Chapter II

HOUSING AND FAMILY ECONOMICS

This chapter will help you choose the right house, identify housing problems, and teach you
how these problems can be solved. The different lessons also show the importance of
maintaining an orderly and clean home. You will acquire skills in doing simple house repairs. You
will also learn about principles of design in the choice of furniture.

At the end of the chapter, the students should be able to demonstrate a functional
knowledge of housing and family economics and recognize the need of the family for adequate
housing.

Lesson 1
CHOOSING AN IDEAL HOUSE
 Housing the family is one of the biggest tasks of parents. Your parents work hard to provide
you with a house that is secure and comfortable, a place for you to grow up. In many ways,
house serves as the laboratory where one can practice being a productive individual and a
worthy family member.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEAL HOUSE

An ideal house should be livable and should not be used only as a showcase. Here are the
characteristics of an ideal house.
1. The house should provide for the physical and social needs of the family.
a. A dining room and kitchen where the family can cook and eat their food
b. Bedrooms where the members can rest and have privacy
c. A bathroom where they can do their personal necessities
d. A living room where they can entertain guests
e. A garden and lawn where they can plant and grow trees, vegetables, or ornamental
plants and where the children can play
2. The rooms in the house should be planned in such a way that areas used in related activities
are near each other.
a. The kitchen should be near the dining room so that food can be served easily during
meantime.
b. The living room should also be near the dining area for ease in serving guests.
c. A bathroom should be adjacent to the bedrooms so it would be easy to dress.
d. A washing area should be placed at the back of the house for ease in hanging clothes on
clotheslines.
3. Rooms in the house should not be too small nor too big.
4. There should be wide windows for proper ventilation and lighting which greatly contribute to
the family’s good health.
5. It should have adequate water supply for laundering, bathing and other personal necessities
of the family members.
6. Work areas should be planned in order to avoid walking back and forth in the different areas
of the house.

It is necessary to have a big and expensive house for the family. If a family’s social,
physical, and psychological needs are met, even a small house can be ideal.

CHOOSING AN IDEAL HOUSE

Selecting the best house for your family requires decision making in choosing a house, the
following factors should be considerate.
1. The site where the house is built. Choose a house that is accessible to transportation
and is near your place of work, school, church, and the market. This will lessen expenses for
transportation and at the same time, will be convenient for all family members. It is wise to
select a house in a quiet and clean place which is not affected by floods during rainy days. It is
also important to choose a house where neighbors are trustworthy and friendly.
2. The kind of house. A one-storey house is best when there are children in the family in
order to prevent falls. However, if the lot in which the house is to be built is small, a two-storey
house would be preferable.
3. Materials used in building a house. A wooden house is not durable because it can attack
by termites. It may also be very easily catch fire. A house which is made of cement is more
durable since it is strong and less likely to catch fire.
4. The interest of the family members. If a family loves sports, an area accessible to a
basketball court or tennis court is a must. Likewise, if the members of the family like music or
read a lot, a music corner or a mini library is a must.
5. The method of owning a house: constructing or buying a ready- made house. A house
built specifically for its owners is ideal since it can be planned according to the needs of the
family. House construction can be carefully supervised by the owners compared to buying a
ready-made house.
6. The budget of the family for housing. A larger budget provides for the family a larger
and more spacious house.
7. Age of the family members. A small child in the family requires a nursery room while a
music room is ideal for families with teenage members.

• To have an ideal house is very important. It is where relationships between parents and
children can be most significant and meaningful.
• It is where the children are brought up and guided to form values
• The family should try its best to have a house which enables members to experience
security, comfort, privacy, self- expression, and satisfying interpersonal relationships.

Points to remember
1. To have an ideal house is very important. It is where relationships between parents and
children can be most significant and meaningful.
2. It is where the children are brought up and guided to form values.
3. The family should try its best to have a house which enables members to experience security,
comport, privacy, self -expression, and satisfying interpersonal relationships.

Questions to answer

1. what characteristics should you consider when looking for a house?

2. Discuss the factors that could influence a person in choosing an ideal house.

Check yourself
A. Put a check mark if the statement is correct and an x mark if the statement is incorrect.
____ 1 . Housing the family is one of the biggest tasks of parents.
_____ 2 . The kitchen should be near the dining room for food to served easily.
_____ 3 . Rooms in the house should always be big for comfort.
_____ 4. An ideal house should be liveable and should not be used as a showcase.
--------- 5. The living room should be adjacent to the room.
B. List down the five factors to consider in choosing an ideal house.
1.
2.
3.
4
5.

