When your fence is starting to look haggard and worn, when the gate stops opening smoothly, or the posts are coming loose, don’t rush to replace the entire structure. Often an aging fence only needs a few repairs rather than an expensive replacement. On the other hand, if your fence is starting to break or rot, it won’t just be aesthetically displeasing—it could become a safety concern for your family. Observe your fence for signs that it needs a couple of simple repairs, or that it’s time to get a new fence in its place.

Fence Posts

Examine the quality of your fence posts to determine the state of your fence. If they are rotting or broken, it might be time to get a new fence. If there are only a few loose posts, the fence can be repaired. As long as two-thirds of the fence posts are still standing strong, a replacement is not yet worth the time and expense. Individual posts can be easily replaced.

The Gate

Next, take a hard look at the gate of your fence. If you see some problems with the hinges, you might need to start working on a replacement. Hinges that break or rot typically cannot be repaired. If the metal hinge itself is broken but the door portion is in good shape, the hinge can be replaced and the gate can be re-hung. If your gate is free of these problems, but you still have difficulty getting it to open or shut, some minor repairs are probably in order.

Fence Rails

If a couple rails on your fence have started sagging or curving, it is time to repair. If these compromised rails take up more than one-third of your fence, a replacement might be more practical. Loose or missing nails are also easy to repair, but once the rails start falling off or breaking, it is time to get a new fence or at least replace the most damaged parts.

Slats

Ideal slats should be straight and sturdy. Once a few slats start bending or sagging, they will need to be repaired. Individual slats can even be replaced altogether. This will leave portions of your fence a different color or shade than the rest but at the same time will solve your problem. If over one-third of your slats are broken or bending, it might be time to replace the entire fence.

Sumer rains, wind and constant exposure to the sun’s rays can really take a toll on your fence. While vinyl lasts longer than wood it will still need repairs eventually. The same goes for chain link. Keeping your fence in order is important. They provide privacy, a safe place for kids to play and can secure your four-legged friend for the afternoon. It doesn’t matter if you live in the suburbs of Orlando or in South Tampa; your fence is an important aspect of your property.

Sources:

How to Tell if you Need to Replace Your Fence (On Point Installation)

How to Replace an Old Fence (Ron Hazelton’s House Calls)

How to Repair a Wood Fence (TLC: A Discovery Company)

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Getting Your Garage Back

How do I Build a Patio?

So you’ve decided that your house needs some sprucing up. A simple new coat of paint can change your walls from drab to fabulous, but don’t reach for your faithful off-white hue just yet. A little creativity can go a long way when making a room look open, breezy, and inviting. Explore all your interior painting options before purchasing your brushes and colors.

Create an Accent Wall

Can’t decide between two different colors? Well, now you don’t have to. A popular interior painting style involves painting one wall a different color from the other three. This is called the accent wall, and it usually takes on the bolder of the two colors. Accent walls direct the visitor’s focus in one direction, calling attention to the décor or furniture near that specific wall.

Pay Attention to Moldings

Moldings often get ignored during new paint jobs, but taking the time to paint them a shade lighter than the wall can give the room an extra level of sophistication. These kinds of details may seem trivial, but they are opportunities to give your house a professional looking touch.

Wainscot

Walls with wainscot, an interior design piece in the molding family that is placed over a wall, look best with contrasting colors. Leave the wainscot white, and paint the walls bright and bold. You can create an artificial wainscot by painting the top and bottom portions of the wall differing colors. Line the meeting of the two colors with a strip of molding or wallpaper border.

Consider Ceiling Options

Traditional white ceilings can make a room seem open and breezy, but opting to paint it a darker color can give a warm, homey vibe. When using dark, earthy tones, consider choosing a shade other than white for your ceiling.

Paint a Mural

If you have a strong creative side, feel free to express yourself on your walls. Some of the most interesting interior designs feature large murals. These pieces of art can be abstract, traditional, realistic, or creative. Although you may see more murals in nurseries or children’s rooms, tasteful artwork can also comfortably find its home on the walls of the master bedroom or kitchen. If it is in your budget, you can bring in an artist. You can also purchase stencils and outlines to help you with your mural.

All of the taping, floor covering and ladder climbing involved in painting might be keeping you from refinishing your favorite room. If you have been finding yourself in this situation, we can show you the way out in Tampa, Bradenton and even Orlando.

