Houston Handyman Services: 2026 Prices, Storm Repairs & What to Know

Houston is the biggest, most spread-out metro in Texas — and the city's weather guarantees you'll need a handyman sooner or later. Here's what services cost in 2026, plus the storm-season quirks that make Houston different from the rest of the state.

Houston handyman rates in 2026

Expect $75–$115 per hour across the Houston metro, with a typical service minimum of $85–$140. Drive time matters: pros inside the Loop quote differently from pros in Katy, Sugar Land, or The Woodlands.

Common job prices

Storm-damaged fence panel repair: $200–$500 per panel
Soffit & fascia repair (after wind): $300–$900
Gutter clean & re-secure: $175–$425
Window screen replacement: $40–$95 per screen
Drywall + water-stain repair: $200–$600
Attic insulation top-up (R-30 → R-49): $1.10–$1.85 per sq ft

Hurricane & storm-season pricing

From June through November, demand for fence, roof, and gutter work spikes — and so do prices. Lead times stretch to 2–4 weeks. Book the call within 48 hours of the storm to lock in pre-spike pricing, and document damage with photos before any work starts (your insurer will ask).

The Houston licensing rules that actually matter

Texas doesn't license general handymen, but Houston enforces TDLR rules strictly for:

Electrical work — must be a licensed electrician.
Plumbing — must be a Master/Journeyman plumber.
HVAC / AC repair — must be a licensed HVAC contractor.
Roofing over $100K or insurance-claim roofing — registered roofing contractor.

For everything else — drywall, fencing, fixtures, cabinets, painting — a non-licensed handyman is fully legal as long as they carry insurance.

How to hire without overpaying

Get 2–3 quotes, even for sub-$300 jobs — Houston spread is wide.
Avoid lead-fee apps; quotes are padded by $25–$75 to cover what the pro paid for your contact.
Bundle a punch-list into one visit.
Book exterior work in early spring or late fall, not mid-summer.

Handy gives Houston homeowners an instant, AI-generated price range based on real local quotes — and Houston pros pay only for confirmed jobs (credits start at $4.99), so quotes aren't padded to recoup lead fees.