The Ultimate Guide to Preventing Frozen Pipes As the cold months approach, homeowners need to be aware of one of the most common and costly winter hazards: frozen pipes. When temperatures drop, the water inside your pipes can freeze, expand, and cause catastrophic damage to your plumbing system. Why Frozen Pipes Are a Concern Frozen ..read more

Why Clean Your Gutters Before Winter?   Schedule your gutter cleaning today with A+ Handyman Inc.! Our experienced technicians provide top-notch service, ensuring your home is winter-ready. (Now scheduling for end of November 2024 once the leaves are done falling)  As the leaves change colors and fall, it's essential to prepare your home for the ..read more

A CONVERSATION ABOUT PERCEIVED VALUE: A customer asked a contractor friend of mine how much it would cost to do this project. My friend gave him a proposal: $4500 The customer responded: That’s seems really high. My friend asked: What do you think is a reasonable price for this job? The customer answered: $2500 maximum My friend responded: Ok, then I invite you to do it yourself. The customer answered: I don't know how to. My friend responded: Alright, then how about for $2500 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $2000, you'll learn valuable skills that will benefit you in the futu ..read more

Fall is here and so are those chores you’ve been putting off since last year! Don’t let another autumn go buy without getting some of these important tasks completed. Call us at A+ Handyman to tackle your biggest honey-do-list of the year! Gutters: Cleaning your gutters and downspouts are vital to the health of your roof and foundation; the most important parts of your house! Gutters should also be checked for damage and repaired as needed to insure proper function. Windows: What’s worse than a drafty window? A drafty window in the winter. Fall is a great time to check on your window seal ..read more

Framing From mudsills to collar ties, there are many parts that make up the "bones" of our homes. Mudsills Pressure-treated lengths of 2×6 lumber, which form the first layer of the mudsill, are solidly attached to the foundation with bolts that have been embedded in the foundation walls. They provide a bearing surface that prevents contact between the untreated floor joists and the concrete foundation. A second layer of standard lumber is sometimes applied over the pressure-treated boards. That layer can be used to help level the mudsill, and the light-colored wood makes the layout marks eas ..read more

List & Definition of House Parts This article provides a glossary of the main parts of a house and house structure and we give definitions of common home inspection terms used during home inspections or in home inspection reports. Terms defined here may also appear in home inspection standards and home inspection licensing laws. This is a public, consumer information document containing a glossary defining some key terms regarding home inspectors in the United States and Canada. Phelan's 1931 drawing is shown here. Note: for brevity this list of house parts, keyed to the illustration sh ..read more

15 REASONS TO HAVE A+ HANDYMAN ON YOUR SPEED DIAL More and more people are tackling home improvement projects, anything from necessary repairs to fun home upgrades. While some of these projects can certainly be handled on your own, there are just certain things that should be handle by a handyman service. These professionals can complete a wide range of tasks in your home. If you're wondering when you should be hiring a handyman, we've compiled fifteen times when you definitely can use the expertise of a professional. Technical Skills Needed The list of possible home repairs is long ..read more

We came across an article by Sal Vaglica at This Old House Magazine, and it got us thinking about the kinds of repairs we are most frequently called upon to help our homeowners with. We pretty much agree with the article and wanted to share some of the points which stood out for us and might most benefit our customers. Our Top Five Picks:  Bad Habits we wish Homeowners would resolve to correct in 2020 Slamming the Front Door… Repeatedly slamming a hefty entry door pushes its jamb out of alignment. Over time, the momentum can force the door from the opening, causing the seam where tr ..read more

Before you get the summer parties started, take a moment and make sure there isn’t any damage, or wear & tear from past seasons that could cause you an issue in the future. 1.) Monitor your gutters and drainage. Debris naturally builds up in gutters over time, remove any blockages while looking for signs of bending, damage, and areas where water has been diverted onto the roof or siding.   It is recommended that gutters are cleaned twice a year: once at late fall/early winter, after all of the leaves have fallen and prior to the first snowfall, and once at late spring ..read more

We came across an article by Sal Vaglica at This Old House Magazine, and it got us thinking about the kinds of repairs we are most frequently called upon to help our homeowners with. We pretty much agree with the article and wanted to share some of the points which stood out for us and might most benefit our customers. Our Top Five Picks:  Bad Habits we wish Homeowners would resolve to correct in 2020 Slamming the Front Door… Repeatedly slamming a hefty entry door pushes its jamb out of alignment. Over time, the momentum can force the door from the opening, causing the seam where trim meets j ..read more