The construction and maintenance division of Howden UK mark a record five years since their last Lost Time Incident and their fifth 5 star award from the British Safety Council. While the year may be nearly over, 2012 has been a highly successful one for the construction and maintenance division of Howden UK, which marked five years since their last Lost Time Incident (LTI). 2012 also marks the fifth consecutive year that Howden UK construction and maintenance division has been awarded the British Safety Council’s 5 Star Award for Health and Safety Management and working to best practise.
Nigel Francis, General Manager, Howden UK, Construction & Maintenance Division comments: “We believe that undertaking British Safety Council 5 Star Award for Health and Safety Management and working to Best Practice audit has raised the awareness of health and safety practices in our management team and our site personnel, resulting in a greater commitment to safe working practices in the workplace.â€
Howden UK’s recent award from the British Safety Council, which was awarded following a three day audit carried out at their Kingswinford office and at West Burton Power Station, also marks another cause for celebration for the company. This is because this 5 star award, which is highly sought after in the industry, and which they were first awarded in September 2007, also gives them the opportunity to finally apply for the council’s most prestigious award.
Nigel Francis continues: “By achieving a 5 Star rating, Howden UK has qualified for the right to apply for the British Safety Council‘s prestigious Sword of Honour Award. Howden UK has been successful in being awarded the Sword three years out of four and we will be applying again this year. There are only 40 swords presented to companies worldwide each year. To achieve the Sword of Honour award, an in-depth portfolio has to be compiled, detailing the organisation’s Management Procedures with regard to Health & Safety, their commitment, initiatives and involvement of the workforce. The submission is externally reviewed and scored against Best Practice worldwide.â€
Maybe you are a home user getting ready to tackle a Do It Yourself (DIY) task or maybe you are a professional taking on a new job, but in either case you probably recognise the importance of having the right tools for the job. Fix 8 also recognise that whilst a bad workman always blames his tools, having the right power tools to hand will help get things off to a much better start.
Indeed Fix 8 pride themselves on their ability to supply both the amateur DIY person and the professional tradesman with high quality power tools at prices to suit all budgets. As an example you may just need a lightweight cordless screwdriver for very occasional use around the house, in which case Fix 8 would recommend a small 3.6v model. However, they also supply a wide range of heavy duty cordless screwdrivers and drills in a wide range of voltages from 10.8V to 36V, including the common sizes of 7.2,9.6 and 14.4V, as well as truly industrious high power 24 and 36V models. Fix 8 advise that the latter are ideal for professionals and are ideal for continual heavy use including drilling in to concrete.
When it comes to working with wood then they supply a complete range of electric planers, routers and sanders to cover all of your woodworking needs. Indeed they specialize in the Makita range of sanders, which have been chosen by Fix 8 for their ease of use, durability and value for money. They offer a full range of Makita sanders from high-powered angle sanders, orbital sanders, belt sanders, filing sanders, palm sanders through to multi-purpose sanders.
Fix 8 also have a wide range of power tools designed for working with harder materials such as concrete, ranging from heavy duty hammer drills capable of using extra long drill bits through to stone cutters.
All of Fix 8’s power tool range can be found on their website, where pictures, and full descriptions of all of their power tools can be easily accessed and ordered online. Best of all if you spend more than £50, next day delivery is free, and as Fix 8 recognises that your time is money, you can even have your new power tools delivered directly to the site you are working on, saving you time by letting you get on with work and not having to wait at home for a delivery.
On their new website Fix 8 also offer a wide range of accessories for all of their power tools, from spares batteries to dust extraction units and Bosch jigsaw blades, making them a one stop shop when it comes to power tools.
Once you have checked out their latest range of power tools online you may want to order some of the extensive range of fixings and fasteners that they sell, in order to complete your job, all of which are also available with next day delivery. Fix 8 also offer a comprehensive range of support online as well as having highly knowledgeable staff that can handle all of your telephone enquiries.
When it comes to looking for a one stop shop for meeting all of your construction supply needs, then Fix 8 look to have things covered. They have recognised that whilst many people want to shop around for value for money, that the same busy people do not also want to waste time, which would be better spent working, rather than driving around four or five different shops in order to save the very last penny. Given the cost of fuel on top of this then finding one supplier such as Fix 8 that can fulfil all of your construction needs can be a great time and money saver.
Firstly they carry a huge range of fasteners and fixings online from simple screws through to frame fixings and even heavyweight concrete anchors, all of which can be ordered for next day delivery if ordered before 4pm. They also have a dedicated section on their website detailing technical dimensions and specifications of all of the fasteners and fixings that they sell, taking the guesswork out of choosing the right product for the job. This is backed up by company staff that have an outstanding knowledge of fasteners and fixings, and they can provide realistic, practical advice on which products you need to use, and they are all just a phone call away.
