06 · HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE · MELBOURNE
Not every job is a full renovation. I’m Ivan Bodnar, an independent renovation specialist working as a sole trader in Melbourne. Alongside renovations, I take on smaller home improvements, repairs and property maintenance. That includes fixing worn or damaged finishes and making a room more practical to live with.
0413 142 055 · 9:00–18:00, Mon–Sun
A partially tiled wall with exposed substrate and staining above the tiles. It’s worth finding out what’s behind marks like these before anything is patched or painted over.
JOB SHEET · WITHIN MY PRACTICAL SCOPE
□ Cracked or damaged plaster and plasterboard
□ Patching, surface preparation and repainting
□ Loose, cracked or worn tiles
□ Worn or damaged flooring
□ Tired finishes in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries
□ Small changes that make a room more practical
What it depends on: the condition of the property once I’ve seen it. That decides what work it actually needs.
06
Over about 15 years of hands-on residential work, I’ve found that preparation matters just as much as the visible finish. On a repair, it’s tempting to fill the crack, roll on a coat of paint and move on. If the surface underneath is loose, damp or poorly prepared, though, the problem tends to come back.
So I look at the surface first. Then I explain what I think needs doing, why I’d recommend that approach and any limitations that could affect the result. Sometimes that’s a straightforward patch and repaint. Sometimes it’s a sign that a bigger job is worth discussing.
More on this in Why Preparation Matters, and on the skills behind this work under Plasterboard, Plastering and Painting and Tiling and Flooring.
A roller applying a fresh coat to a wall. The coat only lasts if the wall underneath has been properly prepared.
BEFORE YOU SEND A REQUEST
No 24-hour emergency call-out
I don’t run an emergency call-out service. If water is actively leaking or power looks unsafe, call a licensed plumber or electrician directly.
Regulated work goes to licensed specialists
Plumbing, electrical and other regulated work is done by appropriately licensed specialists. Where a job needs it, I coordinate with them. How that works
Not design or structural work
Architectural design, engineering, major structural alterations and new-home construction aren’t services I provide.
HOW A REQUEST IS HANDLED
Nothing is booked or paid for online. Work is arranged with me directly after I’ve assessed the job. The full process is set out in Assessment and Quotation Process.
01 Send a message
Tell me what’s worn, damaged or not working, and which suburb you’re in. If you have photos, mention them. You can also text them to 0413 142 055.
02 I review it
I read through what you’ve sent and may ask a few questions to understand the job better.
03 Inspection and scope
If it’s work within my scope, I come and look at the property myself and we talk through what’s needed.
04 Quotation
Pricing depends on the assessed scope, the materials, the existing conditions and anything else specific to the job, so I can only give a quotation after I’ve seen it.
Describe the job, add your suburb and mention any photos. I work in Murrumbeena and across Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. Not sure what to write? See What to Include When You Send a Message.
0413 142 055 · 9:00–18:00, Mon–Sun
