I’d like to try installing some crown molding in my bedroom. I’ve never done anything like that before, but I’m ambitious! Can you offer some tips?
Crown Molding enhances the character of any room.
A beginner should start with a nice square room; a room with a lot of angles can make the job complicated. There’s a lot to learn, but I can give you some basic information.
First, decide what type of molding you want. For a more formal room, two-piece molding looks especially nice. However, one-piece crown molding should be ample for a bedroom and give it a nice finished look. Your local home improvement store will carry a variety of moldings. Choose carefully to avoid warped or damaged pieces. A pre-primed molding will save you painting time. If you want stained (not painted) molding, a (more expensive) stainable molding is available.
You can find crown molding in 8′, 12′ and 16′ lengths. When possible, you want one piece to run the entire length of the room. Trying to save money by piecing together short lengths is not a good idea, as it can be difficult to hide the joints. To make things easier, you can buy decorative corner pieces to minimize the angled cuts you would otherwise need to make. Guests will think that you went with the corner pieces because they look fancy, but you will know the truth.
Before installing the molding, apply a couple of coats of semi-gloss paint that matches the rest of the room’s trim. If you aren’t using pre-primed molding, apply the primer first. It’s not fun to paint molding once it is hung high on a wall, so you will want to minimize the amount of painting to be done at that time.
You’ll need a power miter saw to cut the correct angles. Don’t try to struggle with a handsaw or a wooden miter box. It will be too aggravating. It’s relatively inexpensive to rent power equipment—your cuts will be smoother, too.
Use finish nails (such as 2″ 8d nails) to secure the molding to the wall. Install them about 1/2″ from the edges, through the molding and into an existing wall stud. For the ends of the molding, drill pilot holes before nailing in order to reduce the likelihood of the wood splitting. You can buy a small tool that allows you to sink the nails below the surface. Fill the holes carefully and apply a final coat of paint. You will probably also need to caulk in various spots because walls are seldom completely flat or perfectly angled. Later, as the house settles with the change in seasons, you may need to caulk again.
Gina Chapman is owner of Mr. Handyman of Richmond, providing Handyman Services to Richmond, Chesterfield, and Glen Allen, Virginia.
All Mr. Handyman franchises are Fully Insured – General Liability and Workers Compensation. Some services subject to state and local licensing and may not be available in all locations. Click here to request service in your area.
Increasing the energy efficiency of their home could earn a primary homeowner a tax payer up to a $1500 tax credit. If you use your tax return to purchase energy efficient doors, windows, HVAC equipment, water heaters, skylights or insulation and roofing materials you will get 30% of that money returned to you as a tax credit. Taking advantage of this federal income tax credit just makes financial sense if you plan on purchasing some of those items anyway.
The tax credits do have a few requirements and some paperwork to file, but that is a minor task compared to dollars you will keep in your pocket. If you do not take advantage of the credit for the this year, you will miss out on this great offer. If you received a tax return of $1000 this year and expect to get about the same refund next year, you could spend this year’s return on a $1000 home improvement (materials costs only) and next year you’ll receive $1300 back, instead of just $1000 because of the tax credit. You could spend up to $5000 on these home improvement projects to max out at the $1500 limit.
Not all windows, doors and HVAC purchases qualify for the tax credit. Consult a tax professional or go to energystar.gov for more detailed information. You can contact Mr. Handyman for more information as well.
Dan Johnson is owner of Mr. Handyman of Papillion, providing Handyman Services to Omaha, Bellevue and Elkhorn, Nebraska.
All Mr. Handyman franchises are Fully Insured – General Liability and Workers Compensation. Some services subject to state and local licensing and may not be available in all locations. Click here to request service in your area.
Franchising With Mr. Handyman Offers Options After Corporate Layoffs
Doug Wertenberger completes initial training at the Mr. Handyman home office and marks his territory on the map.
Doug Wertenberger was frustrated by Corporate America’s unpredictable nature in the technology industry. After being let go after his company downsized, Wertenberger began pursuing franchising opportunities and found his match and became the owner of Mr. Handyman of Gilbert, Ariz.
He found the Mr. Handyman business to be a good match for his experience working with customers and his personal interest in home repair and maintenance projects made Mr. Handyman an option he could get excited about. In an industry lacking in professional, qualified and insured technicians, Mr. Handyman stood out, and Wertenberger wanted in. For the past six years, Mr. Handyman has been ranked No. 1 in the industry, as announced in the January 2010 edition of Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500.
Making regular home repairs protects home values, which is why Approximately 25 million homeowners undertake some type of home improvement project each year, according to research from Harvard’s Improving America’s Housing 2007. It’s also why the U.S. Census Bureau reports six out of 10 homeowners have seven or more projects making their home repairs “To Do” list.
