Defensible space in St. Mary's
Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026
24/7 Express Handyman Service clears defensible space in St. Mary's. 30 feet around buildings is the minimum area USU Extension says to clear of excess brush and small trees. (Firewise Landscaping: The Basics | USU Extension Forestry) In 1926 the four-story St. Mary's of the Wasatch Catholic school complex was built on Salt Lake City's east bench, and it dominated the skyline below the golf course for many years. (National Register of Historic Places Nomination: John & Margaret Price House, 2691 E. St. Mary's Way (SLC Historic Landmark Commission memo, 2014)) In the Salt Lake City & Millcreek zone, scheduled work is $95/hour with a 2-hour minimum and no dispatch fee, plus a $15 fuel surcharge.
How much does a defensible space job cost in St. Mary's?
From $205
Defensible space in St. Mary's starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.
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Salt Lake City & MillcreekAnswered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.
Dispatch fee $199–$349 by time of day, due on arrival, covering the first hour on site. After that, $150/hour in 30-minute steps. Fuel surcharge $15. Supplies fee $50. Full price sheet and estimator
Typical arrival in the Salt Lake City & Millcreek zone: 60–90 minutes.
24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.
What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site
- Cuts dead grass, weeds and brush and rakes up leaf and needle litter in the first 30 feet around the house.
- Pulls bark mulch, dead plants and stored combustibles back from the foundation and swaps bark for gravel on request.
- Trims low, dead branches reachable from the ground or a short ladder and hauls all cut material away.
How it works
- The yard is walked with the homeowner, or reviewed from photos, to mark what stays, what goes and where debris is hauled.
- The cleanup is priced in writing.
- Work moves from the house outward: the first 5 feet, then out to 30 feet, then any extra area agreed on.
- Referred out: tree work near power lines or above ladder reach (arborist), pesticide or herbicide application, and irrigation backflow testing or repairs to the potable connection.
What happens next
- The written scope and price come first; photos of the cleared zones and a list of anything referred out follow the visit.
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.
In St. Mary's
The neighborhood around St. Mary's Way is an eclectic mix of custom-designed homes dating from the 1950s to the 1970s, with a golf course to the north. (National Register of Historic Places Nomination: John & Margaret Price House, 2691 E. St. Mary's Way (SLC Historic Landmark Commission memo, 2014)) On May 29, 1952, a subdivision plat was filed for an area at the southeast corner of the golf course, and the resulting Oak Hills Plat A-1 included 32 lots on St. Mary's Way, Bonneville Drive and Oak Hills Way. (National Register of Historic Places Nomination: John & Margaret Price House, 2691 E. St. Mary's Way (SLC Historic Landmark Commission memo, 2014)) A National Register-nominated house on St. Mary's Way is fully integrated with its sloping site, built on a concrete foundation and clad in striated brick veneer with matching brick retaining walls, planters and patios. (National Register of Historic Places Nomination: John & Margaret Price House, 2691 E. St. Mary's Way (SLC Historic Landmark Commission memo, 2014))
Calls come from around Bonneville Golf Course, Utah's Hogle Zoo, This Is The Place Heritage Park.
Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.
Sources
- Firewise Landscaping: The Basics | USU Extension Forestry — retrieved 2026-09-23
- National Register of Historic Places Nomination: John & Margaret Price House, 2691 E. St. Mary's Way (SLC Historic Landmark Commission memo, 2014) — retrieved 2026-09-23
- Ask an Expert: Wildfire Safety Starts at Home | USU Extension — retrieved 2026-09-23