My Handyman and Creative Problem Solving

Spring is great for working around your home. The weather is warmer and people seem to crawl out of their caves after a long winter. Home owners enjoy getting outside and feeling the sunshine, preparing the garden for planting and some owners like tackling the odd repair jobs that every home needs like cleaning gutters, washing and re-staining the deck, mulching the shrubs, etc.

There are plenty of routine home maintenance projects that most home owners can handle easily. There are even more home related maintenance and repair jobs that most home owners shouldn’t try because they’re far more likely to create a bigger problem which will cost more in the end.

Here’s a quick summary of the projects we’ve handled at Mr Handyman over the last few weeks:

• Replaced interior door damaged by wheel chair traffic which destroyed the door jambs … and needed to be fixed before putting the home on the market. A better solution would have been to widen the door for the wheelchair originally, or possibly replace the door with a pocket door.
• Replaced exterior wood rot that was repaired by the painter last summer. Unfortunately the wood filler that might work fine inside, didn’t hold up to the weather this winter proving that your best painter … might not be a good carpenter.
• Oops, the builder didn’t finish securing the dryer ductwork to the dryer vent, and the dryer vent wasn’t secured to the exterior of the home. This meant that lint and moist air were ending up in the space between the inside and outside walls, and mold was growing there. This was a quick repair but the potential health problems were easily avoidable.
• A bathroom fan had no ductwork at all. The typical problem here is the ductwork runs into the attic where it creates a moisture and mold problem, as these must be vented to the exterior.
• We replaced a water pipe that burst over the winter. Normally the homeowner shuts off all exterior faucets but forgot to do this last fall.
• Repaired gutters that were bent due to excessive ice build up this past winter.
• We are dealing with lots of siding repairs due to ice dams, which when they hit brittle vinyl siding, ends up with holes and/or cracks. Ice damms … soffit vents
• A long standing customer needed us to prep and paint her front porch, which she’s been doing for several years now. We finally were able to show her that the repeated painting was due to poor quality paint as a reliable paint like Sherwin Williams should last at least 2 to 4 years.
• An unusual situation where deck joist hangers rotted out. Normally it’s the wood that rots before anything else. The repairs were challenging as the deck wasn’t attached to the house, so when we jacked up each section to replace the metal joist hanger … the entire deck moved up.
• First the toilet leaked in an upstairs bathroom, with enough water coming down to require replacing the ceiling sheetrock. The home owner tried to make the repairs himself but left too big a gap between the old and new sheetrock. This made taping and mudding much more difficult and finally he called (actually he called 3 times as noone else would go out for such a small repair) to have us redo the repair.
• One customer called when the mesh screens in her gutters came down … 3 winters after we installed them. We tried to be courteous and went out to replace the screens but found out there had been damage to the gutters which would cause the problem to re-occur.

Wood Rot Damage: How to Prevent and Repair

It’s exciting when you buy your first home, but did you realize how much time home maintenance takes? Are you glad your doctor’s office calls when it’s time for your annual physical? Is it helpful when your car dealer sends a reminder postcard for each recommended tuneup?

Who tells you when it’s time to inspect your home?

When you bought your home, you likely had a home inspection to avoid hidden problems. It’s wise to inspect your home periodically to find new problems early, i.e. water that gets trapped on a window sill due to silt is easy to repair if caught early. If moisture remains there it will cause hidden damage which may ultimately require buying a new window.

An annual inspection of your home’s exterior will save you money when you find and repair problems early. During any visit, just ask us to review your home and identify those areas with the most risk. We can usually explain why the problem occurred and what steps can be taken to prevent a repeat of the problem, i.e. adding gutters to direct water away from your home.

Rotted Window Sill

Rotted Wood Column

Must Replace Door

Here are the most common types of water damage your home may experience:

• Window sills and other trim around the window
• Door thresholds and other trim around the door
• Vertical kickplates underneath doors where water splashes up
• Wood trim underneath the roof line (fascia and soffitts)
• Trim that projects out from the house like decorative wood over windows and corner boards
• Windows and doors that are not properly flashed will get water damage behind them
• Decks not properly flashed where the deck ledger board connects to the house
• Wood siding just above a deck or near the ground
• Any wood behind thick shrubs that trap moisture

New Hampshire Leisure Expo, June 6-7, 2009

The headline in this week’s Atlantic News reads …

No Place Like Home

The 1st annual (assuming enough people get there) NH Leisure Expo is happening in Portsmouth, NH this weekend, Saturday June 6th ((10am to 8pm) and Sunday June 7 (10am to 5pm). Details can be found at their web site, www.nhlexpo.com - you can find who’s exhibiting & who has donated prizes (just found these are listed in their NH Leisure Guide). It sounds like a great opportunity to find fun things to do throughout New Hampshire, from our beaches along the seacost to the lakes and hiking in the mountains … and your very own backyard.

