For about 2 years I've promised to kids to get them a swing. So eventually this year I managed to get the will to do it!
After much zipping around the internet I managed to find a place to deliver to Ireland. I purchased pretty heavy duty stuff with chains, rubber seats, solid slide etc.

So I then went on the web and came up with a plan which I redrew 20 times later! :)

The cost of the items below came to around 320 euro delivered
4m slide
2 swing sets
1 climbing block set
1 set of steering wheel, telescope
3 sets of support handles.
Trapeze set


I then had to purchase the timber. I wasn't sure if I'd go with round or square poles and the thickness of these, but I visited a few places who sold these frames and took a few measurements.
In the end I went with square for most but round for the upright.
The main sq supports are 130mm square.
I purchased a few boxes of 150mm coach screws and these are pigs to put in, each one hand wrenched into place!

But after the guts of 3 days to cut it and piece it we delivered it to the kids and they are delighted.

In total something around 600-650 all in.
To buy it with the quality of goods and timber you'd do well to get it for 1500 euro.

Now to paint it!!!!

Garage clean up and painting the floor

The bigger the garage the more you store they say... well its true. I spent 9 hours sorting out the shelves and floor and sweeping, and it still looks a mess, I know! :)

Then my buddy was painting his, so I borrowed the floor sander and also go some paint.

Cleared out the garage of anything I could bump into, spend the next 3 hours with the sander and raised a ton of dust!! My 4 and 6 year old were hoover engineers for the day! :)

Mix was 2.5 litres paint, 2 litres of thinners and 1/4 litre of hardener, mix it up and roll it on. It took around 2 hours to complete the first coat.
Then on Saturday I went and did the final coat, the same as above but without the thinners.

It has left a really good solid floor where water pools and can easily be wiped off.

Tarmac done

I got the tarmac finally finished after a 9 years battle with Tegral to replace my slates which are a complete disgrace. Slates are fading and down to 2mm in thickness in spots but they have it all their own way so small fish have no chance against them.

Got Moran Tarmacadam who did a top job.

Michael O'Malley services did the ground works and drainage.

Roller door

If the budget fits I am looking at getting an insulated roller door with automation. Pricing around so far I am looking at 700 euro supply on to 1050 euro supply and fit.

Anyone use an company for theirs?

Shed

After 3 years of thinking I finally got the plans done and the planning in for the shed in May.

Then in the last few weeks I got going. Sean did the raft with me one Tuesday and we had it in in about 4 hours. 12m of concrete went into it.

I got a lad I know from home to do the blocks and they have so far spent 3 days there and then last Saturday working with Dad and Sean, Liam and myself put in the ceiling joists.

We spent a couple of hours on Sunday levelling the roof.

New lawnmower

Well, long time since I posted on here!!

A lot has happened in both garden, house, work and family!

The garden is getting there, we had our first crop of vegtables last season.

All the lawn is sown, the wall is complete and the site has a shape at last!

My brother is making me 82 concrete stakes to put in along the railway line! :)

Any of course most important we had a new arrival in the house, he is 12 weeks old today!

And a new lawnmower arriving today also! :) Took me 3hrs 20 mins non stop to cut the lawn! Mental really when you think of it. So I had to buy one! :)

Will post up pics when I take a few more! :)

New lawnmower

Well, long time since I posted on here!!

A lot has happened in both garden, house, work and family!

The garden is getting there, we had our first crop of vegtables last season.

All the lawn is sown, the wall is complete and the site has a shape at last!

My brother is making me 82 concrete stakes to put in along the railway line! :)

Any of course most important we had a new arrival in the house, he is 12 weeks old today!

And a new lawnmower arriving today also! :) Took me 3hrs 20 mins non stop to cut the lawn! Mental really when you think of it. So I had to buy one! :)

Will post up pics when I take a few more! :)

Paving & Garden Wall

Currently looking at getting some work done at the back of the house as the front border is near finished. I am waiting for Michael and Sean to come back to me to put in a load of soil in the corner near the road and we will then finish off the panels to the railway line.

My next plan WAS to get the rest of the lawn done but with the amount of rain we have had over the last week there really is little hope of me getting that done now.

So what I have earmarked to look (and do if its not too mental dear) is to built a 3ft high and probably 40ft long, not sure on the lenght yet but again depending on price I will create a "flower box" wall all along the back. What I am look at is something like this in the pictures below. I am still trying to source where the stone/paving was got but no joy so far.

I suspect it COULD be either tobermore or Archeson so I have enquired about prices. But as I said this could be well shot down if it turns out mental pricey bt it would look well I think.

The paving is more a long term thing, until the shed is done I really can't do all 3 sides of the house but I could probably do along the railway side, along the deck and to the back of the house in line with the back door. Again this is pricing stage but would add a wee bit of character to the back of the house.

Looking at various sites there are loads of good ideas out there which might be of interest.

Roadstone - http://www.roadstone.ie/home_garden/range_products.aspx?id=1

Tobermore - http://www.tobermore.co.uk/siteFiles/resources/pdf/domesticbrochure.pdf

Archeson - http://www.acheson-glover.com/

I will put up a post when I get more details and prices.

DIY Conservatories

I have been looking into self build conservatories lately. DIY conservatories are pretty much that - conservatories that you build yourself, or have your own professional builder put up. In this case like everything in the house we will probably do this ourselves.

The beauty in the self build conservatory is the money that you save by buying the product directly from the manufacturer, and not having to pay a middleman. After all, most of us already have either the skills, or for others will have a local builder that we go to.

These guys provide DIY conservatories in various designs, from the simple lean to (or sun lounger) conservatory, to the more elegant Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian and Gabled ended. Or you can even combine the styles to create your own bespoke conservatory. The most popular material is uPVC, which has many benefits over timber and aluminium for home conservatories. There have been many advances in uPVC and you can now get it in a wide range of colours (not just white) and woodgrain to help it blend in with your existing home.

From my own research, I would recommend buying directly from a DIY conservatory specialist. They are geared up for these sort of projects and will provided me with a free conservatory quote. They also said they would provide support, both online and over the phone, during the build. There is also a finance option but you should not settle for a warranty less than 10 years.

Steam Train

Was out on the deck this morning reading the paper andI heard the "chooo" of the steam train that passed last evening. 

Never seen one bar last nite and was luck to get it this time!!!!

Video is only from my phone but is ok.

Some advertising :)

Said I had better give our own company a push on here especially with the downturn, who knows someone might be interested in some Estimating or Financial software for their construction company. We are specific currently to the UK and Ireland markets but this will broaden over time so if anyone outside of this area want to look at it no problems.

We have had enquiries from Sweden and Greece also which we will look into. Also Canada and the USA have expressed an interest.

The links are below:

http://www.constructionestimatingsoftware.ie/

http://www.cmssoftwaresystems.com/

Thanks :)