512-290-5153

Handyman Services in Austin, TX

HandyMan Install is an Austin-based installation crew. We cover twelve trades — drywall, fence, flooring, painting, tile, and seven specialty services — across 14 cities in the Austin metro. All new installation work. No repairs. No patch jobs. $500 labor minimum. Get a Free Estimate →Call 512-290-5153
Written ScopeEvery project quoted and signed before mobilization.
14-City AreaAustin metro — no travel fee within service area.
New Installs OnlyInstallations, replacements, renovations. Not repairs.

The 12 Trades We Install

Drywall Installation and Finishing

Drywall installation is a finish trade — the quality of the paint job depends entirely on what the drywall crew delivers. We hang 1/2″ and 5/8″ Type X gypsum board from USG SheetRock and National Gypsum Gold Bond. Our finishing process follows Gypsum Association GA-214: Level 3 for texture applications, Level 4 for standard flat and low-sheen paint, Level 5 — a full skim coat of compound over every surface — for high-gloss paint or any room where raking light from a window or low fixture will expose surface variation. We use ProForm all-purpose compound for taping and bedding, topping compound for final coats, paper tape for flat seams, and metal corner bead on every outside corner. The difference between Level 3 and Level 5 is visible in any well-lit room. We don’t apply Level 3 and call it Level 4. Austin context: 1920s homes in Hyde Park (78756) and Travis Heights (78704) often have original plaster over wood lath. In wet areas, we remove and replace with Durock cement board before tile. New construction in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Georgetown uses Level 4 as standard — builders in fast-growth communities sometimes under-finish corners and butt joints, which shows through paint.

Fence Installation

Every post goes in concrete. No exceptions anywhere in the Austin metro. Austin’s Blackland Prairie clay soils — covering East Austin (78702, 78721), Pflugerville (78660), Hutto (78634), and eastern Round Rock (78665) — expand when wet and contract when dry. Posts set in soil without concrete footings work loose within one to two seasons. We power-auger 8–10″ diameter holes, set pressure-treated Douglas fir 4×4 posts plumb in both planes, brace, and pour Quikrete 80-lb concrete before any rail work begins. Dog-ear cedar pickets on pressure-treated 2×4 rails. All hardware galvanized or stainless — smooth nails back out of cedar.

Vinyl and Laminate Flooring Installation

Subfloor preparation is where most DIY flooring failures originate. We moisture-test every slab-on-grade installation before a plank goes down. Out-of-tolerance substrates get Henry 555 FloorPro self-leveling compound to bring them within the NALFA standard: flat to 3/16″ over a 10-foot radius. We install 12-mil or better wear-layer LVP and laminate with 3mm EVA foam or cork underlayment on both slab and plywood subfloor. Moisture barrier on all slab installations. We don’t install flooring over an out-of-spec substrate regardless of what was purchased. Austin context: Hyde Park, Clarksville, and Central Austin pier-and-beam homes require subfloor leveling before LVP. Slab-on-grade construction throughout Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, and Manor is more common — high spots still need grinding and low spots need fill compound before anything is installed.

Interior and Exterior Painting

A paint job that fails in two years is a prep failure, not a product failure. We fill and sand before painting, prime bare wood and patched drywall, and mask what we don’t paint. Interior: Sherwin-Williams Emerald or ProMar 200 — primer plus two finish coats minimum. Exterior: 100% acrylic exterior latex to clean, dry, primed surfaces. We don’t spray in wind or apply when overnight temperatures drop below 50°F within 12 hours of application. Austin’s exterior climate — high UV from April through October plus thermal cycling from winter cold fronts — is more demanding than most US markets.

Tile Installation

Cement board alone is moisture-resistant, not waterproof. A shower without a Schluter KERDI or RedGard waterproofing membrane will allow moisture through grout joints and cement board — causing mold, substrate failure, and tile delamination over time. We use white polymer-modified thinset on all tile (not standard Portland cement mortar), back-butter every tile 15″ or larger to meet ANSI A108.5’s 95% thinset coverage requirement in wet areas, and grout and seal at completion. Unsanded grout for joints 1/8″ or narrower; sanded grout for wider joints.

