Jock-of-all-Trades

O'Higgins / T ÓhUIGINN TEOHardware / Builders Provider, Shantalla

2012-01-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Rahoon Rd, Shantalla
phone (091) 522 411
fax (091) 522 261

O'Higgins in Shantalla are one of Galway's long-standing hardware shops. Knowledgeable staff who understand the trades, and sound customer service make them another of my favourite local businesses.

Open Mon - Fri, 8:30 - 5pm
Sat: 8am - 2pm.
Closed for lunch 1-2pm.

Stocking timber sheeting, flooring, heating, plumbing, sanitary ware, hardware, paints and DIY supplies

The shop is located just near the top of Shantalla Rd, while the wood-yard (2) is a little further up in Rahoon Rd: part of the premises is now used as a second-hand furniture store by Galway Simon.

View O'Higgins Hardware and Timber in a larger map

Mowing big lawns - have fun and be safe!

2011-09-24T06:09:00.001-07:00

The ride-on mower owned by one of my customers makes mowing their lawn a breeze.

Don't forget the ear-muffs and safety glasses though.

How to remove mirror screws

2011-09-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Mirrors are often attached to the wall using "mirror screws".

These are like regular screws, but with a chrome cap over the top, so they look classier.

The cap is attached to the screw with a small threaded screw of its own, which is fastened into the main screw.

To remove the screw, you need to remove the cap.

To remove the cap, press a large piece of Blu-Tack (or any reusable adhesive) onto the it, and then twist anti-clockwise.

Once the cap has unscrewed, you can remove the regular screw with a flat-head screwdriver.

The most organic of organic weed killers

2011-07-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

The most organic of organic weed killers is boiling water:

Simply boil the kettle, and pour the water directly onto the weed, taking care not to splash your prize flowers or yourself.

Especially recommended for nettles, dock leaves and dandelions. Results are almost instantaneous.

What to do if there water is coming from the ceiling

2010-12-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

26 December 2010:

You may have a burst pipe ...

1 Turn off the electricity at the mains.
2 Turn off water at the main valve under the kitchen sink.
3 Call a plumber.

CT Electric - Electrical Wholesalers

2010-06-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Sean Mulvoy Business Park,
Sean Mulvoy Rd
phone (091)745 300

Open Mon-Sat, until 5pm.

CT Electric are another of my favourite local suppliers.

They're electrical wholesalers - but open to the public too, and have a massive array of products at very competitive prices, with helpful, knowledgeable staff and parking at the door.

Their range includes cables, switches, fuse-boards, MCBs, RCDs, sockets, single and three phase materials, bulbs - a whole range of specialist electrical supplies.

The shop is located on the hill half way down Sean Mulvoy Rd, and best approached from the Moneenageshia / Cemetery end as right hand turns aren't allowed. It's at the far end of the buildings in the complex.

View CT Electric, Electrical Wholesalers in a larger map

Removing old screws that are covered in paint

2010-05-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

1 May 2010

Sometimes I need to remove a screw that's been in place for a while, and has been covered in paint.

This can be a bit difficult.

But removing the paint out of the grooves in the head of the screw first (eg by scratching it out with a flathead screwdriver gently tapped with a hammer) gives better grip on the screw, so makes it easier to take out.

House-foundations

2010-03-11T05:21:00.000-08:00

11 March 2010

This week, instead of a tip, I decided to share a photograph from a job I worked on a while ago.

This is a raft foundation, showing the "red carpet" radon barrier and criss-cross re-inforced steel. It's at the stage of waiting for a concrete pour.

The section in the foreground is shallower, because it will become a staircase.

Galway's inner city hardware storeJ O'Toole and Sons

2010-03-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

13 Rosemary Avenue
phone (091) 56 40 03

Located just off the top of Eyre Square, this is the only general hardware shop left in the inner-city.

Jackie stocks a wide range of hardware and DIY supplies. He knows what he's talking about, and has sold me some of my favourite power tools

Some people think that the shop-name is just a clever pun. But no, it's really his name. Drop by and ask him, if you don't believe me.

View J O'Toole and Sons, Light Hardware, Galway in a larger map

2010-02-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Silver Cleaning

Tip of the week - 1 Feb 2010:

Toothpaste is a great substitute for silver polish.

Use an old toothbrush to rub a bit of toothpaste onto your silverware, rings, etc especially if they have indentations or hard to reach places.

Rinse them off under warm running water, and leave them to dry in the air.

2010-01-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

Test your smoke alarm

24 Jan 2010:

Don't stand on a chair to test a smoke alarm.

Use a broom-handle to reach up and press the test-button. Don't take the risk of breaking a limb!

If the alarm doesn't make a loud beep-beep-beep noise when you test it, then it's not working properly.

It could need a new battery ... replace the battery.

If that doesn't work, there must be a problem.

Call me!

Test it regularly!

2010-01-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Plumbing. Electrical. Carpentry. Painting. Etc.

You break it, I fix it.

or

You buy it. Your kids break it. I fix it (I think kids are great!)

Either way, call me, Kevin, on (087) 77 33 805

2009-12-29T11:59:00.000-08:00

Handy Kev's tip, 24 Dec 2009:

Ho, ho ho: Ask Santa for a handy-man for Christmas - and make sure he has a beard!

Seriously folks - Merry Christmas, and we'll see you next year!

2009-01-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

Peter Walsh Electrical

Update: Jan 2012
Peter is no longer in Forster St, and thanks everyone for their last 23 years of custom. He's looking for a new retail premises: hopefully he'll have some more news soon.

