Notes from the truck
Plain answers to the questions we get on job sites — costs, permits, and the difference between a repair that lasts and one that doesn't.
Why your garbage disposal hums but won't spin
A hum means the motor has power and the plate can't turn. Here's the five-minute fix — and how to tell when the unit is genuinely done.
January 28, 2026 · 5 min
Matching orange peel texture so the patch disappears
The patch isn't the hard part. Matching forty-year-old spray texture and sheen is — and it's why most repairs still read from the doorway.
February 9, 2026 · 6 min
Two-prong outlets in older L.A. homes: your three options
Ungrounded outlets are everywhere in pre-1965 Los Angeles housing. Three fixes are legal, one common shortcut is dangerous, and inspectors know the difference.
February 20, 2026 · 6 min
When a handyman job crosses into permit territory
The line isn't about job size. It's about whether you're replacing what exists or changing the structure, the wiring or the plumbing.
March 5, 2026 · 6 min
What pool maintenance actually costs in Los Angeles
Weekly service is the small number. Equipment life, filter cleans and one green-pool recovery are where the real budget lives.
March 18, 2026 · 7 min