Handyman Help in Chicago & the North Shore

What's included

Most homes have a short list of small repairs that never quite get scheduled on their own — a cracked patch of drywall, gaps in caulking, a loose piece of trim. We handle these alongside a painting or remodeling visit, or as a standalone stop if the list is worth a dedicated trip.

Drywall patching and minor repair
Caulking around trim, windows, and baseboards
Trim and molding touch-ups or small replacements
Interior door hanging, hardware, and lock installation
Storm door replacement and adjustment
TV wall mounting, including large panels and in-wall cable runs
Ceiling fan and light fixture replacement
Toilet tank gaskets, fill valves, and running-toilet fixes
Door and cabinet hardware adjustments
Minor carpentry and small fixture mounting

Typical timeline

Most handyman lists take a few hours to a day, depending on how many items are on it. If you're already booking a painting or remodeling project with us, we'll fold small repairs into that visit rather than scheduling a separate trip.

Chicago & North Shore homes

Older homes in Chicago and the North Shore tend to accumulate a longer list of small, easy-to-postpone repairs — settling cracks, old caulk lines, trim that's come loose over the years. Handling them during a scheduled painting visit is usually the most efficient way to clear the list.

Recent project: large TV mounting

Big panels on a bracket sized to the set, anchored into studs, with a recessed box so the cables run inside the wall instead of down it.

Bare living room wall with a boxed 65-inch television waiting to be mounted — Before — bare wall, studs located and height marked with the set still boxed.

Wall bracket anchored in place beside a recessed outlet box cut into the drywall for hidden cables — Bracket into studs, recessed box cut in so power and HDMI drop inside the wall.

Large flat screen television mounted flush to the wall and powered up on its setup screen — Mounted, leveled and powered up before we leave.

A 65" panel is more than most brackets and a single stud will carry. We size the mount to the set and anchor it properly — the reason to have someone else do it.

Recent project: door replacement in Wilmette

A flush builder door swapped for frosted-glass French doors — hung, fitted with the owner's brass hardware, then painted along with the surrounding trim.

Original plain flush door with a brass knob before replacement — Before — a single flush slab on a narrow opening.

New frosted-glass French doors hung in the same opening with brass lever handles — New pair hung in the same opening, shimmed square so both leaves meet cleanly.

Tall decorative brass cremone bolt hardware installed on the French doors — Full-height brass hardware mounted to the owner's spec, then doors and trim painted to match.

More work in the area on our Wilmette services page.

Recent project: ceiling fan replacement

A dated fan and light kit swapped for a low-profile flush-mount unit with an integrated LED.

Old brass and black ceiling fan with a dated three-bulb light kit before replacement — Before — original fan with a hanging light kit eating into the headroom.

After — flush-mount five-blade fan on a rated box, wired and balanced.

Recent project: leaking toilet tank

A leak traced to a worn tank-to-bowl gasket — a few dollars in parts instead of a new toilet.

Toilet tank lifted off and set aside to reach the tank-to-bowl gasket — Tank drained and lifted off to get at the gasket underneath.

Worn and discolored rubber tank-to-bowl gasket removed from the toilet — The culprit — a hardened gasket that had stopped sealing.

Toilet reassembled after gasket replacement, no longer leaking — New gasket in, bolts snugged evenly, tank back on and dry.

Not every leak needs a new fixture. We check what's actually failing before quoting a replacement.

Recent project: storm door replacement in Wilmette

Wind caught the old door and blew out its glass. Old unit out, new one hung, squared and weather-sealed to the existing frame.

Sunroom entry with the damaged storm door removed and the opening standing empty — Old door off and the opening measured before the replacement goes in.

New dark storm door installed on a sunroom entry, hung square with handle set — New door hung plumb, sweep set to the sill, handle and closer fitted.

Storm doors take the brunt of Chicago wind. If yours has a cracked panel or a closer that's given up, it's usually a same-day swap.

Common questions

Can you mount a 65-inch or larger TV?

Yes. Anything that size is a two-person lift and has to anchor into studs rather than drywall. We can route the cabling inside the wall to a recessed outlet, or run it down the face if you'd rather not open the wall up.

Do I need a separate visit for handyman work?

Not necessarily. If you're already booking painting or remodeling with us, we can often fold small repairs into that same visit.

How large a TV can you mount?

Up to the largest consumer panels. The size of the set decides the bracket and how many studs it has to land on — a 65" or 75" screen needs more than the single-stud mount that comes in most boxes. We can also recess an outlet behind the screen so the cables run inside the wall.

What kind of repairs do you not handle?

Small fixture repairs are fair game — a leaking tank gasket, a running toilet, a fill valve. What we don't take on is anything that means opening a wall or re-soldering valve bodies, along with larger structural and electrical work. We'll say so during the walkthrough if something needs a licensed specialist instead.

How do I get a list priced?

Send us what's on your list during your estimate walkthrough and we'll quote it alongside any painting or remodeling work.

Handyman Help