Uncategorized

Feb 17 2023

Eight Qualities to Look for in a Trusted Handyman

Handymen wear many figurative hats. They can complete all sorts of jobs in your house—but in order to make sure you’re staying safe and getting the most out of your experience, it’s important to look for a handful of positive traits in the man or woman that you hire.

One Man & A Toolbox compiled eight qualities every good handyman has, so you know what to keep an eye out for when hiring someone.

1. They’re skilled at what they do.

It’s a no-brainer that your handyman should have the right skills. They should be able to troubleshoot the issues you’re having, understand repairs, and know their way around everyday maintenance. They should have experience and knowledge that allows you to place your confidence in them.

2. They’re certified.

It’s always wise to check if your handyman is a part of the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals before they start. Those who are certified are guaranteed to have the expertise you’re looking for, and they went the extra mile to get the certification that proves it.

3. They’re insured.

Never hire a handyman who works without insurance. Such insurance protects the handyman if they get injured on your property due to an accident.

4. They’re responsive and conscientious.

A good handyman is responsive to your inquiries, conscientious of your time, and available whenever you need them—within reason, of course. Before you get started, develop a timeframe of the project so you and your handyman can get on the same page.

5. They’re clean and tidy.

A respectful handyman understands that the house they’re working in is not their own. When they leave, they’ll make sure your home is spotless, with no smears on the floor, scratches on the wall, or dents in the furniture. They should also pack up all their tools and equipment back into the right places and throw away all garbage they created on site.

6. They’re honest.

While handymen are skilled in quite a few areas, not everyone is a carpenter, electrician, and plumber all at once. If you’re requesting a job that your handyman can’t do—or can’t do well—they should be honest about their capabilities, then recommend someone who can better assist you.

7. They’re reliable.

You want to hire someone who you feel comfortable allowing inside your home. They should be on time every day, ready to discuss deadlines and your needs. They should be honest, friendly, and trustworthy—and reliable and consistent above all else.

8. They put safety first.

Safety should be your handyman’s first priority. They should be equipped with gloves, goggles, knee pads, dust respirators, and a safety hat, and before they get started, they should check that the space has proper clearance, ventilation, and lighting.

Finding the Best Handyman

Looking for a handyman doesn’t have to be a chore. We make it extra easy at One Man & A Toolbox, as we’re proud to admit that our team of skilled professionals holds all of these great traits. To request service from us, click here and we’ll be in touch.

Feb 13 2023

Five Most Practical Home Improvement Ideas for Your Alabama Home

We put this article together in order to highlight five of the most practical home improvement ideas that won’t just improve, but positively transform your life too.

Practical home improvement ideas make the most sense. After all, you want to do something that (a) will last, (b) isn’t a passing trend, and (c) might help sell your home down the road.

With that in mind, we put together this list of home improvements for your Alabama home that will serve you for years to come.

1. A fresh coat of paint

Painting is great because it doesn’t cost much, and it can do a world of good. Whether you’re repairing your kitchen or your front door, a new pop of color is sure to make a positive impact on your home.

2. Bathroom updates

Much like a coat of paint, bathroom updates provide significant returns. This is one of the best home improvement choices for your Alabama home as long as you choose classy designs over trendy ones—you don’t want to repeat this same process a year from now if something goes out of style.

One Man & A Toolbox can help with replacing your tub, sinks, and toilet—or if you like what you already have, we can restore them to look as good as the day you first had them installed.

3. Installing central air

We live in Alabama. Here it gets hotter than hot, and installing central air is something you’ll never regret doing. It’s one of the most practical home improvement ideas because it won’t just keep your family comfortable during those sweltering months, it’ll also keep you safe from heat-related health issues.

Another positive: central air is known for being more energy efficient than window units, and in the grand scheme of things, it’s actually less expensive to run.

4. Window replacements

If you’re installing central air, you might as well replace your windows too. Did you know that if you’re noticing higher-than-usual energy bills, drafty windows might be to blame? That cool air might be sneaking out through tiny cracks and gaps, and window replacements can make sure that stops happening.

5. Update your lighting

Be strategic with your lighting, and you can make any room look bigger. Instead of those old light fixtures, invest in new, modern lamps with energy-efficient bulbs, and match them with your decor to create a cohesive, stylish look.

If you want to brighten up mealtimes and bring some personality to the dining room, hang a fresh fixture over the dining room table.

Fixing Up Your Alabama Home

At One Man & A Toolbox, it’s our goal to transform your Alabama home into the best version of itself—and we can make that happen with these five practical home improvement ideas.

Which idea could your home use? Request our service today, and we’ll get started ASAP!

Jan 31 2023

Six Simple Lawncare Tips to Keep Your Grass Healthy throughout the Year

Your yard is most often the first thing that people see of your home—and it should make a great first impression! A beautiful lawn makes your home more inviting and also provides a great space to hang out with family and friends.

At One Man & A Toolbox, we want to help keep your lawn in tip-top shape. Use these six tips to do just that!

1. Mow your grass

A beautiful lawn is a mowed lawn. Don’t let the elements take back your yard; instead, keep it trimmed and pristine. But before you rev up the mower, make sure you’ve maintained your blade so you cut the grass to the correct length.

2. Maintain your mower blade

If your mower blade is dull, you might not be cutting the grass at all. In fact, you might be pulling it right out of the ground and therefore creating a great place for pests and fungi to hide! Before you mow, sharpen your mower blade with a file.

3. Understand your grass height

It might be tempting to mow your grass as short as possible in order to put off the next round of mowing, but this may cause sun damage and create a playground for pests. Different types of grasses have their own special needs, so do your research on the type of grass you have in your yard and about the ideal height you should keep it at throughout the year.

