Just call and ask us: 14162143647

blog

Selling Your Home? Try a Mini-Makeover

April 18, 2015 in blog by lesley  |  1 Comments

Are you selling your home?

FIXIT can help those of you who need a few touch ups before you list your house on the market.  Little blemishes or outdated kitchen hardware can make a house look weary and in most cases, they can be easily fixed.  Just one day of a handyman’s time can make a huge difference!  You may want to touch up cracks on your baseboards and around the window frames that can make a house look weary. Refreshing the walls with a single coat of paint or simply painting over little scratches and smudges can also make a big difference. We often work with real estate agents who know how important the little details are, but we can also offer a ‘mini-makeover’ to you.

You don’t have to be selling your house to benefit from a mini-makeover, you can have one done for your own enjoyment.  If you are contemplating moving, it just might make you want to stay.  The popular show, “Love it or List it” is an extreme example of this, they take three weeks and have big budgets but it is the same principle.  However, a little can go a long way too.

 

http://www.wnetwork.com/shows/love-it-or-list-it

 

A before-and-after photo of this window frame’s mini-makeover shows the dramatic difference:

window trim cracked
window trim repaired

 

 

A mini-makeover often includes:

  • Touch up walls, patch nail holes, refresh the paint
  • Paint the front door
  • Re-caulk bathtubs, touch-up baseboards
  • Change the vanity in a bathroom
  • Fill cracks & repaint window sills & door frames
  • Tight http://fixitall.ca/wp-login.phpen hinges on kitchen cabinets

Renovations and Repairs Coupon

February 13, 2015 in blog, Uncategorized by lesley  |  No Comments

Renovations & Repairs Coupon

Did you get our coupon?

Many of you who live in houses may have received one of our door hangers with a $20 off coupon. We want to offer this same great deal to everyone who lives in a condo too! If you mention that you saw our door hanger, or this virtual coupon, when you phone to make an appointment we would be pleased to offer this discount to you as well. Thanks again for your business!

Tip: Please share the coupon to a friend!

door talker front-blogdoor hanger back - blog

Concrete Counters

July 21, 2014 in blog by lesley  |  1 Comments

One of the newest design trends is polished concrete counters and wow are we impressed with how it is being used for countertops.  Nothing is more versatile and the colour options are almost limitless giving you the ability to coordinate or match the countertop with other colors in a room.  Concrete can also be cast in almost any shape allowing sculptural effects not possible with other materials.  Concrete countertops can even  be personalized with inserts, inlays and customized designs.  Concrete countertops are a specialty trade and not something that FIXIT! small job specialists, offers but this link takes you to a website which is an unbiased resource for ideas and concrete contractor credentials.  This link will take you to a great article on their site: http://www.concretenetwork.com/newsletters/2011/the-quest-february-3.html

 

Tiling your Kitchen?

June 4, 2014 in blog by lesley  |  3 Comments

I recently spoke to a friend who needed a change in her kitchen.  She lives in a 700 square foot condo, and the kitchen is open concept. Her cupboards are a light beige which match the color of her walls, the appliances are silver and the counter is black granite with a hint of dark green in it.   She had a designer come by to  add suggestions on how to improve the space.  One of his recommendations was to add a new backsplash.  He recommended green glass tile for her backsplash.  Something so simple, yet such a dramatic change.  Here are some places in Toronto that my friend went to when shopping for tiles: green backsplash

 http://www.olympiatile.com

http://www.saltillo-tiles.com/

www.centura.ca

photo:  http://www.caller.com/photos/2009/jun/17/57974/

And of course there are stores like Home Depot and Rona

Tip: If you live in a condo please check with condo rules and regulations.  Your tradesman has to cut the tiles to be precise.  This can be loud  and your condo may have time restrictions. 

Drywall Adventures

March 29, 2014 in blog by lesley  |  No Comments

hole+in+the+wallSmall drywall repair is a much larger task that most people think. It usually takes three visits before the surface is ready for painting. The number one reason for drywall repair is water-related, but that’s not necessarily because the drywall gets wet.  Plumbers are also a major source – they cut large holes in drywall to get access to pipes, fix the pipes, and then leave.   Not all plumbers of course – but we affectionately call those that do, “drywall terrorists.”   FIXIT handles all kinds of small drywall repairs; we’ve patched walls on a boat, repaired the ceiling after squirrels were ‘evicted’ from the attic, and fixed what our client referred to as a ‘fist sized hole’ (we didn’t ask).  There isn’t much anyone can do to make the drywall repair any faster, but we try to combine fixing other little things around the house while we are there.

2012 at a Glimpse

March 27, 2013 in blog by lesley  |  No Comments

photo

2012 was a great year for Fixit!  We launched our new website and we watched our team grow.   Specializing in small jobs means that we get a pretty wide range of jobs.  Some of the more interesting ones included installing a personal  ‘dance pole’ in a condo and performing ‘home renovations’ on children’s playhouses at a daycare.   One of my personal favorites is the job we had repainting the numbers on half of a condo’s visitors parking spots.  Apparently the builder asked two people to start painting at either end of the parking lot.  They each started with #1 and bumped into each other starting to paint #34!  Needless to say,  Fixit to the rescue…. parking spots #35 – #67 are now ready for guests.

Go Vertical

March 25, 2013 in blog by lesley  |  No Comments

Storage-01

Condo storage units are great and I don’t know how I could survive without mine.  But when I look around at how some of the storage units have been customized, I get inspired.  ‘Go Vertical’ is my new goal.  When I look around, the best examples of maximizing storage space are the units with shelving that goes right to the top.   I’m also inspired by California Closets, but with a budget-minded focus.   The big box stores like Home Hardware and Rona sell a range of pre-fabricated units.   I’m planning to use a combination of styles to create a custom solution with lots of shelf space for boxes as well as an area for taller items like my golf clubs and skis.

When Purchasing Wallpaper

March 22, 2013 in blog by derooted  |  No Comments

blog 4Ok here is a tip when buying wallpaper…..check the lot numbers and try to get the rolls from the same box.  I made the mistake of purchasing wallpaper from a reputable handy store and got the same lot numbers BUT failed to get the rolls from the same box.  I didn’t even realize you can do this.  I am hoping this could save you time and money.  It was an expensive mistake for me.

Our new adventure at sea

May 18, 2012 in blog by lesley  |  No Comments

Fixit! doesn’t just work in condos and houses, we just worked on a boat! One of Toronto’s most popular cruise boats, The River Gambler, has been updating its look and we’ve been there to help. One of our projects was tiling their fabulous new bar. (here is an action shot getting ready for their first cruise). We think the glass tiles are really chic.

How to Create a Boutique Bedroom

May 12, 2012 in blog by lesley  |  No Comments

One of my favorite things about staying in a boutique hotel is the decor. The color of the walls, the pictures and furniture all seem to be pieced together so nicely. I wanted to make my bedroom feel like a boutique bedroom. Sleep is so important for both our mental and physical health, feeling good in your bedroom is key. I took the time today to go on a few sites including blogs and just wanted to share some ideas.
I really liked this blog as the pictures here remind me of a trip to France.

sweet chaos home

the drake hotel