Handyman Service 101

The following recommendations are offered to help you become a more knowledgeable consumer. It is our belief that knowledgeable consumers make better service purchasing decisions. We believe that you can quickly check out any service that you are considering purchasing by following these simple steps.

www.dutchtouchhandyman.com

Handyman Service 101

1. Take the time to learn about the service you are considering purchasing.


2. Ask for the advice of local experts.

3. What should the service cost?

4. What is typically included in the service?

5. What level of training is typically required and is the service a licensed service by your state contractor’s license board?

6. Does the service provider offer references? Check them out!

7. For services above $1,000.00 work - out payment schedules that you can monitor and see so that you pay as the work progresses.

Handyman Services

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Who is sent to my house to do the work?

A handyman will arrive at your home carrying his own tools. We carefully screen each of our employees before hiring. They are licensed and insured contractors and all possess a high level of skill and experience. Our handymen arrive on time and are ready to work.

How do I arrange an estimate?The best way is by calling the office. We have highly trained individuals answering the phones during normal business hours. You can contact us via this website by filling in the information needed to help you. Our Manager will gather the information for your estimate and then our office will email or fax the written estimate to you. 

What are your hours of operation?

Estimate appointments can be arranged Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. We do not call to confirm our appointments because we show up on time. We schedule our repair/remodeling projects to begin at 8:00 am and conclude by 7:00 pm. 
What if I need materials for the repairs or improvements?


You have several options. First, you can buy all the materials that you need and provide them to us (this is the preferred method). Second, we can obtain the materials for you, pick them up or have them delivered and charge you for the items with a very reasonable markup to cover our labor and time for doing so.
Who Is responsible for breakage or damage to my property?
Each contractor is responsible for all breakage or damage to your property. Generally it is a very good idea for you to take a few minutes the first time a service is provided by a team and detail your expectations.

When the work is completed it is a very good idea to do a detailed walk thru and to point out any thing that may have been missed. The contractors are happy to correct missed items and it is far less costly for you and the contractor to have it done right the first time VS coming back to fix it later.

Does someone need to be home when the handyman contractor arrives?


You can make a variety of different arrangements to enter your home if you will not be there. We recommend that once you have established a regular handyman contractor that you decide together the best arrangement for your specific situation. Many customers prefer to give us a key. Others leave us a key in a safe place each visit. Alarm systems can either be left off or you can give us entry/exit codes.
Do you offer any guarantees or warrantees?
We have an unconditional guarantee on all our labor for a period of 90 days. As for the materials used or supplied by you, the guarantee or warrantees of the manufacture prevail on those products, but our labor is still guaranteed for the 90 daysr. Should the materials fail due to manufacturing defects, we will work closely with you to repair the work at a reduced rate for the job. We offer a “Lifetime” guarantee for rotted wood replacement with PVC and a “Lifetime Labor Guarantee” for a COMPLETE Bathroom Remodel.

What are your rates?

Rates for our jobs vary due to the type of work being performed and the number of hours and materials needed. Depending on the scope of work, we can do it on an hourly or a contracted basis.

Do you accept credit cards?
YES. You can also pay with cash or a check at the time of your service.
 Handyman Services

DO IT YOURSELF TIPS:

Insulation Tips:


Insulation is not too difficult to work with. The tools that you will need are:







• Tape Measure


• Utility knife


• Stapler


• Putty knife


• Insulation knife


• Straight edge


• Blower for blown in insulation


• Work gloves


• Safety glasses


• Dust mask


Fiberglass insulation expands when you take it out of the packaging. For ease of transport, as well as storage, do not open the package of insulation until you are ready to use it. Fit the insulation around windows and doors to fill gaps between the frame and the opening. While the entire gap should be filled for best results, packing the filling tightly will result in loss of insulation value. Fill firmly but don't over do it.



When you install insulation around a wire, split the insulation where it crosses the wire to surround the wire with insulation. This will help to keep air spaces from forming behind the wires. Always install the vapor barrier toward the living space. If your batt type insulation has an aluminum facing then allow about an inch of space between the facing and the wall board. To do this just staple the insulation to the inside of the stud rather than attaching it to the edge of it.

Leave insulation in its natural state. Don’t try to compress it and don’t try to fluff it up. This will interfere with the R values of the insulation and result in poor performance. Foam board insulation is great for basement applications because it does not absorb water or moisture. A vapor barrier should always be installed on basement walls first with the framing added later. This will lessen the amount of moisture that comes through the foundation walls.

