Tradesmen.ie testimonial from Tradesman Nicky Moran

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

Nicky Moran, Moran Property MaintenanceThis is a video testimonial from tradesman Nicky Moran of Moran Property Maintenance for Tradesmen.ie.

Moran Property Maintenance cover everything from the very smallest of jobs right up to and including home renovation and extensions. Moran Property Maintenance are based in The Ballagh, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

Since Moran Property Maintenance became a member of Tradesmen.ie they have developed a reputation for excellent work and have many positive reviews from happy customers. As Nicky says himself, “At Moran Property Mainteance no job is too small, we offer every service from hanging pictures to building that extension you always wanted and everything in between. We specialise in offering a personal service. We only used skilled trustworthy people. If in doubt just give us a shout, you name it we will maintain it!”

Here is a small sample of reviews for Nicky Moran from users who posted jobs on Tradesmen.ie
11/3/2013
Firstly when I placed the ad in tradesman.ie on Tueday Nicky Moran replied very quickly. I was able to get a quote from him in a couple of days and he started the job the following Monday.  Secondly the work was done promtly and in a tidy fashion. There was no debris left behind which was great. I would recommend this tradesman. – Score 9/10
colm o’byrne, Wexford, Wexford
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27/2/2013
Nicky done a gtreat job perfect turned up on the day a pleasure to deal with ,i would highly recomend nicky. – Score 10/10
Anthony Mc Ternan, wicklow town, Wicklow
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22/2/2013
Very efficient and professional service, Nicky has a huge skill set. We’ll be keeping his number close at hand. – Score 10/10
Orla Fahy, Wexford, Wexford
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11/2/2013
Nicky & Chris did an excellent job & were extremely helpful & professional.I will definitely use them again and have no hesitation in recommending their services to others. – Score 9/10
Dorothy McGee, Blackwater, Wexford
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11/2/2013 Review for nicky moran, enniscorthy, Wexford
Very satisfied with the gates. Am hoping for fencing from Nicky also so…. That should say it all really!! – Score 9/10
Susanne Gregory, Gorey, Wexford
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14/1/2013 Review for nicky moran, enniscorthy, Wexford
Nicky is highly professional and reliable .standard of work excellent. Would use firm again. – Score 10/10
Maria Donnellan, Enniscorthy, Wexford
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Thanks Nicky for your testimonial and keep up the good work!
Kind Regards
Oliver Dempsey
24th April 2013
http://www.tradesmen.ie

Posted in testimonials | 1 Comment

Tips for Building your Perfect Kitchen Extension

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

Kitchen ExtensionToday we are going to talk about tips for Building Kitchen Extensions. If you are looking for ways to improve your living quality or increase the value of your home, then planning a kitchen extension will definitely aid this issue.

A kitchen extension should give the house a much needed revamp and it only costs a fraction of what it would cost to move or build a new house.

Below we will discuss a few tips to keep in mind if you are seriously thinking about giving your kitchen a face lift:-