Secondly they carry a wide range of professional grade power tools and accessories, also with guaranteed next day delivery. This is because Fix 8 know that when your old drill packs up, or your existing cordless drill battery dies, that you need to be back up and running as soon as possible. It is also the reason why every range of power tools sold by them has been chosen not just to offer you the best price, but also a power tool that is going to last you a long time. Whilst other suppliers maybe happy to sell you a brand new angle grinder every year, Fix 8 would far rather they sell you the right one just the once, rather than the wrong one several times over.
Fix 8 are dedicated to providing you with the best customer service possible, and to their mind good customer service is supplying you with a power tool that lasts for years, not months; along with supplying a vast range of industry products at trade prices.
They also carry an extensive range of general construction products such as fillers, sealants, adhesive and paints as an example. In addition to this they also have an extensive range of hand tools such as general building tools, through to more specialist plumbing tools.
One look at their website and you will see that if you are in the construction industry then there are very few jobs that you will undertake whereby Fix 8 cannot supply everything you need from start to finish, from the power drill you need to make a hole, to the frame fixing you then put in the hole, through to the paint you end up using to paint the frame with. Lastly when it comes to keeping you safe whilst doing every stage of the task in hand then Fix 8 also have an extensive range of safety and personal protection products from protective eye wear, to safety gloves and boots to offer you total protection.
Fix8 Ltd offer a large variety of fixings and fasteners at trade prices, including Machine Screws, Bosch Jigsaw Blades, Self Tapping Screws, Frame Fixings and much more!
The data, provided by SkipandBin.com, is made up from average prices quoted in September 2012 from 3 or more skip hire companies in each area. The data is possibly the only up to date information on skip hire pricing in Britain.
Among the major findings in the data are:
• Both the sizes of skips and prices vary considerably throughout the UK.
• London is the most expensive area for all the various sizes of skip, including the most commonly used household skip, the 6 yard ‘builders skip’. The average price in London to hire a 6 yard skip is £210, compared to only £135 in Nottingham. Nottingham is also the cheapest city anywhere in the UK regarding the 6 yard skip size.
• Construction firms could make notable savings, because prices of 6 and 8 foot skips have a difference of less than than 20%. This suggests that construction companies would be better off by using an 8 foot skip.
• Liverpool is the cheapest city overall for skip hire. The cheapest skip hire available was as little as £80.
• For the 12 yard skip, Newcastle proved to be the cheapest city in the UK at £165. For the same size skip, London’s price was almost double that of Newcastle skip hire , at £300.
Skip and Bin managing director Jason Mohr was not surprised at London being the most expensive place in which to hire a skip, and was sympathetic to the problems London skip hire companies face, including the high cost of skip permits. This, he believes, results in some people choosing to dispose of their rubbish illegally instead. Mr. Mohr was also surprised at the price differences of skip hire between cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham.
The Founders of Grecoa.com have launched a campaign on indiegogo.com to raise the funds they need to build a free, online database of ideas and products capable of making our homes more energy and resource efficient. Grecoa.com will offer product specific information on everything from roofing materials to appliances to finishing materials and everything else that goes into a home. The focus of the website will be providing in-depth comparisons of the products that might fit a homeowners needs so that the homeowner can chose the product that works best for them.
“Typical ‘green’ home building websites are either directory listings, collections of articles, or product specific websites,” says Taylor Reynolds, Co-Founder of Grecoa.com, “We want to take all the great features of the existing sites, and build on that by creating a database of products with information on cost, performance, warranties etc. We want to empower homeowners by harnessing the power of the internet to condense massive amounts of information into a single source, easy to use website.”
According to Google’s Keyword Tool, over 3 million searches are performed every month on topics relating to green building materials, improving energy efficiency in the home, and sustainable building practices. Grecoa.com aims to become the site du jour for those viewers who are ready to take action. Mr. Reynolds continues “While having lots of educational information is important to the scope of the website, the real emphasis is going to be placed on connecting users with the product that most closely matches their economic, project specific, and sustainability needs; then giving them everything they need to act on that information.”
Ace Sheds have a fantastic range of timber products which range from sheds to timber workrooms and wooden summerhouses and at first it seems strange that this is the time of the year to promote the summer house but there is more than a little logic to the argument. The summerhouse is often put to bed in winter the family does not get the time to use it because they are working and going to school and when they return the nights are cold and dark but in many cases the opposite is true.
The retired family or the wife or husband with time on their hands when the children are at school can find the summerhouse a superb place to spend some time in the autumn, winter and spring. The wooden summer house is in essence an extra communal space fitted into the glorious surroundings of a garden, the best views and the quietest room and an escape from the hustle and bustle of the house. Once a timber summerhouse is used through the winter it will be surprising how quickly the working members of the family migrate to it at the weekend.
