November 1st, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Cleaning, Fabrics, Furniture, Lampshades, Lighting, Linen, Pine |
2 Comments →
The owner’s children must not run loose in the house. In fact, if the family live on the same premises, there must be a clear division between the facilities for the guests and the family home. You may not, under any circumstance, use a family room for a guest!
One of the strongest selling points for guest houses is “value for money“. Be careful not to price yourself out of the market and do not see-saw with your rates, putting them up dramatically when things seem to be going well or dropping them substantially if not. You will lose your loyal customers this way. Note the trends in the market and retain a long-term vision. Do not become greedy or desperate! Read the rest of this entry »
November 1st, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Bed, Showers, Texture |
2 Comments →
Your guest house must in the first instance be in the right location. Make sure that all building and structural alterations are planned carefully. There is very little that can be done if serious mistakes have been made with regard to these two aspects. On the other hand, if your location is good and your rooms and bathrooms are well built and appointed, you will be able to deal with most other problems you may encounter by making adjustments in your rates, services or marketing. Read the rest of this entry »
October 26th, 2008
by dodo
in
Lighting, Showers, Windows |
2 Comments →
Most households would welcome information on how to save money on heating and cooling their homes. As a handyman, you could offer your own home energy audits that identify those problems that impact energy efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »
October 22nd, 2008
by dodo
in
Home Improvement |
2 Comments →
Offering yard work as a part of your services can fill in the gaps during less busy times in the spring and fall. Yard work can include a wide range of services such as raking, planting, weeding, trimming trees, cutting, aerating and fertilizing lawns, pruning, trimming hedges, removing junk, building decks, laying patio stones, assembling garden sheds, tuning up lawn mowers and other power tools, and more. Read the rest of this entry »
October 22nd, 2008
by dodo
in
Home Improvement, Plumbing, Uncategorized |
2 Comments →
As a handyman, you should be able to advertise as part of your services small plumbing jobs such as replacing toilets and fixing leaking faucets. But unless you have a lot of experience with larger plumbing jobs, you should call in a plumber and subcontract the work. In fact, unless you feel confident in doing small jobs, it’s best to get a professional to give you some advice or even do the job. You can cause a lot of damage if a plumbing job is done incorrectly.
If you do plan on incorporating small plumbing repairs into your business, you’ll find it useful to keep some basic plumbing supplies on hand such as O rings, wax seals for toilets, plumber’s putty, a plunger, and plenty of rags for the inevitable cleanup.
Here are a few basic plumbing tips:
- Shut off the water at the main tap.
- Close the sink drain to avoid losing any small parts.
- Wrap tape around the jaws of the wrench to avoid scratching the finish on faucets.
- Never start a plumbing job at the end of the day so as to avoid being unable to finish and leaving your customer without water.
October 22nd, 2008
by dodo
in
Home Improvement, Roof, Uncategorized |
2 Comments →
Roofing can be very lucrative work. Many people could do it themselves, but they don’t have the equipment to do the job, such as a tall ladder, and they are quite happy to have someone take care of repairs for them.
In fact, you may be able to help your customers avoid a major expense down the road by pointing out that some “preventive roof medicine” is needed. If you have been hired, for example, to clean the eavestroughs or paint the house, you can take the time to examine the roof and recommend that it be reshingled or repaired, if necessary. Read the rest of this entry »
October 22nd, 2008
by dodo
in
Covers, Sheet |
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Doing plaster repairs and installing drywall may well account for a healthy portion of your work. Fixing old plaster and replacing lath and plaster with new drywall are much-requested jobs. Both plastering and drywalling take skill and time, and many customers are happy to pay well for a quality job. Here are some tips for these types of jobs: Read the rest of this entry »
October 17th, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Blinds, Curtains, Lighting, Mirrors, Showers, Windows |
2 Comments →
Without good lighting, the best bathroom will look uninviting — and may even be decidedly dangerous. It’s essential — and even illuminating — to choose the right lights! And if your bathroom gets good natural light, try to make the most of it.
Good lighting in the bathroom is essential not just because you look foolish if you apply your make-up like a clown but, more seriously, because you run the risk of misreading the directions on a bottle of medication. Read the rest of this entry »
October 13th, 2008
by dodo
in
Cupboard, Decoration, Pine, Wood |
2 Comments →
Access: This may be via a trapdoor in the floor, a door under the stairs, or a full- height door (in the case of a semibasement cellar). Access determines what can be stored according to its size, weight and regularity of use, so think about improvements like rehanging a door the other way round to make it easier to open. Where access is restricted, storage can be arranged around the door so that it can be used like a cupboard. Read the rest of this entry »
October 13th, 2008
by dodo
in
Cleaning, Indoor, Lighting, Painting, Windows |
2 Comments →
Depending on its size, condition and accessibility, a cellar has the potential to hold almost anything.
Older houses often have nonhabitable cellars which have traditionally been used for coal and junk — but with careful thought and planning they can be transformed quite cheaply into efficient and capacious storerooms. Some of the best uses for the cellar are: Read the rest of this entry »
October 10th, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Blinds, Carpets, Cleaning, Covers, Cupboard, Curtains, Iron, Laundering, Polish, Windows |
2 Comments →
For an area that is used several times a week and is always hard at work to keep you looking your best, the laundry is often sadly neglected. Pay it a little attention, too, and solve those washday blues at the same time.
