I work as a handyman in Chelsea (the prewar brick walk-ups and co-ops on the side streets, the glass towers by the High Line, and the loft conversions in between) with a $130 minimum visit and flat prices quoted from your photos before I arrive. The most common calls: TV mounting from $130, drywall and plaster patching from $140, furniture assembly from $130. Full list on the pricing page.
Chelsea walls come in three flavors
Not many neighborhoods swing this hard between old and new. On the side streets you’ve got late-1800s brick walk-ups and prewar co-ops with plaster walls and the massive London Terrace complex. In West Chelsea, near the High Line and the gallery district, it’s newer luxury high-rises: glass, steel, and postwar concrete behind the drywall. And scattered through the old manufacturing blocks are the big loft conversions with exposed brick and columns.
Why does that matter? Because a TV or a shelf goes up completely differently depending on the wall. Prewar plaster wants specific anchors; postwar concrete in a tower wants a hammer drill and masonry bits; exposed brick in a loft wants care so you don’t crack a face. I show up knowing which is which, so TV mounting runs from $130 on drywall and from $160 on brick or concrete, and floating shelves start at $130, done right the first time, not guessed at.
If you rent one of the lofts or tower units, I’ve got damage-free options for art, curtain rods, and lighter mounts, so decorating doesn’t cost you your security deposit. And plaster patching from $140 covers the walk-ups when a wall needs drywall or plaster repair before it looks right again.
What Chelsea clients book most
- TV mounting: from $130 on drywall, from $160 on brick or concrete. In the West Chelsea towers, concrete is the rule, not the exception.
- Picture and mirror hanging: gallery wall from $140, heavy mirror from $130, single floating shelf from $130. Gallery district energy, gallery-quality alignment.
- Furniture assembly: dresser from $130, bed frame from $130, PAX wardrobe from $180. Flat-box loft moves are my bread and butter.
- Door and lock work: sticking doors and hinges from $130, lockset swap from $130. Old buildings settle; doors complain first.
- Window A/C install and removal: from $130 each way. A heavy unit and a prewar window is a two-hand job. Let it be mine.
- Painting touch-ups: patch and paint from $140, room touch-up from $150. Clean edges, no roller-happy overspray.
- Minor plumbing: running toilet from $130, faucet swap from $130, plus tub re-caulk from $130.
How booking works
Text or email me photos: the wall, the door, the box, whatever it is. I answer personally, not through a dispatcher, and come back with a flat price and open slots, evenings and Sundays until 10pm included. If your building has a sign-in sheet, work hours, or a front desk that needs a heads-up (common all over Chelsea, and near-universal by the High Line), tell me up front and I’ll plan the visit around the rules.
On the day: I arrive on time, lay down drop cloths, do the work we agreed at the price we agreed, and sweep up the plaster or concrete dust before I leave. Cleanup’s on me, whether it’s a glass tower by the High Line or a prewar walk-up on a side street. Need it fast? See same-day service. I cover all of Manhattan, and Midtown is a short hop north. Send photos, get your quote.
Letters to the desk, answered
My building near the High Line has a strict sign-in and work-hour policy. Is that a problem?
Not at all. A lot of the West Chelsea towers run tight front desks and set hours for outside workers. Tell me the rules when you book and I plan the visit around them so we're not fighting the building on the day.
Can you mount a TV on the concrete wall in my Chelsea high-rise?
Yes. Postwar towers are usually concrete or block behind the drywall, which needs different anchors and a hammer drill than a prewar plaster wall. I bring both. Send a photo of the wall and I'll tell you which it is before I quote.
I rent a loft and want my deposit back someday. Can you hang things without holes?
For a lot of jobs, yes. Shelves, art, and lightweight mounts often have damage-free options that keep your deposit safe. Some heavy items still need real anchors. I'll be straight with you about which is which.
Can you come to Chelsea same day?
Often yes, especially evenings and Sundays when nearly everyone else is closed. Send photos of the job and I'll tell you honestly whether today works. I answer my own phone, so you're not waiting on a dispatcher.