Ace can supply wooden summer houses from a large range and at a large number of different dimensions to fit almost every requirement of the user. Over the years the vast experience Ace Sheds have gained has been put to use in finding a building that will satisfy virtually every desire. The summer houses can be fitted out to meet the user’s requirement’s, the introduction of power will enable lights and power points to be fitted. This enables the kettle to be boiled and the television or radio to be used with the proper furniture the summerhouse becomes great retreat. It also allows a heater to be installed.
The autumn is a great time to put in a summerhouse as the weather is quite good and there is less to do in the garden so time restrictions are less, the grass does not need much attention and the flowers are going to sleep. ACE Sheds have some excellent designs available from corner units that can fit into a small garden to large airy timber workshops that can act as a decent workplace in the garden. ACE Sheds are particularly proud of the Bournemouth and Middlesex ranges as they supply an excellent summerhouse at a very reasonable cost.
The Bournemouth summerhouse for example is a lovely room with the whole of the front of the building fitted with small square windows from floor to ceiling including the double door entrance. The windows also go round each side to give a 270 degree view of the garden, house or the surrounding area.
The Middlesex range is ACE Sheds best-selling range and it is easy to see why that is the case. This is a great pitched roof design with lovely Georgian windows providing a good airy aspect and which will be a great addition to any garden. The design is excellent and value for money cannot be beaten. ACE Sheds are just a click or a call away and will answer any question available and a Christmas drink in the winter’s sun can become a reality.
The landscape surrounding the London 2012 Olympic velodrome is set to provide local residents and visitors to the city with a “pleasant space to spend timeâ€, it has been said.
Writing for the Guardian on the London blog, Dave Hill noted the positive impact that the space could have on the community, and said that while the economic effect of the Games is yet to be seen, there is little doubt that the gardens and spaces around venues will become important parks in the city.
Each area of the Olympic park has been designed with a part of the world in mind, reflecting the global focus of the Games. Plants from the USA, Asia and Western Europe combine with the athletes’ village, and the “iced cake†basketball arena, and Hill said that the gardens already look set to “become an urban design classicâ€.
Since the coalition came to power there has been much talk around the idea of community spaces and the importance of people having somewhere green and open to spend time has been highlighted. But for those who live and work in the city, pleasant environments are also vital, and in a blog on the New Scientist website earlier this month, it was noted that when it comes to transforming city scapes, it might be time to tear up the rule book and completely begin again with innovative ideas.
“Why don’t we grow plants on the sides of skyscrapers? And why isn’t all this rainwater run-off used to irrigate them? Our modern urban environments spark countless ideas for innovation toward sustainability. But who’s really going to make them happen?†the post wondered.
Bailey Street Scene specialises in finishing touches which add character and practicality to green and urban spaces, including benches, cycle pods and street furniture.
Commenting on the importance of practical but stylish urban and green spaces, managing director at Bailey Street Scene Ian Bailey said: “Many people underestimate the impact that their surrounding environment has on their mood and their overall feeling of wellbeing, but great design combined with practical solutions can make even the busiest city centre feel like a haven.â€
If you’ve run out of fresh ideas and do not know how to keep the scene in your backyard going, why not consider some of the following product selections. They will certainly give your garden a new look. Whether you want to mix and match products or give your garden that relaxing feel, don’t scratch your hair out of frustration. Just look for the following products and watch your hard labor come to fruition. Of course no one said beautifying your garden would be easy. As in any designing project, planning well is always harder than its execution. Get your pen and pad out and start planning with some of these products in mind.
Garden Stones
Decorative garden stones are ideal for giving your outdoor space a more elegant, interesting look while still being practical. Garden stones come in a wide variety of different sizes and shapes, and many offer a motif that might be near and dear to your heart, like the “Gather†garden stone, designed with colorful butterflies, the“Love Blooms Here†garden stone, complete with fairies, butterflies and flowers in an ivory finish, or the “Love†Garden stone, which features text, boldly colored dragonflies and water lily blooms. You can pick one type of garden stone and use several of them throughout your space to create a walkway or you can pick different ones to mix and match throughout your garden.
Urn Fountains
Urn fountains are a subdued yet noticeable addition to any garden. Urn fountains are made from faux-stone materials that look surprisingly real up close, and the graceful curves and shape of the fountain, along with the delicate stream of water emanating from the fountain are sure to give your garden a relaxing feel.
Acorn Fountains
Acorn fountains have a traditional look much like the alabaster fountains you probably grew up seeing in your neighbors or grandmother’s garden. Made from ivory alabastrite, acorn fountains look just like real stone, and the bright, vibrant color is sure to get the attention of visitors. Place an acorn fountain in the middle of your garden as a marvelous centerpiece. Not only will the fountain be beautiful, but the added visual interest will really make the colors of your flowers and plants pop.
