10 Common Home Repairs You Shouldn’t Ignore: The “Fix It or Call It” Guide

Owning a home in Tallahassee is a unique experience. From the historic charm of Midtown to the sprawling oaks of Killearn, our homes face a specific set of challenges: extreme Florida humidity, expansive clay soils, and persistent local pests.

In our climate, a “minor” issue doesn’t stay minor for long. A small damp spot in July can become a structural mold crisis by September. This guide breaks down the 10 most critical repairs for Tallahassee homeowners and helps you decide: Can I handle this Saturday morning, or do I need Watson & Sons?

1. The “Soft” Door Frame (Structural Wood Rot)

Tallahassee’s 60″+ of annual rainfall makes wood rot our #1 enemy.

• The Tallahassee Factor: Humidity stays trapped in shaded areas under our heavy tree canopy, accelerating fungal growth.
• The Check: Use a screwdriver to press into your exterior door frames and window sills. If it sinks in like a sponge, the wood is compromised.
• DIY or Pro? Professional. Surface filler is a temporary “band-aid.” If the rot has reached the structural jack studs behind the trim, you need a carpenter to ensure your home’s frame remains safe.

2. The “Ghost” Swing (Foundation Settling)

Does your bedroom door swing shut on its own? Or do you see “stair-step” cracks in your exterior brickwork?

• The Tallahassee Factor: Much of our local soil is Red Clay, which expands when wet and shrinks during our dry spells, causing foundations to shift.
• DIY or Pro? Professional. While you can patch drywall cracks, recurring cracks or sloping floors are “red alerts” for structural movement. We can help diagnose if it’s simple settling or a need for structural reinforcement.

3. Kitchen Cabinet “Sag”

Are your cabinet doors overlapping or refusing to stay closed?

• The Tallahassee Factor: Constant AC use creates a massive temperature differential between the inside and outside of your home, causing wood cabinets to “breathe” and warp.
• DIY or Pro? DIY (Adjust) / Pro (Repair). You can often adjust the hinges yourself. However, if the cabinet box is pulling away from the wall due to the weight of granite countertops, call us immediately—that is a safety hazard.

4. Gutter “Back-Flow” and Fascia Rot

Tallahassee is the “City of Trees,” and those pine needles love your gutters.

• The Tallahassee Factor: Clogged gutters don’t just overflow; they cause water to wick backward into your fascia and soffits, rotting the very wood that holds your roof up.
• DIY or Pro? DIY (Cleaning) / Pro (Repair). Clean your gutters every 3 months. If you see dark stains or “fuzzy” wood on your eaves, the rot has already started, and the wood needs professional replacement.

5. The “Sticky” Window

If you have to “heave” your window open, it’s not just old—it’s an energy drain.

• The Tallahassee Factor: In our 90% humidity, wooden window tracks swell.
• DIY or Pro? Pro. Forcing a stuck window can shatter the glass or break the balance system. A professional carpenter can plane the wood and lubricate the tracks for a “like-new” glide.

6. Flickering Lights (The “AC Surge”)

Do your lights dim for a split second when your AC kicks on?

• The Tallahassee Factor: Many older homes in the 32303 and 32308 areas have outdated electrical panels not designed for modern, high-tonnage HVAC systems.
• DIY or Pro? Professional. Electrical “surges” are a leading cause of appliance failure and fire. This requires a licensed technician to evaluate your load center.

7. Porch and Deck “Bounce”

If your deck feels like a trampoline when you walk on it, it’s a liability.

• The Tallahassee Factor: Our termites and “brown rot” fungi target the underside of deck joists where homeowners rarely look.
• DIY or Pro? Professional. Structural deck repair isn’t a DIY job. We ensure your ledger boards and joists meet current safety codes so your next BBQ is safe.

8. Drywall Bubbling (The Hidden Leak)

If your paint looks like it has “blisters” or yellow rings, there is water behind it.

• The Tallahassee Factor: Often, this isn’t a roof leak—it’s condensation from uninsulated HVAC ducts in your hot attic dripping onto your ceiling.
• DIY or Pro? Professional. You must find the source before patching the hole, or the mold will return within weeks.

9. Pest Entry Points (The 1/4 Inch Gap)

Can you see daylight under your exterior door? If you can, a Palmetto bug can get in.

• The Tallahassee Factor: Local pests are relentless. Sealing your “envelope” is the best pest control there is.
• DIY or Pro? DIY. Replacing door sweeps and weatherstripping is the most cost-effective “repair” a homeowner can do.

10. Popping Tile or Buckling Laminate

Do your floors “crunch” or lift in the center of the room?

• The Tallahassee Factor: Slab-on-grade homes in Florida are prone to Hydrostatic Pressure, where moisture from the ground pushes up through the concrete.
• DIY or Pro? Professional. Putting new flooring over a moisture issue is a waste of money. We can test your slab and install the correct moisture barriers to protect your investment.

When to “Put Down the Hammer”

The biggest mistake homeowners make is trying to save $200 on a repair that ends up costing $2,000 to fix later.

Call Watson & Sons if:

1. The issue is structural: (Joists, studs, foundation).
2. Specialized tools are needed: (Planers, moisture meters, miter saws).
3. It’s a safety risk: (Electrical, ladders over 10ft, structural rot).

Ready for a Home Health Check?

Don’t let Tallahassee’s climate get the best of your home. Whether it’s a sticking door or a rotting deck, Watson & Sons Carpentry provides the expert craftsmanship needed to do the job right the first time.