While the NH Leisure Expo is located at Strawberry Banke, right across the street is the 25th annual Chowder Fest on Saturday (Sunday is the raindate).

There are lots of other activities this weekend (my Morning Dove photos are being displayed at Seacoast Local event) … but it’s far easier for you to check things out at WhoFish.org as they list events by date across New England. In fact you can sign up for their weekly newsletter which will remind you to check things out when you’re staying home for the weekend.

Go fish for great events across New England

Found a nice article www.seacoastonline.com

Why & When Calling a Home Professional is Cheaper

... You Also Need Power Tools

People are worried about the economy and they should be. Many are learning to rethink how they spend money. Have you thought about things you can live without? or spending less on vacation this year by driving instead of flying. Some home owners are starting to do their own car and home repairs with mixed results.

Saturday’s New York Times article by Susan Saulny,

Even to Save Cash Cash, Don’t Try This Stuff at Home

provides some great stories about why this isn’t always a good idea. You might think it’s easy to replace your toilet but one unfortunate home owner found she then needed to repair the floor and ceiling below the toilet when it collapsed (read the article).

Yes there are projects that home owners can do, and if you’re interested in being a do-it-yourself , here is some advice on where to start:

Time for Mr Handyman?

• Pick projects that you will need to do multiple times over the years, i.e. where investing in the right tools and practice will payoff.
• Take time to research the right way to do something, i.e. painting is 80% about preparing the walls, using the right tools and the right paint. After applying a third coat of paint (owner supplied) more than once, we no longer work with paint from box stores.
• Invest in the right tools, i.e. you can’t buy a good paint brush at WalMart, and you need to research how to select the right paint brush when going to Home Depot or Lowe’s.
• Practice, practice and more practice … so give youself time to learn, in order to be proud of the final results.
• Call a professional when you don’t the time or patience to follow these rules. You’ll be glad you did!

When recruiting technicians to work at Mr Handyman, we look at how many windows and doors they’ve installed and ask them to explain how they would replace a window sill. Our technicians bring a wealth of experience to the job that most home owners will never acquire as that’s not what you do 30 to 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year. Our technicians have the experience and thousands of dollars worth of tools to get your projects done quickly and correctly.

On Time. Done Right!

Morning Dove Family in Hampton NH

Several weeks ago we realized we had several new neighbors. On further exploration, we found the nest and my husband has been video taping our Morning Dove family for more than a week. Mother Dove is very attentive to her 2 little ones and we wonder when she’s able to eat and forage for food. Maybe Dad is nearby although we haven’t seen him.

Morning Dove Family

We have a birdhouse beyond our deck and yet, this nest is sitting on top of our fireplace vent snug in a corner over our back deck. Pretty simple construction compared to our homes.

Note: The second baby is behind his mom which is why you don’t see him (her?)

Young Women Recognize Special Role Models

Last Friday was one of my favorite community events, Phenomenal Women at the New Outlook Teen Center in Exeter, NH. It’s so great seeing all the girls as they complete another school year, to learn about all the great things they’ve done through the year.

What makes this event so special? Each girl has the opportunity to honor a woman in their life, someone that has made a real difference in being a role model, being their to support them when they needed help,being there to share the ups and downs of life as a teenager.

The night always begins with reading the poem, Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou. and I’ll just share the very end of the poem here. What I really like is that by recognizing someone else, the girls learn to recognize the strength in themselves.

‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Reading Phenomenal Woman

Recocognizing That Special Person

Everyone Participates

Community Support for NH’s Public Television

One of the great things about owning your own business is not only helping your customers, but also your employees and your community. NH Public Television is celebrating 50 years and it seemed to be a great way to introduce the Association of Home Professionals with our new logo, and new web site.

