My dad used to clean the eavestroughs at our house every year, but now we’ve been paying a landscaping company to do it each season, and we’re really paying for it.

If you’ve never had to clean the gutters or eaves yourself, it can be a daunting and exhausting task…moving a ladder every few feet, usually in the muddy soil, with a wet, stuck, sometimes quite stinky, mess you have to remove by hand. You’re quite high up, it’s usually rather cold when you’re trying to clean them out too. Then, you’ll have to collect it on the ground to dispose of it at the curb. Sheesh!

There are also times you’ll find birds nests and other critters habitating your gutters to keep warm and making little homes during the fall, winter and sometimes spring.

So, I’ve been researching Gutter Protection System in order to cut out that expense and easily keep the gutters clear on our own.

The bristle, brush type, shown above, is a great idea and very clever…Hmmm…

However, I also found another kind from Outdora, shown below, that looks to be even more effective and would have much less clean up as things don’t seem to be able to get stuck on the surface as much as the bristles, although the brush variety seems to be easier to “install”…

It seems to give ample space for drainage and accomplishes the goal of keeping leaves and other fallen debris out of the eavestroughs.

Gutter protection is a much simpler way of cleaning your gutters…you won’t have to! I’ll take raking leaves over clearing the eavestroughs anyday.

What do you use for gutter protection? Let us know by leaving a comment below…

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I hope you enjoyed this Home Exterior Maintenance on Your Handyman Today! Until next time…

Protect Those Gutters,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. The colors of Falling Leaves is so gorgeous in the Fall, but there’s a point where those leaves make your yard look messy. You can rake leaves in the Spring when the snow melts, but it’s often a much wetter, heavier and stinkier mess than if you do it in the Fall…

Technorati Tags: gutters, eavestroughs, home exterior maintenance, home maintenance, gutter protection system, gutter protection, eavestrough protection, eaves

Whether it’s trying to make items match inside or outside your home, or you’re trying to “spruce” something up, spray paint can be any handyperson’s secret weapon.

What do I like to spray paint? Graffiti on fences or posts, furniture I find that I want to match, old lawn chairs that have faded, light fixtures, hardware - the list can go on and on, really…

My latest spray painting fun? I found some really great (and inexpensive) towel racks, robe hooks and toilet paper holders for one of our investment properties that were unfinished wood at Home Depot.

Instead of trying to find oil rubbed bronze accessories, that could also cost a small fortune, I grabbed can of oil rubbed bronze spray paint and went to town on these fabulous wooden accessories!

They match perfectly and look like they were a match made in heaven inside of this house! Oh yeah - a cheap fix for a real issue…

What’s your favorite use for spray paint? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

***

I hope you enjoyed this Painting Tip on Your Handyman Minute! Until next time…

Get Sprayin’,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. If you have some tough graffiti to remove, you may want to check this out:

Itw Dymon/Lagasse, Inc. - Graffiti/Paint Remover, Jelled Formula, 20Oz. Aerosol, 12/Case graffiti And Spray Paint Remover Can Be Used On Most Surfaces. Jelled Formula Will Not Run Off Vertical Surfaces. Product Stays On The Surface Long Enough To Emulsify And Work Harder To Remove Paint And Graffiti Without Extra Clean Up. *Assembly Required: No [ITW07820] UPC: 764769078204 UNSPC: 31211801 1.42 LB

Technorati Tags: spray paint, how to paint, how to match paint, painting accessories, spray painting at home, spray painting, painting

Well, you could plant some matching flowers in the flower beds, cut the lawn and trim the bushes in a neat way, edge the grass, freshen up the paint on the trim on the house put up new address numbers or address plaques.

All of these tasks are easy, quick and will make a great impact on the aesthetics and curb appeal of your home.

Okay, are you worried about installing those address plaques?

No need to worry!

How to Install Address Plaques:

1. If you’re installing a Wall Mounted Plaque, all you’ll need is a drill.

Typically, address plaques come with 2-3 holes to insert screws into the wall, brick or wood of your home. With a power drill, it’s a simple installation process - just be sure you use a measuring tape or leveler to make it even and level.

2. If you’re installing a Lawn Marker, all you’ll need is a hammer.

With lawn marker address plaques, there is the plaque and attached to it are 2 steaks to hammer into the ground. So, use a hammer to easily get the steaks into the ground. However, you may just be able to steak it using your own strength - it’s often that easy.

