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Posts Tagged ‘handyman quotes<’
Posted in Handyman Services on Feb 20
It’s surprising how many enquiries we receive about attaching things to walls. While this is the perfect job for a Handyman, it’s quite simple to do yourself. That’s provided you have the right equipment and safety gear. Should you decide to have a go, then these are the seven main things to watch out for.
Safety Tip
 A London Handyman will always have a strong ladder, an assistant and a modern electric drill to help him do his work. If you don’t have the same, please don’t even try to do the job.
- Always use a sharp masonry drill bit that’s slightly undersized for the wall plug you’re installing. You can always make it larger afterwards, but you cannot make it smaller.
- Before you drill, consider what might lurk inside the wall. Never drill directly opposite an electric box, or in line with a water pipe. Remember to check outside the house too.
- Re-check your measurements carefully before you drill. If the item you are fitting has more than one attaching point, fit a single one initially. Then you can level it and mark the other points.
- Make sure the drill is at right angles to the wall before you press the switch. Are you wearing safety goggles? Drill bits occasionally do snap.
 Have a friend hold a vacuum cleaner extension pipe in position to suck the dust up before it covers everything.
- Drill through the plaster on the standard setting before you switch to impact. Never force an electric tool. Use it in ten second bursts and do not let it overheat.
- When you are finished, lay the drill down somewhere safe, and unplug it from the wall.
Do you think that you could do the job yourself and avoid the cost of Handyman Quotes? Many people do.
Many others prefer to Find a Handyman on Mr-Skill instead, and get on with other more important things in their lives.
Tags: accessory, assistant, attach, bit, brick, careful, check, drill, dust, electric, equipment, find a handyman, glasses, goggle, handyman quotes, impact, ladder, level, london handyman, masonry, pipe, plaster, plug, right angle, safety, shelf, switch, television, vacuum, wall
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Posted in Handyman Services on Jan 12
I’ve noticed a tendency these days for estate agents to describe run-down properties as handyman delights. Perhaps the implication is that there are a few fun-things to attend to over several leisurely weekends? Some properties I’ve viewed recently reveal that they require considerably more attention than just that.
If you’re in the same position then you’re certainly not alone. The following are jobs currently posted on Mr-Skill and  awaiting Handyman Quotes:
- Fixing Garden Panels Securely. The fences we put up around our yards are often cheap and nasty, and the poles are seldom properly concreted in. This one’s perfect for a handyman – you don’t need more advanced skills here.
- Letter Box Replacement. This one’s straightforward too and I’m sure that Mr-Skill will Find a Handyman to do it pretty soon. It seems the front flap’s snapped off. Pretty urgent I would have thought. After all we’re in the middle of winter in case you hadn’t noticed.
- Attach Bathroom Fittings. I find it remarkable that developers no longer supply even a basic toilet roll-holder and simple soap dish. How mean is that?
 They make a fortune, and the comment “we thought we’d let you choose” cuts no ice with me at all. Their show houses certainly have bathroom fittings in abundance.
- Sand Down a Wooden Floor. This is a fairly easy task when you have the right tools. In fact I know a London Handyman who makes his living that way in older houses. I wouldn’t bother with a carpenter here – an experienced handyman is quite capable of the job.
- Remove a Fallen Tree. This one seems displaced to me, and perhaps belongs better under gardening and landscaping? I doubt the average handyman has the required power saws, or a trailer to remove the cuttings for that matter either.
When you think about it, there are an amazing number of jobs a Handyman could do around the house. The problem is that some so-called handymen are downright awful. That’s where the Website Mr-Skill makes such a difference. Our handymen are rated by their customers, so you can see what you are getting before you buy.
Tags: bathroom, cheap, concrete, cutting, fence, find a handyman, fitting, flap, floor, Garden, handyman, handyman quotes, holder, job, letter box, london handyman, replace, run down, sand, saw, soap, toilet roll, trailer, wood
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Posted in Handyman Services on Dec 22
Mr-Skill exists to help its UK customers find skilled and competent craftspeople working in just about every postcode. These skilled artisans pay us a modest fee for listing on our website, and to get access to enquiries. Our customers pay us nothing for the service.  And that’s the way it ought to be. That’s because customers are the people that keep the wheels of business moving.
When a customer posts an enquiry for work that’s needing doing, every related tradesperson on our lists gets to hear about it from us. When they quote directly back to customers, they know that theirs is not the only quote. What better incentive could there be to keep rates down? Moreover, we act as intermediaries in the unlikely event of a dispute arising.
Out of interest, the following jobs are currently out there waiting for Handyman Quotes:
- Clearing gutters and hanging up Christmas lights outside. Happy Noel!
- Attaching a television wall-mount and putting up a kitchen cupboard
 Drilling a hole in a concrete ceiling. This customer needs to Find a Handyman to put up a hammock.
- Putting up a roller blind and curtain rail. No further information given.
- Installing a washing machine. The customer needs hot and cold water and is on a tight budget.
- Assembling a plastic shed. That’s an unusual one we’ve not seen before!
We have all kinds of Handypeople available to do jobs like these. They range from London Handymen who sometimes have a trade but prefer variety, right through to traditional country lads who turn up on bicycles. Why not give our free service a try right now?
Tags: artisan, ceiling, christmas light, concrete, craft, curtain rail, customer, dispute, drill, find a handyman, gutter, hammock, handyman quotes, hole, job, kitchen cupboard, lad, light, london handymen, quote, rate, roller blind, shed, skill, television, trade, wall mount, washing machine, work
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Posted in Handyman Services on Sep 14
What Makes a Good Handyman?
Let’s face it. There are plenty of so-called handymen and handywomen around in Britain these days, what with the recession and the rate of unemployment, and the industry is totally unregulated too. That’s  where Mr-Skill can help you Find a Handyperson you can rely on in a world so populated with strangers. Here are a few criteria we recommend when choosing one.
- Do they come recommended by anyone you know? Be careful of hiring a person directly off the street, and for obvious reasons too. When you consider hiring help that’s been rated by Mr-Skill and our customers, you are making a sensible start.
- What skill levels do they have? You’re unlikely to find a qualified tradesmen doing lower-paid work as a handyperson, so it’s impractical to expect formal qualifications. You are entitled to expect proof of related experience though – unless you are prepared to let them do their learner’s on your precious home.
- Are they organized people? The last think you need is a muddler inside your defences, so try to assess their personality when reviewing Handyman Quotes. Is their van tidy inside? Are they reasonably well dressed? Such things are often mirrors of the soul.
- Do they have an established client base? A good handyman can be as scarce as hen’s teeth. I know of London Handymen who never have to advertise. Be a little sanguine about an odd-jobber who can begin a job right immediately. Perhaps nobody else has uses for their services?
Tough talk from Mr-Skill today I guess, but straight talking for a reason. We receive letters every day from people who made the mistake of hiring a stranger off the street. Our Database of Rated Tradespeople is yours for free, and their prices are exceptionally fair. Doesn’t this make an awful lot of sense?
Tags: britain, client, dress, employment, establish, experience, fair, find a handyperson, handyman quotes, handymen, handywomen, hire, learner, london handymen, organize, price, proof, qualification, rate, recession, recommend, rely, scarce, sense, sensible, skill, stranger, tidy, van
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Posted in Handyman Services on Aug 22
Do you need to Find a Handyman in London, or in any other place whatsoever across the length and breadth of Britain? Then you need look no further than Mr-Skill, because we have a huge database of Handymen that you can access when you just click here. Of course you could also look for one yourself, although from what we know you’ll battle to find one yourself that’s  half as good, or at a better price than ours either.
Notwithstanding this, here are a few tips to get you started…
o Does the handyman in your sights have some form of technical qualification, best of all a trade of any kind? Alternatively, do they have some form of practical experience? If the answer is no on both counts, then they could be about to do their learner’s licence on your home! And don’t be afraid to ask for proof either. The ones who squeal the loudest are the ones to avoid the most.
o Take a good hard look at their business card. Is there enough information on it to track them down, assuming that the job does not turn out all that well? And while you’re at it ask them about their guarantees, and whether or not they are insured.
o  Make sure that all Handyman Quotes list materials and labour separately, and in terms of unit prices and actual hours provided for too. I’m not saying that they are not allowed to make a decent profit, just saying that an indecent profit is a bridge too far for me. And while you’re at it, make sure the information on their quote and business card is consistent. If it’s not, then find out why.
o I’ve always believed that the condition of the places where men store their things is an indication of the quality of their work. When you have a chance without being sneaky, take a look in the cab and load bay of their van.
Life is about choices, and if you need to Find a Handyman anywhere in England you could save yourself a load of trouble by doing so on Mr-Skill. We check all our tradesmen out on your behalf, and, in the event of an unlikely problem, we are as close as the other end of the telephone.
