PULL DOWN ATTIC STAIRS

Many of us have attics in our houses.  Some may be large enough to turn into another room and some are basically crawl spaces but can be used to store decorations, small pieces of furniture, items that you don’t use too often, etc.  Having this space is a valuable commodity, so why not utilize it to its fullest potential.

One of the first home improvements I did when we moved into our home was to install pull down attic stairs in our garage.  It has been an awesome and convenient space saver for us and comes in handy every Christmas to store our decorations and other items we only use occasionally.  These pull down stairs can also be installed anywhere in your home that has easy access to the space above.

You can choose between wooden and aluminum pull-down and fold away stairs, some support more weight than others. 

Once the stairs are installed you can put trim up around the door opening and paint the panel to match the ceiling.  Once everything is completed, these stairs will blend in with the feel of your home, looking perfectly in place when closed.

You are now ready to start re-organizing…maybe even start Spring Cleaning!

If you are interested in having more storage in your home and the convenience it adds, please give me a call.  I would love to help get you clutter free this coming New Year!!

A CREATIVE IDEA....LABELING YOUR POWER CABLES

Instead of throwing away your old bread clips...why not recycle them and use them to label things such as your power/computer cables and such.  Let me know what else you might use these for!  You can contact me here!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A HANDYMAN

     
Not all homeowners are good at fixing things around the house. Some work all day and don't want to deal with doing repairs and maintenance tasks in the evening or on weekends.  The best solution for this problem is the hiring of a  local handyman or home improvement specialist.

      Here are a few things to consider when you finally make the decision to hire someone to help you around the house.

       DEFINE THE PROJECT:  Compile a list of repairs that you’re looking to have completed.   Walk through your home and write down some of the things you would like crossed off your “honey-do” list….i.e., dripping faucets, painting, dry wall repairs, ceiling fans, trim installation, etc...

Decide if you will be able to afford all the repairs at once or if you want them done in phases. If you want them in phases, prioritize what you want done first. 

      MAKE A LIST OF POTENTIAL HANDYMEN:  One of the best ways to find a handyman is to receive a trusted referral from a friend, relative or business associate.  A referral from someone you trust is always the best.  

       ASK QUESTIONS:   Three very important questions that must be asked are: 

A.   References – ask for at least three references and check them out.  Remember, you are inviting this person into your home…find out as much information as you can.

B.   Experience – ask direct questions about the handyman’s experience and ability when performing the tasks that are on your list.

C.   Insurance – Make sure the person you hire has General Liability Insurance.  If someone working on your property should become injured, unless they have their own liability insurance you will be fully liable. Reputable handymen carry insurance for this purpose.  It’s OK to ask for a copy of their insurance policy.

PRICING, FREE ESTIMATES, MINIMUM CHARGES:  Some things to consider when hiring a handyman are:) hourly rates…remember that the lowest price is not always the best.  b) Do they have a minimum charge? c) Do they offer free estimates? d) Do they up charge for materials? 

 Remember A good handyman is:

• Reliable - They show up when they say they will.
• Safe - They pay attention to the details of the project from the very beginning, asking questions and examining all of the aspects of your project, no matter the size.
• Skilled – They know what they are doing and can prove it by example as well as their references.
• Equipped – They will have quality tools and a solid vehicle.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and research your local professional handyman.   Remember, there is nothing wrong with playing it safe!

If you find that you are in need of a handyman.....I would love to help out.  Check out my testimonial page on my website.  You won't be disappointed!!!

GREEN LIVING TIP - HIGH EFFICIENCY, LOW FLOW TOILETS

Are you looking for a way that can help save the environment as well as save you money?

Another tip you can add to your list of "Going Green" besides Water Barrels is having a high efficiency, low flow toilet installed in your home or business.

Low Flow Toilets can significantly reduce the water wasted every time you visit the loo.

According to statistics, on average, you might flush 140,000 times throughout your life.  If your toilet was made before 1995, it can use as much as 5 gallons of water every time you flush.  Toilets made after 1996 use much less water at no more than 1.6 gallons per flush.  Just think about the amount of water that is saved by having a newer commode installed.

If you were to install a high-efficiency, low flow toilet, less than 1.3 gallons of water is used per flush.  Also available is the dual-flush toilet, which has two buttons instead of one handle,  One button lets you flush liquid waste using less than 1 gallon of water and the other button uses a full 1.6 gallons of water to flush solid waste.

If you are interested in switching out your old toilet for a newer, efficient model, please give me a call or email me.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Check back soon for other Green Living Tips!

 

GREEN LIVING TIP - RAIN BARRELS

The raining season is fast approaching and one way to “Go Green” this year would be to use a rain barrel. What is a Rain Barrel, you ask? A rain barrel is a container that simply captures and stores rain water draining from your roof.

Benefits of using a rain barrel:

1. During the summer months, a rain barrel can save up to 1,300 gallons of water.
2. Typically, one inch of rain on a roof produces 600 gallons of water!
3. Approximately 40% of our water usage, during the summer, is for watering plants and yards.  Using the water collected in your rain barrel will help save, not only the environment, but money as well.
4. Keeps runoff from washing into yards and nearby drain systems or streams by placing a rain barrel under a downspout.
5. Makes you feel good about yourself for helping the environment.

Barrels can range from a 40 to 200 gallon capacity and have a convenient spigot for filling water cans as well as a connection for a soaker hose. They usually sit up against your home under a water spout you insert to direct the rain water down from the roof gutter. The barrels have a screen on top to help filter out debris as well as keeping mosquitoes from getting inside. Barrels come in all shape and sizes and can also be painted to match the color of your home. Some barrels have containers on top that can be used as flower planters as well. 

Watch this short You Tube video on the Benefits of a rain barrel.

If you would like to talk more about getting one or more rain barrels installed, please give me a call.  I would love to help out.

Gutter Cleaning Tips

It’s that time a year again that you’ll need to keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance of your home’s gutters.  Gutter cleaning can be not only time consuming for the homeowner, but also dangerous. 

Cleaning your gutters is a necessary job, as overtime, an excessive amount of dirt and debris can put too much strain on your gutter system and cause them to not function the way they are designed too.  Gutters are designed to control the water that gathers around your home.  If your gutters don’t function properly, the water buildup can eventually lead to much more expensive home repairs, such as moisture damage to the wood siding of your home, leaks, cracked wall foundations, mold and washed out landscaping.

You know it’s time to clean your gutters when you have significant leaves, twigs, dirt or debris in your gutters.  Overtime, this buildup can weigh down your gutter fasteners and eventually they will come loose from your house.  Another expensive home repair!

If you want to do the gutter cleaning yourself, you will need a ladder, gloves and a hose.  As I mentioned earlier, cleaning gutters can be dangerous, especially if you are afraid of heights and not too comfortable on a tall ladder.  You also need to watch out for power lines as well.  I recommend working from the ladder as the roof may not be all that stable to walk on.  If you find any loose gutter sections along the way, make sure to tighten them up as you go along.

Once the gutters are completely cleared of any debris, consider installing Gutter Guards to keep leaves and other debris from building up.

If you don’t want to take on the task yourself, consider hiring someone to do your gutter cleaning for you or you can give Steve’s Handyman Service a call.  You can schedule this exterior home repair or other home maintenance projects by calling me today.