Top 10 Essential Tools for DIY Beginners

Number 2 will surprise you!

2025 is only weeks, and you might be starting to think about New Years Resolutions or considering taking up something new like DIY maybe?

Allow us to whet your appetite with our top ten tools to get you started on your DIY journey.

Honorable Mentions

Before we start , we need to give an honorable mention to tool-bags, we couldn’t find a place for them in our top ten, but we think they deserve some recognition all the same. Organization is paramount when it comes to any DIY task and with the right tool-bag at your disposal you will start as you mean to go; organized and ready to take on the day.

10. Trowel

In at number ten is the trusty Trowel. Ideal for brick laying, or tiling you need a trowel. This particular Trowel is from our OX Tools range. The OX Pro Trowel is designed with a single piece steel construction for optimum strength and durability but with a balance amount of flexibility and pliability.

9. Phase Tester

Apart from having the best name of the tool on our list a phase tester is a must have if and when you decide to take on more electrifying tasks. A phase tester is great for identifying electrical currents and finding live wires. We recommend the Dargan 7” Phase Tester. With its convenient reach and durable design you can’t go wrong

8. Allen Key

Allen Keys come in at number eight on our list because of their uniquity. Whether it be bleeding a radiator or assembling some Swedish furniture having a set of Allen Keys will benefit your assembling task. But why have one Allen key, when you could have ten. When it comes to Allen keys there is no one size fits all, its might be best to have various sizes.

7. Step Ladder

A ladder at number seven? Insane you might say. And you’d be right but the next few entries were really competitive. There is not much to say about ladders, but when you do decide to become a DIY guru a ladder should be on your list of must haves. We’ll leave the measurements up to you, and you view our range of ladders right here.

6. Level

You have to stay level! A level works well with a lot of other tools on our list, especially our number ten item, the trowel. When you take on to do any DIY task being accurate is vital. Having a level on hand can ensure that whatever you might be building or paving is suitably level. Like with the Allen Keys there is no one size fits all when it comes to levels, some levels will be longer to accommodate larger tasks and some will be smaller for easier and quicker tasks. Be sure to view our spirit levels here.

5. Handsaw

Of course a saw would be the first to break our top five. The trusty saw is a great addition to any first time DIYers first foray into working with timber. Of course you can get Circular Saw that is battery powered, but for your first steps into DIY a hearty handsaw should suffice. You can view all of our cutting apparatus on our website right here.

4. Spanner

The Spanner places at number four on our list due to its multi-use function. We should also state that like most of the other items on our list there is no one size that will be suitable for every job. Spanners come in a range of sizes so be sure to pick the right one for the job. Not sure what to get, view our full range here.

3. Screwdriver

We’ve entered the top three now and there is no better entry to the top three than a screwdriver. A simple mix of orange juice and… wrong list sorry. Having a screwdriver close to hand will be essential for any DIY task you decide to take on. Sometimes the tip of a knife just won’t do (don’t worry we’ve all be there). From Philips Heads to Flatheads, it can be very intimidating looking at which screwdrivers suit the task. For cases just like that we recommend the Stanley 6 Way Screwdriver.

2. Measuring Tape

Number two on our list is Measuring Tape. Virtually essential for every task a novice DIYer and expert craftsman might undertake. For smaller jobs like measuring lengths of timber a ruler might just do the job, but when it comes to measuring larger distances a measuring tape will be your go to. We have tapes ranging from eight meters to 30 meters available to buy on site, you can view then right here!

1. Hammer

Was there ever any doubt? Of course the hammer would be at the top of list. What many to believe to be the first tool, it is still the most commonly used tool today. It has earned its place at the top of our list. Perfect for the most basic of DIY tasks like hanging a picture frame, but also vital in the biggest project like a kitchen renovation. The hammer is at the heart of DIY.


There you have it…

a list of the top ten tools you need to get you started on you DIY journey. If you think we’ve missed anything please let us know, and if you have any questions about DIY or starting your first DIY project leave them down below.

As always you view our full range of projects on our website and keep up to date with all our goings on by following us on our socials; Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!

Discover Blaklader Workwear: Quality You Can Trust

Getting to know Blaklader

Forged in the Swedish Heartlands, Blaklader has found its ways into the workshops of carpenters, onto building sites, into tough environments and through weld spatter and sparks.

