Handyman Matters of Morris

Storm Damage - home repairs

2010-03-15T09:01:00.007-04:00

This past weekend's storms caused heavy flood and wind damage. You may have experienced immediate storm damage, such as flooding in your basement, however even if you haven't noticed any storm damage already, you may still need to be concerned. Here are some things to look for inside and outside your home:

Loose or missing siding - high winds like we saw on Saturday can cause damage to your siding. We often see sections of siding coming loose or missing entirely. You should repair siding right away to prevent any further damage to your home.

Wind damage to your roof - like the siding, shingles can easily come off in high winds. Check out this article about how to spot damage on your roof http://www.mastermylist.com/roofing/how-to-spot-wind-damage-to-your-roof/.

Water damage to ceilings and walls - water has an amazing ability to find its way into cracks and crevices in your home. Even if your roof and siding are not damaged, it is possible that you experienced a water leak through cracks in the caulking around your windows, doors, or vents. Make sure to look around your home for the first signs of water damage, including discoloration, peeling paint, and moistness around doors and windows.

Damage to fences, decks, porches, shutters, etc. - the high winds may have caused some of your outside items to go flying around, like Dorothy's house in the Wizard of Oz! Check around the oustide of your home for anything that has come loose, such as shutters, deck or porch railings, fence sections, and playsets.

We do hope that you did not experience any of these problems around your home, but if you did, we are here to help!

If you need help with addressing anything on this list or any other storm damages to your home, please consider Handyman Matters. http://www.handymanmatters.com/Geo.aspx?locid=129.

Bathroom remodeling planning

2010-03-07T18:19:00.016-05:00

Considering a bathroom remodel this Spring? This is the first in a series of posts about getting ready for such an exciting and challenging endeavor.

The first thing you need to consider when remodeling your bathroom is use of the space. Here are some questions to begin thinking about:

Who will be using the space? Children's bathrooms for example will need to have easier to clean and slip-resistant surfaces and a more basic tile design, while a bathroom primarly used by adults can be more luxurious and have spa options such as a jacuzzi tub, rain showerhead, or mosaic tile designs.

What things are working in the current space? If you have great water pressure or you are very happy with the double-sink in your master bathroom, make sure that you keep these elements in the new bathroom remodel design.

What things are not working well? Aside from the obvious outdated design, what are some things that are not working in your current bathroom space? Does the room get very steamy after showers? Perhaps you need to install a new vent fan. Is the bathroom layout in need of an update? Make sure that your new bathroom remodel takes into account how many people use the bathroom at the same time. Be sure to share your 'not working' list with your bathroom remodeling contractor, so that they can make sure to come up with solutions to your bathroom challenges.

Next, start making a list of what you really want in your new bathroom remodel. Do you really want a custom tile design in your new shower? Do you need a walk-in bathtub? Are you dying to have the floor heated? To get more ideas, talk to your friends and neighbors who have recently done a bathroom remodel, surf the Internet for bathroom remodeling ideas - specifically check out our page for bathroom remodels we've completed (click on the photos tab): http://morris-nj.handymanmatters.com/, check through magazines and start watching more HGTV! Remember to keep a list of what you absolutely must have, what you do want and of course, what you don't want in your new bathroom.

In the next post, I will start going through various elements of your bathroom remodel, such as shower/tub options, flooring, fixtures, and wall options. Stay tuned!

Here are some pictures of our most recent bathroom remodels in Denville and Randolph

Weekend project - clean those gutters

2009-04-03T14:58:00.004-04:00

If the early winter cold prevented you from cleaning your gutters this past fall, or if your yard has a lot of leaf-bearing trees, this is an excellent time to clean your gutters. While the spring rains are helping the daffodils bloom, they may wreak havoc on the exterior and perhaps even the interior of your home, especially if your gutters need cleaning.

Clogged up gutters are a culprit in the following common home maintenance problems:

Rotted trim around doors and windows

Fascia damage

Drywall damage to interior walls

Wet basements

Foundation problems

Roof damage

That is why you should clean your gutters at least twice a year and in some cases 4 times a year! Here are some tips to keep in mind when cleaning gutters:

Get a sturdy ladder and some help; ask a friend or neighbor to help hold the ladder. Remember your safety is more important than clean gutters; thousands of people die each year while working on ladders.

