Deck from start to finish

 

Been a while since I stopped by with a new blog post. Here is one of our projects from a few months back where our client wanted a little deck built off their back door.

 

Set the posts

 

Frame the base

 

 

Install the rail

 

The Finished Product

Summer Projects {Decks and fences galore}

We at TLC Handy Solutions enjoyed a great summer of business. I have to say we were extremely blessed to have a summer so busy with work I barely had time to post images of the work we had been doing. Our bread and butter this summer was decks and fences with a dash of painting homes. The team kicked out some great looking decks this year. I pretty proud of the crew we have built and know our customers appreciated them as well. The work will soon change from outdoor landscape to indoor tile, flooring, and remodels, but in the mean time here are some of the favorite transformations from the last 3 months.

before and after

A Fence with a little Curb Appeal

If you are like me you might always be looking for the next best way to make your life a little easier. I love a clean yard with well maintained grass right up to a fence line. However sometimes if can be hard to get your mower up that close. You might drag out your weed eater to get in tight next to the fence. Or have items that grow under it. Well I wanted my next fence to not face those challenges.

I had a thought not long ago when I was trimming my law near my fence how great it would be to have a concrete curb the separated the grass from the fence. That way when I was mowing I could get in tight enough to the fence and get that great clean line without having to take out the weed eater.

Our latest fence project I got to test my theory and if you ask me I think it looks pretty great and is super practical. Another advantage to a curbed fence is animals cant escape. My dogs are old now but in their younger years they liked to dig their way under our fence. So if you have a crazy digging dog this would be a great way to correct his behavior.

If you are in the market for a new fence or a repair consider a concrete bottom.
We also got creative with the gates on this project by adding planter boxes and solar light tops on one and trellises on the others.

Summer, with a side of freshness

I'm not your average contractor. I tell people that often. Contractor's get a bad rap, we have all heard the horror stories from friends. But I try hard to operate my business differently. That being said I'm not always on home remodels or outdoor landscape projects. Sometimes I like to take on a special project. Some thing that can bring some joy to someones life and at the same time fill my need for creativity. Last summer I worked on this lemon-aid stand for a clients children. Being a Dad myself, I really enjoyed this project and it was fun to create. I used a desk that I got from the Goodwill as my base for the structure.
Then I added additional pieces like stair railing for the posts, and a chalk board painted the front, and wood top for the sign (covered in peal and stick wall paper); all that I got from the Home Depot.
The sides I decorated with wall paper stickers from a local craft store. No lemon-aid stand could be complete without a few accessories like a basket and money till; all finds from the Goodwill. There you have it, ready for service. So the next time you see an old desk at a garage sale or thrift store - think about how you can get creative with your kids this summer.
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 {photos by Angie Cox Photography}

photos by Angie Cox Photography

Just Chill'in on the Deck {Bonney Lake, deck contractor}

What a great weekend it has been. It finally feels like spring is here. I was outside Saturday night enjoying a cold adult beverage on the deck that I built so many years ago. I was thinking about some new designs for TLC's upcoming summer and reflecting on the designs of years past. I have a few favorites that I think really transformed the home and left the owners super happy. I thought that I would share them with you today. I would like to think this lovely Sunday morning the owners are sitting out on these decks now enjoying a hot cup of coffee. Or perhaps they were out there last night, as I was on mine, barbecuing for their family. Either way I know that there are many more warm days and nights ahead and hope to bring some more areas of relaxation for other clients soon. Enjoy the weekend! 

The perfect time for exterior home painting {Bonney Lake home painter}

It's coming soon - - warm weather, backyard BBQ's, and long evenings relaxing outside with a cold beverage. There are only a small handful of days in Western Washington that we are blessed with nice dry warm days. Being a contractor this becomes a juggling act because it's one of our most popular times of years for exterior home painting.
In this post I want to share with you a few before and after exterior paint jobs that the team of TLC Handy Solutions did last year and remind you its not to early to get on the schedule.