Blaklader are hyper focused on quality and it is their driving force. So much so, that each pair of trousers comes with a thread guarantee, you can’t beat that. Blaklader don’t just focus on trousers, they offer jumpers, t-shirts, jackets and boots. Blaklader are a relatively new addition to our catalogue, so we would like to take this chance to introduce you to some of our hero products.

Let’s Talk Bottoms

1970 Striker Trouser

The 1970 Striker, apart from being a great name, are a great pair of trousers. They are crafted with two-way Stretch Twill that pairs the highest levels of comfort with durability. We can’t forget the flexibility of the 1970’s either. Did we mention the four-way stretch panels in the crotch, yoke (a yoke is not what you think it is, its the V-shape section at the back of the trouser, who would’ve know) and knees.

1558 Hi-Vis Stretch Trouser

There are some jobs out there that required you to be seen for your safety. The Blaklader 1558 Hi-Vis Light Stretch Trousers work trousers are perfect for that. Suited for situations that are demanding of flexibility and versatility all the while being incredibly visible. On your knees a lot? Don’t stress, there are reinforced knee compartments to give that extra bit of comfort while working on your knees. There are no ends to pockets either, with multiple functional pockets, nail pockets, and a folding rule pocket… could you need any more pockets?

1533 Advanced Hi-Vis Craftsman Trouser

What is described as the epitome of functionality and safety the 1533 Advanced Hi-Vis Craftsman Work Trouser, crafted with the the craftsperson in mind, all day comfort, long term durability and let’s not forget the high-visibility.

The 1533 series of trouser are the perfect amalgamation of protection and comfort thanks to their design and inclusion of CORDURA fabric reinforcements. The pre-bent knees provide increased flexibility during movement.

1750 Craftsman Trouser

By far the more popular trouser that Blaklader make the 1750 Craftsman Trouser compliments your work day providing immense mobility whilst providing incredible comfort. Worried that the jobs you might be doing will put the 1750’s through their paces? Don’t! The 1750’s as with all Blaklader Workwear comes with a lifetime guarantee on their stitching. Have a look as they put their stitching through its pace.

1720 Craftsman Trouser

On the look-out for high-quality work trousers with enough flexibility and durability , allowing you to go about your tasks with unparalleled degrees of movement? Then may I point you towards the last pair of Trousers in our Blaklader guide, the 1720 Craftsman. It has everything you would come to expect from a pair of workwear trousers, and has everything we have talked about thus far. At this point me writing this sentence is just an obligation to make the paragraph look the same length as the rest of the write-ups for the trousers.

But in all honesty, you can’t go wrong with whatever pair of trousers you pick. I’m wearing a pair writing this blog right now and I have not known comfort like it in quite some time.

Now, let’s talk Tops! (Jumpers and Jackets)

3340 Cotton Sweatshirt

Imagine a crew neck combining comfort, durability, and function all in one design. That’s what the Blaklader Crew neck can give you—the comfort and support absent from you life all wrapped up in the warm embrace of 100% soft cotton. Work was never this stylish.

3530 3D Logo Hoodies

Avatar really changed a lot when it came out in 2009; even our jumpers are 3D now. As with all of Blaklader’s products, comfort is practically ensured. But all is not what it seems. Hidden in this jumper is a subtle pocket to store tools on site or a phone whilst out for a run. There is even a hole to allow you to run your headphones up the jumper. Pretty cool stuff.

4743 Hybrid Soft Shell Jacket

No, this jacket doesn’t run on batteries in areas of fifty kilometers per hour or less, nor does it have a petrol tank. No, this jacket is a hybrid in its suitability for working conditions and for more social conditions. Kitted out with a quilted back and chest section and complimented with soft-shell sleeves, you really cannot go wrong with having this as your jacket of choice.

4866 Lightweight Rain Jacket

Rain? Never heard of it, what even is rain? If you know what rain is then this ‘rain’ jacket might be for you. It is light weight and is crafted with taped seams to allow waterproofing of up to 5,000mm (5 meters). The lightweight nature of the jackets ensures that movement is never compromised, even in the most moist of situations.

