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Home Maintenance Tips for the Home Handyman in You

Mr Handyman and Mrs Fix It - Types of Services Provided

Services provided by a home handyman differ from that of a contractor or builder.

Generally speaking, a licensed contractor is a tradesperson who provides residential and commercial construction services on a contractual basis. A builder is another type skilled professional; one who builds structures and/or provides substantial renovation and remodeling services.

A handyman, whether a DIY home owner or someone hired to provide a handyman service, can skillfully complete a variety of odd jobs; small to modest scale tasks, home repair, and maintenance projects.

Just Ask the Handyman!

Handymen are competent home fix it and repair problem solvers. Adept at a variety of jobs. Including home appliance repair, home roof repair, kitchen cabinet resurfacing, window frame repair, home glass repair, tile replacement, wall painting, furniture refinishing, and much more.

A handyman job can be an easy home repair project, or entail more complicated phases of home improvement. Such as aspects of plumbing, HVAC, and home electrical repair and upkeep.

Free Home Repair Tips for the Fixer Upper in You

Regardless if you are a novice Mr fix it or a super handyman with experience, the following DIY home improvement tips can save you time and help ensure project success:

Caulking Tips - Caulk is a strong glue-like substance and flexible sealant; used in between tiles, to join dissimilar materials, and to seal a joint or corner that requires a measure of “give.”

First and foremost, if caulking is loose - fix it! This is especially important near plumbing or where moisture is involved; to keep water from seeping up, under, and around tiles. Requiring expensive water damage restoration efforts to prevent mold and mildew.

Silicone caulk is a good water sealant, providing a flexible bond. Great for humid or damp areas of the home - such as around a tub, shower, or sink. Water-based latex, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and acrylic are other types of caulk, each with distinct benefits and drawbacks. Be sure and select the right type of caulk for your particular project.

Tip: when replacing old caulk with new - clean the area with water before caulk removal. This introduces less moisture around the tiles or joint than what would be there if you cleaned using water after removing the caulk. Once caulk has been removed, clean the area with denatured alcohol; helping to ensure proper adhesion for a water-tight seal.

Silicone caulk is best removed using a utility knife or single-edged razor; caution must be taken to avoid bodily injury. Also, keep the blade at a low angle so that objects do not become scratched. Note: little black lines may appear on porcelain while scraping off the caulk; use alcohol to remove them. If this doesn't work, try a mild scouring powder specially formulated for use on porcelain.

PVA caulk and water-based types are more easily removed using hot air to soften the caulk first. A heat gun works best; a blow dyer (used for drying hair) might work in a pinch. Note: to avoid injury to hands and surfaces, set heat under 300-degrees.

While home handyman professionals prefer caulking gun use, in untrained hands a caulking gun has the tendency to “overshoot;” leaving heavy clumps of caulk instead of the desired fine line. Small plastic tubes of caulk, though more expensive, are easier to control; proving a more uniform bead, even for a novice beginner.

More DIY Project Family Handy Man Tips

One home repair improvement tip to fix a squeaky floor is to enlist the help of a second person to locate the squeaky area. If the floor is plywood and the squeak is over a joist, simply top nail it. If the squeak is between joists, block it.

Fix it yourself tip - how to fix squeaky hardwood floor problems: squeaks in a strip wood floor over plywood should be fixed by securing the floor up from the bottom, whenever possible. Repairing from the bottom is better from a cosmetic standpoint; it avoids marring the floor's surface.

Need to match paint color in order to touch up a stained or damaged area of a wall? Take a small paint sample from the wall to a reliable paint store and let them match the color for you! Whether the wall is drywall or plaster, use a utility knife to lift a small 1” X 2” section off the wall, about 1/8-inch deep. The cleaner the cut, the easier patching will be. Instead of brushing the paint on during touch up, daub it on; work from the center outward.

Home repair advice: for walls along high traffic areas or walls that have not been painted for several years, painting the entire wall instead of touching up a single area usually yields best results.

Locating Reliable Handymen in Your Area - Easier Than You Think!

Whether you require the services of an Atlanta handyman for an extreme house makeover or handy man services for any other type of American home improvement. Finding just the right home repair contractor is a snap at TrustedPros.com. Best yet, services are FREE!

Simply sign up without cost or obligation, and post your project online with our easy-to-use tools. Member service providers view project details; they also receive e-mail notification of newly posted handyman jobs in their locality - within their area of expertise.

Project owners receive competitive bids from contractor handymen within days - even hours - from project posting. View each contractor's portfolio online at TrustedPros.com - 24/7; including company profile, resumes, licensing/insurance/credential information, references, and even photos of recently completed projects.

Hire the handyman contractor of choice - or none at all. Remember, there is no obligation whatsoever.

Whether you need a master handyman for a complicated home repair project, or someone to help with some of the more difficult aspects of do it yourself home improvement. Finding just the right contractor at TrustedPros.com is fast and easy. And because members bid competitively, cost for handyman have never been better!

Posted by: TrustedPros
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