Five Ideas for an Elegant and Eco-Friendly Bath

There are many ways to "go green" nowadays; it can often be difficult to decide which sustainable elements to incorporate into your own home. Instead of being overwhelmed by all of the options and trying to be the greenest house on the street,:Handyman Matters San Diego suggests you follow these tips to create an elegant and eco-friendly bath that's fit for a greener lifestyle.

• Rethink Surfaces
• Spruce up the Vanity
• Smart Water Savings
• Earth-Friendly accesories
• Updates that last

For more details read the article; Five Ideas for an Elegant and Eco-Friendly Bath on our Newsletter. If you don't want to miss great information and articles like this one subscribe to our newsletter today!

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You may submit your comments or questions directly to:
Handyman Matters San Diego
2820 Via Orange Way, Suite ASpring Valley, CA 91978
619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Benefits of a Pet Door

Once you have taken the decision to own a pet, you also have to consider to make your home their home. Having a pet door installed is a great benefit for you and your pet. From health and safety to a better quality life for both.

Choosing the right pet door, not only includes the size of the unit, you also have to consider the accessibility for your new best friend. You will find from the basic flap doors to the electronic units. Some other important factors to consider when installing a new pet door are:

• Location, and
• The height from the floor up.

Where to install your pet door? Whether you choose a door or a wall, the area where this pet door will lead to is very important. Also, before buying a pet door, you must measure your pet, but you also have to consider your pet's height to install the unit. You wouldn't want your Chihuahua not to be able to reach the door, or your Labrador to bend over almost to the floor to go through it.

There are great benefits when you decide to install a pet door:

• Improves your pet health, by keeping them active.
• Provides an emergency escape for your pet
• No more scratches on your doors or walls.
• No more accidents indoors,
• and much more....

Give yourself and your new best friend the quality of time you both deserve. Check Moore Pet Supplies, it is a great resource on how to measure your new best friend for the right pet door.

We encourage you to check our page for more information and monthly specials and to follow Handyman Matters San Diego on Facebook and Twitter.

You may submit your comments or questions directly to:

Handyman Matters San Diego

2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A

Spring Valley, CA 91978

(619) 660-0485

Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Door Repair and Installation

We count on doors to make a good impression of our property. Choosing and maintaining our doors may not be something we have on our seasonal home maintenance list. However, simple door repairs can give your entry door a great appearance, from replacing or updating the current hardware to give them a new coat of paint or stain are great and simple ways to give that door a new lease on life. Doors that are damage should be replaced.

All type of doors, from access, bi-fold, double, fire, French, garage, pocket, screen, sliding glass and storm doors, they all play a key element in your home. They determine the flow of your home space. Opening up a wall between rooms and install a new door are cost effective home remodel projects that will give your home interior a new look.

Taking care of door repairs on time and replace very damaged or warped doors can save you money down the road. If you allow gaps between the door frame and the slab, it can cost you a fortune when you are running your air conditioner or heater. Those gaps will also allow dust and possibly water to get into your property, letting allergens in and maybe creating some floor damage relatively.

Take a look at your doors, and whether you need a door repair, like door alignment, fix a sticky door to replace the current hardware, hinges, door handles and locks or maybe some weather stripping or a door sweep, feel free to contact our professional craftsmen at Handyman Matters to make sure your door installation or repair is properly done for optimum function and safety.

We encourage you to check our page for more information and monthly specials and to follow Handyman Matters San Diego on Facebook and Twitter.

You may submit your comments or questions directly to:

Handyman Matters San Diego

2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A

Spring Valley, CA 91978

(619) 660-0485

Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Don't Ignore Loose Caulk!

Caulk is used in a tub or shower enclosure to keep water from creeping up, under or around the tiles at joints between tile and the tub or shower pan, or on joints where walls meet. Leaky, old, loose or broken caulk need to be replaced immediately! Not paying attention to it can cause water to run behind your shower walls and doors or under vanity cabinet sinks! A leaky corner shower can lead to mold and mildew problems in your bathroom, and adjacent room or any rooms below. The repair can be time-consuming and expensive. And you might not be able to use the enclosure again for a week or more while things "dry out"!

The proper way to take care of this:

- Remove the old caulk, clean the surface meticulously and THEN apply the new caulk.
- Try to determine the kind of caulk, it will help you to plan the removWal! Depending on the type of current caulk, you'll need a sharp, single-edged razor in a razor blade holder or a heat gun
- Once the caulk is scraped off, the area should be thoroughly cleaned, including mildew if exists.
- Then, Choose a caulk... Acrylic latex vs. PVA (polyvinyl acetate) vs. 100% Silicone vs. Siliconized Acrylic Latex

If you are not sure what kind of caulk to use and how to remove it? or Don't have the time to do it? Call us! Our professional craftsmen will be glad to help!

We encourage you to check our page for more information and monthly specials and to follow Handyman Matters San Diego on Facebook and Twitter.

You may submit your comments or questions directly to:
Handyman Matters San Diego
2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A
Spring Valley, CA 91978
(619)660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

How to wisely choose a contractor?

