Moving into a new home is incredibly exciting, but it almost always comes with a stressful to-do list.
Recently, I received an email from a client named Steve in Wallingford. He was thrilled about his new house, but before the furniture arrived, he had a list of odd jobs that needed tackling. The biggest issue? The shed roof was leaking badly at the back, leaving ugly water stains running down the walls.
Along with the roof, Steve needed three fire/smoke alarms fitted, a gap in the laminate flooring patched, the water-stained walls painted, and two door locks changed. We agreed on a price and a date, and the goal was set: get the house perfectly ready before move-in day.
When it comes to a leaking shed, you can sometimes do a quick patch job, but I always advise my clients to go for a long-term solution. I recommended completely re-felting the shed roof.
I arrived bright and early with my supplies: IKO Green Trade Roofing Felt Topsheet and IKOpro High Performance Roofing Felt Adhesive.
First things first, I climbed up and cleared the pooled rainwater, drying and wiping down the entire roof so the new felt would have a perfect surface to stick to.
With a long to-do list, efficiency is everything. While waiting for the roof to completely air dry, I headed inside to fill the gap in the floorboards with a self-levelling compound and left it to cure. I also treated those nasty water stains on the walls with Zinsser Cover Stain—an absolute lifesaver for blocking damp marks.
Back outside, I cut the felt to size and applied the IKOpro adhesive with a brush. Working methodically, I laid down the felt in three overlapping layers to cover the entire roof. After a quick lunch break, I secured the edges and joints with Galvanised Felt Nails so the wind wouldn’t stand a chance. As a final touch, I applied black silicone along the front edge to guarantee it was 100% watertight. Shed saved!
With the exterior sorted, I moved back indoors. I painted the newly primed walls with Dulux Pure Brilliant White, instantly brightening the room.
Next up were the door locks. Changing them took a bit longer than expected because the original keys were missing, requiring a few different techniques to safely remove the old barrels. But a good handyman never gives up! Once the new locks were secure, I installed the fire and smoke alarms in their optimal positions.
Finally, I cut a matching piece of laminate and fitted it perfectly over the now-dry self-levelling compound.
By the time I packed up my tools, the house was safe, secure, and looking great. Steve was incredibly grateful that everything was completed to a high standard before his furniture arrived.
Leaving a house knowing you’ve taken the stress away from a new homeowner is exactly why I do this job. Another happy customer in Oxfordshire! 😊
Need help with your home to-do list? Whether you are moving into a new property in Wallingford, need a shed roof repaired in Didcot, or just have a few odd jobs piling up in Oxford, I’m here to help.
👉 Contact Oxford Handyman Pro today to get your home sorted.
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