Lesson 2

TYPES OF HOUSING AND HOUSING PROBLEMS

Houses are built according to the lifestyle and needs of the individual or family. Climate,
geographical location, traditions, as well as available materials in the in the company determine
the type of house that will be built. For example, the Ivatans of Batanes build their houses out of
stones, wood, and mud to make them strong enough to withstand typhoons. The Badjaos or
“Sea gypsies in the South” live in boathouses because fishing is their source of livelihood.
People in the lowlands, like Metro Manila, live in concrete or semi-concrete houses. Due to
the growing population; there is a need for more houses. Types of houses in the Philippines
include the following:

1. Nipa Hut- made of bamboo, nipa, and wood available in the community.

2. Bungalow- a low structured house intended for a single-family household.

3. Duplex- a two- fold structure for two households, each unit complete with facilities.
4. Apartment or Accessoria- a structure, usually two- storeys high, consisting of
independent quarters each with its own entrance.

5. Condominium- a buikding, several storeys high, and consisting of living quarters,

intended for several families, each family occupying its own unit or quarter.

6. Townhouse- row houses connected by common sidewalls.

HOUSING PROBLEMS OF THE FAMILY

The government and families that compose a community should work together to find
solutions to various housing problems. Severe social problems have resulted due to problems in
housing.
 Cities lack space to build houses or when houses are built, these are built out of poor
quality materials. Public service facilities, such as water and power supply, garbage disposal, and
drainage are lacking if available.

CAUSES OF HOUSING PROBLEMS

Many families have to live in houses that do not provide comfort, convenience, and
sanitation due to housing problems. The causes of these housing problems are:

1. Migration of people from rural to urban areas. Many people come from the provinces. Some
of them were born in the province. Then they come to the city to study, find jobs, get married,
and settle there permanently. Others go to the city in search of adventure. Some seek fortune
and fame which they believe they could never have if they stay in the provinces. However these
people learn sooner or later that the place they have migrated to is not a paradise. They usually
end up in squatter areas.

2. Rapid population growth. For every child that is born in the Philippines, additional need for
housing is necessary- a need that cannot be provided for sufficient at present.

3. Poverty due to unemployment. Most people who are unemployed have problems in housing.
They cannot afford to rent an apartment or build a house of their own so they resort to
squatting on other people’s properties or on government lands. This results in disputes over land
ownerships.
4. Industrialization. Industrial plants are commonly situated in the city or its neighboring towns.
Workers then try to find houses near these places in order to save money. The workers and their
families migrate near their place to live in, they squat.

EFFECTS OF HOUSING PROBLEMS ON THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY

An inadequate house is characterized by overcrowding. Overcrowding usually leads to the

rapid spread of communicable diseases and infections. This results to sickness and even worse,
deaths. Overcrowding also means lack of privacy. With these prevailing conditions, family life is
negatively affected.
Lack of space and privacy eventually cause dissatisfaction and quarrelling among its members.
Housing problems also affect the community. In overcrowded areas, there is insufficient
source of potable water; electric service is deficient, there are few toilets, garbage and sewage
disposal are poor, and the community members are not motivated to keep their homes and
surroundings clean.
Conditions like these breed undesirable elements, like criminals, thieves, and pickpockets
who contribute to peace and order problems. Examples of these problems are high crime rate,
drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, and prostitution.

• The size and the type of the house do not ensure the happiness of a family dwelling in it.
• In the Philippines, housing problems especially in the urban areas are great due to lack
of space on which to build houses.
• When large families are forced to live in small houses because of economic reasons,
overcrowding and lack of privacy often result. This has a great effect on the family in particular
and the community in general.
Questions to answer
1. what are the different housing problems in your community?
2. what are the causes of the problems?
3. what is the effect of these housing problems on the lives of families in your place?

