Category: Mike’s Guys Handyman

Mike’s Guys: Is Shiplap Worth All the Hype?


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One of the most popular home projects you’ll hear about these days is replacing or covering drywall walls with shiplap. This wooden sheathing was originally used for exterior construction but has recently become all the rage in interiors (thanks, Chip & Joanna!) Similar to a tongue-and-groove siding, shiplap has a special notch cut on its edges, causing the boards to rest on top of each other and overlap. This unique design allows them to self-space and fit together perfectly — keeping water from getting behind them. The finished look is simple, clean, and easy to maintain. Read more

Mike’s Guys: How Do I Refinish A Popcorn Ceiling Myself?


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We recently shared a post on 3 options for getting rid of popcorn ceilings. There are a few different ways to approach it, including hiring a professional (like Mike’s Guys) or installing beadboard sheets over the popcorn for a cleaner look. Of course, if you have settled on the idea of tackling the project on your own, we thought it would be helpful to have a step-by-step guide explaining how to scrape and refinish your ceilings.

Before You Start…

 

As mentioned in our initial post, before you start scraping away, it’s important to test your ceiling for asbestos. Homes built prior to 1980 potentially contain this dangerous substance in the ceiling, which could be a hazard to your health if inhaled. You can easily scrape off a section and send the sample by mail to an asbestos testing lab for a small fee. If asbestos is present, it will be necessary to hire a company that specializes in removing materials containing the substance rather than trying to do it yourself! Read more

Mike’s Guys: Can I Paint My Home’s Exterior in the Winter?


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It is a beautiful time of year in North Texas. Many of the days are brisk in the morning, warming up to 70 or so during the day, and then cooling off again in the evening – just cool enough to be comfortable and maybe leave the AC off overnight (hello, lower electric bill!) However, if you’ve lived in Texas any length of time, you know the weather can be pretty unpredictable. Just last week, we had a few days with low temperatures in the mid 30’s! While it has warmed up since, it’s certain that we’ll have more colder-than-normal days leading up to winter. Read more

Mike’s Guys: 3 Options for Getting Rid of Popcorn Ceilings


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One of the top requests we get from our clients – whether they are remodeling their current home or have recently moved into an older house – is to have the popcorn ceilings removed.

These textured ceilings, also known as popcorn ceilings, acoustic ceilings or even cottage cheese ceilings, were very popular in the 1970s and ’80s as a quick and easy way to hide imperfections. Unfortunately, this texture can be very difficult to match if you have cracks or holes in need of patching. The uneven surface also catches more dust, allows for cobwebs, and really makes a home’s interior look stale and dated. These reasons alone are enough to make a homeowner opt for removing the texture! This is why we include popcorn ceiling removal in just about every home remodeling project we complete. Read more

Mike’s Guys: The Top Options for Exterior Siding


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Your home’s exterior siding isn’t just for aesthetic purposes; it’s your home’s first defense against the harsh elements. Maintaining and eventually replacing your siding is an important task if you want to keep your home in good condition and prevent issues like water damage, mold, wood rot, and energy inefficiency. If left unaddressed, these issues can get out of control and become very costly to repair. This is why it’s so important to know your options when replacing your home’s siding and use the material that will be best for your home long-term. Read more

Mike’s Guys: How to Get Rid of Ceiling Condensation

    
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Ceiling Condensation is a common problem homeowners face and should be addressed promptly; excess moisture can eventually cause mold and mildew to form — quickly escalating a small problem into a much larger and potentially dangerous ordeal. Not only will you have to pay for a mold remediation company to handle the hazardous growth, but you’ll likely need to hire a contractor to repair the affected areas afterward. What a headache! It is helpful for homeowners to understand what causes the condensation and how to get rid of it before it becomes a bigger issue. Read more

Mike’s Guys Handyman: 5 Signs it’s Time to Replace Your Windows

Replacing windows is among home maintenance projects that can make a huge impact on both the functionality and the value of your home. As with anything, it’s better to maintain properly working windows and replace them regularly, versus waiting until you have multiple failed windows on your hands! Here are 5 signs of window failure to look out for, via our handyman division, Mike’s Guys:

1. Poor Operation. A common issue with aging windows is that they stick when opening and closing. This is often caused by a balancing issue in which dust, dirt, pollen, or other buildup becomes lodged in the tracks. In some cases, cleaning out the tracks can help with sticking, but usually this is a sign that the window will need to be replaced soon. Read more

Mike’s Guys: Top 5 Home Maintenance Projects to Improve Your Home

As they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While this statement can be applied to many different scenarios in life, it also rings true for home maintenance. A little investment in small repairs can go a long way in preventing major, more expensive issues down the road.

Here are 5 maintenance projects to get you started on updating and maintaining a safe, functional, and efficient home:

 

1. Adding Insulation

Insulation can help you control a number of things, such as temperature (both cool and warm), noise levels, and your monthly energy bill. If your home was built before 1980, your home could be insufficiently insulated and lacking in these areas. Simply adding insultation to your attic space could drastically impact your comfort level as well as your cooling/heating bill. Read more

3 Options for Completing a Pull-and-Replace Kitchen Remodel with Mike’s Guys Handyman

As our business continues to grow alongside our expanding client base, we have found that there are many homeowners looking to complete a kitchen remodel in which no walls or plumbing will be moved. We refer to these types of remodels as “pull-and-replace” projects, where the existing footprint stays the same. Original cabinets, countertops, backsplash, etc. are removed and replaced with new materials, but in the same location. Due to the simple nature of these types of projects, they do not require the full design package that would accompany a more complex kitchen remodel. Read more

Mike’s Guys Handyman: The Ease of a Free Virtual Estimate

If there is one common complaint we’ve heard from homeowners throughout the years, it is that they struggled to find a contractor or handyman that would follow-up after their initial conversation. Unfortunately, homeowners are often forced to deal with the frustration of waiting for an estimate that never comes. If you’ve ever experienced a disappearing contractor or non-responsive handyman service, you know how infuriating it is to be seemingly forgotten about when you’re trying to get a project done. Read more