Here are some new gadgets that are note worthy. Enjoy!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Consider the tasks one can do for you
If you have lots of projects around the house that need to get done, it is not uncommon to keep putting them off. Rather than stressing yourself out about such tasks, consider getting a professional to help you out with them. Most people have no problem hiring an electrician or plumber to finish the jobs that they cannot do on their own, but they feel odd hiring someone to complete small chores that do not require a specialist. However, rather than spending your days off completing your to do list, think about just relaxing and getting a handyman to do it all for you.
You might be wondering what kinds of tasks most handymen are capable of completing. The answer is that it varies depending on the person, but most can do all of the typical chores that homeowners tend to put off. For example, most people are perfectly capable of painting, but do not have the tools or patience to do it quickly. Whether you need a room with high ceilings painted, a wallpaper border put up in a new nursery, or a chair rail added to a room, consider hiring a handyman to do it instead of spending hours trying to do it yourself.
Some homeowners find it hard to get around to tasks that do not directly affect them on a daily basis. For example, you might have purchased a ceiling fan long ago, but never installed it because you are not sure that you can do so correctly. If it is fall or wintertime, you may feel that it can wait, but it would be great if you could have it put in place before it begins getting warm where you live. In this case, you can call a handyman to install it, whether the ceiling is prewired for the fan or not. Consider doing the same for large mirrors or pictures that you have never gotten around to putting up on the walls, as your house is missing out on these decorations while they sit and just take up space on the floor.
If you are unsure if a local handyman can do the job you need him to do, all you have to do is call and ask. Do not forget to ask for hourly rates, whether he is licensed and insured, and the soonest time that he can make it to your home. Many homeowners think that they are saving money by trying to do chores on their own, but they often never get around to completing certain tasks. Spending a little money on a professional can bring you peace of mind and allow you to relax and enjoy your days off.
You might be wondering what kinds of tasks most handymen are capable of completing. The answer is that it varies depending on the person, but most can do all of the typical chores that homeowners tend to put off. For example, most people are perfectly capable of painting, but do not have the tools or patience to do it quickly. Whether you need a room with high ceilings painted, a wallpaper border put up in a new nursery, or a chair rail added to a room, consider hiring a handyman to do it instead of spending hours trying to do it yourself.
Some homeowners find it hard to get around to tasks that do not directly affect them on a daily basis. For example, you might have purchased a ceiling fan long ago, but never installed it because you are not sure that you can do so correctly. If it is fall or wintertime, you may feel that it can wait, but it would be great if you could have it put in place before it begins getting warm where you live. In this case, you can call a handyman to install it, whether the ceiling is prewired for the fan or not. Consider doing the same for large mirrors or pictures that you have never gotten around to putting up on the walls, as your house is missing out on these decorations while they sit and just take up space on the floor.
If you are unsure if a local handyman can do the job you need him to do, all you have to do is call and ask. Do not forget to ask for hourly rates, whether he is licensed and insured, and the soonest time that he can make it to your home. Many homeowners think that they are saving money by trying to do chores on their own, but they often never get around to completing certain tasks. Spending a little money on a professional can bring you peace of mind and allow you to relax and enjoy your days off.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Fall Home Maintenance Tips
By following these steps you will avoid more expensive repairs later and keep all parts of your home functioning safely and efficiently. See the “do-it-yourself” section of our web site at http://www.lewisville.handymanmatters.com/ for more details.
• Check Outdoor Paint for Peeling, Cracking & Proper Coverage – Peeling & cracking can allow moisture to get behind the paint and cause rotting and possible interior leaks. You’ll want to take care of this before it gets cold in the winter.
Tools required; wire brush, paint scraper, paint brush, caulk gun
Instructions; visually inspect the paint on your home, scrape areas of loose paint with a scraper or wire brush (be sure to remove all loose paint), caulk any seams or cracks, apply primer and touch up paint
• Inspect Attic for Insulation and Leak Stains – insulation should be at least R-19 and you need to look for stains to determine leaks. Water will stain the insulation and since insulation can hold 30 times its weight and still feel dry to the touch, feeling it is no good. Make sure no insulation is covering any soffit vents and add an exhaust fan if ventilation is inadequate.
Tools required; ladder
Instructions; Get up in your attic (be sure you walk on roof trusses or planks in the rafters so you don’t step through your ceiling), look for daylight coming in around any roof protrusions i.e. plumbing vents or furnace flue stacks (do this when the sun is shining), If you see light water came come in, repair holes as necessary, Visually inspect insulation for stains, bag up and remove wet insulation, replace as needed,
• Inspect Caulking, Weather Stripping, Door Transitions, Exterior Trim, – if you can see outside or feel air coming in thru these areas stopping the air flow will keep the heat inside your home in the winter and reduce your heating bills.
Tools required; screwdrivers, hammer, utility knife
Instructions; look and feel around windows and doors for daylight or drafts, remove and replace worn weather stripping as necessary, (there are many different types of weather stripping, find your exact replacement at your local home improvement store).
