Welcome to my Handyman Blog

Recent posts:

Tenant Changeovers

The Smoke Detector Always Chirps Twice 

 Drop Cloth Mania

Harder than Chinese Algebra  /  

And Still More Lint (Under My Frij and Yours)

                          Mapping a Panel       /     Lint Lint Lint 

                         Lockpicking  101    /   Fixing a Wet Drop Ceiling 

Hi there and thank you for visiting my handyman blog.  My name is Justin and I work in Metrowest Boston (MA)  (i.e., Newton, Waltham, Belmont, North Cambridge, and so on).  The best way to contact me is to send pictures of your issue(s) to me at handyauthor@gmail.com.

So let’s get right to it.  Here is a list of the most common jobs I do for folks.  Note  I am not a former construction guy; I do mostly smaller jobs:

deal with doors that don’t open or close or latch

troubleshoot kitchen drawers and cabinet doors

install shades
basic locksmithing, e.g., swap out knobs and deadbolts, fix latches, etc.

cosmetic work on drywall, e.g., patching holes therein

caulking of tubs and sinks

replace broken window glass

replace sash cords on old wooden windows, and address window function generally

replace screen mesh, build new screens from basic kits
fix / install downspouts, up to 9 feet
very basic electrical, e.g., rewire a lamp, replace a switch, etc., doorbells,
       thermostats
hang pictures
deal with screen door hardware, i.e., closers, wind chains, handles
      and latches
small patches to vinyl siding
dryer vents, I have never done a full install but I often repair them and tape them.  I don’t have the full kit needed to do major long distance vent lint cleaning, but short runs, I can usually do something.
furniture kit assembly
install mortite weatherstripping on old wooden windows
install toilet seats
smoke alarms (install battery operated, replace wired  models)
and, I just have a talent for figuring out and fixing odd little puzzlements.
There is of course a massive list of little things like plunging clogged drains, .  etc. etc. etc.    I am not a plumber but, little drain fixes, we can talk.
a large part of my work is devoted to correcting improper installations that someone else did.   I could tell you stories.
I DON’T do
pipes that contain pressurized water
anything structural, i.e., stuff that people put their weight upon,
   like flooring, bannisters, grab bars, stairs
landscaping or gardening
janitorial
precise carpentry
much of anything on a roof
moving jobs

The best way to contact me is to EMAIL PICTURES of your issues to me at handyauthor@gmail.com.   You can also call me at 781 330 8143.  If I don’t answer it means I am up on a ladder somewhere, so please do leave a message and I will call back within 24 hours.   Tell me what’s going on, we can have a pleasant little chat.  And I will be very up front with you about whether your needs are within my skill set or no.  Thank you for visiting!    🙂  Best,  Justin

PS   The story:  years ago when I was a freelance musician, I had an apartment in Jamaica Plain that was absolutely fabulous.  It was huge, and it was cheap.  I mean insanely, borderline grand larceny cheap.  So I never wanted to kick my sleeping dog landlord and make him think hey, maybe I should raise Justin’s rent.  So, even though I knew very little to start, whenever anything broke in that house I just figured out how to fix things myself.  Then in the wake of the great recession, I found myself managing the office of an electrician.  There I learned a LOT about electrical work, but I was also introduced to the business of driving to someone’s house, fixing something, and getting paid.  So I mentioned to one of the electrician’s clients that I was thinking of becoming a handyman, and she hired me on the spot.  And the rest, along with watching 9,000+ how-to youtube videos, is history.

I am primarily a fix-it guy rather than an install a new thing guy.

Posts about past jobs:

Drawer Fixes
Replacing broken windows
Replacing Broken Window Sash Cords
Fixing Holes in Drywall
Bathroom Caulking
Rewiring Lamps

The magnificent Jordan Rich recently interviewed me on his Podcast.  Check it out!   — jl

Author: admin

Hi, Justin here. I do handyman work in the Boston Metrowest area. I specialize in solving problems, like doors that don't close right, things that don't hang right, and many basic small repairs. Note, I don't do bigger projects like building decks, I prefer to fix things already installed. I love healing old houses and making things look right. Call 781 330 8143 or email handyauthor@gmail.com.

1 thought on “Welcome to my Handyman Blog”

  1. Hi Justin. Now that’s a business idea. Your work is terrific. That new light fixture and dimmer makes a huge aesthetic improvement. Also include a look into the air-conditioning filter or furnace filters to see if they can be cleaned or replaced. One thing as a tenant that is important to me is to have clean lighting switches. Cleaning them takes some times, but it is worth it ti the renter.

    Reply

I don't always get notified of comments so email is better handyauthor@gmail.com