Many exterior issues with your home don't require a professional. You can do all of these maintenance and repair projects yourself — we'll show you how.
13 Exterior Home Repairs That’ll Keep Your Home in Top Shape
Updated on Jun. 25, 2025
1
/
13
Replace a Damaged Shingle
Asphalt shingles withstand years of abuse from wind, rain, sleet and snow, but they can tear like cardboard when struck by a falling tree limb or branch. Replacing a shingle only takes about 10 minutes — just be careful not to damage any other shingles. Stay off the roof in hot weather when the shingles tear easily, and walking on them can strip off the coating.
2
/
13
Replace Vent Flashing
All-metal plumbing vents present two opportunities for leaks — first, where the flashing meets the roof, and second, where the vent pipe meets the flashing. When the latter situation occurs, caulking and similar fixes will prove to be only temporary cures. You’ll have to replace the flashing, either with a rubber-sleeve version or the telescoping two-piece type.
3
/
13
Repair Windows
Obviously, you can’t glue broken glass back together. But, for windows that get stuck, let in drafts or have moisture issues, DIY solutions abound. Fix old windows, double-hung windows, window glass glazing and screens.
4
/
13
Apply New Weatherstripping
If you can see light creeping beneath exterior doors, air can also escape. Grab a few packages of self-adhesive, rubber-foam weatherstripping and go to town, sealing any and all doors that lead outside. Have weatherstripping already installed, but still suffering from a high gas bill? It might be time to replace the strips installed by the previous owners.
5
/
13
Straighten Gutters
If your metal gutters have developed a middle-aged sag, try giving them a tummy tuck! Look for some version of a gutter support bracket that works with your gutters to lift the low spots. Aligned gutters drain water better and prevent debris from accumulating. If your metal gutters show a middle-aged bulge, get ’em back in shape with these easy-to-install gutter hangers.
6
/
13
Replace Broken Deck Boards
Don’t allow a split, rotted or otherwise ugly deck board to ruin the appearance of your deck. Simply replace it, and in a year or so, the replacement will blend right in. “Replacing a broken deck board can be a DIY job, depending on your skill and comfort level,” Bernacki says. “How easy it is to do will depend on how old the deck is, as older decks may be harder to repair.” Expect to pay $25 per board if tackling this job yourself.
7
/
13
Stiffen a Bouncy Deck
A deck that bounces when you walk across it won’t feel strong and solid, even if it meets structural requirements. Long joist spans between beams or between a beam and the house usually cause this sensation. “Blocking should be in every deck you build just to keep everything straight, and it makes for a much stiffer deck,” Bernacki says. “It’s a minimal cost to do this yourself at a couple hundred bucks for material.”
8
/
13
Resurface Your Deck
Acrylic-based deck restoration coatings go on like really thick paint in two coats. Once dry, they form a coating similar in appearance to composite decking. Here’s how to apply this deck restoration coating.
A word of caution: Read the manufacturer’s instructions before use and contact the company directly if you have questions or concerns about suitability for your particular situation. Here are a few tips for fence restoration.
Instead of ripping out or recoating your old deck boards, place new wood or synthetic decking right over the old deck. Several companies make tiles out of composite or exotic woods, like ipe, that you just lay down and snap together. Plastic grids underneath the deck tiles allow for airflow, which helps prevent wood rot.
9
/
13
Replace and Repair Wood Siding
Has some of your siding begun to rot while the rest remains intact? Instead of residing the whole house, just replace the rotten boards. “You should be pretty confident in your skills to tackle this job,” Bernacki says. “You can run into more serious rot issues and end up with a much bigger project.” He recommends calling in a pro if you find rotted sheathing behind the siding.
10
/
13
Replace an Exterior Door
Replace a worn, drafty front door with a stylish, new energy-efficient one. Replacement doors come prehung in a weatherstripped frame, and it doesn’t require the skills of a master carpenter to do a first-class job. “If you’re replacing a door with the same size door, it’s pretty seamless and a doable DIY project,” Bernacki says. “Contact a pro if you want to change door sizes to ensure the framing is safe.” Plan to pay $300 to $3,000 for a new exterior door if you DIY.
11
/
13
Make Simple Repairs to Your Fence
With the fence clean, you can move on to fixing or replacing damaged boards, refastening loose boards and countersinking any protruding nails. Use waterproof glue to repair split and broken boards. Drive corrosion-resistant screws — instead of nails — to pull loose pieces tightly together. For a sagging gate, straighten it with a turnbuckle support. Also, coat the posts where they emerge from the ground or concrete with a wood preservative. This area typically rots first. For vinyl-coated metal fences, sand the damaged area, then coat with paint formulated for plastic.
12
/
13
Repair Driveways
Fix the little problems now to extend the life of your driveway by years.
Tamp asphalt patching material into any damaged areas with a 4×4 post. If the tamped area remains lower than the driveway surface, build up the asphalt patch about 1/2 in. above the driveway surface and tamp again. Do this until the filled area becomes flush with the surface.
Remove any vegetation growing from the cracks in your driveway. Pour filler into each crack until it becomes flush with or slightly below the driveway surface. If the filler settles, add a bit more. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time before applying sealer.
13
/
13
Repair Concrete
Cracks and gaps in concrete represent more than just an eyesore. Water can get into the joints, freeze and then expand, making the cracks even larger. Once a year, go around your home and fill these gaps and joints with urethane caulk to prevent problems. Seal cracks in concrete with durable urethane caulk. You can do it in less than half an hour.
On horizontal concrete, you can skip the tooling mess and get a perfect bead by using a self-leveling polyurethane sealant. Just insert backer rod and inject the syrupy sealant. Resist the urge to tool the caulk; it slowly levels out and forms a neat seal. Be sure the backer rod completely seals the crack. If the caulk seeps past the rod, you’ll get an ugly sinkhole, a weaker seal and you’ll waste expensive caulk (this specialty caulk will cost you $15 or more for a 10-oz. tube).
About the Expert
Chris Bernacki is the owner of Hickory Property Service in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He has more than 30 years of experience in the trades, renovating and remodeling commercial and residential properties.
