Freshen up your home’s exterior with new trim paint
Painting the exterior of your house is one of the quickest ways to increase your home’s “curb appeal.” Since different parts of the exterior weather at different rates, painting the entire house may not be necessary. In fact, a relatively inexpensive touch-up of your exterior trim may be all you need to keep your house looking fresh.
Remember that if you’ve recently removed shrubs, vines, or other foliage that had been growing close to an exterior wall, applying a fresh coat of paint in those areas will bring back the wall’s original luster.
Another reason to consider touching up your exterior is that it almost always increases the value of your home far and above the cost of the paint.
Now is a great time to get out those paint brushes and make your home shine again, while outdoor painting weather is still seasonable!
Related Posts: Mr. Handyman committed to meeting new EPA lead certifications for paint contractors.
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.
Easy Home Maintenance Tips
Give your home an instant facelift by cleaning the exterior doors
Cleaning your exterior doors is a quick and easy way to improve your home’s curb appeal. For painted metal or wood doors use mild soap and water. Wash the doors with a non-abrasive rag and then towel dry. For a stained-wood door, start by cleaning the door, then use a wood furniture polish to help return your door’s finish to its original luster.
Don’t forget to clean your home’s air filters
Your air conditioner will likely get a workout as temperatures rise this summer. And even if you don’t use air conditioning, most homes today have heating units with fans that run all year long. For these reasons, you’ll want to make sure your system’s filters are clean. A clogged filter could cost you several hundred extra dollars a year in increased electricity charges, depending on the type of filter you’re using. Most manufacturers recommend replacing filters every 1-3 months.
Related Posts: Home Maintenance Checklist
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.
Home Improvement Franchise Opportunity Looking Bright
Mr. Handyman Franchise Expanding at Rapid Pace
Entrepreneurs see opportunities to run successful home improvement business
While many franchise systems saw their growth grind to a halt during the recent economic downturn, Mr. Handyman, a full-service home repair and maintenance company, continued to build on their title of No. 1 employer of handymen worldwide by adding new franchises at a rapid pace.
Mr. Handyman opened 36 new franchises in 2009, with 12 more franchise agreements already signed in 2010. The Michigan-based franchises’ outlook for the remainder of the year is bright, as potential owners evaluate the benefits of joining the franchise system.
Mr. Handyman President, Todd Recknagel
“There’s always going to be a need for reliable home improvement companies like Mr. Handyman,” said Todd Recknagel, president of the Mr. Handyman franchise. “A strong demand for our services, good opportunity for financial gain, and a family-friendly lifestyle is motivating business-oriented entrepreneurs to become our franchise partners.”
Franchisee success stories have helped spur the system’s rapid growth. David Ambinder of Union County, N.J., swapped his 25-year career on Wall Street in 2009 for the opportunity to own a Mr. Handyman franchise. Despite little handyman experience, Ambinder used his strong business knowledge to help him become cash flow positive after just three months and turn a substantial profit after being open for just a year.
“The support from the Mr. Handyman franchise is exceptional,” said Ambinder. “They offer an outstanding training program and a knowledgeable corporate staff to help new franchisees hit the ground running. My background was in business support services, and they helped me recruit talented technicians so that I could focus my efforts on managing the franchise.”
With available territories nationwide and a target on growth in Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Tulsa, San Francisco/San Jose, Mr. Handyman plans to open 30 new franchise locations in 2010. The average cost to open a Mr. Handyman is approximately $120,000 with a franchise fee of $19,900.
Mr. Handyman is part of a network of independently owned and operated franchises with 300 locations nationwide that provides commercial and residential property maintenance and repair services. Entrepreneur magazine has recognized Mr. Handyman as one of America’s fastest growing, service-oriented franchise systems and the No. 1 handyman service. For more information, go to www.mrhandymanfranchise.com.
Ceiling Fan Installation
Stay Cool with a new ceiling fan this summer.
