Handyman Services: What They Do & How They Help

If you have general maintenance and repairs that are necessary around your home, a handyman can be the perfect solution. It can be far more cost-effective than trying to find a contractor to handle each project separately.

But what do handyman services typically include?

Below, we’ll walk you through some of what you can expect and the benefits of a handyman and how they can help address a wide range of needs around your home.

Common Handyman Services

While the specifics of offerings will vary between handymen, there are some of the most common services offered:

General Home Repairs & Maintenance

Most handyman services will handle small repairs and maintenance tasks around the home. These offerings can include things like lock replacements, step repairs, and eavestrough cleaning.

Lock Replacement

Over time, door locks can experience wear and tear that causes the interior parts to deteriorate. Sticky or stubborn locks may require lubrication or a complete replacement. Security concerns may also trigger a lock replacement.

Steps Repair

Wobbly, crumbling, buckling, and uneven steps can make any staircase a massive safety hazard. A handyman can address the root problems, perform maintenance or replacement as needed to ensure steps function as they should.

Eavestrough Cleaning

Eavestrough cleaning is required for proper seasonal maintenance. But not everyone has the ability to complete the task safely.

Clearing eavestroughs of leaves, dirt, and debris can ensure they properly move water away from your home, preventing infiltration and potential water damage.

Deck and Fence Repairs

Wooden decks and fences don’t last forever. Sometimes the wood rots, boards break, fences sag, or a tree falls and brings the entire structure down.

A handyman can replace deck boards, sand, clean, stain, and seal for a like-new finish. They can also repair fence boards, reinforce fence posts, and maintain cedar or pressure-treated fencing.

Painting & Wall Treatments

While many people choose to tackle painting and wall treatments on their own, hiring a professional can reduce your stress and streamline the experience.

A handyman may do:

Interior and exterior painting
Wallpaper removal and installation
Patching and priming walls before painting

Whether you need an entire refresh or to patch up a few chips and scrapes, a handyman may be the answer.

Minor Plumbing

Occasionally, your home may have minor plumbing concerns that need to be addressed. Calling a plumber can be expensive, especially when the job is small or it can be handled by a handyman.

Small plumbing concerns like a dripping faucet or clogged drain can be items a handyman can fix. For larger problems like floods, broken pipes, and recurring clogs, you should call a plumber to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your home and plumbing systems.

A handyman can also install new plumbing fixtures like sinks, faucets, and toilets.

Minor Electrical

In Ontario, there are a few tasks that can be done without a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC).

These tasks include installing or upgrading smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, installing low-voltage devices like security cameras, and replacing light fixtures.

If the task requires installing or repairing electrical outlets and switches, running new wiring, or working with an electrical panel, the work must be completed by an LEC.

When to Call a Specialist Instead

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects often seem like a good idea in the beginning. You’ll save time and money and experience the thrill of completing a project with your own hands.

But reality rarely works out that way.

DIY projects can be slow, disrupting your home and your life. On top of that, simple mistakes can cost you even more money than you’d spent if you’d hired a handyman in the first place.

If the project is small and beyond your reasonable capabilities or time availability, it is best to hire a handyman.

However, if the project is large, complicated, or requires specific licensing and permits, it may be best to call the specialists, like a plumber or electrician, to ensure the safety and integrity of the project.

How to Find a Reliable Handyman

When looking for a reliable handyman, there are a few things you can do to ensure you find the right fit.

When looking for local handyman services:

Talk to your friends, family, and neighbours. It is likely that one of them has made use of a handyman in the past and may have some advice on who to call.
Look for online reviews. If the handyman has an online presence, check reviews and testimonials to find out more about the quality of their work.
If a prospective handyman has a website, look for a gallery of past work or reach out to seek references.

The best way to assess what a handyman can do for you is to explore what they have done for others.

At Deck Medics, we pride ourselves on supplying top-notch Kingston handyman services through our Home Medics offering. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have and provide examples of our work so you can feel confident in your choice.