According to Merriam-Webster a handyman is: one competent in a variety of small skills, or inventive or ingenious in repair or maintenance work.  I agree with this somewhat, but I’m biased.

When most people hear the word ”handyman”, they envision an old drunk showing up, starting something and never finishing,  or worst of all causing more damage than he repairs.  I assure you, that is not usually the case.

 A handyman is a skilled person who has many years of experience, and can perform a  wide variety of skilled trade work.  Each handyman has a specialty, but should also have some knowledge and expertise in a variety of disciplines.  A good handyman knows his limits, and when to refer a project to a more skilled individual.

Handymen are usually called for smaller projects, where it isn’t cost effective to hire a contractor.  One man can do the work of several different subcontractors from various disciplines.

For example,  you have a rental home that has a toilet that won’t stop running, a hole in the drywall, and a broken closet shelf.  It is less expensive to have one handyman do these repairs,  rather than a plumber, drywall installer, and a carpenter.

Today’s society has become so specialized, that the true handyman is becoming a thing of the past.  For this reason, I encourage everyone who has a unique skill to take the time to pass it on to the next generation.

 Do you need to cut out the damaged drywall and replace it, or can the hole be filled in with mud?

 If the hole is bigger than a golfball, you will need to cut the damaged area out and replace it with a new piece.

 I usually take a level and draw a square around the hole (about 1.5 in. beyond the edge).   Then, I cut out the square with a razor knife.

 I make sure I don’t damage the cut out piece so I can trace it for the new piece.    Next, I install some backing (usually a 1 x 4).

 I cut the new piece, and screw it to the backing.   Then, I start taping the repair.  After the tape coat dries, I apply a second coat.

 After the second coat dries, I wipe the area down with a damp sponge to blend away any imperfections.  Then, it’s time to apply the texture.

 Before I begin, I always make sure to cover the floor and anything else I don’t want to get painted due to the messiness. 

 I use a small hand pump to texture small areas.

 I mix the texture and start spraying the area from the outside in.  This way, the texture will blend in with the rest of the wall.

 Once the texture dries, I smooth it down with a damp sponge.  Once the texture is completely blended, it’s time to paint.

 I use a 6 in. roller to paint small areas because this size helps flawlessly match the finish.

  To get a better idea of what the process looks like, take a look at these videos from a recent project…