The Fix is In

Get your gear in gear with our advice on San Diego's best repair resources

by Pat Launer | Photographs by Gary Payne

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CRISIS > Your sofa skidded across the hardwood floor.
Well, you probably helped it. Dragging furniture is hazardous to the health of your floor. If your wood flooring has scrapes, scratches, burns, ink stains or water damage, Mark Menzel is your man. This college-educated jack-of-all-trades (including all types of home repair and construction) prides himself on class, cleanliness, logic, fairness and superb customer service. As part of his business, Dialed In, he’ll come solo or bring an equally dedicated crew. 858-775-5347.

CRISIS > You wrapped your putter around a pine.
Golf is not always a quiet, gentlemanly game. After hearing 53 years of tall tales, golf-club maker James Love frequently asks, “Which fit of anger did you break this with?” A specialist in regripping, reshafting and building custom clubs, Love can be found at the Vista location of Golfsmith, an 18,000-square-foot golf Mecca, with putting green, hitting bays and loads of products and components. 1980 University Drive, Suite 100, Vista, 760-945-2019; golfsmith.com.

CRISIS > Your wet suit is sunk.
Longtime surfer Lisa Hetman will help you keep your damaged wet suit out of the landfill. She can make it larger or smaller, fix tears ($20 for up to a 3-inch tear; $25-50 for more than 3 inches), repair or replace your zipper pull ($20) or add a key pocket ($25). She also handcrafts knitwear, and she designed the CinchSac, an ingenious, protective wet suit bag. Swell Stuff, 760-632-8653; swell-stuff.com.

CRISIS > Rover needs root canal.
Yup, pets have cavities and gum disease and receive implants, too. Southern California Veterinary Dental Specialties, with offices in Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley and Murrieta, does it all. The team even deals with big cats and bears——but not guinea pigs or rabbits. 858-279-2108; dogbeachdentistry.com. And if Rover needs a little relaxation before treatment, check out Healing Hands Canine Massage, where Ann Yerevanian provides massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, reiki and other behavioral or therapeutic treatments. 619-980-5405; healing www.healinghandscaninemassage.com.

CRISIS > Your longboard’s gotten gnarly.
Whether it’s a small ding, broken fin, leash rip or cracked board, Joe Roper can figure out a fix. Mending and restoring surfboards for more than three decades, he boasts the biggest repair shop on the West Coast, Joe Roper’s Custom Surfboard Repair, 1460 Morena Boulevard, San Diego, 619-275- 0447; joeroper.com.

CRISIS > Your screwdriver is screwed.
Bring your professional-grade saws, knives, routers, chisels, drills, bits or blades to the perfect place for boys and their (broken) toys. Gals welcome, too, of course. Tons of parts (and new equipment) in stock, for consumers and pros alike, at Toolmart Tool Repair, 2750 Auto Park Way, Escondido, 760-480-1444, and 28011-A Jefferson Avenue, Temecula, 951-676-5210; toolmarts.com.

CRISIS > You damaged the family jewels.
Heirloom or inheritance, you want to take care of the ornaments that fell from the family tree. But where to turn? Taking your high-priced timepiece to Dario’s Jewelry & Watch Repair in Pacific Beach (4724 Cass Street, 858-272-4854) is like taking a step back in time, where Buenos Aires native Dario Iglesias offers old-world ambience and service. For gold, gems and jewelry, go to Highland Jewelers in Carmel Valley, where Victor Manoushakian (pictured) will lovingly repair, re-create, reinforce or redesign your precious possession. 3830 Valley Center Drive, Suite 706, San Diego, 858-481-9193; vicotero.com.

CRISIS > Your turntable turned on you.
Bet you didn’t think there was anyone who could fix your beloved transistor radio, cassette deck, reel-to-reel, boom box, speakers or CD player——not to mention that thing we used to call the record player. Well, you haven’t met Fred Longworth, who’s been repairing audio works for 36 years at Classic Audio Repair in Normal Heights, 3401-F Adams Avenue, San Diego, 619-282-9101; repairaudio.com. And if it’s your TV, DVD, VCR or big-screen that’s got you down, saunter on up the street to see Herman Ackerman at Reynolds TV & Service., 3510 Adams Avenue, San Diego, 619-284-9239.

CRISIS > It’s lights out for your favorite lamp.
You’ve probably been dazzled by that bright yellow house in Hillcrest, the home of TAP Lighting, which maintains in its warren of rooms an inventory of about 1,500 fixtures, and fixes 1,000 more each year. The bright light of repair is Cort Saart, who knows his way around dog-chewed wires, sockets or plugs gone bad and antique or foreign-made lamps. 3690 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, 619-692-0065; taplighting.com.

CRISIS > Your treadmill is trashed.
It could be the crayons that got lodged under the belt. Or was it pet hair, a doll or a book that clogged up the works? If your high-end treadmill, bike, elliptical machine or home gym needs a fix or a tune-up, San Diego Fitness Repair will come to the rescue. They have five service technicians on call, plus a super-showroom/warehouse in Kearny Mesa. 5710 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, 858-560-8001

CRISIS > The potted ranunculus rotted your deck.
The two major enemies of wood decks are potted plants and termites. Wet rot and dry rot, you might say. Sprinklers can do damage, too, and low-rider hibachis can leave burn spots. Mike Smay has seen it all. He works on any kind of deck, patio or fencing and offers free estimates and quick turnaround. Mike Smay Construction, 858-518-1416; mscgc@myway.com.

CRISIS > Raising cane: The bottom fell out of your chair.
Well, you thought that seat would hold you if you stood on it. Alas, chair caning is a dying art, but Elton Lawson (619-741-5291) is a master craftsman. His expert repairs are priced according to the number of holes around the chair’s perimeter ($2 per hole; most have 70-80). He also makes custom furniture. For reupholstery the old-fashioned way, with horsehair filling, contact Laure de la Chapelle at 619-662-3718; upholsteryhelp.com.

CRISIS > Your formal attire is formless.
Whether it’s sequins, beads, feathers, lace, leather pants or men’s suits, Kim Nguyen (pictured) will make it look and fit just right. Kim’s Alterations has been in the same Encinitas location for 17 years. She’s lovely, gentle, soft-spoken and undaunted by any alteration challenge. 566 South Coast Highway 101, 760-436-2263. For a highend designer/dressmaker——she’s made costumes for movies, theater, television and SeaWorld——try Gunilla Morton, 858-382-0330; mortonibros.com.