St Louis Handyman

Make Your Space a Better Place!

We all know how bad the housing market is right now. It seems the only houses selling are going for way below market value. So I have comprised some tips on how to improve your existing home. Why move? Improve!
1) Open up the floor plan. Remove doors from rooms that don’t need them. Make a window pass through to view the next room. Or, if it isn’t a load bearing wall, just remove it for a more spacious look.
2) Build a bump-out. A trick to expand without the cost of a full blown room addition is to make a bump-out. Like a bay window that hangs off the side of the house. It can go the entire length of the house and add up to 3 feet depth, enough space for an eat-in kitchen or a walk-in closet for the master bedroom.
3) Use your dining room. If you have an eat-in kitchen your dining room is probably only used once or twice a year for special occasions. Why not install doors, shelves and cabinets and transform it into a home office? You can still use the dining room for those special occasions.
4) Transform your guest room into a media room. Chances are you only have out of town guest’s once in a while anyway. Add furniture and your guest room can double for a media room or home office. Use an air mattress or futon that can store away neatly.
5) Finish out the basement or garage by converting it into usable living space. You’ll need floor, ceiling and walls, but no structural work or roof, so it can be done cheaper than a room addition.
6) Use built-ins to replace a closet. To run a four to ten inch deep shelving along a wall takes almost no space away from a room and it can handle much more capacity than a closet.
7) Add a first floor powder room. Take that closet you eliminated and turn it into a first floor powder room. In addition to re using the space, it will add value to your home.
Bring the laundry upstairs. All you need is a closet, hallway or nook. Today’s full size washer and dryers are stack-able. All you need is about four square feet. Try to use a space near the bathroom to make it easy to run pipes and electric.
9) Build a home office closet. Every home needs a space to put a desk for paying bills. Anchor a wireless internet system in a closet or armoire and add some shelves. Keep the lowest shelf above 30″ so you can wheel your chair up to it.

I hope these tips have helped you make your home feel bigger. You can count on us to be there for any of these projects. Andy’s Home and Business Repair is the best handyman in St. Louis. We can also help you with your kitchen and bathroom remodeling, or any other St. Louis home repair work.
SO WHY MOVE? IMPROVE!!

St Louis Handyman

We Are Super Service Award Winners…AGAIN!!!

St Louis Handyman

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

St Louis Handyman

Easier Home Maintenance

Do you want to be sure your home will be able to withstand winter’s bluster? Using these simple labor saving maintenance tips you can spend more time enjoying fall’s splendor and less time on chores.

1) Stop Air Leaks Cold. The Federal Governments Energy Star program cites air leaks as primary cause of heat loss, which can cost you up to 10% of your annual heating bill. Top quality, exterior grade caulk  could solve the problem for years to come. Choose an acrylic latex caulk (approximately $5.00 for a 10 oz. tube.) It’s formulated for windows and doors and has a 30 year guarantee. To insure a good adhesion, seal gaps and cracks on a warm day.

2) Guard Your Gutters. In the fall, cleaning gutters is a must to prevent clogs, backups, and winter ice dams. But keeping gutters debris free is a tricky proposition: just when you’ve removed the last of the gunk, winds inevitable deposit a new batch of leaves in your freshly cleaned gutters. You can avoid this task by installing gutter guards, which screen out leaves, twigs and seeds, while letting water flow in the gutter and out the downspout. Andy’s Home and Business Repair can professionally install the guards, thus saving you hours of ladder time, for about $300.00 – $500.00, depending on the size of your home.

3) Paint Outside Surfaces. Extend the time between major exterior re-painting projects by touching up any painted surfaces that have cracks, chips or blisters. Clean the area thoroughly and sand lightly. Apply a top quality exterior paint to keep your siding and trim looking new. When repainting your house, spend a little extra on high quality paints, which last years longer than bargain brand paints, saving you time and money in the long run. Of course you can call us for a free estimate to complete this chore for you at a reasonable price as well.

4) Repair The Trim. Replace cracked and rotten wood trim. There are a variety of new synthetic materials you can use but they can be expensive. Pressure treated lumber is good too. Prime and paint and don’t forget to use a good exterior caulk. Or once again call us for a bid if this proves to be too strenuous for you.

5) Let In The Light. Sparkling clean windows let in the light and help to chase away winter’s doldrums.  Zip through this essential fall cleaning task with using a homemade cleaner of two parts ammonia and one part warm water. I like to use a window squeegee as to not leave any streaks.

6) Do An Ounce of Prevention. Disconnect hoses before the first frost to prevent outdoor spigots from freezing and cracking, which can cause major leaks and cause ours of time to repair. While you’re at it, be sure to drain your garden irrigation system to avoid leaks and busted sprinkler heads in the spring. Or you will be calling me in the spring to install frost proof spigots.

Take a few maintenance tips from the best Handyman in St. Louis, no charge! If you get in over your head or simply don’t want to mess with it, give me a call. And remember……………..At Andy’s Home and Business Repair, we make YOUR space a better place!

St Louis Handyman

Princess Tub Fixtures

St Louis Handyman

Nice Flat Finish and Great Flooring Too!

St Louis Handyman

Composite Sun Deck

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Trex Decks Are Maintenance Free

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Yes, We Do Storm Damage Repairs. Inside and Outside.

We do all types of home repairs. Including repair of storm damage. Give us a call for your free estimate. Home owners only please.

St Louis Handyman

Amazing Bathroom Remodel!

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