Guides for fixing it yourself (and knowing when to call us)
More than half the faults we are asked about can be fixed at home with basic tools and 30 minutes. These guides explain how, with the steps, the parts sold at Leroy Merlin or your local ferretería (hardware shop), and the price we charge if you would rather we did it. No padding: if something cannot be fixed at home, we say so.
Locksmith
Drain unblocking
Roller shutter repair
Painters
Furniture assembly
Carpenter
Plumber
Fly screens
Shower screens
Awnings
TV mounting, pictures and lights
Small building works
Handyman by the hour
What you will find in each guide
They all follow the same layout: a short answer at the top, the list of tools and materials with real product names, numbered steps with how long each one takes, the most common mistakes, and a section on when to call a professional with the actual price. That way you can decide in two minutes whether to do it yourself or message us.
The guides are written for the typical home in Valencia and Alicante: strap-operated persianas (roller shutters) in blocks from the 60s to 80s, Roca cisterns, single-lever taps furred up with limescale and fittings battered by salt air on the seafront. If your situation is different, say so in your WhatsApp message and we will point you in the right direction.
The most read guides
In order of what we get asked about most:
- How to replace a roller shutter strap: the number one fault, 40 minutes and a €5 strap.
- How to unblock a kitchen sink: five methods from gentlest to strongest.
- Toilet cistern keeps running: how to tell where the water is going and which mechanism to buy.
- How to fix a dripping tap: single-lever and two-handle taps.
- Locked out by a slammed door: what to do and what not to do before calling a locksmith.
- How to change a lock cylinder: 10 minutes, reinforced doors included.
- How to remove popcorn wall texture: methods, machines and how long it really takes.
- How to anchor furniture to the wall: plugs for hollow brick and plasterboard.
When it is not worth doing yourself
There are four cases where we recommend not trying. A reinforced door locked from the inside with the key: forcing it destroys the cylinder and pushes the bill from €60 up to €180. A blockage that comes back after two weeks: it is usually in the downpipe or in a pipe lined with years of grease and needs a spring machine. A ceiling light if you do not know how to cut the power at the consumer unit. And anything on a motorised shutter with the motor inside the box.
For those cases you have the price in each guide and under prices, and the service under services. Everything else, give it a go: if it gets complicated, message us and we will tell you how to carry on, or come and finish it.
Frequently asked questions
Are the tools in the guides the ones you use yourselves?
Yes, with one difference: we carry an electric spring machine, an inspection camera and locksmith tools that are not worth buying for a single job. For everything else (shutter strap, cistern mechanism, tap cartridge, silicone) we recommend what is on the shelf at Leroy Merlin, Bricodepot or any ferretería, with specific brands and part numbers.
If I try it and make it worse, do you charge more?
There is no penalty for having tried, but the job may be bigger. The classic case is a forced cylinder or a trap snapped while taking it apart: it goes from replacing one part to replacing two. That is why each guide tells you where to stop. If you are unsure halfway through, send a photo and we will tell you how to carry on.
Do you publish new guides?
Yes, every month we add guides based on the faults we are asked about most that month in Valencia, Alicante and the Costa Blanca. If there is one you cannot find, write to us via contact and we will put it together. Existing guides are revised whenever prices change or new parts appear in the shops.
Can I ask you to finish something I started?
Of course, it happens all the time. Tell us what you have done so far and send a photo of the current state, so we bring the right part and do not waste time. We charge the normal price for the job, with no surcharge for the attempt, and the 6-month guarantee covers the work we do.
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Shall we fix it today?
Call, message us on WhatsApp or leave your details. Fixed price before we start, no call-out fee if you accept the quote.