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When Your “To-Do” List Becomes Overwhelming

When you own a house, it always seems like a thousand different projects need doing. If your “to-do” list has become overwhelming, consider hiring a professional handyman to help you out. A good handyman will have experience in a variety of areas and can help to make your life a lot easier.

When Your “To-Do” List Becomes Overwhelming

Things a Handyman Can Do For You

* Install New Ceiling Fans – If you’ve purchased one or more ceiling fans for your home, and they’re still in the box, then you need help. Climbing up on a ladder, fiddling with the electrical wiring, and then trying to get everything installed correctly can seem like a daunting task. When you hire a handyman, you don’t have to go through that. A handyman, with ceiling fan experience, can do it faster, safer, and better.

* Paint the Baseboards – If your baseboards are dull and grimy, then they need repainting. New-looking baseboards will improve the appearance of your entire home. Instead of trying to match up the paint yourself and then spending your weekends or evenings on your knees painting, let a handyman do the job for you. With the expertise of a professional, the task will go quickly, and you won’t have to give up your own time.

* Put Up New Shelving – If you need storage shelves in your home office or garage, don’t fret over measuring everything to try to get them installed correctly, ultimately to realize that they’re still not straight. Hire a handyman who can put up those shelves like a professional. You’ll get the extra storage that you desperately need without the hassle or the anxiety of trying to hang the shelving yourself.

Just about any job on your “to-do” list, whether large or small, can be handled by a professional handyman for a reasonable cost. For information about hiring a handyman, please contact us today. We’ll help you get your home in order and ease your stress.

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Ceiling Fan Installations – 6 Reasons To Hire A Pro

Ceiling fans are a great way to keep the air moving to cool down in summer and push heat from the ceiling in winter.

If you are considering ceiling fans, here are six reasons why you need a pro to install that new ceiling fan.

Ceiling Fan Installations - 6 Reasons To Hire A Pro

1)Electricity is dangerous. Even household currents are strong enough to cause severe injury and death. Professional electricians deal with this every day. They have the tools and the experience to keep people from being hurt.

2) Pros have the tools. Sometimes installing a ceiling fan is as simple as mounting it to a bracket in the ceiling and connecting wires. What if a bracket needs to be placed? What if more wiring has to be run from a wall switch or even from the panel box? Saws and drills are just a few of the tools needed. Professionals already have everything they’ll need on the truck.

3) Done right. When you hire a professional, the work is done correctly. If there is a problem with the installation work, the professional comes back and makes it right at no charge to you.

4) Safety. Poor or bad wiring jobs are ranked in the top five reasons for house fires in the US. Professional electricians know how to get the wiring right. It will last a lifetime when they do it.

5) Older wiring. Some older houses were not built to today’s strict building codes. The available wires don’t match the color coding in the ceiling fan schematic. A professional knows which wires to connect where, no matter the color.

6) The right fan. How much fan do you need? How much is too much? Experts know exactly what you need for the space you want the fan to cover.

Need a ceiling fan installed? Contact us and we’ll get the job done right the first time.

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The Spring Cleaning Spots We Don’t Think to Check

Spring is already right around the corner on the calendar and many of us are starting to get the itch to begin cleaning and making repairs around our homes. We all know the typical spring cleaning “to-do’s” – wipe down baseboards, wash the walls, clean up and maintain our garden beds. The list can seem endless.The Spring Cleaning Spots We Don't Think to Check

But what about the things around your home that you don’t think to clean or repair? If left untouched for too long, the resulting damage can cause major problems.

Today we want to focus on an area of your home that may not get the attention it needs: your fixtures. For those of you wondering, fixtures are any items in your home that are in a “fixed” location, such as lighting fixtures, toilets, sinks, etc.

When is the last time you walked around your house and took a good look at the condition of each fixture you have? With spring cleaning in mind, now is a great time to assess if you have any fixtures that are in need of repair or replacement. Jot down any problem areas you notice on a notepad in order to help prioritize which items need fixed or replaced quickly and which can wait.

It is important to look for rust spots, worn materials, leaks, loose nuts/bolts, frayed wires or any chips or cracks. A small crack or leak can cause significant damage if it remains unnoticed for too long. As you are wiping baseboards, dusting, cleaning floors and removing excess clutter, take a few moments to make note of any fixtures that may need attention.