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes are a beautiful, soothing addition to your garden or outdoor space. Wind chimes come in a variety of different materials and styles. The most common type is classic aluminum wind chimes, which produce soft, gentle tones throughout the day and night. If you’re looking for something more decorative, consider acrylic hummingbird chimes, which are adorned with colorful hummingbirds. For the ocean lover, acrylic dolphin wind chimes can bring a bit of the sea right to your own backyard. You can also add delicate rhythmic sounds to your garden by adding natural or coated bamboo chimes to your garden. If you have a very large outdoor area, consider mixing and matching different types of wind chimes or buying multiple sets.
Barnyard Birdhouse
What garden would be complete without singing birds? Adding the barnyard birdhouse to one of your nearby trees with area-appropriate food and water will definitely draw beautiful avian creatures right to your home. Large enough for a small family of birds, the barnyard birdhouse will add a rustic look to your garden.
Blue Floral Planters
If you have herbs, vegetables or flowers that you prefer to grow in planters rather than in the ground, planters painted in a Delft style are perfect for almost any space because the vibrant Delft blue and crystal clear white will match anything you put in them. You can choose to buy blue floral planters in a variety of different sizes and with or without a drain hole depending on your needs.
Butterfly Garden Stakes
Garden stakes are purely decorative items that bring extra life and color to your garden. No garden is truly finished until there are beautiful butterflies floating around, but luckily, you can add them yourself! Butterfly garden stakes come in a translucent red color that catches the sun and makes them glimmer in the light. Try adding butterfly garden stakes along walkways or within groups of plants that need a burst of color. Butterfly garden stakes can also be used as decorative reminders to prune or trim certain items in your garden the next day or week.
Bullfrog Garden Solar Light
If you want to keep your garden glowing at night without the cost of expensive solar or electric lights, bullfrog garden solar lights can do the job while adding a fun, whimsical style to your garden. Bullfrog garden solar lights are made with a high-quality poly-resin for durability in all conditions.
There you have it, affordable, useful, durable and stylish decor that’ll beautify your garden. Hopefully these ideas and great products have livened up your day as they will certainly lighten up your garden for days, months, even years. Most of all you can get all these products at affordable prices. For more decorative products and ideas to beautify your garden, visit Affordable home decor.
If you have ever been involved in a construction project, chances are that you have celebrated the day that you can walk through and create a punch list of items that await final completion. Construction Punch Lists mobile application by Moore Quality Apps now allows anyone to create and e-mail a professional punch list directly from the job site.
“For years the construction industry has used pen and paper to create punch lists and the process may take several days before it’s distributed. From home building to commercial construction, mobile technology now allows the process to be easier and faster†said Josh Moore, owner of Moore Quality Apps. “I recently used the Construction Punch Lists app on a large office project and realized that this dream had become a reality.â€
Construction Punch Lists by Moore Quality Apps is now available worldwide on iTunes. Features include multiple project lists, integrating pictures and contacts directly from the device, and sorting items before sending. The application can be used on an iPhone or iPad and can be purchased in English and Español. For more information, visit www.constructionpunchlists.com.
Installation of a 24-foot noise barrier utilizing Acoustifence outdoor sound abatement material at the new Sheboygan Festival Foods store is complete, ending complaints from nearby residents over extreme levels of noise leaking from the store’s industrial refrigeration chillers into the community.
Folks in Sheboygen were celebrating when the popular Wisconsin-based Festival Foods grocery chain opened the 70,000 square foot mega store here on September 16, 2011. Less than two weeks later, the community’s warm welcome had grown icy as neighbors began to complain about noise from the store’s industrial refrigeration chiller that was so loud, it violated the city’s noise ordinance.
Festival Foods enlisted the help of Acoustical Engineer Eric Wolfram of Milwaukee-based Scott R. Riedel & Associates, LTD, who consulted with Acoustiblok’s Jay Boland to choose Acoustifence noise barrier material, a product of Acoustiblok, Inc. of Tampa Florida, to bring the decibel level down below the legal threshold and restore peace and quiet to the neighboring community.
When Wolfram first investigated the site in September, decibel readings ranged between 78.4 and 90.7, loud enough to be a risk for noise-related health problems to nearby residents and workers, had they been subjected to the noise over time. The Sheboygan Department of City Development demanded the level be reduced by at least five decibels, Wolfram said.
“The existing refrigeration pump and motor systems produce extreme noise levels,†Wolfram said. “This noise reverberates within the sheet-metal paneled enclosure interior and escapes through several different exhaust and ventilation openings.
“Additional noise was generated by the cooling and exhaust fans mounted above the enclosure.â€
Minimal structural changes were required, as the â…›- inch Acoustifence was easily attached to an existing chain link fence and the outdoor-rated QuietFiber with a perforated metal cover was capconed to the building.
The results were better than Wolfram had hoped, with decibel levels reduced to 57.3 the moment the barrier was in place – well below the City’s legal threshold, and more than 20 decibels lower than before the Acoustiblok products were installed. Neighbors are no longer bombarded with the irritating chiller noise, now replaced with the ordinary ambient sounds that existed before.