13 Forster St
(091) 568-168

Located in Forster St, just of Eyre Square, Peter runs one of my favourite electrical shops. He carries a wide range of appliances, large and small including power adaptors for visitors from a wide variety of countries, washing machines, washer-dryers, cookers, ovens, hobs, fridge freezers, kettles, toasters, irons, heaters, batteries, light bulbs and light shades, and all manner of electrical DIY supplies.

Open Mon- Sat

Closed for lunch 1- 1:45pm.

View Peter Walsh Electrical, Galway in a larger map

Local handy-man businesses in Galway

2009-01-24T16:02:00.000-08:00

Use local businesses:

People often think that inner-city hardware or electrical shops are more expensive, or carry a smaller range. I've found that isn't always true, at least not in Galway.

Certainly some of the smaller shops don't have the space to display 17 different models of washing machine, or every type of nail ever invented. But they are run by people who know what is available, and have the contacts to order items and get them delivered quickly.

My favourite local suppliers include:

Peter Walsh Electrical
J (Jackie) O'Toole & Sons Light Hardware
O'Higgins Builders Merchants
CT Electrics
Tripart
DPL

(more details coming soon)

2009-01-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

Advice for Tenants:

If some thing in your rental property is broken, and you want to pay to get it fixed, then call me.

If you want to change something significant (eg install an electrical socket, wallpaper a room in a different colour or pattern, change a lock) in your rented house, flat or apartment, then you need to get your permission from your landlord or property manager first - even if you want to pay for the job yourself.

If you want to change something that isn't significant (eg paint a room the same colour, assemble kitset furniture, change the side that your fridge door opens from) in yourrented house, flat or apartment, AND you want to pay for the job yourself, then call me.

If you want something fixed or changed, and you want the landlord to pay, then you must call them first. I do regular work for several property managers in Galway city, and they will only pay for work that they have agreed to in advance. If I do it, and they haven't approved it first, then they won't pay.

Some general good advice:

Keep a list of all the items that were in the property when you moved in. Make the list the very first day, before any of your things arrive.
If the condition of the property isn't perfect, take photographs. Even better, take a video and upload it to YouTube, and send a link to the property manager - they won't be able to argue about the date that way.
Always read the power bill the day you arrive, and make sure the reading is passed on to the power company.

Remember: you don't have to stay with ESB anymore, you can get electricity from other companies like Bord Gáis or Airtricity. But do make sure you find out which company has been supplying electricity so that the move-in-day reading goes to the right place.
If things break, and it's not fair wear-and-tear, then replace them or fix them ASAP. It's better to do small jobs individually, than to get a large bill when you move out.

2009-01-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

"Kevin, you're the handiest handy-man I've ever met"
Clare - Assistant Manager, GalwayCityPubs.com

"Kevin is great, he assembled my new garden shed, and stained it too. And he left the place clean and tidy."
Terry, Bohermore

2008-12-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Handy Kev's tip, 15 Dec 2009:

Some mains-wired smoke alarms have batteries too

A lady called me because her smoke alarm was beeping with "chirrp-ing" kind of noise.

Solution: change the battery (9 volt).

How: the battery compartment is right inside the alarm, on some household models it's behind where mains electrical wiring is connected to the alarm.

If that doesn't work, here are some other things to check:

Have there been any changes to the electrical system in the building: sometimes, work done elsewhere can disrupt things. But no, there hadn't been.
Dust it: (blowing into the alarm with a can of compressed air is good), to remove any stray particles that might be confusing it.

2008-12-15T04:11:00.000-08:00

Some Photos of Handy Kev's work

	This is the House that Jock Built Working with a friend, Kevin was involved in rebuilding this small cottage into a three-bedroom home.

	House painting, Sept 2009 Driving the cherry-picker was easy. The hard bit was finding a week of fine weather to do the job!

	"Jock in a Frock" Kevin in a formal kilt. He doesn't (usually) do handy-man jobs dressed like this!

2008-12-01T03:23:00.000-08:00

About Me:

Scotsman, musician, sound-man, and

handyman extraordinaire!

Now based in Galway city, I've worked here as a handy-man for the last ten years, and developed a wide network of contacts in the building, maintenance, music and hospitality trades.

2008-11-29T16:03:00.000-08:00

Want to get in touch?

Call me +353 (087) 77 33 805.

Or leave a message at the bottom of this page.

2008-02-01T14:04:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer:

Work carried out by Jock-of-all-Trades will be observe all required standards, regulations and laws, and will be fit-for-purpose and of a quality agreed with the customer.

Advice given on Jock-of-all-Trades.com is general, and cannot take account of individual circumstances, including but not limited to location, construction method and regulations, durability and weather-resistance required. No warranty is given or implied about the suitability of advice for specific situations. Jock-of-all-Trades is not liable for consequences of implementing advice given here, or for any losses incurred or benefits not incurred because of advice given here.

Services provided by Jock-of-all-Trades

2008-01-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

These are just some of the things I do - if the task you need isn't listed call me anyway, I love variety:

electrics: change fuses, repair electrics, new plugs/switches, repair washing machines, fix cookers, change lightbulbs,
plumbing: clear blocked pipes and drains, change washers, toilets, sinks, baths
general maintenance, lawnmowing (your mower), fix lawnmowers
painting and paperhanging/ decorating /wallpapering
assemble flat-pack furniture (God bless Ikea!)
building: bricklaying, blocklaying, fences, walls, doors, floors, tiling, laying carpet and lino, windows, hinges, changing locks,
hang pictures, curtain rails,
fix furniture (tables, chairs, stools - including bar stools!)

2008-01-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

Areas covered:Galway city centre, Woodquay, Prospect Hill, Bohermore, College Rd,Lough Attalia, Claddagh, The West, Shantalla, Newcastle,

... oranywhere around Galway if you can provide transport.

2008-01-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

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