Stephen Alberts

Oct 29 2022

Five Surprising Things That Might Damage Your Home’s Foundation

We put together a list of five factors to get in front of to prevent problems with your foundation. Check it out!

Five Enemies of Foundation

Overwatering

When there’s too much water in the soil, the soil expands, and that expansion puts pressure on the foundation and can damage the concrete. So before you turn on the hose, check the forecast to make sure no rain is on the way.

Poor Pool Installation

Whether your pool is inside or outside, poor installation can lead to water leakage. That water will seep into the soil surrounding your foundation and put too much pressure on it, causing cracks. Moreover, when that water evaporates, the soil will deflate—and that can cause cracks too.

Tree Root Takeover

Tree roots themselves are not to blame; it’s what they do to the soil that is problematic. When tree roots dry and shrivel the soil due to overgrowth or transpiration, the structure of your home will inevitably shift. To prevent the roots from sapping water from the soil, make sure they’re watered and inspected regularly.

Plumbing Problems

Plumbing leaks can be hard to detect—that is, until you start noticing structural issues. If there’s a problem with the main line or you’ve got a substantial leak seeping into the soil around your home, your foundation could shift.

Remodeling Mishaps

Some remodeling projects, when completed by an amateur, can shift the balance of your house and make the foundation move. This could damage the concrete, so always make sure to contact a professional for big jobs.

Get in touch with One Man & A Toolbox for more advice on how to keep your home structurally sound.

Oct 17 2022

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Repair or Replace Your Drywall Panels

Drywall may not catch your eye as you move throughout your everyday life, but you’ll definitely start to notice if it gets damaged.

Repair or Replace Drywall ASAP

If your drywall gets damaged, it can cause serious issues that may spread. These issues can impact your wallet and your comfort level over time.

Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t wait to repair or completely replace damaged drywall:

Heat can sneak out from the cracks or holes in your ceiling. Because of the compromised quality, your HVAC system will have to work harder and therefore rack up your utility bill.
When your drywall is intact, it will lessen the sound that travels between rooms. If it’s damaged, you may notice every little creak or whisper from one room over.
Holes or cracks in your drywall can make tempting tunnels for rodents and insect pests. They will gladly enter your home and make it a lot less sanitary than before. It’s imperative to eliminate their access points as soon as you notice them.
Drywall is made of anti-inflammatory materials. If it’s compromised, it may be easier for your home to catch on fire, or for the fire to spread rapidly.
When you get your drywall fixed by One Man & A Toolbox, it gives us a chance to peek inside your walls—and that’s when we might notice wood rot or water damage. While damage is never good news, it’s better to be aware and do something about it than remain oblivious.

Potential Damage

So, what exactly can go wrong with drywall? Here is the most common damage that drywall can sustain:

It can wear down over time—get your drywall inspected if it’s over five to ten years old.
Water is detrimental for drywall. Even a small leak can cause substantial damage.
Mold and mildew can make a home in your drywall and exacerbate allergies and other serious health problems if it escalates to an infestation level.

Top Three Maintenance Services to Keep Your Deck in Great Shape

Your deck is where you and your family spend tons of time in the fall, summer, and spring. It’s a great asset to your yard, and its looks can make or break the aesthetic of your entire home.

No one likes the look of a deck that’s falling into disrepair, but sadly it’s much too easy to allow as much to happen at your own home.

We get it. It can be hard to find time, and maintaining your deck is a big undertaking. But it helps to know where to start. In this article, you’ll find three simple services that will keep your deck in great shape.

Three Maintenance Services

Here are three tips to keep your deck preserved and protected:

Clean and maintain

To preserve your deck in the best way possible, you’ve got to clean it and maintain it. You can always pressure-wash it yourself, but to make sure you get the best result possible, get in touch with us at One Man & A Toolbox. We’ll hook you up with our premier pressure-washing services!

If your wooden deck has seen better days, you might need to clean it or strip it. If it’s uncoated, we recommend cleaning it (gently!) with specific cleaners used to break down mold, mildew, and other bacteria. If you don’t clean this gunk off, your stain and varnish won’t stick.

