I know... I know.... that's a grandiose title. I'm just trying to be fun here. But as a matter of fact, that's what it feels like to be handyman. Some of my coolest jobs seem boring from the outside, because there's not a big difference between the "before" and "after." But I really enjoy doing them. It's a small but tangible way of making the world a slightly better place to live. Case in point: these handrails. Before, they were "okay." They could help you balance yourself as you walked up the stairs, but they weren't very sturdy. But take a look at the "after." Now that's a handrail you can trust! When I look at these pictures, I imagine an apartment dweller going up the steps on a rainy day. I like to think that they notice and appreciate the firm grip these railings offer. It might not look exciting, but it's a good day's work, and that's why I love my job.
Now that winter is really settling in, you're probably noticing all of the little ways in which cold air can seep into your house and raise your heating bill. With that in mind, I've dug into my archive of unpublished pictures to show you some of the winterization I've done for my clients this year. As you can see, there are lots of ways I could help you stop those cold drafts from getting in. Then you could kick back with a mug of hot chocolate and say, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"
“Zen is life itself, nothing added." --Charlotte Joko Beck I've made lots of "Art" and taken pleasure in it; I've made music and built elaborate furniture. But as time goes on, I have begun to believe that every work is creative. We have a wood-burning stove at home, and we needed a good dry place to keep our firewood. This summer I built a small shed roof where I can stack a whole winter's worth of wood. Even though it is absolutely functional, the woodpile turned into a sculptural object. (Click any picture to enlarge it.) Good work is Art.
As you can see in this gallery, the large print giveth and the fine print taketh away. (Click a picture to view at larger size.) The front of the bag promises a "safe, clean surface," but the fine print on the back warns that you need to remove slush promptly.
Thawed out and ready to make a few home improvements?
Call your local Asheville handyman. After all of the recent cold weather, I bet you’re thinking about how you can winterize your house and keep yourself warmer next year. I’m making my own list, and I’m also scheduled to help a few clients warm up their homes. Here at home, one thing that I forgot to do was install a door sweep under the back door. With these temps, it makes for a wicked draft. For now, we’ve been using towels and it makes a big difference. Next Lowes trip: Door sweep. This is a great time to check for drafts around doors, windows, outlets or pipes coming through the floor—just about anywhere you suspect a draft. Just put your hand over the suspect area to find out if it’s leaking air. I also noticed that my shower sputtered a little when I turned it on after the last cold night. The plumbing is in an outside wall. It has six inches of insulation, but if I had it to do over again, I’d seal that section with stiff foam insulation, seal it in with Great Stuff, then install the fluffy pink fiberglass roll insulation. For that matter, I would and still might build an access door for all those pipes, but I guess I’ll just wait until the need arises. In the really cold weather, the hot water froze , but the cold still ran. I crawled around under the house in subzero temperatures found a tiny little gap, and filled it with more Great Stuff. All of the pipes are also well–insulated with wrap-around black foam insulation. The stuff is expensive, but it’s definitely necessary when your pipes are in an unheated crawlspace. Unfortunately, the vents in my crawlspace are not well sealed at all. I guess I’ll start calling these lil’ solar vents with tin louvers “Florida vents.” I had planned to cut a chunk of stiff foam board and fit them into the openings, but it never got done. Maybe I’ll look into cold weather vents. Brrrrr! Don't shiver in the cold! Call your local Asheville handyman to help winterize your home.
|
About
Connect!
Archives
April 2022
This blog is for entertainment purposes only. See our Terms of Use for details.
|
What Our Clients Are Saying
"Arthur is that rare professional handyman who is totally reliable; fairly priced; pro-active in communications; honest; punctual; skilled -- and a really nice guy." "Arthur is a great resource to have here in our area. He's prompt, professional, does great work and is cost effective. I'll definitely use him again!" |
Follow Us:Email US AT:Service Area:
In-town Asheville
Mars Hill and Weaverville Arden and Fletcher Fairview Popular Services |