The Ultimate Handyman » The Ultimate Handyman

Construction Mishaps and why you should hire professionals

Handyman — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:40:19 +0000

Here at the Ultimate Handyman, we pride ourselves on professionalism when it comes to construction projects. Here is a video on what happens when you use unskilled labor or unlicensed contractors to complete your construction, maintenance and home improvement projects.

So do yourself a favor, hire only professional and licensed contractors to do the work. If you have a construction, maintenance, or home improvement project and need to hire a professional, give us a call at 323-651-0635 or via email. You can also check us out on the web

Visit The Ultimate handyman

Handyman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:11:14 +0000

For more information on our services and what we can do, check out The Ultimate Handyman’s main website:

www.ultimate-handyman.com

A Construction and Maintenance Company

Los Angeles, California 90069

(323) 651-0635

projects@ultimatehandyman.com

How to Unclog a Sink Using a Drain Snake

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:01:32 +0000

here you can see how to use a snake to clear out a clogged drain.

If you need help with your plumbing or if you have a plumbing problem, feel free to call us at (323) 651-0635 or email us for more information. You can also check our website for our rates, and services. We fix all kinds of plumbing issues from clogs to new construction, to complete rebuilds.

Bathroom Remodeling for the Do it Yourselfer

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:41:12 +0000

A decent video on remodeling your bathroom

Need a bathroom remodel done? The Ultimate Handyman can help. Just give us a call at 323-651-0635 or email us.

Do It Yourself Kitchen Cabinet Construction

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:35:14 +0000

Here is a neat little video on Constructing your very own kitchen cabinets.

Need some custom cabinets made? The Ultimate Handyman can help. Just give us a call at 323-651-0635 or email us.

Natural Stones Can Add Elegance To Any Landscaping

admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:07:58 +0000

Stone compliments any landscape

A very popular trend in landscape design is the use of stone to add character and definition to an outdoor space. The growing popularity of natural stone landscaping is due to the fact that stones fit the look of most homes. It works well on both formal and informal landscape designs. Besides, when it comes to landscaping, stones can be used to frame a pond, facade a house front, facade an outdoor fireplace, line walkways and patios, facade stone columns, edge a garden bed, face retaining walls, and create outdoor living spaces or rooms.

Why use Landscaping Stones?

Landscaping with stone is only limited to your imagination

Natural stone landscaping is useful not only to enhance walkways and similar areas but also to beautify other features in the landscape such as ponds, waterfalls, retaining walls and many others. Natural Stone lends itself to many practical and architectural uses. With a little creativity and thought, many home owners can come up with many more uses for stone landscaping.

If you are planning on designing a new outdoor space, creating curb appeal on a new home, then natural landscaping stone can provide you with long lasting and durable design with a touch of class. The most common types of stone applications are usually skirting facades on the fronts of homes or stepping stone walkways.

A carefully placed boulder in a garden or landscape can add interest, while carefully selected stones can be utilized to create outdoor rooms and living spaces.

Retaining walls can be a significant addition to any garden. While they do have their practical purposes such as garden beds or preventing soil erosion, they also add interest to a garden or landscape and appeal to most home fronts. They can also be used around ponds or to elevate patios and outdoor rooms.

Fireplaces make any outdoor space warm and inviting. They can be a wonderful backdrop for dinner parties, or romantic evenings with the family. Thin stone veneer made from natural stone comes in a wide variety of styles and colors and can be applied to the fireplace stone exterior to add that touch of class and elegance.

Patios and outdoor rooms can be transformed into warm and inviting living spaces to enjoy your morning cup of tea or simply relax on holidays.

Choosing the right stones for landscaping

There are many types of stones to choose from that are available in a wide variety of colors, textures, shapes, and purposes that can suit any outdoor need. The key is to choose from the wide variety of natural stones the ones will suit the specific style of your home and landscape. And when it comes to quality and great pricing, Olympicstone is the name you can trust. The company offers a unique collection of natural stones and other outdoor decorating services for your residential, commercial or industrial exterior.

Need someone to install landscaping stones? The Ultimate Handyman can help! We do custom stone installations and landcaping. Just give us a call at (323) 651-0635 or email us.

You can also check us out on the web at:

www.ultimate-handyman.com

Heating and Cooling System Maintenance

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:27:29 +0000

Air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps also known as HVAC, help regulate the temperature in your home and make it more comfortable. To ensure that your heating and cooling systems remain effective and efficient, regular maintenance is needed. Preventative checkups may also prolong the life of your systems. Maintenance requirements vary depending on the type of system, so it is best to consult your owner s manual.

General suggested maintenance includes:

Inspecting air filters monthly during seasons of peak use and replacing or cleaning dirty filters.
Checking for disconnected or crushed ductwork. Disconnected ducts can result in heated/cooled air being distributed outside or in areas of the house where it is not needed. Crushed ducts restrict airflow and reduce system efficiency.
Sealing duct leaks and insulating ducts to reduce energy loss.
Clearing away weeds and debris around outside air-conditioning or heat pump units. Air should circulate freely around the unit.
Hiring a professional heating and air-conditioning technician to inspect your home’s heating and cooling systems for proper functioning prior to the season of use (that is, air-conditioning should be inspected in the spring, and furnace should be checked in the fall).