Tags: britain, business card, cab, choice, experience, find a handyman in London, good, guarantee, handyman, handyman in london, handyman quotes, handyperson, hour, information, insure, labour, load bay, material, price, problem, profit, proof, qualification, quotation, quote, save, technical, telephone, trouble, van
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Posted in Handyman Services on Jun 28
There is no end to ideas for paving jobs now that summer is here and the ground has finally dried out. Why not pave over a dead spot in the garden where nothing grows, or create a  pathway to create definition and depth. When you Find a Handyman on Mr-Skill, you could be taking your first step to a new experience in your garden, and here are a few ideas to get you going.
o If you have an area in your garden that’s overshadowed by trees, then a circular patch of paving can be especially effective. You could finish it off with a feature in the centre, or lay it around a tree trunk and finish off with a circular bench.
o If your garden lacks definition or interest then why not ask us to arrange a few Handyman Quotes for you, with ideas for creating a winding pathway that draws the visitor on. An added advantage is that it encourages feet to stay out of flower beds and vegetable patches, and keeps the wheelbarrow out of trouble too.
o  Do you have an alleyway down the side of your house where walls and fences keep the sunshine out, and nothing grows? This is common in the City where Handymen in London create cobbled details and concrete statues that make alleyways almost like wandering through a second Pompeii. There are so many different things that you could do here.
A touch of paving makes a difference in just about every garden, and can be surprisingly inexpensive when you use recycled pavers with the patina of age. Other good news includes the fact that we have rated handymen at most common UK postal codes, and that the chances are good that we could find one for you too.
Well, always like the ruins of Pompeii, if you insist. But the thought was there.
Tags: alley, alleyway, bed, bench, circular, cobble, detail, feature, feet, fence, find a handyman, flower, Garden, handyman quotes, handymen london, job, path, pathway, pave, paver, paving, round, shade, shadow, spot, sun, tree, vegetable, wall, wheelbarrow
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Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Dec 23
With Christmas just around the corner and neighbors competing for the best Christmas Lights in the street, it is time to take a sober look at ladder safety before tackling the brandy pudding. This is serious stuff – a bad fall at Yuletide is hardly conducive to the true Christmas Spirit – and you may have to find a handyman to complete your pet project for you too.
 Handymen London Christmas Light Installers insist on using fiberglass ladders only, because they do not conduct electricity and do not rot either. Aluminum is even more durable, while wood is fading from popularity because of cost and the need to preserve the planet’s forests.
o Before you use a ladder, inspect it carefully every time – and I do mean every time please. Ladders do not come equipped with parachutes and you are on your own when a rung suddenly collapses.
o Position the ladder firmly on even ground and never ever level the feet with loose objects or place it on top of something else. Set the ladder out in a ratio of 1:4 – that’s two feet away from the bottom of the wall if the top of the ladder is eight feet above the ground. If using an A-Frame ladder, make sure that the joints are locked in place. If you intend  climbing off the ladder onto another surface at the top, the ladder must extend at least three feet beyond that point.
o Make sure the ladder remains stable at all times. Secure the top with rope if possible, and always have someone holding it securely at the bottom. If things do not feel right, climb down and start again.
Safety comes first at all times, and that includes when putting up Christmas Lights too. Don’t be overambitious either. If in doubt, play safe and get handyman quotes on Mr-Skill.
Merry Christmas from all staff at Mr-Skill
Tags: a-frame, aluminium, fibreglass, find a handyman, firmly, handyman quotes, handymen london, hold, inspect, ladder, position, rope, rung, safety, set out, stable, wood
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Posted in Handyman Services on Dec 17
Mobility Ramps
There are many different ways that you could build a ramp to assist a disadvantaged person get around the home in a wheelchair or with a walking frame. If a permanent solution is required, the simplest method could be to build shuttering  and fill it in with concrete layer by layer. Another method is to box in a wooden frame – the possibilities are almost endless. The main thing (whether you find a handyman to do it for you or you attempt to do the job yourself) is to make sure that the access ramp is safe, and this is what this short guide is all about.
o Position the ramp at the entrance to the building that provides the most convenient access, and where, if possible there is room for conventional access too.
o The maximum gradient of the ramp should not be more than one inch of rise per foot of length.
o As a rule of thumb, Handymen London trained recommend a total run of at least four feet beyond a door that opens outward.
 o Make sure that the ramp is free from water run-off so that it does not become slippery or moldy either. Fit a non-slip surface, and side rails too where a wheelchair is in use.
o Finally, give thought to the interfaces at either end of the ramp. Transition should be smooth with no trip hazards either.