Blown in insulation





Blown in insulation is loose fill-insulation, often made with cellulose. It is one of the easiest types of insulation to install for a do-it-yourself type person. When done properly the cellulose molds around pipes and fits into unusually shaped spaces often found in old homes.

In order to add blown in insulation to your home you will need to rent an insulation blowing machine. Once you do that, it is only a matter of blowing the insulation into the space.

Fiberglass Batt insulation


One of the least expensive ways to insulate walls is to fill the stud spaces with fiberglass batt insulation. It does not take any special skills, other than a lot of patience. When you are remodeling fiberglass batt is one of the simplest ways to upgrade your wall insulation. Do a thorough job, though; gaps can reduce overall efficiency by as much as 25 percent.



Blanket and roll insulation is useful for insulating long runs in homes. Any area that needs insulation that is longer than eight feet is a good candidate for this type of insulation.


Insulation keeps your home quiet and energy efficient. By upgrading or installing insulation yourself you can obtain these benefits for far less money than if you hired someone to do it for you, and you can make sure that the insulation is properly installed to give you the most benefit.

Light Fixtures


There are many different types of light fixtures available. Whether you are looking to illuminate the interior or exterior of your home, you will be sure to find a functional light fixture that best compliments your home style and décor. Here we will explore some of the options that are currently available for your lighting needs—both indoors and outdoors.



Interior Light Fixtures

Interior light fixtures come in all shapes, styles, and color. You can accentuate the interior of your home using mounted fixtures, like chandeliers and recessed lighting, or unmounted light fixtures, like floor and table lamps. Here are some of the most popular interior light fixtures on the market today:

Chandeliers

Often large and ornate, chandeliers are mounted to the ceiling and feature two or more light-bearing arms. Choose from a various array of shapes, styles, types of crystal, and number of lamps.

Pendants

The pendant fixture is a suspended light fixture that hangs from a cord attached to the ceiling. With a wide selection and various materials, colors, finishes, and sizes available, finding the right one should not be difficult.

Ceiling Fixtures

This type of fixture is also mounted to the ceiling, but unlike the pendant and chandelier, ceiling light fixtures are mounted directly to the ceiling and do not hang. Designed for standard ceiling illumination, ceiling lights offer a variety of mounting options and unique style to create an easy solution to your lighting problem.

Wall Sconces

Sconces are reminiscent of wall-mounted candles and lanterns of times past. While adding a touch of nostalgia, they also blend tradition with new trends in home décor.

Track/Rail/Cable

These types of light fixtures are at the top of the modern trend list. With different types of fixtures to go with this type of light, including pendants and directional spot lighting, curved or straight track, track lighting can even be used to illuminate architectural details and artwork.

Recessed

Mounted within the structure of the ceiling so it looks like it is flush with the ceiling, recessed lighting can provide incandescent or fluorescent light.

Table Lamps

As the name implies, this type of fixture sits on a table and provides extra lighting when necessary. Because there are so many different kinds of table lamps on the market, this is one of the most popular lighting options.

Floor Lamps

Similar in concept to the table lamp, floor lamps are taller and are meant to sit on the floor rather than a table. These lamps provide extra task lighting and can be used to establish a mood.

Rope Lighting

Designed to accent your space while providing a touch of color, rope lighting can span large areas and even pulse at varying speeds. Rope lights are often used in coves, cabinets, and other recesses.

Under-Cabinet Lights

With this type of light you can illuminate the hard-to-reach corners of your kitchen or office. Designed to mount under the cabinet and provide light to a counter space or another area, under-cabinet lights get the job done without being out in the open.

Exterior Light Fixtures

The lighting of the exterior of your home is important. You need enough lighting to easily maneuver around after the sun has gone down, and enough light to illuminate people approaching the house. Here are some of the most common exterior light fixtures:

Flood Lighting

This type of light is useful in lighting a large portion of your yard with only one light. Available with fluorescent lights, so you can save energy while you light the exterior of your home, flood lighting is both inexpensive and effective.

Post Lighting

Having a light out in the center of your yard, at the end of driveways, or near walkways is useful in various ways. Post lighting can provide this type of light. In essence, it is a light on a pole. However, it is available in many styles and colors.

Motion Lighting

Security is very important when considering outdoor lighting. Motion sensor light fixtures sense motion and turn on to light your path or warn you when visitors or intruders approach.