Sources:

Interior Painting (HGTV)

How to Choose the Right Colors For Your Rooms (This Old House)

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Remodeling a Rental Unit

Designed for Company

Although it may appear insignificant at first, flooring is an important factor in restaurant operation. Many factors should be considered when researching your choices. Along with providing a safe surface for waiters and cooks to work on, a restaurant’s floor should also be durable, simple to clean, and aesthetically pleasing. Finding the right material that meets all your qualifications can become a challenging dilemma.

Safety

Choosing a safe flooring option for your restaurant can keep you out of messy lawsuits, protect your staff and customers, and keep your insurance rates low. Select a slip-resistant floor, such as rubber flooring or concrete with ridges, for your kitchen. The fast pace of this work environment does not need to be impeded by poor flooring. You can also purchase slip resistant tile.

Cleanliness

Make the evening cleaning routine simpler, while also winning higher scores when the health inspector visits by choosing a floor that’s easy to scrub down. Ceramic tile and rubber flooring will both clean up without hassle and resist stains from spilled food or drinks.

Durability

A restaurant’s floor endures a lot of foot traffic, table and chair movements, spills, and dropped plates. To prevent having to replace the floor regularly, choose a material that can withstand the tough environment of a busy restaurant. Some durable flooring options include:

· Ceramic tile

· Vinyl

· Epoxy

· Hardwood

Cost

All restaurant floors need to be replaced from time to time to keep the building looking fresh and inviting. Many beginning restaurant owners will want to invest in a flooring option that is inexpensive to install, repair, and replace. Concrete is a cost-efficient material that can also provide a lot of flexibility when it comes to design and appearance; just be sure that you are open to the industrial look. Vinyl is also a flooring option that provides a high-quality appearance without a steep price tag if you are going for shabby chic. Tile and hard wood cost more up front, but once you factor in longevity they aren’t as expensive as they might seem.

Appearance

Even the safest, strongest, and cheapest flooring option might not be right for your restaurant if it doesn’t match the decor. If you are striving to create a certain atmosphere in your restaurant, pick a floor that matches the right vibe. Tile and hard wood flooring is often used for upscale restaurants, while vinyl or concrete floors will fit well in a medium-priced restaurant with a homey vibe.

Going Green

If protecting the environment is a concern for you, choose a flooring option that reflects that. Ceramic tile, which does not include any petroleum, will ease your conscious and keep your restaurant eco-friendly.

Balancing price, durability and ambience is the main goal when choosing restaurant flooring. Don’t overdo it on any single category; look for the product that best meets your goals. If you need help installing or repairing commercial flooring, let us know. We can be your one-stop resource for locations throughout Central Florida. We have craftsmen ready to get the job done in Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota and beyond.

Sources:

Polished Concrete (Concrete Network)

Everlast Epoxy Flooring (Everlast Epoxy Systems)

Types of Flooring (Floor Ideas)

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How to Lay Tile

Clean tiles can give your home a fresh, simple feel; but if you neglect proper care of the grout, you could find yourself battling mildew, mold, and discoloration. Expensive cleaners filled with harsh chemicals are not necessary for most tile floors, unless you are working on a floor that has already begun collecting mold or excessive dirt.

Homemade Grout Cleaner

You can inexpensively clean your tile floor using simple substances around the house such as white vinegar, baking powder, and ammonia. Mix equal parts of these ingredients with several cups of water in a squirt bottle and shake it up before use. Spray it on your tile and grout, and scrub with a mop, old rag, or sponge. No rinsing is needed; just allow the mixture to dry.

Choosing a Mop

Using a sponge mop might brighten up the surface of your tiles, but it will also worsen the situation of your grout. Instead of removing gunk from the cracks, it will just push more crumbs and dirt into the hard-to-clean spaces. A micro-fiber mop will thoroughly clean your tile floor and prevent future problems with molds and stains.

Mildew and Mold

Dirty grout can quickly become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. If this is your situation, switch out the ammonia for bleach. Create a mixture that is one part bleach for five parts water. Allow it to sit for five minutes before rinsing. You might need to scrub away the mold with brush. Remember that ammonia and bleach should never be mixed together.

The Steam Extraction Method

Once grout and tile becomes stained, bleach will only work as a temporary fix. A steam extraction method will give a comprehensive clean and remove stubborn steams permanently. This approach uses detergent, hot steam, high water pressure, and a vacuum to remove gunk and stains from your tiles and grout.

At some point you might be looking down at your tile and decide that perhaps cleaning isn’t the best option for you. While one of the best benefits to tile is its durability it sometimes needs to be replaced. If you need a hand making sure that your tile is laid straight and even, let us know. The way the ground settles here in Florida can make long-lasting flooring a challenge for homeowners from Tampa to Bradenton.

Sources:

Tips for Cleaning Tile Wood and Vinyl Floors (DIY Network)

How to Clean Grout (Mrs. Clean)

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Time for Floors: Laminate Versus Hardwood

How to Lay Tile

There are all kinds of investments and business ventures out there. Investing in property can be a very successful venture. If you choose to rent out the property before you sell it, you can increase your return significantly. You will certainly need to renovate a rental property at some point over its lifetime–if not directly after you buy it, then down the road as the wear and tear from tenants adds up.

When you decide to renovate a rental property, you want to focus on appealing to quality tenants. What we mean is tenants who are financially stable and will likely not put too much wear and tear on your property. For many landlords, this is a family. Appealing to families is not difficult; it just takes focus. Think about what rooms of the house are important to a reliable family.

Consider the Bathroom

The bathrooms are possibly the most used rooms in a home. Most rental properties that are sized for a family will have two bathrooms. Both should be appropriate for their intended users.

A well remodeled master bathroom will appeal to the parents (you know, the ones paying the rent). Don’t go overboard on cost, but do update the bathroom fixtures. Install a good sized tub for baths and two sinks. This will make the bathroom efficient while parents are getting ready for work and effective when mom wants to soak in a bath.

The kids need nice fixtures, but you can get away with spending less than you did on the master. You only need a single sink, a modern toilet and a shower/tub combo. Little kids like baths, so a shower stall simply will not do. Have a reputable handyman install or convert a new bathtub if needed. Otherwise ensure that the materials that you are using are nice so that you can appeal to a family with a reasonable income, but not so nice that you are throwing money away. After all, you do not live there.

As important as flooring and trim are, focusing on the areas of the house that matter to families is a good way to make a quality tenant put in a rental application with you. You can rent out houses or condos. Be aware that a condo will require a monthly fee in most cases—which raises your operating costs—but will require less maintenance down the road. Considering the current housing market, you can find deals on condos and houses in every area of Florida, whether you are looking at a foreclosure in Sarasota or a short sale in Bradenton.

Sources:

Remodeling Investment Properties? Aim for the Middle

How to Keep Tenants by Keeping Tenants Happy

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Save Some Money by Sprucing up Your Plumbing

Tired of Your Tub? Convert it

If you are sprucing up your driveway, don’t get hung up debating between pavers and concrete. Each method has many advantages and disadvantages, and depending on your lifestyle and location, the right choice should become obvious after some careful thought. While concrete will seem simpler and easier to implement, the aesthetic appeal of individual pavers might be the right look for you.

Mobility

If anyone in your family or close circle of friends has a disability, concrete will be probably be the best option. Its smooth surface will make your house more wheelchair accessible. Pavers will create a bumpy ride for anyone getting by on wheels.

Appearance

Pavers can transform even the plainest yards into a delicate picture. Before coming to a final decision, assess the importance you or your family members will place the appearance of your driveway. Aesthetic value can also help if you plan to sell your house in the future. Concrete will still look acceptable, but pavers can add an instant manicured touch to your curb appeal.

Maintenance Needs

How much time are you willing to devote to your driveway’s upkeep? If you’re looking for a low-maintenance gig, concrete is the way to go. The cracks in the pavers will attract plant life, creating a chronic need for pulling out the weeds.

Permanence

If you like to change things up on a regular basis, be wary of the permanence of a concrete driveway. Although the process is time intensive, you can easily uproot pavers and move them to wherever you want your driveway to lead. Future changes will not be out of the question.

In the end, the best driveway for you is the one that meets your budget and tastes. Both building materials will provide a great pathway from the street to your home and a suitable place to park. Both will also stand up to Florida rain, whether it is coming down in Orlando or Tampa. Having an idea of how you want your house to look and function is important before making any home renovation. You take the time to plan; we will help out with the home repair.

Sources:

Concrete Driveway Pavers vs. Poured Concrete Driveway (Do It Yourself)

All About Pavers (This Old House)

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Just as Clean With half the Elbow Grease

How Do I Build a Patio?

Looking to make your mark on the business you just bought? Making improvements to the property can send a positive message to clients and employees, while also improving the functionality of your work space. These changes can be as simple as a new coat of paint, or you can delve into more complicated commercial renovations that will improve the appearance and flow of your new property. Start brainstorming and decide which will work best for you and your business.

