Jim'll Fix It! Eastbourne Handyman Extraordinaire!
Now including Computer Help

It's been a day of many talents today. One of the things I did was show a lady how to set up a blog. Easy when you know how, but daunting when she'd only just started using a computer in the last two months.. Basic computer lessons and home computer help is something I've been doing for quite a number of years. In a previous life (I've had so many!) I used to train people for a living. I don't have the educational qualifications to be a teacher, but many people tell me that I'm a very good trainer. I've found that if you concentrate on getting the basics, the fundamentals, right, the rest is a lot simpler. She was an avid traditional diarist, and wanted to start doing the same on her new computer. She'd tried a computer help forum  but only got more confused (Hey, that's happened to me too) Blog help was what she wanted, and so blog help is what she got.
After an hour she was flying solo, and so I was free to go on my way to the next call.

Which was - you guessed it - a leaky tap. Dripping taps are so annoying, and yet so easy to fix - most of the time. This one was not to be ignored. It wasn't dripping. It was pouring.
Imagine a Victorian mansion, sub-divided into flats. Over the years so many alterations have been made to the property that Stop Cocks are buried under many layers of remodelling. In other words - not to be found.
As the water pressure was so low I decided to do it "live". Open the taps in the flat to reduce the flow even further. Take the tap head off. Undo the barrel. Change the washer. Reverse the order. Hey Presto! Job done. WARNING! Don't do this unless you know what you're doing. Because it can go wrong. And then you need to know what to do next. Leaky pipes. Non flushing cisterns. Fitting bathroom heaters. Changing bannisters on the stairs, and helping people with Technology. It's all in a days work for the Eastbourne Handyman.

Here is a resource you may find useful if you have a good background knowledge of  using a computer. Some lessons get a bit to technical for the majority of users, but it's a very good place to start.

Labels: Carpentry, Computer Help, Electrical, Plumbing

Had a great day today.
Phones are constantly ringing and lots of small jobs are coming in.
By 10.30 I'd already helped four households out of trouble.
I can't tell you the number of times I've heard people say they can't find anyone to do the small jobs.
I love doing the small jobs,. It's what I do!. For example, very often when carpet fitters fit new carpets, doors need to be trimmed. It only takes a few minutes to do - when you've got the right tools. If you haven't - you're stuck - quite literally. Because I've got the right equipment (so to speak), it only took me 15 minutes to do 3 doors this afternoon and then I was on my way to the next job, which was looking at a house with 35 sash windows to un-stick, re-cord and draught proof. Today I've worked in 7 different houses, and drunk so many cups of tea that I need to stop now and fix another leak!
Whether it's fixing dripping taps, overflow dripping, leaky washers, fuse blown, door sticking, or any other annoyance you can think of, Jim'll Fix it.

Labels: Carpentry, Miscellaneous, Plumbing, Sash Windows

Worked with a lovely family today installing some sliding doors. The man of the house had done all of the roughing out, and the double door units were more or less in the right spot. I had to get it all running properly and "dress" the opening to finish the job.

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes

I've been back at work for a while now.

Labels: Carpentry

Harveys had delivered it.
Third floor of a 'Robert Nash' style town house.
I'm so glad they delivered it - the thought of all those stairs still leaves me weak.

Eight metres (26 feet) of wardrobes and drawers.
When I saw the pile of bits my heart sank at least two floors below.
It took the whole day to put this lot together (plus umpteen cups of tea, and not just one or two bikkies!)
By flatpack standards it was simple enough to put together, and because the panels were so large it was really a two man job. And so to save having to get an extra body the client offered to be the 'gofer'. By the end of the day we were both well and truly knackered.
We became such a co-ordinated team I almost offerd her a permanent job.

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes, Flatpack

Through lounges, and lounge diners have been popular for years, but have you noticed that as the winter weather approaches how much more expensive they are to heat?
With the almost criminal rise in gas and electricity bills over the last few months, more and more people are going back to 'proper' rooms.
Monday's job was one such job. An 'L' shaped room was divided back into two rooms. The partition was insulated with Rockwool to provide a thermal and sound dampening barrier.
I suspect I will be doing more of this type of remodelling over the coming months as the credit crunch and the winter weather bites.