Most importantly, don’t try to tackle all of your chores in one day – either take your time or call in a team of professionals (like us!) to help you get the job done right!

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Why You Should Not Wait to Repair Damaged Drywall

Drywall is a low-cost, attractive way to make your home comfortable. Made from gypsum and crystalline water, this type of wall and ceiling has become the most popularly used material for homes in the US. But if not repaired properly when it is needed, damaged drywall can cause not only structural problems, but health risks as well.

There are several reasons drywall may need to be replaced:

Why You Should Not Wait to Repair Damaged Drywall

House Settling – as your home settles, the framework may shift and even a slight shift can cause strain to make your drywall crack.

Poor Installation – Sometimes drywall is not installed properly and this can lead to cracking and exposed seams.

Moisture – Any time drywall is penetrated – either with drywall screws or nails to hang things on – it will weaken and expose the insides of the drywall, making it vulnerable to dampness and moisture.

Additionally, if your drywall has been exposed to moisture, you risk mold building up in ways you may not even be able to see. The medical effects of mold range from slight – headache, cough, congestion – to deadly – neurotoxicity, cancer, pulmonary fibrosis.

In much the same way a windshield crack slowly spreads across the entire window, a simple crack or unstable seam can lead to increased cracks and crumbling walls.

Not making necessary repairs to your drywall can lead to more expenses in the future because the longer you wait, the worse the damage will become. This can cause a small job to become a much larger and more expensive undertaking.

Contact us today to arrange for a consultation so we can work together to ensure you and your family are safe from drywall damage.

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3 Reasons to Install a Wireless Video Security System

It can be difficult to find the right fit for your home when it comes to security systems. There are so many options out there that it’s hard to find out which brands are the best. Whether you’re looking to protect yourself or an entire family, home security is serious.  To make the search easier, we compiled a list of the top three reasons to have a wireless video security system installed in your home:

3 Reasons to Install a Wireless Video Security System

1. Home Protection

This is the main reason that people want security systems installed in their houses, and who can blame them? Everyone wants to feel the most secure in his or her own home. Intruders tend to steer clear of homes that are obviously equipped with cameras that could identify them. A video security system could potentially decide whether your house is robbed or left alone.

2. Video Identification

If a trespasser does attempt to break into a home that is equipped with a camera security system, then it is easier for police to potentially find and arrest that person. Without video footage, it is more difficult to identify the intruder; therefore, making it less likely to catch the criminal.

3. Remotely Monitor Your Home

Most video security systems allow the homeowner to view his or her house through the eyes of the cameras via a smartphone or another mobile device. This feature is important because it could be the difference between catching a trespasser and returning from a trip to a ransacked house. For example of how this feature works, if you were to go on vacation, you could view video footage in real time, and upon seeing suspicious activity, call the police to investigate.

Now that you have some information about wireless video systems, you can dig a little deeper to see which system is right for you and your family. We know that it is extremely important that your home be safe from intruders of any kind, and these systems can keep you and your family away from all types of danger.

If you have any questions regarding the installation of wireless video security systems, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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How To Deal With Your Gutters After A Storm

If you own a home, you work hard to keep it in good working order.  You maintain the plumbing and the electrical work so that they continue to work.  You paint the walls in every room to make the house more comfortable.  You take care of the lawn and make sure that it stays green.  You paint the outside of the house so that it looks good.  However, the most dreaded job that every homeowner hates is cleaning the gutters.

How To Deal With Your Gutters After A Storm

Why is cleaning the gutters the most dreaded job of every homeowner?  It involves you getting on a ladder while maintaining your balance and trying not to hurt yourself.  After that, all you have to do is to stick your hands into the nasty buildup in the gutters, which could take you all day.  Of course, you can just pay someone else to do it for you, but that cost money.  That is why you cannot wait for winter because you do not have to worry about your gutters.  However, that is where you are wrong.  There is one time where you will have to worry about your gutters during the winter.  That time is after a storm.

You will notice that a heavy layer of debris covers your roof after a storm.  You may think that this is a roof problem, not a gutter problem.  You are right, but it can become a gutter problem.

What can you do?  The best way to prevent this from happening is to make sure that you clear your roof after all post-storm debris.

However, if you do not get there in time and debris buildup begins to form in your gutters, you can attempt to get on a ladder and clear it out by hand or you can call a professional to come out and do the work for you.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in having your gutters tended to.