Joining forces with My Handyman of Southern NH, the Association of Home Professionals will be on the phones tonight so please visit NHPTV on television or online and you’re sure to find something perfect for your home, or significant person in your life. Here is a snapshot of some of the items available for auction online:

Pressure Washing Creativity on the Seacoast

Cleaning Upper Decks

Yesterday I spoke with a lovely woman on the NH seacoast, who has tried cleaning the green mold off her plexiglass deck walls (attached to horizontal deck railings). They let people enjoy the view while avoiding some of the sea breezes (which are becoming more frequent these last few years). It is difficult to reach all the nooks on the outside (you have to lean over the top rail) where the mold is growing, so she was looking for help to remove, clean and re-install the plexiglass.

We had fun talking through the job. She was quite surprised how accurately we captured the project scope, just by talking through each deck’s size, number of plexiglass panels, etc. Here’s what we put together by phone:

• By walking the decks, we were able to estimate the length and width (1 large step = 2 ft)
• We quantified the number of panels to clean … 9 panels total 4 short and 5 large)

Next we discussed the options - to clean the panels right on the decks, or take everything down to the parking lot. The trade-off involves the time to climb up and down 2 flights of stairs versus extra precautions and cleaning. It wasn’t until I explained how we would use the appropriate chemicals to deal with the mold, that we discovered a potential problem.

Challenge: Condo units below extend out further than her decks which meant the obvious solution to drape plastic down from her deck, simply wouldn’t work. Again she described everything accurately but by now it seemed a lot smarter to get some photos we could look at:

• First floor patio (nice stone) extends out roughly 16 ft beyond her decks
• Second floor deck extends roughly 6 to 8 ft beyond her deck

Staggered Deck Platforms

We discussed several options to get the job done and decided on the one which had the least impact to her neighbors. We’re going to carry the plexiglass panels down to the parking lot in back, where we can safely use the best chemicals for the job. We’ll use the power washer to clean the floors but water won’t hurt anything on the other decks which are open to the elements.

With a little more creativity, we decided we can carry up the 50 ft pressure washer hose to the top floor, and drop it down to the actual pressure washer … and avoid having to use any ladders at all.

A Picture Really is Worth a Thousand Words

Swing Sets: More May NOT = Better

As parents, we all want to create a warm and supportive environment for our children. We feel responsible for helping them grow healthy and happy with good nutrition, exercise and lots of  opportunities to grow academically and emotionally.

Swing sets are a great investment for families, when you have a yard. Your children can get lots of healthy exercise outdoors and you’ll get some peace and quiet inside (I remember those days). In this article I bring together experience from 3 different roles involving swing sets - as a parent of 2 boys, as a certified elementary school teacher and more recently, as the owner of My Handyman.

Swing Set Problem, Challenge and Recommendations

There are numerous problems involved with the purchase and installation of swing sets. Often parents see them at one of the box stores, or online. The price looks reasonable so they go ahead and buy one on impulse, as that is the American way. Rarely do parents consider the following:

• Where will I put the swing set and what is required to prepare the site?
• Who will install the swing set and how much time or cost will be involved?
• What are the best materials for safety and low maintenance?
• What parts of the swing set are most popular with children ages 3 to 10?

Let’s start with Wikipedia’s definition: “A swing is a hanging seat, usually found in a playground for children … Modern playgrounds often have recreational equipment such as the see-saw, merry-go-round, swing set, slide, jungle gym … many of which help children develop physical coordination, strength, and flexibility, as well as providing recreation and enjoyment.”

Wikipedia defines playgrounds where “the social skills children develop  become lifelong skill sets that are carried forward into their adulthood. Independent research concludes that playgrounds are among the most important environments for children outside the home. Most forms of play are essential for healthy development, but free, spontaneous play—the kind that occurs on playgrounds—is the most beneficial type of play.”

The most important elements of a swing set are:

• A space where children feel ownership
• A place where children can play spontaneously without set rules
• An environment where children can interact with their peers to develop social skills

What is NOT important in the swing set you purchase, is the size or the design. Just think back to when your children were 2, and they played more with the boxes and wrapping paper than the gifts they received. Children enjoy and grow more when using their imagination, and this doesn’t require fancy structures or complicated forts with roofs that resemble a house.

