Home Repairs and DIY in Spain
Describe leaks, stuck blinds and blown bulbs, call a plumber and do some DIY in a Spanish flat.
Spanish flats have their own classic problems: a dripping grifo, a persiana that gets stuck, damp from the neighbour upstairs, an electric termo for hot water. You call a fontanero and ask about the desplazamiento, report water damage to the home insurance, and buy screws at the local ferretería. These cards follow flatmates in Zaragoza through a week of breakdowns and a Saturday of DIY.
- 1
Hay una fuga debajo del fregadero.
There's a leak under the sink.
- 2
El grifo gotea toda la noche.
The tap drips all night.
- 3
La persiana se ha atascado y no sube.
The blind's stuck and won't go up.
- 4
¿Podría pasarse hoy a echarle un vistazo?
Could you come round today to have a look?
- 5
¿Más o menos cuánto me cobraría?
Roughly how much would you charge me?
- 6
¿El desplazamiento va incluido?
Is the call-out included?
- 7
Hay humedad en el techo del baño.
There's damp on the bathroom ceiling.
- 8
Creo que viene del vecino de arriba.
I think it's coming from the upstairs neighbour.
- 9
Tendremos que dar parte al seguro.
We'll have to report it to the insurance.
- 10
El termo ha dejado de funcionar.
The water heater has stopped working.
- 11
Lo arreglo yo, no es para tanto.
I'll fix it myself, it's no big deal.
- 12
¿Me dejas el taladro un momento?
Can I borrow the drill for a minute?
- 13
No taladres a la hora de la siesta, que se quejan los vecinos.
Don't drill during siesta time, the neighbours complain.
- 14
Necesito tornillos y tacos.
I need screws and wall plugs.
- 15
¿Qué destornillador necesito para esto?
Which screwdriver do I need for this?
- 16
Se ha fundido la bombilla.
The bulb has blown.
- 17
Primero baja los plomos.
Switch off the mains first.
- 18
Este enchufe no va.
This socket doesn't work.
- 19
Ya está arreglado, ya no gotea.
It's fixed now, it doesn't drip any more.
- 20
Es una chapuza, pero aguanta.
It's a botch job, but it holds.