Choosing a new heating or cooling system can be daunting. However, by doing your homework and talking to licensed heating and cooling professionals, upgrading cooling and heating systems can make your home more comfortable and reduce energy costs.

Tips to remember when purchasing a new system:

If your heating or cooling system is 15 years or older, purchasing new equipment may be more energy-efficient and save money over the long run.
The type of system you choose will depend on the local climate, size of the home, the amount of home insulation, and the heating/cooling usage patterns.
Look for systems that carry the ENERGY STAR label.
Air-conditioning units are rated by their seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER). The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. A unit is considered high efficiency when its SEER ratio is 13 or greater.
Furnaces are rated by annual fuel-utilization efficiency (AFUE). High-efficiency units have AFUE ratings above 90 percent.
If choosing an air-source heat pump, which combines cooling and heating, look for one with a SEER of 13 or greater and a heating season performance factor (HSPF) of 7 or greater.

Need someone to check out your HVAC unit? The Ultimate Handyman can help! We do repairs and maintenance on your exisitng HVAC units and we also do new installations. Just give us a call at (323) 651-0635 or email us.

You can also check us out on the web at:

www.ultimate-handyman.com

Spring Maintenance Tips for Your Home

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:19:32 +0000

Spring tips

Replace your furnace filter
Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter
Check your electrical system
Always have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible.
Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage
Review your fire escape plan with your family
Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home
Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning
Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer
Check for damage to your roof
Run through a severe-weather drill with your family
Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface
Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses
Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration
Check your water heater
Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function
Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer
Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged
Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Replace or clean your furnace filter.

It should be checked once a month and replaced or cleaned as needed. Some filters are reusable and are supposed to be taken out, washed with a hose and re-inserted. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency of the heating/cooling system, increase heating costs and cause fires.

Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stovetop fire from spreading.

Check your electrical system.

Look for burn marks at the main electrical panel; they can be a sign of arcing inside the panel, which can easily lead to a fire. Loose connections or damaged insulation can cause the arcing. Note: Only a qualified electrician should remove the front panel cover.
Trip and reset the circuit breakers regularly.
Remove any combustible materials such as paper boxes or flammable liquids from the area near the main electrical panel. Sparks caused by arcing inside the panel can ignite material stored nearby.
Check all electrical outlets for loose-fitting plugs they are an indication of a worn out receptacle. Worn receptacles should be replaced as they cause overheating and fires. Also check electrical outlets and switches to be sure they work properly. If any switches, outlets or receptacles do not work, have a qualified electrician determine the problem and fix it to avoid fires inside the walls of your home.
Install safety covers to help protect children from electrical shock. Any appliance or tool that gives even the slightest shock should be unplugged and checked by an electrician or repair shop.

Always have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible.

Make sure it is Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed or Factory Mutual (FM) approved. Check the gauges to make sure they are charged and ready to use.

Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage

The light fixture manufacturer recommends the correct wattage. If too high a wattage bulb is used in a light fixture, heat produced inside the fixture can lead to fire inside the fixture, ceiling or wall.

Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home.

Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning.

Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer.

Maintenance should include:

Cleaning the evaporator coil
Lubricating fans and motors
Tightening or changing the belts
Checking electrical safeties
Checking the drain pan for leaks
Testing the capacitors
Check the condensate drain
Test the crankcase heater
Calibrating the thermostat
Visually checking the wiring for potential short circuits

These steps can help decrease the chance of fire, save money by making the system run more efficiently and help prevent breakdowns.

Things you can maintain:

Check the condensate hose to be sure it is not blocked with algae.
Clean the outside condensing unit screen of leaves.
Listen for unusual noises.

Check for damage to your roof

Signs include missing, curling, cupping, broken or cracked shingles. Pooling or ponds of water that fail to drain from flat roofs may indicate low areas and inadequate drainage.

Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface.

This will help prevent guests and family members from slipping, tripping or falling.

Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses

Check all the fascia and trim for deterioration.

These areas can become weathered and worn and may lead to potential water damage.

Check your water heater.

If you have a gas-fired water heater, check to make sure it is venting properly. Light a match next to the vent and wave it out (don’t blow it out). See if the smoke is pulled up into the vent. If it isn’t, have a professional inspect and repair it. Otherwise, carbon monoxide and other combustibles can build up in the home.
Check around the base of your water heater for evidence of leaks. If your water heater is over 5 years old, it should be checked monthly for any leakage or rusting at the bottom. If water leakage or rust is found, the water heater should be replaced.

Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function.

Know the location of all valves and what equipment and water lines they serve. Teach all family members.

Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.

Poor maintenance allows lint to build up in the exhaust duct and cause fire.

Replace all extension cords that have become brittle, worn or damaged.

Exposed wires may cause arcing, which will produce heat and can start a fire. Care should also be taken to keep appliances and their power cords away from water or a heat source because this will damage the cord’s insulation.

Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Need some help with Spring Maintenance? The Ultimate Handyman can help! Just give is a call at (323) 651-0635

email us!

Check us out on the web at: www.ultimate-handyman.com

How Home Security Lighting Can Help Secure Your Home

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:56:25 +0000

Home Security Lighting is often overlooked as one of the most important aspects of home and house security. The major benefit that home security lighting has is that it helps to prevent and not just protect against intruders and vandals. Not only is this there this but also the advantage of protecting the homeowner against anybody who may be lurking on the property when getting to the premises at night. In this day and age with a bad economy, Thieves are looking even harder for ways to break in and steal.

The home security lighting that is used on the property can vary and when implemented should consider the neighboring property and homeowners. It is imperative that the lighting used is not too bright and does not illuminate over to other peoples boundaries causing complaints. There are on the market today many different types of security lighting available, some of the products that are available include porch lighting, halogen floodlights, infra red detection lights and motion sensor lighting.

The Porch lighting is a popular form of security lighting and is the preferred choice for many households. The basics behind the lighting is it provides a permanent source of light at very low wattage, usually the lighting is controlled with a light detector so will automatically come on and off from dawn to dusk periods. This is an essential element of the product; you can still obtain manual light switches however the automatic ones offer the protection for your property when you are away from home on business or vacations.

Another form of home security lighting that is becoming more popular with home owners are the halogen floodlights. The basis behind these is they are tripped by motion detection, for example if an intruder was in your back garden then the lighting would be activated along the boundary of your property when any movement occurred. The light levels from this form of security lighting needs to be no more than 150 watts, if the light is any brighter then this can cause blind spots from the glare of the light. These lights also use PIR sensors, these stop the lighting being tripped by animals or birds during the night. It is very important that the lighting is configured correctly and is not illuminating any of your neighbors’ gardens or homes. Usually these products will have a range of around 8 – 10 meters from the light to activation and will be triggered either by infra red motion detection or body heat sensor detection.

Pricing of these products are in today’s market are very competitive and you should be able to obtain a suitable product for reasonable prices. The PIR style lights and traditional floodlights come in at very similar price levels so you can base your decision on what best suites your needs. The highlighted security lighting products in this article are the two main security lighting options available however you can also get other forms of lighting such as garden lights which store solar powered energy. These can be used to improve the look of your garden whilst providing additional security. Plus you can also get standard porch lighting systems or path way lighting that will serve a purpose of illuminating areas of your property to prevent unwelcome visitors. The home security lighting systems can be used in tandem with other forms of security to provide a complete home security system.

At The Ultimate handyman, we offer home security lighting installation services as well as alarms, CCTV systems, and Motion detection systems here in the Los Angeles area. If you need a system such as this or just have questions, feel free to give us a call at (323) 651-0635 or email us for more information. You can also check us out on the web at: www.ultimate-handyman.com

How to Remove Mold

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:38:12 +0000

Mold and mildew is frequently seen in homes at this time of year due to homeowners keeping windows closed whilst having the heating on. Although, this unsightly fungi is not likely to ever be left long enough to cause significant damage to your possessions – and is rarely covered by your home insurance – it is also good to know how to prevent and deal with it because of the possible health implications that can be caused by prolonged exposure.

Mold being removed from a wall in a home

When trying to prevent mold growth, it is important to be aware of the specific causes in the home. Most commonly, where mildew is seen in corners, on walls and skirting boards, humid or damp air which carries the spores has settled on these cooler surfaces. Such simple actions as getting used to opening the curtains as soon as the sun comes up each morning is an easy first step, as sometimes rooms that are used less throughout the day often avoid the drying benefits of sunlight.

Try to keep your air as dry as possible. If the purchase or rental of a dehumidifier seems a little drastic, be sure to keep your home as well ventilated as possible by opening windows for a short while after having the central heating switched on. When drying clothes indoors, try to hang them up in the most ventilated areas of the home, and in smaller places like wardrobes it is also possible to use silica gel to absorb moisture.

Keeping your surfaces as clean as possible is a good method of prevention as dust or dirt can also be a cause, but if mildew or mold is already beginning to appear it is best to tackle the area by a more particular means. If the mildew has appeared on a painted surface, it should be scrubbed with a small amount of bleach mixed with water. Remember to keep windows open, and to follow this by wiping the area with a wet cloth, and afterward dry the area as much as possible.

The process of how mold is removed from a house

For wallpaper, it is best not to use the bleach and scrub method straight away. Instead, dry out the room for a few hours, wash the area with water and soapsuds, and then dab the area dry. If mildew has appeared on items such as furniture and other material goods, it is a good idea to clean these items outside to be sure the spores won’t settle anywhere else. These can often be brushed and aired mildew-free, whilst leather detergent or alcohol can help clean leather.

The Ultimate Handyman offers Mold Abatement and removal Services here in the Los Angeles area. Check us out on the web at www.ultimate-handyman.com

Questions?

email us at projects@ultimate-handyman.com

or call us at (323) 651-0635