Makita - the best cordless drill

Hurray! Finally I can write about (in my opinion, of course) the best cordless drill in the business, the Makita cordless drill. What’s hard is to single out just one of their many cordless drills, so I won’t because all of the Makita cordless drill range is brilliant.

There are many cordless drills on the market, but I find that a Makita cordless drill is the best by far, due to its light weight and ease of use. As a former plasterer I’m use to screwing up plasterboard to ceilings, and tried many of the cordless drills on the market to date, but time and time again I always found the Makita cordless 12v drill driver the most comfortable to use.

Screw driver Types and Basics

Today were going to talk about cordless screw drivers and screw driver tools and there benefits that they have when carrying out general tasks around the home.

A cordless screw driver is the most used tool in the box and is used for all types of tasks around the home, such as putting up shelves and pictures, fitting door handles and putting together flat pack furniture.

There’s many screw driver tools on the market today that all come in handy when carrying out small jobs, and even larger jobs around the home such as fitting kitchen cupboards, screwing down floor boards and fitting blinds etc.

A list of screw driver types would be demolition screwdrivers, electrical screwdrivers, flat headed screwdrivers, phillips screwdrivers, pozidrive screwdrivers, square tipped screwdrivers and screwdriver sets, all of which can be brought at trades supermarket at the best prices on the web from some of the top retailers around.

The must have power tools for your workshop

A thought always in the back of a man’s mind is the love of getting dirty and fixing things around the home, and to do that we need the right tools for the job at the right prices. Hand tools and power tools are a must, and there’s nothing better than cheap power tools, which can be very expensive, especially if you don’t have time to shop around and compare prices.

To make sure that you can carry out most small, handy man jobs, you will need a selection of hand tools in the tool bag such as screwdrivers, pliers, hand saw, chisels, files, wrenches and a gauging trowel.

When choosing to purchase your cheap power tools, shop around and compare prices from a number of different suppliers before you buy just so you know that you are getting the best possible prices on the market.

Screw Driver tools – a must for every house

When it comes to tools which are a necessary requirement in every home, the most versatile hand tools are screw driver tools. These are used in many ways, for example: prying or loosening a jar lid, scraping from just about any surface, make a hole in a can of oil, opening a stubborn drawer, window or door.

Screw driver cordless tools that could be aptly called a "tool-of-all-trades". Screw driver tools now comes in various sizes and forms. There are those for the smallest screw up to large heavy duty purposes. Many are designed or formed for hard-to-reach places.

Maintenance is quite easy. Just keep it clean and keep the flat-end flat. Coating it with a thin film oil should prevent advanced rusting.

The common mistake which damages screw driver tools is using them like a chisel. Hammering from the handle could break screw driver cordless tools by distorting the flat end.

Van Equipment and Accessories for Van Maintenance

Truck and van repairs can be costly but some are avoidable. Whether you own a van or rely on van hire, through some simple maintenance you can save money, prolong the vehicle’s life span and avoid costly van accessories and repairs.

Van servicing is extremely important and must be done regularly. It is also important to ensure you have the best van accessories.

Make sure your windscreen wash isn’t empty and your oil level is ok.
Coolant is another thing that should be checked regularly. The coolant is in a translucent box in your engine. Look and see what the level is and if it’s low pop some coolant in. Checking your tyre pressure is not only good for your van hire but for your pocket too. Low tyre pressure causes vans or trucks to guzzle petrol so checking could save you money. Also check the tyre tread depth. The tyre tread depth legally must be at least 1.6mm and you will fail your MOT if this isn’t correct. Completing some simple maintenance and buying the right van accessories can help prolong lifespan.

Travis Perkins seals deal for BSS

Travis Perkins seals deal for BSS

Aaron Morby | Mon 5th July | 8:48

Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has agreed to buy BSS Group for £558m to expand its heating and plumbing trade distribution side.

The offer, made up of cash and shares, values each BSS share at 435.8 pence, a 4.7% premium on Friday’s closing price of 416.2p.

Travis Perkins said it believed it could achieve pre-tax savings of at least £25m in 2013 through the deal, which will create the UK’s leading plumbing and heating distribution business.

The two companies have been in “advanced discussions” since May.