“Sounds from local traffic and roadways exceeded that of the compressor equipment after installation of the Acoustifence and QuietFiber products,†Wolfram said.
Lahnie Johnson, founder and president of Acoustiblok, Inc., applauded Festival Foods’ quick action in addressing the noise complaints right away, stating that the product combination was the perfect solution for this particular type of noise challenge.
“The Acoustifence and QuietFIber treatments were the perfect solution for the Festival Foods chiller noise, as both of these materials are designed to hold up in inclement weather, and as you can see from the results, they do their job well beyond everyone’s expectations,†Johnson said. “The Acoustifence and Quiet Fiber are also substantially less costly than attempting a structural enclosure solution.â€
Acoustiblok noise abatement material was installed in the nearly completed Artist Workshop Studios recording facility, an in-the-box (ITB) studio designed and built by Artist Workshop Studios owner Tom Donofrio. Acoustiblok was chosen to provide a sound barrier for the small, 12 foot x 12 foot basement studio that could drop decibels levels within the space and provide a neutral acoustical environment for recording.
Donofrio, an electrical engineer, and musician who has built recording studios in the past using different sound deadening materials, chose Acoustiblok for his newest project after consulting with Marilyn Myers of Acoustiblok, Inc., because of its sound damping and noise blocking qualities, as well as its thin, flexible structure that adds no volume to walls within the studio space. Attached to the studs before drywall is hung, Acoustiblok performs without the need to add layers of rigid drywall or modified drywall, a method Donofrio used in the past with mixed results and significant floor space reduction.
“I was looking for a product that would lower the decibels in the studio without taking up any additional space,†Donofrio said. “I was able to achieve the neutral acoustics desired in the space, which makes me extremely happy.
“I didn’t want a sound quality that was too dead or too live, so the Acoustiblok turned out to be an excellent choice.â€
Donofrio and a friend were able to hang the 3mm Acoustiblok on the newly framed stud walls within the studio space, including cutouts around a window and electric sockets, and seal the seams according to installation recommendations, all in less than four hours.
The Artist Workshop Studios recording space was built for Donofrio to indulge his own talents as an acoustical guitarist and vocalist, and to be made available to artists on a budget who need an affordable studio with high quality production equipment and the expertise of a seasoned technician to record a song or album.
“Acoustiblok is a perfect choice for establishing sound quality within a sound recording studio like this one,†said Lahnie Johnson, president and founder of Acoustiblok, Inc.
“Unlike additional drywall or other solid rigid materials used for sound reduction, the 1/8-inch heavy, limp Acoustiblok allows the room to be a damped, expandable acoustical envelope. As such, a studio or home theater has less reflection and actually sounds significantly better.â€
Installation of 18,000 square feet of non-fiberlass Quiet Fiber® noise abatement material has been completed in the massive generator room of the newly constructed, 750,000 square foot Galleria 360 mall in Santo Domingo.
Quiet Fiber, a product of Acoustiblok, Inc. in Tampa, Florida, was installed on the ceiling and walls of the mall’s generator and substation rooms. These rooms house the industrial emergency generators necessary to keep power running in this coastal area of the Caribbean, plagued by frequent power outages.
The Galleria 360’s industrial generators, installed by Santa Domingo-based Edelca, are a staple in this island republic. Edelca owner Carlos Montos, Edelca consulted with Jay Boland of Acoustiblok, Inc., and used Quiet Fiber on the project after achieving excellent results with Quiet Fiber on a similar project at the La Sirna Superstore in the eastern coastal town of Higuey, Dominican Republic.
“Even though Quiet Fiber is not the least expensive product on the market, I keep coming back to it because the results beat all the competitors’ noise deadening products with double the noise insulating qualities,†Montos said. “The customer on this job wanted to install a double layer of a different product but I convinced him to try the Quiet Fiber.
“I’ve been designing and installing these emergency generators for 20 years, and I have never had the results from other noise abatement products that I have with Quiet Fiber, and now I’m trying to use it everywhere.â€
Montos says noise from these industrial generators on which the island has become dependent in order to maintain consistent power is a major problem plaguing businesses and residential property owners when the generators are running. Not only is generator noise bad for business, but its constant drone can cause permanent hearing loss. Another important consideration in the selection of soundproofing material is its fire resistance.
Recently in Santo Domingo a serious fire started in a generator room, and the existing foam sound proofing material was a prime contributor. The fire caused Montos to search for a new fireproof solution. Quiet Fiber is fire resistant even at 2,000 degrees.