4770 Pile Fleece Jacket

You don’t see thumb holes in clothes that often; I think we should see more of that. Luckily, for me at least, Blaklader haven’t forgotten about thumbs or holes to put them in. Enter the 4770 Pile Fleece jacket, with the right amount of thumb holes (two) to fit the average person. Crafted with some serious conisderation in flexibility, but they didn’t skimp on the warmth aspect either. Perfect for jobs in the winter of walks in the summer the Pile Fleece Jacket has the best of both worlds.

Boots! Boots! Boots!

2458 Freelock Welding Boots

A boot that can withstand up to (and not exceeding) three hundred degrees, you say! Impossible!, I hear you say. Yeah, alright, I admit it; it almost seems to good to be true. But through the modern marvels of technology, chemistry, and physics (I’d imagine, I’m not too sure), Blaklader has done something incredible. With all of the safety features you come to expect from heat-retardant boots, the 2458 welding boots are just what you need.

2433 Retro Protective Outdoor Boots

Who says you can’t combine retro and safety into the perfect package? I didn’t, did you? Well, either way Blaklader took that personally and said, ‘Watch us.’. They’ve managed to cook up something spectacular, combining durability, strength, and good looks. A ‘seriously good protective’ boot with an aluminium tip to protect the toes—you’ll have all the protection you need for the toughest jobs.

2492 Leather Waterproof Boots

I wouldn’t have thought I’d be writing a sentence with the words’safety’ and ‘flexible penetration’ when we started this blog, but here we go. Built with the utmost safety in mind with a meticulously crafted flexible penetration midsole, graded to withstand the demands of 3 mm nails (PSI). Combining all this with a timeless leather design, you are on to a winner with this boot.

2443 Cradle Composite Boots

Let’s be honest with each other, can we be honest with each other. I’m running out of way to talk about Blaklader’s Boots. They’re all seriously good at protecting your feet on site. What makes these boots different is their metal-free design making them ideal for working in warehouses or in service jobs.

And much, much more

There are only so many items we can mention in this blog. There is a wide range of boots, jackets, trousers, jumpers, and t-shirts available on our site, and in a variety of different colours too. Be sure to hop on over to the website and have a proper look at the range.

Black Friday Deals You Can’t Miss

The biggest shopping day of the year is here. And we have some great deals for you as we head into the most festive time of the year

To celebrate the day, we have deals happening all week long, from Christmas decorations to cushions and duvets. You never know what you will be able to get.

Check out our list of deals below and make sure to keep an eye on our website, Facebook, and Instagram for more that might pop up throughout the week.

Deals for you

Be sure to have a look at all we have to offer this Christmas with our walkthrough of our very own Christmas Wonderland!

EEC Hardware at Christmas

They don’t call it the most wonderful time of the year for nothing. We at EEC put our heart and soul into transforming our massive floor space into a glorious Christmas Wonderland.

Have a look at the video above to see the transformation after it has been completed.

Keep your eyes peeled in the coming days as we reveal our Black Friday Line Up.

That’s it for this week short and sweet.

Christmas Gift Guide: Snickers Workwear Essentials

Where to start?

Snickers Workwear have an extensive collection of boots, trousers, hoodies, t-shirts, hat… you name it and they have it… for the most part! Snickers has always been an insanely popular section for us once we get to the gift giving season, there have been a few minor changes to the line-up, so we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to re-familiarize everyone with the range, introduce you to some new products and maybe, just maybe spark an idea for a gift this holiday season.

‘Some people wear the trousers, some trousers wear the people,
either way you’ll look great in Snickers’

Me

The best place to start our journey is with by far the most popular item in the Snickers range, the trousers. ‘Some people wear the trousers, some trousers wear the people, either way you’ll look great in Snickers’. Whether it’s loose fit or the tighter slim fit there are a wealth of options for everyone.

