Handyman in San Marino, CA

About San Marino

San Marino was incorporated on April 25, 1913, and the 2020 census counted 12,513 residents. The city sits in the San Rafael Hills and its single-family zone is split into area districts with minimum lot sizes from 9,000 to 60,000 square feet (San Marino Municipal Code 23.01.05). Most homes were built between 1920 and 1950.

It is home to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, whose botanical gardens cover about 130 acres (The Huntington), and to Lacy Park, a 30-acre expanse of grass and trees in the middle of town. (Source: Wikipedia, San Marino.)

Housing by the numbers

The Census Bureau estimates about 4,400 housing units in San Marino, with a median year built of 1943, the oldest of any city we serve. By our count from the same table, about 82 percent were built before 1960 and around 41 percent before 1940. About 83 percent of homes are owner-occupied, and nearly all are single-family detached houses. Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year data, tables B25034, B25035, B25003, B25024; see Census Reporter’s San Marino profile.

Working on older homes

Houses from the 1920s through the 1940s were built with materials and methods that differ from modern tract homes. Walls may be plaster over wood lath rather than drywall. Doors are often solid wood with mortise locks.

Windows may be original wood sash. Bathrooms may have tile set in a thick mortar bed, with fixtures that have been updated piece by piece. Repairs that are routine elsewhere take more care here: matching an existing finish, keeping original hardware, and not damaging what cannot easily be replaced.

Plaster patching

Cracks and holes in plaster can be patched so they disappear into the wall, but the method is different from drywall. Loose plaster is secured first, then the patch is built up in layers and finished to match the existing surface, smooth or textured. See wall repair.

Original doors and hardware

Solid wood doors swell and shrink with the seasons, and old hinges wear. Often the fix is tightening hinges with longer screws into the framing, a light planing of the edge, and resealing the bare wood so it does not soak up moisture again. Mortise locks can usually be serviced or fitted with a new cylinder rather than replaced, keeping the original look. See door won’t latch and lock replacement.

Windows and drafts

Original wood windows are worth keeping when the frames are sound. Fresh caulk on the outside, new weatherstripping, and freeing painted-shut sashes make a real difference. See window caulking and draft sealing.

Fixtures in older bathrooms and kitchens

Many older San Marino bathrooms have had their fixtures replaced at different times, so a single room may have a faucet from one decade and a shower valve from another. We identify each part and match the finish where possible. Like-for-like replacements on existing pipes are our work; moving fixtures or rerouting pipes is outside our scope.

Booking

Send photos and your address by text to (310) 628-9399. We speak English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Free estimates.

Bathrooms with original tile

Many older San Marino bathrooms still have original tile in colors that are hard to match. When a few tiles crack, we try to source matches from salvage or specialty suppliers, or reuse tiles from a hidden spot such as behind a toilet. Regrouting and recaulking can refresh an original bath without losing its character. See tile regrouting and broken tile replacement.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Large older homes often have alarms that were added one at a time over the years, some past their replacement date. A walk-through to test every alarm and replace the old ones on existing mounts or wiring is a simple way to improve safety. In a two-story house, we also check that there is an alarm on each level and outside the sleeping areas, following the maker’s placement guide, and we note any spot where an alarm is missing so you can decide what to add. See smoke and CO alarm installation.

Large lots, long runs

With many lots averaging well over half an acre, outdoor fixtures are spread out: hose bibs at the far end of the garden, lights along long paths, gates at the edge of the property. Outdoor work here often means replacing worn hose bibs, swapping path and porch lights like-for-like on existing wiring, and adjusting gate latches and hinges. See hose bib replacement and fence and gate repair.

Protecting finishes

Older homes often have hardwood floors, built-in cabinetry and painted woodwork that cannot simply be swapped. We lay drop cloths and runners, work from the outside in, and keep dust contained when patching walls. Small details, like taping off a historic tile edge before recaulking a tub, keep the original character intact.

Matching old fixtures

When a part from an older faucet or light fixture breaks, we try to repair or match it before suggesting a full replacement. A replacement escutcheon in a matching finish, a rebuilt stem, or a new glass shade from a specialty supplier can keep a period look. For light fixtures, rewiring the inside of an old fixture with new sockets and cord, then hanging it back on the existing box, is often possible and keeps a piece that suits the house. If a fixture is too fragile or unsafe to rework, we say so and help you find a replacement in a similar style.