Labels: Carpentry

In many houses, getting up into the loft can be a real contortion act.
Developers, Specifiers, and Architects have, since time immemorial, maliciously set out to cause injury to anyone who would be so presumptuous as to want to get into the loft space. It's that or simple blind indifference. Why else would they design loft hatches so small, and then put them in such awful positions?
My customer wanted to get into his loft, without taking his life in his hands.
He knew what he wanted...
A solidly built wooden loft ladder - not one of those wobbly aluminium contraptions...
He also wanted easy access... He was tired of trying to get a 2' box (and himself) through a 2' hole.
I suggested a very neat solution.
The Fakro Loft Ladder
It's a folding ladder made of quality pine, it's supplied with an insulated hatch door, and a handrail. There's loads of wide tread space which makes stepping onto the treads easier. Safety grooves are cut into the treads to prevent slipping. They are relatively easy to fit, and feel really safe to use. All things considered, it would be my personal choice every time. Below is a video of the loft ladder in use. It is taken directly from the Fakro website. If any one wants to have one fitted, give me a call on 07930 335 937.

Labels: Carpentry

And another one bites the dust.
Yet another sash window painted shut.
This one had a Vent Axia ventilator in the top sash.
Why? I will never know
It had never been wired up!

It can take a surprising amount of time to get things right

KB Glass did the arch top glass.
It took over an hour to get the old glass out and 30 minutes to cut and set the new glass in.
The rest was down to me.
Now with the window re-corded, re-glazed, and draught proofed it slides up and down like a dream.

Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows

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

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

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 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

The box sash window restoration side of things is now going so well that we're in the process of setting up another business "Eastbourne Sash Window Restorers" to deal with all the repairs that are flooding in. Here is a rough guide to how inexpensive it can be to return your windows to how they should be.
Re-cord
Replacement of sash cords on either bottom sash only or both sashes.
From £50.00 bottom sash
From £70.00 Top and bottom sashes

Basic Overhaul and draught proofing
For windows in generally good conditionRemoval of beading, sashes and weights, making minor repairs,Replacing with new sash cord and beading machined and fitted with draught proofing.Windows will still require primer/undercoat/finish coat.
From £120.00

General Overhaul and draught proofing
For windows in generally good condition
Removal of beading, sashes and weights, making minor repairs,
Replacing with new sash cord and beading machined and fitted with draught proofing.
Sanding down mainly to remove flaking paint
(On a general overhaul we do not attempt to strip paint work)
Cleaning and priming with acrylic primer/under-coat.
Windows will still need finished paint work.
From £160.00 Depending on size.

Replacement Sashes
where appropriate - ripping out old aluminium/plastic window
and re-instating with new traditional glazed sashes fitted into the existing box frame,
includes laminated glass, and general overhaul as above
From £425.00 Depending on size.

Bespoke Full Restoration Service
including stripping to bare wood, repair replacement of bad timbers, laminated re-glazing,
new/renovated pulleys and hardware, rebalancing, Simplex hinge fitting, draught proofing, prime/undercoat/finish.
POA

Optional extras
Sash catches
Sash lifts and handles
Security stops

Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows

Contrary to populist belief, double glazing is not the best way to reduce noise - full stop.
It is just one expensive way to reduce some noise.
If traditional single glazed sash windows are the only barrier between you and the traffic you can tackle a major part of the problem by simply installing draught proofing.
As well as draughts, draught proofing also reduces airborne noises which find their way through the smallest and least noticeable gaps.
The next step is to replace the glass in the sashes.
There are many types of acoustic glass, available in various thicknesses, and designed to control various levels and types of noise.
Developed and tested by the larger glass manufacturers (e.g. Pilkington Glass) the results are often not as impressive in real life situations as they may be on paper.
Sound insulation is probably best achieved via well fitted windows with good draught strips, laminated safety glass 4.4mm or 6.4 mm thick may not be quite as acoustically efficient as the best specialist glass but, at a fraction of the price, it will dramatically assist in overall noise reduction.
For more comprehensive advice on your sash windows call me on 07930 335 937 or email me using the link on the left hand side.

Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows

Last week I was asked to rebuild some shelving in a former outside loo.
It wouldn't have been my first choice of layout - and I must admit I did try to alter her plans - but the lady wanted . . . and so the lady got.
It's amazing how much storage she now has in such a small area.
The slot on the left is a magazine rack

The job took quite a bit longer to complete than first estimated because once started we then agreed that the tiles were hanging off the walls and had to be stripped off and the walls plastered. The old toilet pan was cracked and so needed to be replaced. The new one was then raised by 2" to give a more regal feel to the throne :).
In the end it actually turned out looking better than I expected.

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes

This is an article taken from the Imperial College London web page
it may interest anyone who has traditional sash windows.

PRESS RELEASE
Scientists formulate a heat wave survival guide
Wednesday 6 August 2003
Scientists from Imperial College London have found a simple solution to city dwellers' despair as temperatures soar during summer heat waves. In a bid to cool down they have to learn how to ventilate and cool rooms by using windows and the building properly.
Dr Gary Hunt of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering who is leading research at Imperial on the fluid mechanics of natural ventilation explains:
"Many of us have forgotten how to correctly use the sash windows so carefully installed by the Edwardians and Victorians to maximise airflow.
"If used correctly it is possible to significantly improve comfort in the office or at home without using air conditioning units that place high demands on energy and increase carbon-dioxide emissions."
Using laboratory modelling techniques that accurately replicate the flow of air in small-scale physical models, Dr Hunt and his team are able to measure and clearly visualise how air circulates within rooms and buildings.
"The trick to getting the maximum flow of air through the window is to slide the sashes so the window is open equally at the top and bottom.
"By separating the in-flow and out-flow, cooler incoming air efficiently flushes the warm air out of the room. The warm air inside the room tumbles out of the top opening and the cooler air form the outside comes in through the lower opening," explains Dr Hunt.
By applying mathematical analysis and using small-scale laboratory models, the researchers were also able to calculate the size and placement of windows to maximise ventilation.
"The laboratory modelling technique relies on examining the movement of water through a model typically one twentieth to one hundredth of the building size. At this scale water moves through the model room in the same way as air moves through a real room," said Dr Hunt.
Results show if the windows of a room are too small or their location is not appropriately chosen, hot air, which collects at the ceiling may extend down to the occupied region making the environment unpleasantly hot and muggy.
"Offices typically experience the largest heat gains during the occupied daylight hours, when the need for ventilation is greatest. Minimal gains occur at night when the space is unoccupied.
"Our research shows a good strategy is to leave sash windows in the mid-position overnight - providing it's safe to do so. The cool external air flushes the warm air out of the room and also cools the walls, floor and ceiling. The cool walls then absorb heat the following day and prevent the internal temperatures from rising as high," he added.
Work is now underway at Imperial on a range of problems concerned with the fluid mechanics of airflows in buildings. Projects include modelling airflow in large multi-story buildings, which allows researchers to calculate how to naturally ventilate them effectively.
"The aim of our research is to gain an improved understanding of the physics of airflow in buildings through the use of laboratory and mathematical modelling techniques and to develop simple design guidelines that will help architects create energy efficient buildings of the future," said Dr Hunt.
For further information, please contact:
Judith H Moore
Imperial College London Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6702

Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows

What a wonderful week it's been.
I was originally apprenticed as a carpenter in 1968. Despite having done sooo many other things in my work life, carpentry remains my favourite thing to do. This week was nearly all about carpentry, with the odd bit of plumbing, and electrical work in and around Eastbourne added to a very full week.

Making box sash windows work properly is really very satisfying.
Yes, I know - it's sad - but I do get a buzz out of sliding sashes up an down!
These particular sashes had been over-painted so many times that the home owners thought the top sashes were fixed. Freeing the sashes from the frames only took a few minutes. Remove the staff bead. Ease out the bottom sash (the cords were broken). Remove the parting bead. Ease out the top sash (again, the cords were broken). Ease out the pocket pieces, pull out the counter weights. Disassembly is now more or less complete. Now all we have to do is repair, replace, and reassemble. The process can take an hour or two or more - or it can take all day - it just depends on what needs to be done. These particular windows needed a good deal of renovation - but by dusk they were back in full working order with new cords, replacement pulleys, and new brighton catches. If you have sash windows in need of renovation call me on 07930 335 937

Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows

The kitchen has as expected taken up all of this week.
Oliver was off sick on Tuesday and so a delay started... by Thursday he and Abdul (his apprentice) had rewired the kitchen and corrected some horror scenarios in the consumer unit (fuse box). The best one being that when the main switch was turned off - the house was still live. Still all's well that ends well. The faults have been put right and the kitchen is now up to current regs. Oliver and Abdul finished 'first fix' on Wednesday. The owners then decided that they would like the kitchen walls skimmed prior to fitting the kitchen. This meant that Raf started plastering late on Wednesday evening and completed the task by just after 23:00.
By doing it like that Oliver was able to do 'second fix' and 'test and certify' by late Thursday afternoon. While all of this was happening I had sorted the rerouting of the plumbing so that it was all ready for the final connections when the kitchen was fitted... Friday morning we finally started fitting. By close of play today, Saturday, the clients now have a fully functioning kitchen. Monday will be a short day of small details and by the mid afternoon we will be on our way to the next job.

Labels: Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing

This week Raf and I have been renewing a ceiling in Pevensey Bay near Eastbourne. First we had to rip down a lightweight fibreboard suspended ceiling (that was easy). New ceiling joists were installed, plasterboarded, and 200mm Rockwool Insulation added. Walls and ceiling were skimmed and plaster coving installed. It is all currently drying out, and will be ready for painting next week. The room has a completely different feel about it now. To have a look at a couple of photos of the project click HERE.

Labels: Carpentry

This little job has turned into quite a large project.
With a bit of luck the build should be finished this week.
It started out as the customer asking a casual question about possibilities.
It's been a very interesting couple of weeks.
From being swamped in mud to being frozen to the marrow, it's what makes being a handyman fun.
If you want to see more pictures visit my photo blog

Labels: Carpentry

Now that we have a dry spell I've done a bit more on the porch this week. If you'd like to have a look at some of the photos go to my new photo blog

Labels: Carpentry

Labels: Carpentry, Electrical, Flatpack, Miscellaneous, Plumbing, Rants

This week I've beeen in the process of building a porch over a stairway to a basement.

The rain has not helped!
Raf the plasterer has been going home miserable and looking like a drowned rat.
Sometimes it has felt like a training camp for the Somme.

An old loo had to be taken out, the brickwork made good and raised up to give what will be a full height ante room. The brickwork was in a terrible condition and the render was falling off the walls. Added to that we needed to sink a sump hole right next to an old main sewer pipe.
The basement has flooded several times over the years and so the owners are installing a sump pump to (hopefully) cope with any new flooding. Now that all the ground work is done the next stage is to build the superstructure. This should be completed next week if the weather allows.
I'll be publishing pictures as the project develops and they can be viewed on my photo blog.
To see what's happening follow this link it will be updated daily.

Labels: Carpentry

I had a lovely job to do this week.

"We want to close off the through lounge so that we can utilise the back room as a consulting room for homeopathy"
That's what they wanted.
That's what they got...
It would have been easy to throw up a room divider of some sort - but this couple wanted it to be in keeping with the age of the house - and so I was given free rein.
They are delighted with the result.

Click the following link to See slide show
They are in the process of transferring their highly respected homeopathy consultation rooms from Brighton to Eastbourne.
I suspect Brighton's loss is Eastbourne's gain.
If you are thinking about homeopathic treatments and want good advice visit their website.
I know you will be as impressed as I am.
Follow this link or the one in the side bar.

Labels: Carpentry

Over today and tomorrow (Thu-Fri) I'm re-cording and draughtproofing all the sash windows in a 19th century house (seven in total). It ranks up there with door hanging as one of my favourite jobs to do. I'm using Mighton products to do the job. I've used other draughtproofing setups before, but this company really impresses. Mighton is a sash window hardware manufacturer. They are so easy to deal with. Order the goods before 16.30 and they arrive next day. Their service has been exemplary. If you have a broadband connection go to their website and have a look at the Sash Window Television flash videos!!!!

Sash windows have quite a history.
I've copied the following directly from their website for those too lazy to click through to their history page. Enjoy reading and if you want your sash windows overhauled give me a call on 07930 335 937.

