children's artwork, family photos

For more information on this project, click here to go to E-How.com.

BUILD A WOODEN FLOWER BOX TO HANG ON YOUR DECK RAILING
• A simple design with very few pieces makes building a hanging flower box easy
• Use treated lumber or rot-resistant wood, like cedar
• Use rust-resistant hardware and stainless steel screws
• Hardware to hang the box from either a wooden or metal railing exists for purchase

For more information on this project, click here for DIY Network's story.
Ace Flower Box Deck Bracket
Fairfield Deck Rail Kit with Hardware for 3 Foot Window Box