What we do
- Inside- and outside-mount blinds and shades
- Curtain rods, double rods and traverse rods
- Brackets into the header framing over windows
- Plaster walls drilled without cracking
- Old brackets removed and holes patched
- Cord cleats and tension devices for child safety
In Alhambra homes
About 77 percent of Alhambra’s homes were built before 1980, according to a city housing report, and many have plaster walls and deep window casings. Plaster cracks easily when drilled carelessly, and the header above older windows is not always where a modern stud finder expects it. We locate solid wood before hanging anything heavy.
Get a quote in one text
Send photos of each window, the products you bought, and whether you want inside or outside mount. Our number for photos is (626) 684-3505, and the price comes back before any work is booked.
Inside or outside mount
Inside mounts sit within the window frame and need square, deep casings. Outside mounts cover the frame and hide uneven openings. We measure and tell you which suits each window.
Heavy drapes
Long or lined drapes pull hard on a rod. Brackets go into the header with long screws, and a center support is added on wide spans.
Cord safety
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Anchor It! campaign focuses on tip-overs, but the same rooms often have looped blind cords. We fit cleats or tension devices so cords stay out of reach.
Plaster walls
We mark, tape and drill slowly with a sharp bit to avoid spalling, and use anchors suited to plaster where no wood is present for light items.
Many windows
For a whole house we hang one window, check it with you, and then repeat the same height and spacing so everything lines up.
Motorized shades
Battery-powered shades install like regular ones. Hardwired motorized systems go to an electrician.
Measuring
For blinds ordered to size, measure inside the frame at top, middle and bottom and order to the smallest width. We can measure for you before you order.
Curtain height
Rods hung a few inches above the frame and wider than the window make the window look larger and let curtains clear the glass. We mark the line for you to approve before drilling.
Removing old hardware
Old brackets and nails come out, holes are filled and spot-primed so they are ready for paint.
Shutters and valances
Interior shutters, valances and cornice boards install in the same way, into solid wood with the right fasteners.
Children and cords
Cordless blinds remove the risk altogether. For corded blinds already up, cleats mounted high on the frame keep the loop out of reach.
Sliding doors
Vertical blinds and wide curtain rods over patio sliders need a header-mounted bracket and center support; we fit them so the door and screen still clear.
Bay and corner windows
Bay windows need connector brackets or separate rods per pane. We measure each section and set them at the same height.
Install time
A typical house with several windows takes a few hours. Having products unboxed and labeled by room speeds things up.
Heavy drapes
Lined or blackout drapes are heavy, so we add a center bracket on rods over five feet to stop sagging.
Sources: City of Alhambra, housing needs report (age of housing stock); U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Anchor It!.
Repair guides for this job
- Hanging heavy mirrors and art on plaster-and-lath wallsHow to hang mirrors, art and shelves on the plaster-and-lath walls in Alhambra's older homes without cracking them, plus the hardware we use.
- Mounting a TV over a Spanish Revival fireplaceWhat to check before mounting a TV over the plaster or tile fireplace in an older Alhambra home: wall structure, heat, viewing height and wire routing.
- Keeping tall furniture and TVs in place when the ground shakesHow to secure tall furniture, TVs and wall hangings in an older Alhambra home so they stay put in an earthquake, including tips for plaster walls.
- Getting new furniture built and settled in an older houseBefore flat-pack furniture arrives at an older Alhambra house: measuring doors and arches, tall pieces under coved ceilings, sloped floors and anchoring.
Looking for a handyman in Alhambra for more than one job? Send the whole list and we’ll price it together.
We serve Alhambra first, plus Monterey Park, San Gabriel and other nearby cities. Have a question? See the handyman FAQ.