Now, you have a beautiful, polished look that will make it look like you might have worked a lot harder than you actually did.

Your home will now be easy to find for the postal service, food delivery cars and visitors.

I just love the upscale personalization on many address plaques available to today.

If you’re really “in the mood” for home improvements, check out these “historic” commemorative plaques:

Very neat! I want one!

***

I hope you enjoyed this House Exterior Improvements post on Your Handyman Today! Until next time…

Choose an Easy Project,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Be sure to Subscribe to Your Handyman Today Updates!

Technorati Tags: house exterior improvements, home improvements, handyman, how to install address plaques, address plaques, address numbers, lawn markers

Trying to save energy…Always feel like you need all the lights on to be able to type or work on your computer? Well, here is a great, cost-effective alternative…

Illuminated Keyboard Hack! - video powered by Metacafe

***

This can save you money and the headache of having all the lights on all the time!

I hope you enjoyed this Electrical post on Your Handyman Today! Until next time…

Happy Fixing,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Need a new keyboard altogether? Check out this great Apple keyboard:

Technorati Tags: handyman, hacking, fixing, LED, keyboard, keyboard light, lighting

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What Can A Handyman Do?
By Clive Carlton

A Handyman can do any number of jobs around your house that you might be to busy to do, or perhaps you don’t have the right tools to do the job or you don’t feel confident enough to do.

Here’s an idea of the sort of jobs that any Handyman should be able to do for you.

• Fix a dripping tap.
• Stop a floorboard creaking.
• Install a washing machine.
• Stop a door hinge from creaking.
• Fixing the flush mechanism on a toilet.
• Change a door lock.
• Install Fitted Kitchens.
• Putting together flat pack furniture.
• Making patios doors open smoothly.
• Painting doors and windows.
• Install light dimmer switches.
• Put up shelves.
• Hang pictures and paintings.

Generally they are the sort of jobs where you don’t need a skilled qualified professional. If the job that you need doing is any bigger or more involved than the examples shown above you can find a local professional by checking local online business directories.

If you have never used a Handyman before, make sure you get two or three quotes for the job. Alternatively see if your friends can recommend a Handyman.

Once you have used a local Handyman for two or three times you will be able to recommend him to your friends and family.

Clive Carlton writes for HandyExperts.co.uk. the quick way to find all the recommended tradesmen in you local area.

What can a Handyman do for you?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Can-A-Handyman-Do?&id=207074

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I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Your Handyman Today! Until next time…

Happy Fixing,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Tired of hiring people to work on things in your own home? Here is a guide to being your own Handyman! Check it out here:

Do-It-Yourself Handyman

Technorati Tags: handyman, handymen, gas installer, kitchen installer, DIY, handyperson, fix it yourself

Time to get started on this topic. Take a few moments to read every aspect of this paper hopefully it will be of great help.

You’ve decided to clean up your old clutter and generally get you house into some kind of shape. The problem which arises however, is not with the cleanup process but when you decide to take on the job of handyman as well.

But you have made up your mind, and to help you in your endeavors you are looking for some useful handyman hints and tips to get you through the next few trying days (or weeks!).

To that end you thirstily trawl through DIY magazines, you sit through almost an intact day of the DIY channel, and come up trumps. You have most of the handyman hints and tips that you need, and you know where to go if you need more.

So what were some of these handyman hints that you found to be of such use to you? Well, for starters you found out that one of the best cleaning methods if you need to work something involves a void cleaner. That’s right, a hoover cleaner.

All you need to do is to keep the vacuum nozzle near to where you’re slow (preferably soul is Keeping it for you), and watch as the junk gets sucked in. You will be left with only a small add up of vacuuming left to do.

Another of the great handyman hints that you learnt about was about Using soap to make it easier for you to twist a nail into anything. Just rub the nail threads in a bar of soap and watch as it practically slides in to surface.

To stop your saw from acquiring stuck so much while you are sawing away at something, you can rub a bit of candle wax on both sides of the saw to make it slide in and out smoother….please continue on our net site that is all about this topic and other related information for your interests…

Michael Malega presents several handyman hints articles for your information. You can visit Michael’s web site here handyman hints

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Malega

Technorati Tags: handyman hints, handyman, handywoman

This can be a very simple fix that you’ll learn by watching this short video. If you don’t take care of this problem it could cost you thousands of dollars in ceiling damage, find out why below!

