What is a handyman? What sort of jobs can a handyman do for you? If you do a search in the dictionary and you’ll learn that a handyman is someone who is “skillful with the use of one’s hands” and “convenient, nearby or easily reached.” These definitions describe The Ancaster Handyman perfectly. When you have a job or jobs that require the services of someone who has a multitude of manual skills and who is available on short notice, you need a handyman.

The list of jobs a handyman can do is a long one. As a rule of thumb, you call on a handyman to do all those “little” jobs around the house you can’t do yourself. For example:

• Painting: If you want to paint a room or some wood trim but don’t feel it’s a large enough job for a professional painter, you may hire a handymen who is a skillful painters.
• Cleaning: There are many cleaning jobs that require a handyman’s services. For example, if your driveway, pathway or patio floor or siding needs cleaning, a handyman may be able to use a pressure hose to remove mold, dirt and grime and make it look like new again.
• Wall hangings: Hanging paintings, mirrors, TVs and other heavy objects can be tricky and even dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. A handyman knows how to find the studs and which kind of hardware is needed to make sure object being mounted will stay mounted.
• Carpentry: Do you need to hang some shelves or have a door fixed that does not shut? A handyman can do these and many other small carpentry jobs for you. A handyman can even erect a shed, gazebo or other small structure.
• Kit and flat pack installation: Carports, kitchen cabinets, furniture and many other things often come in kit or flatpack form. A handyman will have the tools and skills to install these for you.

Check with your local council first before hiring a handyman for larger jobs. In some provinces, a handyman may not be licensed to do work over a certain value and you may need to hire a licensed builder or structural landscaper to install outdoor structures even if they are in kit form. Some jobs a handyman will probably not be qualified to carry out unless they also hold the appropriate licence include:

• Plumbing: Any new plumbing jobs must be done by a licensed plumber.
• Electricity: New electrical wiring and other specialist electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician.
• Gas fitting: A licensed plumber/gas fitter must do your gas fitting work for you.

If you need work done on a rental property it is considered work and anyone working on it must have WSIB coverage. You as the property owner must ask for their WSIB number. If someone were to get injured on your property you would be liable and you would be fined by the workmen’s compensation board.