Protect with sealant

After you’ve thoroughly pressure washed your deck, it’s time to seal it with a clear, water-repellent sealer, toner, or wood preservative. This type of stain will keep your wood from warping, breaking, and sustaining UV damage. Most importantly, it will prevent rot, decay, and fungus/insect attacks caused by water absorption that will break down and ruin your deck.

Finish it off with stain

Staining is another way that you can protect your deck from UV and water damage. There are a few different types of stain you can use, depending on your preferences. These include

deck paint/solid-color deck stain,
clear deck sealants,
transparent deck stain, and
semitransparent deck stain

Deck Care and Upkeep

Preserving and protecting your deck doesn’t have to be a chore. If you want the job done quickly and correctly, call us at One Man & A Toolbox today!

Sep 27 2022

DIY vs. Hiring a Handyman

While there’s plenty of benefits that come with doing home repairs yourself, there are benefits to hiring a professional as well.

Questions to Ask

Here are a few questions that will help you decide whether you should DIY or hire a handyman.

Will this task affect my safety?

DIY jobs should never be life threatening. If what you’re looking to tackle is a big task, start off by imagining the worst-case scenario should you complete the task incorrectly. If the worst case involves harm to you and your family, it’s smarter to call a handyman.

Does the task require a permit?

A building permit is documentation that states that construction activities were done correctly and that the building is up to code. If you are confident in your skills and know that you can complete the job safely, there’s nothing wrong with applying for a permit to do it yourself.

Here’s a hint: Never start a job that needs a permit without applying for one first. If you do this, you could face some serious fines and difficulty selling your house down the road.

What’s the scope of the job?

Writing down the scope of the tasks will help you visualize the job as a whole, from beginning to end. After you write down the process, list the building materials and tool costs and how much time it will take. After you have an idea of the scope, it’ll be easier to determine whether you can handle it on your own or if you need to call a pro.

Do you have the time?

These tasks are what handymen do for a living, and most homeowners are “weekend warriors” that concentrate on repair projects when they have time, which is usually just on the weekends. If you’re willing to commit a good chunk of time, you can move forward with the job. If you’d rather it done at a quicker rate, you should probably hire a handyman.

The Choice Is Up to You

These questions are here to help you come to a conclusion because at the end of the day, the choice is yours. To get a quote from One Man & A Toolbox on your home repair project, contact us today.

Sep 14 2022

When Should I Consider Hiring a Handyman?

When your home needs work, it’s not always easy to know who to call. Some jobs don’t call for a general contractor, plumber, or electrician—instead, they need someone who can do it all: the handyman.

The question is, when should you consider hiring a handyman?

Factors to Consider

As you’re deciding whether or not to hire a handyman, take these factors into consideration:

Size/scope of the job.

If you’ve got a few minor repairs or general maintenance on your to-do list, hiring a handyman is a great choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking at major renovations or projects that are more technical, a contractor is probably the better choice.

Here is some work that should be left to a contractor or specialist:

major building or remodeling
home additions
window replacements
major plumbing, electrical, or HVAC repairs or replacements
foundation work
landscaping construction or remodeling
cabinet refinishing

Now that you know what should be left to contractors, here are some jobs that you can entrust to a handyman:

minor carpentry, electrical, or plumbing
door, window, and lock repair
recaulking of tub and sink
gutter cleaning
drywall repair
bathroom fan installation
tile and grout repair
wood rot removal
deck and fence repair
power washing
accessibility improvements to ramps and railings

Price

A capable handyman will always be less expensive than a licensed contractor, but that doesn’t mean their skills are any lesser. But while this is true, it’s important to note that financial restrictions may impede your handyman from going through with everything that you need done—so be up front with what you can pay.

Personality

What’s great about hiring a handyman is the fact that they pride themselves in being personable, and this is something you can get a gauge on when you first meet.

If you value someone who can explain things clearly and is direct, transparent, and specific about what they can do, you should call a handyman—that is, if your job is the right size for them.

Our Services

At One Man & A Toolbox, we always put our community first. To find out all the ways in which we can work for you, get in touch with us today.