Sometimes home repairs can be hard to get around to because you may not know exactly what really needs to be done to fix the problem, or who to call to fix it. There’s only so much a handyman can do, after all!
We hope this index is helpful. It is roughly organized in order of bottom to top of the house, but we recommend using your web browser’s “find” function (even mobile browsers have it). Press CTRL + F on a Windows machine, or COMMAND + F on a Mac. On mobile, click the settings button (usually top right corner) and scroll down for a “find in page” or “find” funcation. Then, simply type a word or a part of a word relating to your repair, and that will take you straight to the section you need.
Lastly, once you know what type of contractor to call, it may be hard to choose. We’ll have a vendor list coming soon, as well as a post about how to choose which contractor to work with.
“Odd Jobs” for a Handyman
Firstly, it should be noted that while not all handymen are skilled, most of them can do 80% of the repairs on your house. For example, a handyman can install a window, but if you have multiple windows, you are better off calling a window and door installer to get lower rates and higher quality of service. So when in doubt on who to call for your home repair, just google “Handyman Nashville TN” or ask around for a handyman in your neighborhood and social circle. Make sure you talk to people the handyman has worked for or view pictures of his work to confirm that he is skilled in the area you need him to be.
Reasons to Call (they are endless, here are some examples):
- Door that won’t close or latch all the way
- Paint an appliance
- re-finish bathtub and tile
- Replace an outlet, or run a wire a few yards to a fixture or switch
- Convert door to window or window to door
- Install canopy or awning over a door or window
- Tile a backsplash in kit or batch
Foundation & Basement Repairs
Reasons to Call:
- Cracking drywall, especially common at corners of doorways and windows
- Cracking foundation block or brick veneer above the block
- Sagging or slanting floors that feel firm under your feet (soft floors indicate water damage)
- Gap above doors getting bigger
- Wrinkling or bubbling in wallpaper or drywall corners
- Crawl space or basement water and humidity problems, such as standing water, mold growing on wood under the house, or unusually high insect population indicating high humidity
- Cracking floor or ceiling joists
Who to Call:
Companies with “foundation” or “basement” in their name will handle all of the above. Some companies may have “water” or “drainage” in their name if they have a focus on helping you with ground and surface water problems. A lot of contractors out there do all of it since they are closely related problems.
Flooring Install & Repairs
Reasons to Call:
- Soft spot in floor
- Damage or imperfections to the finished floor
- Primarily cosmetically-related flooring repairs
Who to Call:
A Flooring Installer. As there are dozens of types of flooring to install, you want to find someone working with your type of floor. The company name may be “flooring installers,” but find out if they have experience working with tile, carpet, hardwood, etc. Don’t assume they know what they are doing! “ABC Carpet Installers” are safe for carpet, but don’t necessarily give them a cracked tile to repair. Most flooring installers can also handle patching / replacing / installing subfloors and liners.
Carpentry, Trim, Cabinetry, and Frame/Structure Repair
Reasons to Call:
- Rotting kitchen or bath cabinet
- Cracking floor joists
- Broken or missing trim around doorways and windows
- Outdoor deck build or repair
- Rot around an exterior window or door
Who to Call:
A home carpenter is hard to find and is typically more dedicated to the tasks of a home builder or general contractor. If you can’t find a home carpenter due to their “off the grid” nature, contact a handyman for most tasks, or a foundation repair company if the repair is more related to the framing of your house, such as floor joists and wall repair.
Kitchen / Bath Repair & Updates
Reasons to Call:
- Counter top repair or replacement
- Making changes to cabinets
- Caulking corners and fixtures in water use areas (bath tub, sink, shower, etc)
- Backsplash repair or install above counter tops, or shower wall and floor tile work
Who to Call:
A “kitchen and bath remodel” contractor would handle renovations in your kit and bath if you are doing more of an overhaul. If it’s just a couple odd jobs, call a handyman.
Plumbing Repairs
Reasons to Call:
- Leaky faucet
- New sink or toilet install
- Any toilet problems (leaking, running, not flushing well)
- Split pipe from freezing that’s now leaking
- Upgrading old galvanized pipes to new copper or Pex pipes
- Anything related to water piped in or out of your house!
Who to Call:
A Plumber. Easy one. A lot of handymen have a background in plumbing and are particularly skilled in plumbing repairs.
Electrical Repairs
Reasons to Call:
- Flickering light
- Circuits that keep triggering the breaker to flip (AKA circuits that spontaneously go dead with no power)
- Any time you see exposed wires anywhere (some homeowners may run a wire in the attic for convenience, for example, without using a proper junction box but rather wire nuts exposed to the air)
- Updating your electrical system to be grounded or have a new electrical panel
- Outlet not working
- Installing or adding hardwired smoke detectors
- Replacing light fixture or ceiling fan
Who to Call:
An Electrician. This is one area where most handyman are not skilled and they tend to avoid it. A handyman could handle one or two fixtures or outlets, but the rest is up to an electrician, and you’ll pay well for it, too!
Siding / Soffit / Fascia / Gutters
Reasons to Call:
- Upgrading or repairing gutters
- Gutter leaks
- Converting wooden soffit and fascia to metal
Who to Call:
Often times these exterior repairs are handled all by one company. Just look for one of the above terms in the name of the company, and when in doubt, call and ask if they do the exterior repair you need. These things tend to be done by a specialist and not a handyman due to the skill and equipment needed.
Paint / Drywall
Reasons to Call:
- Painting walls, trim, cabinets, baseboards, ceilings, brick, foundation block, appliances, counter tops… pretty much anything inside or out!
- Holes in walls or doors, sagging ceiling
Who to Call:
A painter or a drywall installer. Most of the time, they are one and the same, although some drywall installers or more handyman oriented, and some painters just focus on the patching, caulking, and painting.
Windows / Doors
Reasons to Call:
- Replace door, or replace window
- Window pane / sash repair or replacement
Who to Call:
A window and door installer. This type of contractor usually does both if they do one. A handyman can do one or two at a time, but any more than two and it would serve you well to find a specialist. They will have economies of scale in their pricing, and they often will simply do a better job.
Roof
Reasons to Call
- Brown or wet stains appearing on ceiling drywall
- Outlines or streaks running down wall from ceiling (from water dripping through roof and down wall)
- Shingles that have blown off
- A vague dripping sound that isn’t near a bathroom or kitchen
Who to Call:
A Roofer! For some reason, this trade in particular seems to be prone to the fly-by-night type of worker. He may have roofed a house or two, but doesn’t know how to do it correctly and is certainly not licensed or insured. Lining up shingles is relatively easy, but it’s property flashing joints, edges, and ridges that help your roof go the distance. We encourage you to get at least 3 bids from companies that don’t do much advertising (to get the best price).
Landscaping
Lastly, there’s two types of landscapers out there: The cut, trim, and leave guy, and the landscape designer and installer. The cut guy may be able to build you a mulch bed or add a koi pond, but you’ll have to give careful instructions and watch over his shoulder. The other type of landscaper has more big picture in mind and can work with you more on getting the design and result you want. Just make sure you know who you are working with!