Nick Kunz Handyman Services

Privacy lattice pergola wall for a client. Waiting to stain but the structure is done! Before and afters.
*Updated to include stained photos !

Deck gate I built for a client. Cedar frame with open mortise and tenon joints and horizontal crimped steel cable in the middle. I wanted to use this particular joinery technique to highlight the cedar wood, but it was a little more involved than I originally thought. It took a lot of chiseling by hand. Both the client and I were very happy with the end results though! Mounted with self closing hinges.

Few pictures of a built in I’m doing for a client. It’s basically cubbies for storage. What made the build interesting is that it contains no screws, staples or nails. It is all wood joinery.

Installation proved a little difficult, mainly because this unit is partially recessed into the wall

I am pretty happy with it so far. And it is one of the most solid items I have ever built!

Well it’s time to officially retire the Vanbulance lol. She died on me a couple of weeks ago. I’ve definitely got my money worth out of that van. One of the biggest downside is that I won’t be easily recognized anymore by my vehicle.

Picked up a new, used van this past weekend. All I can say is wow, this one is so much smoother in every way… maybe I should get red stripes painted on it as well… lol.

Had a client with a 6 foot shadowbox style privacy fence. Two of the 4 x 4 support post had become rotten and needed pulled out and replaced. A few of the horizontal two by fours also needed replacing along with sections of the picketing. I did not remember to take a picture unfortunately, but here is the after!

Brand new 60” frameless, dual sliding shower door installation.

Had a client that needed baseboards installed in one room. However before doing that, they had paid someone to install LVP flooring that did a horrible job…by far the poorest installation I’ve ever seen. On top of that the only installer charged $2.75/sq ft. So I did the best that I could to remedy some of the worst spots in the Flooring, I couldn’t get it perfect but I had to work with what I had. A few before and after pictures below.

Quick tv mounting!

A while ago I was working with an individual that seemed to be a knowledgeable, good person. However, as time passed they shared some of their ideals and thoughts that made me question their integrity. For example, they were handling the billing on the projects we did and were always complaining to me about how they weren’t making any money, and were basically financing the whole project because the client had run out of money. I found this odd but just let it go.

Before my wife and I had the twins they asked me ‘do you know how many days I took off work when my kids were born? One, because I knew I needed to work to have money for my family’. I disagreed with this statement and wondered if this was part of the reason they were twice divorced.
Not too long after I found out from our client that the person I was working with was consistently, heavily padding the bill. No, not padding, it was more like fraud. To the extent of >$2000 extra every week….for months.

That’s when it finally clicked, they didn’t care about the job or the client. They didn’t care about me either. They only cared about money.

I quit immediately after confronting them. The response I got was ‘it’s basic business’.
This person is no longer in business after I warned any potential client about their work ethics and practices.

I realized, for me, there are things far more important than money, even if you earn it legitimately. I would rather be slightly broke and happy with my wife, daughter, and newborn twins than spend all my time away from them ‘making’ money.

Some of you might know who the individual I’m referring to is. Don’t post any comments with their name. Bashing them is not the point of this post.

Here’s a dado jig I made today for an upcoming built-in project where many high precision grooves will be cut.
I didn’t want to spend $500 on a jig so instead this one was made to model the expensive exact width ‘bird brand’ dado jig.
Hopefully it will get me through this project, although making replacement pieces would not be that big of a deal.
I really like the concept of this one. It is extremely easy to use and gives accurate, repeatable results without needing to do a bunch of math or measurements for set up.
To set it up I just loosen the clamps and take a piece of wood that’s the same width of the desired dado, sandwich it in the jig, and tighten the k***s. After the scrap piece is removed, it is ready to cut a groove the exact width needed. Secure the jig to the workpiece and start routing!

Installed a really nice horse stall mat system for a client. 1 1/2” foam sheets followed by 3/8” rubber mat on top, secured to the walls with hdpe strips.

Push to open kitchen cabinet toe kick drawers. That’s a mouthful lol.
My client found this idea online and asked me if it was something I could do. I did tweak the process quite a bit from the original online instructions. Anyone who knows me also knows I am not going to nail or screw a custom drawer box together.
These are held together with half blind dovetail joints, and wood glue. I also brought up the idea of push to open drawer slides.
This was definitely an interesting project and caused me to get a little creative, but I really like the end result. Now, if they were stained to match the existing cabinets, they really would be pretty well hidden!

