Mower Ramp

This little project was a great way to start of the year for outdoor projects. Customer had this shed installed and needed a permanent solution to ramp his ride-on mower up into storage. I little wood and concrete and you have super-sturdy structure that can handle any size piece of yard equipment. If you have a project like this and you don’t know who to call, I’m your guy.

Fencing, anyone?

I recently built a wood fence for a family member. It was quite an opportunity to hone these skills and it came out great. Its the details that matter. I think a fence with a nice, level top line is far superior to a fence that undulated with the terrain. iT looks so clean and precise and like it was designed for the space, instead of the look being dictated by the environment.

It is tempting to use the premade panels available at the box stores but there are significant drawbacks to what you would think would be a turnkey method of fence bulidng.. When you build your own panels in place, you are more flexible with making things fit and it really isnt much more expensive. Just the ability to precisely place nails is a dramatic improvement over the haphazardly assembled store panels.

If your HOA allows for wood fencing, i recommend it over vinyl or chain link, as its more sturdy than vinyl, offers more privacy than chain link and beats both in terms of looks hands down. Its a landscaping winner and make any back yard fell inviting and weill-designed. Get in touch if you want your backyard to stand out

Premier Project

Flashing back to this project from about a year ago, i’d like to introduce this build=in display cabinet for a customer near Lake Winterset. This one was quite a challenge as I had some engineering to figure out to try and make it present as mostly a glass front while still providing enough wood structure to support the very heavy glass doors. My glass supplier was instrumental in making this work as I had some pretty tight tolerances to fit the glass nice and tight to the frame. So many challenges with this one but the end result is really incredible. I learned a ton on this one and I am so happy it came out the way it did. It fits the space perfectly, and matches the existing woodworking perfectly. I hope I get to experience another build like this one so I can use what i learned. Onward an upward.

A Better Built-in

It’s nice to have a place to drop all your stuff when you walk in the door. It keeps your living space from getting cluttered, and is a great solution for shoes, pet items, etc. It can also, be a great look with a little walnut and some custom fitment. The bench this customer had in place is functional and looked ok, but did not match the upscale feel of the rest of this downtown Winter Haven condo. That’s where I come in.

A new Black-walnut cabinet system and storage bench designed to fill up the space is the perfect solution here. The customer came up with a vision and wanted a slat wall and two cabinets with inset doors they could use to hideaway the clutter. This where their internet access point is so some consideration was made fore this device storage. It was a long one but once the Rubio Monocoat went on and the walnut turned from a muted gray to a deep, rich brown with highly figured wood grain, it was all worth it. The color variation ended up in all the right places and is really something else. The beauty is hard to capture in photos but this is some of my finest work. Customer was thrilled and now that its in use, its something they enjoy every time they come home.

Countertop Rescue

Epoxy counter tops have been popular for a while, now. When they are done currently they can mimic exotic materials are create a really unique look. Now, Ive attended my share of classes on Youtube University, but a pour-in-place counter top like this orange monstrosity should only be attempted by experienced professionals. The results can be very off-putting if done incorrectly. The edges were uneven, the counter was out of level and wasn’t flat enough to seal against the flange of the kitchen sink, causing water infiltration. Ick.

I remade the counters with a more traditional laminate and used a real plywood substrate as opposed to the usual particle board product you would normally find in this situation. Came out great. Looks like its supposed to, fits way better than it did and the customer can now actually enjoy being in the kitchen. A few cabinet repairs, a touch wall repair and its a whole new kitchen.

Window Casings

A Lake Wales customer had finished a re-decoration of her home and wanted an update from the tile sills of yesteryear. She also wanted remove some traditional style columns from the fireplace mantel and simplify the look with just some box section. After a fight with distortion from the moisture contained in the pressure treated substrate i had to add, we got it all put together. Customer did quite a nice job painting everything after the fact. It all looks great with her DIY ship lap entry. Fun Project!

That’s My Jamb

A customer need a nonstructural room divider setup in their home theatre/rec room area. She told me she needed a double door installed. Much to my surprise, when i arrived, the door had arrived but did not include a jamb! Further complicating matters, the top of the door was curved so a corresponding curved jamb and casing would be needed. Using a process called bent lamination, I was able to bend some southern yellow pine into a curved shape and use the door stops to attach the curve to the legs of the jamb.

It was a lot more complicated than i thought it would be when i committed, but with some thought, patience, and a little know-how, it all came together. We finished it in a gray Rubio Monocoat and the finished product is visible in the “gallery” tab. Really proud of this one.

Propeller

A customer reached out about a gift for her husband featuring a propeller she picked up while antiquing. She wanted it displayed in someway and had the idea of a shadowbox surrounding it. A simple bead-board background and the perfect shade of nautical navy and this little piece of hardware became the perfect home office addition. Neat little project.

Flashback Fascia Repair

A favorite customer of mine needed help with some fascia repair at various spots around her other-wise gorgeous, MSM styled home off Lake Cannon. I’ve done quite a bit of refurbishing around this house and was excited to tackle this glaring need. You can see the level of degradation as well as the complexity of the layered woodworking.

Final fitment is nice and tight. Once all those layers are complete, it really is beautiful look. There about seven or eight locations around the house just like this. after sanding, caulk, prime and paint, the repair is invisible, like it never happened.

Bookshelves

A customer recently asked me to assemble an antique bedframe. When I say antique, I mean 16th century. It was a very impressive piece. It required a little surgery to make it structurally sound, but it worked out and is ready to use. Afterward, they asked me to build a set of bookshelves for their livingroom. They had some requirements- no plywood, MDF nor any substrate that wasn’t all natural wood. We had some pretty tight size requirements to meet as well. Above you see construction is finished and I am covered in sawdust, doing some final sanding. They will be painted and installed as built-ins so I wanted to show them off in their natural state. This one is 8’ tall and both cases feature a tudor-arch mimic, which the customer wanted to fit in with the original style still featured in the house built in the early 1900s. I think I pulled it off. I love the projects that keep me in the shop. While i love the home services aspect of my job, this is my element. Stay tuned for the final installation.

