Handyman Redlands, CA: Careful Repairs for Historic and Newer Homes

What do older Redlands homes need most?

Older Redlands homes usually need repair-first work: wood doors and windows that stick, worn trim, porch boards and railings, plaster or old drywall patches, and exterior wood that needs scraping, priming and paint. Cesar aims to repair and blend rather than replace, since original wood and details are often worth keeping.

Historic landmarks such as Kimberly Crest and the 1898 A.K. Smiley Public Library set the tone for the older parts of town. You do not need a mansion to have the same issues: wood that has moved with the seasons for decades behaves much the same in a modest cottage.

• Wood doors and windows: sticking, sagging, worn hardware, gaps
• Trim and porches: soft or rotted boards, loose railings, peeling paint
• Walls and ceilings: plaster cracks, old patches, drywall repair
• Floors: worn hardwood that may be refinished instead of replaced

Do you do careful paint prep on old wood?

Yes. Painting is part of what we do, interior and exterior, and prep is most of the job on older homes: scraping loose paint, sanding, repairing soft wood, caulking, and priming bare spots so the new coat lasts. Cesar will also tell you if old finishes call for a specialist before anyone sands.

Homes of a certain age may have older paint layers. We do not test for lead paint, which belongs to specialists, and we will say so at the estimate if the age of the house suggests it is worth testing first. That keeps you, your family and the crew safe.

What about newer Redlands neighborhoods?

Newer Redlands neighborhoods tend to need different work: stucco hairline cracks, faded exterior paint, drag on doors and sliders, worn weatherstripping, loose fence boards, and small drywall repairs. These are normal signs of age in tract-built homes and are usually simple to fix when caught early.

Redlands sits at about 1,358 feet and its summers are hot, with average August highs around 94 degrees and a record of 118. Heat and sun dry out caulking and paint on south- and west-facing walls first, so those are the places to look when planning exterior touch-ups.

Does Redlands require city approval for exterior work on historic homes?

Possibly. Redlands' code requires a certificate of appropriateness for exterior alterations to a designated historic resource, and for new construction in a historic district. Cesar will say up front what a job may need, but we do not give legal advice, so check with the city's Planning Division first.

Many Redlands homes are not designated, and plain repairs are usually the easy end of this question. Changing a window style, a porch detail or a color on a designated home is where review tends to apply. If you are not sure whether your house is designated, the city can tell you before work starts, and that saves a redo.

How do Redlands' weather and winds affect homes?

Redlands gets about 13 inches of rain a year, mostly in winter, and long hot, dry summers. Santa Ana winds, strong dry winds usually in autumn, add stress to fences, gates and loose exterior pieces. Sun and dryness are harder on paint, caulk and wood than rain is.

• Spring: check paint, caulking and wood trim after winter rain
• Late summer: look at weatherstripping, gates and latches before autumn winds
• Anytime: watch for new cracks in walkways and slabs near mature trees

How fast can you get to Redlands?

Most non-emergency jobs can start within 48 to 72 hours of you accepting the estimate. We are open every day from 8 AM to 8 PM, and 24/7 emergency service is available for flooding, electrical failure and storm damage. Call (909) 775-1885 with your address and we will confirm we can reach you.

Photos of the problem help us plan, so send a few when you call.