WATCH THIS VIDEO! I think its absolutely fabulous

Click the arrow to watch.

To play this amazing sequence in full screen click in the top right of the video.

If you haven't discovered TED yet -
Now is the time to do it. http://www.ted.com/

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

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 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.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

The first page

This is the first post

New Mantlepiece

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

It's great to be back in the saddle.

Since getting going again I've been very busy catching up on some very nice jobs.

Here's one I made earlier!

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

KB Glass

KB Glass is a local Eastbourne business that specialises in architectural glass.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

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.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

Stud wall partition

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.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

Sash windows? Reduce road noise with draghtprooofing.

Reducing external noise is one of the many benfits of draughtproofing sash windows.
Last week I was working on a house on a busy main road. The house is in the midddle of a lovely village (Horam), but with very heavy through traffic. The main bedroom faces onto the road.
The clients run "Little Sunflowers" childrenswear as a family business
Some of their sash windows are over a hundred years old.
With proper care, the sashes will easily last another generation or two.
By the time I had finished, my customers were amazed at the difference the draughtproofing made. They were so pleased that they kept opening and shutting the sashes just to test the difference.
Where a draught can get through so can noise dirt and dust.
If the putty is old and dried out and any of the individual glass panels are loose (they rattles when tapped) then they too have to be resealed.
By the way, if you're looking for Christmas presents for young kids take a look at their website, it's http://www.littlesunflowers.com/

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

New look Eastbourne Sash Windows Site

While I was restyling the old Jim'll Fix It website I decided to give the Sash Windows site a makeover too.
The title "Eastbourne Bexhill and Hailsham Low Cost Sash Window Repairs Refurbishment and Restoration." is just a tad long don't you think?
The address remains the same http://www.sashwindows.seehawk.co.uk/
Take a look and tell me what you think.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

New look Eastbourne Handyman website

I was told the old Jim'll Fix It website was looking tired so I have restyled it.
The address remains the same www.handyman.seehawk.co.uk
Take a look and tell me what you think.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

Installing a new loft hatch ladder

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.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

Arched top box sash window repaired.

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.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

A new hair salon - Bliss

There's a new gal in town
A lot of my work is recommendations from customers.
This job was no exception.
Opening a new business for the first time is scary.
Camilla has decided to go it alone and will be opening her hair salon on Thursday.
My job was, amongst other things, to put a a couple of mirrors and a couple of shelves.
It was great to be part of the excited stress of the pre opening preparations.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish her well.
Go see for yourselves at 'Bliss' 64 Seaside, Eastbourne. (Almost opposite Armoury Locksmiths)

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

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

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.

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.

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

give me a call on 07930 335 937.