Bathroom Remodeling

We handle the full installation scope — shower and floor tile with cement board substrate and waterproofing membrane, LVP in dry zones, vanity cabinet installation, mirror mounting, and painting. Supply line connections, drain connections, and fixture hookups are licensed plumber work. A licensed plumber typically runs about two half-day visits on a standard Austin bathroom ($400–$900 total from a separate vendor). We coordinate timing with them.

Kitchen Remodeling

Cabinet installation (IKEA SEKTION, RTA systems, and semi-custom), backsplash tile, kitchen flooring, and countertop substrate preparation. We’ve installed IKEA kitchens in Mueller, East Austin, Hyde Park, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and throughout the 14-city area. The countertop fabricator templates after our cabinets are installed, level, and secured — that sequence is non-negotiable. Plumbing reconnection follows countertop installation.

Door Installation

Interior pre-hung doors (hollow-core and solid-core), exterior fiberglass and steel entry doors, sliding patio doors, and barn doors with hardware. Every interior door is shimmed plumb with consistent 1/8″ reveal on hinge side, latch side, and head. Exterior doors sealed uniformly around the full perimeter — in Austin’s climate, an exterior door that doesn’t seal costs real money in cooling bills from April through October. Solid-core interior door upgrades are one of the highest-impact single-trade renovations in Austin’s master-planned suburban homes, where builder-grade hollow-core is near-universal.

Window Installation

Insert replacement (new unit into existing frame) and full-frame replacement (back to rough opening with flashing tape integration). Austin’s pre-1985 homes in Hyde Park, Allandale, Crestview, and Travis Heights typically need full-frame replacement — original wood and aluminum frames are end-of-life. Homes built 2000–2015 in master-planned suburbs with failed insulated glass units (foggy glass = failed seal) are insert replacement candidates. Low-E argon-filled double-pane glass meets Energy Star Zone 2 requirements for Austin’s climate — Austin’s payback period on window replacement is shorter than most US markets because the cooling load runs 7–8 months per year.

Trim and Baseboard Installation

The last trade before final paint. We install 3.5″ colonial MDF and solid wood baseboards, door casing, window casing, crown molding, chair rail, wainscoting, and board-and-batten. Every inside corner is coped — not mitered. Coped joints stay tight through Austin’s humidity swings. Mitered inside corners open up within one to two seasonal cycles. Crown molding requires compound miter cuts calculated individually for each corner — we don’t average out-of-square rooms.

Cabinet Installation

Kitchen cabinets (IKEA SEKTION, RTA, and semi-custom), bathroom vanity cabinets, laundry room storage, and garage cabinet systems. The critical step is the first cabinet — plumb in both planes, level across its width, fastened into studs. Every subsequent cabinet references the first. Full-extension soft-close slides and adjustable hinges throughout. Filler panels scribed to irregular walls and flush-mounted to complete the run.

Concrete and Patio Installation

Concrete patio slabs, sidewalks, walkways, steps, and utility slabs. 4000 PSI Portland cement mix with #4 rebar and welded wire mesh on a minimum 4″ compacted crushed gravel base — 6″ in Austin’s Blackland clay zones. Control joints at 8–10 foot maximum spacing, saw-cut to one-quarter slab thickness. Broom finish standard; smooth and stamped finish available. Sealed after minimum 28-day cure. Get a Free Estimate →Call 512-290-5153

Our 5 Core Installation Services — Across All 14 Cities

Specialty Installation Services

  • Bathroom Remodeling — Full installation scope: tile, waterproofing, LVP, vanity, paint. No plumbing connections (separate licensed plumber).
  • Kitchen Remodeling — IKEA SEKTION and RTA cabinet installation, backsplash tile, flooring, countertop substrate prep.
  • Door Installation — Interior pre-hung, exterior fiberglass/steel entry, sliding patio, barn doors. $175–$1,100/door.
  • Window Installation — Insert replacement and full-frame replacement. Energy Star Zone 2 compliant product advisory.
  • Trim & Baseboard Installation — 3.5″ colonial MDF, crown molding, door casing, board-and-batten. Coped inside corners only.
  • Cabinet Installation — Kitchen, bath vanity, laundry, garage. IKEA SEKTION assembly and installation.
  • Concrete Patio Installation — 4000 PSI mix, #4 rebar, 4–6″ compacted gravel base, broom and stamped finish.

