# Handyman Guides | Handy Man West Hartford > Straightforward guides on wood rot, decks, doors, drywall, gutters, and more — written by CT-licensed craftsmen at Handy Man West Hartford. URL: https://handymanwesthartford.com/guide/ # Straightforward guides. Answers to the questions we hear most on the phone, written by an insured, CT-licensed crew that does the work every week. ## General handyman guides ### DIY vs. Hiring a Handyman: When to Call a Pro Which home repairs are safe to DIY and which need a pro? Risk, permits, and CT code considerations to help you decide when to hire a handyman. Read guide [DIY vs. Hiring a Handyman: When to Call a Pro →](/guide/diy-vs-hiring-a-handyman/) ### How Much Does a Handyman Cost in Connecticut? (2026 Guide) Real Connecticut handyman pricing: time-and-materials vs flat rate, what drives cost, and why insured, licensed labor is worth it. Get an honest estimate. Read guide [How Much Does a Handyman Cost in Connecticut? (2026 Guide) →](/guide/handyman-cost-connecticut/) ## Carpentry & Woodwork ### Custom Shelving and Built-Ins: What to Know Before You Build Planning custom shelving or built-ins? Material and finish options, wall-anchoring, timeline, and what a professional evaluation covers before you build. Read guide [Custom Shelving and Built-Ins: What to Know Before You Build →](/guide/custom-shelving-built-ins-what-to-know/) ### Interior Trim and Crown Molding Installation Explained How interior trim and crown molding installation works: trim types, miter and cope joints, paint- vs stain-grade, and what a clean install looks like. Read guide [Interior Trim and Crown Molding Installation Explained →](/guide/interior-trim-crown-molding-installation/) ### Signs of Wood Rot on Your Home's Exterior How to spot wood rot early on trim, sills, stairs, and soffits — the visual and texture signs New England homeowners should never ignore. Read guide [Signs of Wood Rot on Your Home's Exterior →](/guide/signs-of-wood-rot-on-house-exterior/) ### What Causes Wood Rot in New England Homes? Wood rot explained: how moisture and fungus, freeze-thaw cycles, and poor drainage break down the wood on Connecticut homes — and how to prevent it. Read guide [What Causes Wood Rot in New England Homes? →](/guide/what-causes-wood-rot-new-england/) ### Wood Rot Repair vs. Full Replacement: Which Do You Need? When can rotted wood be saved with epoxy, and when must it be replaced? Structural thresholds, cost trade-offs, and longevity for CT homes. Read guide [Wood Rot Repair vs. Full Replacement: Which Do You Need? →](/guide/wood-rot-repair-vs-replacement/) ### Wood Rot vs. Termite Damage: How to Tell the Difference Rot or termites? Learn the visual and behavioral differences, moisture vs insect cause, and when to call a carpenter vs a pest specialist in CT. Read guide [Wood Rot vs. Termite Damage: How to Tell the Difference →](/guide/wood-rot-vs-termite-damage/) ## Deck Repair & Maintenance ### Deck Board and Joist Rot: Causes and Fixes Where deck rot starts — ledgers, joists, and posts — and how it's fixed with sistering, flashing repair, and board replacement on CT decks. Read guide [Deck Board and Joist Rot: Causes and Fixes →](/guide/deck-board-joist-rot-causes-fixes/) ### How to Maintain a Wood Deck Through Connecticut Winters Fall sealing, snow and ice care, and a spring checklist to protect your Connecticut wood deck through freeze-thaw winters and extend its life. Read guide [How to Maintain a Wood Deck Through Connecticut Winters →](/guide/maintain-wood-deck-connecticut-winters/) ### Pressure-Treated vs. Composite Decking for CT Homes Cost, maintenance, lifespan, and looks compared: pressure-treated lumber vs composite (Trex, AZEK) decking for Connecticut's weather. Read guide [Pressure-Treated vs. Composite Decking for CT Homes →](/guide/pressure-treated-vs-composite-decking/) ### Repair vs. Rebuild: Is Your Deck Worth Saving? When is a deck repairable and when is a rebuild smarter? Structural condition, cost comparison, permits, and age/material factors for CT decks. Read guide [Repair vs. Rebuild: Is Your Deck Worth Saving? →](/guide/deck-repair-vs-rebuild/) ### Signs Your Deck Needs Repair or Is Unsafe Wobbly rails, soft boards, and failing ledgers — the deck warning signs CT homeowners shouldn't ignore, and when a deck is unsafe to use. Read guide [Signs Your Deck Needs Repair or Is Unsafe →](/guide/signs-your-deck-needs-repair/) ## Door Installation & Repair ### How to Fix a Drafty Exterior Door Stop cold drafts and lost heat: weatherstripping, thresholds and sweeps, gap sealing, and when a drafty exterior door needs replacing in CT winters. Read guide [How to Fix a Drafty Exterior