Steve Labriola’s lifelong love of repair work led him to launch a handyman business.

Steve Labriola is a natural born handyman.

Even as a child, building and repairing things was a passion for Labriola.

“I was forever taking something apart and putting it back together to see how it worked,” he said. “If something was broken, troubleshooting was like a game to me!”

He recalls relatives eventually putting aside broken appliances for him to repair when he visited — “and I loved it!”

“After graduation and working for a few computer repair companies, I owned and operated a company that fixed computers in banks for 18 years. Later I got into property management, but I decided it wasn’t for me,” he said with a laugh. “I like working with my hands. I can’t sit behind a desk very long.”

Like many who have a true passion for their craft, Labriola finds himself immersed when tinkering with tools. In 2021, with encouragement from his wife, he decided to start his own handyman business.

Lab of All Trades lives up to its name. Labriola can handle household jobs big and small — from hanging a picture, changing a faucet or installing a light fixture, to remodeling a bathroom or rebuilding a deck.

A project he particularly enjoys is building sheds. “They’re fun!” he said, explaining that it can be an opportunity to get creative.

“I worked on one for a couple recently and they asked, ‘Hey, what could you do to really spruce this up?’ I gave them some ideas, and we ended up putting in lights, tongue-in-groove boards on the walls and vinyl floors,” Labriola said with a chuckle. “He sent me a picture of it and said, ‘There’s my tractor’s new home!’ ”

That kind of customer satisfaction is especially rewarding for Labriola. “I love helping people!” he said. “I like to see people smile, it makes me happy.”

It’s one of several aspects he appreciates about having his own business.

“The hours are long, but I like doing what’s right for the customer without having to answer to anyone else about those decisions.”

Many customers are also longtime neighbors. Labriola lived in Hopkinton for 20 years, where he built a house in the mid-1980s and raised two children. He’s now residing in Upton and expecting his first grandchild in June of 2024. Building a backyard playhouse is in his summer plans.

Lab of All Trades is licensed, fully insured and takes pride in being reliable and responsive. Interested individuals can call 508-377-2137 or visit labofalltrades.com to view a gallery of Labriola’s craftsmanship and peruse his list of available services — and, said Labriola, “if you have a project in mind, just ask!”

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