Fluorescent lighting
The last job of the week was to change a defective fluorescent light fitting.
Generally, if a fluorescent fitting gives up the ghost it's one of three things.
1. The tube
2.The starter
3.The transformer.
In this case it was the transformer.
The units are so cheap it hardly worth trying to get a replacement transformer, it's more cost effective to get a whole new unit. Fitting is simple. This one was on a landing in a block of flats.
The landing was pitch black and the fitting was12' up on the ceiling.
I had the good fortune to have the help of one of the residents - Robert.
Already past retirement age and just as active as ever.
He effectively became my 'mate'.
Holding the torch steady on the job and passing me the right tools up the ladder.
We had a long natter about God and the world, and found we shared a lot of similar ideas about things.
It made a very pleasant end to the week and we got the light working as well.
Robert
Many thanks for your help
Jim
Labels: Electrical
Make an inward opening window open outwards.
That was an interesting job.
The window, installed in the early 1900's had originally opened inwards.
A few years ago secondary glazing had been installed and that effectively prevented the window opening at all.
My job was to get the window to open outwards so that it could be used again.
If the secondary glazing had not been there it would have been relatively easy to accomplish.
The secondary glazing had to stay in place, that made it just a huge bit more complicated.
Using a
Fein from
Archery Tools I was able to cut out the hinge heads and then gently ease the windows out of their frame into the room. Once the windows sashes were out the rest of the job was almost plain sailing. Even so it still took most of the day to turn the inward opening into an outward opening window.
Don't screw sash window staff beads - nail them!
Box Sash Windows are relatively simple to work on... but some people make the simple very difficult. I have just come across one such case.
To do most work on a sash window invariably means first removing the staff beads.
These are generally nailed on. It's a simple process to remove the beads with a few well placed taps using a hammer and chisel, pry bar or sharks tooth.
HOWEVER...
Occasionally some nut decides that it would be better to screw them down, drive the screws below the surface, fill in the screw slots, and then apply several coats of paint over the top. How do I know this ... because today, I had to re-cord seven windows, and they had all been screwed down in the aforementioned idiotic manner. What should have been just a few minutes work turned into an age of mutterings and expletives and curses on the head of the previous installer.
I can only imagine that the installer had just bought his first power screwdriver and wanted to show the world how good it is.
Please, please, please, where appropriate, nail staff beads in place.
Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows
New worktops freshen up an old kitchen
Today, the main job was cutting in new worktops in an 10 year old kitchen. The cupboard doors and carcasses were still in very good condition, so it made sense to renew the old worktops, that were starting to look tired.
Work tops are heavy. Manhandling 3 metre long worktops around a modern hallway would try the patience of Job. I have to ask myself, what cretins design modern houses? I can only assume that they themselves live in rabbit hutches. Which, thinking about it, is probably the answer, because most designers I have met looked like buck toothed, floppy eared, sex mad, lettuce eaters. :)
Oh dear!
My wife has just looked over my shoulder and told me that I'm off on one again!
I must stop ranting!
Were was I..... Oh yes!
The whole process only took a few hours, but the difference is very obvious.
Because the ladies chose a lighter colour for the worktop, the whole kitchen just looks bigger and brighter. They are very happy with the results, and are now thinking of other projects to spend the saved money on.
If you want new worktops fitted give me a call on 07930 335 937 or email me using the link in the right hand side bar.
Sash window repair in one of Eastbourne's prestigious houses
Huge, heavy, very fragile, and stuck very firmly shut.
That about summed up the state of the 100 year old window.
9' high x 4' 6" wide it was not a job for one man.
The carpet was a lighter shade of cream.
Most of the furniture was very upmarket antique.
Letters of recommendations from HM
(and I don't mean the record store!) adorned the walls.
This was serious stuff.
It took all day to fine tune this window, and by the time we had finished the sashes glided up and down as smoothly as when they were first installed. The new brass sash catches, sash pulls, d handles, and new Ventlock hardware gleamed. Add to that, the virtually invisible draught proofing
(It was quite amazing what a difference to outside noise reduction it made) and all in all, it was a job well done!
I wonder if there are any knighthoods going?
Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows
Made to measure radiator covers in Eastbourne
I've made quite a number of made to measure radiator covers lately. The pictures above are of the latest couple (click on pictures to enlarge). These were made of MDF and then oiled to the colour the customer wanted. I could have made them in wood, but there is a considerable additional material cost involved. Radiators, including designer radiators, come in all shapes and sizes, and because of that, the covers and cabinets have to be made to fit. There is currently no good way to make a 'one size fits all model'. Radiator cabinets from the manufacturers can be very expensive (it must be said that there is a lot of work involved). Obviously they have large costs to carry. By contrast, I am able to keep costs low, making them myself. A sheet of MDF costs about £20. If you want any radiator covers or radiator cabinets, give me a call on 07930 335 937 or use the email link box in the right hand side bar.
Labels: Carpentry, Flatpack, Miscellaneous
Fuse box cupboard
Fuse boards always seem to be in the most awkward places. Too high up, too low down. In full view, or tucked away around a corner in some obscure hole. This time it was in a kitchen, high up on the ceiling, in full view. No wonder the lady wanted a cupboard around it. The cupboard was made to match the kitchen units. By the time I'd finished it looked a whole lot smarter than when I started. If you need a meter boxed in call me on 07930 335 937.
Labels: Carpentry, Electrical
No need to buy a new vitrine!
I got a call from one of my favourite customers a week or two back. They had an electrical problem. They'd had a vitrine with lights for years. Then all of a sudden the lights stopped working. They changed bulbs (several times I believe) and still to no effect. They got two to work but the last one steadfastly refused to work. So they called me in. "I think we need a new vitrine" she said. "I've already been looking, but can't yet find one we like." "We've tried for hours to get it to work, but it won't"
So with a wobbly balancing act I climbed up on the arm of the sofa, to have a look see. Three lights, three cables. I tugged gently on cable one,and it stood firm. I tugged gently on cable two, and it too resisted. Tugging on cable three I nearly over wobblebalanced, and the end of the cable was dangling in mid air. Plug it back in the socket, and hey presto, the light works. The husband's eyes lit up. His wife said thank you, and smiled,
and I couldn't help thinking that I had spoiled her fun for the following weekend. I'm sure she would have liked a new vitrine.
Labels: Electrical
Laminate flooring and a wallpaper stripper
A boiling wallpaper stripper placed on a laminate floor is not a good idea.
A couple of young lads had been redecorating a house and left the steam stripper on the hallway floor. Condensed steam (also known as water) had dripped onto brand new hall flooring and in a very short while caused a massive blister in the laminate. For those who don't know, let me tell you, that's a sod of a job to correct. Laminate goes down very easily. But getting it back up again without lifting half the floor is not. Three boards were damaged, but to get to them half the hall had to be lifted - including in the doorway and around the staircase. It took a couple of hours to sort it out, and after a lot of grunts and groans, it is now back to it's former glory. Job done. If you need a laminate repair - give me a call on 07930 335 937 or use the email link in the right hand side bar.
Labels: Laminate
Back in the saddle again!
Yes I'm back and at full strength.
After nearly two months of taking it very easy
(I had no idea how frustrating taking it easy can be) I am now back to work at full strength). There is quite a lot to catch upon so I will make a series of short posts. This being the first one!Labels: Miscellaneous
