DIY Tiling Advice: Tiling a Concrete Floor

Q. I have recently moved into a new house in need of major refurbishment. While I am getting contractors to assist with the bulk of the work I am planning to tile upstairs bathroom floor surface myself. I have a small bit of experience in tiling, having helped out a family member with his house in the past. The bathroom floor is concrete. Do you have any advice on what to look out for or tips to make it easier?

                                                   All content copyright of Onlinetradesmen © 2007. No unauthorised publication or replication permitted.

Planning Permission for Extensions

Q. We are planning to extend our existing home with a kitchen in the back garden. Do you know if we will require planning permission and, if so, the best way to go about it?  

Installing an attic ladder

17. Q. I have a growing family and we are quickly running out of storage space in the house. We have an attic but, up until now, it’s been largely ignored. I am now planning to use it for storage and will need to provide ready access to it by installing an attic ladder. I have identified a basic aluminium foldaway model but would like to know any considerations in installing it before I purchase. Can you please help?

All content copyright of Onlinetradesmen © 2007. No unauthorised publication or replication permitted. 

Study area for students

I have 2 children preparing to go back to secondary school to do the junior cert and leaving cert respectively, and one starting in university this year. I’d like to organise their rooms to provide a study area for each as well as some shelving to add some organisation for their books etc. My budget is fairly tight – do you have any suggestions?

Installing a cat flap in your home

I have recently ‘inherited’ a cat and would like to install a cat flap for it in our wooden front door. Can you tell me how to go about it and point out any general considerations before I start?

Self Build Explained

 I am in the market for a new home and have been advised by friends to look at the option of ‘self building’ on a family owned plot. I am strongly favouring this option but I don’t fully understand the full detail of what a ‘self build’ entails. Could you provide me with some information and benefits?

Q.  I have recently received the keys for a new apartment. The floors are concrete and I want to look at putting in wooden floors all over. I’m not sure where to begin so perhaps you can give me some tips?

All content copyright of Onlinetradesmen © 2007. No unauthorised publication or replication permitted.

Attic Conversions and what to consider before you hire!

Q. I am thinking about converting the attic of our 3-bed semi detached house in Galway City. Before making any decision however, I would like to get an idea of the project requirements, the suitability of our attic space for such a conversion, the duration of such a project  and what effect such a conversion would add to the re-sale value of the house. Can you please help?

                                          All content copyright of Onlinetradesmen © 2007. No unauthorised publication or replication permitted.

Installing Decking in Your Garden

Q. I am looking a building a deck in our back garden as a DIY project. I have read a number of articles on how to go about installing them but got confused. Can you give me some striaght forward advice ?

Settlement Cracks / Shrinkage Cracks in Your Home 

I moved into to a new house over 2 years ago and have noticed a large number of major cracks appearing in the plaster around the ceiling, corners and door frames. They have grown steadily and are at the stage where I am getting seriously worried about them. The developer has indicated that they are just ‘shrinkage cracks’ with no structural implication and has shrugged off any responsibility in this regard. Could you please let me know your thoughts on them and how they may be fixed?

 All content copyright of Onlinetradesmen © 2007. No unauthorised publication or replication permitted.