Bobby Fix-It

Getting it done!

Thank you Jesus for the skills and capabilities to provide for my family!!

Hernandez Fix-It Services
"Cutting it up"

Pro tip of the day: Learn and invest in your craft!!

This is like therapy for me.

Painting is not one of my favorite things to do but it is a big part of my business. It takes time to do a good paint job and with experience I have become very efficient at it along with a number of different aspects of construction. If you limit yourself to one trade then your limiting your potential to be successful. As in life you train hard to be better than the rest whether your running marathons or any type of athletic event for that matter but when it comes to your career choices most people are happy with just doing enough to get by and make a check. I think it should be the opposite. If you learn and grow with each job, and apply your experience gained from previous projects you will get to a point where your standard of quality is going to outshine the competition. Now I'm not saying im the best by any means, but with the experience and knowledge I have gained over the years (25+) in various facets of the industry, I can walk in the room with the best of the best and feel right at home. That's not arrogance....That's "EXPERIENCE"!!
If things slow down in one department I have other skills in my tool box to keep me busy and my family fed. That's what really matters, and the best reason to invest in and take pride in yourself and your work!!
God Bless!!
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Mesh doesn't like to stick to hot mud.. watch video for secret weapon!!

Pro tip of the day: OVER DO IT SOMETIMES!!

just because it's not standard practice doesn't mean you can't do it. I've done too many ceiling repairs where cracks appear in between floor joists (especially when 24 inch on center) I guarantee all my work, so if it's opened up and I have to fix it then I will add some backing centered in between each joist to prevent movement at the joint.it takes 30 minutes and now I can sleep at night knowing that it's much less likely to re-crack after tape and mud. Also make sure to pre-fill any gaps over an 1/8th of an inch with HOT MUD before tape. This will also help with cracking over time.

PRO TIP OF THE DAY:
If your going to do it do it right!

I would say go the extra mile but this is just something that should be done.

Some people will say its not my job to move the fridge. Your right but the guy who does makes an impression on the client and that goes a long way especially when word of mouth is your main source of advertising. You wouldn't believe how much work you can get if someone is impressed with your work ethic. I haven't advertised in 10 years and I have all the work I need. That is "NOT" a coincidence, it's just taking pride in ones work and making it right the first time. I even go as far as vacuuming behind the fridge and the build up on the fridge itself. Clients are usually blown away by that point. That's the extra mile that people will not forget.
Now get to work!!

Pro Tip Of The Day:

BE CONSIDERATE!

Nothing will make you look more unprofessional than coming into someone's home and not showing consideration or care for their personal property especially when drywall and painting is involved and it's full of furniture. It is important that you make your clients feel comfortable with you working in their home ,and they really do appreciate when you protect their property as if it was your own. Not only does proper masking make you look like a rock star in their eyes ( It Does!!) but it will save you a ton of clean up on the back end. Nothing worse than finishing up a project only to have an addition day ( days )of clean up because you didn't take the hour to do it right. I tell people one of my most important tools is my vacuum because a clean job is a happy job!! Now get to work!!

PRO TIP OF THE DAY: Experience is Key!!

It's the little things that set you apart from the rest!!
I know this is a stupid little hack but it is something that I learned through hands-on experience. There are too many people who call themselves carpenters that depend on YouTube to try and skip the process it takes to call yourself a true craftsman. I have had to save a number of clients who let these YouTubers in their home and cause more damage than good. Sure you can learn a thing or two but if your business and work solely depends on YouTube videos I will be the first to call you a "HACK"
This country is in deep trouble if the future of our Workforce depends solely on how to videos and not real life experience. So get off of YouTube and get to work!!
💪🏼💪🏼

Buck-it!!

No tile saw!! No thinset !! No grout!!
No problem!!



My first time installing Palisade tiles. The system works really well only thing I am not too Keen about is how the manufacturer recommends installing the tile with silicone. I think next time I will use FRP glue on the entire wall to get full coverage behind the tiles. All in all really happy how it turned out as is the customer. We'll have some touch up paint to do and then it is on to the next one!!