Click below to play…

Hope you enjoyed the video.

To Your Immediate and Lasting Handyman Success,

Kenney Jr.

Technorati Tags: handyman, handyperson, how to fix a air conditioner condenser, handyman tips, handyman video

If you don’t have the time to spare for the handyman to work on the small tasks that you have on hand, you can try fixing the little things yourself when you have free time.

There are small tasks that you can do yourself without getting professional help. After all, handymen are not going to do work for free. Why not try your hand at those small jobs? There are many tips and tricks to do some of the jobs.

Nailing small nails is not an easy task as you may find it difficult to hold them in your hands. An easy way to hold them is to place them between the teeth of the combs. If you want to sharpen the razor blades you can use the striker on the matchbook. Duct tape can be used in a variety of ways.

You can even seal the pipes using such. Torn greenhouses can be repaired with duct tapes. Do you want sandpaper to last longer? Then you can wet the back of the sandpaper and wrap it around a wooden block. It will work better this way.

Sometimes you may have difficulty in opening the drawers of your dressers and other tables. In such scenarios you can apply candle wax on the runner side of the drawers. Try this method and you will have no difficulty opening them. There are times that you may find that the screws in the wall are loose. If you find such screws, you can insert the stick of the wooden match or a toothpick in the hold and then screw it.

Now it will be tight enough. Is your closet damp most of the time? You can use charcoal to control the moisture in your closet. All you have to do is to put some charcoal in a can and place it in a corner. Or close the can and punch some holes in it. The charcoal will absorb the moisture. There are many such tips to solve small problems around the house available on various Web sites.

Handyman provides detailed information on Handyman, Handyman Services, Starting A Handyman Business, Handyman Tips and more. Handyman is affiliated with Home Remodeling.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough
http://EzineArticles.com/?Handyman-Tips&id=276257

Technorati Tags: handyman, handymen, handyperson, handyman tips,

If you’re new to the house flipping game, you’ve probably debated whether or not to hire a handyman to help with labor and expertise. You only have so much time, energy, and money, so that debate can be a long and intense one.

Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of hiring someone to help you flip your houses.

First, of course, if you do the work yourself, you’ll be saving that expense. However, if you have a regular job, that means working long nights and weekends to get the home ready to flip.

It will also take much longer than if you had someone else work on it fulltime, which means your profits will take longer to come back to you. Another consideration is your hourly pay rate. If you make more than handyman wages, it might pay you to work extra hours on your job. Also, the longer you hold the property, the more payments and expenses you incur.

If you choose well, a handyman’s expertise can be invaluable to you, because they’ll know much more about how to tackle the various aspects of remodeling than you will, and their skills will generally be less expensive than subcontracting a number of individual contractors.

However, finding someone with that kind of skill level can sometimes be difficult. If possible, try to hire someone who has worked for another investor on a similar project. Since there are many people who flip houses, you’ll find that there’s a qualified workforce out there that you can tap in to.

Ask other investors for references. The more you know about a person’s skill level and work ethic, the fewer problems you’ll encounter. However, if you’re forced to hire someone you don’t know, here’s a tip:

…always give them a small project to complete, just to see what kind of work they do, how timely it’s completed, and if the project came in on budget. If you’re satisfied with the results of their test project, you can then give them more work.

If you’re not, send them packing.

Hiring a handyman can save you money, time, and heartache in the long run–if you choose wisely and stay on top of the remodeling project every day. On the flip side, we get a lot of personal satisfaction from the work we do ourselves (and I think I paint better and faster).

The important thing about fixing and flipping houses–have fun improving neighborhoods and helping people.

Take a look at our fixer featured on TLC’s Flip That House.
The Habitat for Humanity project was infused with love from faux artists.

Copyright © 2007 Jeanette Fisher

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Joy_Fisher

Technorati Tags: handyman, should i hire a handyman, handyperson, subcontractor

My name is Dan Dodd. I am a successful Handyman / Carpenter / Contractor.

Several years ago I said “Goodbye” to a secure middle management job with a major corporation. I got tired of seventy-hour work weeks. I got tired of reporting to three bosses. I got tired of managing sixty people. I got really tired of never seeing my family and being preoccupied with work when I did, SO I QUIT.

