The Handy Gardener

03/05/2025

I'm afraid my books are still full and I have no slots available for new gardening clients.
My handyman slots are regularly filled for the next 8 - 10 weeks too. I'll update should this change.

08/05/2024

I'm afraid my books are now full and I have no regular slots available for new gardening clients.
My handyman slots are filled for the next 10 - 12 weeks too. I'll update should this change.

19/08/2022

Having a playhouse for the kids is easy but what happens when they're too old for it?

I built this single-handed from my own bespoke plans and future-proofed it by making it easily converted to a summer/garden house for the adults when the children no longer use it.

I built the walls as panels, using CLS timber and weatherboard, which I raised and fixed onto the raised and weatherproof floor, and built a nice wee porch area. Electrics added for lighting, music etc and painted in a nice, neutral colour to fit in with the garden.

I made a mezzanine floor, added my own little staircase and even built the windows - fixed and hopper - myself.

I finished off the ground cover with York gold stones over w**d barrier.

19/08/2022

Not one of the cleanest starts to a job here...
This was a bathroom refit for a client who was selling their previously tenanted flat and needed the bathroom renewed and ready for the market. He wanted the new fittings kept in situ for the sale, so it was effectively a complete like-for-like refit with the sanitaryware.

As with every refit, a complete strip-out was required - appropriate PPE was used for this as you'll see in some of these pics, cleaning was not something the last tenants were particularly good at! (More graphic pics have not been added to this post.)
I used PVC bathroom panels and cladding on the walls and ceiling which, I'm sure you'll agree, make for a good looking and wipe clean finish. I lined the floor with plyboard and laid a lovely, plush vinyl.

I have to say at this point that my big bro, Keith Sneddon, helped with some of the labouring on the floor and sanitaryware. (Thanks, bro!)

Note - the door and frame were still to be painted by the painter and decorator after I finished the job.

As ever with this type of job, there were snags that were overcome - some not all too easily - but the end result is a stark contrast to what was there before and I've no doubt added to the saleability of the flat and hopefully the valuation!

Happy client, happy me!

19/08/2022

Garden Fence Painting for a client: As well as being open to the elements, the southwest facing fence receives a lot of sun, which had bleached the existing paint and caused some of the boards to warp.
Boards fixed, w**ds cut right back and the fence was given two coats of paint; some parts three. Lovely result!

19/06/2022

Hi, my name is Ian.

After 30 years, I've retired from my job in public service. I see myself as still a relatively young man so wanted to try something new to keep me busy.

I've always been a keen DIY enthusiast, rarely having to have other, professional help and have always enjoyed maintaining my garden.

With this in mind, I've started out as The Handy Gardener, based in Bonnyrigg and covering the Midlothian and surrounding areas.

I offer garden maintenance and handyman services at very competitive rates and take personal pride in the work I do.

I'll be posting some of the projects and work I've done in the past and where permitted, some of the work I complete for existing and future customers.

Please feel free to contact me for further information and a no obligation, free quote.

19/06/2022