Make a Statement

Maybe your new business didn’t have the best reputation under the old owner’s rule. If this is the case, even major renovations could end up paying for themselves in a short matter of time. A change on the outside can reflect the change on the inside to your potential customers and clients. It lets them know that someone new is in charge, and things are turning around. Even successful businesses can benefit from a makeover when they change hands. Customers will naturally want to explore what’s new, and simple changes to your building could lure them in the door.

Property improvements will also speak to any remaining staff members, serving as a constant reminder that the old is gone and the new has come. This can be a helpful tool when you inherit employees that are struggling with changes to expectations or business practices.

Consider Going Green

Make an instant impression on customers by changing the office into an environmentally friendly building. These improvements can cut down on operating costs, and attract clients who want to support eco-conscious companies. As a new owner to the business, this move can instantly set you apart and define you in the eyes of both staff and clientele.

Reevaluate Needs

If your new commercial property was built several decades ago, chances are your business’s needs have evolved along with technology and the modern work environment. Extra outlets or phone jacks are often a necessity for older buildings. If you have some extra space, consider these additions to the building:

· Conference room

· Cafeteria

· Private bathrooms

· Extra parking

· Storage space

Don’t get settled in until the building meets all your needs for a smooth work day. You can hire a handyman to come in and make all of the commercial renovations or remodels that you need to do business. We would be happy to discuss your remodeling options and have handymen conveniently available from Orlando to Sarasota.

Sources:

An Office Renovation Pays for Itself (Businessweek)

Whole Building Design Guide (National Institute of Building Sciences)

Related Posts:

Adding a Half Bath to Your Home

Send Mold Packing

The outside of your home needs to have a covering to seal the structure and give your house curb appeal. Here in Florida, there are two very popular options for you to choose from: stucco and vinyl siding. Both have pros and cons to consider before you choose a material.

Stucco

Stucco is a cement-based product that is sprayed onto your home to provide an aesthetically pleasing exterior that also seals your home. It is very popular in homes throughout Florida, from the suburbs of Orlando to neighborhoods in Sarasota. Stucco ends up having a textured finish, which can be altered depending upon the device used to control how the product sprays. It can be painted easily, which makes it possible to have any color combination that you prefer on your home. Since you can paint stucco, this also means you can change the color of your home according to new trends or changes in personal preference.

Stucco also has two very important features to point out. For one, it breathes very well. This helps in our climate, where humidity can allow water access to your structure that will eventually need to dry out. This speaks directly to the length of time that stucco will provide your home with a great looking cover. Stucco is also very durable. As a cement-based product, it can stand up to wind, rain and anything else that you or your children might throw at it. The durable nature of stucco also helps it to provide a solid exterior to your home.

Vinyl Siding

This is a plastic-based building material that you purchase in sections. You then adhere the sections to the exterior of your home until you have a compete covering. Siding also comes as a relatively finished product. The color of the siding is established when it is made in a factory. This is good because it means you get a finished product with one set color that lasts years–without any significant fading–for over a decade. If you are the type of person who likes to change the look of your home frequently, this might not be good for you because you would have to completely reside your home.

When you need repairs down the road, vinyl siding is a good option because you will have to replace only the panel that has been damaged. It is important to note that vinyl siding is also a very durable product, so don’t expect to be making repairs on a regular basis. If you like the look of vinyl siding, the only real argument that some make against it as a product is that it is not the most environmentally friendly building material to produce.

The way each material looks will probably be one of the first factors in your decision making process. Take the non-aesthetic factors into account also. Either is a great option that will look good on the exterior of your home and provide your structure with adequate protection. Both are also relatively cost-effective solutions.

In the event that you already live in a home with one of these exteriors, you might need some help with maintenance. The Handyman Connection has craftsmen on hand who can help you with stucco repairs and vinyl siding replacement. We can also reduce your “to-do” list while you enjoy your weekend.

Sources:

Green and Save.com

This Old House

Stucco vs. Vinyl Siding is a Major Home Improvement Decision

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We Fix It Once Everything Settles Down

Some of the easiest and most financially sound upgrades that you can make around your house involve plumbing. You use water every day in your home, which clearly increases that particular utility bill. When you use hot water, you also increase your gas or electric bill. Basic changes that can improve the look of your home and save you money can easily be made to such items as shower heads, toilets and faucets.

Some estimates state that these three items account for 60% of the water usage in your home. Changing out these plumbing-related pieces of your home can clearly reduce your water consumption, while giving you new additions to décor that can actually work better for you.