The Snickers 6241 Slim Fit Trousers have retained in renown among tradespeople across Ireland. The slim legged designed trousers are known for their immense durability and stretch fit and come with just the right amount of holster pockets that make them essential for everyday use. With pre-bent legs and four way stretch panels at the back, the 6241’s core focus is keeping you comfortable all day. They’re available in Black, Grey and Black, and Navy and Black

Enjoy the sound of all that, but don’t like the slimmer fit? That rough, sorry we can’t help you… Of course we are just joking, our fine friends over at Snickers have that base covered too. Their 6251 trouser packs all of the functionality of their 6241 brethren but into an overall looser package. It retains the four way stretch panels and knee protections that can be found in within the 6241’s. The 6251’s are available in all the same colours as the 6241’s, Black, Grey and Black, and Navy and Black, so there is plenty to choose from.

Let’s talk Tops!

We’ve talked enough about bottoms, its time we talk tops. Snickers has an immense variety of tops from tops that keep it causal, like their 2708 black and red polo tops. Perfect for when a day on site ends early and the gold course is calling.

Golfing not your thing, maybe a simple tee, like the 2590 logo tee. Each of these tees are designed with the same core principles as the trousers, to provide the utmost comfort throughout the day. The logo tee is great for simple tasks and allows for significant freedom in movement. It is available in Deep Blue, Lime, Grey and Warm Orange. They might also be a perfect stocking stuffer (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Jump(er), Jump(er), Jumper Round

There isn’t quite the chill in the air that you’d expect for November, but these jumpers are still a great gift any time of the year! So let’s get into them.

The Snickers 2845 Series designed with versatility at its core. The logo emblazoned in the centre of the jumper makes the jumper stand out. Did you know that the pocket on a jumper is called a kangaroo pouch? Me neither! The 2845 jumpers have that. On top of all that the fabric is incredibly soft and durable, perfect for keeping you warm. The similar 2894 series jumper has all of the bells and whistles of the 2845 series but with drawstrings. Looking for other colour options, don’t worry we’ve got that covered: Lime Green, Dark Navy, Deep Blue, Khaki Green, Warm Orange.

Jackets and Fleeces

For the rainy days, for cold days, for snowy days jackets and fleeces are your port of call.

Keep warm and keep seen with the Snickers 8035 High Vis Work Jackets. Coming with an ID-Card Holder and multiple pockets for storage with easy access. The Class 2 Visibility and the comfortable fit truly make this jacket standout. It’s not just available in orange either, you can get it in the standard yellow hi-vis.

Meet the Snickers 8058 Zip Fleece Hoodie, your go to for the rainiest and coldest of days. The fleece hoodie is comfortable and mad functional with the inclusion of flatlock seams, chin guard and inner placket.

And so much more…

This is just a taste of what we have to offer from Snickers this year. Be sure to checkout the entire range on our website, and if you have any questions don’t be afraid to drop us a message or a comment

Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree: A Seasonal Guide

We’re still at the start of the jolly season, and whilst some of you may still be on the come down from the spooky season, even more of you may have already committed to erecting the firs, real or artificial. Either way this weeks blog is focused on choosing the right tree for you and then deciding how you are going to decorate it. We really don’t have any time to lose so lets get into it.

Tree Picking

If you’ve seen Harry Potter then you know that the wand chooses the wizard, in the exact same way, the tree chooses it’s home. I think we would all agree that there is an innate magic that trees have that can make them feel as if they were always apart of your home, not just up for a few weeks. We would like to present to you a few trees, we’ll give you a brief description of each, but beyond that, it is up to you and the spirit of Christmas to heed the call of one of the trees.

The idea of a ‘White Christmas’ is one, as a child, I would always dream of. The ground blanketed in snow, fire blazing and nowhere else to go, the type of stuff you would see in the movies. It is rare that we actually get a white Christmas, but through the magic of Christmas , you never know what might happen. The most we can contribute to a potential white Christmas are our Sunndal Trees. From Everlands, these trees are stark white perfectly mimicking a snow washed setting.

I know there are some people out there that would hate the idea of snow, but who hasn’t had a good time with snow. Ok, ok I’m not going to try convince you to love snow, but all I’m saying is to give snow a go sometime, you won’t be disappointed. BUT, if you are so vehemently against snow, don’t worry because what we have next might just be calling out to you.

Now, I’m not sure if you know this but trees… trees are green (well a majority of them, don’t fact check me on that, I’m sure there are trees out there that aren’t green. That’s great, we love all trees of all colours…) We have green trees too is what I’m trying to say. Again, from Everlands, the green trees are perfect for adding a natural and traditional feel your Christmas decoration approach.