Check yourself
Re arrange the letters to form the correct answer.
1. A structure, usually two-storeys high, consisting of independent quarters, each with its
own entrance. (TENAPATRM)
2. A house made of bamboo, nipa, and wood. (HPITUNA)
3. Row houses connected by common sidewalls (NHWOOUEST)
4. A building, several storeys high consisting of living quarters (OCNOMDNIIUM)
5. A two-fold structure for two households, each unit complete with living facilities
(PDLUEX)

Assignment/ Activity
Write the prevailing housing problems in the Philippines.

Lesson 3

SOLVING HOUSING PROBLEMS

Filipino families are generally resourceful which enables them to solve their housing
problems. These problems are mostly the result of overcrowding, lack of space, lack of privacy,
lack of health facilities, and above all, poverty.

The government and other private agencies have been continuously working to assist
families in solving their housing problems. The government has formulated policies to improve
the life of the Filipino people with regard to housing.
Squatters in key cities were persuaded to move to Bagong Silang in Caloocan City and
the Tondo Foreshore Renewal Project in Manila. Others were resettled in Dasmarinas and
Carmona in Cavite, San Pedro in Laguna, and Sapang Palay in Bulacan. In these places, schools
were built for children and some industries that enabled families to build houses of their own
and provide a small place where they can raise domesticated animals and plant profitable crops.
The government also encourage investors to put up industries in suburban areas such as
CALABARZON, Subic, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac in order to provide work opportunities for
rural people to keep them from coming to the urban areas. There are government agencies that
extend housing loans to its members, like the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and
Social Security System (SSS).
The Pag-IBIG Fund (which stands for Pagtutulungan – Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya, at
Gobyerno), a lending arm of banks, was created to help its members build or buy their own
houses. Members could also obtain housing loans through the Unified Lending Program through
Pag- IBIG.
Nongovernment organizations (NGOs) have also played an important role in helping
solve housing problems of the Filipino people. The Habitat for Humanity and the Gawad Kalinga
project of couples for Christ, a church-based organization are examples of such housing
programs.

ZONING
Zoning is designating the development of certain areas for specific purposes. This is
enforced by the government and home developers to minimize housing problems. This makes
possible the development and utilization of available land to its fullest capacity. Every city should
designate a residential zone, commercial zone, and an industrial zone.
What do you think will happen if your house is located beside a factory or a motor repair
shop? The factory might emit toxic fumes or discharge polluted water into the rivers. Workers
mighty be hammering the whole day long in the auto repair shop creating noise around the
neighborhood.
If zoning is strictly complied with, your house will be situated in a peaceful neighborhood
since only residential houses will surround you.

WAYS OF SOLVING SPACE PROBLEMS

Every family has its own way of solving the space problem if the house is small. They use
the available human and material resources they have to provide for adequate housing. Built- in
and hanging cabinets, multi-purpose and folding furniture, rectangular or square boxes that
serve as sears are used to maximize space. Dividers, curtains, and blinds are used to provide
privacy in crowded homes.
Here are some tips on how to maximize all spaces in a small house:
1. A bedroom can look bigger with the use of folding bed that is kept in the closet when it
is not in use.
2. Carefully selected furnishings are proportional to the size of the house.
3. Bulky and heavy furniture should be avoided.
4. Use tabletops made of glass and seats without arms and back reset.
5. Things that are not frequently used should be stored or kept.
6. Use space-saving gadgets, like multiple hangers, shoe bags, and clothes bags.

Points to Remember
• The family is the basic social group concerned with finding solutions to housing
problems.
• For their part, the government and other private organizations are also involved in
solving existing housing problems.
• Every family has its own way of solving its space problem if the house is small.

Question to Answer:
1. What is zoning
2. How does the government enforce this?
3. Discuss what the government is doing to help solve our housing problems.

Check Yourself
Give the meaning of the following acronyms.
1. CALABARZON
2. GSIS
3. SSS
4. NGO
5. Pag- IBIG

Assignment/ Activity
Make inquiries about other government and nongovernment agencies that help solve
housing problems in our country. Fill in the following table:

Agency (government Housing Problems Solutions

or Nongovernment

1.

2.