Why Water-Saving Faucets and Shower Heads Are Just as Good

You might be worried that less water means a weaker stream and a less comfortable shower. This is not true at all. Water-saving dispensers are engineered differently, which compensates for the fact that less—in some cases less than half—water is being used. Water-saving shower heads and faucets reduce water consumption using two basic methods:

• Openings with smaller diameters, which allow less water to spray out at any given time.
• An increased air to water ratio, which means that the shower heads and faucets distribute more air along with the water.

Water-Saving Toilets

Once you change out the faucets and shower head in your bathroom, you can keep going by having a new toilet installed. Water-saving toilets are designed to use less water overall. A traditional toilet uses about 1.6 gallons per flush. A water-saving toilet uses less than 1.3 gallons per flush. This might not seem like much, but think about how many times your toilet flushes every day, week, and year. Over time you save lots of water and cash. Many modern toilets also have two flush settings, so if you are removing liquid waste you can select a flushing option that reduces water usage even more. Other great features that weren’t available on your grandmother’s toilet include push-button flushing, hands-free flushing, and height options that make toilets easier for taller people and those who have trouble bending or crouching.

Better Attachments

Increased function is yet another benefit that you can expect when you opt to make some basic plumbing attachment changes. New products have more creature comforts in mind. For instance, if you want to spend a little extra on your toilet, you can purchase a water-saving toilet with a heated seat. You can find environmentally friendly shower heads that have two attachments, one when you want a regular attached shower head, and one with a detachable wand that provides you easier water flow to hard-to-reach places. When it comes to new faucets, you can find reasonably priced versions that cut off water flow altogether after a set amount of time or that have built-in filters so that you want to choose between tap and filtered water.

These basic additions have a lot of benefits for your home. They will improve how you use water, make your bathroom and/or kitchen look more modern, and reduce your bills. These are all things that potential home buyers will look for, as well. If you do not have time to make these renovations yourself, we have handymen ready and waiting throughout Florida. From Melbourne to Orlando, we can help you improve your home.

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Consumer Search

HGTV

The ABC’s of Toilets

Whether you’re hoping for fewer arguments over bathroom times or a higher market value for your house when it comes time to sell, adding a half bath to your home can help. This simple addition also proves useful when entertaining friends. Point them toward the half bath, and you won’t need to worry about dirty clothes on the floor, or anyone snooping through your drawers and medicine cabinet. Adding a half bath is ideal for those living in older homes with no bottom-floor bathroom. The project is minimal compared to other additions, and most families are able to stay in their homes throughout the entire construction process.

Size

A half bath generally only makes room for a toilet and a sink. Storage or counter space is not necessary. Many prefer a door that opens inward, which can also increase calculations for size. Consider a sliding door if you have limited space, but have concerns about awkward hallway traffic with an outward opening door. Although the average half bath takes up 20 square feet, the International Residential Code requires only 11 square feet for bathrooms.

Finding Room

Deciding where to add the half bath will be your first decision. Homeowners commonly choose closets they rarely use or the space under a stairwell. Sometimes adding a half bath might mean making another room smaller. Half baths serve best on the first floor, near the living room or an entertainment room. Most people prefer to keep any bathroom away from the dining room, where some smells or the sounds of a toilet flushing might not be appreciated.

Layout

Choosing your layout often comes down to the size and shape of your half bath. If possible, most future buyers will prefer a half bath where the toilet is the not the first thing they see upon opening the door. A common design is placing the sink first, and the toiler right behind it. Some might choose to place the toilet on the opposite wall of the sink, behind the opened door. Toilets are rarely placed on the wall adjacent to the door opening.

Value

Although the price tag of an addition may cause some to hesitate, a half bath will typically profit a household if they ever plan to sell. The market value of a house can increase up to $20,000 with this addition. Unless the house already has an equal number of bathrooms to bedrooms, homeowners who add a half bath can usually expect around a 10 percent increase of value for their house.

As you can see, the addition of a half bath is one of the home renovations that can really pay off upon resale. Many homes in Florida are traditional bungalow-style dwellings that tend to be holdovers from as far back as the 1920’s. Many of these homes have only a single bathroom for up to four bedrooms, so adding a half bath here pays off immediately for you while you live in the home. If you are interested in having a closet renovated into a half bath, we would be glad to help. We have branches throughout Central Florida, from Tampa to Orlando to Lakeland.

Sources:

National Association of Home Builders

This Old House

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Designed for Company

Finishing Touches