“The noise levels are almost unbearable, so you need to have an adequate level of soundproofing in place when they are running,†Montos said. “I always install noise absorbing material wherever I install my generators, and Quiet Fiber is the best soundproofing product we’ve ever used.â€
Montos and his crew were able to easily cut the Quiet Fiber to fit around electric conduits, and secured the material to the walls and ceiling with standard insulation stick pins.
The sound deadening qualities of Quiet Fiber will help to protect the mall’s employees, and streams of tourists and local residents from the high volume industrial noise caused by the generators when they are operating.
Lahnie Johnson, president and founder of Acoustiblok, Inc., says that the application of Quiet Fiber in the Galleria 360 generator and substation rooms was exactly what was needed for addressing the high decibel, reverberant sound emanating from the concrete walls.
“Quiet Fiber was designed with this type of hot, humid environment in mind,†Johnson said. “When you’re addressing solid surface noise issues, which in this case with concrete walls, you need a product with proven maximum sound absorption, high temperature rating for fire blocking, and hydrophobic (resistant to moisture).â€
Online tool superstore Tool-NET has reported that the unusually warm spring weather caused a spike in product purchases from their range of DIY tools. With an unseasonably hot March, Tool-NET has experienced significant growth in sales of gardening and DIY tools and accessories. This is largely thanks to UK householders shaking off their winter inertia and starting projects in the home and garden.
The hot March weather appears to have encouraged a lot of fair-weather spending. The British Retail Consortium claim retail sales across the board were up year-on-year by 1.3% in March, with clothes, barbecue foods and gardening goods as the most popular products. Online retailers saw rises of 13.9%, and Tool-NET saw an even stronger sales rise.
Tool-Net has developed a strong customer base among trade tool purchasers, DIY fanatics and casual purchasers of tools for the home and garden. Offering a no-nonsense returns policy and dispatch times where 98% of orders are sent out the day they are received, Tool-NET also offers strong savings with discounts of up to 70% off list prices. These are available on a wide range of more than 6500 power tools, gardening accessories, fixings, fastenings, hand tools, ancillaries and consumables.
Another factor which has helped Tool-NET sales heat up this spring is an ever-growing catalogue. With new lines being added daily it has never been easier for customers to find the right tool at the right price.
Among the new gardening lines which are proving popular is the innovative cordless gardening multi-tool from CEL-UK. The PS1 Powerstick dispenses with the hassle and trip hazard of a cord while adding an unrivalled versatility which allows it to convert effortlessly from a grass trimmer to a hedge trimmer to a garden rake and broom.
More traditional brands continue to fare well in the fair weather, too. Black & Decker’s reputation for performance and reliability at an attractive price has been continued in its latest range of gardening tools, including chainsaws, hedge trimmers, line trimmers, blower/vacs and lawn mowers.
With its ever-expanding catalogue, competitive pricing and fast dispatch times Tool-NET is continuing to help fuel the UK’s spring clean of gardens and homes.
Thousands of DIY enthusiasts are expected to descend on London this month to take in the sights of Grand Designs Live 2012 – based on the long-running Channel 4 TV series presented by renowned design guru Kevin McCloud – and Econoloft will have its own experts close at hand to offer useful hints and tips to anyone looking for helpful advice with their own design plans.
The event, which will take place at the capital’s Excel London exhibition centre for the eighth successive year, brings together a wide range of experts and ideas to promote design and innovation in all areas of the home. From interiors to gardens to home improvements, there’ll be more than 500 exhibitors at Grand Designs Live 2012 – and experts from Econoloft, Britain’s leading loft conversion experts, will be on hand to share some of their wealth of knowledge.
“With thousands of people expected to hit London for Grand Designs 2012, this gives us a great opportunity to pass on some of our experience to anyone mulling the idea of a loft conversion,†said Rebecca Livesey from Econoloft. “Whether you’re looking to boost the value of your home or you just need a bit more space, a loft conversion could be the perfect idea – and our team are more than happy to share their expertise with anyone who wants to find out more.â€
Running from May 5th to 13th, Grand Designs Live 2012 brings together hundreds of designers, architects and engineers all under the one roof. Around 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the event over its nine-day duration, and Kevin McCloud himself will be in attendance to regale visitors of his own Grand Designs experiences. Econoloft’s team will be stationed at stand number 345, so be sure to drop by to find out more about how loft conversions can transform your home.
Leading online garden and power tool retailer Tool-NET.co.uk today urged homeowners that in the run-up to spring now is the best time to get those outside spaces ready for summer.
Tool-NET has highlighted five jobs that should be an essential part of summer preparations this spring:
Clean gutters may not be the first thing commented on by summer guests, but nonetheless, spring is the best time to get those gutters clear of the leaves, twigs, and debris left in winter’s wake. Failing to do this can lead to clogged water being driven under the eaves of the house and ultimately into its walls.
Decking that has been scrubbed down and protected with decking oil will not only look a lot better and help frame your outdoor space, it will also last a lot longer.
