Free Gifts and Sponsors Wanted for Home or Building Related Products

free gifts wantedHi folks,
if you have a company which would like to promote your home, building or DIY related products in Ireland we have the solution for you.  We have over 10,000 customer subscribers and over 10,000 tradesmen subscribers for our newsletters, blog and social networking sites.  We would like to reward our customer’s and tradesmen’s loyalty by offering free gifts or rewards from time to time.  The gifts can be as big or small as you like but must be real gifts and must be home, building or DIY related.  It can also be a gift of a service as long as it is genuine we are happy to consider it.  Alternatively, if you have a blog or newsletter subscriber list based in Ireland and you wish to reward your subscribers, we may also be interested in providing a free gift to you.  This is a great way to promote your product, service or blog and we look forward to hearing from you so if you have anything to offer please contact us here

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

 

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47,000 Jobs Posted on Tradesmen.ie!!

47000 Jobs Posted on Tradesmen.ieHi folks,
today we exceeded 47,000 jobs posted on Tradesmen.ie since we launched the website in 2008.  I’d just like to thank all of the customers and tradesmen, from the bottom of my heart, who have supported us over the last 4 years.  We really appreciate your help and especially the many many referrals that you send to us each day.  It just goes to show that there is still a lot of work available and this service makes it easier for customers and tradesmen to find each other quickly and hopefully get a better quality job done more cost effectively than normally would have been the case.  Please continue to help us to spread the good news about Tradesmen.ie and help us do our bit to create and sustain jobs in Ireland!

Many Thanks
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

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Plumbers Dublin – How to find plumbers in Dublin

PlumberHi folks,
sometimes it’s really hard to find a local plumber when you need one.  You spend hours looking for plumbers in the Golden Pages and searching on the Internet, ringing numbers and sending emails and eventhough it’s supposed to be a recession it seems like everyone is too busy to deal with your problem.  Well don’t worry because Tradesmen.ie just might be the answer to your problem.  For example if you are looking for plumbers in Dublin all you need to do is go to Plumbers Dublin, fill in one simple form with your contact details and a description of your job and within as little as an hour you can have up to 4 plumbers quoting for the job.  The service is free to the customer and you can also read the references and reviews that the plumbers have received from previous customers before making up your mind who to choose.  Also be sure to ask for insurance details, qualifications and any other details that you need to be sure that you are absolutely happy with the plumber that you are hiring for the job.  Make sure to always go for quality first over price and pick the plumbers with the most references and reviews to ensure the best job is carried out.

Plumbers will carry out a variety of work from fixing a leaking tap to installing a new bathroom suite to putting a water tank in the attic.  The companies registered as plumbers often have a team of people working for them so they can manage a complete bathroom renovation which may involve other trades such as block layers, plasterers, tilers and carpenters.

There is also an escrow payment facility available that you can use which lets you pay money into a holding account and it is only released when you or an expert has signed off on the work.

I hope you found this article useful and if you have any questions or comments we’d welcome them below.  In the meantime if you are looking for a plumber in Dublin post your job today at Plumbers Dublin and get up to 4 quotes fast from rated plumbers!

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

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Window and Door Prices in Dublin

PVC Window ProfileHi folks,
the other day we ran a quick survey to ask window installers in Dublin and surrounding counties for a rough price to replace the windows and doors in a 3 bed semi D.  In summary they were asked to price a door & livingroom window on groundfloor front and one bedroom window on the 1st floor at the front.  At the back there would be a kitchen window, back door and bathroom window on ground floor and two bedroom windows on the 1st floor.  All windows to have a u-value* of 1.3.  Here were the replies below:-

 

