Jim'll Fix It! Eastbourne Handyman Extraordinaire!
Now including Computer Help
Restorative carpentry Sash Windows Wooden Doors repair and renovation, Shelving and Flat pack installed, Plumbing, Electrical, Plastering, Painting and decorating, DIY rescues!Computer help given. Software problems solved! Deleted files recovered, lost photos music and documents found, Personal and business websites set up. Home and business networks setup and administered, Computer lessons given for newbies. Covering Eastbourne Bexhill Hailsham
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Mirrored sliding doors
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. After you've done a couple, fitting mirror sliding doors is not difficult. The main thing to remember is to make the height of the opening just 2-3 cm larger than the door height and the frame width 2-3 cm smaller than the double door width. . There's a good range of vertical adjustment that will take up any play.
The adjustment range can accommodate even quite wonky walls. Everything should slide smoothly and butt up parallel to the frame.
Tea was offered (and gratefully accepted). We talked about the theme of the week.... snow snow snow... and the time just flew by. In what seemed like an instant I was back on the road and onto the next job... Nice home, nice kids, nice people... all in all ... nice.
Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Flatpack self assembly?
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.
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.
Just to let you know
From January 2010 the new home page of "Jim'll Fix It Services" will be www.rwjsear.com.
As always, whatever you need I can help. If I can't help - I'll know someone who can!
Whether its property maintenance, or a computer problem that needs solving
As always, whatever you need I can help. If I can't help - I'll know someone who can!
Whether its property maintenance, or a computer problem that needs solving
give me a call on 07930 335 937.
Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes, Flatpack
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Thunder box
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.
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
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Some shelves please
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.
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.
This was the end result.
As always click on the image to enlarge.
If you'd like something similar,
call Jim on 07930 335 937
Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes
Monday, 15 October 2007
Hailsham and the Eastbourne Handyman
In a previous life - about 20 long years ago,
I was living in Germany, driving European Road Trains
(which make UK trucks look like Dinky toys)
from Germany to Morocco, Denmark to Tunisia, Sweden to Portugal, or any other combination of European and North African countries you might care to think about.
(which make UK trucks look like Dinky toys)
from Germany to Morocco, Denmark to Tunisia, Sweden to Portugal, or any other combination of European and North African countries you might care to think about.
I used to drive thousands of miles a week.
I'd be at home for two, possibly three days a month, and I loved it.
I used to love to travel to new destinations.
It was like being on holiday, and getting well paid for it!
It was like being on holiday, and getting well paid for it!
I had huge amount of fun.
But everything has a price tag.
It only cost me a good marriage and a lifetime of guilt!
Why am I telling you this?
Nowadays I virtually never work outside of Eastbourne!
Two main reasons
1. Absolutely no need
There is lots of work available on the doorstep in Eastbourne
2. Absolutely no desire
I can't think of one good reason to travel any sort of distance.
Having said all that, I now find myself going up to Hailsham (that's a huge journey of about 7-8 miles - ONE WAY!!!) on a regular basis.
It started when I got a phone call from a lady who had read this blog.
"I need some work done, can you help?" she asked.
"The answer's 'Yes, what's the address" I replied.
When she said "South Street" I already had a mental image of a road in Eastbourne.
"Hailsham" she said.
I was about to say "I don't operate outside of Eastbourne" (my normal reply), when she said "I've read your blog and I think it's great!"
What a sucker punch!
I'm no different to anybody else - I love having my vanity stroked!
I swear, any other reason would have failed - miserably.
But because I was flattered, I now find myself going up to Hailsham every week to do carpentry, plumbing, and electrics. The lady and her family are fabulous to work with, and I really enjoy going up there. They want a lot of work done, so expect a few posts from Hailsham over the coming months.
But because I was flattered, I now find myself going up to Hailsham every week to do carpentry, plumbing, and electrics. The lady and her family are fabulous to work with, and I really enjoy going up there. They want a lot of work done, so expect a few posts from Hailsham over the coming months.
Whoever said flattery doesn't work is a fool!
Labels: Carpentry, Electrical, fitted wardrobes, Miscellaneous
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Under stairs storage cupboard
I've been building video storage units for a customer today. Over the past month I've constructed several units in different locations around the house. In fact apart from the stair well itself, there are video storage units everywhere. He has thousands upon thousnds of videos, and despite my best efforts, we still don't have enough storage. We've now commandeered the under-stairs broom cupboard to accomodate some more. He tells me that we have only racked and stacked less than half his total collection! I find other people's lives fascinating! Here are some more pictures of various units...
Labels: fitted wardrobes
Sunday, 2 September 2007
What my wife wants she gets!
Click on image to enlarge...
Trish wanted a window that overlooks our neighbours blocked up this weekend, and so I obliged by turning it into a tall display niche. I thought Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest. The things we do for love!
Labels: fitted wardrobes
Saturday, 1 September 2007
Custom built cupboards
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
Fit a Baby Belling
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.
Here's the first
A good friend of mine, Zena Parker, is 80+. I've written of her before. She makes the most delicious rock cakes - perhaps that's why we're friends - because I like to eat delicious rock cakes. In fact I like to eat anything sweet!
But I digress....
For over twenty five years she has used the same oven to make her cakes buns and biscuits. The oven has, like Zena, grown weary, but had to date not once given up. Now the cooker has been retired and a lighter brighter smaller cooker has taken its place. Zena bought a Baby Belling. My first thought on hearing this was - no more rock cakes (Yes, I know, I can be quite selfish)! My second thought was where is she going to put it? Then I realised that was why she was calling.
She had a plan - and at first - it seemed a good plan. Take the old cooker out and make a low cupboard to sit the Baby on. "Yes" I said with my best can do voice. "I'll be around in a couple of minutes". When I arrived I went into the kitchen and knew straight away we were going to have a problem. The old cooker is at least 10x bigger than the new cooker, but, and it is a very big BUT, old cooker 56cm wide, new cooker 58cm wide. In a fitted kitchen that's a problem.
After a couple of minutes of perplexed looks trying to explain that the new midget cooker was too big to go in the hole, the lights slowly went on. We (I) would have to cut down cupboards to make more room for the baby cooker. And so I did.
The baby cooker is 58cm wide, but the hole has to be no less than 63cm wide to comply with manufacturer's instructions.
Below you can see the solution.
It's amazing what can be done with a bit of MDF.
Click on the pictures to see them large!
Labels: Carpentry, fitted wardrobes
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Here's a list of things I do
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
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
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Combined Bookcase Wardrobe Radiator Cover
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
Archives
December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 June 2009 November 2009 January 2010 February 2010
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]