Sorting your shed out will make storing gardening equipment, along with barbecues and chairs, so much easier. First, throw away or recycle what you do not need. Next organise what is left into groups and then store it in boxes, on shelves or on hooks. Try to keep things off the floor to maximise your space.
Now you can turn your attention to the garden. Rake your lawn to remove dead growth, stray leaves and twigs. This will give the soil the light and air it needs to support grass growth. If you spot bare or damaged patches of lawn, spring is a great time to reseed them before the garden gets heavy use in the summer.
Finally, weed your beds before unwanted plants become established. Now is the time to move any shrubs you wish to relocate so they can establish themselves in their new location. Use an organic dormant oil spray to remove pests who have overwintered in your fruit trees, magnolias, crab apples and shrubs.
Tool-NET is currently offering discounts of up to 70% off the list price of gardening tools and other power and hand tools so that, whatever tool you need for your garden, it needn’t cost the earth.
Leading UK double glazing specialists Malbern Windows can now provide its customers with a range of state-of-the-art vertical sliding windows. The windows, which have been carefully designed and produced by Synseal, use modern technology to deliver high-quality security and insulation while also being an eye-catching addition to any home.
The new vertical sliding windows can be installed in homes throughout the North West and combine modern technologies with traditional styling. With a new-take on the Victorian sash windows, these vertical sliding windows are ideal for both period properties and new builds.
The windows boast excellent high energy efficiency and have even been recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, which fits in nicely with Malbern Windows’ energy efficiency policies. There are nine colourways for customers to choose from, all of which are available from Malbern Windows. Choose from woodgrain white, cream woodgrain, Irish oak, golden oak, cherrywood, golden oak on white and cherrywood on white.
As with all products sold by Malbern Windows, the new windows have high security features that will help in protecting your home from burglars and intruders, thanks to robust locking mechanisms on every window. Not only this, but the windows are also incredibly easy to maintain, meaning customers won’t have to worry about repainting or varnishing.
The vertical sash windows use uPVC materials over timber frames, which allow them to withstand weathering. The windows also have multi-tilt features that help with cleaning and maintaining throughout the year.
“We at Malbern Windows are thrilled to be able to provide our customers with these excellently produced windows,†said Wayne Clarke, Managing Director Retail of Malbern Windows. “We work to incredibly high standards, only offering products that feature energy efficiency, security and aesthetic qualities, so you can trust that these new vertical sliding windows are up to scratch.â€
To find out more about the windows and other products available through Malbern Windows, visit www.malbernwindows.co.uk now.
Todd Doors, who specialise in supplying high quality timber doors around the UK, have unveiled a brand new collection for 2012. The range, which compromises of a variety of door products including French doors, doors with sidelights and sliding doors, is set to make the pulses of every home owner and interior designer racing. Not only is the collection new but it also contains massive price reductions, ensuring that every home owner can get the door that it right for them.
Choosing a door might sound easy but it is actually incredible difficult. Ideally, the room should complement the door. Offering doors at such a high quality, this is no problem at Todd Doors. The only problem will be choosing the preferred one!
Todd Door’s brand new collection for 2012 is populated by a grand selection of oak doors. A popular wood for both interior and exterior doors, oak is proven to stand the test of time and is beautiful in colour. Choose the Biarritz Oak door (was £466.80, now £350.10), complete in satin lacquer or maybe opt for the Catalunya Oak door (was £310.80, now £233.10) as a stunning finale to a lounge that celebrates trend setting styles. For a touch of grandeur, try the Catalunya Walnut door (was £346.80, now £260.10) which is darker in colour, adding real depth to a room.
Glazed doors are a great way of allowing more light into a room and can connect a home’s rooms together. Todd Doors offer a range of glazed doors, from the single full-length pane which offers a maximum amount of light and shadow to permeate through, to multi pane doors. These doors are great for kitchens and bathrooms alike. Try the Spanish-inspired Zaragoza Walnut & Wenge door (was £550.80, now £413.10) for some Iberian charm or, for a lighter feel, the Faro Oak door (was £394.80, now £296.10).
All Todd Doors interior and exterior doors are produced from the very best timber, real wood veneer and man-made materials. For this reason, each door may vary in appearance and is completely unique. Every door is made by expert craftsmen and promises to be robust and incredibly sturdy. Many of the products from the new 2012 range can also arrive in glazed and fire door versions, offering customers a real peace of mind with every purchase.
To view the new 2012 product range in its entirety, please visit:
Force 8 is following Scandanavia’s lead by launching high-tech VEKA triple glazing: and during March is offering it at the same price as double glazing.
There is now a solution to skyrocketing energy bills, as Stockport based window and composite stable doors manufacturer Force 8 is launching a range of triple glazed windows that will keep your heat levels up and your bills down. And as a special offer for March, it is offering these high-tech windows at the same price as its regular double-glazing.