4. Water by season

If you keep your sprinkler on the same setting all year long, your grass will suffer. On average, your grass needs about 1–1.5 inches of water per week, so take the weather into account and spread your watering schedule out over those seven days.

Tip: if a six-inch screwdriver can go easily into the ground, then the soil is at a perfect water level.

5. Check the water level

Keep in mind that every sprinkler system is different, so 1.5 inches won’t look the same for each type used. To get an idea of this level, place a rain gauge out in the yard and time how long it takes to reach 0.5 inches. Then you’ll know how long to run the sprinkler each day.

6. Eliminate pests naturally

If there are still brown spots in your lawn after the sun has been out and you’ve been watering correctly, you might have an issue with pests. Surface pests and grubs will often eat the grass, and then their presence attracts raccoons, skunks, and other animals that like to eat them. Many pests will be buried in a layer of dead grass and dirt, so it might be hard to figure out what kind is causing your issue.

Call One Man & A Toolbox for help in that department!

Keeping Your Lawn Lovely

Your lawn is your home’s crowning glory, and we can help you make sure it looks its best. Give One Man & A Toolbox a call today us to request service on your lawn.

Jan 21 2023

Five Surprising Things That Might Be Damaging Your Home’s Foundation

Most foundational problems are caused by water. Whether there’s too much water, not enough, or the water is causing soil erosion, your foundation is sure to suffer.

The integrity of your home as a whole depends on the integrity of the foundation, which means you should make sure that you’ve got a sturdy layer underneath you.

5 Surprising Things

In this article, we’ll go over five surprising things that could damage your home’s foundation so that you know what to watch for.

Too much water

If there’s too much water in the soil, it will expand and place pressure on the foundation, which will crack the concrete. It even has the potential to crack your floors, ceilings, and walls. In extreme cases, you might even notice your floors beginning to slope.

Be mindful of the weather and make sure to keep your sprinkler off if there’s a few days’ worth of storms coming in. The extra water may come from other sources too, like leaks in the plumbing or broken sewer lines.

Not Enough Water

When soil doesn’t get enough water, it will dry out and shrink. This makes it pull away from the foundation, and when soil does that, the foundation grows more unstable, and it’s inclined to shift. When the foundation shifts, you’ll start to see those cracks we talked about in the last point. You might even notice problems when you try to open your doors and windows.

Tree roots

Schedule a regular inspection for your tree roots because overgrowth and water transpiration from the soil can cause the ground to become dehydrated. When the ground is dehydrated (you can refer back to our last point), the soil will settle and shift and cause major structural damage.

Poor construction

Maybe the contractor who built your home didn’t follow all the proper building codes when they did their work. They may have cut corners to reduce operating costs, which can put your foundation in a world of hurt. If they used insufficient steel and substandard concrete, you may notice your foundation beginning to shift. To avoid this, hire a contractor that you trust.

Poor pool installation

Poor installation of a pool—indoors or outdoors—can cause water to seep into the soil around the foundation. Once the soil absorbs the water, it will put pressure on your foundation. Then, when it evaporates again, the soil will deflate and may cause the concrete to crack. If you’re getting a pool installed, talk things over with your contractor to see what they can do to keep this from happening.

Keeping Foundation Strong

As you can see, there are many factors that can affect your foundation. If you’ve got a problem with your home’s foundation or you’d like to prevent one from happening, One Man & A Toolbox is the expert to call. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Jan 17 2023

Eight Important Factors to Consider When Buying Hedges in Alabama

If you’re considering buying hedges for your property, no matter what the reason may be for those hedges, there are a few factors to consider before jumping into the project.

There are many uses for hedges in Alabama. They can be used to create boundaries, optimize architecture, deter intruders, or provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

Eight Important Factors

There are eight factors that you should consider to ensure that you make the wisest investment possible when buying a hedge in Alabama. Here are those eight factors:

Maintenance

Your new hedge will require consistent maintenance in order for it to remain classy and attractive. Every type of hedge needs trimming at least once a year—and many need trimming more often than that.

Growth time

Some hedges grow faster than others, so take that into account as you choose what type to buy. If you’re using your hedge to create a windbreak, you might need to use a temporary screen of fine netting or windbreak material to create a sense of privacy as the hedge is growing.

Growth rate

Make sure your hedge won’t get too big for the space you put it in. If it does, it could cause damage to structures and other plants surrounding. Choose the right type of hedge that fits in your chosen spot and doesn’t have potential to overgrow.

Features

Consider the reason why you want a hedge, and from there choose the features you’d like to see on it. These can include leaf color, flower, fruit, prickles, wind tolerance, and salt tolerance.

Neighbors

If you plan on using your hedge as a boundary, make sure to discuss its maintenance requirements with your neighbors before placing it. Every side of a hedge must be trimmed in order for it to be properly maintained, and that might not be possible for you to do if one side is in your neighbor’s yard.

Local rules

Some neighborhoods in Alabama will have rules regarding what types of plants you’re allowed to place. Before choosing a hedge, consult your homeowners association or check with your local ordinances.

Conditions

Before buying a hedge, you’ll need to consider the soil type, climate, and the site that the hedge will grow in and figure out which type will best tolerate the present conditions. Take a walk around your neighborhood to see what your neighbors have growing to get a good idea of how to help your new hedge thrive.

Budget

There are plenty of options available when you’re looking into buying hedging plants that range from low budgets to high ones.

Buying a Hedge in Alabama

Hedges are a great addition to your garden or yard in Alabama. If you need help planting yours, or if you’d like to discuss the process of buying them, get in touch with One Man & A Toolbox today.