Ceiling fans are an energy efficient way to beat the summer heat. If possible, the ceiling fan should be anchored to a ceiling joist. In the case that the joist is not located in the center of the room, a special ceiling fan mounting bracket with spiked ends should beinstalled between joists. Keep in mind that ceiling fans can weigh as much as 50 pounds, so feel free to call Mr. Handyman if you need help with installation.
Related Posts: Electrical Troubleshooting – Easy Home Electrical Repairs
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.
Home Maintenance Checklist
Well, it’s that time of year when I tell all my customers that it is a good idea to walk around their house and make a list of home maintenance projects that need to get done. Winter can cause exterior damage to your home that may need immediate attention. There is also that yearly maintenance stuff that needs to be taken care of: cleaning gutters, pressure washing the deck, paint touch-ups and many other improvement projects.
I decided to take my own advice and make a “to do” list. I know my wife can rattle off at least a few things that I’ve been putting off. In my defense, I’ve been busy taking care of other people’s lists.
Home maintenance project list:
- Finish painting the exterior of the house (I painted half of it in the fall – the sides that are seen from the street).
- Finish painting the shed.
- Finish that walkway I started a couple of years ago.
- Finish the master bath project that’s been going on for months. (I can’t wait to post the pictures!)
- Address the wood rot that was discovered while doing the master bath project.
- Refinish kitchen floor and stairs.
- Organize the garage.
- Regrout the kids’ bathroom.
- Replace ceiling tiles in the basement.
- Get the lawn in good shape (which reminds me to also fix the lawn mower).
- Figure out a way to keep the sparrows from making nests on our farmer’s porch. (May need to watch Caddy Shack for some inspiration!)
- Fix the awning.
- Stain the deck.
- Clean the gutters.
As you can see, I have quite a few things that need to be done at my own house. It’s easy for that list to get out of control.
The first thing that needs to be done is to prioritize things. Some of the things on the list can wait, while others really need to be addressed so that they don’t get any worse.
James Prendergrast is owner of Mr. Handyman Central Norfolk County 689 Main Street Suite 185 Walpole, MA 02081 508-668-0098 providing handyman services to Wapole, MA. 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.
Wood Rot Repair
Wood rot repair is a task Mr. Handyman does all the time. Sometimes a corner board, a few clapboards or some cedar shingles appear to be bad or are coming away from the house. Usually that means there is underlying damage caused by water leaking behind the siding or between seams. It has often been going on for years, hidden from sight by the still-good outer layer of wood. Underneath, however, soaked wood has begun to rot and may be infested with insects (often carpenter ants); so, when repairs begin, more damage is often uncovered.
It’s impossible to tell before work begins just how extensive hidden damage might be, so don’t let anyone fool you into believing they can tell you before they start to work. The correct process is to remove bad wood until you find the total extent of the water damage, replace whatever has gone bad (possibly including structural members, sheathing, corner or trim boards, vapor barrier, siding and moldings) and then paint or stain to match the house. Good caulking of all seams will prevent water from getting behind the repair and beginning the rotting process again; sometimes, a slight modification of gutter runs or other design flaws can keep water away from that area in the future.
Mr. Handyman recommends the use of PVC trim boards wherever possible. PVC is a green product (it’s recycled plastic) and it will never rot; it can be painted or solid stained like wood, so the appearance will be the same as wood. PVC is not structural, however, so it can’t be used everywhere. Wood rot repair is one of Mr. Handyman’s specialties and our skilled technicians do it every day, so you can be sure that we will do a complete and thorough job of repairing and protecting your home.
Mike Symonds is owner of Mr. Handyman of Central Middlesex. 18-A Westford St., Carlisle, MA 01741 (978) 448-4070 providing handyman services to Carlisle, Massachusetts. 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.
Mr. Handyman continues to help Americans from coast to coast stay cool this summer. Mr. Handyman of West Los Angeles was recently featured in a segment on the KCAL 9 News at Noon (Los Angeles CBS affiliate) with a section on lowering cooling and heating costs.
