How Well Do You Know Home Repair and Remodeling
Written by Cliff Johnson Trivia Expert
Last updated · 12 min play time
Think you can be your own handyman? Take this home repair quiz to prove that you don't need to hire anyone to fix up your house!
Do you consider yourself a handy, all-around, DIY buff? Can you fix your sink while making the tools you need from scratch? Put your expertise on the line with this intense home repair quiz which will make you dig deep into your library of DIY knowledge. Don't feel bad if you miss a question or two, these are tough.
Quiz written by
Cliff JohnsonHome Repair Quiz Questions
31 Questions · 127.2K Plays · 4 Comments
Question 1
What is this old tool called?
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AA wooden block.
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BA wood sander.
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CA wooden plane.
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DA handsaw.
A wooden plane.
Question 2
You come home to find water flooding from beneath your kitchen sink. What is your first (correct) course of action?
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APanic. Complete and utter panic.
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BRun a heavy flow of water down the sink to try and dislodge any blockage.
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CUse a plunger on the sink drain to try and pull out whatever is lodged in your piping.
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DTurn off your water and then use a pipe snake to clear out the disruption.
Turn off your water and then use a pipe snake to clear out the disruption.
Question 3
A leaky faucet can be annoying. How should you approach fixing it?
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AAddress the washer and the faucet seat to make sure that it is tightly sealed.
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BLook for signs of rust up and around the handles and tap.
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CChange out the faucet completely, a leaky faucet is busted.
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DClean out the actual aerator.
Address the washer and the faucet seat to make sure that it is tightly sealed.
Question 4
How often should your fireplace be cleaned and inspected?
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AEvery five years.
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BEvery three years.
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CEvery ten years.
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DEvery year.
Every year.
Question 5
Bonus Question! Every DIY expert has a hero and this guy is ours. What show did he star in?
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AModern Family
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BHome Improvement
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CKing of the Hill
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DParks and Recreation
Home Improvement
Question 6
What sort of saw are you looking at here?
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APanel Saw
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BRotary Saw
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CTable Saw
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DMiter Saw
Panel Saw
Question 7
Uh oh. You come home to find that your toilet isn't flushing at all. What do you do first?
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AGrab a plunger and see if something is lodged in the bend.
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BOpen up the tank and see if the flapper/valve is dislodged.
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CAggressively jiggle the handle.
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DCut the water and start plunging.
Open up the tank and see if the flapper/valve is dislodged.
Question 8
How can you fix a squeaky door without oil?
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ATake a hammer to the hinges in order to tighten them.
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BOpen and close the door several times, thus working off any rust or build up.
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CLiberally apply some petroleum jelly to the problem hinges.
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DSlam the door shut, hard.
Liberally apply some petroleum jelly to the problem hinges.
Question 9
It's winter. You hear your gas furnace cycle on but the vents are only blowing cold air. What is the most common cause for this?
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AThe furnace is getting old and doesn't have enough power.
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BThe pilot light has gone out or your air filter needs to be replaced.
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CYour thermostat is malfunctioning.
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DThe furnace is not big enough for your house.
The pilot light has gone out or your air filter needs to be replaced.
Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the filter is too dirty. A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the furnace's heat exchanger, causing it to overheat. If the pilot light isn't lit, then the furnace's burners won't light, meaning no heat.
Question 10
How do you decide between resurfacing or replacing wooden cabinets?
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AYou always replace wooden cabinets because they deteriorate quickly. After five or six years, the cabinets are likely shot.
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BIf the cabinets are relatively new (within 10 years) you should resurface them.
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CIt's a matter of cost, quality, and age. It's cheaper to resurface cabinets but isn't worth it if the cabinets are too old / worn down.
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DTrick question. It's cheaper just to replace them, you don't have to decide.
It's a matter of cost, quality, and age. It's cheaper to resurface cabinets but isn't worth it if the cabinets are too old / worn down.
Question 11
The Phillips-Head screwdriver is one of the most common tools around. What other name is there for it?
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ACross-head
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BTorque-head
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CSquare-head
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DFlat-head
Cross-head
Question 12
You've used sinks all of your life. How does the faucet work when it is shut?
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AA negative vacuum is created, thus preventing water flow.
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BA watertight washer seals off the pipe.
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CWhen closed the faucet stops pumping water.
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DA solid metal piece slides into place in the pipe.
A watertight washer seals off the pipe.
Question 13
It's July out West and your A/C is suddenly only interested in blowing warm air. What can you do to fix the problem?
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AYour air filters likely need to be replaced.
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BCall an HVAC technician
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CSee if your thermostat is properly set.
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DIt could be anything -- go through all of the above.
It could be anything -- go through all of the above.
Question 14
What is a "Dog's Leg" chisel used for?
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ACutting away wood in hard to reach areas.
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BScrubbing off grime and rust from pipes.
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CChipping away at cement or other breakable materials.
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DTrick question. There's no such thing!
Cutting away wood in hard to reach areas.
For those hard to reach places. An indispensable tool for relief carving.
Question 15
What is the cheapest, most effective way to reduce heat loss in winter?
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AUpdate cracked window caulking.
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BHang blankets over your windows.
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CLeave the thermostat set to a constant, low temperature.
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DOnly use the back door of your home.
Update cracked window caulking.
Question 16
What's the most effective way to polish wood flooring?
