About GrabTheHammer
Homeowners, landlords and property managers
Home repairs can be confusing enough without advice that assumes you're a contractor. GrabTheHammer is for the person standing in front of something broken, phone in hand, wondering what to try next.
- Ads never decide our picks
- 274 things we can help you fix
- We tell you when to call a pro
Who we are
GrabTheHammer is written by a small team with many years of owning homes, running rental properties and managing buildings for other people. Between us we've dealt with most of what's on this site more than once: the toilet that runs all night, the tenant call about no hot water, the gutter that pulled loose in a storm.
That mix matters. Owning a house teaches you what's worth doing yourself. Managing rentals teaches you what breaks most often, what a quick fix can save, and when it's cheaper in the end to call someone the first time.
Mike Turner, GrabTheHammer author
Mike Turner brings years of hands-on experience repairing homes, maintaining rental properties and working with property management companies. He's dealt with everything from leaky faucets and stubborn doors to plumbing headaches, worn-out fixtures and the endless little repairs that come with keeping properties in good shape. Mike's the kind of guy who'd rather grab his toolbox and figure out what's wrong than replace something that can be fixed. He believes in doing the job right, keeping things simple, and tackling small problems before they turn into expensive ones. And while he's always up for a good DIY challenge, he knows when it's smarter to call in a licensed pro.
How we write
We start by explaining what's happening, so you know why each step matters. You'll find cost and time estimates, safety precautions up front, and clear advice on when to call a licensed pro. Every guide has a diagram and a picture for each step.
Using our images
You can use our photos and diagrams for free, on your own site, in print or for a business, under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0). The only condition: credit GrabTheHammer and link to the guide the image came from.
Every diagram and step picture on the site is drawn by us and checked against the real part or tool before it goes up. If one ever looks wrong, tell us and we will redraw it.
Example credit: Photo: GrabTheHammer, "Recaulk a tub or shower", with a link to that guide. Please download the image and host it yourself; our images can't be loaded directly from our site. A few images may be marked otherwise; for those, contact us first.
Our standards
- Built on the right sources. Guides follow manufacturer guidance and common code requirements. Where a safety agency covers the topic, like the U.S. Fire Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the EPA, we check against it too and link to it in the guide.
- Safety first, always. Warnings go before the steps, not after them.
- Honest about the limits. Some jobs aren't DIY jobs. We don't give instructions for working on gas lines, inside the electrical panel, or on anything structural. Those guides tell you to call a pro, and why.
- Kept current. The date at the top of each guide is the last time it was reviewed. We update guides as products, prices and best practices change.
Independent
We show ads from Google to keep the guides free, but ads never decide what we recommend. No one pays us to recommend a product, a brand or a contractor. When a guide names a type of tool or part, it's because that's what the job needs.
Recently added
Dishwasher not cleaning dishesKitchen & laundry
Replace a light fixtureElectrical
Ceiling fan not workingElectrical
Furnace turns on and off too oftenHeating & cooling
Sliding door hard to openDoors & windows
Weatherstrip an exterior doorDoors & windows
Condensation on the inside of windowsDoors & windows
Water stain on the ceilingWalls
Common questions
Are you licensed contractors?
No. We're experienced owners and property managers, not a contracting company. That's why every guide says clearly when a job needs a licensed pro.
Can I ask about my own problem?
Yes. Every guide has a "Still stuck? Ask us" box at the bottom. Questions that will help others get answered on the guide.
Can I share or print a guide?
Please do. Use the share and print buttons on any guide. Our photos and diagrams are free to reuse with credit and a link (see using our images). Please don't copy the guide text onto another website.
I rent. Is this site for me?
Yes. Many guides include a note for renters on what's usually fine to fix yourself and what to report to your landlord.
Spot a mistake? Tell us
If something doesn't match what you found in your own home, we want to hear about it. Corrections make these guides better for the next person. Use the form below, or email us at hello@grabthehammer.com.