And look we know not every decision is green and white, so we have something unique to offer in that regard. Not quite white, not quite green, we’ll call it ‘snowy effect’. Yep, for those that want to walk in the middle of the road we have you sorted too. These trees offer the best of both worlds, with just the right amount of green to keep the traditional feel, mixed with the perfect amount of snow to get you in that jolly mood, the fine folks of, you guessed it Everlands have crafted some spectacular Snowy effect Trees.

Were there any trees that were calling out to you? No?, that’s okay, maybe you’d prefer to see them in person. Come on down and visit us here at EEC Hardware

Let’s talk Decorating

When we were talking about trees I compared them to wands from Harry Potter well prepare yourself because I’m about to make another Harry Potter analogy. Ready? So if trees are wands then consider decorating to be like choosing your house. The tree decorating, whether purposefully so or not establishes the entire theme for Christmas in your home.

The White Christmas Effect

We here at EEC Hardware recommend picking a colour and sticking to it. If you go with a white tree maybe consider other stronger, bolder colours like red to compliment it and draw the eye towards the tree. Or as we have done before, maybe mixing similar tones might great a more magical feel. By matching the cool tones of the tree’s paler complexion with some cool white lights, you’ll be able to create an authentic winter and Christmas feel. Pair all of that with some artificial snow-like tree skirts and you will be singing ‘Let It Snow’ before you know it.

The Traditional Feel

Last but not least, for the snowy effect trees you really are at the mercy of your own imagination. You can use the tips we’ve outlined above to mimic the white Christmas feel, the traditional feel, or if you’re feeling particularly naughty (don’t worry we’re not keeping any lists here) combine the two and make something truly unique. (If you do, please send pictures we’d love to see).

The Best of Both Worlds

For the more natural looking trees, we’d recommend matching them with natural tones, like oranges, bronzes and greens. Each of these tones work in harmony to intensify the natural and traditional Christmas feel. What about lighting it all up? Do me a favour close your eyes? (scratch that) Imagine a natural tree beaming with natural warm white that glows in the corner of the room, inviting you to curl up in-front of the fire. Sounds blissful, right? That could be you. With a suitable set of warm white or even vintage lights that traditional Christmas feel will go from ten to one hundred real fast.

One More Thing

Let’s get real for a second, ok. I’ll be the first to say it… lights they’re a hassle. I would like to use a stronger set of words to describe them, but have been ‘encouraged’ not too. Just the whole putting them on the tree, fixing them on the tree, taking them off the tree and dare I say the word ‘detangle’. Don’t get me started.

What if I told you that there was a solution to all of your problems… all of you light problems… all of your Christmas light problems. What if there was a tree with lights built into it, what if there was tree that meant light detangling would be virtually non-existent, What if….

Our fine friends over at Everlands have a it sorted. With their range of pre-lit trees say a hearty good-bye to detangling lights forevermore.

Always Decorate Responsibly

And with that you have a jumping off point for selecting a new tree, if you need one, how to decorate the tree once it is home and a potential solution to detangling lights. Thank you for reading and keep your eyes peeled our EEC Workwear Christmas Gift Guide coming soon.

EEC Christmas Decoration Guide

The Countdown is on (officially)!

Around these parts we like to say the C word, we say it a lot and we say it loud. We’re not afraid if people hear us say the C word. CHRISTMAS! We work hard on getting everything ready for Christmas and we want to share some of our favourite Christmas items with you.

Allow us to present to you the First Annual EEC Guide to Christmas at Christmas Time for Christmas 2024. Rolls right off the tongue.

Light it Up!

Lights, a staple of Christmas. We all have that one neighbor that will have their lights up and on November 1st. And if you’re thinking to yourself, I don’t have neighbors like that, then you might want to sit down, I have some bad news for you. You are that neighbor. Hey, someone has to go first and we thank you for your service. Once you are ready to light up for Christmas we’ll have you covered.

Allow us to walk you through some of our lights that we think could ignite a war between you and your neighbor like Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick in ‘Deck the Halls’.

