Handyman Matters Lewisville

Prepare for Winter!

2010-12-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

Fall is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.

Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter from Handyman Matters Lewisville:

1) Furnace Inspection
• Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
• Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
• Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
• If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
• Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready
• Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
• If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
• Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
• Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
• Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
• Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
• Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
• Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
• If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
• Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
• If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
• Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
• Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
• Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
• Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
• Drain gas from lawnmowers.
• Service or tune-up snow blowers.
• Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
• Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
• Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations
• Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
• Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
• Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
• Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
• Secure crawlspace entrances.

7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
• Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
• Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
• Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
• Drain all garden hoses.
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
• If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
• Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
• Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
• Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
• Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
• Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
• Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
• Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
• Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
• Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
• Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
• Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

Men at Work

2010-11-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

Men at Work - Check out our guys at work.

Mess Free Painting Tips!

2010-11-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

Follow these tips to make your painting projects easier to do and cut your clean up time in half. Mess Free

Halloween Facts and Ideas!!! Happy October!

2010-10-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

October is a great time to relax and have fun — decorating, costumes, trick-or-treating and lots of candy for the kids … and an occasional pet like our friend here. Halloween is a time when we get to appreciate the community where we live, and all the special events we have to enjoy all year round. This sense of community is even more important as people stay closer to home to save money.

Depending on where you live, there will be different festivals and fairs to visit. Some of the more traditional fall trips include fall foliage, apple picking, finding the perfect pumpkin and don’t forget the hay rides, which the kids absolutely love. All of these activities are great as they support your local businesses, who like you are having to work extra hard to survive and thrive in this challenging economy.

Don’t forget to decorate your house or maybe a scarecrow. Children love to get involved and this is a project where you can work side-by-side with younger ones to create that special look. If your children are grown and gone, maybe you’ll simply put out a nice display of pumpkins and mums to show your appreciation for everything good that we have.

If you’re searching for fun activities for your family, a great website to visit is WhoFish.com (more than 30 states and growing) where they list local events and send you a weekly update so you can always find something fun to do. You’ve simply got to find (make) the time to relax and have fun.

History of Halloween
Halloween began 100s of years ago. Celtic farmers believed that spirits rose from their graves on the last day of summer. They used huge bonfires and disguises to repel and confuse these spirits. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory the 3rd, created All Hallows Day on November 1st, in an attempt to distract the Celts. This quickly became All Hallow’s Eve as the Celts didn’t want to give up their traditions.

During the Irish potato famine, more than a million people immigrated to the US and brought these traditions with them. Bonfires turned into Jack-O-Lanterns and disguises became costumes. The tradition of Trick-or-Treat is less clear.

Watch the History Channels video, Haunted History of Halloween
Pumpkin Facts & Figures (watch the pumpkin video)
Maybe you’re a fan of pumpkin pie, love carving pumpkins or eating pumpkin seeds. Bet you haven’t memorized all these pumpkin facts …

Pumpkins originally came from central America.
American farmers grow more than 1.5 billion pumpkins each year … that’s a BIG number!
The largest pumpkin grown (so far) weighed 1700 lbs.
Pumpkins contain an average of 500 seeds.
There are 30 different varieties of pumpkins. The ones we carve are usually Connecticut field pumpkins.
Pumpkins are good for you, containing potassium, vitamin A and fiber.
Pumkins were originally thought to cure snake bites, freckles and more (gotta watch the pumpkin video).

The Modern Handyman

2010-09-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some new gadgets that are note worthy. Enjoy!

Need room in your garage???

2010-09-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

DIY tips on making room in the garage.

Consider the tasks one can do for you

2010-09-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

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.

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

2010-09-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

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.

How to Wall Mount a Flat Panel TV

2010-08-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Curious how to mount a flat-panel TV in your home? Check out the link below. You can do it, but at the end your TV may not be so secure and all your hard work goes to waste. Check it out... but make sure to make the right choice =]

HOW TO guide to get you through the installation.

Reasons for Power Washing

2010-08-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

We just bought a new power washer and are eager to get to breaking it in. Any body needing their deck cleaned and restained? Here are some ideas for you to consider.

When many homeowners think of ways to make their homes look better, they consider getting services like lawn maintenance, gutter cleaning, window washing and home cleaning. While all of these services are necessary, many homeowners fail to consider their sidewalk and siding and what condition it is in. Simply put, having siding that is in good condition is a necessity, as siding that is in bad condition will be more prone to issues such as mold, which can be a problem for those who are allergic to it. There are many benefits to getting pressure washing done by a professional, as you'll find out in this article.

