Handyman in SW Calgary: Marda Loop, Altadore, Aspen Woods, Evergreen and more

Southwest Calgary runs from the Beltline and Mission out past Sarcee Trail and Stoney Trail toward the foothills, and from the Bow River down to Fish Creek Park. In that space there are early twentieth-century homes in Elbow Park and Mount Royal, postwar bungalows in Killarney, Lakeview and Haysboro, busy infill streets in Marda Loop and Altadore, 1990s family communities like Signal Hill, Shawnessy and Evergreen, and large newer homes in Aspen Woods, Springbank Hill and West Springs.

Kaur Handyman works across the southwest. This page covers what we see in different parts of it, and how to get a quote by text.

Inner southwest: Marda Loop, Altadore, South Calgary, Killarney

Marda Loop, centred on 33 and 34 Avenue SW, has been one of Calgary's busiest infill areas for years. Many original bungalows have been replaced by semi-detached and row-style infills, and the area around Garrison Woods was built on the former Canadian Forces Base Calgary lands. Altadore, South Calgary and Killarney follow the same pattern: older bungalows next to new two- and three-storey infills.

Common jobs in infills:

• Drywall cracks and nail pops in tall stairwells and open spaces, especially in the first few winters
• Doors that need adjusting as the house settles
• Caulking in bathrooms and on exterior windows
• Light fixtures in high stairwells and above dining tables
• Paint touch-ups on high-traffic walls and stairs
• Rooftop and balcony deck rails and boards

Common jobs in the older bungalows:

• Doors and windows that stick or draft
• Back-lane fences and gates
• Bathroom fixes in original or older bathrooms
• Pre-listing repairs, since many are sold for redevelopment or renovation

Established southwest: Lakeview, Glamorgan, Haysboro, Oakridge, Palliser

Built mostly from the 1950s to the 1980s, these communities near the Glenmore Reservoir, Heritage Park and the Rockyview Hospital are full of bungalows, split-levels and two-storeys on mature lots. Common jobs:

• Interior painting and drywall updates
• Older bathrooms with failing caulking and worn fixtures
• Fences and decks that have been patched many times
• Weatherstripping on original doors
• Textured ceilings that should be tested for asbestos before any work

Family suburbs: Signal Hill, Strathcona Park, Shawnessy, Evergreen, Bridlewood, Woodbine

Signal Hill and Strathcona Park sit on the hills west of Sarcee Trail, near the Westhills shopping area. Shawnessy, Somerset, Bridlewood and Evergreen sit in the far southwest near the Red Line and Fish Creek Park, and Evergreen backs onto the west end of the park. Most homes date from the late 1980s to the 2000s. Common jobs:

• Deck repairs and staining, especially on decks facing the afternoon sun. See the deck inspection checklist.
• Fence repairs on fences reaching the end of their life
• Original builder light fixtures ready for an update
• Kitchen cabinet door and hinge repairs
• Interior repainting of whole floors. See interior painting in Calgary.

Newer west: Aspen Woods, Springbank Hill, West Springs, Discovery Ridge, Cougar Ridge

These communities near 17 Avenue SW, Old Banff Coach Road and Stoney Trail have many larger homes built from the 2000s on, often with high ceilings, large decks and walkout basements. Discovery Ridge sits in the forested valley by Griffith Woods Park. Common jobs:

• High light fixtures and chandeliers in foyers
• Drywall touch-ups in tall rooms and stairwells
• Large deck maintenance and staining
• Caulking on large windows facing the mountains and the west wind
• Furniture assembly for home offices and kids' rooms

Older estate homes: Elbow Park, Mount Royal, Britannia, Bel-Aire

These communities have some of the city's older and larger homes. Original wood doors, windows, plaster and trim need careful repairs. Parts of Elbow Park and nearby communities were badly flooded by the Elbow River in 2013, and many basements have been rebuilt since. See character homes in inner-city Calgary for repairs to older houses.

Condos in the southwest

The southwest includes many condo buildings, from Mission and the Beltline to complexes along Crowchild and Macleod Trail. In a condo, check what is yours and what is the board's before booking. See condo repairs in Calgary.

Selling in the southwest

Inner southwest homes in particular sell often, either to families or for redevelopment. A short list of repairs can make a difference in photos and inspections. See the pre-listing repair list.

Lakeview and the reservoir

Lakeview, North Glenmore Park and the communities around the Glenmore Reservoir were largely built in the 1950s and 1960s, with bungalows on generous lots and mature trees. Original wood windows, older bathrooms and long fence lines are common, and many homes have been renovated in stages, so repairs often need to blend old and new materials.

Townhomes and duplexes

Semi-detached infills in Marda Loop, Altadore and Killarney share a wall and often a fence line, and each side may have been finished differently. Common jobs include fixing the shared fence and gate, adjusting doors in tall narrow stairwells, and drywall repairs on long stair walls that need scaffold. In the outer southwest, townhome complexes in areas like Signal Hill, Woodbine and Evergreen are usually run by condo corporations, so fences and decks may belong to the corporation.

Seasonal notes for the southwest

Homes near Fish Creek Park and the Elbow and Bow river valleys often sit on slopes, with walkout basements and elevated decks that need railing and stair checks each spring. The west end, near the mountains, catches chinook winds first, so fence posts, gates and west-facing caulking deserve a look after a windy winter.

How to get a quote in the southwest

Text a photo of the job to 647-806-8070 with:

• Your neighbourhood, or the nearest main road such as Crowchild Trail, Sarcee Trail, Glenmore Trail, 37 Street SW, 14 Street SW or 17 Avenue SW
• A wide photo and a close-up of the job
• Parking details, especially in Marda Loop and other busy infill streets
• The days that suit you

You get a price before anything is booked. Materials are agreed in the quote. Payment is by Interac e-Transfer, cash or bank draft.

Neighbourhoods we cover in SW Calgary

Altadore, Aspen Woods, Bankview, Bel-Aire, Braeside, Bridlewood, Britannia, Cedarbrae, Cougar Ridge, Discovery Ridge, Elbow Park, Evergreen, Garrison Woods, Glamorgan, Glenbrook, Haysboro, Killarney, Kingsland, Lakeview, Marda Loop, Millrise, Mount Royal, Oakridge, Palliser, Richmond, Rutland Park, Shawnessy, Signal Hill, Silverado, Somerset, South Calgary, Springbank Hill, Strathcona Park, West Springs, Wildwood, Woodbine, Woodlands and the rest of the southwest. Ask if you do not see yours.

See the full list of services.

Free quote by text

In the southwest? Text a photo

Send a photo of the job, your neighbourhood and the days that suit you. You get a price back before anything is booked. Materials are agreed in the quote, and you can pay by Interac e-Transfer, cash or bank draft.

647‑806‑8070

Call now Text a photo

Calgary NW, NE, SW and SE, plus Airdrie and Chestermere.

Questions