• Inspect Gutters, Clean and Re-Attach as necessary – look for roofing nails or pieces of shingles in the gutters, which indicate the roof may need inspecting. Check for rusting on the bottoms of the gutters and to make sure the gutter extensions discharge water at least 6’ away from the house. Also check to make sure you are not dumping water uphill. Water too close to the foundation can cause flooding and deterioration. Clean gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters cause water to back flow into your house.
Tools required; ladder, putty knife, garden hose, screwdriver, nut driver
Instructions; CAUTION Be aware of overhead power lines. Visually inspect gutters for debris, remove sludge with putty knife, use garden hose to rinse down, if down spouts are clogged use nut driver to remove downspout from gutter, clear clog or replace downspout, re attach to gutter, ensure gutters are firmly attached to fascia
• Change Furnace Air Filters – to filter out allergens and keep your furnace running efficiently. We recommend microbial type filters. Change monthly or as recommended by manufacturer.
Tools required; Phillips, slotted screwdriver, nut driver
Instructions; Remove access cover to furnace filter, remove and replace filter, ensure new filter is correct size and air flow direction is correct (look for flow direction arrow on filter edge), replace access cover.
• Test All Smoke or CO Detectors – A few minutes doing this each month could save your family’s life in a fire.
Tools required; Hands with opposable thumbs.
Instructions; depress the push to test button on the device and listen for tone, clean device of any built up dust, replace batteries every 6 month (whenever you change the clocks for daylight savings time).
Go Through the Garage/Sheds and Move Temperature Sensitive Products to a Warmer Area – any water-based products like latex paint will freeze and be damaged.
About Handyman Matters
Handyman Matters bases its business on preferred pricing, an hourly rate plus materials model benefiting the customer. All craftsmen are background-screened employees and are bonded and insured, not outside sub-contractors. We provide a 1 year warranty on our work.
• Check Outdoor Paint for Peeling, Cracking & Proper Coverage – Peeling & cracking can allow moisture to get behind the paint and cause rotting and possible interior leaks. You’ll want to take care of this before it gets cold in the winter.
Tools required; wire brush, paint scraper, paint brush, caulk gun
Instructions; visually inspect the paint on your home, scrape areas of loose paint with a scraper or wire brush (be sure to remove all loose paint), caulk any seams or cracks, apply primer and touch up paint
• Inspect Attic for Insulation and Leak Stains – insulation should be at least R-19 and you need to look for stains to determine leaks. Water will stain the insulation and since insulation can hold 30 times its weight and still feel dry to the touch, feeling it is no good. Make sure no insulation is covering any soffit vents and add an exhaust fan if ventilation is inadequate.
Tools required; ladder
Instructions; Get up in your attic (be sure you walk on roof trusses or planks in the rafters so you don’t step through your ceiling), look for daylight coming in around any roof protrusions i.e. plumbing vents or furnace flue stacks (do this when the sun is shining), If you see light water came come in, repair holes as necessary, Visually inspect insulation for stains, bag up and remove wet insulation, replace as needed,
• Inspect Caulking, Weather Stripping, Door Transitions, Exterior Trim, – if you can see outside or feel air coming in thru these areas stopping the air flow will keep the heat inside your home in the winter and reduce your heating bills.
Tools required; screwdrivers, hammer, utility knife
Instructions; look and feel around windows and doors for daylight or drafts, remove and replace worn weather stripping as necessary, (there are many different types of weather stripping, find your exact replacement at your local home improvement store).
• Inspect Gutters, Clean and Re-Attach as necessary – look for roofing nails or pieces of shingles in the gutters, which indicate the roof may need inspecting. Check for rusting on the bottoms of the gutters and to make sure the gutter extensions discharge water at least 6’ away from the house. Also check to make sure you are not dumping water uphill. Water too close to the foundation can cause flooding and deterioration. Clean gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters cause water to back flow into your house.
Tools required; ladder, putty knife, garden hose, screwdriver, nut driver
Instructions; CAUTION Be aware of overhead power lines. Visually inspect gutters for debris, remove sludge with putty knife, use garden hose to rinse down, if down spouts are clogged use nut driver to remove downspout from gutter, clear clog or replace downspout, re attach to gutter, ensure gutters are firmly attached to fascia
• Change Furnace Air Filters – to filter out allergens and keep your furnace running efficiently. We recommend microbial type filters. Change monthly or as recommended by manufacturer.
Tools required; Phillips, slotted screwdriver, nut driver
Instructions; Remove access cover to furnace filter, remove and replace filter, ensure new filter is correct size and air flow direction is correct (look for flow direction arrow on filter edge), replace access cover.
• Test All Smoke or CO Detectors – A few minutes doing this each month could save your family’s life in a fire.
Tools required; Hands with opposable thumbs.
Instructions; depress the push to test button on the device and listen for tone, clean device of any built up dust, replace batteries every 6 month (whenever you change the clocks for daylight savings time).
Go Through the Garage/Sheds and Move Temperature Sensitive Products to a Warmer Area – any water-based products like latex paint will freeze and be damaged.
About Handyman Matters
Handyman Matters bases its business on preferred pricing, an hourly rate plus materials model benefiting the customer. All craftsmen are background-screened employees and are bonded and insured, not outside sub-contractors. We provide a 1 year warranty on our work.
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