  1. The optimum layout of your kitchen should be looked at before you go designing plans for the extension part of it.  Compromising the kitchens functionality for grand design ideals is pretty pointless, as you will only regret it later on.  If you spend time evaluating the layout of your home and how you can make the new kitchen work along with it, you will inadvertently get the space working in your favour.  Make sure that the new layout will suit your current household and that everything within the kitchen is within easy reach and makes life as comfortable as possible for those who will use it in the future.  When you have worked out your preferred layout for the kitchen you can move onto the designing aspect of the extension.
  2. It goes without saying that hiring professionals to carry out your project is highly recommended.  Have a plumber recommend to you the correct location for the kitchen sink, refrigerator and dishwasher.  A registered electrician can look after all the electrical needs and recommend the proper position for light switches and fixtures to be placed.  A  building contractor will be the one to talk to for recommending where walls, windows and doors are to be positioned.  Get a number of quotes but don’t skimp when it comes to hiring top quality tradesmen for the task of extending your kitchen.  They get paid well for doing a quality service.
  3. Ventilation is one area which should be carefully planned ahead of time. You need adequate ventilation so that steam from cooking has a proper escape route. This is vitally important during the colder months when problems arising from a lot of condensation can occur. Extractor fans are a must in all kitchens and should definitely installed.
  4. An extended kitchen could very well be the kitchen of your dreams, but make sure you have proper privacy from your neighbours.  Loads of extra space your new kitchen affords you can result in less privacy due to extra large windows.  To combat this potential issue, you can use blinds, roof lights and glass inserts which can be strategically placed.
  5. If you’re struggling for design ideas then simply flicking through a few home design magazines, or having a look in kitchen showrooms locally may be just the infusion of creativity that you were looking for.  If you see something that tickles your fancy, then tear out the page or take a few photos if its in a showroom.
  6. Meet with your kitchen designer and go through everything with them.  A clear, direct line of communication between both of you is equally as important as a good design.  Make your requests known and don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions.  The designer will be able to spot things that the builders won’t, and they will also be able to show you what is possible with the dimensions of the space available.   Many kitchen suppliers and manufacturers will provide you with a free design service if you are buying from them but you can also hire a kitchen designer seperately so that you are not bound to any one supplier.
  7. Your budget will ultimately play a major role in your kitchen extension.  Don’t be afraid to tell your architect or builder how much you want to spend.  A lot of people think that this is a bad idea, as they think the money will definitely find a way to be spent.  This is a common misconception, as without the correct advice it’s very easy to spend a lot of hard earned money on a kitchen extension without adding significant value to your home.
  8. In Ireland, building an extension or indeed making any other significant changes to your house may require that you get planning permission.  You must be certain you have the right permission before you start, otherwise it can result in severe fines or even imprisonment.  The best way to go about finding this information out initially is to talk with your local authority on the matter.
  9. Get references, qualifications and insurance details from each contractor who quotes for the job.  Make sure you have a building contract drawn up between you and the contractor so that there is no confusion on what has to be done.  The building contract should describe everything about the extension including the exact specification of the work to be done, materials to be used, stage payments and timescale etc.
  10. Make sure that you know if the prices you got for the job are inclusive or exclusive of VAT.  You don’t want to get any surprise at the end that there is VAT to be added on to the price.
  11. Make sure to have an independent certifier sign off on each stage of the build.  Only pay for each stage as it’s signed off by the certifier.  Consider using an escrow payment facility to manage the payments and to safeguard both you and the contractor.

A good architect will give you good advice and tell you where you could potentially save money.  Listen to them carefully and your kitchen extension will turn out just the way you wanted!:)

I hope this helps some of you who are planning to extend your Kitchen in the future and if you decide to go ahead with it you can get a number of kitchen extension prices here and get up to 4 quotes fast from rated tradesmen!

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
April 22nd 2013

Here are some other articles that you might be interested in below:-

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/do-i-need-planning-permission
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/certifying-my-building-or-renovation
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/01/construction-contracts-why-are-they-needed
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2011/10/attic-conversion-prices-dublin-ireland
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/house-extension-prices-dublin-ireland/
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/07/conservatory-prices-and-sunroom-prices/
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/03/garage-conversions-things-to-remember-when-planning-to-convert-your-garage/

Posted in tips | 4 Comments

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Wood Flooring

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

Hi folks,
from time to time we will bring you a guest post from a tradesman, trade professional or supplier to the home construction or home renovation market. Today’s guest post comes courtesy of Jonathan Sapir. Hope you find it useful.

