5280 Handy Man - Quality & Reliable Denver based Handyman

Sprinkler system start up and adjustment

Admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 05:10:06 +0000

Every Spring in the Denver area, people get ready to turn on their sprinkler systems. Some have had them professionally ‘blown out’ others do it themselves and some just don’t do anything before Winter arrives in the Fall. Virtually every sprinkler system is a little different, but most have the same basic components/design – water source to water valve (turn on / shut off valve) which can be located in a number of locations, pressure vacuum breaker assembly and the on to the valve boxes located in the ground which are controlled by the ‘control box’ often located in the garage.

It’s important to check for leaks in the system after it has been recharged as water rates in the area have gone up recently and of course, no one likes to waste water. Some of the components that can fail or break are contained in the PVB (pressure vacuum breaker assembly), sprinkler heads (freezing or blunt trauma or clogging), freeze damage to control valves and or supply lines. It’s all really common sense, but can be a bit daunting for the uninitiated. Whenever I go out to perform this service I’m more than happy to educate the homeowner on how it can be done because it really is quite simple and requires few tools unless repairs are needed.

If it’s May and no imminent danger for an extended freeze just contact us and I’ll be happy to perform the service.

Water Feature installation

Admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:24:18 +0000

This fountain was designed and built for a local Thai restaurant. I have been going there for years, in fact, they’ve just remodeled the interior of the restaurant.
The food is authentic… stop by to check it out and have a bite to eat – Old Siam – they also have Sushi.
((okay, the photo that I have up for this project is from my cell phone – I promise to get a REAL photo up soon!))

Water Fountain

Choosing the Right Adhesive

Admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:37:57 +0000

Chances are you’ve done several projects and feel pretty comfortable when you are in the home improvement store near the paint section checking out the different types of adhesives and caulking. These days, we have an incredible selection, however, that broad array of products can also make choosing the right product that much more difficult. If you end up at the store and haven’t had time to do some proper research, then by all means go ahead and inquire with the staff at the store as to what they might recommend, however, don’t just take their word for it… ask yourself if you think that they REALLY know from experience or are just telling you what someone told them to say! Many stores will have a comparison chart available to help you decide which adhesive works best in what conditions.

I’ll share my favorite indoor/outdoor adhesive – it’s PL® Premium Polyurethane Construction Adhesive and works like a charm on masonry projects of all sorts – I’ve even used it for certain sections of wall tile installations, holding landscape blocks together, landscape block caps, tile on concrete block outside, floor joists, wood to concrete, wood to stone, wood to wood, metal to all of the above (minus the tile, of course)… you get the picture – it’s like a new generation of liquid nails. As might imagine, this stuff isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s a good idea to move up to the larger sized tubes.

Clearly there is no one size fits all approach to adhesives. You’ll need to figure out if you need a rigid adhesive or one that remains flexible after it cures/dries. For this, you’ll have to use your intuition or experience to make the determination or ask for advice at the store. Be sure to read the label as there may be other limitations or product warnings that could impact your project in some way.

How do you store a tub of partially used adhesive or caulk? Love to hear about. My method involves screwing a long screw down into the nozzle – keeping the rest of the adhesive ready for use and the nozzle clear. I’ve also used the duplex nails (the ones for concrete forming with two heads).

In the end, experience will be your best guide, if you are inexperienced don’t despair – dive in and get that experience!

Colorado Red Flagstone Patio with a petite Japanese bench

Admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:33:33 +0000

Medium sized flagstone patio in the very organic and free-flowing shape of a kidney bean. It is raised to compensate for the slope of the yard. Buried gutter line releases a large percentage of the roof runoff into underground dry wells below and beside the patio helping to keep future trees and plantings irrigated.

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Japanese stone bench

Admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:57:51 +0000

This Japanese stone bench was added to the raised Colorado Red Flagstone patio in the Washington Park area. It is one of a kind as is all of my custom stone work. It’s made from Colorado Red stripstone and Cross Canyon stripstone.

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Bathroom Tile Ideas

Admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:18:24 +0000

Bathroom tile comes in an endless array of shapes, textures, patterns, colors and of course price and they are the basis for a strong bathroom design. Taking time to do proper research and acquistion of the tile will ensure that you end up with the very best bathroom tile project!

Ceramic bathroom floor tile known for it’s durability and is used extensively. Ceramic tile has great resistance to dampness, its not very porous or susceptible to stains… It is also easy to maintain. If you were to select ceramic tile for your bathroom, consider using a tile that has a rougher texture / surface for bathroom safety.

