Caveat Academy course · Grades 7 to 12

Basic Home Repair

The fixes and upkeep every household needs, taught safely and step by step: tools, measuring and fasteners, patching drywall, painting and hanging things, shutting off water, clearing clogs and fixing a running toilet, how home electricity works and what to leave to licensed electricians, seasonal maintenance, and how to plan, budget and hire for a repair.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the High school electives library, $119 for 66 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 13 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: Safety, tools and measuring

    Apply ladder, eye and dust safety rules, choose the right hand tool and fastener, and read a tape measure to the sixteenth of an inch.

    • Working safely at home
    • Hand tools and how to use them
    • Measuring, studs and fasteners
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Walls, paint and hanging things

    Choose and sequence the right method to patch drywall, estimate and apply paint, and hang items securely by weight.

    • Patching holes in drywall
    • Painting a room
    • Hanging shelves, pictures and curtains
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Plumbing basics

    Explain how supply and drain systems work, shut off water in an emergency, and diagnose clogs, running toilets and drips.

    • How home plumbing works
    • Clearing clogs
    • Running toilets and dripping faucets
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Electricity at home: understand it, respect it

    Compute watts, amps and circuit loads, explain GFCIs and alarms, and distinguish beginner tasks from work for licensed electricians.

    • How home electricity works
    • Electrical safety devices and habits
    • What beginners can and cannot do
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Maintenance through the seasons

    Design a seasonal maintenance calendar and carry out sealing, caulking and door and window fixes in the right order.

    • A home maintenance calendar
    • Sealing drafts and leaks
    • Doors, windows and small fixes
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Planning a repair and getting help

    Diagnose a household problem step by step, estimate materials and costs, and evaluate contractor estimates and renter responsibilities.

    • Diagnosing a problem
    • Estimating materials and costs
    • Hiring a professional and working with a landlord
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 2 · Patching holes in drywall

Worked example: patching a doorknob hole

  1. Step 1: trim loose paper and crumbled gypsum around the hole with a utility knife.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · High SchoolAlso for Academics · Middle School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished course in basic home repair: you can set a ladder by the 4-to-1 rule, choose the right tool and fastener and read a tape to the sixteenth, find studs, patch drywall so it disappears under paint, estimate paint for a room, hang heavy items safely, shut off water in an emergency, clear clogs without harsh chemicals, fix a running toilet with a dye test, compute watts and amps on a circuit, test GFCIs and alarms, keep a maintenance calendar, caulk a tub and fix a sagging door, and compare contractor estimates. You also know which jobs belong to licensed professionals. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 7 to 12 taking or preparing for a life skills, family and consumer sciences or construction course, teens getting ready to live on their own, and families who want a complete course to work through together. Hands-on activities are for students working with an adult present; wiring, gas and major plumbing are taught as work to recognize and leave to licensed professionals.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 13 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the High school electives library ($119) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The High School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the Middle School space in Caveat Academics (the same course serves the Home Repair & Everyday Maintenance title).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, ladder safety guidance: osha.gov/ladders
  2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lead in paint and renovating safely: epa.gov/lead
  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense, fixing household leaks: epa.gov/watersense
  4. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, electrical safety and GFCIs: cpsc.gov
  5. National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms and dryer safety: nfpa.org
  6. U.S. Department of Energy, water heating and air sealing: energy.gov/energysaver

Basic Home Repair is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It teaches repair concepts and procedures in words and is not a substitute for hands-on instruction; students under 18 should do hands-on activities with an adult present. Electrical wiring, gas lines, structural work and major plumbing are for licensed professionals, and building codes and permit rules vary by location. Prices and quantities in examples are for teaching. It does not replace a school course and awards no credit. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.