3.
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN IN THE CHOICE OF HOME FURNISHINGS

The beauty of the house lies not in its expensive fixtures, but rather, in the way the
furnishings have been put together to create harmony in the living space. The design of the
house should give the family members an atmosphere of peace and relaxation as well as free
and easy movement.
It is important to have knowledge of the principles fundamental to good taste. Art is so
much a part of our daily living. Through art, we can make more beautiful the simple things we
see around us. Through knowledge of the principles of art, we can develop our taste for the
beautiful, the simple, and the commonly seen yet seldom appreciated objects in nature. Good
taste, as defined in the field of art, is paying attention to the utility as well as to the appearance
of an object.
Design is defined as any arrangement of lines, forms, colors, and textures. Thus, anybody
can create a design. A creative person can create beautiful designs, through a combination or
through an orderly arrangement of objects or materials. When a person creates a design, he/
she should be guided by these five basic principles:

HARMONY

Harmony is the agreement among different parts. It produces an impression of unity through
the selection of arrangement of objects and ideas. It is important that line and shape, size,
texture, idea, and color must be carefully selected so they do not clash or “fight” each other;
instead they must be arranged or combined in such a manner that there is something common
among them,
For example, for harmony in color, a room should be printed in neutral colors of cream,
white or gray so it won’t clash with the colors of curtains, furnishings, and other furniture. A
round-shaped table does not go well with a narrow rectangular place nor will a horizontal
picture on a vertical wall.

PROPORTION

Proportion is the relationship of one part to another, or the whole. When proportion
is applied to furniture and furnishings, we should remember these examples: windows that are
too short may have long, narrow draperies and no balance; the chair that is too low may have a
vertically striped cover; pictures and accessories may be used to emphasize height or width in a
room. a room that is unusually long can seem shorter by placing groups of furniture at the
center; a bulky looking piece of furniture will seem to crowd an average-sized room.

BALANCE
 Balance refers to the regular or irregular relationship between two forces. It gives a
feeling of stability and steadiness in a room. This may either be formal or informal.
1. Formal or symmetrical balance. This is the kind of balance where one side is exactly the
same as the other. It is the mirror image of the other. Formal balance is the replica of the other.
This gives the feeling of stateliness, dignity, quiet, and repose. The middle portion is the center
of interest and the two sides are arranged in the same way. A sofa may have identical tables and
lamps.
2. Informal or asymmetrical balance. This is an arrangement where one side is differently
arranged from the other side. Like in a see-saw, the heavier object or item is placed near the
center and the lighter one far from the center. This type of balance is more striking than the
formal balance. It tends to attract attention and it makes a person think about what makes the
arrangement balanced. There are no fixed rules to be followed here so it gives freedom and
flexibility to the arrangement of the interior of the house. Informal balance when furnishings are
arranged in this way.

Balance creates equilibrium and is needed for order in design. The formal or informal
types of balance can be used at home. In choosing the types of balance to be used, one should
consider that which is best suited to the needs of the family.

EMPHASIS

Emphasis refers to the center of interest or focus in the room. it is achieved when
the eye is carried first to the most important thing in any arrangement, and from that point to
every detail in the order of importance. To achieve this successfully, we should know:
1. What to emphasize- the most beautiful décor or furniture; the most attractive object;
the smallest or the biggest, etc.
2. How to emphasize- by grouping objects, by using constrasting colors, by the use of
decoration, by having sufficient plain background space around the object, and by contrasting
unusual lines, shapes, or sizes.
3. How to emphasize- “Keep it simple”. Have only one emphasis in any arrangement to
avoid confusion and a cluttered feeling.
4. Where to place emphasis.- The center of interest in an object is where the emphasis
should be placed. The following are some tips on how to emphasize a center of interest:
a. An object should be placed in the center of the space, with borders of equal width on all
sides. Placing a bowl of flowers on a table is an application of this.
b. Appropriate placement of the center of interest, as in mounting pictures following the
Law of Margin. The size of margins would vary according to the emphasis of the object being
used. The shape of the object being emphasized also determines the width of the margins.

RHYTHM
 Rhythm refers to the consistency of presentation and the repetition of line, color,
shape, and texture. In any arrangement, the objective is a feeling of unity. Thus, in arranging
large pieces of furniture furnishing such as pictures, decors, etc., should be examined for the line
movement.
The line movement should carry the eyes to the center of interest. If a bookcase is the
most attractive spot in the room, the leading lines may be placed so that the eye will go there
first. In a bedroom, the color scheme may be repeated in the wall décor, curtains, fittings, like
knobs and racks, bed covers, and chairs.