Robert Walker, the chairman of Travis Perkins said: “We believe that there is a strong strategic rationale for the acquisition of BSS. We are confident that this transaction can deliver significant value for the shareholders in the enlarged group.”

The deal is backed by BSS directors and major shareholders representing around 35% of BSS’s capital.

Besides Wickes, Travis Perkins owns the City Plumbing and Keyline chains, as well as its own stores.

Travis Perkins competes with Wolseley, which is the biggest building supplies company in the world, Saint-Gobain of France and Irish builders’ merchant Grafton.

Travis Perkins sales rebound in last 9 weeks

Travis Perkins sales rebound in last 9 weeks

Aaron Morby | Fri 2nd July | 10:11

Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins said sales in the last two months have exceeded management expectations.

The chain has decided to restore shareholder dividends as confidence grows about the outlook.

During the last two months sales at the building materials division were 10% ahead of the same period last year. Margins though were slightly down.

The Wickes-led retail division also faired better in the last 9 weeks, with sales up by 1.6%.

Geoff Cooper, chief executive, said: ”We are pleased with the overall progress the Group has made in the first six months of the year.

“Current trading continues to be ahead of management expectations and we now have the confidence to contemplate recommencing paying dividends.”

British Gas to fit free solar panels for schools

British Gas is to spend £15m on solar panels for hundreds of schools.

Under the fresh initiative the company will donate and install solar panels – worth between £20,000 and £40,000 per school – in up to 750 schools.

Each school will be able to generate its own free, green electricity, cutting as much as 20 per cent off its annual electricity bill.

The energy produced by the panels is anticipated to create around £1.3m per year for the next 25 year as a result of the new feed-in tariff arrangements.

British Gas plans to invest this revenue stream in installing solar panels on yet more schools via its Energy For Tomorrow Trust, a ‘not for profit’ trust fund established to invest in low carbon projects in the UK.

This could mean that, in the next five years alone, British Gas could install free solar panels on a total of 1,100 schools.

Schools receiving solar panels will also receive a British Gas smart meter, offering real time information so pupils can see the difference their solar panels are making.

British Gas has already earmarked half of the total investment to ensure that schools in low income areas benefit from the initiative, and intends to deliver the technology to these schools in conjunction with the Government’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).

Phil Bentley, managing director, British Gas, said: ”This is the biggest investment of its kind in solar technology for our nation’s schools, which will help them cut both their carbon emissions and their electricity bills – as well as learn about renewable energy in a hands-on way.

“The electricity generated by these schools will help pay for the scheme to be extended to even more schools throughout the country, which is great news for school leaders, parents and pupils who are all looking for ways to save money during these tough economic times.”

British Gas to fit free solar panels for schools

British Gas is to spend £15m on solar panels for hundreds of schools.

Under the fresh initiative the company will donate and install solar panels – worth between £20,000 and £40,000 per school – in up to 750 schools.

Each school will be able to generate its own free, green electricity, cutting as much as 20 per cent off its annual electricity bill.

The energy produced by the panels is anticipated to create around £1.3m per year for the next 25 year as a result of the new feed-in tariff arrangements.

British Gas plans to invest this revenue stream in installing solar panels on yet more schools via its Energy For Tomorrow Trust, a ‘not for profit’ trust fund established to invest in low carbon projects in the UK.

This could mean that, in the next five years alone, British Gas could install free solar panels on a total of 1,100 schools.

Schools receiving solar panels will also receive a British Gas smart meter, offering real time information so pupils can see the difference their solar panels are making.

British Gas has already earmarked half of the total investment to ensure that schools in low income areas benefit from the initiative, and intends to deliver the technology to these schools in conjunction with the Government’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).

Phil Bentley, managing director, British Gas, said: ”This is the biggest investment of its kind in solar technology for our nation’s schools, which will help them cut both their carbon emissions and their electricity bills – as well as learn about renewable energy in a hands-on way.

“The electricity generated by these schools will help pay for the scheme to be extended to even more schools throughout the country, which is great news for school leaders, parents and pupils who are all looking for ways to save money during these tough economic times.”

Eric Wright takes £180m Blackpool BSF

Eric Wright takes £180m Blackpool BSF

Aaron Morby | Fri 2nd July | 7:11

Preston-based Eric Wright Group has beaten rival Morgan Sindall in the race to be selected as preferred bidder for Blackpool’s £180m BSF programme.

