Handyman in San Juan Capistrano, CA

The older homes near the Mission and Los Rios were built by hand, and they have been repaired by hand ever since — square is a suggestion, materials do not match anything at the store, and a modern part rarely drops straight in. That is the work Dan likes: figuring out what is actually holding, then making the repair disappear rather than announcing itself.

The newer tracts and the ranch properties out toward the hills have the opposite problem — lots of property to keep up. Long runs of fence, gates that have dropped and stopped latching, posts that have gone soft at grade, corrals and outbuildings that need paint before the wood gives up. Dan resets posts, replaces boards, and re-hangs gates so they swing and latch without being lifted.

Larger lots also mean more exterior to keep on top of: driveways and walls to wash, trim and eaves to repaint, and a running list that is easier to hand over in one visit than to chase one trade at a time.

Neighborhoods he covers

San Juan Capistrano and the areas around it, including the Los Rios District, Mission Flats, Whispering Hills, Rancho Madrina and Del Obispo. If you are just outside, ask — he is usually nearby anyway.