Los Angeles Energy Efficiency Tips
A few of the highlights from the segment are:
• Installing and using a programmable thermostat will help keep costs down. Every degree counts and can reduce your energy bill by 3%.
• Install a whole house attic fan. If you don’t have air conditioning a whole house fan is a large fan installed into the ceiling that moves large volumes of air to keep your house cool. Lowering high temperatures in you attic can also extend the life of your roof.
• Install weather stripping – a 1/8 inch gap below your door can add up to the same surface area as a brick allowing lots of cool air out.
• Install foam plates behind exterior electrical outlets to keep cool air in.
• Remember to use your blinds and drapes to reduce sun exposure and radiant heat.
• Clear attic vents
• Install insulation – many homes don’t have insulation in ceiling, even if there is insulation in the walls.
Link to segment on KCAL News at Noon: Mr. Handyman Keeps Power Bills Low
More tips on energy efficiency and reducing energy bills.
David Silverman is President of Mr. Handyman of West Los Angeles, providing Handyman Services to Los Angeles, California. 12405 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066 (310) 390-8300 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.
Lower Your Electric Bill – Cooling and Heating Tips
At this time of year, large electricity bills start appearing in mailboxes. Our central air systems help us escape the heat, but powering them can make us feel faint! At Mr. Handyman, our clients are always asking us how to save on energy bills. Here are a few quick, easy and inexpensive things you can do to reduce your bill this summer. These items pay for themselves before you know it!
Attic Hatch Cover
Have you ever gone into your attic on a hot summer day? It feels hot enough to fry an egg up there! Hot air moves to where cool air is found, so in the summer, that means the hot air is moving to your living areas. You are essentially paying to heat your attic in the winter and cool it in the summer. If you have one of those pull-down attic stairs, experts say that the efficiency of your attic insulation is reduced by 55%!
There’s a great solution for this problem: an attic door cover. It installs easily and is made of heavy-duty foam, so it’s lightweight. You can still get in and out of your attic easily, but the air transfer is reduced. It will also help reduce your winter heating bill!
Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats can save you up to 33% on your energy bill! You can purchase a great one for about $75 and they’re relatively simple to install. For the summer, if you are out of the house all day, you can program it to let the house get a couple of degrees warmer while you are gone and then cool down again when you are in the house. That cuts your energy usage and saves you money. Why have your A/C working hard when you are not even home to enjoy the coolness?
The government agency Energy Star says homeowners can save about $180 in energy costs by using a programmable thermostat. On average, for every degree you set back your thermostat, you can save 3% on your energy bill. This one is a no-brainer. Everyone should get one of these. They are well worth it!
Sealing Outlets or Switches
Outlets and switches on walls leading to the exterior of your house are a source of energy loss. In the summer, the warm air in between the walls leaks inside through these areas. That warmer air entering the house makes your A/C unit work harder, costing you money.
It’s cheap and easy to correct this problem. You can buy thin foam sealers that fit behind the plates. These cost about 50 cents each and can be found in your local home improvement store near the weatherstripping. You just unscrew the plate, insert the sealer and resecure the plate. Done!
Weatherstripping
We have seen many homes in which the weatherstripping started to fall off after many years and the homeowner just removed it without replacing it. Bad idea. Experts say a 1/4″ gap around a door or window is like having a 9″ hole in your house! Even a 1/8″ gap is like having a 6″ hole! You wouldn’t let your house have holes like that, so why do you let your door have a gap? Time to fix it!
By properly sealing the door with weatherstripping, you save money on your heating and cooling bills. Weatherstripping is inexpensive and easy to install. It comes with adhesive on it, so you just peel and stick.
Gina Chapman is President of Mr. Handyman of Richmond, providing Handyman Services to Richmond, 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.