Education chiefs launched a race against time to sign contracts as fears grew the new Government’s budget cuts would pull the plug on the programme.

Now, with the preferred bidder for the project in place, bosses say they are “quietly confident” enough has been done to see the scheme rubber stamped by Government.

Over the last three weeks, preferred bidders have been selected for £1.1bn of contracts – including a £231m deal for 14 schools in Derby, £270m for 10 schools in Barking and Dagenham, and a £250m contract to refurbish and build 11 schools in Camden, London.

The Government’s announcement of the outcome of its BSF review, due this week, is believed to have been delayed by technical hitches and cross departmental disagreements.

Eric Wright Group together with IT partner Northgate Managed Services are understood to be confident they will get the go-ahead to redevelop eight schools in the area.

David Lund, executive director for Children, Adults & Families Department said: “The Eric Wright Group and its partners have convinced us that it has the vision, determination and capacity to work with us to rebuild and refurbish all of our schools in a way that will make a significant difference to teaching, learning and the future prosperity of Blackpool.”

The first schools to be delivered under the BSF programme will be a new build at Highfield Humanities College together with the extensive remodelling of St Mary’s Catholic College. Work is expected to start this year.

The remaining schools across Blackpool will be delivered over a five-year programme which will see a new build at Palatine Sports College, Beacon High School and Highfurlong Special School as well as remodelled schools at Bispham High School, Collegiate, Montgomery and Park Special School.

Bids invited for £60m St Peter’s Square job

Developer Argent is inviting bids to build a 14-storey landmark building that forms part of the St Peter’s Square redevelopment in the heart of Manchester.

Argent is redeveloping the Elisabeth House site in joint venture with owner Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund and has given firms until 19 August to apply to see detailed plans. Tenders will be invited on the 12 October.

Architect Glenn Howells Architects has designed a 270,000 sq ft office building, which will be known as One St Peter’s Square when finished in two and a half years.

The building has designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating and will incorporate office floorplates of up to 22,500 sq ft.

At ground floor level it will have a mix of uses, with space for public exhibitions, and a big reception with panoramic views across the proposed redeveloped St Peter’s Square, refurbished Central Library and Town Hall extension.

The project team at One St Peter’s Square includes building services consultant Hoare Lea and structural engineers Tier.

The new building is a key feature in the planned £20m remodelling of Manchester’s St Peter’s Square. City centre chiefs hope to transform the landmark square by August 2014.

Plans include pedestrianising it, creating the largest public space in the city, and installing a monument to the Peterloo Massacre.

Further building enhancements, include the Odeon cinema site which will be demolished and rebuilt, and the 1960s Peterloo House to be rebuilt as modern offices. Benmore Developments plans to build a 250-bed fives hotel above the Theatre Royal to complete the restoration of St Peter’s Square.

websites

Many contractors look at a website as an unrelated expense from marketing. This is regrettable and the major reason why many websites under-perform in their sales potential. Having a website is one thing, but you do not want to scare away your potential clients. The Internet is still very much in its infancy and therefore our view of the internet is still developing. It’s been a slow process, but many contractors’ stance towards website development and marketing has begun to evolve.

Unfortunately, far too many contractors still don’t consider websites as a part of their marketing efforts. They’ll pour thousands of dollars into traditional forms of marketing but fail to properly plan and execute their website or invest in effective online marketing strategies. The beliefs that the only reason a contractor should have a website, is so clients can see that they are ‘legit’, or see some photos of work they’ve completed, is tremendously wrong thinking.

As you begin to put time, energy and money into your online presence it is important that you consider your website as part of your overall marketing plan. Instead of being viewed as just another expense, your website should be considered as a marketing endeavor worthy of being incorporated fully into the marketing budget. Contractors that take this view are setting themselves up to have a long-term presence on the Internet as well as lasting success.

leads

leads
Though I am completely against purchasing leads, there are many contractors out there that continue to use this method as a form of their marketing budget. This article is written, for contractors who decide to purchase leads. Be careful and follow some of the advice in this article.
Make sure you are 100% confident that the lead company you are dealing with has a fair return policy. Most lead companies have software in place, or verify the lead before they sell it to weed out any fake, or bogus leads. But even with these barriers in place, it is not unusual for one to slip through the cracks. If you receive a bogus lead, there is no reason why you shouldn’t get your money back. There should be a rock solid return policy in place. This includes, no contact, bad phone number, etc.

