He looks first
Slope, access, how much has built up, how far the truck can get — all of it changes the job. So he comes and looks, free of charge.
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What Bryan doesServices
Six things, done properly. If your job sits somewhere between two of them, call anyway — most do.
01 — Handyman
Handyman Repairs
The jobs that sit on the list for months because they are too small for a contractor and too awkward to do yourself.
- Deck boards, railings, steps and gate repairs
- Doors that stick, latches, hinges, weather stripping
- Window screens, shelving, closet rods, cabinet doors
- Fence panels and posts reset or replaced
- Light fixtures, faucets and fittings swapped like for like
- Grab rails and handrails fitted where footing is unsteady
- Drywall patching, trim, and general carpentry
When Bryan will send you elsewhere: anything that needs a licensed electrician, plumber or structural contractor. He will say so, and often knows who to call.
02 — Painting
Interior & Exterior Painting
Mountain sun and mountain winters are hard on paint. Prep is where a paint job is won, so that is where the time goes.
- Interior rooms, ceilings, doors and trim
- Decks and railings — cleaned, sanded, sealed or stained
- Exterior siding, fascia, trim and shutters
- Fences and outbuildings
- Scraping, sanding, filling, caulking and priming first
- Furniture moved and covered, surfaces masked, cleaned up after
Colors: bring your own choice, or Bryan will pick up samples so you can see them on the wall in real light before committing.
03 — Land management
Defensible Space & Fire Clearing
The single most valuable thing you can do for a home in the pines. Worked in the three zones California uses, out to 100 feet where the lot allows.
- Roof, gutters and deck cleared of needles and leaf litter
- Combustible material pulled back from siding and out from under decks
- Ladder fuels broken up so a ground fire cannot climb into the canopy
- Low limbs raised off the ground on pine, oak and cedar
- Brush thinned and spaced; dead shrubs removed
- Grass and weeds knocked down through the dry months
- Everything cut is gathered and hauled off, not left in a pile
Want to see where your own property stands before you call? The checklist walks you through it in a couple of minutes.
04 — Land management
Yard Waste Removal
Up here the yard never really stops producing. Pine needles alone will bury a property if nobody stays on top of them.
- Pine needles, oak leaves and cedar litter raked and removed
- Storm-dropped limbs and branches cleared
- Old brush piles broken down and taken away
- Overgrown beds and borders cut back
- Driveways, paths and drains cleared of build-up
- One-off clean-ups, or a regular seasonal visit
Seasonal tip: the heaviest needle drop runs late summer into fall. Booking ahead of it is cheaper than digging out after it.
05 — Hauling
Junk & Debris Hauling
If the hard part is the lifting and the trip to the dump, that is exactly the part Bryan handles.
- Garage, shed and basement clear-outs
- Old appliances, water heaters and BBQs
- Broken furniture, mattresses and carpet
- Construction and remodel leftovers
- Single awkward items — a fridge, a hot tub cover, a pile of fencing
- Helping clear a property after a move or an estate
Not hauled: hazardous waste, paint, chemicals, fuel and tires, which have to go through a proper disposal site.
06 — Ongoing
Property Watch & Upkeep
For owners who are not up here full time, and for anyone who would rather have things handled before they become a problem.
- Regular walk-arounds between visits
- Photos sent after each check so you can see the property
- Seasonal needle and brush clearing on a schedule
- Storm checks — limbs down, gutters blocked, anything shifted
- Small repairs picked up before they turn into large ones
- Somebody local to call when a guest or renter has a problem
Frequency and price are set to suit the property. Monthly suits most second homes; weekly makes sense through fire season.
Straight talk
How pricing works
No site on the internet can give you a real price for a mountain property it has never seen. Here is what Bryan does instead.
You get it in writing
A clear written figure before any work starts, so there is nothing to argue about later.
Changes get approved
If something turns up mid-job, work stops and you are asked first. Nobody gets a surprise on the final bill.
Questions
Things people ask
Do you cover Pine Mountain Lake only?
Pine Mountain Lake is home base, and most work is inside the gate. Groveland, Big Oak Flat and the nearby Tuolumne County communities are all covered too — just ask when you call.
Is the estimate really free?
Yes. Bryan comes out, looks at the job, and gives you a price. There is no charge for that and no obligation to go ahead.
How small a job will you take?
Small is fine. A sticking door, one broken railing, a single appliance to haul away. If several small things can be grouped into one visit, that is usually the best value.
Can you work with an out-of-town owner?
Often. Bryan can meet a neighbor or property manager at the house, send photos before and after, and take instructions by phone or email.
Do you take the debris away?
Yes. Cleared brush, needles and junk are loaded and hauled off as part of the job unless you would rather keep it. Nothing gets left in a pile out of sight.
What if the job turns out to be bigger than expected?
Work stops and you get a call before anything extra is done. You decide whether to go ahead.
Not sure which one your job falls under?
Most jobs cross two or three of these. Describe it in your own words and Bryan will work out the rest.