Aidan C: Price based on standard 7 windows, french doors and front door in uPvc. Double glazing with a U-Value of 1.1. (or option of 0.8 in certain circumstances) would generally be estimated at €7500 – €8000. Of course this could differ on a site survey.
Martin D: 7 white pvc windows & 2 doors €3500 plus vat aprox
Andrew S: Price for windows replacement will be around €5k including all materials & labour.
Derek F: The 3 bed semi D with 8 units , a rough estimate would be about
€4,500 + V.A.T
Rory W: I would be pricing this at €3,900 inc vat . This would cover removing the
old windows and disposing of and patching around replacing reveals on the
inside when the new windows are fitted
Martin D: it would be about 4300 euro for that as standard fit with 1.3 u you can get them down to 1 or below now but are more expensive
Martin H: €3400 for white pvc inc. please note prices may vary greatly depending on quality of windows my quote is for top quality. Price includes front and back white pvc doors
Keith D: It would cost €5,900 incl vat @ 13.5% for standard white. We only use A rated which is .3 value (that value includes the frame not just the glass)
Alan B: There are a lot of variables but I priced for A rated white upvc standard doors supply and fit and removal of okd windows would cost €3100 plus vat
Tony C: Budget cost for windows/doors fitted. 6500 plus vat @13.5%
John K: further to your spec quotation for windows 4300 inc vat
Martin D: its not easy with no measures of amount of opes or tilt and turn escapes etc but 6 average size windows and 2 doors for semi d fitted would be about 4650 euros
Alan M: The price u require for windows and door all a rated 5300+ vat @13.5% (oliver:this only includes one door so would be at least 6200+ vat with an extra door)
Shane K: all houses different but a quick guide for white windows is 400
per window inc vat and fitting a small bathroom one may be 300 but a big
sitting room one may be 500 so about 400 each is never too far away so 7
windows fitted is about 2800 back door about 800 front door 1100 so 7
windows 2 doors white is about 4600 and 15%extra for colour
Damian M: I’ve priced your quote as follows, I’ve also given you sizes of windows to give you an indication of overall costs. Obviously if there is a big difference between that quoted and the actual windows it will impact on the cost.
1 Living Room Window 6′ * 4′
2 Bedroom Windows 4′ * 4′
1 Bedroom Window 6′ * 4′
1 Kitchen Window 4 * 4′
1 Bathroom Window 4’*4′
Front & Back Door White PVC Clear Glass
All above A rated doors / windows = €3,800 This will give you a U value of 1.4

As you can see there is a wide variation of prices here as in previous surveys that we have carried out but the most important thing is to compare like with like.  Our survey was very rough with no measurements on the windows so some of the higher prices above may be allowing for larger size windows.  However, the main thing that it demonstrates is the need to get a number of prices when planning your window replacement job.  Make sure to ask does the price include or exclude VAT, does the price include or exclude disposal of the original windows and doors and does it include patching around the reveals.

A friend of mine got her windows replaced about a year ago and she was very disappointed to find when the job was done that the price had not included patching around the reveals.  This fact was included in the contract that she signed when purchasing the windows but she hadn’t read the small print.

You will notice above that we used a u-value of 1.3 which is a pretty good u-value but by no means the best u-value.  The lower the u-value of the window the more it will retain the heat in your home and save on your heating bill.  There are lots of places in your home where heat can be lost but in the past the windows and doors would have been the week points.  These days you can get windows and doors that are so well insulated that they will retain the heat far better than the walls, floors and ceilings.  However, you have to weigh up the cost benefit in having windows and doors that are exceptionally good at keeping in the heat if the heat ends up going out through your walls, floors and ceilings instead.  This is particularly the case if there is no prospect of the walls, floors and ceilings ever being improved in the future or if budget is an issue.

If I was buying windows and doors for my own home I would certainly insist that they are certified so that I can be sure what standard they are.  I would have thought in fact that it would be mandatory to have all new replacement windows and doors certified in this day and age.  However, I did some research on the subject and it’s not obvious whether it is mandatory to have windows certification in Ireland. I found one article that said that CE Certification would be mandatory for upvc windows and doors from the 1st of February 2010 throughout Europe. Then there is the NSAI which provides a certification for windows in Ireland. But I couldn’t find anything to indicate if it is mandatory to have certification and if so what type of certification from which body would be required. I will continue to look into this matter and it might be a topic for a future blog.  In the mean time if anyone can shed any light on the matter please put your comments below.

If you are unsure what u-value your windows should be I would suggest asking an independent expert such as a BER assessor or a building surveyor at least for an opinion and I’m sure they won’t charge too much.