Handyman Matters provides you with all the tools to make sure your home repairs and remodel project are a success. Please check our Consumer Guide to Choosing a Home Repair or Remodeling Contractor. This publication was created by Handyman Matters to help our customers pick the best contractor, by asking some essential questions when they are shopping around.

Some of the questions will help you identify the following:
- How to make sure they can do the work
- Ensuring your contractor will be on time
- Making Sure You Get a Fair Price and the Final Bill Won’t Exceed the Quote

These are just some of the resourceful information you will find on the Consumer Guide. Feel free to share this valuable publications with all the people you know that may be looking for a contractor on their next project.

We encourage you to check our page for more information and monthly specials and to follow Handyman Matters San Diego on Facebook and Twitter.

You may submit your comments or questions directly to:

Handyman Matters San Diego
2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A
Spring Valley, CA 91978
(619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

FHA 203k Mortgage Loan

How does an FHA 203k Loan works?
Under the FHA 203k mortgage loan program, a qualified borrower can get one permanent fixed or adjustable mortgage to finance the purchase and rehabilitation of a property. The mortgage is based on the estimated value of the property after the repairs. The mortgage is insured by the FHA in order to minimize the risk to the lender.

Who Should Consider a 203(k) Mortgage?
Those considering purchasing a property in need of repair or renovations
Current homeowners who need financing to rehabilitate their property
Those who might not qualify for traditional construction loans
Those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods
Those with limited funds for a down payment or closing costs
Homeowners who wish to make their home more energy efficient

What Type of Repairs are Eligible?
Roofing, gutters, and downspouts
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems
Plumbing and electrical systems
Flooring
Painting
Lead paint abatement
Remodeling, rebuilding, and additions
New appliances (range or oven, microwave, trash compactor, washer, or dryer)
Handicapped accessible improvements
Energy efficient improvements
Decks, patios, porches, and fences
Basement finishing and waterproofing
Windows, doors, and siding
Mold abatement or termite removal
Connection to public utilites
Repair or replacement to septic tanks


For more details check the article posted under by Total Mortgage Services

We encourage you to check our page for more information and monthly specials and to follow Handyman Matters San Diego on Facebook and Twitter.

You may submit your comments or questions directly to:

Handyman Matters San Diego
2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A
Spring Valley, CA 91978
(619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Lead Paint Certification

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring as of April 2010 for contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects to be certified on lead-based paint to work on pre-1978 homes.

Property owners must, before beginning work, provide tenants with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet . Property owners who perform these projects on their own in pre-1975=8 rental housing must be certified as well.

The EPA started processing applications on October 22, 2009.

If you don’t get certified you could get fined up to $37,500 per DAY and you’ll likely get sued

For more information check:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)page. Click Here
- The article posted on January 14, 2010 by Fine Home Building.com


We also encourage you to check our page for more information and monthly specials and to follow Handyman Matters San Diego on Facebook and Twitter.

You may submit your comments or questions directly to:

Handyman Matters San Diego
2820 Via Orange Way, Suite A
Spring Valley, CA 91978
(619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Tax Breaks for Going Green!

Whether you're planning on buying a refrigerator, remodeling your home, upgrading your heat, there's a tax break for going green in 2010--and often beyond. You can save $50 on a fridge, $1,500 on new windows, or thousands on a solar power system.

Home Remodel
You can get $1,500 off your tax bill--a 30% credit for the first $5,000 you spend in 2009 or 2010 for improvements to your house's energy efficiency, including new windows, doors, furnaces, air conditioners and insulation. For the energy-efficiency standards you must meet, see the consumer guide at Alliance to Save Energy. You can get the full $1,500 even if you claimed the old, now expired $500 home energy credit.

Refrigerators
States are rolling out $300 million worth of rebates for homeowners who replace their clunker appliances with new energy-efficient models. Your take will be small--$50 for a fridge, $500 for central air. The rebates are typically offered in addition to existing rebates from manufacturers and utilities. The Department of Energy has a list of Approved Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs, click here.

Solar Hot Water
Solar hot water systems to heat your shower or radiators (but not your hot tub or pool) qualify for a 30% federal credit, with no dollar cap. With solar hot water systems costing $6,000 to $10,000, this investment can have a fairly quick payback, especially if you're replacing an electric hot water heater. The credit is available through 2016 and can be claimed against the AMT.


Handyman Matters San Diego
(619) 660-0485
Email: SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

Grab Bars - Why install them?

Nearly 200,000 people are injured annually in their bathroom, according to statistics from the National Safety Council. Slips and falls in the bathroom are a major cause of injuries to people of all ages. Falls are the greatest source of injury and accidental death around the home, so it's no wonder more and more people are installing grab bars to make their bathrooms safer.

Properly mounted grab bars (installed directly into studs or wooden backing behind a wall) can prevent falls and are an inexpensive way to help ensure no one in your family gets injured in a preventable home accident. Grab bars are specially manufactured to hold at least 250 lbs. when properly secured. Grab bars provide extra security in the bathtub for that first slippery step.

Find a professional installer capable to do an installation on your drywall, fiberglass, ceramic tile and marble and also to complete this project up to code.