The Phoenix market has additional growth potential for Mr. Handyman franchise businesses, as does Kansas City, southeastern Florida and many others. To find out about owning your own Mr. Handyman franchise and enjoying a schedule of Monday through Friday, daytime hours only, visit our website. To immediately request additional information, please complete our short CQI.
Doug Wertenberger was featured in a recent edition of The Arizona Republic as he discussed going into business and taking control of his future.
- Chad Prices marks his Mr. Handyman territory on the Home Office map.
Chad and Kathy Price opened their Mr. Handyman franchise business in August 2009 and were recently featured in Harrisburg Magazine’s article outlined 10 industries that are still in high demand despite the nation’s unemployment rate. The tenth and final section is titled, “The Entrepreneurial Spirit,” and is written about Price and joining the nation’s leader in home repair and maintenance.
Chad Price, President of Mr. Handyman of the East Shore, did just that. At only 35, Price is an entrepreneurial veteran. Almost from the moment he graduated college, Price went into business for himself. After a couple successful financial trade businesses that demanded large portions of his time, he sold the businesses and opened up a Mr. Handyman franchise. “I have always owned my own business,” he says. “My previous companies were successful, but it got to the point that I was working 12-hour days, everyday. So, I got into a business that fit my personality and that there was a need for.”
Price’s family provided the catalyst for taking the risk of opening a new business despite the success of his previous ventures. Since opening the Mr. Handyman franchise, he has been able to spend a lot more time at home with his wife, Kathy – who serves as the VP of the franchise – and his three young children.
Price knows well the pitfalls of owning your own business. “The biggest factor in going out on your own is making sure you have enough money,” he admits. “If you think it takes ‘x’ amount, double it. The number one reason businesses fail is that they don’t have enough capital.”
With more than 320 franchises across the nation, the Mr. Handyman franchise is a professional home and maintenance repair company. Price’s Mr. Handyman franchise covers an area that reaches from downtown Harrisburg to Lebanon to Elizabethtown. “We do everything,” he says, “from cleaning gutters, drywall repair and carpentry to minor electrical work, minor plumbing and any other small job that general contractors feel are beneath them.” With two full-time employees and another about to be hired, Price’s franchise is performing well.
For all those future entrepreneurs dreaming of being their own boss, Price offers one last pearl of wisdom. “From the standpoint of going from employee to owning your own business, make sure it’s something you absolutely love doing. You’re going to live it day in and day out. Owning your own business is a lifestyle.”
Chad Price, President of Mr. Handyman of the East Shore, did just that. At only 35, Price is an entrepreneurial veteran. Almost from the moment he graduated college, Price went into business for himself. After a couple successful financial trade businesses that demanded large portions of his time, he sold the businesses and opened up a Mr. Handyman franchise. “I have always owned my own business,” he says. “My previous companies were successful, but it got to the point that I was working 12-hour days, everyday. So, I got into a business that fit my personality and that there was a need for.”
Price’s family provided the catalyst for taking the risk of opening a new business despite the success of his previous ventures. Since opening the Mr. Handyman franchise, he has been able to spend a lot more time at home with his wife, Kathy – who serves as the VP of the franchise – and his three young children.
Price knows well the pitfalls of owning your own business. “The biggest factor in going out on your own is making sure you have enough money,” he admits. “If you think it takes ‘x’ amount, double it. The number one reason businesses fail is that they don’t have enough capital.”
With more than 320 franchises across the nation, the Mr. Handyman franchise is a professional home and maintenance repair company. Price’s Mr. Handyman franchise covers an area that reaches from downtown Harrisburg to Lebanon to Elizabethtown. “We do everything,” he says, “from cleaning gutters, drywall repair and carpentry to minor electrical work, minor plumbing and any other small job that general contractors feel are beneath them.” With two full-time employees and another about to be hired, Price’s franchise is performing well.
For all those future entrepreneurs dreaming of being their own boss, Price offers one last pearl of wisdom. “From the standpoint of going from employee to owning your own business, make sure it’s something you absolutely love doing. You’re going to live it day in and day out. Owning your own business is a lifestyle.”
Entreprenuer Magazine recently recognized franchise organizations who brought in new franchise owners with the VetFran discount. Mr. Handyman International was recognized in the article’s Top 10 list.
Franchising is a formatted way of doing business that allows you the use of a brand’s trademark, marketing programs, and operating systems, and provides accessibility to professional support.
According to the 2009 Economic Impact Study conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers, there are more than 854,000 franchise establishments employing more than 9.5 million Americans who are generating $835 billion of output for the national economy. Franchising is big business!
Successful Mr. Handyman franchise owners are Achievers in their lifes’ pursuits. They come in all shapes and sizes, walks of life, and life stages: individuals, husband and wife, mother and daughter, father and son teams, and military veterans—who qualify for our VetFran discount—all with an uncommon desire to succeed both in their professional careers and in their personal lives.