Gazebo Goodness

One thing I love about my work is the variety. From cabinets to woodworking to tile to flooring, I do it all. Last week, I installed a gazebo for a local business’ employee break area. It came in a kit and just needed to be assembled. The size was a challenge and it took a little creativity to get it together. The surface also had to leveled to make sure everything lined up correctly. The asphalt was almost 4 inches lower on one corner. so concrete footers were installed. It turned out to be a nice gig despite the heat. Now it’s a nice shady spot for the employees to take a beat and get some fresh air.

Altered Altar

A repeat customer needed some custom work done. As the family makes strides towards creating a home as they settle in, my work here as been moving from my typical, home owner services like picture hanging and other interior installations, to more custom touches. There are plans for some custom shelving for the wet bar and a built-in for the dining room.

During the installation. Smoothing out the casing miters and prepping for paint. The goal was to match the finish of the built-in across the room.

First, we had to dress up the prayer altar built into a family room on the lower level. The small, closet-like space was a simple structure, with drywall and baseboards as any room would have. The customer wanted a new entry made, to coordinate with the other woodworks in the room, and to give the altar a more ornate look.

A sketch was made that included a transom window and a decorative vents, along with a door on hidden hinges. As discussions continued, the door was eliminated, simplifying the project and making it better, in my opinion.

In the shop waiting for finish and glazing. It looks beautiful in naked poplar, but I’m a sucker for unfinished wood.

I finished the install after about a week of shoptime, and I am really happy with the result. The finished matched dead-on with the built-ins already in the room and the altar now has a look to match its esteem.

New Azalea Park Kitchen

My awesome younger sister recently bought a house in the Azalea Park neighborhood of Orlando. It’s a great starter home with potential on a huge lot. It was also quick rehab by the previous owner in order to get it on the market and was missing some basic features that make a kitchen a pleasant place to be.

In lieu of upper cabinets, some rather insufficient shelving was put in place. While the open shelving look is popular, this however, ain’t it.

I put together a design to maximize the available wall space, to add some sorely needed storage, a more homey feel, and a traditional look. White shaker cabinets with large 36” uppers were built from scratch in my shop and coated with a super durable white semigloss lacquer, and installed with butcher block counter tops.

The difference is night and day. The bright white makes the cabinets unimposing even though they added quite a bit of bullk to walls. Even though we’ve lost the open space of having open shelves, the room still feels bright and airy, and the new lighting really fills the room at night.

The result is a kitchen that is joy to use, with place for everything, a huge industrial style sink, and brand new appliances. Future plans include a pantry closet and a tile backspash. Stay tuned for updates!

Peppertree punchup

Customer recently purchased this mobile as a rental. An outdated, busy interior desperately needed a chill pill. Clean white paint, fresh white cabs and an icy laminate countertop brighten the air. Ready for new tenants!

What does a handyman do?

The services a handyman provides depends on the regulations of the state you are in, or the willingness for any given handyman to break them. I tend to stick with following the rules, and so here in Florida, I won’t venture into things like plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC are highly technical aspects of construction and require specific knowledge to diagnose and repair. Even if a job seems simple, without proper training, you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s best if you have issues with these systems to call a qualified technician to address them.

What I can do are things like light carpentry such as fascia repair and trim carpentry. With all the rain we get here in Florida, wood components of the exterior trim of your house may be deteriorating and in need of repair. I can do many other things such as flooring installation, door and window repair, drywall patch and paint, caulking, and others. For a more detailed list, visit the “services” page. And of course, if you are not sure, feel free to fill out the form on the “estimate” page. I try to answer any questions as quickly as possible.

Seminole Heights Porch

About a month ago, I began this project. Its the front porch of an early 20th century bungalow in Seminole Heights in Tampa. Its a beautiful little place with period correct interior updates on a tree covered lot. The homeowner however, can’t enjoy the front porch without being accompanied by an inconvenient number of mosquitoes. That’s where I come in. Instead of a typical aluminum frame that would have been a bit out of step with the rest of the property, the homeowner wanted a wood frame. Using a “Screen Tight” track system, I am able to accommodate. After a new delivery of some kiln-dried pressure treated lumber, I can begin the scribe molding to the existing structure of the porch. Then paint and finally, screen application.

Pictured is the wood frame completed by me last month. the extra space next to the doorway is for a mail-slot. Stay tuned.

Davenport Art StudiOMG

So here it is, a month later and I’m finished with the art studio. The drywall turned out pretty nice and I love the window trim. Simple with an extra reveal for the jamb extension. The HVAC will be installed this week and the artist will be back to work in no time. A couple revisions along the way but the customer is happy and I can move on to completing my next project…the Seminole Heights Porch.

Davenport Art Studio

A local artist recently had this steel building built on her property to serve as an art studio. She is formerly a professional graphic artist and works today in oils. However, the building is sun-beaten all day and proved too hot to work in for any substantial length of time. She asked me if I could help insulate it and finish the interior with drywall and trim. No small task as the building is 24 x 24, but 15’ at the peak. Quite an undertaking for a one-man operation. I jumped at the chance to improve my drywall skills and accepted the project, and she accepted my price. Pictured is middle of installing the strapping to which the drywall will be screwed and installing the R19 insulation. The customer has hired an HVAC company to install a mini-split to cool this beast down. She cant wait to settle in to her new workspace.