If you install unglazed tiles, they will need to be washed often as these tiles tend to stain easily. Bathroom floor tile can come in any number of shapes and/or combinations such as squares, rectangles, hexagons and octagons along with accent tiles.

Here are a few ideas for your bathroom design:

1 — If you want to give your bathroom a modern look then may I recommend using bold colors along with different motifs against uncluttered backgrounds. Be sure to select matching adornments that will keep your bathroom looking modern and fresh.

2 — When your design calls for using the same color tiles on the walls and the floors then it is best to break up the pattern by using different sized tiles and possibly laying the floor tiles on the diagonal or the wall tiles as diamonds or on the diagonal to make the design much more interesting. Please note that placing the tiles on the diagonal will require significantly more tile as there is more waste in the form of cut off pieces not to mention additional labor expense or effort.

3 — Grout color is as important a design element as is tile as choosing the wrong color can make or break your design. Do not fail to properly apply route sealant specially in the bathroom and high traffic areas. Sealing the grout will not only help to protect the grout but it will also ensure that the color of the grout lasts much longer.

4 — Perhaps you are trying to achieve a Victorian look for your bathroom design might we recommend using towels with a flower motif that have a soft color palette such as pink greens and blues be sure to choose lighter shades of these colors. There are also several different accessories that you might add to your design including custom ceramic sinks and even a wood floor. If you’re looking for more of a Mediterranean bathroom design might we suggest using natural terra-cotta type tiles along with custom painted artisan tiles.

5 — Choosing the color for your bathroom and bathroom tiles is very important as different colors perfect the human psyche in different ways. Do some research on color theory and its effects on the human psyche. If you wish for your bathroom to feel more intimate than we suggest using warm colors in the Rose and yellow color schemes. Colors such as white and off-white make the room filled larger they will also reflect any existing light and do not seem to go out of style giving it a timeless look.

Colors that provide a sense of calm include Violet, Green, and Blue. If you want a less relaxed look for your bathroom choosing colors such as black and red will remove light and make the room appears smaller and a bit more edgy. If the bathroom has ample natural light then using darker tiles might absorb some of the excess light the opposite is true for a dark bathroom. Do not be afraid to add in other colors in the form of accent pieces or trim but do not add too many colors as it will detract from the overall look and feel.

Executing your bathroom project can be a fun experience if you have patience. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself while you choose the style and overall layout for your project after all we spend a significant and hopefully enjoyable time in our bathrooms so why not take the time to make them personalized.

Bathroom floor repair and rebuild

Admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:01:16 +0000

In this project, I’ve already removed the rotten floor and underlayment (which was thin plywood) that was also rotten from years of being water-logged (bathroom floor damaged by water leaking from the toilet ring seal). The water damage is a result of two separate leaks in the same general area of each other. Much of the damage has come from the adjacent kitchen area, the dishwasher seems to be the newest culprit as it was leaking from a clogged hose on the side near the inlet. The house is also shifting significantly, enough so that the exterior wall is buckling outward, affecting the floor joists, thus the floor. It’s no wonder the toilet was sinking and leaking into the basement / crawl space below. Moral of the story, when you have everything opened up, do some simple testing to see what else might be awry.

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Arizona buff retaining wall with dry stream

Admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:52:20 +0000

Dry stacked Arizona buff retaining wall sitting upon french drain system with dry stream and plants. Soil conditions in the area north of Denver are poor, thick heavy clay that retains water – 100% soil replacement (amendment) was an absolute necessity for any flora to survive.

Monolithic flagstone steps and retaining wall

Admin — Tue, 30 May 2006 03:34:33 +0000

This project involved a fair amount of detailed planning as I was building into a finished yard with a predetermined walkway height. Working with this type of material can be quite unforgiving as it is not elastic or easily modified (and still keeping a natural look) – especially the larger monolithic pieces. Twenty-four inch squares were used on the walkway surface and 600 lbs steps were placed onto a custom support – a series of concrete cradles to hold the stones in place. The wall has a concrete block support with weep holes and gravel fill behind as well as a footer. 90% dry stacked and fitted. The two columns are lighted via glass block portals on two sides.

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Custom pergola enclosure for hot tub

Admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:32:42 +0000

This pergola was crafted of Douglas Fir and cedar using 12″ long bolts (cold connection), screws, Japanese joinery techniques and a bit of extra attention to detail. The tiled bar is made of powder coated steel to resist rust and also tilts up so that the cover can be removed or replaced. I designed it, but had that part outsourced.