Hiring a Handyman in Florida – Buyer Beware
SCAM, SHAM, THANK YOU MA’AM
Many of us here on the Gulf Coast, like myself in Naples, Florida, think we’re in paradise. The weather is wonderful, if you like sunshine and year-round warmth. The people are friendly, the roads have no potholes and you can play golf just about every day of the year.
After becoming a Mr. Handyman owner, I became acutely aware that this is paradise for another group of people also: home repair scam artists and untrained, unlicensed people who cannot deliver safe, professional, quality work.
We hear the horror stories all the time:
Local handyman charged with stealing from employer
Naples News, 6/10/2009
Handyman charged in flat-screen television thefts last summer
Naples News, 6/12/2010
Widow pulls pink pistol on handyman she believes was trying to steal her jewelry
Naples News, 6/16/2009
Google “Handyman Crime” and you’ll see hundreds of the more grisly stories that I won’t detail here.
Professional scam artists are really the purview of the police. They carefully craft their stories and pick their victims. They have no intention of performing any work, so to say they have no skills is a misnomer. They have no skills when it comes to home repair; however, they have plenty of skills when it comes to deception and deceit.
The other group of scam artists includes unqualified and unlicensed people who say they will fix your problem but simply cannot because they do not have the work ethic or skill sets to do so. There are many honest, hardworking men and women in our business and I don’t mean to besmirch them. Unfortunately, there are also many who claim to be something they are not.
When someone says they are licensed, what does that mean? Below is the actual list, right off the Collier County Web site, of the tasks that a “Maintenance License” allows you to do. You will notice that it doesn’t say anything about drywall, tile, moldings, anything electrical or plumbing, carpentry, door or window repair and installation … etc. So if you’re hiring a handyman who says he has a license to do anything except what is listed below, make sure it’s a contractor’s license or you may not be getting the skill set you need for your job.
Mr. Handyman is a licensed General Contractor.
Tasks requiring a Maintenance License
- Assemble Exercise Equipment
- Assemble Toys
- Assemble Furniture
- Assemble Gas Grills
- Change Light Bulbs
- Clean & Change Ceiling Fan Blades
- Clean Garages
- Clean Gutters
- Edge Lawn
- Hang Pictures
- Haul Trash to Dump
- Install Garage Organizers
- Move Furniture
- Mow Lawn
- Pressure Clean Driveways and Walkways (No Roofs)
- Rake Leaves
- Repair Screens
- Replace Caulking
- Replace Door Handles
- Wash Windows
- Residential/Commercial Cleaning
- Construction Cleaning
There is also the issue of safety when hiring someone who will be in your home and around your family. You see the pickup trucks and vans everywhere. “Dave’s Handyman Service” or “AAAAAAAAAAAA Handyman” is common. Please take great care when inviting someone into your home. Some, not all, are less than honest. Some are actual criminals. There are many stories of people being robbed, assaulted, abducted or killed. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it does happen.
At Mr. Handyman all our employees are licensed, bonded and insured with $1,000,000 liability insurance policies. All our employees have passed a criminal background check and a professional drug screening. Every technician has at least 15 years of experience in the trades. The technician will arrive wearing a uniform, in a clearly marked company van, on time and ready to work. We will treat you and your home with respect and act professionally at all times. We guarantee you will be satisfied with our work. You can rely on Mr. Handyman for all your home repair and maintenance needs.
Choose your servicing providers carefully. While cost is important, safety and value will let you sleep at night. Give us a try; you’ll be happy you did.
Related Article: Selecting a Qualified Home Improvement Contractor
Jay Gravel s is owner of Mr. Handyman serving Greater Naples 3066 Tamiami Trail, N Suite 303 Naples, FL 34103 (239) 687-3610 providing handyman services to Naples, FL. 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.
Maybe you’ve been thinking about a new entry door since you bought your house or you’ve found a door you like but have no idea where to find one like it. You love your old house and the front door tells a story, but you’re afraid it might detract from your home’s curb appeal and you’d really like more sunlight in your entryway.