When you buy a swing set, buy according to your budget. Whether you pick an inexpensive metal swing set, or a complicated wooden play space, your children will benefit equally. As the owner of My Handyman, I get many inquiries as to the cost to install swing sets. They aren’t fun as most parents buy a complicated set with more than 1,000 parts and get upset that our install time costs more than the swing set. To help you find a swing set that fits your budget, I analyzed 2 different swing sets to demonstrate that inexpensive swing sets aren’t inexpensive, as most of the manufacturing process will occur at your home.

• Mt Ranier from Adventure Playsets (sold at Sam’s Club) like most box stores, is manufactured in China and has more than 1,000 parts to assemble
• 2 Ring Adventure by Kid’s Creation (sold online) is manufactured in the US, and most of the parts like the floor and ladder, come pre-assembled

The real story here is when you add together labor(handyman) and product costs, Kid’s Creation (right column) is less expensive even though the product costs more. This comes from a simpler design (railings instead of walls, canvas roof) and many of the components (floor, ladder, railing sections, etc) come pre-assembled reducing the hours needed to assemble the swing set.

Important Note: These install times do not include the 2 to 4 hours necessary to sort out the 1,000s of pieces prior to the install. The Cambridge had 32 different types of hardware, shipped in 18 plastic bags requiring the different sizes to be separated. Site prep may also require more time. To learn more about swing sets, you can read these articles starting with Tips for Buying a Swing Set (series).

Does Your Driveway Need Help?

Hiking After Storm

We had lots of snow in New Hampshire this winter, and we’re getting lots of phone calls about mailboxes and exterior lights that were damaged due to snow plows. Some of our streets have also suffered from frost heaves and hopefully they’ll get repaired soon as more people venture out with the nice weather.

My friend, Jack Child, who lives in Amherst NH happens to own a driveway repair company, Black Dawg Sealcoat … and he decided to sponsor the following contest. It looks like a lot of fun so click here …

Lucky (Unlucky) Home Owner Will Win $500

If you send Jack your photos, please share with me too.

Windows: Upgrades Make Sense with New Tax Credits

While the new energy tax credits were announced back in February, the U-factor selected by the federal government didn’t match any of the existing Energy Star specifications. In talking to Fred MacDonald at Harvey Building Supplies yesterday, I learned they had to retool their manufacturing line to produce products to meet the new tax credit standards.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the industry is working hard to tool up and bring you great products that will help you reduce your energy use, and thus save you money. These products will also help to stem the environmental damage we cause every day.

My goal is to keep posting lots of great information for you to save energy, and save the environment. I recently wrote about replacement basement windows for a My Handyman customer, and I’ll be adding more information soon. Today I invite you to visit the following web sites:

• Harvey Building Products new pages giving you information about windows, doors and metal roofs that are eligible for new tax credits.
• Database of State Tax Incentives for Renewables & Efficiencies (DSIRE) where you can learn about additional energy related savings for your home improvements.

Swing Sets - TOO Many Choices

Some of There are so many different manufacturers, that it’s hard to know which one to buy. My prior post outlines how you want to evaluate swing sets based on total cost (site prep + install labor + product), I also need to offer some advice on manufacturers for my customers … and please understand, this is based on running My Handyman for 6 years and dealing with parents who needed help installing these playsets, but generally weren’t prepared fto pay equal/more to install the swing set just purchased.

Kids Love Swings

Recommendations for buying a swing set:

• Buy a brand that has existed for 10+ years. We found our last problem install disappeared the next year, i.e. the company and brand could not be found (Chinese company, sold through box stores).
• Buy a product that comes with a warranty for the length of time you expect to use your swing set.
• Buy a brand product direct from the manufacturer, or an authorized dealer where you can go for help if and when there are problems. It’s not clear who you turn to 3 years after buying from a box store, which may no longer carry that brand so it will be difficult to get replacement parts.

For standard wooden swing sets, here are the mid range manufacturers that I’ve seen for years on the web although I haven’t specifically verified 10+ or longer in existence.