If you do decide to go ahead with the window and door replacement job you can get a number of window prices here or if you want to hire a BER Assessor or Building Surveyor just Browse Trades by Category

If you have any other comments  or suggestions please feel free to comment below

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

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

Flooring Prices

Tiling Prices

House Painting Prices

Gas Boiler Service Price

* Thermal transmittance (U-value) relates to a building component or structure, and is a measure of the rate at which heat passes through that component or structure when unit temperature difference is maintained between the ambient air temperatures on each side. It is expressed in units of Watts per square metre per degree of air temperature difference (W/m2K).  Source: Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document, Conservation of Fuel and Energy 2007, Part L, paragraph 0.3.4.

Posted in Price Comparisons | 9 Comments

Samsung Galaxy Tab Competition Results May 2012

Hi folks

Each month we have a draw for cash prizes for everyone who posts a job on our site and provides feedback.  Feedback is really important to provide up to date information on the quality of the tradesmen and how they are performing.  Therefore, a few months ago we decided that as well as our monthly draw for a cash prize, that we would offer an additional prize of a Samsung Galaxy Tab Wifi and 3G worth 600euro for everyone who hired a tradesman and posted feedback in February, March and April.  Yesterday we held the draw for that competition and the winner was Patrick O’  Mahony from Blackrock in Co. Cork.  Congratulations to Patrick and thanks to everyone who took part in the competition.  You can see the video of the competition by clicking on the image above.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Wifi and 3GAnd the good news is that anyone who hires a tradesman from our site and provides feedback in May, June and July will be entered in a competition to win another Samsung Galaxy Tab Wifi and 3G* so get posting your jobs at http://www.tradesmen.ie/getquote.asp

 

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
25th May 2012

*You can see our general competition rules here

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Brian Kirwan Focus Ireland Fundraising Appeal

Brian Kirwan Apprentice Four Peak ChallengeHi folks,

TV3 Apprentice Celebrity Brian Kirwan and his twelve member squad will be climbing the four highest peaks in Ireland next month and are raising money for Focus Ireland to help the homeless.  Tradesmen.ie are one of the main sponsors of the event and we would really appreciate your help with this very important cause.

Helping the homeless is a particularly relevant cause for us since our business is to help people to keep their homes maintained and upgraded.  I firmly believe that everyone has a right to have a roof over their head.  Over the last few years many families and individuals have been put under tremendous pressure to pay mortgages and keep rent paid and it is organisations like Focus Ireland who help people who become homeless to get out of this situation.  We would like to wish Brian and Christine and all the squad the best of luck in the Four Peaks Challenge and we hope they can raise the money that they have set their target to achieve.  We will be keeping you updated on their progress over the coming weeks.

We appeal to you to help Brian and his crew to raise money for this very important charity by going to their Focus Ireland page here

Many Thanks
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

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Winners of the April Draw 2012

Hi 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 April was held today and the 1st prize of €100 cash went to Mary Byrne, Balllinteer, Dublin 16 and the 2nd prize of €30 went to Michael Toolan, Ratoath, Meath.  Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our site as it helps to improve the experience for everyone.

In a week or two we will hold a draw for everyone who hired a tradesman and posted feedback in February, March and April where the prize will be a Samsung Galaxy Tab Wifi and 3G worth 600euro.  In addition to this anyone who hires a tradesman from our site and provides feedback in May, June and July will be entered in a competition to win another Samsung Galaxy Tab Wifi and 3G so get posting your jobs at http://www.tradesmen.ie/getquote.asp

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
12th May 2012

 

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Browse Trades by Category, County and Town

Hi folks,

today we have launched a new section on our website that allows you to ‘Browse trades by Category’.  You will be able to see the link on the left navigation bar of our website and from there you can view the trades, view the counties, view recent jobs posted in that county and view towns or view recent jobs posted near that town.  We have also added a facility on each of these pages to allow you to post your own jobs.

We hope that this facility will make it easier for customers to get an idea of comparable jobs that were posted in their category or area and to see examples of how other people posted similar jobs.  In the future we hope to expand this section further to provide a really good user experience.  We hope this will allow customers to find useful information about posting good quality and accurate descriptions about available jobs  and it will help tradesmen to provide good quality information about their skills and references etc.