Points to Remember
• Living spaces are getting smaller, and it would help the homeowner to know how to use
the available space to the family’s advantage.
• There may be little space, but there is always the possibility of creating a feeling of
spaciousness.
• Knowing the principles of design would be very useful.

Question to Answer:
1. What are the principles of design?
2. How are they defined and applied to arrangement of furniture?
3. Why are these principles important in interior design?

Check Yourself
Write the word or group of words described in each statement.
1. It refers to the regular or irregular relationship between two forms.
2. It refers to the consistency of presentation, the repetition of line, color, shape, and
texture.
3. It is the agreement among the different parts.
4. It refers to the center of interest or focus in the room.
5. It is the relationship of one part to another, or to the whole.

Assignment/ Activity
Make a diorama of a bedroom or any favorite room in your house. You can use a
shoebox for this project. Apply all the principles of home decorating that you have learned to
make this diorama.
Lesson 5

MAINTAINING CLEANLINESS AND ORDERLINESS AT

HOME

A clean and neat house is attractive. A clean house with simple and inexpensive
furnishings is more pleasant to look at than one which is dirty even though it is furnished
expensively. However, a clean house needs a lot of care and attention to keep it clean and
attractive.
Household members should devote time and effort to the task of keeping the house
clean and in order. A clean and orderly house provides a safe, pleasant, and healthy
environment for family members. Some tasks can be done individually. Others need group effort
. cooperation adds to the enjoyment in doing household tasks. The work can be grouped
according to the tasks. Below are examples:
1. Daily tasks- cooking, cleaning the house, setting the table
2. Weekly tasks- laundering, ironing, marketing, and mending torn clothes
3. Occasional tasks- cleaning the windows and walls, changing curtains, cleaning the
cabinets.

TASKS THAT CAN BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY

If two or three tasks can be done simultaneously, then they should be combined. Examples
of combination of tasks are as follows:
1. Baking bread, cake, or cookies can be done while waiting for the meal to be cooked.
2. Ironing or mending clothes can be done while waiting for the meal to be cooked.
3. Dishwashing can be combined with taking care of the children.
4. Cooking rice and cleaning the house can be done at the same time.
5. Scrubbing and sweeping the floor can be done at the same time.
6. Dusting, cooking, and defrosting the refrigerator can also be done simultaneuously.
7. If you have a washing machine, washing dishes, cooking, and cleaning can be done at
the same time.

PRINCIPLES OF WORK SIMPLIFICATION

Housekeeping chores can be hectic. By using the principles of Work Simplification, you
will be able to finish the tasks with the least amount of energy and time expended. These are the
six principles of Work Simplification:
1. Don’t do any task that you don’t have to do.
2. Try to do one task as you do another.
3. Keep everything within easy reach.
4. Use the best tool. For example, use a tray or wheeled table for carrying dishes, food, or
sewing supplies.
5. Make both hands work.
6. Assume the best posture. Sit to work whenever possible but watch your posture.
Provide a chair of proper height and with good back support.

Lifting Posture
When lifting something from the floor, bend the knees instead of the back.
Use the whole body or center of the weight to be moved.

DOWN-TO-EARTH HOME HINTS

Home is the best place we associate with environmental pollution. Even though we spend
over half of our time there, we spend over half of our time there, we stock a wide range of
environmentally harmful chemicals. Our cupboards of chemicals contain detergents, air
fresheners and deodorizers, solvents, stain removers, toiletries, disinfectants, insect repellants,
insecticides, garden sprays, and pesticides.
All household pollutants eventually make their way into the water, soil, and atmosphere.
Make a poingt of knowing what chemicals are present in your home- it could be a matter of life
and death. Here are the ten golden rules for a chemical- free home.
• Make or buy nontoxic cleaners.
• Avoid the use of pesticides in the home.
• Read labels carefully.
• Use all cleaners moderately.
• Keep your toiletries simple.
• Avoid over-packaged cosmetics and cleaners.
• Learn which additives are harmful and avoid them.
• Choose biodegradable products.
• Avoid aerosol cleaners.

GENERAL CLEANING TIPS

RECIPE:
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
• 50 ml vinegar
• 120 ml bicarbonate of soda
• 50 ml cloudy ammonia

Mix ingredients in 4 liters of hot water. This is a safe solution for all areas and can be
rinsed off with water. Put the solution in a simple pump- action spray bottle or pour straight on
to your cleaning cloth. Shake the mixture well before use. Avoid inhaling ammonia vapor.