In many ways your front door represents your home’s personality. It’s important that your front door complements and enhances the overall look of your home, and fits the neighborhood as well. Drive down your street and several others nearby, and write down the personality you feel is most represented by the houses. Now you’re ready to pick a new door for your home, as you should easily know whether the style of the new door should be casual, traditional, formal or unique.
Doors are also functional. You’ve narrowed down the exterior door style you want, and now you need to identify the additional requirements your door needs in order to satisfy the inside of the home. You might simply want a new front door that is energy-efficient. Many hallways tend to be dark, so when you’re replacing an exterior door, it’s a good time to review your options for bringing more sunlight indoors.
Picking Your Door Style
You might think it’s easy to pick your door style, but it’s not. It’s true that most doors have only a single panel, but there can be many more components. When you want more sunlight, you can do this with glass panel(s) built into the main door panel. You can also add narrow glass panels on one or both sides of the door, or when your home won’t accommodate that big of a change, you might be able to add a transom over the door.
While looking at door possibilities, you will be tempted to pick one that stands out from all those around it. That’s good marketing, but you might buy (pay for) more than you need or want. Here’s a smarter way to pick out a door. Walk out to the street in front of your house. What do you see?
Is your home close enough to the street that when you’re standing (most often people will be driving) you can see the door details? Do you see a well-designed home with the door at the focal point, or maybe a beautifully landscaped setting where the door is one element along with trees and shrubs? You might even want to take a photo or draw a sketch and make the door size the same as photos/illustrations in your catalogues. Cut out the door space and “audition” different door styles.
Having done this exercise, you will be far better prepared to select the best door style for your home. Look at these five Thermatru doors and you should already see how they each satisfy different requirements. When the door is the focal point, it makes sense to pick a door style with more detail, using the texture of wood or integrated glass to create a door that captures the eye. If your door plays a supporting role, then you can use a simple door style and put more of your budget into the surrounding trim (see the small, decorative roof over the door above) and/or landscaping.
Decisions You’ll Make When Buying a Door
After you’ve picked your door style, there are more decisions to be made.
- Material choices include wood, fiberglass and steel. You want to consider energy efficiency, i.e., a door with an EnergyStar rating (check for available tax credits) and maintenance requirements.
- Even door hardware comes in different styles. The new levers are better, as they’re easier for anyone who has trouble gripping small objects. Dead bolts are a great option for those who are worried about security, but make sure the length of the bolt provides real protection.
- The manufacturer influences the cost of your new door. Budget will help narrow your choices from a simple, attractive front door costing $400 to $600 to a premium front door that can cost up to $15,000. Don’t forget the hardware, which can run from less than $100 to more than $500.
Installing an Exterior Door Isn’t Easy
- Proper installation is critical in order to avoid problems with water damage. The job requires professional carpentry skills so the door functions properly and remains weathertight. Here are reasons why you might not want to install your own door:
- The door must be level along three dimensions, which can be a problem when the rough framing in which the door sits isn’t true on all sides. Doors must be straight vertically (not tilting left or right), plumb with the wall (one side can’t be deeper than the other), and not tilting with top or bottom deeper than the other.
- When replacing a door, it’s not uncommon to run into wood rot problems, which need to be resolved while the rough opening is accessible.
- A new door must work with the interior flooring, and sometimes the wood rot extends under the floor, requiring a new subfloor before the new door can be installed.
- All exterior doors must be weathertight, which involves weather stripping (this should be part of the new door product), and sometimes you need a rain deflector for the bottom of the door to keep out horizontal rain.
- All exterior doors must be painted on all six sides when new, in order to reduce the amount of swelling/contraction of the wood, and, yes, even fiberglass doors need this type of ongoing maintenance, as they have a wood strip around the edges in order to get a nice, tight fit.
Tina Gleisner is President of My Handyman of Southern NH, and founder of the Assn of Women Home Owners. Through her many articles, Tina hopes to provide the information home owners need to maintain and enhance their homes with less stress and more time to relax and enjoy their homes. 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.
