[Curious123]

Hi,

I own a small house and see things break down. I don't know anyone who can help me to get things fixed the right way without a rip-off.

All I need is to find a good contractor who can do the following:

1) Fix two door knobs. I thought I fixed them myself. However, they still drop on the floor from time to time.

2) Install a U.S. flag in front of my house. The contractor must have a power drill or something like that in order to push the nails in real firm.

3) Dig a groove in my yard to get bricks lined up in it in order to form a boundary between the lawn and flower bed.

4) Advise me on where to get the same type of bricks to lay another bounary along my driveway. Some bricks are missing so I'll need to get some.

4) Use a deep seeding machine to do seeding in bare spots in my yard. Now there are some bare spots, and the soil in some area is too solid to allow grass seeds to grow. Also birds eat the seeds every day so seeds won't grow. I was told that soil must be loosened up, and seeds must be buried under the soil so birds won't be able to eat the seeds.

If anyone can help with these, my deep appreciations! BTW, my location is in South Shore, MA.

 

[Gary in WA]

Hi, I'm sorry you're having trouble finding skilled help. Your post may not get any answers due to the fact that this is a "do it yourself" question and answer site. Try contracting your city or county building department to steer you in the right direction. Be safe, GBAR

 

[Scuba_Dave]

You would also need to post your location
Is there a reason you need to hire someone for these tasks?
Many of these I would consider hiring a neighbors teenager to complete

 

[Curious123]

It seems that I joined the wrong forum. I was looking for a contractor who could help fix some broken stuff. Do you know which forum I should join?

I can't hire a neighbor's teenager, because I pay attention to details. If the work cannot be done in the right way, I'll have to find someone else to do it. Therefore, I've decided to find a professional to do it well the first time.

 

[KHouse75]

I don't mean to be rude but this is a DIY site. If you don't want to DIY, you can pick up the yellow pages and call a local contractor.

If you are willing to DIY, I will re-word your questions for you so you can Do it Yourself.

1) I have two door knobs that keep falling off. Does anyone have any pointers on how I can properly install these so they don't keep falling off?

2) I'd like to install a U.S.A flag on my house. Does anyone have any pointers on the best way to do this before I read the instructions and try it myself?

3) I'd like to install a brick border around my flower bed. Does anyone have any pointers on the best way to do this before I hit the search button or visit google and try it myself?

4) No way to reword this...Just pick up the yellow pages and find a local brickyard where you can bring some samples for comparison. Typically, your closest brickyard is the one that supplied the brick originally. I've found 30 year old brick that was still being produced at my local brickyard. You can typically find something close and mix it in with existing brick and nobody will be able to tell.

5) What's the best way to seed grass seed so it's more likely to grow? Just an FYI...I've just thrown seed down on hard clay soil and within a week or so, It starts growning with little effort on my part. Even with birds eating it all day long. If the ground is very hard, till it or break it up someway then rake in seed according to instructions.

Grass seed it very easy to grow.

Now I will answer the reworded questions.

1) Tighten the screws tight but not too tight where the bolt won't move. It the knob is falling off, it's due to neglect. Once they start loosening, you should be tightening the screws!

2) Read the instructions with the flag pole kit.

3) Brain, hands, feet, shovel, bricks, hose or rope to layout border...Better yet Google!

4) Local Brickyard.

5) Loosen soil, throw down seed, rake in good and keep damp at all times until it starts growing. Then back off some on the water according to seed instructions.



Then again...I think I did mean to be rude because this is a DIY site and most of this is stuff my 5 year old can do herself.

 

[bjbatlanta]

Try posting on "Craigslist" in your area. Be sure to get references.....

 

[jmuamy]

Angies List is the best $50 I ever spent. It provides user generated reviews of local business that service homeowners. From plumbers to handymen, you'll find reviews. I am one month in to homeownership. I've used at least four various companies I found on the List. I have been satisfied with all except our movers. Can't win em all, but it really is a great resource.

 

[bjbatlanta]

I've heard of Angie's List and may well be worth the money. Craigslist is pretty much a "crapshoot". Why I would strongly recommend getting references from handymen listed there. Sounds like what the OP is looking for, not a GC.
(Might look under landscapers too.)

 

[ccarlisle]

The list seems pretty much what a handyman would do...look up Rent-a-Husband or Handyman or words to that effect; I know they have franchises in most cities. They go for about $40 an hour, with a minimum.

 

[RegeSullivan]

A contractor will not assure you will get the job done to your satisfaction and most contractors would have to charge a couple of hundred a day just to break even. I fully understand your desire to get the job right. A good handyman is hard to find but if ask around you might get a guy with the high standards you are looking for. If you do find someone give her/him one of two small jobs and if you don't like the work try someone else until you find someone you like.

 

[Termite]

Then again...I think I did mean to be rude because this is a DIY site and most of this is stuff my 5 year old can do herself.

This is an absolutely unnecessary comment, and I'm posting this publicly to let everyone know that the moderators will not tolerate such treatment of people on this site. Peoples' abilities to do work on their homes vary greatly and if you can't recognize that then you're not going to be welcome here. If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. No further discussion necessary.

That being said, as Curious123 correctly said, they probably need to seek a website that can assist them with locating a contractor since we are a site geared toward DIYers.