Four Benefits of Pressure Washing

l It's Not as Expensive as Replacing Things Outright. Does your siding look like it's been there for a long time and is in desperate need of replacement. Or how about your deck-does it look like the wood needs to be re-stained? These are both signs that your siding and deck are in need of maintenance. A lot of people assume that when the condition of anything on their hope deteriorates, it's automatically time to replace it. But a good pressure washing can restore your deck, siding or sidewalk to its original condition because the wash removes dirt and many other things that can make your deck, siding, or sidewalk look in worse condition than it really is.

l It Gets Rid of Harmful Mold. It's a fact that many homes have mold of some kind on them, which can trigger allergic reactions. If you've felt like your home is making you sick, it could very well be a mold build up on the outside. Pressure washing is able to cut through mold and grime and remove it in a way that is safe and will be beneficial to both you and your home.

l Extends the Life of Roof Shingles. Replacing the roof on any home is a very costly thing, and a build-up of mold is a common cause for shingles that need to be replaced a lot more often than they should. Fortunately, pressure washing-even on roofs-can get rid of the mold and greatly extend the life of the shingles, saving homeowners thousands of dollars in potential repairs.

l Better Insulation and More Energy Efficient. Improper home maintenance can result in a home that is poorly insulated and will cost a lot more to keep warm. Due to the rising cost of energy, having a properly insulated home is essential, and believe it or not, pressure washing can aid in this. That's because pressure washing gets rid of things that can affect the insulation of the home, both on the roof and on the siding.

Why to Hire a Professional to Pressure Wash

In some instances, doing things yourself can save money and time, but not when it comes to important home maintenance like pressure washing. It's far cheaper to hire a professional business to do your home's pressure washing, as you won't need to buy the special equipment they use to get it done.

You'll also save time, as you won't have to spend hours doing it yourself.

Finally, the results will last much longer than an amateur job would.

Give us a call at 972-306-8108

Do you know WHO you are dealing with?

2010-08-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Ever need to know who you are dealing with? Whether it’s a client, referral partner or someone you need to do work with (contractor, plumber, electrician or handyman) make sure you check them out. Watch this short video that will show you how to “get the scoop” on just about anyone!

Exterior Caulking Tips

2010-07-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Tips on how to caulk your exterior to save on energy bills.

2010-07-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Why Your Handyman Should Be Bonded and Insured

Fireplace Facelift

2010-07-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

After

Before

Testimonal from our customer:

Ken & I just wanted to let you know how happy we are with the tile job you did on our fireplace on July 15 & 16. I know I chose tile that was not exactly easy to work with, but the craftsman you sent to us was very patient and did an outstanding job. We greatly appreciate your strong work ethic and look forward to working with you again in the future. Ken and Kim Cerda - Carrollton Texas

Almost Back to School Time!

2010-07-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

Found some useful information on back to school ideas, supplies, and more.

From the Archives of HMM

2010-07-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

In my travels around the web, I have found some useful tips on the Handyman Matters newletters archives. I thought with summer half way gone and fall around the corner these tips could help you out.Tips on Spicing up your shower, planting tips,fall home maintenance, and new back splash ideas. Take a look.

Top Ten Energy Saving Tips

2010-07-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

1. Set your home’s thermostat at the coolest level you can without making your rooms uncomfortable. For most homes, the heating bill drops by about 2 percent for every 1 degree the thermostat is lowered.

2. Lower your home’s thermostat at bedtime or while you’re away during the day. (See Tip #7.) Setting the thermostat to 58 degrees while you’re asleep (you may need an extra blanket!) can cut your natural-gas bill by up to 7 percent.

3. Seal up leaky drafts around doors and windows with weather-stripping, caulking, and door sweeps. (And don’t forget to keep the damper closed on a fireplace or wood-burning stove when it’s not in use.) Also seal up any leaks or gaps in furnace ducts that extend through unheated basements or crawl spaces.

4. Have your furnace inspected and tuned up every two to three years (before the heating season starts), and clean or replace the air filters on your furnace every two months during the heating season. Your furnace will run more efficiently and use less energy.

5. Set your water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Lowering it from a higher setting will save you money and reduce the risk of being scalded.

6. Take shorter showers, wash clothes in cold water, and don’t over-dry your clothing.

7. Install a programmable thermostat for home heating. It can save lots of energy while you’re sleeping or away from home – and will re-warm your house shortly before you wake up or return home from work.

8. Replace traditional, incandescent lighting with Energy Star® compact fluorescent bulbs and fixtures (especially in the lights you use most).

9. Make sure you have adequate insulation in your home’s attic and walls, and around heating ducts that pass through unheated spaces.

10. Purchase an Energy Star® rated high-efficiency furnace, water heater, washer/dryer, and dishwasher when it’s time to replace worn-out models

God Bless America!!!

2010-06-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Let's fly our flags for our troops that are fighting for our freedom and giving their lives for our country. Please Remember them not just this weekend but always!
http://ushistory.org/flag

20 Tips on Staying Cool this Summer

2010-06-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hope you enjoy this article it is very helpful.

How to Hire A Handyman

2010-06-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Thought you might get some useful information from this article.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/money/angies_list/Angies-List-How-to-hire-a-handyman-service1277251233694