The Old Norse had a word for the simple openings in the walls of buildings that let light in and arrows out -vindauga.
It translates as `wind eye' the penalty obviously for anyone peering too long through those draughty slits. Almost 1,000 years later, vindauga had evolved into 'window' and arrow slits into the classic sash window - a simple yet weatherproof closure offering the perfect balance between illumination and ventilation. and for which Mighton Products today specialises in providing a comprehensive range of sash window ironmongery.
But for the skills of London-based master joiner Thomas Kinward, it might have taken longer for the development of the box framed sash window. In 1669 or thereabouts, he was working in the Royal apartments at Whitehall Palace. His employer, Sir Christopher Wren asked him to put 'a line and pulley to the window in ye Queen's Stoole room. 'It was the earliest recorded specification of a fully developed sash window. Whether Kinward thought up the characteristic counter-balancing feature or whether it was Wren himself, is undecided. But for two centuries, the sash window reigned supreme.
By the time Anne was crowned in 1702, the traditional but inconvenient English casement window with leaded lights had all but been abandoned in favour of the sash that became the hallmark of Georgian architecture. Early versions of the sash's classic arrangement of two lights independently held in a box frame, were single hung; the upper light was fixed, only the lower light was able to slide in the frame. By the mid 18th Century double-hung sashes were supreme.
Counter balancing was the hallmark of the era but although `sash' derives from the French word `chassis', the French hadn't figured out the counter-balancing innovation and held the lower sash in place with a swivel block. Each light had its own cord and counter-balance weight or 'mouse' running within the hollow frame of the whole window. Each light could slide independently within the frame yet remain in an open position without props, pegs or wedges.
The early sashes held their small and expensive panes of glass with thick glazing bars. Developments in the manufacture of Crown Glass brought larger panes cut from large glass discs, sometimes up to 3ft in diameter. The thick centre, where the blower's rod was attached and which today is mimicked by the bull's eye panes, was discarded or sold cheaply for use at the back of the house. With larger panes, glazing bars became thinner, more intricately moulded and the classic six-over-six pane design became the norm.
The Victorian passion for things medieval revived Gothic architecture and ostentatious buildings. Mass production made ornamentation cheap and builders added pattern book styles without hesitation. Sash windows became highly decorated with leaded lights, latticework and ornate stone and wood tracery. The Victorians played the field with four, eight or twelve- pane sashes. The finest would have been 16-pane double hung sashes that lent themselves to the larger window openings and bay fronts.
More than any other component, the size, shape and number of windows created the essential style and rhythm of these buildings - both inside and out. Vertically- proportioned sash windows provided comfortable natural lighting conditions and avoided excessive glare. A careful graduation in window size from street level not only intensified the effect of perspective but allowed more light into the more important rooms on lower floors.
Today at Mighton Products we see windows as relevant to the personality of a workman's terrace or the shopkeeper's villa as to the cleric's manse and the gentry's hall. However, the doors and windows that created this architectural impact and historic character are threatened.
Conservationists fear the legacy developed by the proportions, detailing, and materials of windows and doors is being lost by the insensitive replacement with modern designs.
The offenders? Misinformation, financial incentives to modernise old houses and door-to-door sales campaigns by home`improvement' companies.
Mighton Products doesn't denounce all PVCu and aluminium products.
The key word is `inappropriate'. Generally new systems do not match the detailing of traditional windows. False glazing bars and stuck-on lead look nothing like the real thing and often are a crude parody. In many cases, simple repairs at relatively low cost will extend the life of a door and window. Local surgery is usually a far better bet than costly wholesale replacement.
An overhaul to timber windows coupled with draught proofing, using Mighton Products sash window ironmongery, will provide a better financial return and reduce the old problem of `wind eye' more than double glazing.
If you want your sash windows overhauled give Jim a call on 07930 335 937.

Labels: Carpentry, Sash Windows

One of the things I'm doing this week is fitting a kitchen.
It's from B&Q. Bits are either missing or damaged.
Kitchen fitting demands a large range of skills from carpentry and plumbing to electrics and tiling, and can often include plastering and decorating.
There's nothing particularly difficult about fitting a kitchen, but only having some of the parts does make it far more interesting to fit. A sink without a strainer. The same sink without the blanking plug. Worktop damaged (under the label!!!!!). Worktop jointing bolts, but no compound. Drawer fronts damaged (but not a mark on the packaging). To be fair, it doesn't matter where the kitchen comes from, there will almost always be one or two hiccups.
The reason I prefer to use a trade supplier is that when things do go wrong (as they will) I've always found they are put right immediately. My preference is whenever possible to use Howdens Joinery Ltd in Eastbourne. They are super friendly, bend over backwards to help, and always have good deals.

