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.

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.

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 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.

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 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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.