5000 Multi-Action Cluster Brights

The Premier Cluster Lights are equipped with 5000 LED lights on a vintage gold and green wire. They are perfect for lighting up your house. With a built in timer the multi-action lights can be set to turn on and off at certain times. Worried about the weather? These lights are designed to withstand the Irish Christmas.

Multi-Coloured Shooting Star

We’ve been lucky enough this year to be able to view the Northern Lights not once, but twice in our skies. The multi-colored shooting star from Three Kings captures those same colors from those magical evenings and puts them in your home. We know we said you can put the star in your home, but hold on to your hats, because the star was crafter to work in in-door and outdoor settings. It truly is out of this world. If you’re looking for a warmer color tone to the light don’t worry because we have that too. Oh, and we have it in a cooler tone as well!

Light Vine

Lighting indoors for the festive period can a difficult task. But it all comes back to the old saying ‘less is more’. It only take once tiny alteration to make a massive change, don’t believe talk to water at ninety-nine degrees and water at one hundred degrees… In that same way adding lights to a space in your home can completely redefine the feel and atmosphere. The Eureka Light Vine is a perfect aid in doing just that.

Home Decorations

Wreath

Who doesn’t love a good wreath? We. Have. Tons of wreaths. We can’t show them all but we’ve picked it to be representative of our extensive collection. Whilst this wreath comes decorated we do have some available that can be decorated at home as a family activity or just to keep things minimalist.

Snow Globes

Snow Globes are small perfect way to bring the Christmas cheer. Each of our snow globes are grafted depicting different festive scenes. We have Santa driving a train as he gets ready to take flight. We have mother and baby reindeer taking shelter under a tree and so much more. These are perfect as decorations but also perfect as gifts.

Christmas Tree

We’ve talked about lights and we’ve talked about decorations now lets talk about about trees. From ten foot trees to tree arches, there are so many way the outdoors in. So let’s walk you through some of our tree selection.

Everland’s Monarch Pine range of Christmas Trees offer a beautiful gradient between snow covered fir and the iconic green pines of natural fir in an artificial package. Like the what your seeing but would rather it with out the snowy effect? Don’t worry we have those two. And the look just as good.

Already have a tree and looking for something different? Have you seen our arches? Perfectly crafted to complement any door way Everland Arches are a simple and effective way of adding some festive cheer into you home. Plus they can be decorated like a tree, attach bauble, lights and make it your own.

That’s a wrap! (Get it)

We hope you enjoyed this brief guide for some of our Christmas highlights. Keep your eyes peeled to our blog as we bring you some tips on how to decorate your tree, Christmas gift guides and maybe, just maybe, we’ll have the EEC Christmas movie must watch list.

Effective Tips for Preventing Rodent Infestations

It’s that time of year again, although you could argue it’s always that time year. Whether we like to admit it or not mouse and rat infestations are a serious possibility that we all have to face. So allow us to present to you a quick guide to identify signs of mice or rats in your home, to help prevent these pesky little buggers from crossing the threshold of your home and if they do how to deal with them. First things first, let’s chat about identifying if you do have a rodent problem.

Signs of Mice and Rats

You might find it hard to notice signs of mice or rats at home, because these pesky visitors are nocturnal (they only come out at night! like that one song), who knew!?

BUT, there are some clear and some subtle signs to keep an eye out for if you suspect that there maybe an unwanted tenants in your home.

Droppings are a strong indication that you may have a mouse or rat problem. For this next part you’re going to want to put on some gloves. Ready? If the droppings crumble, then it is safe to assume they are old. You might be wondering how will they crumble? Remember the gloves! Newer droppings will be moist.

Where there is a higher concentration of droppings, place a trap.

Urine trails, illuminated with UV light will provide a perfect place to drop a trap. Placing them on familiar trails is a guaranteed path to success. Gnaw and Scratch Marks are more indications that you have some active nocturnal residents. Mouse chew holes will be smaller and much more clean cut, where as holes rough around the edges may have been caused by larger rodents such as rats.

Pets, especially dogs can be very sensitive to the noise rodents make. So if you see or hear pets acting strangely in very specific areas of your home, be sure to investigate, they might be trying to tell you something.

Now that you know how to identify if you have a rat or mouse problem, what are you going to do about it? Read on and let’s find out.