Oliver Dempsey, Tradesmen.ie
16 April 2013
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

The decision to fit wood flooring is a difficult one for many property owners who are unfamiliar with this flooring solution. Wood flooring contains various types of core construction, various grades of wood and various finish options.  It is easy and very natural to get overwhelmed with this information if you are unsure as to what each option stands for. At tradesmen.ie you can find rated tradesman to fit your new floor and Jonathan has put together this handy guide to choosing wood flooring:-

Wood Flooring Type

Your first and most important decision is choosing the core of the floorboard. While all wood flooring may look alike, if you look closely you will discover that one type contains complete wood construction, while the other contains wood and artificial materials together.  The two types cost about the same, care and maintenance is similar and most importantly, once fitted the two look identical. The difference becomes apparent in certain circumstances.

Solid Wood Flooring – These floorboards are made from 100% natural wood. The use of complete wood contributes to a lengthy service life and an option to sand and stain the floorboards when required. Sanding is a process that removes a 1mm layer of wood and exposes new wood in the process. It is a far cheaper way to make wood flooring look pristine as opposed to replacing the floorboards completely. However, not all is perfect with solid wood flooring. These floorboards are unsuitable to fit over under floor heating and in humid areas. Natural wood expands in the face of warm temperatures and contracts in the face of cold temperatures. Therefore solid wood flooring when fitted over under floor heating will over expands and damage in the process. Humidity, wet conditions and even damp conditions can damage natural wood whether it is used in flooring or in any other application.

Solid Wood Floorboard

Engineered Wood Flooring – These floorboards are made from layer upon layer of material glued together to create one plank of wood flooring. The top layer (which is the visible layer) is made from solid wood in thickness of 3mm to 6mm. It is supposed by up to seven layers of MDF, Plywood and Softwood. The result is a type of floorboard that incorporates natural wood and artificial materials. While service life is shorter compared to the solid alternative, it is possible to fit an engineered floorboard over under floor heating as well as in high humidity areas such as the kitchen, basement and bathroom areas. Bear in mind that while sanding an engineered floorboard is possible, you are limited by the number of times the process can be repeated. This limit will be based on the thickness of the top solid layer which can contain as little as 3mm solid wood or as much as 6mm solid wood. Remember, sanding removes 1mm layer in the process each and every time.

Engineered Wood Floorboard Wood Flooring Grade

By now you are aware that both solid and engineered wood flooring contain wood in different degree. The visual appearance of the floorboard depends on the grade of the wood. Grade is an indication of floorboard perfection in terms of Sapwood and Knots and does not equal quality or suitability in one area over the other. The higher grades are cut from the middle of the log which leads to less Sapwood and Knots, while the lower grades which are cut further away from the centre of the log will display Sapwood and Knots in various density. There are four common grades of wood.

Prime Grade – Prime grade wood is cut from the middle of the tree, which means that the floorboards will present no color variations and very few knots.

Prime Grade

Select Grade – Select grade wood is cut from the second ring from within the middle of the tree which means that the floorboards will present some colour variations between each other and some knots of up to 20mm in size should be expected.

Select Grade

Natural Grade – Natural grade or ABCD mill run grade will feature Sapwood and knots of up to 30mm in size.

Natural Grade

Rustic Grade – Also referred to as ‘country grade’, rustic is by far the grade with the most attitude, as you cannot mistake the floor for anything but real wood.  Floorboards will feature plenty of sapwood and knots of 35mm. Color variation between the floorboards will feature more prominently.

Rustic Grade

The importance of grade in your buying decision is merely a visual one. Each grade is available in solid and engineered floorboards.

Wood Flooring Finish

The last consideration revolves around the most suitable finish to cover the floorboard. Oil or Lacquered base coatings are applied onto the floorboards to provide basic protection and to enhance the colour of the wood. It is often a personal preference choice between a shiny or matt finish. However, in at least one case, the coating also serves a practical role.

Oil Finish – Oil is the successor of the Wax finish, which is hardly in use nowadays. In terms of look, Oil often has a low glare look which helps hide imperfections in the boards. It is very easy to maintain and durable as the Oil sinks into the wood.