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Functional Solutions and Products to Improve Your Existing Home

Owning a home that you love is a true pleasure. You can spend years working to improve the beauty and functionality of each room. If you want to add beauty to your home while increasing the property value and increasing sustainability, there are several projects that you can install yourself or have installed by a contractor.

Functional Solutions and Products to Improve Your Existing Home

Common solutions to increase the sustainability of your home while lowering energy use can also increase the property value. Most homeowners know that replacing appliances with newer, more energy-efficient versions will reduce their energy bill. However, they might not be aware that you can improve your energy efficiency with changes to the structure itself.

2 Permanent Solutions to Energy Loss

1. Replacement Windows

Depending on when your home was originally built, it may have old-fashioned windows. These are typically single-pane windows that may also have several smaller window panes in a wooden or metal frame. New windows are made with man-made materials that don’t expand and contract with moisture like wood does nor do they corrode or rust like metal does. Replacement windows are usually made with double-pane glass that is better insulated from outside temperature changes. Both hot and cool air is kept inside your home reducing your need for heat or air conditioning.

2. Replacement Doors

Like windows, doors can leak a lot of cold or hot air around the frame. Older doors, depending on the material used to make them, often expand and contract with moisture changes. Replacing your old doors with custom-made, engineered doors will improve your carbon footprint while also beautifying your home. Custom-designed doors are made to the exact measurements for your home which means that they will help keep your home at the proper temperature, helping save money on your energy bill. You can order doors that add style and presence to your home at the same time.

To find out more about these projects, contact us.

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4 Ways to Renovate Your Kitchen Without Remodeling (Part 2)

Welcome back to the second half of our two-part article on interesting and creative ways to renovate your kitchen without actually going through the full remodeling process. Last time we talked about how many houses are fantastic except for the previous owner’s taste in kitchen decor and the hassle of actually ripping out everything to replace it. We then discussed the marvels of contact paper in re-inventing the surface appearance of a room along with your ability to simply re-stain, paint, and finish anything you want. After all, it’s your house. Today we’ll start up by taking a look at your cabinet doors.

4 Ways to Renovate Your Kitchen Without Remodeling (Part 2)

3) Replace the Cabinet Doors

Of course, you’re not stuck with simply repainting or staining the cabinets, you can change the look completely simply by changing the style of the doors themselves. Remove the cabinet doors and think about what your kitchen would look like with something different. In some cases, you can install sliding doors instead, perhaps of clear or frosted plastic giving your home a more ephemeral and modern look. You can even install mirror cabinet doors to truly blow the minds of family and guests who will literally see themselves in your kitchen transformation.

4) Area Rugs

Finally, replacing floors is a lot of hard work, especially when dealing with kitchen counters, islands, and appliances. If you don’t like the look of your kitchen floor, or simply find it to be too cold in the winter, throw down a sturdy area rug. These can be plain black and utilitarian or lively and decorative. The important part is simply that it be easy to vacuum and was and that it has a rubber back for both traction and moisture control.

There are a lot of different ways to renovate your kitchen but the vast majority of them require a real budget and some skills with tools. If you don’t have a huge budget or don’t actually want to rip out big chunks of your kitchen just to change the appearance, simply changing the surface is much easier than replacing anything. With a few quick tricks and the help of professionals where your DIY confidence flags, you can enjoy your kitchen without any of the hassle or mess of true remodeling. For more great home repair and remodeling ideas or to work with someone who’s incredibly comfortable around paints, stains, and cabinet doors, contact us today!

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Sheetrock and Drywall: Are They The Same?

Sheetrock and drywall both refer to special panels that are fastened to wall studs to create walls, but they’re not the same thing — at least not technically! Here’s a little brain-teaser: All Sheetrock is drywall, but not all drywall is Sheetrock! That’s because Sheetrock is actually a brand name — patented by a company called U.S. Gypsum — kind of like Kleenex is a brand name that refers to tissue. We’re teasing though, because most builders and carpenters use the terms interchangeably!

Sheetrock and Drywall: Are They The Same?

