Procrastination Be Gone… It’s Time to Tackle Home Repairs
By Al Warr/Hunterdon County Democrat
When we are cooped up at home, the walls begin to close in. Suddenly, that creaky stair becomes really annoying. That window, always cranky, is sticking even more. Blinds close only halfway, and the patio door jumps its track. Outside, the soffit on one side is hanging loose.
Then there’s the kitchen — instead of dealing with a recalcitrant oven, we’ve been ordering meals to be delivered. And the bath — the walls are losing tiles, and the hot water comes in a puny dribble. Repairs and renovations in both the bathroom and the kitchen are overdue.
It’s time to tackle problems. Before winter sets in, hire some experts. They have the tools and the experience to fix and change all those months of neglect. Procrastination be gone. Get it done.
“Since the establishment of the business, the guiding principle has always been complete customer satisfaction,” says Gary Shiman. “All three generations of owners have lived, worked, and raised families in New Jersey. This is our home too!”
Gary is one of the owners of Bellari, one of New Jersey’s premier remodelers of homes and other structures. The company is based in Branchburg and it serves communities from the Hudson River to the Delaware River.
Bellari offers a wide variety of design and craftsmanship. This company offers windows, doors, siding, roofing, decking, sunrooms, awnings, basements and additions — just about anything your home might need. Experts can help you plan and remodel kitchens and baths, including electrical and plumbing needs. And they handle all the permits required.
“We specialize in sourcing products that have years of life,” adds Gary. Many of their customers are homeowners whose parents contracted with the original company.
Bellari is a third generation business that traces its beginning back to 1950. That was when Max Gropper began selling aluminum storm windows in downtown Somerville. He called the company Somerville Aluminum.
The operation has grown substantially over the intervening years. In 2013, the company moved into a larger 15,000-square-foot showroom and design center in Branchburg.
“Our organization is extremely appreciative to all those hometown heroes who have always worked hard to help our community and keep us all safe, especially during the pandemic,” explains Gary. “People are working on the front lines to take care of us, and we are honored to help with needed repairs at their homes to help take care of them.”
The company has pledged to help one deserving local hero every month with a project at home. The initiative kicked off in April when Bellari replaced the back steps for Jennifer and David Smith, a Branchburg couple. The two of them work in healthcare and law enforcement, and both of them experienced increased intensity in their professions during the pandemic, according to Gary.
Bellari also proudly supports Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, in its Healing Homes initiative, explains Gary. The Healing Homes initiative offers housing for up to 24 months for an individual or family in Somerset County who has a chronic or acute health condition that causes financial hardship and leaves them unable to afford housing and/or the basic cost of living.
“Windows and doors are our roots and will always be the backbone of our business,” Gary continues. “And we have grown our breadth of offerings to provide everything a homeowner could possibly need. And we continue to take pride in providing the exceptional service and premium products, across the board, that our customers have come to expect.”
Bellari is celebrating 70 years in business. For more information, call 908-300-3670 and visit the website at BellariNJ.com. Also, see Facebook, Instagram and other social media. Company headquarters and showrooms are located at 20 County Line Road, Branchburg. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays by appointment.
Before embarking on a major renovation, it can be useful to see how a contractor performs on a smaller job. A worker repairing the soffit hanging loose under the eave can give you the confidence to hire the firm for that larger renovation you have in mind.
Mark Schneider has many years experience helping homeowners with jobs both small and large. He operates Handyman On Call.
“I specialize in small jobs, and I’ve found that these can lead to larger jobs,” Mark says.
He will repair doors, replace moldings, clean gutters, repair decks, touch up painting and repair the treads and risers on those squeaky stairs. If you like, he will even hang pictures and change out light bulbs. How about adding shelving in the basement or garage?
For these smaller jobs, he’ll travel about 7 miles from his base in Annandale. Estimates are free and flexible–according to materials and scheduling.
He’s been in the business for some 35 years, he explains. So there’s not much he hasn’t seen, repaired, replaced, or otherwise put back in shape–or renovated. He will also work with homeowners to remodel kitchens, baths, and basements.
Mark posts some free Do-It-Yourself Tips on his website, HandymanOnCallNJ.com. Or, call him at 908-437-8856.
Al Warr may be reached at 610-253-0432 or AlWarr16@gmail.com.
