Bedroom repairs are mostly doors, floors, and the things that get bumped into in the dark.
01Door that won't latch
A door that won't latch is either a hinge problem or a strike plate problem. Check the hinges first — a loose hinge screw drops the door and misaligns it with the strike. Tighten all hinge screws. If the door still doesn't latch, look at the strike plate to see where the latch is hitting. A strike plate that's positioned too high or too low is adjusted by removing the plate and chiseling the mortise in the correct direction, or by replacing the strike plate with an adjustable version.
02Squeaky floor
Squeaky floors squeak because the subfloor is rubbing against the floor joist or the finish floor is rubbing against the subfloor at a loose nail. From below (in a basement or crawl space), drive a screw up through the subfloor into the floor above at the squeak location — this pulls the layers together without penetrating the finish floor. From above, drive finish nails at an angle through the face of the floor board into the joist below. Both approaches eliminate the movement that creates the squeak.
03Sticky door in humid weather
Wood expands in humidity. A door that fits fine in winter and sticks in summer is absorbing moisture. Identify where it's sticking by looking for the rubbed mark on the door edge or the frame, then plane or sand that area lightly. Seal the planed area immediately with primer or paint — bare wood absorbs more moisture and makes the problem worse the following year.
04Damaged drywall
A hole in bedroom drywall up to about 4 inches is a patch job. Clean the hole to a square or rectangular shape, cut a piece of drywall to fit, use a California patch or a backing board method to support it, and apply joint compound in two or three thin coats. Sand between coats, prime, and paint. Holes larger than 6 inches should be cut back to the nearest studs and replaced with a full piece.
Marcus Webb is a general contractor and home maintenance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the repairs and installs that come up every year in every house — the practical, repeating work that keeps a home livable.