• Carpets: to deodorize and fully clean carpets, mix one part borax (a natural salt) with
two parts cornmeal. Sprinkle liberally; leave for about an hour and vacuum. If you have some
tough stains, blot with vinegar in soapy water. For quick deodorizing, sprinkle the carpet with
bicarbonate of soda, then vacuum.
• Disinfectant: Pure tea-tree oil is a natural and effective disinfectant. It is also a handy
antiseptic for cuts and bites.
• Linoleum or Tiled Floor. Use the all- purpose cleaner. If you want a lemon- fresh smell,
add a tablespoon of lemon essence to the rinse water. You can also also use a soap, vinegar, and
water solution for washing floors.
• Floor polish: use beeswax to polish or melt a tablespoon of paraffin wax in a double-
boiler then add a few drops of lemon essence and apply with a rag. Allow to dry, then polish.
• Furniture polish: rub with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice. Polish with a soft dry
cloth.
• Heat Marks on Furniture: rub with a paste of olive oil plus salt or cigarette ash. Remove
the paste and give the piece and coat of wax polish.
• Leather: remove stains from leather using a solution of vinegar and warm water. Rub
dry with clean piece of dry cloth.
• Mirrors: use 125 ml of white vinegar mixed with 1 liter of water. Rub dry with a
newspaper for an even finish.
• Varnished surface: wipe over with strained cold tea.
• Wallpaper: remove all dust with a feather duster or vacuum cleaner. Wipe the wall
down with two-day old thick slices of bread. For vinyl wallpaper, clean with warm cloth and
white vinegar.
• Windows: use a solution of 125 ml of white vinegar and 1 liter of water. Rub dry to avoid
streaking . if windows are very grubby, wash with soapy water first.

Points to Remember
• Families are judged by their standard of cleanliness.
• How poory or how well the cleanliness of the house is maintained is influenced by your
own standard.
• Keeping the house clean and in order may not be difficult as long as family members
share in housekeeping tasks.

Questions to Answer
1. What are the basic tasks in the household?
2. What are household tasks could be done simultaneously?
3. What work-saving tips can you share to your household?

Check Yourself
Write Dt for daily task; WT for weekly Task; and OT for Occasional Tasks on the line
provided before each number.
1. Laundering
2. Cleaning of walls
3. Cooking
4. Changing curtains
5. Cleaning the house
6. Ironing
 7. Setting the table
8. Cleaning the cabinets
9. Marketing
10. Mending torn clothes

Assignment / Activities
1. Prepare a plan or schedule for cleaning your house. Indicate the daily, weekly, and
occasional tasks. Fill up the chart below.
Daily Tasks Weekly Tasks Occasional Tasks

2. Look for newspaper and magazine clippings that give kitchen tips about cleaning
appliances such as blenders, pots, microwave ovens, and refrigerators.

Lesson 6

SIMPLE HOME REPAIRS

No matter how durable its materials may be the house will soon show signs of wear and
tear if not maintained properly.
A good family member should be able to take care of the house and everything in it. it is
advantage if members of the family know how to do repairs in the house. It will not only make
the family closer by doing things together, but it will also make members creative, self-
sufficient, and more responsible.
The following reminders are helpful in maintaining the livability of a house:
1. Keep the house clean always. Regular cleaning of windows, walls, ceilings, and
equipment will minimize repair jobs.
2. Check the condition of walls. Ceilings, and roofing regularly. If walls show signs of
cracking, fill the cracks with general purpose filler or a mixture of glue and sawdust. Once dry,
repair at once.
3. Patch up the roof immediately to keep rain from seeping in and destrying the ceiling.
4. Avoid clogging the drains.
5. Treat stains while still fresh and easy to remove.
6. Furniture should be treated with care to keep them long-lasting.

These simple house repairs can be done by the members if:

1. Materials are available. The materials should be kept in accessible and convenient
places. Common tools or materials that should be available in the home are fuses, sockets,
electric tapes, wires, bulbs, nails and hammer, screwdriver, saw, pieces of wood, ruler, epoxy,
pieces of rubber, etc.
2. Older members of the family teach younger members by letting them assist in doing
simple repairs. Young members will soon learn the task and will feel important if they have
accomplished something.
3. Praise and recognition are extended to members who are able to do house repairs.
Teenagers need acceptance and some forms of reward to boost their ego and inspire them to
strive and learn some more.

