Tackle home repairs with Home Depot's help

CARY, N.C. — Interested in do-it-yourself home repairs and improvement projects, instead of paying someone else? The Home Depot can help save time and money.

The home improvement store offers free weekend and evening workshops to help customers undertake a number of projects from laminate-flooring installation to toilet repair to installing ceiling fans – all at much lower costs.

"I think part of it is the economy, where people don't have the money to hire outside professionals," shopper Kevin Kimberly said.

Depending on the repair or project, classes last anywhere from one to several hours, said Clay Council, manager of the Home Depot store in Cary, where installing laminate flooring is the most popular class.

"You can literally save $2,000 to $3,000, by doing it yourself, in labor costs in a project like this," Council said.

Council said the No. 1 do-it-yourself project shoppers ask about at his store has to do with toilet repair. With a $21 repair kit, and a free class, they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle the repair on their own.

The workshops are available at The Home Depot stores across the U.S. Further information, including when and where they are available, is available at The Home Depot's Home Improver Club Web site.

Shoppers say getting "free" help means a lot in today's economy.