Disclaimer: I said tub but I meant shower pan!! Long day😄😄

DID YOU BREAK IT??
LET

PRO TIP OF THE DAY:
Work Smarter not harder!!

Tile removal can be tedious and a pain in the butt. In most cases its easier to remove the tile and drywall to get down to the bare bones. If you try and remove the tile itself your going to damage the sheetrock anyways and make more work for yourself. Use a grout removal blade ( wasn't cutting it on this grout) or in this case a grider with a diamond blade( like butter, but dusty) and then follow up with with the sawzall at a shallow angle as not to cut through electrical or plumbing, then viola comes off in easy to manage portions and your not picking up bits and pieces all day.

GET TO WORK!!💪🏼💪🏼

Pro Tip Of The Day:

Know Who you're working for!!

You can make or break yourself if your not in tune with your customers need.

Me personally I always (99%) do things the way I think is best and the ways I've learned from experience that work.
Sometimes you can get away with doing things differently to save time and money but only if your client signs off on it. I never bring up the fastest way or easiest way to do things because in most cases that means sacrificing quality. That being said if a customer wants something done faster(cheaper) and im already into the job I will accommodate and fulfill their request if I feel it will not compromise my reputation.
Case in point, usually I would prep the frame and mask the glass on a multi-pane window and spray primer and Paint to achieve the best result but in this case the client wanted it just good enough.

(Note: these windows are super dated!!)
Brush it on and scrape it off it is!!

💪🏼💪🏼

Pre-texture
PRO TIP: USE MATERIAL AS IT IS INTENDED!!

You should be able to see the metal corner(or plastic...not tape on!!) after it is coated as that is how it is designed to work. If you can't see the metal edge(or plastic) then you built it out too much and it is no longer truly square. There are cases where the corner itself needs to be corrected and adding mud here and there to trick the eye is necessary to make it work but that would not be the case if you installed the sheetrock and corner bead correctly IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

IF YOU START THINGS RIGHT THEN YOU WILL FINISH THINGS RIGHT!!!

NO SHORTCUTS!!

Not a gardener myself but this guys good!!

Can't do that with no coat!!

Pre-cut and installed 18 pcs in 36 minutes

I Poke the top angle into the drywall at the lid to keep it where I want it when fastening with Brad nails this helps keep everything nice and straight and is like having an extra set of hands


Can't do that with no coat!!

Best outside corner??

METAL AND MESH!!!



I prefer installing metal corner bead covered in mesh to ensure a secure and durable corner.
There are Only a couple of scenarios when tape on is sometimes necessary.( commercial- steel studs/patch and repair)

Pros:
Durability
Stays straight
Quick and easy installation STYLE:(snips/ crown stapler or Brad nailer) or Crimper or good ol drywall nails....NEVER SCREWS!!!
Precision placement
Adjustability for shotty framing(always)
Easily repairable
Sold everywhere
More efficient:
-Nail on Metal:(install/mesh/coat)

-Tape on:(pre measure and dry fit/ pre-mud/install/coat)

-Nail on Plastic:(spray glue/install/mesh/coat)

Cons:
Sold and installed in 8'-10' pcs
Awkward to transport
Don't really know any others??

1st coat in the comments

. Going Green!!

Tip Of The Day:

🍃 🍃 Recycle/Reuse/Reduce🍃🍃

I've been in the "Biz" for quite some time and have seen a number different people and crews "Hang" sheetrock. I have to say that the majority of time ( probably 99% ) wasted sheetrock is not a concern, and cut off pieces usually end up in scrap pile with no regard for cost, and more important the environment. Especially for those who charge per sheet.(then it's even worse) Now I know sheetrock (Gypsum/bonding agent/paper) is not a major threat to the environment but the space it takes up in landfills and the fuel and energy to recover and recycle the waste can't be a good thing.
These days its not only more advantageous to utilize as much as you can when it comes to material due to supply and demand and cost, BUT IT ONLY MAKES SENSE!!