Saturday, January 25, 2014

No Home Should Be Without One!


Just ask those hit hardest by the cold front that blew into the Metro Atlanta area and they will attest to the need of this one item that no home should be without.

Trust me, from experience I know that every home needs this tool, in fact I try to never leave home, and go to someone else's home without mine. So what is this tool.
The Shop Vac!  When the temperatures dropped in Georgia this winter many, especially new home owners found themselves without it.  Their cooper pipes began to burst and water went every where.  Those that lacked this tool had to await the arrival of a professional with one, whereby the damage increased as each gallon of water flowed. 

I had one fortunate customer that was lucky enough that as I rang their door bell to complete another project, I was able to contain the water that began spraying in there theater room. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. 

Growing up in NY every day I heard the DJ on the radio say "any fool can learn from his own mistakes, but it takes a wise man to learn from the mistakes of others." The learning is, if you don't have one go out and get yourself a shop vac. Find a place where you can get to it fast if you need it to suck up water. Have it handy if you drop something down a drain, or just need to use it's suction to keep your drains clean. It's also great for cleaning the car or picking up those cheerios the baby takes great joy in throwing from the high-chair.

Yes smiling above is just one of a homes best friends. If you need help in deciding which one to buy I've found a great review of several of the most popular shop vacs. This article will aide you in what to look for and more.

Thanks for Stopping by, Earl1212 House Mechanics!
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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Every Home Needs a Good House Mechanic

But what does a "House Mechanic" do?

Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary defines "mechanic" as, "A worker skilled in using, making, or repairing machines and tools."  Within the same dictionary "mechanics" is defined as "The technical and functional aspects of an activity <the mechanics of baseball>."

Okay we get the picture, but what about "house mechanics?"  If we look around our homes we'll find all sorts of machines, systems, and other items that require maintenance and eventually some repair.

Hence every home needs a good house mechanic.  Some of you will say, "oh, that's me, I can fix things, or I'm pretty handy around the house."  Yes there are plenty of good DIY'ers out there, but even they come to realize they may not have the time nor specific tools or skill-sets to get the job done.

So what must they do?  Contact another handyman or handy-woman like themselves, call a general contractor or consider the services of one with a higher skill set than the handyman or themselves.

Most House Mechanics gain their experience working with and or as a general contractor.  Due to this relationship their family and friends call upon them whenever something needs to be fixed.  A drywall patch here, a leaky faucet there, and even that entertainment center with the assembly instructions from hell.

A good house mechanic will have the tools and know-how to help in the three scenarios above. They can address everything from the roof to the basement, and all aspects and systems in between.

From my years of experience working with general contractors, property owners, and investors I have learned and experienced a great deal. Within this blog I will share and pass on to you all that these pages will allow. I hope you come back again and again, share my post with those you know and find that your projects are made a whole lot easier.

If you happen to live in Atlanta or Augusta, Ga. or points in between please give me a call.  My website is always available, and it to contains tips and ideas you may need. you can also view my feature at Houzz.com.

Thanks for stopping by, by all means bookmark this blog or subscribe so that you'll keep up with all my new posts filled with up to date information, tips, and handy ideas.

Happy home improvement, Earl1212 House Mechanics!