Tips from the K&B Trenches

Nashville, Tenn., home renovator The Wills Company, Inc. has a "Handyman" division that has already reached $2 million in sales for 2005. That's a lot of leaks. And much of the work is thanks to new-home builders who didn't do the job right in the first place - not exactly a recipe for glowing customer referrals. With all that handyman experience, Wendell Harmer, partner and general manager of The Wills Company, has some thoughts on how to make sure your kitchens and baths won't soon need a visit from the handyman.

Spend a little, get a lot
His first piece of advice is to use quality products. "Most of our handyman work involves replacement of worn-out items," Harmer says. "We do a lot of repairs in kitchens and baths where an inferior material or product has worn out." Some examples:

Countertops. Durability need not cost a lot of extra money. For instance, many grades of granite are available, and Harmer has found granite countertops that are only 10 percent more expensive than Corian. "You never get a callback with granite, but if you put a hot pot or pan on a Corian counter, you may need to replace the damaged area," he says.

Disposals. Harmer has had to replace several one-quarter and one-half horsepower under-sink disposals. A three-quarter horsepower unit may cost only $100 more, "but you almost never have to go back. If you are paying a plumber to install a disposal, it doesn't make sense to install anything less than a three-quarter horsepower unit," he says.

Hardware. Paying extra for kitchen and bath cabinet hardware helps prevent breakage, according to Harmer. "We get a lot of calls from people with bad cabinet door hinges and drawer sliders. It is not something you will notice in the first two years, but if you plan on staying in a house a long time, don't skimp on hardware," he says.

Fixtures. The same goes for plumbing fixtures. "Spend a little extra on the front end from a company that has been in business for a long time. Their parts tend to last longer and they will still be in business when you need to get parts." For high-end fixtures, Harmer recommends sticking with U.S. manufacturers. "We have trouble finding parts for many of the high-end European fixtures," Harmer says. "American-made fixtures can always be found fairly easily, and American manufacturers now offer styles that match the European manufacturers."

Make a better shower
Harmer gets a lot of calls about leaky showers that can be fixed with a simple bead of caulk around a spigot or control knob. "During a shower, water can splash down from the shower head and get behind the wall if the spigot isn't properly sealed, then damage a ceiling below," Harmer says. The fix: before installing the trim on penetrations below showerheads, seal them with a bead of silicone caulk.

In tubs with tile walls, tile setters sometimes grout between the tub and first row of tiles. This joint can crack and leak, as the tub and tiles expand and contract at different rates. Again, Harmer recommends caulking. "Make sure that first row tile is caulked, not grouted," he says. "Tile manufacturers make caulk to match their grout colors." Harmer recommends using non-white grout and caulk in showers, since white turns dingy quickly. "To beat that problem to the punch, go with gray or tan."

Speaking of showers, the 6-foot-4-inch Harmer advises everyone to install shower heads at 7 feet during construction. "There is absolutely no additional cost, but it can be a nice amenity for tall people," he says.

Surge protection
Harmer has seen enough water heaters and faucets blown out when municipalities work on water lines that he recommends a water surge protector on almost every project. These devices work like the surge protector for your computer but regulate water pressure coming into the house and cost less than $200.

If you follow Harmer's simple tips, your customers won't need to call a handyman on your account. But if they need a hand with something else and they live in Tennessee, they can give Harmer a call.