Material and Process Standards

The difference between a professional installation and a failed one is often in the materials and substrate preparation — not just the labor hour count. These are the exact specifications we work to on every project. Drywall: USG SheetRock or National Gypsum Gold Bond for hanging. ProForm all-purpose compound for taping and bedding; topping compound for final coat. Paper tape for flat seams. Metal corner bead crimped on all outside corners. Durabond (setting compound) for large repairs and butt joint reinforcement. Tile: White polymer-modified thinset — not standard Portland cement mortar. Schluter KERDI membrane in shower wet zones. RedGard liquid waterproofing at seams as a secondary option. Durock or HardieBacker cement board for substrate. ANSI A108.5 95% thinset coverage in wet areas — we back-butter every tile 15″ or larger. Fence: Dog-ear cedar pickets (naturally rot-resistant). Pressure-treated Douglas fir 4×4 posts and 2×4 rails. Galvanized or stainless hardware throughout. Quikrete 80-lb concrete for every post footing — no soil-only sets, ever. Flooring: 12-mil wear-layer LVP minimum. 3mm EVA foam or cork underlayment. Henry 555 self-leveling compound for substrate prep. Transition strips at all material changes. Moisture barrier on all slab installations. Concrete: 4000 PSI Portland cement mix. #4 rebar on 18–24″ centers. 1.5″ crushed gravel base — 4″ minimum depth, 6″ in Blackland clay zones. Expansion joint foam at all structure interfaces. Control joints at 8–10 foot maximum spacing.

How Installation Trades Sequence on a Full Renovation

Homeowners managing their own renovation — skipping the general contractor markup on projects that don’t require licensed trades throughout — benefit from knowing how installation trades go in sequence. Getting the order wrong means rework. Getting it right means each trade sets up the next one cleanly.
  1. Rough framing (additions, layout changes — if applicable)
  2. MEP rough-in — mechanical (HVAC ducts), electrical rough-in, plumbing rough-in. All require inspection before drywall.
  3. Insulation — in walls before drywall.
  4. Drywall hanging and finishing — our scope. Level 3/4/5 finish delivered to the painting trade with primer applied.
  5. Cabinet installation (kitchen) — before countertop template, before backsplash tile.
  6. Countertop template and fabrication — fabricator templates after cabinets are level and secured. 2–4 week Austin lead time.
  7. Flooring installation — after drywall primer, before baseboard.
  8. Tile installation — bathroom shower and floor after plumbing rough-in; kitchen backsplash after countertop.
  9. Trim and baseboard — after flooring, before final paint.
  10. Door and window installation — exterior doors early (weather seal); interior doors after drywall.
  11. Painting — final coat — after all drywall, trim, and cabinet work is complete.
  12. Plumbing and electrical trim-out — licensed trades, after paint.
HandyMan Install covers steps 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and the painting portion of step 11. Licensed plumbers and electricians handle their respective trim-out steps. We coordinate with whatever trades are active on your project.

The Fourteen Cities We Serve

One crew. Twelve installation trades. Fourteen cities. Zero travel fees within this service area.

