Blog 1 - Ted Laverty - Leaning on a Shovel

Possible Pyrite Effected Homes Allocated €25.5m Repair Fund

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:34:00 GMT

Today's news that Menolly Homes and Irish Asphalt are set to create a repair fund of €25.5m for the 550 homes effected by structural faults brings to the end a long running saga. Claims that the faults were caused by the presence of Pyrite may now go unproven.

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Carbon monoxide detectors and alarms to prevent poisioning

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:07:00 GMT

The recent tragedy in Co. Wexford re-enforces how important it is that every burns that burns fossil fuels (natural gas especially) is fitted with adequate carbon monoxide alarms and detection devices. Here we look at the dangers and causes of carbon monoxide.

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What will the building and home improvement sector look like in 2015 ?

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:44:00 GMT

Over the last 10+ years the contruction and trade sector experienced a bubble. Then the bubble burst. The "pop" should have been a signal to take stock of the sector, to seek out lessons and to plan for the future. Instead of heeding the warning, it may already have fallen on deaf ears..

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Pyrite in Dublin Port Tunnel ?

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:39:00 GMT

20,000 homes in Leinster have been inadvertently built using materials contaminated with pyrite. Slightly exaggerated claims of 'exploding homes' apart, this little mineral can cause widespread damage to any structure. See our previous blog on it.

We're now hearing renewed rumors that pyrite was also found in the materials used to build the Dublin Port Tunnel. Will it 'explode' too ?

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Insulate your home for less than €20 !

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:35:00 GMT

You don't have to spend a fortune to get cosy this winter!

It's that time of the year again and, if the rumours are right, we're in for a cold winter. Brrr! So this year it's probably more important than ever to heat your home efficiently. To help we've put together a few tips on how to insulate your home for €20 or less!

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Onlinetradesmen.ie Member Wins New Product of Show Award

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:39:00 GMT

Congratulations to DCI Energy on winning 'Product of Show' award at this years Sustainable Building Show in the RDS, Dublin. Their Diffused Radiation Collector won the award last week.

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Polish plumber or Irish insulator ?

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:37:00 GMT

Sometimes we get feedback from Irish property owners as to the merits of hiring polish (or indeed any other nationalities) tradesmen. While we have to take much of it as anecdotal, is there something to it ?

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Is self build dead ?

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:30:00 GMT

After hearing an ad for an upcoming self build show, I couldn't help but ask myself if the self building ship has already sailed.

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Need to upskill ? Free training for trade professionals in renewables

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:07:00 GMT

Free training for tradesmen and construction professionals looking to upskill in the area of renewables. Courtesy of the Irish government. Does it get any better ?

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New site launched!

tedl@onlinetradesmen.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:59:00 GMT

It's been a long road but we are nearly there! After months of research, design, more research, development and testing - not to mention copyrighting - our new site is now live.

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