Oil Finish

Lacquered Finish – Lacquered is more obvious on the floorboard because it remains on the surface (unlike Oil) and has a glossy reflection. It means that in areas where water may present a problem, lacquered is the perfect choice as it makes the hardwood almost waterproof. If you are determined to fit wood flooring in an area that may contain high humidity, the only correct option is to fit a lacquered finish floorboard of the engineered type.

Lacquered Finish

If you intend to fit wood flooring now or in the future use the above stages to evaluate your options. Leave us a comment if you have any questions.

Jonatahn SapirJonathan Sapir is managing director of wood flooring vendors Wood and Beyond. UK based ethical vendor of engineered and solid wooden flooring from Oak and Walnut.

Here are some other articles that you might be interested in below:-

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/05/flooring-price-survey-of-carpenters-dublin

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/03/tiling-prices-and-tile-prices-in-dublin-ireland

Posted in diy, tips | 2 Comments

Result and Video of our April Draw 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

man celebrating winning competitionHi folks,

Each month we have a draw for cash prizes for everyone who posts a job on our site and provides feedback. So not only do you get up to 4 quotes Fast from Rated Tradesmen but you could also win a cash prize as well!

The draw for everyone who provided feedback in March was held on April 8th and the 1st prize of €100 cash went to Ramesh Chauhan, Firhouse , Dublin 24. The 2nd prize of €30 went to Frank Cahill, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our site as it helps to improve the experience for everyone. You can see the video of the draw below:-

And don’t forget that everyone who posts a job and provides feedback will be entered in a draw at the end of each month to win a cash prize!

So what are you waiting for, get posting today!:)

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
12th April 2013

Related Keywords: Ireland free competition, competition results, draw results, Irish competition, builders competition, contest winners, cash prize winners, competition entries or entrants

Posted in Prizes and Competitions | Leave a comment

Video Testimonial – Orla Fahy

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey


Here is a video testimonial we recently received from Orla Fahy. Orla posted a job to have the windows cleaned on her house after having difficulty sourcing someone locally to do the work.

Thanks so much to Orla for taking the time to make this video and we are delighted that you were happy with our service!

Also, a big well done to Nicky Moran, the tradesman who did such a great job for Orla. Orla said that Nicky provided a “Very efficient and professional service” and that she would be using his services again. Orla also said that she would be using the tradesmen.ie again and would also recommend it to her friends.

Don’t forget that everyone who posts a job
and provides feedback will be entered in a draw
at the end of each month to win a cash prize!

So what are you waiting for?
Get posting your job today!:)

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

P.S. If you have a positive story to tell about your experience with Tradesmen.ie please email us or send us a video testimonial if you have a webcam on your laptop or PC.

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Result and Video of our March Draw 2013

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

CongratulationsHi folks,

Each month we have a draw for cash prizes for everyone who posts a job on our site and provides feedback. So not only do you get up to 4 quotes Fast from Rated Tradesmen but you could also win a cash prize as well!

The draw for everyone who provided feedback in February was held on March 23rd and the 1st prize of €100 cash went to Amanda Lewis, Enfield, Co. Meath. The 2nd prize of €30 went to Dolores O’Neill, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.

Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our site as it helps to improve the experience for everyone. You can see the video of the draw below:-

And don’t forget that everyone who posts a job and provides feedback will be entered in a draw at the end of each month to win a cash prize!

So what are you waiting for, get posting today!:)

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
29th March 2013

Related Keywords: Ireland free competition, competition results, draw results, Irish competition, builders competition, contest winners, cash prize winners, competition entries or entrants

Posted in Prizes and Competitions | Leave a comment

Beware – Stolen Van and Tools

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

We got an email from a builder in Cobh in Co. Cork last week to ask us to warn other tradesmen about stolen vans and tools. Please see a copy of his email below. Cars are equally at risk. Please be as vigilant as you can. Try and keep your vehicle in a secure place and consider installing one of those GPS tracking devices that can warn you if your vehicle is moved or send details of where it is located:-

