The difference between a good local handyman and an excellent one is that, while both know how to repair or install different things inside or outside your house, only the latter one is capable of explaining the process in everybody’s language, while he’s doing it. Although you might not consider this aspect too important, it’s crucial when it comes to the feeling of trust such a gesture involves.
For example, in this article, we will see how a local handyman from HBSOnTime.com (Home & Business Services), a family-owned business operating in the Greater Fredericksburg Area, VA since 2013, explains what he’s doing while installing insulation. This activity is a relatively simple one, that implies only cutting, putting into place, and stapling. Usually, the estimated time for a 12-by-20-foot room is around 2-3 hours at most, with a cost of under a dollar per square foot.
The local handyman will break down the activity of insulation installation into 4 easy to understand steps: cutting to width, trimming to length, dealing with obstacles, and adding the vapor barrier. Here is what each of these steps involve:
- Cutting to width. “If we deal with a narrow stud bay, we will trim down the batt’s width. To do that, I will lay a batt on the floor, in front of the cavity, and line up one edge with the inside face of the stud bay. Then, I will lay a straight 2-by-4 in line with the inside face of the neighboring stud, and press down on it with one knee. Finally, I’m running my utility knife along the 2-by-4, trimming the batt with shallow cuts”, the local handyman explains.
- Trimming to length. “We will tuck the insulation inside the cavity, while snugging against the top of the stud bay, with the edges flushing with the studs. I will take care that the batt is not tightly compressed against the studs since this might reduce the R-value. To get an accurate fit against the bottom of the cavity, we will let the insulation run long, then cut it against the bottom plate of the wall framing, with the same utility knife”, the local handyman moves on.
- Dealing with obstacles. “When wires get in the way, we will cut the batt transversely, such that one half will be slid behind the wire, and the other one, in front of it. For electrical outlet boxes, we will install the batt, then cut a notch in its edge, guided by the box. Last but not least, for plumbing supply pipes, we will work the full thickness of the insulation behind the pipe, to prevent it from freezing”, the local handyman says.
- Adding the vapor barrier. “The last step involves applying a bead of sealant to the top plate and any studs where the sheets overlap. After that, we will tack the sheet every 12 to 24 inches to the top plate, studs, and bottom plate”, the local handyman concludes. As you will notice, during his activity, he will use the following tools: gloves, a dust mask, a straightedge, a utility knife, a staple gun, and a caulk gun.
HBSOnTime.com’s local handymen, numerous occupations
Besides insulation installation, Home & Business Services’ experts can help you with the following: cabinet installation / removal / refacing; carpentry (molding installation); ceiling repair; drywall repair / installation; ceramic tile installation / repair; curtain, shower doors, mirrors, pictures, frames hanging; deck repair, fence fixing; door installation / repair; dryer vent installation / cleaning; flooring installation / repair; small remodeling & updating projects in basements, bathrooms, or kitchens; shelf installation, storage areas, shed repair; window installation / repair.
This company activates in the Greater Fredericksburg Area, VA including the big city, as well as Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Louisa, Orange, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties.