Hello. I am Randall. I fix things in Vancouver. I have done this for 40 years. I have seen many houses. I have seen many problems. Experience is a teacher. I want to share my lessons.
The rain is the enemy
Vancouver has rain. Rain hits houses. Rain enters wood. Wood then rots. I see this in North Vancouver. I see this in Kitsilano. Decks rot. Windows leak. People wait to fix these things. Waiting is a mistake.
Water moves. It finds holes. It enters walls. It creates mold. I find rot behind siding. I find rot under floors. Stop the water. Check your gutters. Clean them in fall. Clean them in spring. Water must flow away from the house.
Look at your windows. Look at the caulk. Caulk cracks over time. Scrape the caulk. Apply new caulk. Use a tool. Smooth the bead. This keeps water out. Do this every few years. It saves money.
Strata life has rules
I work in Yaletown. I work in the West End. These areas have many condos. Condos have strata rules. Know your rules. Some strata groups require a plumber for a faucet. Some allow a handyman. Ask your manager.
I see leaks in condos. A leak in a condo hits the unit below. This creates a bill. The bill is large. Check under your sinks. Touch the pipes. Look for drips. If you see water, call me. Do not wait for the neighbor to knock.
Strata managers like me. I show up. I follow the rules. I finish the job. Then I leave. This is my process.
The cost of cheap work
I go to Kerrisdale. I go to East Vancouver. I see "repairs" done by others. People try to save money. They hire a person with a truck. The person has no license. The person has no insurance.
The person fixes a door. The door then falls. The person installs a light. The light then flickers. I arrive later. I fix the mistake. The customer pays twice. This is a pattern.
My rates are clear. I charge $120 for the first hour. I charge $85 for each additional hour. I have a license. I have insurance. I have tools. I have 40 years of skill. Pay for quality once. Do not pay for mistakes twice.
Drywall tells stories
I fix drywall. Drywall shows the history of a house. I see holes from moves. I see cracks from settling. I see stains from leaks.
Small holes are easy. Use spackle. Let it dry. Sand it flat. Paint the spot. Large holes need tape. Apply compound. Lay the tape. Apply more compound. Let it dry. Then sand it.
Cracks return. Cracks mean the house moves. Use a mesh tape. This adds strength. I see many "repairs" with no tape. These cracks return in a month. I do it right. I use the tape.
Plumbing is about tension
I install faucets. I install toilets. I replace valves. People tighten things too much. Plastic cracks. Metal strips.
Use a wrench. Tighten the nut. Stop when it is snug. Turn the water on. Look for leaks. If it drips, tighten it a bit more. Do not force it. Force breaks things.
Check your toilet. Look at the base. If the floor is soft, the seal is gone. Remove the toilet. Replace the wax ring. Reinstall the toilet. Level it. Bolt it down. Then test it.
The importance of time
I work in South Vancouver. I work in Burnaby. I see homeowners who are busy. They have a list. The list is long. The list grows every week.
I arrive. I look at the list. I start at the top. I fix the door. Then I fix the leak. Then I mount the TV. Then I assemble the furniture.
Time is valuable. Your time is for your family. My time is for your house. I show up on time. I work the full hour. I do not take breaks on your clock.
Tools of the trade
I own many tools. I have drills. I have saws. I have levels. I have specialized wrenches.
A handyman needs the right tool. Using the wrong tool damages the house. I see stripped screws. I see scratched floors. These come from the wrong tool.
I carry my tools in my van. My van is my shop. I have what I need to finish the job. I do not go to the store on your time. I arrive prepared.
Lessons for the homeowner
Watch your house. Walk through every room. Touch the walls. Open the doors. Listen for squeaks.
A squeak is a sign. A stain is a sign. A loose handle is a sign. Fix these signs now. They are small. Small things are cheap to fix.
Ignore the signs. The house then decays. The bill then grows. A $120 visit today saves $5,000 later. This is the truth of 40 years.
My service areas
I serve Metro Vancouver. I serve Richmond. I serve West Vancouver. I serve the Westside.
I know these streets. I know these houses. I know the old wood in East Van. I know the glass towers in Yaletown. I know the basements in South Vancouver.
Every area has issues. Every house needs care.
Start your list
Make a list. Write down every repair. Put the list on the fridge.
Call me. Give me the list. I will arrive. I will bring my tools. I will start the work.
I fix the house. You then relax.
Contact Randall The Handyman. Let us start today.