To get the most space and ease out of your laundry, first consider its layout and be critical about its shortcomings. Many householders have no choice but to incorporate the laundry into the bathroom or kitchen, so the laundry basket, peg bag, sink unit, bucket, washing machine, dryer, detergents and all the rest of it has to be fitted in as unobtrusively as possible. Your laundry may even be positioned in a narrow passageway or back corner. Don’t despair — well-thoughtout planning doesn’t require a lot of space. Read the rest of this entry »
October 10th, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Bed, Bedroom, Cupboard, Lotion, Towel |
3 Comments →
When you next look around your home thinking that you couldn’t swing a cat let alone put away your record collection, think again. Even the smallest studio flat has storage potential. You can make your tiny corner of the city a more spacious and pleasant place to live.
Finding somewhere reasonably central at a price you can afford, especially if you are single, often means sacrificing the luxury of space. Read the rest of this entry »
October 7th, 2008
by dodo
in
Basins, Indoor, Polish |
2 Comments →
Cutting tiles Mark out and cut tiles to fit (see Skill class on marking and cutting tiles). The cut tiles can then be laid individually around the perimeter as needed.
Grouting Once all the tiles have been laid, allow the adhesive to set for 24 hours before grouting. The recommended grout is a cement-based material with additives to ensure a certain water resistance and ease of use. Grout is designed to fail should tiles expand with age; the idea behind this is that grout is easier and cheaper to replace than tiles. On floors, it is common to use the adhesive as the grouting medium as well because it is normally grey and won’t show dirt as easily as white or coloured grout. Read the rest of this entry »
October 7th, 2008
by dodo
in
Bed, Covers, Mirrors, Sheet, Wood |
2 Comments →
Step by Step
Don’t try to do too much in one day and make sure you arrange alternative washing and toilet facilities with a neighbour if necessary.
Preparing the floor The most suitable surface for laying ceramic tiles is concrete. However this must be wood-float finished (rough textured) — if it is a mirror-smooth or steel- trowel finish, it will first need to be scratched, roughened with a chisel or acid-etched. Read the rest of this entry »
October 7th, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Bed, Decoration, Indoor, Painting, Wood |
2 Comments →
DIY tiling needn’t be a tale of woe it can be fun, cost-saving and easy when approached in the right way.
Tiles can be a lot easier to fix than you think. Good preparation and planning is the true secret of success — if you get this right, your tiling will be something to be proud of.
Before you buy or order tiles for the floor or walls, work out approximately how many you need. This is especially important if you are tiling large areas or using a pattern. Most tiles are sold by the square metre. Suppliers have tile charts which will tell you approximately how many tiles are needed per square metre. Coverage is also stated on boxes. Remember that the smaller the tile the more work will be involved. Read the rest of this entry »
September 30th, 2008
by dodo
in
Bed, Bedroom, Covers, Fabrics, Sheet |
2 Comments →
Under-fives Handbag
Cute as they are, little children can create a storage nightmare. They are an active, inquisitive bunch, and their bedroom will reflect their changing needs. They require masses of equipment, most of which are vital at one stage of growth and redundant at another. In terms of storage, expandable and adjustable units are the most sensible option. They should be safe and durable, and all handles and shelves should be low enough for your child to reach. Read the rest of this entry »
September 26th, 2008
by dodo
in
Baths, Carpets, Mats, Polish, Sheet, Wood |
3 Comments →
If ever a product has stood the test of time, it is the ceramic tile. Popular since the days of the Romans, ceramic tiles are still the most versatile of the bathroom surfaces. They can be used for both floors and walls and are available in a huge variety of colours, shapes and prices.
When choosing tiles, select ones that are in scale with your bathroom. If you choose a fancy shape, such as the ogee or Moorish designs, keep the colours simple: too much variety looks over-fussy. Read the rest of this entry »
September 26th, 2008
by dodo
in
Basins, Baths, Carpets, Iron, Painting, Showers |
2 Comments →
Bathroom surfaces, like those in a kitchen, have to work hard — choose the right materials when you decorate your bathroom and it will emerge unscathed from the steamiest affair.
Inevitably, bathroom surfaces are subjected to the arch enemy of all decorative finishes — water. Spills and splashes cause puddles or worse, while steam insidiously works its way into every crack and crevice. The surfaces also receive their fair share of knocks — slippery fingers easily drop bottles of shampoo or hair colour, and junior can pack quite a punch with a plastic bath toy. Despite all the punishment, the surfaces must not attract dirt and harbour germs. Read the rest of this entry »
September 25th, 2008
by dodo
in
Accessories, Basins, Baths, Candle, Cotton, Curtains, Decoration, Fabrics, Iron, Lotion, Mats, Mirrors, Rugs, Showers, Texture, Towel, Windows |
2 Comments →
Once you have the plan in mind, you can turn your attention to the colour and style of your bathroom.
Your choices are almost unlimited and while your final selection boils down to personal taste, there are a few general guidelines.
To some extent, the bathroom is a place where you can indulge your decorative whims, but try to ensure that its decor — and the budget allocated — is in keeping with the rest of the house. Read the rest of this entry »
