Homeowner guides
Straight answers on fixing things yourself, keeping your place in shape through Georgia weather, and knowing when to call someone. Including us.
Walls and paint
- Choosing the Right Interior Paint Sheen for Each RoomFlat, eggshell, satin or semi-gloss? Here's how to pick the right paint sheen for every room in the house.
- How to Patch a Small Drywall HoleSimple steps for patching nail holes, anchor holes and doorknob dents so the repair disappears under paint.
- What Causes Drywall Cracks, and When to WorryWhy cracks show up over doors, along seams and on ceilings, and how to tell normal settling from a bigger problem.
- When to Repaint Your House Exterior in GeorgiaSigns your exterior paint is wearing out and the best seasons to repaint in west Georgia's heat, humidity and storms.
Floors and doors
- How to Fix a Sticking Door: Humidity and Other CausesWhy doors swell and rub in Georgia humidity, and how to fix them with a screwdriver, a plane or new hinges.
- Soft Spots in Your Floor: What They Mean and What to DoA spongy spot in the floor can be a loose subfloor or hidden water damage. Here's how to find the cause.
Plumbing fixtures
- How to Fix a Leaky Faucet, or When to Call for HelpWhy faucets drip, how to fix the common causes yourself, and when it makes sense to call a handyman or a plumber.
- Why Your Toilet Keeps Running, and How to Fix ItMost running toilets come down to a worn flapper, a tangled chain or a bad fill valve. Here's how to tell which.
Lights and fans
- Ceiling Fan Direction: Summer vs. WinterWhich way your ceiling fan should spin each season, how to change it, and how to fix a fan that wobbles or hums.
- How to Replace a Light Fixture SafelyThe safety basics of swapping a light fixture, from shutting off the breaker to knowing when you need an electrician.
Decks and porches
- Signs Your Deck Needs RepairSoft boards, wobbly rails and rusty hardware are warning signs. Here's how to check your deck and what to do next.
- Deck Maintenance for Georgia Heat and HumidityA simple yearly routine to clean, seal and check your wood deck so it holds up to Georgia heat, humidity and storms.
- Preventing Porch Wood Rot Before It StartsWhere porch rot starts, how to check for it and the simple habits that keep porch wood sound in humid Georgia weather.
Older homes
- Aging in Place: Small Home Modifications That HelpPractical, modest changes like grab bars, lever handles, better lighting and sturdy railings that make everyday life at home easier.
- Old House Repairs: What to Know FirstOlder and mill-village homes have charm and quirks. Here is what to watch for, including lead paint, before you start repairs.
Seasonal checklists
- Fall Home Maintenance ChecklistGet your home ready for cooler weather with this checklist for leaves, gutters, caulk, outdoor faucets and more.
- A Storm Prep Checklist, Plus How to Clean Up SafelyWhat to do before a heavy storm and how to clean up safely after, plus which jobs need a tree pro, roofer or electrician.
- How to Caulk Windows and Doors: A Homeowner's GuideWhere to caulk, which caulk to buy, and the gaps you should leave open, so your windows and doors keep water and drafts out.
- Spring Home Maintenance ChecklistA room-by-room and yard-by-yard spring checklist to catch winter wear before summer heat and storms arrive.
- Your Move-Out Checklist: Repairs, Cleaning and Haul-OffA room-by-room list of small repairs, cleaning and haul-off to finish before you hand over the keys.
Lawn and yard
- A Year-Round Lawn Care Calendar for West GeorgiaWhat to do for your lawn each season in west Georgia, whether you have warm-season grass or tall fescue.
- Fall Leaf Cleanup: What to Do and WhenSimple ways to handle fall leaves so your lawn, gutters and flower beds come through winter in good shape.
- The Right Mowing Height for Warm-Season Grass in GeorgiaRecommended mowing heights for Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, St. Augustine and tall fescue, plus simple habits for a healthier lawn.
- When to Trim Shrubs and Hedges in West GeorgiaPrune at the right time for each shrub so you keep next year's flowers and get thick, healthy hedges.
- Yard Drainage Problems in Red Clay SoilWhy Georgia red clay holds water, the warning signs to watch for and practical fixes from simple to serious.
Hiring and estimates
- How to Get an Accurate Handyman EstimateClear photos, a detailed scope and the right questions help any handyman give you an estimate that matches the real job.
- Getting Your House Ready to SellThe repairs, paint, yard work and cleanouts that matter most before listing, and how to tackle them in the right order.
- Handyman vs. Contractor: Which One Do You Need?A simple way to tell whether your project fits a handyman, a general contractor or a licensed electrician, plumber or HVAC pro.
- How to Batch Your Honey-Do List So More Gets DoneGroup small repairs by room and priority so one handyman visit knocks out the whole list instead of one item.
- Questions to Ask a Handyman Before You HireTen fair, simple questions that help you judge any handyman before you let them start work on your home.