They are winners, who partnered with Mr. Handyman because we are the handyman franchise category leader. They are experienced managers and motivators who want to grow a recession-resistant business—their own franchise business. They have perceptive communication and interpersonal skills, a can-do attitude, and a constant focus on customer service.
Mr. Handyman franchisees aren’t interested in re-inventing the wheel. They use their management experience and follow our owner’s manual to drive their business. They hire skilled technicians to wield hammers and climb ladders, while steering the business from the corner office.
Mr. Handyman offers veterans a $2,500 discount off our franchise fees and we have several successful owners who come from a military background. Find out more about the opportunity to franchise with Mr. Handyman.
Union, NJ Franchise Owner David Ambinder is a former executive at Lehman Bros.
The one year anniversary of the Lehman Bros. collapse came this past September and with it, several media outlets, including Newsweek featured Mr. Handyman franchisee David Ambinder. David was an executive at Lehman Bros., responsible for nearly 500 employees at one time and looked for an opportunity to create a new career… away from the financial industry when the industry crumbled.
Mr. Handyman hit David’s radar as a possible place to start his new future as a small business owner when he recalled the need for such a service for his own home repairs in his past life. The similarities between working as an executive vice president and a successful Mr. Handyman franchise owner aren’t as far fetched as one may think. Both roles require people management skills, attention to detail, a passion for customer service and the willingness to follow an established, proven system.
To watch a clip from a New Jersey NOW television interview with David Ambinder and his choice for selecting Mr. Handyman as the next step in his career, click here. If you’re interested in finding out more information about franchising opportunities with Mr. Handyman, visit our website and complete a brief questionairre.
- The staff of the recently opened Mr. Handyman franchise in Palm Desert, CA Photo credit: (Gina Tenorio, Palm Desert Sun)
New Mr. Handyman Franchise Owners Don and Cathy Hess were recently featured in The Desert Sun for choosing the recognized leader in the handyman industry as their newest business opportunity.
Hess works directly with his Operations Manager John Hughes and the two found Mr. Handyman after searching through 15 or 20 local contractors to have some work completed. Hess is proud to own a business who only employs skilled technicians who have successfully passed a thorough background check and motor vehicle report, while assuring home owners his team is bonded and insured, as well.
Residents in Hess’s area can contact Mr. Handyman of Coachella Valley, CA for a long list of residential and light commercial repairs and maintenance work. Mr. Handyman is great franchise opportunity for people with management experience, who are customer service oriented and who wish to work in a business with a Monday through Friday schedule and regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mr. Handyman Featured in USA Today
On Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, Todd Recknagel, President of Mr. Handyman, International was in front of franchise owners at a mid-year meeting in Las Vegas, Nev. and shared the company’s inclusion in the day’s USA Today article Easy Steps Can Cut Winter Heating Bills. Recknagel discussed the 2009 Tax Credit and home owners’ ability to receive a tax credit on products to increase your home’s energy efficiency with USA Today Special Reporter Kathryn Canavan. Insulation is a great example of a product installed many years ago, which may have been damaged, and need replacing or additional insulation in the attic to further protect from heating loss.
The energy efficient tax credit covers 30% of the cost of insulation, up to $1,500 and is good through Dec. 31, 2010. To find out more about qualifying insulation, visit Energy Star’s website and review the product FAQs.
While the tax credit does not include installation costs, Mr. Handyman can quickly complete several tasks to save homeowners hundreds in heating costs this winter. We employ professional technicians with more than 15 years of experience on average, who can perform a variety of jobs inside and outside your home or business.
During the meeting, Recknagel discussed the economy and used Christopher Walken’s SNL sketch “Googly Eyes” to drive home the message of lessening fear for the things we can’t control in a light-hearted manner.
Mr. Handyman Franchisee Carl Baynes sharing energy saving tips on CBS 10 Connects
Carl and Sheila Baynes recently opened a new business with Mr. Handyman of Sarasota, Florida. Mr. Handyman offers a wide variety of home repair and maintenance services and employ qualified technicians with an average of 15 years of experience.
Carl recently had the chance to get up bright and early and share some ways home owners can improve their energy efficiency and save money on heating and cooling bills. The segment aired on the CBS affiliate 10 Connects and features some installations to help manage costs and become more eco-friendly.
Here are a few more tips to make your home more energy efficient:
According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, households can save 20% to 30% on energy bills by implementing simple home improvements. Over time, you will save more money on your energy bill than it will cost to have these improvements done on your home.
When you hire Mr. Handyman you will surprised at how much can be accomplished and how much you will save! Here are just a couple things that Mr. Handyman can do for you.
