Renewing silicone joints

What you need:

• Joint scraper
• Silicone cartridge and gun
• Joint smoother
• masking tape

This is how it works: Remove the old silicone with the scraper and mask off the dry joint area on both sides. Cut the tip of the cartridge at an angle so that it corresponds to the desired joint width. Clamp into the gun and fill the joint evenly with silicone. Then smooth the surface with a joint smoother. Everything is fully cured and loadable after 24 hours.

Plastering the holes

What you need:

• Plaster
• Old newspapers or absorbent cotton
• Putty knife
• Masking film
• Paintbrush

This is how it works: Mask off the area around the hole. Insert damp newspaper or absorbent cotton into smaller dowel holes: This prevents too much plaster from disappearing into the hole. Mix the plaster to a viscous paste and press in firmly with the spatula. Smooth the surface. After a few minutes, brush over with a wet brush - this will make the area appear to disappear.

Drill correctly

What you need:

• Drill
• Dowel
• Cable locator (DIY store)

This is how it works: Use a cable locator to check that there are no cables running at the intended location. Try out the correct screw length on the wall plug: it should fit no more than a quarter of the way into the wall plug when turned by hand. Mark the exact position of the drill hole clearly with a pencil cross. Always drill straight into the wall, first at low speed, then faster. Always drill 20 percent deeper than the length of the plug so that there is room at the back of the hole for drilling dust to be pushed together.

Faucet - replacing the seal

This is what you need:

• Wrench
• New seal (DIY store)
• Tap grease

This is how it works: Close the tap or angle valves under the sink. Pull the handle off the tap and loosen the upper part of the valve using a wrench. Remove the seal, clean the bed of limescale and dirt and insert the new seal. Coat the thread with tap grease.

Repairing laminate yourself

What you need:

• Repair paste in the same color (DIY store)
• Plastic spatula

This is how it works: Clean the scratches well and fill them with the repair compound according to the instructions. Place a piece of plastic film on top and press the compound down with your protected fingers so that it anchors itself in the roughness of the hole. Then remove the film and smooth the surface with a plastic spatula. Some coverings should be sealed with a clear lacquer stick - follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Touching up wallpaper

What you need:

• Remaining piece of wallpaper
• Carpet knife
• Wallpaper paste
• Putty knife

This is how it works: Cut a rectangular piece from the leftover piece that fits into the pattern and is slightly larger than the damaged area. Place the piece on the damaged wallpaper, run a carpet knife around the edges and cut out a piece of the same size from the lower wallpaper. Remove this with a spatula. Apply wallpaper paste to the remaining piece and stick it in the open area.