JUST WHAT DO YOU DO?

When I first entered the Handy Man business, I was willing to do any small odd job from blowing leaves to caulking tubs. I let my skill areas and requests from customers define the business. I was starting from ground zero with no customers, few tools, a little experience and a lot of motivation. I took a shotgun approach to developing new business and customers because I had no real idea where my real niche was.

As you sit down to begin putting this new enterprise together it will do you a world of good to form a very specific idea of just what it is that you will be offering to the buying public and why they will want to buy it from you.

HERE ARE SOME TRIED AND TRUE IDEAS TO HELPYOU ALONG:

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS FULL OF SPECIALTIES.

Most construction people you meet will call themselves carpenters, plumbers, electricians, builders, remodelers and so on. While some of these specialties are indeed very broad, and many of these folks regularly branch out of them, most construction people seem to be interested in practicing a particular trade in a particular way. The bulk of these guys gravitate towards new construction during the good times and the unemployment line in bad times. Framers will
gravitate to 2x lumber, painters to paint, finish carpenters to the pile of trim in the corner and on and on. With the exception of a very hardy group of remodelers who tend to have more general skills than most, you will find this to be true.

MOST CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE WANT TO WORK BIG JOBS.

When the industry is up, there can be a decent amount of money to be made in most trades and a lot of money to be made for builders and developers.

The mindset of the industry is, very generally, that the larger the job, the more profit there is to be made. So most folks will do their level best to attract and sell the biggest jobs they can handle. Most tradespeople are not interested in branching out very far from their given trade. Most tradespeople are not at all interested in working their trade as a very small part of a very small job. Most have been trained to work their trades in terms of complete jobs and the little stuff just doesn’t seem to be worth the time and effort.

THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER WITH A SMALL JOB TO DO NEEDS THE HANDYMAN SERVICE TO EXPERTLY PERFORM SMALL QUANTITIES OF MANY DIFFERENT TRADES.

It just doesn’t make economic sense for the customer or a General Contractor to use a system of crews and subcontractors which is designed to service large projects to complete comparatively small multi-trade projects. Your Handyman business is designed specifically to service this market, the jobs which otherwise would fall through the cracks.

What you bring to the customers who are unable to get serviced by a general contractor or a large group of subcontractors is this:

1. Diverse skills - You supply the knowledge to perform each
UNLICENSED function from beginning to end.

2. Your own group of subcontractors - Electrician, Plumber, HVAC, etc.

3. Low Overhead

4. Personal trade participation in the project.

THE BUYING PUBLIC WILL BUY FROM YOU BECAUSE:

1. You can professionally complete a wide variety of jobs that others cannot or will not do.

2. You can diagnose and solve home repair/improvement/remodeling problems over a range of disciplines.

3. They can receive a full range of services from one phone call, to you.

The actual scope of the services you will provide will obviously be determined by your basic construction skills, your ability to learn new skills and the actual needs of your customers.

Over the years I developed a very diverse knowledge of the THEORY behind construction systems, the materials which are available to build, repair or remodel residential structures, and the specific methods which can be used to solve particular categories of problems. As a result, I can step into the ring in just about anyone’s bullfight.

You must take an honest look at your real skills If you have a background in a particular trade, evaluate your ability to branch out. If you have been a full service remodeler running projects from beginning to end, sit down and hash out those functions you are particularly good at as well as those you need to brush up on. Look at those trades you normally sub out like sheet rock or painting. Are you as good in their trade as they are? If you are not, you could be. IF YOU WANT TO BE YOU SHALL BE.

For now, as you think about hanging out your shingle as a Handyman, THINK ABOUT OFFERING INDIVIDUAL SERVICES FOR WHICH YOU ALREADY HAVE THE SKILLS. Pull together all the resources you can to learn every single skill you possibly can to get you through what your customer asks you to do.

About the Author: Dan Dodd has been successful Handyman

since the 1990s For more about starting your own handy man

(or woman’s) business visit http://www.handyman101guide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Brachear

To Your Immediate and Lasting Success,

Kenney Jr.
Blog-n-Butter
Director

Technorati Tags: handyman, handperson, start your own handy man business, how to strat your own handyman business, handyman business opportunity