Florida’s intense heat, UV rays, and humidity put deck materials to the test year-round. If you’re planning a new deck or replacing an old one in Tampa, choosing the right material from the start will save you thousands in repairs down the road. Here’s what actually holds up.
How to Prep Exterior Walls Before Painting a Tampa Home
Exterior painting in Tampa fails from bad prep, not bad paint. Here’s the full prep process for stucco homes in the Tampa Bay area — and why spring is the right time.
How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost in Tampa, FL?
Popcorn ceiling removal in Tampa costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot depending on scope, asbestos testing results, and finish work. Here is what drives the price and what the process actually involves.
Is it better to refinish a deck or replace it in Tampa, FL?
Summary Introduction I’m Logan Steege, licensed residential contractor and founder of Jack O’ Trades. Since 2005 I’ve rebuilt, repaired, and refinished decks across Tampa Bay—from South Tampa bungalows to Westchase, Carrollwood, Brandon, and out to the Pinellas beaches. The refinish vs replace question comes up every spring, and the right answer here isn’t the same […]
How Much Home Value Do Decks Add in Tampa?
Summary Introduction I run Jack O’ Trades, a Tampa Bay handyman and renovation company founded in 2005 by me, Logan Steege. I’m a licensed residential contractor. I spend most weeks solving practical problems in Hillsborough and Pinellas homes. That means repairing rotted ledger boards, tightening loose rails, replacing sun-baked composites, and planning decks that actually […]
What Are the Best Paint Colors for a Bathroom?
Summary I’m a local contractor with Jack O’ Trades, serving Tampa Bay bathrooms since 2005. I’ve painted and remodeled baths across Riverview, Brandon, and wider Hillsborough County. Our humidity, water quality, and light are different than what you see in national magazines. That means a color that works in Phoenix or Boston can look flat, […]
Which Renovations Add the Most Value in Tampa?
Summary Introduction I’m Logan Steege, a licensed residential contractor and the founder of Jack O’ Trades. I’ve been renovating homes across Tampa Bay since 2005—South Tampa bungalows, Carrollwood ranch houses, Town ‘N’ Country block construction, Pinellas condos, and coastal properties that ride out salt air and storm season. I work in occupied homes and full […]
What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Remodeling Contractor?
Summary Introduction I’m Logan Steege, a licensed residential contractor and founder of Jack O’ Trades. I’ve worked Tampa Bay remodels since 2005, from small punch lists to full renovations. The questions you ask at the start set the tone for scope, budget, schedule, and how your home feels during the work. Tampa’s climate, building stock, […]
What Tools Do I Need for a DIY Room Painting Project?
Summary Introduction We’re a local handyman crew working across Tampa Bay, and we see the same pattern every summer: a homeowner grabs paint and a roller on Saturday morning, fights sticky walls and slow dry times by afternoon, and spends Sunday fixing drips they didn’t catch because humidity kept the paint open too long. Painting […]
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a 1,500 Sq Ft House Exterior?
Summary Introduction I’m Jack O’ Trades, a licensed handyman and contractor working across the Greater Tampa Bay Area. I paint a lot of 1,200–2,000 sq ft homes in Tampa Florida, especially stucco ranches and block bungalows. Pricing isn’t one number—it’s a set of choices based on prep, materials, and timing. Local climate and labor swings […]