“Hi Oliver, I just wanted to send this email to just let tradesmen in the cork area and probably all over Ireland as well about a gang going around the last few weeks in cork area targeting vans with tools. My own van was stolen on Saturday night from my house while we were gone away for the night, there was no broken glass or neighbours saw or heard nothing, the gardai say they have an electronic device to bypass ignition keys etc. I also have a trailer which I happened to leave unlocked which they left behind so they just seem to be targeting vans and tools. Luckily my van is insured but tools were not so I’m down 8000-10000 so lessons learned. This may be obvious also but don’t keep cash or cheques over night in van, I had cash in van about 500. Bank details, driving licence etc so a lot of hassle to get things cancelled order new etc. A hit of that much money is hard to take especially with banks not lending to buy again.
Thanks Declan”

Since we sent this email to the tradesmen that use our service we have had a huge response with other tradesmen reporting similar incidents and some offering some good advice. Below I have listed some of their comments; hopefully they might be of help in preventing this from happening to others.

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“After a break-in in last year I invested in slam locks for the rear doors of the vans and purchased Cheap GPS units to monitor their every move. There is a guy in Meath who does the Slam Locks which a very high security. Might be worth a mention – www.vanlocks.ie “
Jason D

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“Too late for me Oliver, they cleaned my van out last Christmas in Clonee D15. No joy with the guards or the insurance. €3,500 in tools €900 in a new lock and door damage, plus lost my no claims on the van for the door damage. Van insurance  is now €750… so frustrating, reported it to the guards they didn’t even call to look at the van. I blame the people who buy the stolen tools as much as the gang in the van going around robbing them. How low can a man get robbing the tools that a man needs to do a days work. I would recommend fitting better dead locks for the back of the van which can’t be opened with the central locking switch in the front of the van.”
Paul F

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“Hello Oliver, I also had my van & tools stolen in Dublin 7, it was not secure, but it was old & so were the tools, luckily my most regular tools were on a job, still an immobilizer is necessary.”
Mick M

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That’s all for the moment, I hope this information helps and if you have any questions or comments please feel free to get back to me on it

Kind Regards
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie http://www.tradesmen.ie

Here are more security related articles below:-

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/03/can-a-burglar-alarm-protect-my-home/

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/11/door-locks-explained-most-common-types-features-etc

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/11/ten-easy-ways-to-prevent-a-burglary

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/02/security-camera-tips-for-the-home

Posted in news, tips | Leave a comment

Can a Burglar Alarm Protect My Home?