• www.kidscreations.com - no local dealerships but most of the parts come pre-assembled, i.e. stairs, handrails, floors, etc … this is a swing set My Handyman would be happy to install
  
• www.rainbowplay.com
  • Granite State Rainbow, 3612 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth … 431-3777
  • Granite State Rainbow,Peterborough … 924-7144
• www.creativeplaythings.com
  • Leisure Time Warehouse, 75 Lafayette Rd, Hampton … 926-2900

Some parents might prefer the white cedar but feel that Cedar Works is too expensive (that’s what we had for our kids in the ’80s). There appear to be some newer companies offering similar products like Triumph Play Systems, so I’d recommend researching these as the white cedar doesn’t splinter and wears exceedingly well.

Parent Alert: Buying a Swingset

It’s spring and parents are ready to let their small children romp outside. A swingset offers lots of adventure but do you know what’s involved? The market is huge (google found > 150,000 results). Finding the right swingset, for the right price can be daunting. What’s the problem?

Swingset Cost = Site Prep + Product + Labor to Install

Child Swinging

In the US we’re driven to buy, buy and buy! Our schools don’t teach us how to be wise consumers. When you buy a car, do you calculate purchase price + fuel costs over 5 yrs + maintenance? I buy Toyota to minimize repair costs (and time). I bought a Rav 4 in August ‘07, and calculated gas costs. I picked the 4 cylinder, NO 4-wheel drive (dealer said it would be difficult to sell) and shortly after, gas prices went through the roof!

Here is what you need to calculate when you buy a swingset. Admittedly I’m writing this defensively as home owners get upset when we “take too long, read charge too much” to install their swingset. I’d rather you have the facts with which to make an informed purchase decision.

• Safety should be your #1 consideration. You need a level surface, and the site must be at least 6 ft from any structure like a fence, garage, overhanging tree branches or wires. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends ground cover for play structures up to 10 ft in height:

• Installation should be addressed before you select the product. Manufacturers don’t advertise install times (typically you must call an 800#) and estimates aren’t accurate, so you should add 20% contingency to their highest number. The horror story outlined in Tips for Buying a Swing Set resulted from a manufacturer install time of 24-32 hrs, but it actually took 42 hrs (some due to customer leaving delivery boxes outside and labels were were washed off the wood pieces … not fun!) If you (and a helper) don’t have 2 full weekends to devote to the project, here are the steps and some ideas:
  • Site prep can be completed ahead of time using dimensions (plus 6 ft) of swing set purchased
  • Home owners should always prepare for the install by:
    • Sorting hardware into small containers, i.e. the ones you use for storing leftovers
    • Sorting wood pieces and arrange by number to speed up assembly. This also lets you call and get replacements for missing pieces which happens often.
  • Home owners who are handy (see list of tools required to install, although a level and cordless drill are the most critical), if time permits, should spend one weekend (or day) completing as much of the assembly as they can
  • Handyman services can complete the project when it doesn’t get done that first weekend, or handle the entire project. PLEASE remember you’re paying for skilled labor and like car dealers (you don’t pay a lower labor rate for changing oil) we charge the same hourly rate whether assembling a swing set or repairing siding on your home.

• Product selection is challenging at best … and remember, you get what you pay for! I like to tell customers about Kohler bathroom fixtures. A Kohler toilet purchased at a box store is manufactured in China. The visibly identical toilet purchased at a plumbing supply store is made in Kohler, Wisconsin … so which is better quality? Peek inside and do you see plastic or metal parts?

The box stores sell swing sets made up of hundreds of little pieces as they’re cheaper. What the manufacturer saves in material and shipping, you pay for with more hours of installation time. The same problem exists with storm doors and ceiling fans, namely how many parts do you have to assemble before you can start the install?

Good Luck on Your Swing Set Journey

… and if you want to see dialog among those who’ved traveled this road, click here.

FREE Classified Ads and Spring Cleaning

These days we don’t find too many things of value that are free, or maybe we do. The NH Seacoast is a wonderful place to live and you have to live somewhere. We’ve got great beaches, nice hiking trails, the weather really isn’t as tough as when I was a kid. If the spring bug has bitten you, and you’re starting to clean out …

Some great ways to RECYCLE

Recyle What You No Longer Need

• Seacoast Media’s MarketplaceOnline is offering free classified ads (select Everything Else, For Sale/Free in lower right corner) for anything under $100. Visit their web site and you can build your ad online - pretty cool!
• United Way of the Greater Seacoast has a Goods Match program to connect individuals and companies with items to donate, to non-profits that can use new or gently used items.
• Free Cycle is another great way to give things away that still have a useful life.

