"Can you do...?" is probably the question I get asked most. The short answer is usually yes - but there are times when you need a specialist instead. Here's the honest breakdown.
What Handymen Are Perfect For
Think of a handyman as your home's GP. We handle the everyday stuff that doesn't need a specialist but would take you all weekend (or longer) to figure out.
Assembly & Installation
| Job | Typical Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat-pack furniture | 1-4 hours | IKEA, Argos, Wayfair - all of it |
| TV wall mounting | 1-2 hours | Including hiding cables |
| Shelving & storage | 1-3 hours | Floating shelves, alcove units |
| Blinds & curtain poles | 30 mins - 1 hour | Per window |
| Picture hanging | 15-30 mins each | Heavy mirrors too |
| Garden furniture | 1-3 hours | Gazebos, sheds, play equipment |
Repairs & Fixes
- Doors - sticking, squeaking, handles, hinges, locks
- Windows - handles, stays, draught-proofing, locks
- Furniture - wobbly chairs, broken drawers, loose joints
- Floors - squeaky boards, loose tiles, threshold strips
- Walls - holes, cracks, picture hook damage
- Gates & fences - repairs, rehang, new latches
Basic Plumbing
✅ Can do:
- Fix dripping taps
- Replace taps (like-for-like)
- Unblock sinks and drains
- Replace toilet seats
- Fix running toilets
- Fit washing machines/dishwashers
- Replace shower heads/hoses
- Radiator bleeding
❌ Need a specialist:
- Anything involving gas
- New pipework runs
- Boiler work
- Unvented cylinders
Basic Electrical
✅ Can do:
- Replace light fittings (like-for-like)
- Change switches and sockets
- Fit doorbells and smart doorbells
- Install TV aerials/satellite dishes
- Set up smart home devices
- Replace extractor fan motors
❌ Need a Part P electrician:
- New circuits
- Consumer unit (fuse box) work
- Anything in bathrooms
- Outdoor electrics
- Adding sockets in kitchens
Painting & Decorating
- Touch-ups and small areas
- Single rooms
- Woodwork - doors, skirting, window frames
- Ceilings
- Feature walls
- External touch-ups
For whole-house redecorations, a dedicated painter/decorator might be more cost-effective - they're faster due to specialisation.
Outdoor Jobs
- Fence repairs and panel replacement
- Gate hanging and repairs
- Shed assembly
- Greenhouse assembly
- Basic paving repairs
- Jet washing (with your equipment or hired)
- Garden furniture assembly
- Pergolas and archways
- Trellis installation
When You Need a Specialist
Gas Work - Gas Safe Engineer (Legal Requirement)
By law, only Gas Safe registered engineers can work on:
- Boilers
- Gas hobs and ovens
- Gas fires
- Gas meters
- Flues and ventilation for gas appliances
⚠️ This isn't optional. Unregistered gas work is illegal and dangerous. Check the Gas Safe Register at gassaferegister.co.uk before anyone touches your gas appliances.
Electrical Work - Part P Electrician
While handymen can do minor electrical work, these jobs require certification:
| Job | Why It Needs Certification |
|---|---|
| New circuits | Must be tested and certified |
| Consumer unit replacement | Building regs notification |
| Bathroom electrics | Safety regulations |
| Kitchen socket additions | Building regs in some cases |
| Outdoor electrics | Higher safety requirements |
| Rewiring | Too much risk otherwise |
Structural Work - Builder + Structural Engineer
Walls aren't just walls - some hold your house up:
- Removing or altering load-bearing walls
- Knocking through rooms
- Loft conversions
- Extensions
- Underpinning
- Chimney breast removal
A structural engineer assesses what's safe; a builder does the work. Handymen shouldn't touch structural elements.
Roofing - Specialist Roofers
Small repairs might be handyman territory, but:
- Full roof replacements
- Major leak repairs
- Flat roof replacement
- Lead work
- Chimney repairs
- Working at significant height
...all need specialist roofers with proper insurance and safety equipment.
Damp & Timber Treatment
That damp patch might be:
- Rising damp
- Penetrating damp
- Condensation
- Something else entirely
A damp specialist or surveyor should diagnose the cause before any treatment. Painting over damp or applying DIY treatments often makes things worse.
The Grey Areas
Some jobs sit in between. Here's how to decide:
Bathroom Fitting
- Handyman: Replace taps, showerhead, toilet seat, reseal bath, fit towel rails, put up cabinets, fit toilet roll holders
- Specialist needed: Move plumbing, fit new shower (if requires new electrics), install new suite with pipework changes
Kitchen Work
- Handyman: Replace cabinet doors, fit new handles, fix soft-close hinges, mount wall units, fit splashbacks, replace worktop sections
- Specialist needed: Gas hob connection, move plumbing, electrical for new appliances
Loft Work
- Handyman: Boarding for storage, fitting a loft ladder, insulation laying, light fitting
- Specialist needed: Loft conversion, structural changes, habitable room creation
How a Good Handyman Operates
We Tell You When You Need Someone Else
A trustworthy handyman won't attempt work that needs a specialist. We'll:
- Explain why it needs a pro
- Recommend what type of tradesperson
- Sometimes recommend specific people we've worked with
It's not about losing the job - it's about you getting the right result safely.
We Handle Multiple Small Jobs in One Visit
This is where handymen really shine. Instead of:
- Calling a carpenter for a sticky door
- Calling a plumber for a dripping tap
- Calling an electrician for a light fitting
- Calling someone else for flat-pack assembly
...one handyman visit sorts all of it. More efficient for you, more cost-effective too.
We're Honest About Time
Good handymen give realistic estimates. If a job will take three hours, we say three hours. No "it'll only be an hour" then surprise bills.
The Most Common Jobs I Do
Based on actual callouts in Exeter over the past year:
- TV wall mounting - almost daily
- Flat-pack assembly - IKEA beds especially
- Shelf fitting - floating shelves, alcove units
- Door adjustments - sticking, dropping, not closing
- Tap repairs - drips, stiff handles, replacements
- Picture/mirror hanging - especially heavy items
- Blind/curtain fitting - new or replacement
- Toilet fixes - running, wobbly, seat replacement
- Lock repairs - sticky, not engaging, replacements
- Gate/fence fixes - especially after storms
Quick Reference: Handyman or Specialist?
| Job | Handyman | Specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Dripping tap | ✅ | |
| New boiler | ✅ Gas Safe | |
| Hang TV | ✅ | |
| New electrical circuit | ✅ Part P | |
| Assemble furniture | ✅ | |
| Remove wall | ✅ Builder + SE | |
| Fix squeaky floor | ✅ | |
| Diagnose damp | ✅ Surveyor | |
| Paint a room | ✅ | |
| Rewire house | ✅ Electrician | |
| Replace door handles | ✅ | |
| Install gas hob | ✅ Gas Safe | |
| Unblock drain | ✅ | |
| Full bathroom refit | ✅ Various | |
| Put up shelves | ✅ |
Not sure if your job needs a handyman or specialist? Just ask - I'm happy to tell you honestly. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.
Sam Hembury
Sam is the founder of Hembury Contracting, providing professional handyman services across Exeter and Devon. With years of experience in property maintenance, he shares practical tips to help homeowners tackle common tasks.
