The Handyman Plan, LLC
  • Home
  • Handyman Services
    • Closets and Storage
    • Doors, Locks and Knobs >
      • Door Repair
      • Door Replacement
      • Knobs and Locks
    • For Interior Designers >
      • Hanging Pictures & Mirrors
      • Interior Painting
      • Light Fixture Installation
      • Window Treatments
    • Furniture Assembly
    • Light Fixture Installations
    • Outdoor Spaces >
      • Decks and Deck Repair
      • Porch Repair
      • Railings and Stairs
      • Screen Doors and Porches
    • Renovations
    • Trim and Moldings
    • Wall and Ceiling Repair
    • Winterizing >
      • Storm Doors
      • Weatherstripping
  • Interior Painters
  • Picture Hanging
  • Reviews
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact

The Handyman Blog

A Sinking Feeling

8/30/2016

0 Comments

 
I recently replaced a kitchen sink for my clients that was so ugly, it broke my camera.
Well, that's not true, but it was​ ugly, and I did forget to take a picture of it. However, I got a picture of the hole it left behind.
Picture
Since I don't have a picture, I'll just explain that it was one of those old fake farmhouse sinks with lots of cracks and stains in the porcelain. It was making this nice clean kitchen look worn out.

So we added some easy "kitchen appeal" with this shiny new stainless steel sink:
Picture
As you can see, they've got stainless hardware and appliances, so this will be a perfect match. I've got a stainless sink in my own kitchen, and I must say that it holds up well to heavy use.
Picture
I also replaced this cracked bathroom pedestal sink. Only the bowl was cracked, so I was able to save time and money by leaving the pedestal in place.
Picture
Picture
Replacing old, cracked, stained or chipped sinks is a cost-effective way to update your kitchen and bathroom. If you'd like to bring your kitchen or bath into the 21st century, give me a call. I'll be glad to help.
Schedule a Repair
Picture
0 Comments

The Case of the Rotting Deck Boards

8/23/2016

0 Comments

 
Your intrepid local handyman has found another mystery:
Picture
Why are these deck boards rotting?
Picture
They're treated lumber, so they should be in good shape, but my clients tell me that they often get rotten wood in this same spot. They've had the boards replaced before, but this time the rot even extended into some of the framing supports.

After digging into the matter (as it were) I discovered that they usually keep planters on this spot. Normally even the planters shouldn't be a problem, but I suspect that there's a chemical reaction happening between the plant fertilizer that leaches onto the treated lumber.

​Well, that's enough "science" for the day. Let's do some real work.
Picture
This looks bad, but it could have been worse. Most of the framing is actually in good shape, and we can even keep a few of the deck boards. I cut into it and pried out the rotten stuff, then replaced it with new wood. A bit hard on the back but not time-consuming.
Picture
Now we'll let the new wood cure and then call in the deck refinishers.
Picture
Need minor deck repairs? If you're in Asheville or Weaverville, give me a call. I'll be glad to help.
Get In Touch
0 Comments

Painting a Peel Prone Concrete Floor

8/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Last week I worked on a concrete floor that was having a few minor paint adhesion problems.
Picture
Just kidding about the "minor" part... most of the paint on the floor was peeling off in big sheets.

It seems that there was a moisture problem in the room which has since cleared up. No one reported any flooding, and the water was already gone when I did my weekly inspection. I don't know the source of the moisture, but I suspect it came in under the entrance door as a result of drainage problems caused by the construction going on next door.

After scraping up all the loose paint, I primed the surface with "Peel Bond". I mentioned this stuff in a previous post about fixing a peeling concrete ceiling. It's made for problem areas where paint won't adhere. This foyer gets some foot traffic, so this should be an excellent test of Peel Bond's durability.
Picture
Picture
After letting the Peel Bond dry over night, I came back and top coated the floor the next morning. Cutting in and rolling out really takes the least amount of time. Most of the work was in the prep.
Picture
Picture
I'll be interested to see how the Peel Bond holds up to foot traffic. It's held up so far on the ceilings I used it on, so I'm very optimistic about it.

Related Reading

Picture
How to Fix a Peeling Ceiling That Won't Stay Fixed
0 Comments

Replacing a Can Light with a Standard Light

8/2/2016

0 Comments

 
This is one of those posts with a satisfying "1-2-3" demonstration.

One of my clients had an electrician replace a recessed "can" light in her ceiling with an outlet box for a track light fixture. Unfortunately the can light left a big hole in her ceiling, so she had me come over and patch it.
Before - Gaping Hole around Light Fixture Box
Add Wooden Support
Add Sheetrock Patch
Add Screen Patch
Skim with Drywall "Mud"
Paint. Now it's ready for the new light fixture.
You can see the steps pretty clearly. First I cut a wooden piece to support the area, which will give that part of the ceiling more stability.

Next I added a small patch of Sheetrock, then covered it with a wider patch of reinforced mesh with metal screen. These are ready made patches with a sticky back. According to the manufacturer they don't actually need the wooden support, but I went ahead and added it anyway for extra durability.

Last but not least, I added two coats of quick-dry sheet rock mud, lightly sanded, primed  and then repainted the ceiling. I could have painted just the area around the hole, but we didn't have the matching paint. Without matching paint , the patch would have been visible.

This looks like a quick job, but in reality it took most of a day because of the ceiling repaint. Here's a peek behind the scenes... as you can see, I try to be meticulous about putting drop cloths on everything. Spending a little extra effort here prevents a lot of headaches down the road!
Picture
Picture
If you need minor wall or ceiling repair on your Asheville or Weaverville home, please get in touch. I'll be glad to help.

Keep Reading

Picture
Repairs at a Little Country Church
Picture
How to Repair a Peeling Ceiling that Won't Stay Fixed
0 Comments

    About

    Arthur Teel, Asheville & Weaverville Handyman
    Welcome to my blog! This is a chronicle of the adventures of Arthur Teel, a handyman working in Asheville and Weaverville, NC. Need someone to fix your home?
    Get in Touch

    Connect!

    Picture
    I make furniture too!

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015


    This blog is for entertainment purposes only. See our Terms of Use for details.
  Our current turn-around time is 1 to 4 weeks for picture hanging and interior painting, and 6-8 weeks for most other projects.

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."

​Cliff Y.
"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!"

Jonathan J.

​
Read More Reviews

Follow Us:

Email US AT:

AshevilleHandymanPlan@gmail.com

Service Area:

In-town Asheville
Mars Hill and Weaverville
Arden and Fletcher
​Fairview

Popular Services

Interior Painters
Professional Picture Hanging
For Interior Designers
Picture

Copyright 2014-2022 by The Handyman Plan, LLC.

Terms of Service and Privacy Statement
  • Home
  • Handyman Services
    • Closets and Storage
    • Doors, Locks and Knobs >
      • Door Repair
      • Door Replacement
      • Knobs and Locks
    • For Interior Designers >
      • Hanging Pictures & Mirrors
      • Interior Painting
      • Light Fixture Installation
      • Window Treatments
    • Furniture Assembly
    • Light Fixture Installations
    • Outdoor Spaces >
      • Decks and Deck Repair
      • Porch Repair
      • Railings and Stairs
      • Screen Doors and Porches
    • Renovations
    • Trim and Moldings
    • Wall and Ceiling Repair
    • Winterizing >
      • Storm Doors
      • Weatherstripping
  • Interior Painters
  • Picture Hanging
  • Reviews
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact