St Louis Handyman

Tips For Reducing Bathroom Barriers

Are you considering a bathroom remodel that takes into account the special needs of an elderly, disabled or obese person? Here are some tips to create fewer obstacles in your bathroom.
1) Will it be accessible to everyone that comes into your home? Incorporating “universal design” concepts can help make your bathroom barrier-free.
2) Install reinforced backboard in the walls of your shower area for easy mounting of grab bars, even if you don’t need them yet.
3) Choose fixtures that persons with limited mobility can reach and use. Many companies now make ADA raised toilets, lever bath handles and larger pull drawers with magnet closers, as well as hand held shower heads.
4) Consider hiring a professional, such as Andys Home and Business Repair LLc. The premier handyman in St. Louis!

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A Newly Remodeled Bath in Frontenac!

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A Kitchenette in the Basement

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A basement ceramic tiled floor.

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We Can Even Repair What Your Husband “Fixed”

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Our Latest Kitchenette

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St. Louis Handyman on Civil Preparedness

How many of you out there have ever been effected by a power outage? Last year in St. Louis we had two major power outages within 6 months of each other, both lasted for several days. We have a power generator that is simple to power-up. It runs on gasoline. We also have a campers stove, so we could still cook. Above ground catastrophes are one thing, but what if we were to have a major earthquake? Would YOU know what to do? Here are a few civil preparedness tips that every home owner should know.
1) When a water line breaks and the water is gushing, look for the main shut-off valve. It will be the valve that is first out of the foundation, normally a 3/4″ to 1″ copper pipe. Clock-wise is “off”. If the handle is stuck, loosen the packing 1 turn with a crescent wrench and try again. If the water still does not shut off, open the lowest basement sink or hose bib and let it run down a drain. This will take the excessive water to a safe area.
2) When electrical wires short, ground out or burn, it is easy to panic.
Rule #1, grab a pair of leather gloves or rubber cleaning gloves and go to the mail panel. With your gloves on and your feet flat-footed, not leaning or touching anything, with one hand find the large breaker at the top of the electrical panel (normally marked MAIN) and switch it to the “off” position. On a fused panel, grab the fuse holder carrier and pull. At this point if you smell smoke or see fire or sparks, call 911. You might have an electrical fire in the wall.
3) Most importantly, lets talk about natural gas. We all know the smell. First of all, appliances, water heaters, furnaces, etc., are required by law to have a shut-off valve within reaching distance or the unit. Most shut-off valves are 1/4″ turn, ball type. Now if this valve breaks or the leak is before the appliance, go for the gas meter main. If there is an earthquake just go straight for the main. Take a good sized adjustable wrench and line up the rings to the off position. They may be hard to move so be ready to use force. You CAN do it! Air-out the interior of the house as fast as you can. And no matter how nervous you are DON”T light a cigarette.
These are a few potentially life saving tips, at no charge, just for reading my website. If you would like a power back-up generator for your house, just give us a call! Stay tuned for more helpful household tips from the best handyman in St. Louis. If you have any questions feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

St Louis Handyman

St. Louis Handyman’s Tips on Un-sticking a Drawer

This is how to handle a solid wooden drawer that sticks: Slowly move it in and out to “feel” where it’s catching (on one side? along the bottom?). Or pull out the drawer and look for friction marks on the edge or bottom.
Set the drawer on a stable work surface. With 100-grit sandpaper wrapped around a wood block, smooth the sticking spot until some dust is created. Replace the drawer, slide to see if it’s no longer catching. If it is, repeat until the drawer glides freely.
To keep out the moisture that causes swelling and then sticking, seal the drawer, inside and out (though skipping the front), with a coat of polyurethane.
If the swelling is minor, you may be able to get away with just lubricating the drawer-no sanding required. To start, take the drawer completely out and set it on your work surface.
Run a bar of plain soap (like Ivory) or a candle, or a stick of paraffin-any of the three should work well-along the glide or glides on the bottom or sides of the drawer, and along any mating pieces inside the furniture. Also rub some on the edges of the drawer’s sides and bottom.
Replace drawer and move it in and out to work in the lubricant and be sure it’s fixed the problem.

St Louis Handyman

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Strategies

Save some green this season with these budget and eco-friendly landscaping strategies from the St. Louis Handyman….
Use a rain barrel to collect water for your lawn and outdoor plants.
Ditch old gas guzzling outdoor power equipment for battery operated or manual gear.
Choose solar powered landscape lighting over electricity-draining illumination.
Incorporate more hardscaping features into outdoor spaces to reduce your watering and mowing requirements.
Build a raised garden bed to grow your own fresh produce.
And always call the St. Louis Handyman for any of your “handy” projects!

St Louis Handyman

Discovering Real Value

Normally, I’m a hit-and-run shopper, but that behavior changes when I roam the aisles of my local hardware store or home improvement center. It’s fascinating to leisurely browse the seemingly infinite selection of merchandise, from flat washers to fancy faucets. But aside from being sucked in by this hypnotic consumer kaleidoscope, my first priority is to find the ideal products for my project. Whether it’s a tube of caulk, a box of screws or a new cordless drill, they command my attention and respect- and ultimately my hard-earned cash.
Understanding value is the key to making a wise purchase and controlling that cash. The value of an item is not the same as what it costs. That old adage “you get what you pay for” may be true in general, but it doesn’t address value. The most expensive item isn’t necessarily the best for your situation, and the least expensive item isn’t necessarily the worst. Real value means striking a balance between the cost of an item and how well it fulfills your actual needs. Value depends on priorities. Take paint, for example. High quality paint is typically easier to apply, provides better coverage and is more durable than lesser quality products. It also costs more-sometimes MUCH more-and that’s when you need to decide what’s important. How often are you willing to tolerate doing it? If your answer is “nor often, and not much,” the best paint value for you might be $60.00 a gallon. But if you like to paint and are on a tight budget, you might find $10.00 a gallon paint perfectly acceptable. That’s why manufacturers offer choices.
My advice for purchasing home-improvement products is to determine your needs and then buy the best that your budget allows. Maintaining your investment in your home will pay you in quality of life dividends while you live in it and provide a greater return when you sell it. Don’t be discouraged if your budget limits you to less-flashy but solid products; they’ll still provide years of reliable service. A sensible, middle-or-the-road approach might seem boring, but it will keep you on the road to economic stability rather than driving you into a financial ditch. Look for the best value and you’ll never go wrong. And don’t forget to savor your shopping experience.

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