- Insulate your hot water heater and cut your homes CO2 emissions and save 4%-9% in water heating costs
- Install a programmable thermostat and save approximately $180 a year by properly setting and maintaining your thermostat
- Add door sweeps and shoe gaskets around the threshold and exterior doors to stop energy leaks in your home
- Replace your showerheads to save between 10%-16% of water heating costs
MARCI LAEHR TENUTA of the Journal Times wrote the following article, including Mr. Handyman franchisee Greg Kruchko as an expert on home maintainence and repairs:
What feels better than freshening up the house after a long winter stuck inside? Except maybe, to do a thorough house cleaning before that cold season spent indoors.
There’s plenty of household tasks that it just makes sense to tackle in a fall, including some regular maintenance jobs.
If you’re going to spend the majority of time over the next seven months inside, why not make it a comfortable, energy-efficient and organized one?
Local cleaning and home maintenance experts say there is plenty to do around the house in the fall.
Fall cleanup
Any deep cleaning you didn’t get to this spring should probably be done this fall, said Chris Miller of Household Help Inc.
She suggests doing tasks such as:
- Turning over your mattress and washing all of your bedding, including comforters and blankets.
- Getting your carpets professionally cleaned. Think of all the sand and grass clippings that have been walked in on your flip-flops this summer.
- Cleaning your windows, inside and out, including in between the sills. Miller said many new windows have UV filters and aren’t supposed to be cleaned with glass cleaners. Instead, she suggests buying some microfiber towels. She gets them at the dollar store. “Take a microfiber cloth and get it damp with warm water,” Miller said. “Wipe the window, then use a dry microfiber cloth to dry it. That’s the way I clean all my windows.
Other deep-cleaning ideas for the fall from the Web site organizedhome.com include:
- Cleaning your house from top to bottom, focusing on public rooms such as the living room, family room, entryway and guest bath.
- Get out the vacuum. Vacuum the drapes, window treatments, baseboards and in the corners. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it. Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.
Home maintenance
Before the chilly weather of fall begins, make sure your furnace is tuned up for the winter and change the filter, said Miller. She said homeowners with a fireplace should check the flue and have the fireplace cleaned if it is wood burning.
Fall is also a good time to have your air ducts cleaned, she said.
Greg Kruchko, the owner of Mr. Handyman of Kenosha, Wis., said one of the biggest must-do tasks of the season is to clean your home’s gutters. If you don’t clean out your gutters, you run the risk of water building up in them during cold weather. This can cause “ice damming,” Kruchko said. “That will ruin a roof.”
It’s also a great time to install gutter protectors that keep debris, like falling leaves, out of the gutters, he said.
Other home maintenance tasks for the fall include:
- Examining your chimney for any damage, Kruchko suggests.
- Covering up your air conditioning unit to protect it from ice and snow.
- Putting away summer equipment, such as outdoor tables and chairs, umbrellas, grills and children’s toys.
- Touching up paint on and decks, trim and railings, says organizedhome.com. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
- Draining and storing garden hoses, the site recommends. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots and have sprinkler systems blown free of water.
- Inspecting washing machine hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
- Checking the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds’ nests. Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
Beware of bugs
Cindy Wysocki, owner of Maid in Racine, said she finds more cobwebs in homes in the fall, because the spiders are coming in to get out of the cold.
Bugs and mice are looking for a warm place to stay for the winter, Kruchko said. It’s probably a good time to look for rotted, cracked or damaged wood around the house, which is the perfect entrance for critters into your home.
“A lot of people neglect the wood,” he said. “Look at the trim around the garage door. It’s typically weathered at the bottom. Wood is like a straw. It sucks the water up.”
That causes rot, splitting and damage.
Kruchko said it’s important to keep wood on a home painted, sealed and caulked. He also suggests replacing wood trim with PVC material trim that requires no maintenance and can be painted.
“Keep the water out and make sure the house is sealed well,” Kruchko said.
Energy-saving fall ideas
Fall is the time to get your house sealed up and ready for the cold, said Kruchko. He suggests caulking around windows and doors. This will keep the chilly air and bugs out, and keep the heat in.
Although caulking is something newer homes might not require, according to Kruchko, all homeowners should also be checking weather-stripping and door sweeps.
Other energy saving maintenance ideas for the fall include:
- Installing ceiling fans, which Kruchko said might sound like a strange autumn task. However, he said with the fan blades tipped to push warm air down, homeowners can help save on heating bills and make themselves more comfortable.
- Using a hot water heater blanket.
- Insulating and wrapping pipes.
- Checking the attic insulation and adding more if necessary.
- Replacing windows, which, if you can afford it now, can really help save with energy costs, Kruchko said.
- Have an energy audit done, which will tell you where heat is escaping your home and costing you money.
