Apartment “Fixer Upper” Questions Answered

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Dear Apartments.com,

At a recent party a “friend” punched a hole in the wall during a fight. How do I fix it?

Punched in Plainville, KS

Dear Punched,

This seems like a major problem, but it’s really not too hard to fix. First you need to cut the drywall back until you reach the non-damaged part. Measure and cut a piece of plywood ½ inch thick that is 2 inches wider than the hole on all sides. Cut the plywood in half. Fit the first piece of plywood through the hole and pull it tight against the backside of the wall. Screw in 1”or longer drywall screws, pulling the plywood tight against the drywall. Place screws 3 inches around the circumference of the hole and tighten the screws with a drill so that you sink the screw head in the drywall (but not so much that it goes completely through). With the second piece of plywood, start one of the screws in the center of the piece of plywood, leaving half of it showing. You’ve just created a handle to pull on. Insert and screw in the panel just like you did the first. Lastly, cut a replacement drywall piece to fit the hole and screw to the plywood backing. Finish it with tape and spackle as with any drywall seam.

Dear Apartments.com:

I love my glass sliding doors but they are constantly coming off the track! Is there an easy way to fix them?

Off Track in Ocean Springs, MS

Dear Off Track,

Sliding doors are beautiful, but you need to keep the track area clean in order for the doors to slide easily and stay in place. First, check the floor for dirt or debris that may be obstructing the rollers. Squirt some powdered graphite onto the rollers and rub a block of paraffin onto the tracks. Check the alignment of the latch if it’s not catching properly. Keep the screws that are holding the track in place tight. You also might want to raise the door on its track by adjusting those same screws (turn then counterclockwise to raise the door). If you’re still having problems, replacing the rollers is a relatively easy way to solve this annoying problem.

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