Thanks to my good friend, great networker and owner of Digrafika Creative Designs, Diane DeVries … who shared the Seacoast Media information with me. We’re members of the best networking group on the NH Seacoast, One More Referral, and we are always looking for ways to help each other grow our businesses and support our communities.

America - Remembering What is Great About Our Lives!

At times like these it can be difficult to step back and think about the good things in our lives. Sometimes we just need a little help (actually a lot more help from the media would be good). That’s just what I found in a fantastic new book, America at Home. It reminds me that our homes really are the core of our lives, and are really about the people who live inside them. I’m very sensitive to photos of the home, as I want to showcase the great work we do at My Handyman, while I also want to help my readers see themselves in the photos I share in various places (newsletter, this blog and yes, my advertising).

America at Home

America at Home contains more than 250 photos by 100 of the leading photojournalists in the US, plus amateurs were able to submit their photos too. What is great is the photos capture the emotions of anything home including family rituals, and all the ways we work, play and interact with friends and family (pets too) … at home. What it illustrates is how we personalize our homes to reflect who we are, and the values important to us.

If you like the book, you can personalize it by putting a family photo on the cover of America at Home. Visit the “MYamericaathome” web site to learn more. If you have a favorite book about homes, about life in America, please share with us by leaving a comment (click on “Share your feedback” just below and to the right). Thanks for sharing

Picking the Right Basement Windows

When you think about replacing your home’s windows, don’t forget to evaluate how energy efficient your basement windows are. Like every other window in your home, they do affect your home’s heating and/or cooling costs. Here is a quick overview of the key decisions you need to make when n picking new basement windows?. My Handyman likes to use windows from Harvey Industries as they will build the new, replacement windows per our specifications, and we’ve installed 100s of them.

• Vinyl, aluminum or wood, and given these windows are close to the ground, vinyl is ideal as it is more energy efficient than aluminum and less prone to moisture problems. For finished basements you can get wood windows that are vinyl clad on the outside.
• Energy efficiency ranges from single pane to double pane windows with different options for the air or gas trapped between the glass panes, providing higher levels of energy savings.
  • Note: When buying windows, be careful to get the manufacturer’s documentation to support any planned tax credits. You can learn more about these tax credits at the Energy Star web site … BUT I can’t get you there directly (something preventing direct link), so on this page you need to click on the link behind “(including roofing, insulation, …)” and you should see a tablethat looks like this (and everything keeps changing to go direct to the source):

Format for Energy Tax Credit Table You Want

• Window style will depend on your home and type of windows throughout your house, although it is common for basement windows to be different. Hopper windows open at the top while awning windows open at the bottom.
• Window size is important. Today’s International Building Code (IRC) requires windows to be a minimum of 24 inches wide by 20 inches high, to allow exiting the window in case of a fire.

Hopper Window Opens at Top

Awning Window Opens at Bottom

Habitat for Humanity and Shaw’s Rewards

We all eat … and shop at local grocery stores. Now we can support local organizations at the same time.

I’ve been supporting Habitat for Humanity for several years. Today I received an invitation to sign up and donate a percentage of my grocery receipts from Shaws (or Star Market in Massachusetts). The process was a little cumbersome but you only have to do it once.

Southern NH Habitat for Humanity

Shaws Supporting the Local Community

Here’s what Cheryl Van Allen, Executive Director of the Southeast NH Habitat for Humanity, sent out via Facebook this morning …

“The Shaw’s Rewards program has CHANGED - and it’s now easier than ever to participate, and have a portion of your grocery bill go to helping Habitat eliminate poverty housing. The cool part?  We no longer need to collect the paper receipts!!! Anyone, anywhere, can do it!!  It is SO easy…here’s what you do:

• Log log onto www.shaws.com/neighborhoodrewards
• Type in the code on the back of your card
• Type in the phone number you used to register the card … I had to call (877-932-7948) as I never registered a phone number with my card
• You can type in the code for Habitat, 49001018944 or …
  • Select up up to 4 organizations and allocate your spending credits across them.

Shaw’s will do the the rest! Only purchases made on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday are eligible. So - you’re gonna shop anyway, and between getting Irving gas points, and now THIS?  Go on - it’s a great way to give back.