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey
House AlarmHi folks,
with the CSO publishing Recorded Crime Quarter 4 2012 this week there is likely to be another rise in crimes recorded in Ireland because of the recession and particularly in relation to house burglaries.   In previous articles we have looked at different ways to protect our home and one way is to install a burglar alarm.  But is a burglar alarm enough?  Can a burglar alarm actually protect my home or does it just give me a false sense of security?   We’ve covered a lot of this stuff before but let’s take another look.  First we will have a look at 3 different types of security alarms and see can they provide the level of protection we need:-
1) Dummy alarms- A Dummy alarm is one that looks like an alarm but it doesn’t actually do anything.  What good is that?  Well the hope is that the appearance of the alarm on the gable end of your home will put off burglars from attempting a break in.  What good is it?  Not much good if someone breaks in but if you have little or no money to spend on your home security it’s certainly probably better than nothing, what do you think?
2) Bells only systems–  This is probably the most common type of alarm in Ireland. This system, when triggered, rings an alarm internally and externally, warning off possible intruders.  Sounds good, what’s the catch? Well it is quite a good deterent but its only drawback is that it is unable to alert the local authorities.  Also, if the alarm goes off are there any neighbours nearby and will anyone actually bother to see what’s going on?
3) Monitored alarm system- This type of alarm is by far the most expensive, as maintenance and monitoring increase the costs.  However, in the event of a burglary, the Gardai are automatically informed and will immediately respond.  Some of these systems will require a minimum of two appointed keyholders who must know how to operate the alarm, be able to attend an activation within 20 minutes, be contacted by telephone/mobile and have their own transport.  It’s your – the owner’s – responsibility to inform your alarm company if your keyholder is on holiday and provide them with suitable alternatives.
Ok we have some good solutions there but even with the last option does it actually go far enough or is there anything else we should look out for?  Let’s have a look at some things that can go wrong and see do we still think an alarm can protect our home?
  1. Many homes are broken into because the owner forgets to set the alarm.  Make sure to set the alarm when you are not in the house or when you are going to bed.
  2. Many alarms have not been serviced in a long time.  An alarm system is not much good unless it is actually working and there’s no point in finding out that it’s not working after the burglars have broken in.  Make sure to have your alarm serviced regularly to make sure it is working correctly.
  3. There have been cases recently of burglars ripping the alarm box off of the wall and throwing it in a bucket of water to disable it.  If you can get a fitter/welder to fix a steel bracket around the alarm box it will help to prevent this from happening.  Consider putting extra protection around the alarm box that is attached to the outside of your home.
  4. Always remember that nomatter how good your alarm system is, it is no substitute for good locks so make sure to have all doors and windows securely locked with high standard locks as a first level of defense against burglars.  Poor security on your doors and windows will mean that a burglar can get in and out quickly and be gone before anyone comes to the rescue.  Ask a locksmith to do a security audit of your home if you are unsure.
  5. It’s no good having an alarm if nobody takes any notice of it when it goes off.  Develop a good relationship with your neighbours, ask them to look out for any suspicious activity in or around your home when you are not there.  Ask them to feel free to check it out if the alarm goes off and to call the Gardai if necessary.  Be sure to offer the same support for your neighbour in return.  If your neighbour does alert you of any suspicious activity or even a false alarm, get them a gift to say thanks because it is important to express your gratitude and encourage them to continue to keep an eye out for you in the future!:)

On a related note, be sure to check with your insurance company to see if they require a certain standard of alarm system to cover your home for theft (fire also!).  Insurance companies are very quick to accept your money when you are paying for your home insurance but they often neglect to point out that certain restrictions apply which might mean you are not covered at all because of inadequate security alarm or locks.

Ensure all alarm installers are PSA licensed in order to carry out alarm installation and maintenance.  See further information at http://www.psa.gov.ie/Website/psa/psa.nsf/legislationDownload?openform .

The usual rules apply with selecting an alarm installer for the job, make sure to get references, insurance details and any other information that you need to make sure that you are totally happy with the alarm installer that you choose.  And yes make sure they are PSA licensed installers.  Getting advice and quotes from a number of alarm installers ensures that you get the most information to make an informed choice. Always check whether the prices are inclusive or exclusive of VAT.  If you decide to go ahead with updating your alarms you can get a number of http://www.tradesmen.ie/trade/alarms and get up to 4 quotes fast from rated tradesmen!

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
23 March 2013

So what do you think, can a burglar alarm protect my home?  Well I think that it can’t provide 100% protection on it’s own but if we back it up with other policies and safeguards like we have mentioned above we will have a better chance of keeping those burglars away.  What do you think?  If you can think of any other ways to improve your alarm’s effectiveness or to provide further protection of your home let us know by putting a comment below..

Here are more security related articles below:-

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/11/door-locks-explained-most-common-types-features-etc

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/11/ten-easy-ways-to-prevent-a-burglary

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/02/security-camera-tips-for-the-home

Posted in tips | 2 Comments

Garage Conversions – Things to remember when planning to Convert your Garage

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

Today we are going to talk about tips for Garage Conversions. If you’ve ever wanted to create more space in your house, then the ideal solution to the problem could be as simple as converting your garage. It also means that you don’t lose garden space like you would with an outside extension. This could also be the answer if you have a growing family and are in need of that badly needed extra room.

