Rozelle Balmain Handyman

26/11/2025

Please note I am way on holidays and won’t be back until Xmas week.

19/12/2024

Out third over roof balcony repair this year. Built only 12 years ago the waterproofing was done using bitumen by a certified waterproofer….using a waterproofing agent from the 19th century in the 21st?
It now has a polyurethane membrane with high quality Mapei Band corner tape and in the New Year will get some pedestal tiles laid over this. We did this waterproof job ASAP to stop the leaking downstairs.
The tiles laid on pedestals work great here - we will raise them to the door step height removing the step down, they have a self cleaning action as the water only runs to the edga of each tile then down, and there is an airspace over the waterproof membrane.

29/10/2024

The props are out and the floor is more level than its been in close to 100 years.
Replaced a termite eaten beam that had dropped about 15mm.
The ceiling is secure and no more will collapse.
Next step plaster!

31/07/2024

How all upstairs tiled balconies should be done. A steep sloped waterproofed base with huge drain, and pedestal pavers sitting nice and level and self cleaning above. They bring your tiles up to door level without compromising flashings and waterproofing.
The tiles are fixed with 4mm gaps all around for supreme drainage.
Now to repair the ceilings below!

26/07/2024

Peak level of handyman achieved!

18/05/2024

A pool we did a lot of work on. We completed the stone feature wall, the fence, and the tiling.

18/05/2024

A vanity we recently installed.

07/06/2023

02/06/2023

Big regrouting job in Balmain. Up to the scaffold bits now. These old non cavity double brick buildings with old lime mortars are notoriously damp.
We grind 30mm or so of the old mortar out, regrout then paint in a special membrane paint that keeps water out but also lets vapours out.

13/04/2023

The roofers laid the tiles. The carpenter mounted the barge board. The painters, well they painted. And none of them thought to mention or fix this gaping hole?
Old Balmain houses with non cavity walls do not like this lack of attention to detail. I don’t like being 7m up a ladder finding these awful mistakes.
At least the persistent damp has an explanation!

11/04/2023

Chasing water entry plus replacing rotten barge and eave boards and we discover the flashing the roofers put in is too narrow and does not cover the ridge.
Pretty sure we will have solved all the damp problems.
Plus fitting hi flow half round gutters that let overflows fall to the ground.

20/03/2023

Doing a fence using the 150 x 12 and 100 x 16 palings to achieve a true 100mm lapped effect. Liking it a lot.

I only use steel posts and galvanised screws with sleeper bases for the strongest longest living paling fence.