Building houses, building hope - one volunteer, one family, one house at a time.”

Protecting Hardwood Floors - Tips from a Mom!

Now that the snow is mostly gone in NH, we’re starting to get calls from homeowners planning to put their homes on the market this spring. While it is relatively easy to spruce your home up with a new coat of paint, one of the most challenging questions is value vs costs of refinishing those wood floors? It is a costly and lengthy (full week, described below) process to sand and refinish hardwood floors.

We’re sad to see one of our long standing customers leave the area, but she is smart to getting started now. We’ll be out there Sunday, after they leave for the airport for winter break “away from the cold,” to move all the furniture in prep for floor refinishing to start on Monday. The fun part of this conversation was how to protect the floors when the kids come  home? I recommended buying fun kids slippers to motivate her 2 young boys to wear them after the floors are refinished.

Dirty Sneakers

Monster Slippers

Steps involved in refinishing hardwood floors

• Move all furniture, leaving room for family members to navigate through the house
• Put up plastic across door openings to minimize dust escaping during sanding process.
• Sand floors carefully to remove wear but leave enough wood for future repairs
• As needed, restain floors to desired color
• Apply three (3) or more coats of polyurethane to floors, allowing each coat to dry overnight before applying the next coat
• Wait a minimum of 48 hours before moving furniture back in
• Move furniture back to original positions.

Ceiling Repairs: Sheetrock Repairs Take Planning

My Handyman gets many requests to make repairs due to water damage. This damage can involve a home’s exterior (see current water damage series) or interior damage, i.e. a child letting the bathtub overflow or a leaky faucet overlooked until you find a stain on the living room ceiling (okay, I heard someone out there laughing).

Yes, a lot of homeowners (me?) put off critical repairs. We don’t have time right now, or I don’t have the money to spare. Lots of things can be deferred but repairs that involve safety issues or water damage should always be handled promptly.

What does all of this have to do with sheetrock, you might be asking? I’ve been talking to a client for a month about their ceiling problems, from ideas to reduce the number of rooms that will need to be painted and considerations for possible water leaks in the future. here is today’s dialog:

Putting a House Together

• Mary in Manchester, NH sent this email. “We’d like to have My Handyman do some of the work for us. My husband and I plan on taking down the affected area of the ceiling ourselves and we will purchase the needed materials so we can save a little money. Once the area is ready, I will call to set up a time for your person to come over to install the sheetrock. Hopefully we’ll have everything ready in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for your help!”

• I wrote back, following the problem solving dialog we’ve been having … “ I’m glad I was able to help explain the steps involved, in enough detail for you to pick the ones you’re comfortable handling yourself. When taking down sheetrock, you want to cut lines as straight as possible, to make it easier to fit the replacement pieces into place, i.e. think of the challenge when fitting puzzle pieces together.”

At My Handyman we work very hard to understand a customer’s needs, and offer choices to help them find a viable solution which includes letting you, the homeowner buy the materials and/or do some of the prep or finish work. Our goal is to build a lifelong relationship with you so we take the longer view of getting the right job done, on the right schedule for you.

Water Damage: Window Trim (Part 2)

Now let’s look at common water damage problems related to windows. My theory is we see window problems more frequently as they are more challenging to paint, and paint is what protects all types of wood (except those naturally resistant to moisture) from water damage.

Unfortunately many homeowners neglect inspecting exterior wood trim at least once a year. What might be  an easy repair, becomes very costly when significant wood rot occurs and requires not only the trim but also the windows to be replaced as illustrated below. The water only needs to penetrate through the protective paint to start the rotting process. It continues, extending in all directions invisible to a visual inspection. The best way to protect against wood rot around windows is to perform an annual “spongy” test by gently prodding the wood sills. If they aren’t firm, you have a problem that should be addressed right away.

Here are examples of the type of damage resulting from repairs being delayed for multiple years. When they were finally made, both the trim and the windows had to be replaced.

Window Sill BEFORE

Window Corner BEFORE

Window Trim BEFORE

New Window AFTER

New Window AFTER

By scheduling routine maintenance and taking care of repairs as soon as you see a problem, you will reduce your home maintenance costs significantly. This will enable you to invest in home improvements to enhance your lifestyle and increase the value of your home.