Tradesmen.ie Blog

Hello everyone and welcome to our blog on how to create your own kitchen garden!

Vegetable growing has now become more popular with reported sales of seeds now overtaken flowers! Heres some helpful advice on how to get started growing your own veggies!

First thing to consider is where to put your vegetable patch, choose somewhere with easy access in a nice sunny spot with level ground. Next is what to grow, early potatoes and broad beans are easy to grow, sweet corn can also be bought at garden center’s as plants to get you started. Leeks are anther good one that are easy from seed and easy to transplant as well. Radishes are a fast growing crop and ideal for the beginner.

Herb gardens are also easy for the novice to grow and can be grown from seed or bouht pre planted at garden stores. Next is the layout of your veggie garden. Pots are ideal for window sills or balconies with such vegetables as tomatoes, thyme, basil and parsley.

Small plots would be ideal for lettuce, french and runner beans can grow up trellises or strung up on wooden fences. In larger garden you could take a plot and split it into individual beds divided by paths for walking to be able to apply compost, water and fertilizers when necessary and also to allow crop rotation.(rotating the vegetables you plant from year to year)

When you get started remember to feed and water your vegetables especially when they are seedlings, watering is best first thing in the morning or early evening. You should also protect against pests and diseases such as insects and weeds. Pests and diseases will attack weaker unhealthy plants first so try and keep your produce healthy as can be! Growing your own vegetables and herbs is also trial and error before you learn the better produce to grow, where and how to take care of them properly. So just keep at it and before long you will have your own vegetable wonderland!

For advice or to install any of these recommendations please log onto www.tradesmen.ie and we can source the right tradesman for you.

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Hello everyone and welcome to our new series of DIY tips This week we will be looking at how to wire a plug!

A plug has three screws, two at the bottom holding the cable in place and the centre screw holding the plug itself together. Inside the screw are three wires which are: Earth – Green or Yellow (Previously Green) Neutral – Blue (Previously Black) Live – Brown (Previously Red)

The first step is to cut the wires to the correct length so that they will fit into their connector’s approx 4cm, then with a sharp knife remove the outer insulation on the wire without damaging the inner insulation. Bend back the outer insulation and remove enough for the wires to fit into their connectors so approx 1cm of outer insulation should be removed. You should then twist the wires of each and bend them in half for a secure grip then insert each wire into their appropriate connector. The earth wire goes to the top connecter, the bLue to the Left and the bRown to the Right!

Next tighten the screws over the connectors and you can then put the plug back together starting with the bottom screws to keep the cable in place and lastly the middle screw to fasten the plug itself. Remember you should always be safety aware and make sure the plug is disconnected from the socket and the appliance is switched off and always make sure your plug has the right fuse for the appliance it is connected to. Check with your appliance information for advice on this

For advice or to install any of these recommendations please log onto www.tradesmen.ie and we can source the right tradesman for you. .

Hello everyone and welcome to our new series of DIY tips. This week we will be looking at laying laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring has become very popular in recent years and there are many different types of flooring to suit different homeowner needs.

The first step is to measure the floor area and you should include 10% extra to allow for wastage from cutting the flooring. Then you should lay the foam underlay of which there is also many different types to suit your needs.

Lay the plank connecting to the previous plank by inserting the planks tongue and groove into each other and pushing the plank tightly against the spacer which are set against the wall which to allow for movement and expansion of the floor boards.

At the end of the first row a piece will have to be cut to fit, you should flip the last piece upside down and mark the cutting and cut along the blank side of laminate to avoid chips or scratches.  Remember you should alternate the rows so that the cuttings are all not in same place of every row. This scattering will prevent a weak area of the flooring and will look a more natural floor. So you should start the next row with the cutting from the previous row providing it’s not too short a plank.

When you have finished laying the floor you need to remove the spacers at the walls and cover the gap that is left with flooring trim which should match the flooring. The trim is affixed to the skirting board to allow the laminate flooring to expand and contract naturally. Measure the cut the trim and apply adhesive to the back of the trim and secure it in place

For advice or to install any of these recommendations please log onto www.tradesmen.ie and we can source the right tradesman for you.

Regards

Tradesmen.ie Team