Estimates are always free - contact us soon and let us know if your interested in painting your home prior to the festivities that summer will bring.
We would love to help you out.

TLC Handy Solutions makes the Bonney Lake Sunmer Patch

Recently TLC Handy Solutions was featured in the local blog page The Bonney Lake Sumner Patch. My wife, and ultra talented photographer of Angie Cox Photography, in the little free time she has is a guest blogger for the local publication.

If you missed it, check out her article on TLC and the importance of setting a good online web presence.
Angie takes photographs of family's, children, and local businesses.
If you have a business in the area check her out the amazing marketing opportunities that she can create for you business.  www.angiecoxphotography.com

A peaceful retreat for the summer {Puyallup backyard landscaping}

I have to tell you my job is never boring. Every day I get to meet new people and work in new places. I get to use my creativity and craftsmanship to take nothing and turn it into something. Something that families can enjoy day in and day out. Properties they can take pride in. For me one of the best things to do is to show up on a property and see something with good bones that can be transformed. It really gives me a chance to think outside the box and reuse existing materials - which in the long run is better for the environment and saves the home owner money.
As was the case of this clients backyard. The once drab deck with its open concept railing left little in the way of separation, style and warmth. Additionally, the backyard space was wide open with no fence that separated it from the neighbors yard. It didn’t feel like a space of retreat and relaxation.
My goal was to turn this depressed space into something that the family can enjoy all summer long. First we installed a new fence around the property, creating privacy and silence. Then we tackled the existing deck. We kept its base but installed new railing and steps that really helped create a separation of functional spaces (grassy play yard and entertaining deck). Our clients were very pleased with the transformation and cannot wait till the sun comes out so they can sit back in an easy chair and enjoy the new tranquil space.

 A Before and After show of the deck rail and steps

The new fence around the property now creates some privacy
 

 

The Finished Product - Ready to Entertain

New fence that surrounds the backyard

Honey do list {Bonney Lake General Contractor}

I confess, I'm not the best husband when it comes to honey do lists around the house. I know your thinking- "You remodel homes for a living, I bet your house is decked out in all you do for others." Nope - our home is still has a long list of Honey Do's that I have yet to finish. I guess when you are helping others with their lists, it leaves you little time to get to your own. Finally I decided enough was enough and wanted to give the wife a bathroom similar to what I install for my clients.
Our master bath was as basic as it comes. Standard facets, mirror and lighting. The cheapest materials you can find in Home Depot. Our floor - even worse - was peal and stick laminate. You know the stuff that is supposed to "look" like tile from a far. Horrific! Here are a few of the before and after of the project. We took out the floor and replaced the peal and stick with REAL tile. Then covered the counter tops in tile, replaced the facets and found stunning mirrors and lights to fit our style. The wife loved the transformation. Happy Wife - Happy Life!
If you need help with your honey do list - give me a call. Don't let that project linger for 10 years like I did. I can get it done in most cases, less then a week.

Yep that is the peal and stick floor and plain counter tops

The wife LOVED the new backsplash

New His and Her sinks

The old lighting and the old mirror - STANDARD BLAH

Below the new lights and mirror.

Fantastic Flooring {Bonney Lake General Contractor}

Flooring is such a great way to transform a room from old to new in just a matter of days. Some of our best transformations come from tearing out the old worn out carpet, pealing laminate, or water warped flooring. When choosing your home floor decor it's important to think of the daily use.
For example we see a lot of carpet installed in bathrooms. Just thinking about wet feet and carpet floors makes me wonder why builders would do this. We replace them with tile - a much more sustainable material against water and mold.

Another place we often replace flooring is laminate hardwood from kitchens. This really can look nice when first installed, but one leak in your dishwater and you could be in trouble. Just every day spills from around the sink can cause the floor to give and separate. Tile for these rooms always seem to be a much better choice.

If you cant lay tile - no problem, let the pros of TLC Handy Solutions do it for you.
If you have found that your flooring has taken a beating of years abuse give us a call {253-732-7074}and let us give you a free estimate on replacement.