HOME REPAIRS
Examples of house repairs are: broken legs of chairs and tables; cracks or holes on floors,
walls and ceilings; broken glasses or missing window jalousies; protruding nails that may cause
injury; leaking pipes; seat cover that need reapir or replacement; busted fuses or electric tapes
that have to be replaced; electric sockets that have to be repaired.
Here is a list of basic tools which you will need for many repair jobs about the house. Buy
the very best you can afford:

Work bench, fixed or portable screwdriver

Steel rulers wrench
Steel tapes pincers
Saw pliers, large and fine nose
Hacksaw and blades chisels
Plane with disposable blades hammer

Store your tools in convenient places so that they are easy to find.
Ensure that they are stored properly so they don’t become dull, blunt, or rusty.

SIMPLE CARPENTRY
Some cabinet doors in the kitchen or in room may have worn-out hinges. Some screws may
need to be tightened or missing nails may have to be replaced. These will be simple jobs for you.
All you have to do is to get the right tools and equipment and practice doing the following:
a. Driving a nail strengthen a table leg
b. Screwing the hinges of cabinet
c. Putting a barrel bolt at the door.

SIMPLE ELECTRICAL REPAIR

Your ability to repair minor electrical defects can save time, money, and energy. It will also
keep the family from worries about electricity. You need not wait for an electrician to come, just
to change a blown fuse, a bulb, or a broken cord. Here are some tips, which you can follow:
1. Replace a Blown Fuse.
Look at the chart where a part of thr house is controlled by the fuse in the fuse box. If there is
none, you need a tester. To replace a fuse, switch off the main switch to avoid electrical shock.
Get an electrical plier and remove the fuse. Replace it with a new one then switch on the main
switch.

2. Exposed Electrical Wire

If a problem of the insulation in the cord is damaged, it can be taped with a plastic
electrical tape for protection. If the cord is cut, the ends should be stripped of insulation and
tightly taped. This repair is only temporary. Replace the cord with a new one immediately. Stiff
cord should also be replaced as soon as possible.

OTHER SIMPLE REPAIR

1. Repairing Leaking Faucets
Turn off the main valve. Remove the faucet handle. Faucet handles usually come with
screws which can be removed with screwdrivers. Washers that need to be replaced usually
cause leaking faucets. Simply replace the washer and reconnect the faucet handle with a
screwdriver.

2. Unclogging a Clogged Sink

Cover the opening of the sink. Fill the sink with water. Remove the cover and
immediately place the rubber end of the plunger over the opening of the sink. Press it down, and
then withdraw with force. Repeat the procedure until the water flows down the drain freely.
If repeated application of the plunger does not clear the drain, you will have to make
the clogging materials flow out of the drainage system. To do this, remove the cleanout screw of
the trap of the drainpipe under the sink. Pour hot water over the sink to melt the oils and to
carry out solids that have accumulated in the drainage pipe. Once the drainpipe has cleared,
return the cleanout screw. Seal the edges with a plastic tape to prevent dripping.

Points to Remember
• The house should be clean and orderly to make it pleasant, safe, and comfortable for
the whole family.
• It would be of advantage if members know simple home repairs like fixing leaking
faucets and clogged drains.
• The basic tools for home repairs should be stored and cared for properly.

Question to Answer
1. Why should you learn to do simple repairs at home?
2. What steps should you undertake before doing any simple repair work?

Check Yourself
Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is not, then right the word or group
of words to make the statement correct.
1. Regular cleaning of windows, walls, and ceilings will minimize repair jobs.
2. If durable materials are used in building a house, there is no need to worry about signs of
wear and tear.
3. Stains can be easily treated even if it is fresh.
4. Leaking faucets and clogged drains needs plumbing repair.
5. A screwdriver is used for replacing a blown fuse.

Assignment / Activities

Recall a simple home repair you did recently. Explain briefly how you carried it out.
What did you learn from the experience? What values were you able to develop? Follow
this format.

Type of home repair job:

Procedure:

Learning / realization

Values developed: