Home and Garden Advice From The Experts
pickapro.ie in the media
Looking for a good reliable tradesmen? Eddie Hobb's magazine "You & Your Money" (October 2007) suggest taking a look at pickapro.ie as a "particularly user-focused with photo galleries to display contractors' work, customer stories and an 'ask the expert' section with advice on everything from architecture to landscaping and carpentry to interior design." Couldn't have said it better ourselves!
And find out why the Sunday Business Post called us "The One-Stop Shop For Top Contractors". See full article>>
Make Your Garden Feature
It's been a wonderful, warm Summer so far - and long may it last. I've really enjoyed sitting in the garden and even adding a few bedding plants here and there to brighten it up. I have to admit that it does still look a little safe - you know, grass in the middle, shrubs and flowers around the edge. I've been thinking it's time to try something a little more inspired. See full article>>
Damp Proofing Advice
Is that damp or just a stain? Will the house fall down? Or is it safe to ignore it? Damp and damp related problems strike fear into the heart of most homeowners. The temptation is to just close the door on the problem and hope it goes away, but that may not always be the best plan! We have asked damp proofing specialist Ty Fleming of AAA Advanced Damp Proofing to explain a little more about damp problems, why they occur and what can be done to fix them. See full article>>
Choosing The Right Contractor
Choosing the right contractor is the most important factor in determining the success or failure of your home or garden improvement project. At Pickapro.ie we've interviewed hundreds of Dubliners about their experience in choosing a home improvement professional. Here are some of the tips that we've picked up from homeowners who have made a successful match. See full article>>
Building An Extension In Ireland
They say space is the final frontier. Well, it is for many Irish homeowners anyway. For many of us, the solution lies in extending what we have. So, we've asked three experienced Dublin builders from pickapro.ie to give us the scoop on planning and building a house extension. See full article>>
10 Great Interior Design Tips
Decorating a room or home is a scary business! It means big decisions about floors, window coverings, sofas. All expensive items that represent a major commitment. Get them wrong and they're very hard to hide.
Is it any wonder that so many of us end up playing it safe with neutral colours. Perfectly fine, but maybe not exactly what we wanted. So, we've summoned the help of experienced Dublin interior designers to give us a little courage for the trip. Here's their advice... See full article>>
Great Gardens For Children and Adults
Do houses actually shrink over the Winter or does it just feel that way? There is of course a fantastic relief valve, more commonly known as the garden but it's often neglected at this time of the year. Like adults, children aren't enticed by a muddy strip of lawn and some drippy brown trees. So we've asked experienced Dublin landscapers from pickapro.ie to give us some inspiration for a garden that will appeal to both children and adults year round. See full article>>
Windows - How To Choose
It's hard to think of any other single aspect of your house that has to work harder than your windows. Windows provide security, insulation, light, ventilation, shield you from wind and rain, and allow you to enter and exit in an emergency Practicalities aside, they give your house character and make that all important first impression. See full article>>
Cleaner Carpets, Upholstery
It's a hard life for carpets! We literally walk all over them. So naturally, they will need a little tender loving care now and then. The good news is that with the right care, your carpets and upholstery can retain their youth for many, many years. See full article>>
Tree Stump, Shrub Removal
Nearly every garden has one of these unwanted tenants - a tree or shrub which was planted years ago and now either looks woody or blocks all the light. The only solution is to bite the bullet and cut down that tree or shrub. Next, you'd like to replant the area or landscape it, but first that stump has to go. See full article>>
Timber Flooring Essentials
A wooden floor must be one of the best home improvements any home owner can make. Yes, it adds immensely to the value of the house, but that's not the biggest benefit. They just look and feel so good. A timber floor is always stylish, and with a couple of rugs over it, is also incredibly cosy. Because of the range of colours in wood from purple to red to browns, timber will match just about every colour scheme. It's easy to clean, doesn't collect dust, and will probably outlast you. See full article>>
Building A Sunroom Or Conservatory
We don't get too many sunny days in Ireland, so it goes without saying that you don't want to miss the sun when it does shine. We have asked our experts for some advice on adding a sunroom or conservatory to your house. See full article>>
Attic Conversions
If you'd like some additional space, attic conversions are a great option. The beauty of attic conversions is that you are converting "dead space" without any impact on your garden or the rest of your house and at a lower cost than an extension. See full article>>
Plumbers Tips For Energy Efficiency
There's a lot of us living with the joys and challenges of old fashioned plumbing. It's probably functional but it certainly isn't efficient. With fuel and oil costing plenty and new grants now available from Sustainable Energy Ireland to upgrade the efficiency of your home, it's worth looking at what can be done to upgrade the heating system in an older house. We asked several experienced plumbers what plumbing upgrades will give the best bang for your buck. See full article>>
Awake To Bird Song In Your Garden
Most of us don't know our blue tits from our chaffinches, but we still stop to watch the antics of our local friendly wildlife. They add colour and endless fascination to our gardens. pickapro.ie asks garden designers and landscapers Will Seaman and John Kiernan of Merton Design about how to entice birds into our gardens. See full article>>
Preparing Your Garden For Winter
Some people believe that when the weather starts getting colder and the fallen leafs have been raked up, it's time to put away the gardening tools and wait until next spring to work on their garden again. Wrong! Winter may seem like the end of the road for awhile, but there are a few things left to do to protect your garden during the harsh months ahead and prepare it for the following spring. So before you go inside and shut the door on your garden for the season,make sure you or an experienced landscaping company puts your garden to bed. A little preparation can make a huge difference to your garden in the spring. See full article>>
Removing Carpet Stains
A glass of red wine, a cup of coffee, oil, paint and blood - the threats to your nice cream carpet are endless. No matter how careful we are, accidents can still happen. So what to do? Follow our experts emergency stain removal tips for carpets. See full article>>
Sell Your House For More
Decorating your house to sell is a completely different proposition from interior design for living. We've asked the interior designers from pickapro.ie, the website of Dublin home improvement professionals to tell us how to turn your property into a "must have" for buyers without breaking the bank. See full article>>
Decks For Irish Gardens
There's something intrinsically enjoyable about sitting on a wooden deck. It's back to nature - like a tree house for adults! www.pickapro.ie, the website of home and garden professionals have asked the professionals for advice on building the perfect deck. See full article>>
Ground Cover Basics
When it comes to gardens, an important element of the foundation, is what's literally underneath your feet - ground cover including soil, grass, bark, chippings and stone. We've asked landscaping supplies specialists to give us practical advice on buying these very important basics. See full article>>
9 Happy Ways To Cut Electricity Bills
This week, we're continuing on the theme of how to cut your household bills, with the focus on electricity bills. More specifically, on ways to cut your bills that will not cause any suffering what so ever. There's plenty of draconian notions out there like timing your shower with an egg timer (or even sharing it with someone) but these didn't make the cut. Everything on this page is low hanging fruit. It's about small changes that can add up to reasonable savings, but that won't hurt your quality of life in any way. In fact they might even improve it. See full article>>
Roof Maintenance
One of the most common, costly and often times ignored household maintenance projects is the roof over your head. Unless you've had water dripping on your head, it's easy to put it on the back burner until it comes up and really take a bite out of you and your bank balance. Read our quick guide to preventative maintenance for roofs to find out what you need to protect your roof and house. See full article>>
Condensation Solutions For Your House
Condensation in a house introduces a host of unpleasant problems - steamy windows, ceiling mould, wet spots and mildew. Not really the accessories that will enhance your home or your health. However, there is an effective, straightforward solution to condensation problems - involving a simple ventilation device. Read on to find out more... See full article>>
Carpentry Services
It's not uncommon for a homeowner to call us at pickapro and ask what type of tradesperson would do this or that type of home improvement. Often times those hard to categorise projects fall under the job skills of carpenters. This week we talked to our resident carpenters at pickapro.ie, to find what's in a days work for them. See full article>>
Garden Design Ideas
With the garden being the top priority for 2007 according to our survey, we talked to landscaper Dermot Strong about tips for homeowners planning to improve their garden this year. See full article>>
Home Security Tips
Would you like to get a text message on your phone if someone has entered your house? Or even be able to see who it is before you call the guards? Find out what's new in home security for the professionals. See full article>>
Soundproofing Your Home
With more and more Irish people living in high density apartments and houses, many of us are be feeling the pain of thin party walls. The long term solution may be higher standards in building but that won't help us now. Find out more sound proofing and how it can drastically improve your quality of life. See full article>>
Sustainable Designs Reduces Running Costs
Since the 1 January 2009, Regulations now require new houses and extensions to achieve certain levels of insulation and air tightness in the building fabric, and the reduction of CO2 emissions through the use of efficient building services, incorporating a certain amount of renewable energy technology. Architect, Simon Hoe RIBA explains how good design can improve energy rating.