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ARenting a steam mob will make the job quick and effective.
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BA bucket of water, a mop, and some chemical cleaner will do the trick.
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CA scrubber and some pledge will get the job done.
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DUse a flat-surface mop with some wood polish.
Use a flat-surface mop with some wood polish.
Question 17
There's a spot on your wooden floor that always squeaks. What's the best way to put an end to the noise?
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ATake some de-greaser and rub it into the spot with a cloth.
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BSprinkle a little bit of talcum powder.
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CMop the area around the squeak down with a damp mop.
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DUse a space heater on the spot so that the wood expands.
Sprinkle a little bit of talcum powder.
Question 18
You accidentally dropped a cigarette on your floor and burned your carpet. What can you do?
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AThere's nothing you can do. So ignore it.
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BTime to buy a whole new carpet.
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CUse club soda and an abrasive scrubber to try and pressure out the burn mark.
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DUse scissors to cut off the burnt fibers -- provided the burn is small.
Use scissors to cut off the burnt fibers -- provided the burn is small.
Using scissors, carefully cut the burnt part of the carpet out. Snip away some carpet fibers near a wall or inside a closet (where it won’t be noticeable). Glue the fibers onto the carpet to conceal the burn spot.
Question 19
What's the easiest way to tell if your window caulking has gone bad?
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APut your hand near the window and feel for temperature fluctuations.
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BPut your hand against the glass.
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CLook at the color of the caulking. If it is discoloring you need to change it.
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DHold a candle near the window to see if the flame moves.
Hold a candle near the window to see if the flame moves.
Question 20
Levels come in all shapes and sizes, but what is the most popular length?
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A60 inches
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B10 inches
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C24 inches
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D6 feet
24 inches
Question 21
Which measuring square would be best for small surfaces?
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ACombination Square
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BCarpenter's Square
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CTry Square
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DQuick Square
Combination Square
A combination square is a tool used for multiple purposes in woodworking, stonemasonry and metalworking. It is composed of a ruler and one or more interchangeable heads that may be affixed to it.
Question 22
Not all hammers are created equality. What size hammer is generally suggested for men to use?
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A18 ounces
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B22 ounces
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C14 ounces
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D16 ounces
16 ounces
Question 23
Your electric drill has this thing called a 'chuck'. The chuck is the piece that holds your drill bit in place. How many different sizes do these chucks come in?
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A7
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B4
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C1
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D3
3
Drills are available in 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch sizes. The measurement refers to the size of the drill chuck — the part that holds the bit — and indicates the maximum-diameter bit shank that fits the drill.
Question 24
What is the point of a ripsaw?
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AFor cutting through material like metal.
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BFor hard cuts across the grain of the wood you are working with.
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CFor cutting otherwise awkward angles.
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DFor making a cut parallel to the direction of the wood grain
For making a cut parallel to the direction of the wood grain
Question 25
How exactly does your stud finder work?
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AThe device measures for weight fluctuations in the material.
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BStud finders are magnetic and can sense metal studs and nails.
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CStud finders use electric waves to sense for studs.
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DThe device can sense different layers of material.
Stud finders are magnetic and can sense metal studs and nails.
Question 26
Walking through the kitchen you notice that an adhesive tile has become loose. What's the best way to get it to stick back in place?
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ASet a heavy weight on it for a couple of hours.
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BUse a space heater to re-heat the adhesive.
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CStrip the adhesive layer off and glue the tile back down.
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DUse a hair dryer to heat up the adhesive.
Strip the adhesive layer off and glue the tile back down.
Question 27
What's the most common reason an electrical receptacle is replaced?
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AIt pulls away from the wall when you plug/unplug devices.
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BYou feel a small zap when you plug something in.
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CThere are scorch marks around the outlet.
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DYou smell burning metal when it is in use.
It pulls away from the wall when you plug/unplug devices.
Question 28
You know what this tool is, but do you know what it's called?
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ASocket wrench
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BHex wrench
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CWide Mouthed Wrench
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DSpud Wrench
Spud Wrench
Question 29
What's the best way to figure out why your electrical outlet isn't functioning?
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AHead to the breaker box and see if anything is tripped.
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BAll of the above
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CCheck other nearby outlets to see if the problem is local or more spread out.
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DFlip the overhead lights on to see if they are functioning.
All of the above
Test nearby outlets and lighting fixtures. If they seem to work fine, go to your breaker box and see if anything is tripped.
Question 30
Here's an easy one. How wide, at minimum, should your pocket tape measure be?
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A1/2 inch
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B1/4 inch
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C3/4 inch
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DBetween 1/4 and 3/4
Between 1/4 and 3/4
Question 31
You are about to purchase a new ceiling fixture. What should be your FIRST step?
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ACut off power to the room and make sure all light switches are 'off'.
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BInstall a new electric box.
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CMeasure the electric box and confirm it matches your new fan.
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DPurchase a brand new fan.
Measure the electric box and confirm it matches your new fan.
Before buying a new ceiling fixture, you must first make sure it will work with your current electrical box.
Comments (4)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.
I thought it was very fair test of home repair knowledge.
Many of the proposed 'correct' answers are just plain wrong
Part of the answers i chose were correct but came back wrong on them said i chose a different answer than i originally chose
Those who don't do home improvement might not have a clue how to answer these questions.