So goodbye to the old exterior French door and hello to the new full light, built in shades model!

Another crawlspace door replacement. From decaying wood to a custom pvc door that will last a long, long time. This one is big, over 5’ tall!
Before, during and after. Thanks!

Just wanted to put out a heads up for a strange scam I was targeted for over the past week.
Conversation started fairly normal until yesterday the ‘client’ wanted to mail a $4500 certified check to me. That immediately raised a flag, I asked them for some proof of the job, specifically the address, and she kept dodging the question.
A little more investigating was done and it looked like the phone she was using was a prepaid, there was no records for the number.
Feel free to read some of the screenshots below of our conversation, but I am really putting this out there for any other contractors/handy people as a warning.

And yes, I have already reported to the FTC and also reported her assistant that originally reached out to me on Facebook.

Pretty drastic fireplace makeover. When I got there, the client had removed the old wood surround, leaving the hearth tile and wall for me to deal with. New 12x24 dark tile for the hearth, natural stone veneer for the surround and new mantle! completely changes the look of the room. All that’s left is the trim around the perimeter of the hearth

Check out these great pvc crawl space doors! I had them custom sized, delivered and then I replaced an older aluminum door as well as a worn wooden one. Before and afters below, thanks!

Miss Belles Pet Spa thank you for letting me handle your flooring project. Old deformed, laminate out and new LVP in! What a difference!

Almost done with this massive door installation. Has 32” sidelights on the outside and two 32” French doors in the middle. The client offered to paint everything I’ve just got to go back after the hardware comes in. ~11 feet wide x 8 feet tall!

Bit of a shower upgrade. I replaced the old sliding glass doors with a brand new Delta frameless glass door set in brushed nickel.
Needless to say, the change was pretty drastic, and made a big difference for the aesthetics of the shower.
I was extremely happy with how it turned out but more importantly, the client was ecstatic!

Thank you to our neighbors! I’m honored to be voted a 2023 Neighborhood Fave.
This award means so much for my business and helps me continue to grow in our community!
Be sure to visit on and leave a recommendation:

https://nextdoor.com/pages/nick-kunz-handyman-services-pinehurst-nc/?recommend=1

Nick Kunz Handyman Services - Pinehurst, NC 36 Faves for Nick Kunz Handyman Services from neighbors in Pinehurst, NC. My name is Nick and I am looking forward to your residential/commercial maintenance projects. I have about 10 years of maintenance experience in most trades. Feel free to call/text me (you can always message me through this ap...

Installed this awesome 10’x12’ hardtop gazebo for a client on their deck! It’s perfect for entertaining, once the heat settles down a bit!

Put together this Kids play set from Costco for a client. Let me tell you it was much trickier than expected lol! Lots of measuring and not many pre drilled holes. It’s always harder building something that’s been pre cut and designed by someone else. In the end the kids were happy so that was worth it!

Had to do a rush order fix on a dogs favorite scratch and chew toy lol.
Actually, a door casing had to be replaced before guests were to arrive later that day at a local Airbnb.

Added a mantle to a stone fireplace!

Here’s my take on a garbage can partition/screen. Similar to shaker style door frames. 2 posts with a 2x2 frame inside with 5/8” cut dados to fit lattice! The lattice is easily replaceable, just remove the top 2 x 4 and it slides right in or out!

I had someone reach out to me about building out the wall above the fireplace and facing it with vertical shiplap planks, along with an inspiration picture from the Internet (included below). After I framed it out, they decided it would look good to bump the section above the built-ins out another 2 x 4 to give it more depth. I will say that I let them know ahead of time I would not have time to paint so they pre-painted most of the planks ahead of time. I was waiting to post this one until they got it completely done but they sent me an updated photo and I’d say it’s 99% there. What a huge difference this project made for the living room! Extremely happy with how it came out!

I went to hang a swing under a covered porch yesterday. Pretty straightforward except the desired placement was under a roof hip…which means there was no support framing for the swing. So I had to remove a few vinyl panels, put in some custom framing for the swing, reinstall the vinyl, and finally hang the swing! I think it turned out pretty good after all the trouble it gave me.

This one was a first for me. Custom built privacy lattice deck rail extension, that’s a mouthful lol. I framed the base structure out and added 2 layers of slightly offset lattice for a shadow box type effect. I am very happy with how it turned out, simple but effective! Lots of pictures to document the process!

In between project: TV mounting on a brick fireplace!