How To Choose An Architect
Dublin architects Eugene Raeside and Simon Hoe talk about working with an architect. How to choose an architect? How much will it cost and when are the fees paid? What information should the client bring to the design process? What happens next? See full article>>
How To Choose A Carpenter
Dublin carpenter Steve Jones gives us the benefit of his carpentry experience. What are the most important questions to ask before hiring a carpenter? What exactly should the quotation include? When should carpenters be paid? See full article>>
Choosing An Interior Designer
Interior designers Karen Tennant and Mary Taylor talk to us about interior design. How to choose an interior designer? What are the benefits? How much will it cost? And much more.. See full article>>
How To Choose A Tiler
We've asked Dublin tiler Fran Ronan to give us the benefit of his tiling experience. First of all - choosing a tiler. What are the most important questions to ask him or her? When should tilers be paid? What are the latest tiling trends? And finally, what are Frans's personal tiling likes and dislikes. See full article>>
How To Choose A Landscaper
Dublin landscapers give us the benefit of their landscaping experience. How to choose a landscaper? Is there a best time of year to hire a landscaping company in Dublin? What's popular in Dublin gardens now? And there's the all important top landscaping tips. See full article>>
How To Choose A Garden Designer
We've asked garden designer, Sean Keighran from Creative Garden Design to talk to us about garden design. First of all, why is a design useful? Next - how to choose a garden designer. What are the right questions to ask a prospective designer? How much do garden designs cost? What questions will the designer ask? What information should the homeowner provide? What happens after the design process? What are Sean's personal design likes and dislikes And finally, Sean's top garden design tips See full article>>
Garden Maintenance Tips
We've asked garden landscapers, Leslie Walpole and John Byrne to talk to us about garden maintenance. First of all - how to choose a gardener. What are the right questions to ask? Next, how often should a gardener visit? Have they any tips to make garden maintenance easier. And how should we plan the garden in the first place to make maintenance easier in the long run. See full article>>
Low Energy Extension Design
Architect Simon Hoe outlines the stages through which a low energy, sustainable house extension is designed from the initial meeting to planning application. See full article>>
Garden Lighting Ideas
We've asked garden designer, Sean Keighran from Creative Garden Design to talk to us about garden lighting. Sean told his top garden lighting design tips? He also told us how to cut running costs. See full article>>
Building Garden Walls
We've asked Dublin landscaper Ross Farrell to give some tips about building or improving a garden wall. First of all - budget. We ask what a homeowner can expect for their money. Next - choosing a garden wall contractor. What are the most important questions to ask him or her? When should payment be made? And finally, what are Ross's personal garden wall likes and dislikes. See full article>>
The Ice Stick
With the rising cost of fuel, we all want to get most heat for the least cost. And that means our interest in natural sources of energy has been growing. Many of us have heard about geothermal energy where energy from the ground outside your house is literally used to heat your house. However this is really only an option for those with a good deal of space outside the house. But there is a new option now available which is suitable for any home or commercial premise with even a small garden or roof space. We have asked Hotfoot, the sole Irish distributors of this innovative new heating solution, The Ice Stick to tell us about it. See full article>>
Made To Measure Curtains
Few home decorating decisions can cause as much soul searching as curtains and blinds! It's a long term investment which can make or break your room. We ask the experts for advice on choosing the right curtains and blinds. See full article>>
