If you want to try a roof repair yourself, here's how

Most of us are glad to have a roof over our heads these days. But if your roof leaks, you should have it repaired. Doing it yourself is a great way to save money, but if not done correctly, it can lead to more problems. That being said, sometimes you just have to take care of things yourself, and so we want to make sure you have the knowledge to do it.

Safety should be your No. 1 concern when working on a roof. Always have a buddy on hand to make sure you can get help if you need it. Wear long pants, long sleeves and rubber-soled shoes that fit well. Make sure your ladder is in good shape and on solid ground. Don't work in the rain or on a very windy day. Don't start it if you can't finish it.

If you have a shingle that isn't damaged but has just come loose on the edge or is starting to curl, you probably can glue it back in place with some roofing tar, available at your home center.

Other repairs will take more time and tools. Plan to carry the following tools with you when you climb your ladder: Include a pry bar, hammer, roofing tar in a caulking gun (ready to use), roofing nails and your repair shingles.

You need to remove the damaged shingle first by carefully lifting the shingle on top of the damaged one just enough to pry the nails holding it down. If you can't get them out, pull out the damaged shingle and drive down the old nails so they are no longer protruding. Next, slide the new shingle into place and install new 1-1/4-inch roofing nails. Next apply roofing caulk between the new shingle and the overlapping shingle to glue it in place.

If your roof is heavily damaged, it's probably not a DIY project, but for smaller areas, it's always worth a shot!

Tennis balls keep tools from disappearing

Ever mowed over a lawn rake or your extension cord? Unfortunately, we have come dangerously close. The fact is that when your grass gets a little tall and tools are lying on the ground, they can be a danger for a lot of reasons. Make them more visible by slipping old tennis balls over the handles. Just cut an X on each side of the ball and slip it over the handle. Slip one or two on your extension cords, too. It will keep these items from disappearing in tall grass.

An easy umbrella stand

The deal we found online for a new patio umbrella was unbeatable. But when it arrived, we discovered that the shaft of the umbrella was much larger than the one we were replacing, and it wouldn't fit into the old stand. We had to create our own stand. We got a large clay pot, covered the hole in the bottom and cut a piece of PVC pipe that was just barely larger around than the shaft of the umbrella and the same depth as the pot. After placing the pipe in the pot vertically, we filled the pot with plaster of Paris, leaving the pipe in the center empty. After it set up, we put the pot out on the patio and put the umbrella right into it. It's heavy and sturdy, and the umbrella looks great. At last, some shade!

Super hints

• If you are trying to filter or strain liquids as you pour them through a funnel, place a coffee filter in the funnel first. They make great filters for shop liquids, too.

• Plastic shower caps are great for covering your hair when you paint or do other messy jobs around the house. But they also are great for covering leftovers in the refrigerator. You can use them on the bottom of hanging baskets indoors to prevent drips on your floors, too. Check out the prices at the beauty supply. You can get a dozen of them for only a dollar or two.

• If your newspaper comes in a plastic bag and you have a paint project coming up, save those bags. They are perfect for storing paintbrushes and rollers when you need to take a break. They also can make great gloves.

Q. I have noticed a hot spot in my hallway where the attic stairs are. These are pulled down through a trapdoor in the ceiling, and I can feel the heat around the edges of the door even when it's closed. How can I insulate it better?

A. There are two things you can do to seal up this opening. Add weatherstripping around the edges of the door. This can be peel-and-stick foam weatherstripping or the PVC "V" strip - whatever works best for your door opening. Then you can add insulation on top of the stairs by creating your own "cap" from foam insulation board, batts or a combination of these. There also are some prefab kits that are fairly inexpensive and very easy to install. Check your hardware store for its stock. Some are better than others, especially if you have to access the attic periodically to store items or change HVAC filters.

Q The grout in my guest bathroom is dirty, and I've tried everything to get it clean. Nothing seems to work. I want it to be white again. How can I do this?

A. Try making a bleach-and-baking-soda paste, putting it on the grout and letting it sit for a while. If that doesn't clean the grout, you might have to remove some of it and replace it with new grout. After you clean or replace the grout, apply a grout sealer. Apply a sealer a couple of times a year after thoroughly cleaning it.

Q. In one of our bathrooms, we have an old towel holder that seems to be glued to the wall. We would like to remove it but don't want to damage the ceramic tiles on the wall. What will work?

A. Try a paint-and-varnish remover to loosen the glue. Keep in mind that it will remove the paint from other surfaces, so you should keep it from getting on your walls, floor, etc. Use a putty knife to try to pry the rack from the wall once the adhesive is loosened.

Reader tips

• I decided to install new carpet, and wanted to rearrange the furniture. I am definitely not a decorator, so I needed some help. I measured the furniture and then cut out pieces of newspaper to those sizes. Then I moved these paper pieces around until I felt like they fit together well. I then started moving in the furniture. Other than a couple of minor changes, the arrangement looked very nice. I've even had compliments from family and neighbors. I think I will keep my day job, though.

• I use spray paint for my hobbies. I find that they do clog up sometimes, and I don't like to waste paint, so I have a great way to keep the nozzles free-flowing. When I finish painting for the day, I remove the nozzle and place it on a spray can of WD-40 and give it a squirt. This clears the paint from the nozzle. Then I can put it back on the paint can, and it will be ready to go when I need it.

• I found some stick-on wire holders that work great for securing all types of wires around your home. The double-sided tape sticks on most surfaces, and the front has a small hook that holds the wire. I've used them to hold phone wires, cable wires and, most recently, twinkle lights underneath our kitchen cabinets. These things are great, and are super handy!

• Our kitchen has recessed lights. They are really great-looking and seem to last a long time. But when I do have to replace a bulb, it's really hard to do because there is not enough room to grab the bulb to turn it and get the old one out and the new one in. I have found, though, that I can make a sort of handle out of masking tape to put on the bulb so I can turn it. I make a loop on both ends of the tape and attach it to the front of the light bulb and turn it out. Then I put more tape on the new bulb to make installing it easier. It works for me.

• While on vacation, we visited a restaurant that had plastic bags, filled with water, hanging over the bar. I asked why, and they said it was to keep the flies away. Apparently the flies don't like the look of the water bags. I tried this at home on our back patio because we, too, have flies. It works! I don't know why or how, but it does. You don't have to change the water, either - just hang them up and don't worry about them.

Shop talk

• If you have done a good job of weatherproofing your home, it will be sealed up tightly. This will save energy but may, in some cases, create a mildew problem. Mildew not only looks and smells bad, but it can ruin walls, carpeting and just about any surface it gets on. Learn how to rid your home of this problem once and for all. We've put together a pamphlet called "Mildew Around Your House," and it is full of tips on how to get rid of mildew and how to keep it from coming back.

• Craftsman recently introduced the Dog Bone 8-in-1 wrench. The Go-Thru swivel head allows you to easily access all eight of the sockets. The most popular sizes are included, and the built-in 8-pound magnet holds your hardware while you work. All sockets have the Cam-Lock 6-point contact area for less slipping and stripping. And it's triple chrome plated and corrosion resistant, so it'll last a super-long time. They are available in a variety of sizes, and you can see and buy them at your Sears store or online at www.sears.com or www.craftsman.com.

• StuckOnTools is a great idea. The steel backing board is easy to mount on just about any surface, and comes in a variety of colors. The wide assortment of magnetic hangers, hooks, bins and other devices can hold just about any tool you might want to hang in your shop. The company also makes organizers for the office, kitchen and garden shed. Check them out at www.stuckontools.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells' website at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.