Labels: Carpentry, Plumbing

I had a call last week to put up some shelves in an alcove.
I've done work for the customers before and always enjoy going back.
They wanted storage space for all sorts of things.
Once we'd had a look at the alcove I made a couple of suggestions and together we came up with a neat solution to house piles of stuff that didn't need to be on display.

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes

I love hanging doors.
I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it again.
I just love it.
Today I had five of them to do.
If you'd like to do it yourself there is a video on VIDEOJUG that will give you a method to follow. To watch it Follow this link.
Personally I don't follow that routine, but it will give you a good basic idea of how to do it.
Door hanging is not for the faint hearted or uninitiated. If you need it done properly give me a call on 07930 335 937.
Now back to the job...
I have a lot of fabulous customers all over Eastbourne and surrounds, which means I have drunk a lot of tea in a lot of houses!!!! But I have to say that today I have been spoilt rotten.
Biscuits, cake, chocolate bars, sandwiches, and sausage rolls. I must have put on 5 lbs.
Add to that pots and pots of tea , and I know I have single handedly helped increase the share prices of PG Tips and Typhoo by several points.
My customers are delighted with the finished result - which is (they say) why they called me in.
Now what's the web address for weight watchers?

Labels: Carpentry

Labels: Carpentry, Electrical, fitted wardrobes, Miscellaneous

Click on any of the pictures to see them full size.

If you need a handyman call me on 07930 335 937 or email me I'll be happy to help

Labels: Carpentry, Decking

Click on any image to enlarge....


Yes, more custom fit cupboards!
The brief...
Take a wide, shallow, entrance hall and maximise the cupboard space without making it claustrophobic. Vast amounts of hanging space, endless shelves for shoes, plus room for a Henry and his super long tail needed to be accommodated. The customer had made a plan... one brief look, and I made another! Ideas were thrown around and some thrown out.
We settled on floor to ceiling cupboards on one side of the entrance way and high base units and wall cupboards on the other. It took three days to build and a substantial amount of sheet MDF .
The results are in the pictures above. Double hanging rails swallow all the coats, dozens and dozens of shoes are lined up neatly on multiple shelves. Henry has his own tall cubby hole, and there's a separate cupboard for the bowls bags and equipment. Who was all this for? Limo feva. No doubt you've seen their fantastic fleet of pristine limousines in and around Eastbourne. The pink one is the one that stands out from the crowd. Have a look at some of their fleet at http://www.limofeva.co.uk/ Many say it's the only way to travel.

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes

Sometimes life flashes by so quickly. I've just realised it's over a month since I last posted anything to this blog! So this weekend I will be making amends by writing a few new posts.

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes

This morning I was a carpenter and plumber.
First I had to hang a door and then put up some shelves, and then I had to fit a new cistern in a downstairs cloakroom.

At the next call I had to change a euro cylinder in a patio door.
Many eurolocks are relatively simple to change, however it does depend on the design of the lock but the procedure for removal of a typical mortice lock in a door would be as follows:
Locate the screw which retains the cylinder (this will normally be approximately level with the bottom edge of the cylinder).
Remove the retaining screw.
Insert the key into the cylinder and turn the key around to line up the cam and enable the cylinder to be removed. It is not normally possible to change a cylinder with an offset cam when the keys have been lost. In these circumstances the cylinder may have to be drilled and the unless you know what you are doing I would suggest you give me a call.
The procedure outlined above may vary with some locks but the method is likely to be similar.
To install a new cylinder reverse the above directions.
If you don't wan't to do it yourself give me a call on 07930 335 937

Labels: Carpentry, Miscellaneous

I'm always being asked can you do this or can you do that
so here is a list in alaphbetical order of some of the things I can do