If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to post them below, we would be delighted to hear them

Cheers

Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

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Flooring Price Survey of Carpenters in Dublin

Floor installation
Hi folks,
Yesterday we carried out a quick survey of carpenters in Dublin to lay a 50m2 floating laminate wooden floor, labour only including removing and refitting the skirting boards and architraves.  You can see the results of the survey below:-
Colin H: 200 euro would depend on amount of doors and amount of corners, shape of room, but that would be cheapest,if secret nailed hardwood would be 800
Brian I: Between 800 and 1000 depending on how many architraves
Arran O: I would be thinking around €400 labour only
Martin G: For 50m it would be 9euro a meter .skirting to fit 2euro a foot the same price to take it of.arka 20 euro a door. Plus nails & no nails.taking off the skirting boards can be trickey because of damage to walls .the man doing the job would have to do a site survey! If it is a good floor & you might put down a 6mil ply if the sub floor is not great
Andy B: About 10 euro a square meter all in including skirting and architraves. Only other cost would involve levelling really bad floors but generally the subfloor is good
Tiit T: 300 -600 Depends amount and shape of rooms. ( many closets etc.)
Darius J: I would say 500, but to confirm the price i have to see the job
Rolands J: The price for labour for 50 m2 will be 450 e. Price can depend from size of boards

I did a quick calculation on Martin’s figures above and if you had 3 rooms 4m x 4m each with one door in each room his figure works out at about €600.  Andy’s quote works out at approximately €500 with a similar scenario.  As you can see there is a wide variety of prices ranging from €200 – €1,000.  Most prices are around 400 – 600 mark but make sure to ask if the price is inclusive or exclusive of VAT as you don’t want to get caught at the end of the job being asked for VAT on top of the price you were quoted.

Prices of wooden flooring range from as little as €5.99 a square yard to over €50 a square yard.  The laminates are cheaper in price but my understanding is that if you pick a good laminate it will be more resistant to getting marked and scratched than the semi solid woods.  I put a semi-industrial grade laminate floor in a house I had rented about 12 years ago and it is as good today as the day I put it in.   I was told at the time that you could stamp out a cigarette butt on it without marking it!! I hope nobody ever did stamp out a cigarette butt on it but it was a great comfort to know it was so hardwearing.   In the meantime my father put down an oak semi solid floor about 7 years ago and it has a lot of scratches and marks on it and it needs to be varnished every so often.

Another point to emphasise is the fact mentioned above about taking off the skirting boards being trickey.  If the wall that the skirting is nailed or glued to is of poor quality or if the skirting has been nailed or glued too much then the wall or the skirting could be damaged when the skirting is being removed.  It is very hard for the tradesman to know what it’s like until he actually takes off the skirting so it would be no harm to ask the carpenter beforehand has he allowed for any unforeseen problems like the walls or skirting getting damaged so that you have discussed it beforehand and there are no surprises.  Also, it would usually be the painter who puts the fillers behind the skirting and the wall and into the nail holes when it is replaced and there could be some spot painting to be done of the wall or skirting so it is important that you have discussed this with the carpenter and that you are not mistakenly believing that the carpenter is going to do this work when he was leaving it for someone else.

One more thing, there are two ways you can finish the floor at the edges, you can take off the skirting boards and run the floor out to the wall and then put the skirting back on or you can run the floor out to the skirting and put a bead (let’s say 2inch x ¾ inch) on top of the floor where it meets the skirting and it covers up the crack at the edge.  My own preference would be to take off the skirting and refit it.  However, the advantage of putting the bead there is that it is quicker and takes less time.  You should ask the carpenter to show you an example of both ways and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each before proceeding with the job.  This will also affect the quotes so make sure all of the carpenters are quoting for the same thing.

The usual rules apply with selecting a tradesman 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 tradesman that you choose.

I hope this helps some of you who are planning to get a wooden floor in the near future and don’t forget if you are looking to get some work done to post your wood flooring job here and get up to 4 quotes from rated tradesmen!  Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions or comments.

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie

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

House Painting Prices

Gas Boiler Service Prices

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Winners of March Draw 2012

man celebrating winning competition
Hi 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 yesterday and the 1st prize of €100 cash went to Kimon Joannides, Sandyford, Dublin 18 and the 2nd prize of €30 went to Niall Foley, Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15.  Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our site as it helps to improve the experience for everyone.

In addition to these cash prizes, anyone who hired a tradesman and provided feedback in February, March and April will be entered in an additional draw in the coming weeks to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab Wifi and 3G worth 600!!

You can see the video of the draw on our Facebook page here

or click here to get quotes for your own job

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
1st May 2012

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