You should also grab a pair of good rubber gloves to protect your hands from scratches and cuts

Use a bucket to put all the muck you will pull out of your gutters or you will have more clean-up around the house when you are done

If you'd rather not use your hands, you can purchase a scoop at your home improvement center or just make one out of a 1/2 gallon plastic milk jug

Start cleaning at the downspout areas as this is where the debris normally ends up

Once you have most of the muck out of your gutters, run a hose through to make sure everything is clear and free of debris; check downspouts for blockages

As you are cleaning the gutters, note sections that need repairing such as unsecured fasteners, leaky joints, or holes; wait until the gutters are completely dry and then make repairs

Cleaning gutters is certainly not the most glamorous home maintenance job, but it is a critical one in preventing costly repairs in the future. If you'd rather spend this weekend planting new daffodils, call Handyman Matters for your gutter cleaning and repair needs! Enjoy!

Its gonna be rainy in NJ this weekend; how about an indoor project?

2009-03-26T22:31:00.007-04:00

April is not quite here yet, but the April showers have already begun. We are expecting wet weather for most of this weekend. I don't know about you, but now that there have been a few warm days, I have a little spring fever - specifically, I am itching to take my home from drab to fab. Not that it is terribly drab - I think I've just been staring at the same inside walls for too long and I'm ready for a change.

Painting can be a wonderful weekend home improvement project for even the novice do-it-yourselfer. If you've already got plans this weekend or you'd rather not mess with painting yourself, give Handyman Matters and call and we'd be happy to paint your rooms!

If you are planning to do it yourself, you should consider some of the following preparations:

Aside from the obvious of selecting a color, you will want to select the right paint and finish; talk to your paint store experts about how you use the space you are looking to paint (e.g. kids room needs to withstand a lot of wear and tear) and they can help you select the right product and finish.

Make a list of what you need and get everything together: paint, primer, brushes, rollers, spackle, sandpaper sponge, hammers, screwdrivers, plastic bags, plastic wrap, rags, paint can opener, and drop cloths.

Next, you want to prepare. Repair nail holes, cracks, and dents; wash off any dirt or other buildup, smooth walls with wet sandpaper sponge (tip: wet sponge limits dust); remove as much hardware as you can; tape off areas that won't be painted (mouldings, outlets, etc.); move or cover furniture and accessories

You may need to prime; talk to your paint store professional about your specific situation

Finally, you are ready to paint; take your time to ensure a quality job. Make sure you apply paint in the right order - ceilings first, walls next, trim next and floor last. Always start with the detail work around doorways, ceilings, and trim, then move on to the roller for a clean, even finish.

After you are done; relax and enjoy your newly updated space! Isn't it amazing how much of an improvement you can make in just a weekend?!

Measure twice, cut once

2009-03-26T20:11:00.003-04:00

Here is great advice for everyone - whether you are an experienced professional, a do-it-yourselfer, or a complete novice. When working around the home, always, always, always double-check so you don't make a mistake. This proverb, obviously applies to carpentry when cutting a piece of wood - if you measure wrong, you are going to have to cut it again. In fact, even experienced professionals can and do make mistakes. I recently looked at a project (in East Hanover) for one of our commercial customers - they wanted to build a wall to separate a large office into two offices. I went and measured the distance between the walls, but I was in a hurry to get to the next appointment and I neglected to actually measure the ceiling height, assuming it was a standard 8 feet. Well after the materials were delivered (from Morristown) and the craftsman arrived to complete the project, he realized that the ceilings were more than 8 feet and we needed to exchange the materials - an unnecessary waste of time and money that could have been avoided quite simply!

So, that is the moral of the story - if you follow the simple rule of measure twice, cut once, you can save yourself a lot of time and money. And, it applies to pretty much any home improvement project you may undertake. In terms of overall home improvement projects, measuring twice means making sure that you have done proper planning before you take action and spend money, hire help (handymen, carpenters, general contractors, painters), or purchase materials.

When taking care of your handyman projects (honey-do list, to-do list, small jobs), make a list and include important details (like what materials you may need). Whether you are hiring a professional handyman service or tackling it yourself, it is more effective to know exactly what needs to be done and what is needed to do it. Having a list will save you money in multiple visits from your handyman service and will save you time in trips to the home improvement store if you are doing the work yourself.