Code Reference:

• Grab bars should be installed at the tub, shower, and toilet. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association grab bars installed horizontally or on a 45-degree angle provide the best support for a person trying to get out of a bathtub or shower. For more information and details check the National Kitchen and Bath Association

This article was brought to you by:
Handyman Matters San Diego
(619) 660-0485
Email:SD.Services@HandymanMatters.com

How to Shut off your Gas in case of an emergency!

It is important to know exactly where your gas meter is located so that in the event of an emergency, you know how to shut it off. The location of the valve can vary depending on the type of building and when it was installed. In an emergency, your gas can be turned off at the main gas service shutoff valve normally located near your gas meter. Using a 12 to 15 inch adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench or other suitable tool, give the valve a quarter turn in either direction; the valve is closed when the tang (the part you put the wrench on) is crosswise to the pipe.

* Know where your main gas service shutoff valve is located
* Keep an adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench available to turn off the gas in case of an emergency
* Know how to shut off the gas at the gas service shutoff valve
* Leave it off until service can be restored safely by SDG&E or another qualified professional

For More information visit SDG&E Website.

The rain is here, the water is coming in under your door, through your window frame, or from the skylight...Do not panic! Please cover the area, put towels around it to avoid water to come inside, wait until this weather has settled to do any sort of repairs.

www.SanDiego.HandymanMatters.com
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twitter.com/handymanmttrsSD

Job Opening: Handyman/Craftsman's Assistant

Handyman Matters – San Diego County
a Winrow Corp. franchise
SanDiegoJobs@HandymanMatters.com

Please complete the Skill Profile in addition to responding to this ad.

*******

Handyman Matters is an industry-leading national repair & remodel company for residential and commercial properties. We staff a local office that is highly trained in selling projects, scheduling, and dispatching with the craftsman in mind. We have been selling projects over the phone since 1997 and have an automated computer system that tells us the questions to ask, the projects you are qualified to perform, your schedule, and picks the projects closest to your home. All jobs are sent to you via a text message on your company provided cell phone and via e-mail. The only time you need to come to the office is to attend pre-scheduled meetings.

In this position you will be reporting to the Craftsman on site and assisting in completing his assigned projects. Entry level experience in two or more trades is preferred: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, drywall/paint/wall coverings, tile, flooring, skylights/flashing/roofing, deck/fencing, concrete/paving, framing/windows, remodeling, and miscellaneous repairs and maintenance. Must be in good physical condition.

We never ask you to pull any money out of your pocket to do business with us. You are an employee of the company and are compensated for the use of your vehicle (Truck or Van) and are issued a company credit card to purchase materials for your projects. We provide you with a company-paid cell phone.

You are expected to have basic tools that, along with your truck/van must be maintained in professional condition. We provide truck/van signs, yard signs, logo'd work shirts and hats, promotional and invoicing materials and cell phone. We are a professional organization and you would work as an employee, not a contractor.

This position is primarily to service the central, eastern and coastal communities of San Diego. However, it will service other areas in the County as needed.

Hours vary, but are expected to be between 24 and 36 per week.

All employees must pass a criminal background check and drug screen. Periodic drug screens are conducted throughout your employment. Additionally, in the interview process you will be required to take a writen and mathematical test.

Please go to http://www.handymanmatters.com/employment.aspx and complete the Skills Worksheet in addition to responding to this ad.

Water Conservation. How can we help you help us do it?

Water is in short supply, and California is facing water shortages. We can no longer take water supply for granted.

Why is this happening?

• Drought conditions
• environmental problems
• climate change

The average Californian uses about 192 gallons per day. What can we do to help?

• Ultra Low Flow Toilets (UlLFTs) and High efficiency Toilets (HETs). Save approximately 38-45 gallons a day. This is the largest water user.
• Energy Star washers use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. This is second largest user.
• Install a low-flow showerhead. Save 12.5 gallons every day
• Stop those leaks! To help detect unseen leaks, read your meter.

What else can you do? For more infor check:

• In your home
• Outdoors
• In the Workplace

If water conservation is in your mind, Handyman Matters San Diegowill be happy to help you, help us save water! By taking care of your home projects and repairs, not allowing your water and your money go down the drain. Every drop counts!

For more information Check Save our Water.org

Credit for energy-saving home improvements - Don't Miss it!

Credit for energy-saving home improvements: The tax credit equal to 10% of the cost of energy-saving home improvements is increased to 30% for 2009 and 2010, up to a maximum of $1,500 in the two-year period. The credit applies to biomass-fuel stoves; qualifying skylights, windows and outside doors; and high-efficiency furnaces, water heaters and central air conditioners. The dollar limit on a particular type of improvement, such as the $200 cap on the credit for windows, has been repealed, so don't limit yourself to the old rules.

Finally, there's also no dollar limit on the credit for qualified residential alternative-energy equipment, such as solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and wind turbines. Your credit can be 30% of the total cost of such systems.

There is more information in the article posted by Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, "The 19 most-overlooked tax deductions"

Starting a New Year! Welcome 2010!

Handyman Matters San Diego welcomes the New Year 2010! Another year of wonderful experiences and great service passed. We wish all of you a fantastic and prosperous year filled with happines and wealth.