Managing director Dennis Sumner explained: “Triple glazing has been around for decades in Scandinavia and Canada, but the rising costs of energy in the UK means now is the time for the extra pane. “With the cost of energy set to increase year on year, we believe that the market is more than ready for triple glazing.â€
VEKA windows incorporate the latest glass technology, using plantitherm glass and argon-filled units to maximise insulation. The VEKA 70mm FS frame system can achieve U-values down to 0.6W/ m2-k – which in simple terms means a vast saving in heat loss per square metre of glass.
“Triple glazing is the most energy-efficient window available today, and offers 40 per cent more efficiency than standard ‘A’-rated double glazing. When you fit Force 8’s new range of triple glazing you are installing the very latest product that the glazing industry has to offer,†said Dennis.
Force 8’s triple-glazed windows are available in hundreds of different styles and in white or wood grain colours. “There are no compromises in terms of aesthetics or sight lines, weather performance or security, and the cost savings for our triple glazing can be up to 50 per cent less,†added Dennis.
“This is a great advantage to house builders, home owners and developers looking to meet energy-efficiency regulations and appreciate the benefits of triple glazing without the hefty price premium.â€
Force 8 also offers a comprehensive range of composite doors using the VEKA frames that can be fabricated with side panels or into arched frames.
Since the start of this year the team at Tool-NET.co.uk have been adding innovative new products to its already extensive range of power tools, hand tools, accessories, site equipment and consumables. You can now browse and order more than 6500 products from big name brands and hard-to-source specialist suppliers alike.
The buying team at Tool-NET have taken a short break from their endless search for the latest and greatest tools and accessories to rate and review the latest products to appear online and pick their favourites.
First up is the small but perfectly formed hammer drill from Bosch (GBH18VLI-CP). A plumber’s or electrician’s dream come true this tiny hammer drill weighs in at just 1.9kg and measures just 278mm. Like a champion flyweight boxer, however, this incredibly light tool packs a punch much more powerful than you may expect. It is capable of delivering an unrivalled power-to-weight ratio of 1.7 joules to 2.6 kg. Small, light and strong and perfect for those working in confined and cramped conditions.
Keeping with the small but perfectly formed theme is the latest cordless Jigsaw from Makita. The JV100DZ delivers the sort of power you would expect from a much heavier, corded model but weighs only 1.7kg. With a list price of £80.00 Tool-Net customers need puzzle no longer about this Jigsaw purchase as it is available from Tool-NET at only £44.40.
The Sliders are the latest offerings from Van Vault and they offer all the safe, secure, strong and convenient tool storage that has come to be associated with this manufacturer. These ultra-strong tool drawers will slot into the floor-space of any commercial vehicle and are tough enough to take the heaviest load piled upon them. With a list price starting from £319 exc. VAT Tool-NET customers can safely expect to pay no more than £274.86.
With hundreds of new products being added to the Tool-NET catalogue there are many other great new products at fantastic prices available on Tool-NET. Tool-Net can help you find the right tool for the job at the right price.
Doubleglazinglocal.co.uk is helping more UK consumers to source the perfect locally-based home improvement company thanks to the website’s dedicated local search facility.
Powerful local search capabilities like that available through Doubleglazinglocal.co.uk allow consumers to quickly and conveniently source the best locally-based home improvement company for their needs – whether they are looking for windows, solar panels or double glazing doors.
Peter Jakubek, Interactive Director at DoubleGlazingLocal.co.uk, says, “We are able to help our site users source the ideal home improvement company in their vicinity thanks to the power of our local search functionality. We want to help UK consumers continue to learn the lessons of unscrupulous traders – there are far too many cold-callers and dishonest suppliers around these days.”
“Our site and local search functionality only ever offer our users approved companies which have adhered to our strict standards and guidelines. Local search has helped us to build lots of new business and leads recently, with suppliers listed able to give quotes on everything from standard patio doors through to sash windows prices.”
Google continues to dominate the online local search sector, and is being joined by other services this year including those offered by Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. Companies are today aware that local search gives them enhanced exposure and access to new customers all over the country.
Peter Jakubek goes on, “Local search has helped us to build our own business and to offer better, approved companies to our users. Consumers know that they can trust Doubleglazinglocal.co.uk to put them in touch with the most trustworthy local suppliers in the home improvement space – for all solutions from standard windows through to even triple glazing.â€
DoubleGlazingLocal.co.uk reports that consumers are now more aware of the tricks utilised by rogue salesman and cold callers, and third party recommendation is enabling them to make more informed choices of suppliers.
Nigel Francis, General Manager, Howden UK, Construction & Maintenance Division comments: “We believe that undertaking British Safety Council 5 Star Award for Health and Safety Management and working to Best Practice audit has raised the awareness of health and safety practices in our management team and our site personnel, resulting in a greater commitment to safe working practices in the workplace.â€