2026 Pricing Reference — Austin Metro

Every project is quoted individually. These benchmarks reflect current Austin-area labor rates — see the full pricing page for all 12 trades.
Drywall hanging: $1.50–$3.50/sq ft labor only
Drywall finishing — Level 4: $1.00–$2.50/sq ft labor only
Level 5 skim coat: +$0.75–$1.50/sq ft over Level 4 base
Cedar privacy fence: $18–$28/linear ft labor only — posts in concrete
LVP flooring installation: $3–$6/sq ft labor only
Interior painting: $2–$4/sq ft labor only
Exterior painting: $1.50–$3/sq ft labor only
Shower tile (includes substrate + waterproofing): $14–$28/sq ft labor only
Interior pre-hung door: $175–$350/door labor, includes casing both sides
Window — insert replacement: $150–$300/window labor only
Baseboard — 3.5″ colonial MDF: $6–$9/linear ft labor only
Cabinet — IKEA SEKTION (includes assembly): $125–$200/cabinet labor only
Concrete patio — broom finish: $7–$12/sq ft all-in: labor and materials
Labor minimum: $500. Materials priced separately except concrete (all-in). Subfloor leveling, demo, and disposal quoted separately when applicable.

How These Trades Relate

Drywall installation is part of the framing and finishing process. MEP rough-in (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) must be inspected before drywall hangs. Painting follows drywall finishing. Baseboard and trim install after flooring and before final paint coat. LVP flooring installs after drywall primer but before baseboard. Flooring goes in after cabinets (base cabinets sit on the subfloor, not the finish floor). Moisture testing before every slab install. Tile installation follows plumbing rough-in in wet zones. Cement board substrate and waterproofing membrane are required before any tile is set in wet areas. Kitchen backsplash tile goes in after countertop installation. Cabinet installation precedes countertop template, backsplash tile, and plumbing reconnection. The countertop fabricator cannot template until cabinets are installed, leveled, and secured. Concrete patio installation is associated with the outdoor property zone — slope away from structures at 1/8″ per foot minimum. Covered structures over concrete may require a licensed contractor to pull permits even when the slab itself doesn’t. Serving Austin (Travis County) — with active service throughout Williamson County (Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, Taylor), Hays County (Kyle, Buda), and Bastrop County (Bastrop, Elgin).

Frequently Asked Questions

What installation services does HandyMan Install offer in Austin?

HandyMan Install offers twelve installation trades across the Austin metro: drywall installation and finishing (Level 3, 4, and 5), fence installation, vinyl and laminate flooring installation, interior and exterior painting, tile installation (floor, shower, backsplash with waterproofing), bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, door installation, window installation, trim and baseboard installation, cabinet installation, and concrete patio installation. All new installation work — no repairs or patch calls.

What cities in the Austin metro does HandyMan Install serve?

We serve 14 cities across four counties: Austin, Pflugerville, Manor, and Del Valle (Travis County); Round Rock, Hutto, Taylor, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander (Williamson County); Kyle and Buda (Hays County); Bastrop and Elgin (Bastrop County). No separate travel fees within this service area.

How much does handyman installation cost in Austin?

Prices vary by trade and scope. Representative 2026 Austin-area labor rates: drywall finishing Level 4 at $1.00–$2.50/sq ft; cedar fence at $18–$28/linear ft; LVP flooring at $3–$6/sq ft; interior painting at $2–$4/sq ft; shower tile at $14–$28/sq ft. Every project is quoted individually. Labor minimum is $500. See the full pricing page for all trades.

Does HandyMan Install do repairs or small patch jobs?

No. Our scope is new installation, full replacements, and renovation work — not single-item repairs or patch calls. Our $500 labor minimum reflects a full professional crew mobilization. Repair calls and patch jobs are not our business model.

How do I get a quote from HandyMan Install?

Fill out the estimate form on this page or call 512-290-5153. Describe the service type, approximate scope, and your city. We follow up within one business day. Larger or multi-trade projects get a site walk before quoting to scope accurately. Get a Free Estimate →Call 512-290-5153
HandyMan Install Austin, TX 78701 Phone: 512-290-5153 Email: sales@handymaninstall.com Monday–Friday 9 AM–6 PM · Service area: Austin metro, 14 cities · No travel fee within service area

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