Residential Repairs Course

Lesson 1 • Power Tools for Home Repair

Covers drills, circular saws, jigsaws, and sanders with safe operating procedures. Proficiency with power tools accelerates nearly every repair category covered later.

Lesson 2 • Personal Safety and Job Site Preparation

Covers PPE selection, hazard identification, and site setup procedures. Establishes the safety baseline required before any hands-on repair task begins.

Lesson 3 • Common Building Materials Overview

Surveys lumber, drywall, concrete, masonry, and fasteners used in residential repairs. Material knowledge informs correct selection decisions in every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 4 • Essential Hand Tools and Their Uses

Introduces hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, chisels, and measuring tools. Correct tool selection directly reduces repair time and prevents material damage.

Lesson 1 • Applying and Finishing Joint Compound

Covers coat sequencing, drying times, and feathering techniques for professional results. Proper finishing eliminates visible seams and reduces painting prep time.

Lesson 2 • Texturing and Priming Repaired Surfaces

Introduces knockdown, orange peel, and skip-trowel textures to match existing walls. Priming seals compound and ensures uniform paint absorption.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Drywall Construction

Explains drywall composition, standard sizes, and how panels attach to framing. This context guides correct cutting and fastening decisions in all repair tasks.

Lesson 4 • Patching Small Holes and Cracks

Covers mesh patches, setting compound, and crack repair techniques for minor damage. Small-patch skills form the foundation for larger drywall replacement work.

Lesson 1 • Paint Types and Sheen Selection

Compares latex, alkyd, and specialty paints and matches sheen levels to room function. Sheen selection affects both durability and the visual outcome of the repair.

Lesson 2 • Primers and Their Applications

Explains PVA, shellac, and bonding primers and when each is required. Correct primer choice prevents bleed-through, peeling, and uneven sheen.

Lesson 3 • Surface Preparation Techniques

Covers cleaning, sanding, filling, and masking surfaces before paint application. Thorough prep is the single greatest factor in paint adhesion and finish quality.

Lesson 4 • Brush, Roller, and Spray Application

Teaches cutting in with a brush, rolling walls, and basic spray technique for even coverage. Consistent application method prevents lap marks and texture variation.

Lesson 1 • Laminate and Engineered Floor Repair

Addresses plank replacement, chip repair, and expansion gap correction for floating floors. Click-lock system knowledge prevents damage to adjacent undamaged planks.

Lesson 2 • Hardwood Floor Repair

Covers board replacement, re-nailing, filling gaps, and spot refinishing on hardwood floors. Students match existing wood species and finish for seamless repairs.

Lesson 3 • Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Repair

Covers grout removal, tile extraction, mortar bed prep, and re-grouting for tile repairs. Matching grout color and tile pattern maintains visual continuity.

Lesson 4 • Subfloor Assessment and Repair

Teaches identifying squeaks, soft spots, and moisture damage in subfloor assemblies. A sound subfloor is the prerequisite for any successful finish floor installation.

Lesson 1 • Toilet Repair and Replacement

Covers flapper, fill valve, flush valve, and wax ring replacement for common toilet failures. Students diagnose running, leaking, and weak-flush conditions accurately.

Lesson 2 • Faucet and Valve Replacement

Teaches cartridge, ball, and ceramic-disc faucet disassembly and replacement. Valve replacement restores full flow control and eliminates drip waste.

Lesson 3 • Residential Plumbing System Basics

Explains supply, drain-waste-vent, and fixture branch layouts in a typical home. System understanding is required before safely isolating any repair zone.

Lesson 4 • Fixing Leaks in Supply Lines and Fittings

Covers compression, push-fit, and soldered joint repairs for copper and PEX supply lines. Leak repair skills prevent water damage that compounds other repair needs.

Lesson 1 • Replacing Circuit Breakers

Covers breaker sizing, panel safety, and single-pole and double-pole breaker replacement. Students identify tripped, faulty, and undersized breakers before replacement.

Lesson 2 • Replacing Outlets and Switches

Covers safe removal, wire identification, and installation of standard, GFCI, and dimmer devices. Correct wiring prevents shock hazards and device failure.

Lesson 3 • Troubleshooting Electrical Problems

Applies multimeter and circuit tracer use to diagnose dead outlets, flickering lights, and tripped breakers. Systematic diagnosis prevents unnecessary component replacement.

Lesson 4 • Light Fixture and Ceiling Fan Installation

Teaches mounting box selection, wire connections, and fan blade balancing for overhead fixtures. Proper box support prevents fixture failure and ceiling damage.

Lesson 1 • Roof Flashing and Minor Roof Repairs

Teaches step flashing, valley flashing, and shingle replacement for common leak sources. Students work safely on low-slope roofs and identify limits requiring professional escalation.

Lesson 2 • Weatherstripping Doors and Windows

Covers foam, V-strip, door sweep, and compression weatherstripping installation and replacement. Effective weatherstripping reduces drafts and lowers heating and cooling costs.

Lesson 3 • Siding Repair and Replacement

Covers vinyl, wood, fiber cement, and engineered wood siding repair and panel replacement. Matching profile and finish maintains curb appeal and weather resistance.

Lesson 4 • Diagnosing Exterior Moisture Problems

Teaches visual inspection, moisture meter use, and tracing water intrusion paths on building exteriors. Accurate diagnosis prevents misapplied repairs and recurring damage.

Lesson 1 • Sequencing Multi-Trade Repair Work

Teaches logical trade sequencing to avoid rework when plumbing, electrical, and finish work overlap. Correct sequencing reduces total project time and material waste.

Lesson 2 • Working with Permits and Inspections

Explains when permits are required, how to prepare for inspections, and how to address inspector findings. Permit compliance protects homeowners and repair professionals legally.

Lesson 3 • Quality Control and Inspection Techniques

Applies checklists, visual inspection, and functional testing to verify repair quality at each phase. Systematic QC catches defects before they are covered by subsequent work.

Lesson 4 • Handoff, Documentation, and Warranties

Covers project closeout, as-built documentation, warranty communication, and client handoff procedures. Thorough documentation builds trust and reduces post-project disputes.