With an almost unlimited range of materials, colours, designs and textures to choose from, as well as their versatility, tiles are one of the most popular materials used when decorating walls and floors.  Tiles also have many benefits when being used around the home.  Tiles provide excellent insulation and do not give off toxic fumes when being used around a fireplace.  Tiles also repel moisture, resist fading and are easy to clean which is why they are ideal for tiling a kitchen and tiling a bathroom.

As previously mentioned, tiles have different properties and qualities and depending on where they are being used.  If you are using tiles on the floor, these will need to be able to withstand weight and have a durable finish.  Wall tiles can be thinner and have more decorative finishes. 

Ceramic wall tiles are coated with a layer of glaze that makes them durable, waterproof and quite easy to cut.  They are available in different styles and shapes.

Ceramic floor tiles will be larger and thicker than wall tiles to allow them to withstand furniture and foot traffic.  As with wall tiles, floor tiles are available in different styles and shapes.  Make sure that you choose non-slip tiles when tiling a bathroom floor and other areas where the floor is likely to become wet.

Mosaic tiles are, in effect, small versions of standard ceramic tiles and are available on mesh panels to save time and make it easier for them to be laid.  Due to their size and flexibility, mosaic tiles are ideal for tiling difficult curved areas such as a shower. 

There is a very wide range of tiles to choose from depending on your style, budget and requirements.   Here at Trades Supermarket, we have a wide range of tiles and accessories to suit your needs.  You can search, compare and buy tiles from 100’s of different merchants

Once you have chosen your tiles, you can come along to our Trade Secrets area and get helpful tile advice and tips from one of our experts as well as being to watch our step-by-step guide on how to tile a wall

Protecting the valuable assets of any business is crucial to success, never more so than with your employees.  It is your employees’ skills and commitment that keep the company operating and it is the legal obligation and moral duty for the employer to protect them from hazards at work.

It is illegal to expose an employee to hazards that may be harmful to their well-being.  The employer’s responsibility is to protect employees recognising that, although a job may not seem dangerous, there may still be hazards associated with it.  The penalty for allowing harm to your workers is very high for the company as a whole and personally to the responsible individual.  Adequately protecting your workers is, and remains, a key commitment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can play a strong part in this.  It is essential that companies first consider ways of improving the working environment before PPE is deployed.  However, many organisations find that the most effective solution, to overcome workplace hazards, is to use Personal Protective Equipment designated to each employee to ensure that they are adequately protected.

PPE has never before been so technically advanced or as intensively tested.  Factors such as sizing, compatibility with other equipment, maintenance and training-in-use are the key considerations in the correct deployment of PPE but these are often overlooked.

Price is often a major factor when selecting PPE equipment but this should not be the case.  Performance, product life, usability, compatibility and wearer fit are the essential elements.  If you overlook these important factors, the consequences could be devastating.

Trades Supermarket has a wide range of Personal Protective Equipment, that you can compare and buy, from a range of various merchants covering all well known brands.

The exciting thing about building garden decking is its immediacy.  You may find it necessary to mix a small amount of concrete for the footings but, apart from that, you can simply float the decking over an existing garden with all its problems.  You may have an old concrete patio that you have not got the energy to remove, this is where decking is ideal.  If you want to give your garden a swift makeover, take advantage of a splendid view or simply expand your living space, decking is the answer.

When planning your decking, walk around your garden and consider your requirements.  How do you want to use it ? Do you want it positioned in full sun or in a shaded area ? Will it be for entertaining or an area for the children to play ? Take into consideration the style of your house and its setting.  Do you want your decking to continue the theme of your house or do you want it to make a separate statement ?

Once you have established what you want to build, where it will go and the style, you will need to work out the actual design, of your decking, in more detail.  This will include the shape, height, steps and possibly railings etc.  You will also need to work out whether the posts will need to be set in concrete.

It is advisable to use the best wood that you can afford.  There are different types of decking available and this is something that you will need to look into in order to decide what will work best for you and your project.

We have a range of ‘how to’ videos in our Trade Secrets area including one on how to build decking and all of your tools and materials can be purchased through Trades Supermarket where you can search and compare prices from 100’s different merchants.

The team at Trades Supermarket have been busy, as usual, fine tuning the look of the website and all of its new features which we are pleased to say are attracting new users daily and our selection of DIY tools is growing every day!  We are confident that we offer a unique service and experience which keeps people coming back to the site for all of their DIY needs.  With our brand becoming more known, we know that the next step was to start to promote the website and embark on an advertising campaign.

After much discussion, and Tommy’s knowledge, Trades Supermarket is excited to announce the launch of our advertising campaign.  We will be commencing with a radio advert which is due to start broadcasting on 21^st May 2012.   We have picked a radio station that we feel will target our intended audience.

Tommy Walsh has recorded a catchy advert which will be broadcast on Talk Sport London.  We had many different ideas and, after much tweaking, have got the finished piece.  Tommy talks about how we have over 1 million products and 100’s of different merchants that we currently have advertising with us.  This number grows daily as well as our growing library of ‘How To’ videos and our ‘Ask an Expert’ forums.  We are very excited about this new stage of our journey so please listen out for it, we are sure you will like it.

This is just the beginning of our advertising campaign and we are already working on the next phase.  Please visit our blog page regularly to keep up to date with news and developments.

Water is a very vital resource and now is the time to safeguard our supply and protect our interests as well as the environment.  One of the ways that we can reduce the need for mains water is to harvest rainwater.  This process involves collecting rainwater that falls onto a roof, storing it and then pumping it to the point of use when it is required.

By harvesting rainwater, a constant supply of water can be maintained whatever the weather.  This takes the pressure off of drains and limits the potential for flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.  During dryer times, it stores plentiful supplies of water.

Harvested rainwater can be used for a number of things in and around the home such as :

Toilet Flushing

Irrigation and Landscape watering

Cooling and Sprinkler Systems

Swimming Pools

Vehicle Washing

Domestic and Commercial Laundry

There are different systems available on the market to suit the type of property and the requirements. Smaller systems are suitable for garden use such as outdoor taps, hose pipes and irrigation systems where more advanced systems can be used for both inside and outside purpose to include toilet flushing and laundry use.  By investing in one of these systems, not only will you be helping the environment, you will also make significant savings to your household bills.

Trades Supermarket has a range of water irrigation systems to compare and buy.