Door →](/guide/how-to-fix-a-drafty-exterior-door/) ### Interior vs. Exterior Door Replacement: What Differs How interior and exterior door replacement differ: materials, insulation, prehung vs slab, weatherproofing, and typical timelines. Read guide [Interior vs. Exterior Door Replacement: What Differs →](/guide/interior-vs-exterior-door-replacement/) ### Prehung vs. Slab Doors: Which to Choose Prehung or slab? Compare install ease and cost, when each fits, frame condition, and fit-and-finish trade-offs before your door project. Read guide [Prehung vs. Slab Doors: Which to Choose →](/guide/prehung-vs-slab-doors/) ### Repair vs. Replace: When a Door Is Beyond Fixing Warping, rot, and failing hardware — the thresholds that mean replace, not repair, plus cost comparison and the energy payoff of a new door. Read guide [Repair vs. Replace: When a Door Is Beyond Fixing →](/guide/repair-vs-replace-door/) ### Why Won't My Door Close Properly? Common Causes Door sticking or won't latch? Common causes — settling, hinge and strike issues, humidity swelling, and frame racking — and quick checks vs pro fixes. Read guide [Why Won't My Door Close Properly? Common Causes →](/guide/why-wont-my-door-close-properly/) ## Drywall Repair & Patching ### Drywall Repair vs. Full Replacement Patch or replace? Damage-extent thresholds, water and mold considerations, and cost comparison for deciding on drywall repair vs replacement. Read guide [Drywall Repair vs. Full Replacement →](/guide/drywall-repair-vs-replacement/) ### How to Tell If a Drywall Crack Is Serious Cosmetic or structural? How to read drywall cracks — settling vs moisture, warning signs, and when a wall crack means it's time to call a pro. Read guide [How to Tell If a Drywall Crack Is Serious →](/guide/is-a-drywall-crack-serious/) ### Patching a Hole in Drywall: What the Job Involves How drywall patching works by hole size — mud, tape, sand, feather, and texture matching for a paint-ready, invisible repair. Read guide [Patching a Hole in Drywall: What the Job Involves →](/guide/patching-a-hole-in-drywall/) ## Exterior Maintenance & Gutter Cleaning ### Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Connecticut Homeowners A Connecticut fall checklist: gutters, roof and siding, deck sealing, door and window drafts, and wood-rot inspection before winter sets in. Read guide [Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Connecticut Homeowners →](/guide/fall-home-maintenance-checklist-connecticut/) ### How Often Should You Clean Gutters in New England? A twice-yearly baseline plus tree-cover adjustments, ice-dam prevention, and the signs of clogged gutters for Connecticut homeowners. Read guide [How Often Should You Clean Gutters in New England? →](/guide/how-often-clean-gutters-new-england/) ### Why Power Washing Matters for CT Siding and Decks Power washing removes mold, algae, and dirt from Connecticut siding and decks, protects surfaces, and preps wood for staining. Here's when and why. Read guide [Why Power Washing Matters for CT Siding and Decks →](/guide/why-power-washing-matters-ct/) ## Flooring Services ### Repair vs. Replace: Damaged Flooring Options Should you spot-repair or replace a floor? Extent of damage, plank availability, cost comparison, and when full replacement is smarter. Read guide [Repair vs. Replace: Damaged Flooring Options →](/guide/repair-vs-replace-flooring/) ### Signs Your Laminate Flooring Needs Repair or Replacement Buckling, peaking, water damage, and worn planks — how to tell if your laminate floor can be repaired or needs replacing. Read guide [Signs Your Laminate Flooring Needs Repair or Replacement →](/guide/signs-laminate-flooring-needs-repair/) ### What to Expect During a Laminate Floor Installation The laminate installation process explained: subfloor prep, acclimation, underlayment, expansion gaps, and a typical timeline. Read guide [What to Expect During a Laminate Floor Installation →](/guide/what-to-expect-laminate-floor-installation/) ## Assembly & Mounting Services ### TV Mounting on Different Wall Types: What to Know Mounting a TV on drywall/stud, brick, or plaster: anchor selection, weight limits, cable management, and when to bring in a pro. Read guide [TV Mounting on Different Wall Types: What to Know →](/guide/tv-mounting-different-wall-types/) ## Commercial Handyman Services ### What a Commercial Handyman Handles for Offices and Retail What a commercial handyman does for offices and retail: common facility tasks, recurring maintenance, minimizing disruption, and insurance for commercial sites. Read guide [What a Commercial Handyman Handles for Offices and Retail →](/guide/what-a-commercial-handyman-handles/)