Chris Mendenhall

Hi, I'm Chris. I'm not a contractor — I'm a homeowner who got tired of paying $300 for $5 fixes.

HomeFixer101 started after one too many trips to the hardware store for parts that cost less than a coffee, fixing things I'd been quoted hundreds for. After enough projects — and enough mistakes — I started getting genuinely good at the things most homeowners face: leaky faucets, drywall holes, sticky doors, drafty windows, noisy floors. So I started writing it down.

What you'll find here:

• Clear, step-by-step repairs with the small details nobody else mentions
• Honest "common mistakes" sections — the stuff I got wrong the first time
• Real FAQ sections answering the questions homeowners actually ask
• Plain language — no contractor jargon

When I tell you to call a pro

This site is for projects the average homeowner can safely handle. For anything involving gas lines, main electrical panels, structural work, or anything requiring a permit, I call a licensed professional — and the article will tell you to do the same. The fixes here are the ones I've actually done myself, in my own home, more than once.

Why I built HomeFixer101

Home repair information online is either too short to help (forum posts), or too expert (contractor manuals), or full of upsells (sponsored content). My goal is the thing in the middle: friend-with-a-toolbox advice, written for someone standing in front of a problem they've never fixed before.

Spot something wrong? Have a question I haven't answered? Get in touch.