Your Dallas Handyman

Hmmm…it depends. The short answer – in Dallas, and most everywhere else, the cost range can be dramatic…and confusing. The quality of a handyman service can vary greatly based on the size of the handyman company (many are sole proprietors or small LLCs and just about as many are franchise owners). If you were to call 5 different handymen, you would likely get 5 different prices for the same job. That didn’t help much, did it?

Let’s try a little insight on the industry and maybe shed some light on who’s out there bidding for your work, and hopefully you can go from there. Talk to your handyman about the job you need done to see how experienced he is in that area. You can be sure, the price you get from a particular pro may in no way reflect his ability to perform the job. Overhead plays a pretty big role as well, insurance costs, his certifications and so forth all affect pricing. I know a guy who charges $25 an hour to house flippers (real estate investors) and maybe upwards of $75 per hour to stain a fence. He happens to be very fast and very good at staining fences but will work a job site doing odd jobs for a smaller wage. At any rate, it’s the same guy, but a different approach on how he prices out a job. The main thing in that example is that the fence staining is actually a standard price per linear foot, which works out to a very good hourly wage for him.

Most handymen charge flat rates for a job. Some even advertise their basic rates. For the most part, handymen charge anywhere from $25 to $65 per hour and calculate how long they think it will take to accomplish the job. Some very experienced handymen charge somewhere in the range of $65 to $75 for the first half hour, then $35 to $45 for every hour after that. I think that’s a pretty fair approach so the cost and time involved in driving to the job site is covered. My approach is similar at about $45 per hour if I estimate the job under a half day and around $30 to $40 an hour for longer jobs. Personally, I almost always give a price up front and write out the scope of work involved beforehand so there are no questions later when the job is completed.

Let’s compare pros: A Plumber may come into your home and replace a drain, and it takes him an hour and a half to get everything done, then he charges you $175 for the repair. Then let’s say a handyman comes in and does the exact same job. Is he worth $175? More than likely, he will charge less. Say, $120 for the same job. Remember, $75 for the first 1/2 hour, then $45 per hour after that. While he’s there, you may as well have him look at that long over due porch repair as well. You can’t ask the plumber to do that! To be fair, a plumber can also run new water service to the free-standing garage you built in the backyard, but you might not want the handyman to handle that one. There are code issues and job specific licensing involved. You can check out my article on who you should hire for your job if you’re unsure about who to call.

So, in an attempt to answer the question in a straightforward way, I’d say a good, professional handyman will run you anywhere from $25 to $65 per hour. Not a great answer, but without more specific information about what job it is we’re talking about, it’s really impossible to say with any more accuracy. Remember to ask questions. Compare prices. And remember, you usually get what you pay for, but don’t overlook the small entrepreneur working his butt off making it happen!

I own a small home improvement business in northeast Dallas called Thousand Hills Properties.

Curb address numbers are fairly easy to paint. You can get everything you need for a simple black and white curb number at your home improvement store for under $15. There are many complex and colorful designs you can attempt, but if you’ve never painted a curb, start with a basic black numbers on a white background or white numbers on a black background. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. One can each of black spray paint and white spray paint. I recommend Rustoleum brand and use their basic flat enamels. You can improve the overall look by using a specialty paint like Painter’s Touch but the basic flat enamel works great.
2. 1/2″ wide masking tape.
3. Masking paper.
4. Three inch high numbering stencils
5. Small brush for touch ups.

To start, figure out exactly where you want the numbers to appear on your curb. Using the 1/2″ masking tape, tape your numbers together lining then stencils up along the edges. If you use the recommended stencils (click the numbering stencils above to see what’s readily available at Home Depot), your numbers will be about 1″ apart.

Once you locate the spot for your numbers, use a heavy brush to knock off the dirt from the curb, then mask an area 5″ high by 11″ wide. This width can vary depending on the actual numbers you are painting. For example, if your address is 1111 Fox Avenue, you will not need all of 11 inches. Tape your numbers together, then measure the combined width, then add 1-2″ on each side. You can tape some newspaper around your painting area to protect the surrounding area from over spray. Then simply apply your background color. If you want white numbers, apply a black background. Use a back and forth motion and lightly cover the entire area, paying attention to the edges and corners. Continue spraying until you have good coverage. Rough concrete requires a little extra paint. Let your back ground dry for a few minutes until the surface feels dry to a light touch.

Once your background is dry enough to apply tape to it, center your assembled number stencil to the background, and tape it securely on all edges. Mask the remaining background from getting painted.

Paint the stencils carefully using short bursts of paint. You can wear rubber gloves and use your fingertips to press the edges of the numbers as you go and that will minimize under spray. Once complete, you can remove the stencils immediately and allow the numbers to dry a little.

If you have some under spray, spray a little paint into the cap of the paint can and use a small brush to touch up any areas that need it.

Finally, remove all your masking and you will have new curb numbers that should last for years!

Simple black numbers on a white background

Basic white numbers on a black background

If you live in northeast Dallas and want someone to paint your curb for you, or you want some ideas for more advanced designs, visit my website and click on the “Services” tab to find actual pictures and my pricing.