Traralgon South is a small community in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges, a short drive south of Traralgon. Here the flat valley gives way to rolling hills, gullies, tall timber and farmland, with homes on larger blocks scattered along winding roads. It’s a place people choose for the bush, the views and the quiet. It is also a community that knows the risks of living in the hills: on 7 February 2009, the Black Saturday fires that started near Churchill swept through Callignee, Koornalla and Traralgon South, destroying many homes and taking lives. Many residents rebuilt, and the area remains close-knit and well prepared.

We provide handyman services throughout Traralgon South 3844 and the neighbouring foothill areas.

Homes in the hills

Rebuilt and newer homes

Many homes in and around Traralgon South were built or rebuilt after 2009, often to bushfire construction standards with ember-resistant features. These homes need regular care to keep those features working: ember mesh that’s damaged or blocked, gaps that appear as the house settles, door seals that wear out and gutters that fill with leaves and bark. We repair and maintain these details as well as handling everyday jobs like TV mounting, shelving, doors and silicone.

Older homes and farmhouses

Older homes that survived, along with farmhouses in the surrounding hills, need the traditional repairs: timber windows that stick, doors that drop, weatherboards and sills that rot, verandah boards and steps that wear out, and bathrooms that need regrouting.

Common jobs in Traralgon South

• Gutter cleaning on single-storey homes and sheds
• Window and flyscreen repairs, including ember mesh
• Deck and pergola repairs
• Carpentry for verandahs, steps, weatherboards and trims
• Door repairs and seals
• Fence repairs and gates near the house
• Pressure washing
• Odd jobs and rubbish removal

Bushfire preparation is everyday maintenance here

For homes in Traralgon South, maintenance and bushfire preparation go hand in hand. The things that let embers in are often small: a torn flyscreen, a gap under a door, a missing vent cover, leaves in a gutter, a stack of timber against a wall. Our pre-season checklist includes:

1. Cleaning gutters and valleys we can safely reach, and checking gutter guards

2. Inspecting and repairing ember mesh on windows, doors, vents and subfloor openings

3. Fitting or replacing door seals and draught strips so there are no gaps

4. Sealing gaps around eaves, fascias and penetrations where suitable

5. Clearing under decks and verandahs of stored items and leaf litter

6. Moving woodpiles, offcuts and rubbish away from the house

7. Checking gates and driveway access for emergency vehicles

We do the practical work; your bushfire plan and CFA advice guide the decisions. See fire season preparation.

Decks and verandahs in the foothills

Hill homes are built to make the most of views, which means decks and verandahs that are exposed to sun, rain, wind and frost. Timber here weathers quickly, and decks under trees collect leaves that hold moisture against the boards. We replace split and rotten boards, refix loose boards with screws, clean and oil decks, repair stairs and handrails and clear debris from between boards. On homes built to bushfire standards, we use materials appropriate to the home’s requirements and will let you know if a part needs a specialist product.

Wet winters and steep blocks

The Strzelecki foothills are wetter than the valley floor, and winter brings heavy rain, mist and cold. On sloping blocks, water runs downhill toward the house, along driveways and under decks. We help by keeping gutters clear, refixing downpipes, clearing surface grates and treating moss and algae on paths and steps so they’re safe to walk on. Drainage design and stormwater pipe work need a licensed plumber or landscaper, and we’ll tell you when that’s the case.

Sheds and outbuildings

Most Traralgon South properties have at least one shed, and many have several. We fit out sheds with shelving and benches, repair and rehang doors, replace latches and hasps and secure loose sheeting where it’s safe to do so. Keeping sheds tidy and well organised also helps with fire preparation, as fuel, gas bottles and flammable materials can be stored properly and away from the house.

Wildlife and screens

The bush around Traralgon South is home to wildlife, including possums that would love to move into your roof space and birds that nest in gutters and vents. We repair screens and vent covers, fit mesh over gaps where suitable and repair damaged eaves linings, so animals stay outside. For possum removal, contact a licensed wildlife handler first; we can then secure the entry points.

Planning a visit

Because Traralgon South properties are spread out, we like to plan visits carefully. Send us your list and photos through the free quote form, including details about access, steep driveways, animals and gates. We’ll quote the whole list and bring everything needed.

Nearby areas

We also service Traralgon, Churchill, Hazelwood North, Tyers, Morwell, Glengarry, Moe, Newborough and Yallourn North.

Doors and windows in hill homes

Homes on hillsides deal with wind, temperature swings and moisture, and doors and windows feel it first. Timber doors swell in wet winters and stick, aluminium sliding doors fill with grit and drag on worn rollers, and windows lose their seals and start to whistle in the wind. We plane and reseal timber doors, adjust or replace hinges, clean and replace sliding door rollers and tracks, replace window catches, and fit new seals and draught strips. On fire-rated homes, it’s especially important that seals are intact and doors close fully, because gaps let in embers as well as cold air. If a door or window has been damaged or warped beyond repair, we can fit a replacement door or refer you to a window supplier for a matching unit.

Inside the house

Life in the hills is not all outdoors. Inside, Traralgon South homes need the same care as any other: patching and painting plaster, regrouting and resealing showers, adjusting kitchen cupboards and drawers, hanging pictures and mirrors, mounting TVs, assembling furniture and fitting grab rails. Because we’re already there for the outside jobs, it makes sense to add the inside list to the same visit. See general home repairs.

After a storm

Storms in the foothills can bring down branches, flatten fence sections, rip flyscreens and fill gutters in a single night. Once any fallen trees have been dealt with by an arborist and it’s safe to work, we can help with the clean-up and repairs: replacing fence palings and rails, rehanging gates, repairing flyscreens and screen doors, clearing gutters and removing debris that fits in our vehicle. We’ll send you photos of the damage and the repairs, which can be useful for insurance claims. Roof damage requires a roofer, and structural damage requires a builder.

A community that looks after itself

Traralgon South has a strong community spirit, built over years of looking out for each other. Many of our jobs come from neighbours who recommend us to each other, and we often combine visits for several homes on the same road, which saves on travel and time. If your neighbours also have jobs to do, tell us when you book.

Regular visits

Some residents book us twice a year, in spring for fire preparation and in autumn for winter preparation, so the place is always in good shape. We keep a note of your property and what was done last time, so each visit picks up where the last one left off.

Paths, steps and safe access

Sloping blocks mean steps, and steps in the foothills get mossy, slippery and uneven. We pressure wash paths and steps to remove moss and algae, repair loose timber steps and sleeper edges, and fit handrails on external stairs and landings. For older residents and visitors, a solid handrail on a steep path can be the most valuable job on the list. We also fit solar path lights so steps are visible after dark, without the need for an electrician.

Ask us to look at every set of outdoor steps during your next visit, and we’ll note any that need attention before winter.

Frequently asked questions