Most Common Repairs for Homes with Children

A few types of home repairs are very common for homes with children, regardless of the age and gender of the children. Boys and girls of all ages make messes, creating problems and necessitating repairs in several different rooms of the house. Obviously, some required repairs may be better or worse than others, depending on what was permitted, the child’s personality, the number of children, and the amount of time, labor and expense that will be needed to repair the damage.

The first problem we will discuss is the biggest issue for young children, while the second is a major concern primarily for older children and teenage boys.

Fingerprints and Artwork

This is one of the most common problems inside the home, and it can become a big problem as children grow up and become aware of their ability to draw and create. From crayons to greasy fingers, sometimes there is no choice but to either repaint a wall or a room or just bite the bullet and wait until the kids grow up and are mature enough to consider doing repairs. There is no one room that is worst for this problem, since children can choose to be mischievous in any room, but bedrooms and living room or family room walls seem to suffer badly.

Keep in mind that walls are not the only part of the house that can suffer; window molding, wood trim and doors often need attention and painting as well to cover up old crayon or finger marks. Windows are the easiest repair, often needing only to be cleaned. Walls and doors can sometimes be cleaned with cleaning products such as a Magic Eraser®, but be sure you are very careful about what you clean your wall with if it is painted. Read the manufacturer’s directions and instructions before spraying or rubbing your wall or door with any product.

Holes

Boys are much more prone to creating this type of problem in your home than girls, especially teenagers with a tendency to vent anger by punching walls, doors, or any other object that is nearby. However, by asking your child to help with the repair you can turn this negative into a positive and use it as a learning opportunity, no matter how old your child may be. However, it may be best to wait until the stage is passed before completing the repair.

Many home improvement retailers offer patch kits for small holes, but if the hole is small enough you may want to try a combination of putty and sanding first. This actually fills in the hole instead of just patching over it, and it offers a more lasting and durable solution to the problem. Large holes may require more work, such as a new sheet of drywall, and can take much more time and effort to repair. For larger projects, it is best to wait until the troublemaker is less likely to continue this behavior so that you can save money and not have to make the repair more than once.

The Author:

Jessica Ackerman