If you are considering a larger remodel project (bathroom remodel, kitchen remodel, basement remodel), have a plan. Research what similar remodels cost in your area and know what you can afford to spend, think about how you want the space to look when it is completed, look around for products that you might use in your remodel, write down what is important to you from your contractor, identify the problems that are already in place (e.g. bathroom tiles are falling off the wall) and those that might come up with your remodel (e.g. there is damage to the studs behind the walls).

Hopefully, I've given you a lot to think about as your undertake your home repairs and improvement projects. But, as I learned the hard way this week, don't forget to follow the literal advice - really measure twice so you only have to cut once!

Bathroom remodel just finished

2009-03-22T20:27:00.001-04:00

Bathroom remodels are the most common project that my company works on. We do our share of kitchens, basements, and of course smaller projects, but for some reason, bathroom remodels are most common for us. We just finished a very nice bathroom remodel in Hopatcong. Check out some of the pictures and the testimonial from our customer.

This particular bathroom was a bit of a challenge from the beginning. The space was small (about 8'X6') with not a lot of options. See the before/after layout of the bathroom.

The customer wanted to change the tub to a shower and keep as much storage as possible. The current bathroom wasn't up to code in terms of spacing between fixtures (e.g. toilet too close to tub, etc.), and as soon as we decided to re-configure, we had to make sure that we would meet code in such a small space. We went through about six different iterations before the contract was even signed, and then changed it once more after demo was complete.

Drawing the designs either on paper or your PC (using software such as Microsoft Visio) is a great way to test out bathroom configurations before starting to purchase materials. Tip: You don't want to purchase an elongated toilet or oversized vanity if it may not fit in the space you are remodeling. Check it out on paper first and don't forget to allow for studs, sheetrock, etc. To allow for more room in the shower, we lost some space in the closet and ended up ordering a custom 12" closet door.

In the end, the new bathroom came out beautiful and it actually does feel more spacious since the remodel (see picture below).

Now, you don't need to remodel your entire bathroom to get a spacious look and feel. Here are some additional ways to make better use of a small bathroom space:

Instead of a traditional bath vanity, consider a corner vanity or corner wall-mount sink
If your space is small, but you really want a bathtub and not a shower stall, check out a four-foot bathtub
Use the spaces between the studs for storage - the obvious are recessed medicine cabinets and recessed shower shelves, but you can create storage in any area of the bathroom this way.
Use the room's height - install shelves high around the room to store extra towels or install a vanity cabinet that extends up to the ceiling.
Take advantage of a closet in another room; you can split the closet in half so that the top half is used for one room and the bottom half for the other.
Use color to make the room feel more spacious - blues and greens are usually good colors for an airy-feeling bathroom. Check with your local paint store for color ideas.

If you are dreaming about your own bathroom remodel or bathroom update, check out our web-site for more ideas and to see other projects. Subscribe to our newsletter for more home improvement ideas and tips.

Hope you enjoyed reading and hope to hear from you soon!

Here's my first blog!!

2009-03-21T21:28:00.001-04:00

First, let me tell you about me or more specifically, my company. I have my own home improvement business, Handyman Matters of Morris County. We do home repairs and remodels from the very small repair project to full remodels – our tagline is ‘We can do anything from changing a hard to reach light bulb to remodeling your kitchen, bath or basement!’ We take great pride in being the best in customer service and quality.

What I am trying to build is not just some big company whose name everyone knows (I do want everyone to know our name, of course), but a “family-like” company that consists of quality employees who are dedicated to customer service and top quality; loyal customers who expect, but appreciate being treated with respect (for their time, their homes, their lives), and a community that benefits from having a company like this in their neighborhood (through a mutual partnership in good business; quality, compliant building practices; charity; and volunteerism). See how I'm doing so far ... testimonials.

Ok, enough about the company. You can find out more by visiting my web-site.

Now, let me tell you about what I’d like to do with this blog. I’d like to create a resource for people who want to improve and maintain their homes.

I will provide you with tips, stories and ideas for improving your home, inside and out. I will highlight cool products that can improve the look and feel of your home. I will talk about energy savings ideas that can help you save money and preserve precious resources. I will tell you about projects that my company is working on that you might want to learn more about. And, I will tell you about things everyone should be doing to maintain their home on a regular basis.

Well, I’ve created a tall order to fill, so I’m going to get started. Check out the next post!