The great thing about converting your garage is that you have a blank canvas which can become anything you want. Because the basic structure of the garage is already there, you don’t have to start from square one. But this doesn’t mean that it will be plain sailing. Each garage contains its own set of challenges and the ultimate goal should be to integrate the finished product so that it blends into the rest of the house in a natural way.

In Ireland, you generally won’t need planning permission for converting a garage attached to the rear or side of the house to domestic use so long as it has a floor area of less than 40 square metres.  You must also make sure that the garage conversion is not higher than the house.  These are general guidelines only, you should always make absolutely certain that you don’t need planning permission before you start a build or renovation. Failure to do so where it is required can result in penalties (i.e. fines or even imprisonment). Please ask your local authority and they will be able to advise you about this.

There are some key issues that must be kept in mind if you decide to convert a garage:

  • What’s your budget going to be? Again, with all projects of this nature and size, the costs involve can add up. Set out an initial plan of what exactly you want to convert the garage into and then go from there.
    Having a properly constructed budget will help you keep things focused.
  • Get a highly recommended team of builders on the job. Having a fully qualified construction team on site may be expensive in the short term, but bear in mind that a job well done initially, equals money saved over the long period.
  • The current door on your garage will not be practical for a number of obvious reasons – insulation and light ineffectiveness, to name but a few. Because of the garage door, you will more than likely need at least one new external wall. Any new external wall will have to be constructed to make it damp proof.
  • The concrete floor will also have to be altered. Again, it will have to be damp proofed and properly insulated to prevent heat loss. Another option could be to build a suspended timber floor over the concrete floor.
  • The garage roof in most cases will need an overhaul. The two options available are a flat roof, which will need to have ventilation with a gap between the insulation and the underside of the roof, or a pitched roof. Your budget and design plans will more than likely decide which one you opt for.
  • Depending on which type of room you intend to convert the garage into, adequate ventilation will need to be catered for. A bathroom or kitchen will obviously require a lot more ventilation due to the condensation levels – especially during the cold months.
  • All plumbing and electrical work should be carried out by qualified tradesmen. Make sure to get good quality appliances that are recommended by the tradesmen.
  • One problem that accompanies a garage conversion is that from the outside, the conversion looks like a garage that the owners have moved some furniture into! In order to blend the conversion and make it look like a natural addition to your house, you will need to get rid of those garage doors, have plenty of windows and add some design elements to the roof, like dormer windows.
  • Converting your garage may leave you in a predicament as where to store all the garage contents that have accumulated over the years. This is usually solved by buying a suitably sized garden shed.

The end result of a garage conversion is ultimately to have more space in your current home and to add value on the property market. Think carefully about your goals and formulate a plan that will allow you to reach those goals with satisfaction.

Remember; always make sure to have an independent certifier sign off on each stage of the conversion.  Only pay for each stage as it’s signed off by the certifier.  Consider using an escrow payment facility to manage the payments and to safeguard both you and the contractor.

Make sure that you know if the prices you got for the job are inclusive or exclusive of VAT.  You don’t want to get any surprise at the end that there is VAT to be added on to the price.

Get references, qualifications and insurance details from each contractor who quotes for the job.  Make sure you have a building contract drawn up between you and the contractor so that there is no confusion on what has to be done.  The building contract should describe everything about the conversion including the exact specification of the work to be done, materials to be used, stage payments and timescale etc.

I hope this helps some of you who are planning to convert your garage in the future and if you decide to go ahead with it you can get a number of garage conversion prices here and get up to 4 quotes fast from rated tradesmen!

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

Here are some other articles that you might be interested in below:-

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/do-i-need-planning-permission
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/certifying-my-building-or-renovation
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/01/construction-contracts-why-are-they-needed
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2011/10/attic-conversion-prices-dublin-ireland
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/house-extension-prices-dublin-ireland
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/07/conservatory-prices-and-sunroom-prices
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/02/top-10-tips-to-building-a-home
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/03/house-extensions-12-tips-on-extending-your-home

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Using Escrow to safeguard your building project

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Oliver Dempsey

Escrow PaymentsHave you as a customer ever worried about what would happen if you pay a builder or tradesman in advance for work and then he goes bust leaving you with the loss of your money?  If this is a concern that you have you would be well advised to consider using an escrow payment system to help safeguard your money and give you piece of mind.  Likewise if you are a tradesman and you have ever worried about doing work in advance for a customer and not getting paid, escrow is the solution for you.