By Aaron O’Hanlon

EU to ban entry of illegal timber

New rules expected from July to outlaw importing timber chopped down illegally outside the EU

The European Parliament is expected to pass legislation in early July banning illegal timber from entering the EU market.

Currently it is not against the law to sell timber in the EU that was chopped down illegally in its country of origin. The European Parliament has now agreed on regulation that will require importers of timber products to conduct a due diligence process to ascertain the origins of the timber - although recycled products are exempt.

Other members of the supply chain will only need to know who they have bought or sold to so that if there is a case of allegedly illegal timber, the person who first placed it into the market can be identified.

22 June 2010 | By Stephen Kennett

The final vote in the European Parliament will be on 6 July, but this is unlikely to change the outcome. After this, member states will be given 27 months to implement the agreement in their national laws.

Rachel Butler, the head of sustainability at the Timber Trade Federation, said: “The Parliament put on the negotiating table some unworkable suggested amendments but ultimately it has always been clear from the start that one issue was the real point of debate – the inclusion of a prohibition.

“This has now been agreed and will only apply to the first placer and will mean that it is a criminal offence to place illegal timber on the EU market. However, the burden of proof will rest with the prosecution and illegality is defined by the country of harvest”.

Butler added that with lead times and forward planning, two years is not a long time. “As TTF has made due diligence mandatory, all members should be ready to meet this regulation.

“The TTF has always intended to become a monitoring organisation and will need to apply to the European Commission to be able to officially run a due diligence process. We believe our system is robust enough to meet the criteria set by the regulation.”

tradessupermarket.com is the no1 tools price comparison website,to find cheap tools/materials and anything else a tradesman could ever need.

Cheap vans along with the cheapest van hire/leasing.
We also have a fantastic compare skip prices section coming very soon.

We are confident that you can find the best price for tools, best price for materials on the market now.
We look forward to you visiting us soon.

product

Hi guys and girls ( tradesman )
Our products are now being uploaded onto the website, first companies on are screwfix, and DIY tools. hundred more to come so watch the site! and feel free to use.

Welcome to tradessupermarket.com - the only website dedicated to providing the very best value to all tradesmen.
tradessupermarket.com is “The Tool of the Trade” - a new and exciting price comparison site/ search engine/ service directory,
Built for the trade by the trade, comparing prices: Local. Fast. Direct. on all trade needs - from tools and materials, to work wear and vans.
Our directory based category is dedicated entirely to the services sector. This category ranges from skip hire and scaffolding, to accounting and many more.
tradessupermarket.com has been live since May 10th, and we are now in the process of uploading Product feeds and service companies into our site.
We are giving you the opportunity to advertise on the ultimate building site, and see how advertising with tradessupermarket.com could increase sales and save you money at the same time. Simple and easy to use, producing fast and focused results, tradessupermarket.com is carefully targeted directly at your customers.
To visit our site, simply follow the link below...
www.tradessupermarket.com

If you have any queries please contact us on:
01932 778 200

Welcome to tradessupermarket.com - the only website dedicated to providing the very best value to all tradesmen.
tradessupermarket.com is “The Tool of the Trade” - a new and exciting price comparison site/ search engine/ service directory,
Built for the trade by the trade, comparing prices: Local. Fast. Direct. on all trade needs - from tools and materials, to work wear and vans.
Our directory based category is dedicated entirely to the services sector. This category ranges from skip hire and scaffolding, to accounting and many more.
tradessupermarket.com has been live since May 10th, and we are now in the process of uploading Product feeds and service companies into our site.
We are giving you the opportunity to advertise on the ultimate building site, and see how advertising with tradessupermarket.com could increase sales and save you money at the same time. Simple and easy to use, producing fast and focused results, tradessupermarket.com is carefully targeted directly at your customers.
To visit our site, simply follow the link below...
www.tradessupermarket.com

If you have any queries please contact us on:
01932 778 200