Add or remove shelving
Aviaries built
Bathroom accessories hung
Bird houses built
Blinds installed
Bookcases made to measure
Cat enclosures
Carpentry & Joinery
Ceiling fans installed
Central Heating*
Wardrobe organizers installed
Clothes Dryers
Decks and Decking
Dog Kennels
Doors hung, repaired, or adjusted
Dual Flush Toilets Installed
External Painting*
Fencing & Gates
Fireplaces installed
Fixtures installed or replaced
Flat Pack Kits Assembled
Garden Maintenance
General Repairs*
Glazing*
Hanging pictures and whiteboards
Hardware replaced
Hardwood floors
Install curtain poles
Install Fly screens
Install Hand rails
Internal Painting*
Landscaping & Gardening *
Light fixtures installed or repaired
Locks fitted
Mailboxes installed
Maintenance
Mirrors hung
New appliances installed
Outdoor grill/fireplaces
Painting & Decorating*
Pergolas
Pet Doors
Pet flaps
Picture hanging
Plumbing
Pressure Cleaning*
Renovation
Repair simple leaks
Replacement of Sash Cords
Roofing Repairs*
Rot repair
Shelving
Shower doors installed
Skylights*
Small repairs
Smoke Detectors
Staircases & Handrails
Storage sheds
Swing sets
Switches replaced
Toilets installed or replaced
Trim carpentry
Vent fans installed
Waste Disposals installed or repaired
Weather stripping
Window Shutters
Windows & Locks
Windows repaired

if you need help give me a call on 07930 335 937

Labels: Carpentry, Decking, Door viewer, Electrical, Fencing, fitted wardrobes, Flatpack, gardening, Laminate, Miscellaneous, Plumbing

Yesterday, I was asked twice(!) how to install a kitchen/wardrobe hinge.
So I decided to make a quick video to save me trying to explain.
From thought to finished production took ten minutes, so don't expect Stephen Spielberg quality!

Labels: Carpentry

Most of my work is through recommendation.
Chris at the Little Foxes B&B in Wannock Road had suggested to the clients that I might be able to help them. When they called me, they said "We want a few shelves put up in the living room for our books." It's a joy to work with nice people and this couple are great. I don't know about you, but whenever I meet nice people I'm prepared to do that little bit more. Seeing the masses of large books they had I suggested that bookcases would be a neater option, and price-wise not such a big difference. What came out of our discussions can be seen above. Click on the picture to enlarge. By many people's standards this long "L-shaped 9' high solid pine bookcase, built in three sections, is large, but it will accommodate just a small selection of their books!
Phil at Alsford Timber sorted out good quality timber for us, and it shows in the finished job.
Well done Phil.

Labels: Carpentry

It's Bank Holiday Monday and I've been working!
I've been catching up with the workload -
and by George, I think I might just manage it in the next couple of days.


One of the jobs today was originally planned for last week.
Last week we had wonderful weather -
just the weather to do some shed roofing.
So what, in the name of all that is holy,
possessed me to postpone it to this Bank Holiday Monday ?
Everybody knows it's always miserable on BHMs
and it didn't disappoint us today did it.
Last week I was boiling hot working in a loft
today I needed to wear gloves and fleece.
WHERE WAS GLOBAL WARMING WHEN I NEEDED IT!

Having said all that - the customers were very nice, and kept me very well supplied in tea and sweets. After I'd finished the repair work - we started talking about computers, and how easy it is to set up a blog. Without further ado, the lady of the house took me to an upstairs bedroom, and there we swapped links! It's great life being a handyman! To visit her new blog go to www.maggie-weaver.blogspot.com

Labels: Carpentry

Labels: Carpentry, Decking

Just before going on holiday I was asked to build a combined bookcase / wardrobe /radiator cover. Click on the pictures to see how it turned out. The customer thought it was amazing!

Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes

Labels: Carpentry, Miscellaneous

I have been rushing around like a headless chicken over the last few weeks trying to keep up with demand and failing miserably. The blog has suffered, but I'm now almost back on top and once again able to return phone calls. I've been amazed at the number of enquiries I've had over the last few weeks. On top of all the other work that's been coming in I've also completed some bigger projects. It's ranged from fitting bathrooms, and re-roofing summerhouses, to building special kitchen units as well as continuing on with the large decking project.

Labels: Carpentry