Both Sheetrock and drywall are made from flattened gypsum “plates” that are covered on both sides with heavy paper. Drywall — and by extension Sheetrock — are pretty revolutionary, because back in “the day”, all walls were made with plaster, and usually required the services of a plasterer to ensure an even and smooth application. Drywall, on the other hand, is a more lightweight, easy to install product that even ambitious DIYers are able to erect, using a special paper or mesh tape to hide the seams between the panels. The tricky part, though, is applying and sanding the joint compound that hides the tape. Do it wrong and you’ll end up with lumpy, visible seams, and a wall that looks like an amateur put it together!

The same problem occurs when a portion of a sheet of drywall is damaged, something that is more common than you might suppose. If the damage is small — say, a nail-hole left after hanging a piece of artwork on the wall — then it’s fairly easy to repair with a little spackle and some light and judicious sanding. But when the damage is more severe — like the damage when a heavy piece of furniture or other weighty object occurs and creates a large “hole”, it’s usually best to call in a professional — somebody who’s proficient at working to repair damage to drywall so expertly, that you’d never know there had ever been any damage when they’re through! That “somebody” is typically a professional painter or handyman.

Here’s some good news for residents of the Frisco, Texas region. You’ve got access to both professional painters and professional handymen when you engage the services of Excellent American Painting and Handyman Service! We’re bonded and insured, and serve not only Frisco (our home base), but also  Allen, Carrollton, Celina, Coppell, Corinth, Denton, Fairview, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Little Elm, Lewisville, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, and The Colony! Why not contact us today for an estimate on drywall repairs — or whatever is on your home’s “To Do” list? You can also give us a call at 214-938-1088 seven days a week!

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4 Ways to Renovate Your Kitchen Without Remodeling (Part 1)

Have you ever loved everything about a home except the kitchen decor? The way people decorate kitchen has changed a lot in the past 80 years in which your home may have been built. Older homes tend to have bold designs that seem overdone and tacky these days and even with a perfectly modern kitchen, there’s a good chance that you and the previous owner simply don’t agree on which colors are attractive. Kitchens of the past tend to be brown, yellow, or white while modern kitchens tend toward blue-gray, white, black, and stainless steel. Renovating your kitchen without remodeling can be done.

4 Ways to Renovate Your Kitchen Without Remodeling (Part 1)

Whether you want a cozy cottage design or something sleek and minimal, you don’t actually have to rip anything out or spend a fortune to completely remake the appearance of your kitchen. No doubt you’ve heard about changing the cabinet handles or the faucet and light fixtures, but to completely transform even the big sections of your kitchen, all you need is a little creativity, perspective, and contact paper.

1) Contact Paper

Contact paper is one of the best things that has ever happened to kitchen remodeling. Contact paper is a sturdy plastic sheet printed with attractive patterns on one side and coated in sticky glue on the other. All you have to do is press the contact paper flat and smooth onto a surface and it magically takes on the appearance of the paper (which is really plastic). The best part about contact paper is that it can be made to look like other things.

Most people use contact paper on the surface of kitchen cabinet shelves because it’s easier to keep clean and can be replaced if it gets too grimy from spilled spices or a leaky jar of molasses, unlike the wood shelf itself. However, if you want to completely redo the appearance of your kitchen, consider new contact paper textures on everything from the cabinets to the dishwasher. Marble contact paper can class up an old chipped countertop without shelling out for real marble (just be careful about hot pots) and ‘stainless steel’ contact paper can be put on plastic appliances to make them appear more modern as well.

2) Stain, Paint, and Finish

Of course, if you’d rather change the color and texture of things the old-fashioned way, there’s nothing stopping you from simply re-staining, painting, or finishing any surface in your kitchen. Cabinets are the easiest to adjust the colors of, especially if you don’t need to change the color inside. Simply strip off the old finish, re-stain, and seal with a new finish so you can scrub your cabinets safely later on. Hate your kitchen backsplash? You don’t have to tear that out either, simply slap on a coat of complementary paint.

If you paint, use a sturdy glossy paint that will withstand the scrubby side of a sponge. Remember that everything has to be cleaned in a kitchen so any paint, stain, or finish you use that still gives off color when scrubbed isn’t sealed enough yet.

Join us next time for the second half of this two-part article where we’ll talk about cabinet doors, area rugs, and how to find a handy person to help you if you’re not exactly a DIY Diva. For more interesting tips and tricks on home improvement, to talk to a handy-man, or to read the end of this article, contact us today!