Now that you know the principles of building mobility ramps, you will be better able to assess the proposals contained in the handyman quotes you find on Mr-Skill.
Tags: access, concrete, disadvantaged, find a handyman, gradient, handyman quotes, handymen london, interface, mobility, non-slip, position, ramp, rise, side rails, slip, slope, walking frame, water, wheel chair, wheelchair, wood, zimmer frame
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It is so easy to build a Cold Frame out of materials lying around the workshop plus a few bits and bobs you could find down at the hardware store. Chances are you could even pick up an old window from a demolition site with glass intact.  If you can do that, then the job should cost you little more than your time and you could be growing veggies right through winter. When you are done, you just set your Cold Frame down in a sunny spot where water never pools, and literally enjoy the fruits of your labours.
o First, redecorate the salvage window with a good weatherproof paint or varnish. Then measure it up and cut the sizes of the frame accordingly from solid wood. Connect these using plastic corner blocks and brass screws to complete the basic frame.
o Cut the angled filler pieces for the sides that will connect the tops of the front and back bits, glue these on, and when the glue is set, seal every single inch of wood with the same weatherproof medium you used on the salvage window.
 o Finally, attach the salvage window to the frame with brass hinges and fit a wooden stay to keep it open as and when you need.
o Fill a suitable-sized container (with weep-holes) with good potting soil, plant it out with seedlings and set in on a suitable piece of hard standing with a good elevation. Place your Cold Frame over it, and you are nearly done. One thing left though – remember to keep the soil moist and the caterpillars where they belong, or you might be disappointed.
If you are feeling lazy, you could get find a handyman you fancy and get handyman quotes on Mr-Skill. Chances are that Handymen in London will turn their noses up though – the job is just too small for them to be worthwhile.
Tags: brass screw, build a cold frame, cold frame, cold glue, corner block, find a handyman, glass, handyman quotes, handymen london, hard standing, hinges, materials, paint, salvage, scrap, standing, stay, varnish, weather proof, window, wood, wood glue
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping, Handyman Services | Comments Off
A Water Feature adds beauty to any home, and to any office too. A leak can be troublesome especially if the pond is indoors, and requires repair soon. Slight cracks are often within the skills of an amateur repair person – more serious ones  indicate a need to find a handyman to sort them out, because leaks get worse, not better. Before you start any repairs, allow the water level to drop gradually, but not enough to risk your precious fish and plants. When it stops, you have found at least one site of your leak.
Important Hint Be careful of using toxic materials that may harm fish and plants. If in any doubt, contact the manufacturer for advice.
Remove all plants and fish, and store these in buckets of water taken from the pond. Keep these in a cool place, and remember to keep feeding your friends. If they have to remain like that for several days, aerate the water by gently pouring it between buckets.
Locate the source of the leak and chisel out any loose pieces, widening it if necessary to provide room for a good key. Remove all dust, and paint the opened crack with several layers of bonding liquid.
Make up a rich mix of concrete or cement, moistened with the same bonding liquid instead of water. Work this carefully into the crack, using an old flat screwdriver to eliminate air pockets. Smooth off the surface of the fill and blend it into the surrounding area. Wait patiently until the following day.
 Depending on the circumstances, re-seal the entire water feature with one of the following products according to the manufacturer’s instructions:
o Acrylic waterproofing compounds come in different colours, are flexible and can bridge hairline cracks.
o Latex waterproofing compounds dry quickly. However, curing times must be respected before reintroducing water, plants and fish.
o Rubberised bituminous products are more effective on larger ponds. Curing times can be extensive making them less desirable for repairs.
o Flexible polyurethane sealants applied with a caulking gun are perfect for sealing around pipes and filling small cracks. Beware though, many of these can harm plants and especially fish.
Wash out your water feature when the sealing compound is dry and properly cured. Handymen London based believe that this is the perfect time to paint a pond inside as well. When ready you can return the water you removed, and re-house your plants and fish according to good practices that are beyond the scope of this advice.
Did you find this information sufficiently comprehensive? If not, perhaps it would be wiser to get handyman quotes on Mr-Skill.
Tags: acrylic, bitumen, bituminious, bonding liquid, cement, chisel, concrete, crack, find a handyman, fish, fix, handyman quotes, handymen london, latex, leak, open, paint, plants, poison, polyurethane, pond, pool, repair, rubberised, seal, toxic, wash, water, water feature, water proofing, waterproofing
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping, Handyman Services | 2 Comments »
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