Escrow works by putting money in the control of an independent and licensed third party in order to protect both the customer and service provider in a transaction. When both parties confirm that the work has been completed as per the terms set, the money is released. If at any stage there is a dispute between the parties in the agreement it is resolved with the help of a dispute resolution process which has been agreed in advance by the parties. The outcome of the dispute resolution process will decide what happens to money in escrow.

Escrow was most commonly used in the past for property purchase transactions where the solicitor held money on behalf of the purchaser until all of the necessary documentation had been completed and the money could then be released to the seller.  In recent years escrow is widely used for services that are outsourced or products purchased over the Internet where the money can be held in escrow until the service or product has been delivered and is up to an acceptable standard.  Traditionally escrow was an expensive service as there was a lot of administration involved and solicitors fees are not cheap.  However, in the last 10-15 years there are a number of online escrow services available and these have made escrow much more affordable costs now as little as €35 per transaction.

We recommend using escrow to everyone who uses our service to hire a tradesman and I am really flabbergasted that escrow is not a much more common feature used in all Irish business transactions today.  Because businesses don’t use escrow they probably need to allow about a 10% margin on their sales just to allow for bad debts and non-payments.  Having to allow for bad debts is bad for competitiveness but even if 10% were a fair average figure, businesses are still playing Russian Roulette by not using escrow.  While some businesses may only get caught for a miniscule amount of bad debt, other businesses will get hit by a huge amount that could just wipe them out overnight.  This means they in turn can’t pay their suppliers and more and more businesses are adversely affected and/or put out of business as a result.

There are a number of online escrow payment systems available online.  For example Tradesmen.ie currently recommend Escrow.com for anyone using our site.  This is the same escrow service that Ebay recommends.  Here’s how it works:-

Customer and Service Provider Agree to Terms

Both parties agree to terms of the transaction, which includes a description of each phase of the project, price of each phase, number of days for the customer’s inspection, and which party pays the escrow fee.

Buyer pays the escrow service

The Buyer submits an available payment option e.g. by cheque, bank draft, postal order, electronic funds transfer(EFT), credit card etc. The escrow service verifies the payment. Processing time varies by payment method.

Service provider delivers the service

Upon payment verification, the service provider is authorized to deliver the service. The escrow service asks the buyer to confirm when the service is received. If there is only one phase is in the transaction then the transaction moves to the “customer accepts” stage but if there is more than one phase, then the service provider is asked to deliver the next phase after the customer has accepted the current phase.

Customer accepts the service

The customer has a set number of days for an inspection and the option to accept or reject the service.

The escrow service pays the service provider

The escrow service pays the Seller by the method selected by the Seller. The transaction is complete.

How customers are protected:

The service provider isn’t paid until the customer accepts the service, or the inspection period expires.  Therefore the money is only released after the customer has confirmed that they are happy with the service provided.

How service providers are protected:

The service provider is authorized to deliver the service only after the escrow service verifies good funds.  Therefore the funds are already in place and as long as the customer is happy with the service provided the service provider is guaranteed to get their money when the job is signed off by the customer.

I hope I have convinced you to consider using an escrow payment service in the future whenever you are hiring a tradesman or indeed service provider of any kind.  If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this article please feel free to do so below.

 

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
March 11th 2013

Here are some other articles that you might be interested in below:-

http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2013/01/construction-contracts-why-are-they-needed
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/do-i-need-planning-permission
http://blog.tradesmen.ie/2012/04/certifying-my-building-or-renovation

 

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