Image of a mouse trap with a block of cheese in the foreground, blurred out background

Lethal vs Non-Lethal

When it come to pest control you have two main options. Lethal and Non Lethal. Lucky for you EEC Hardware stocks both lethal and non-lethal options.

Lethal would mean catching and killing the rodents. This can be done using ready baited traps such as The Big Cheese Rat Trap Ultra Power Twin Pack. These traps are extremely effective and are easy to set and dispose of. Have children or pets? Don’t worry these traps are designed for safe handling to minimize risk to pets and children.

Bait and Kill is another lethal option where the bait is tainted to poison the rodents. The Big Cheese Mouse and Rat Bait Station is your go to for that. Designed with an inspection window you can keep an eye on bait levels without having to open the trap. It’s easy to set up and we would recommend setting it up in areas with clear signs of rodent activity.

Non-lethal is a humane alternative for dealing with your pesky pest problem. The non-lethal approach focuses on preventative and deterrent measures rather than the catch and kill or bait and kill that the lethal method lends itself to.

Using Ultrasonic deterrent such as The Big Cheese Advanced Pest Repeller is your best way to say that these four legged fiends are not welcome in you humble abode. BUT, sometimes the call is coming from inside the house (let us know if you got the reference), and you need to catch those dastardly dwellers. Don’t worry we’ve got you covered with The Big Cheese Live Catch Mouse Trap . These traps are the perfect way to humanely catch and release any mice or rats that might be in your home.

That’s all folks!

Hopefully, with these few tips and guides you can work towards making your home just for you and not any ne’er-do-wells that might have snuck in throughout the winter.

If you have any questions or comments be sure to leave them below or reach out to us on Facebook and Instagram.

An Easy Guide On How To Install Acoustic Panelling To A Flat Wall

One of this year’s most popular household decorative additions to homes is Acoustic Paneling, It creates a stylish look and enhances visual appeal to any room at an affordable price, this paired with the simplistic nature of installing it’s no surprise that modern homes today are opting for these stylish panels.

Are you on the fence about purchasing one yourself? (why else would you be here sure) or have you bought acoustic panelling and want to save money by installing it yourself? (or to impress the kids, there’s no shame) EEC Hardware have an easy step by step process to ensure your acoustic panel is installed correctly!!

Checklist

Like most DIY ventures, you want to make sure you have all the required tools at your disposal to make the install a smooth process, Listed below is all you need.

Tape Measure – Used to measure specific measurements

Screwdriver – Used to screw in panel screws

Hand Saw – Used to cut panels to optimal shape for fitting

Panel Glue – Used to stick panels to the wall with ease

Ready To Go!!!

Now that you have all the tools needed to make the installation smooth, we are ready to go!!!

Step One

To start, we recommend measuring the vertical distance of the wall, mark the location of cut on the panel, apply a strip of masking tape along the area that you are going to cut, using your carpenter pencil strike a line across.

Cut the panel to the correct height using your saw, for the best results use a good quality sharp blade, make sure to remove the masking tape after cutting.

Step Two

If slats on panel are loose after cutting, secure slats by inserting 15mm long screws through back of panel, through the felt and into the slats ensuring that screw heads are flush with back face of felt backing. Check the panel fit on the wall. Next, apply a panel adhesive to the back of the panel. One standard bottle should be enough to install 3 panels.

Working from left to right, carefully offer the panel up to the wall, ensuring that the panel side where the slat projects past the backing is to the left hand side, and the open side where the slat is set back is to right hand side, ready to accept next panel. Lead with the bottom edge, then locate fully up into position. Press panel at top, middle and bottom locations to ensure adhesive is pressed up against the wall.

Repeat this process with the remaining full width panels, when you come to the end of the wall, it may be necessary to cut the last panel to the correct, repeat this process for the rest of the space you want to fill!

Conclusion

Now you have your amazing Acoustic Panel set up and looking gorgeous you can sit back and revel in your hard work.

All the products listed in this blog are available on our website and are also available in our store!

Thank you so much for reading and if you need to know anything else DIY or Hardware related our blog is full of tips and tricks to save you a penny!

The How to Guide – How To Take Care Of A Houseplant

Introduction

Did you get your hands on a new houseplant? Maybe it was gifted to you and now the responsibility’s of keeping a living breathing thing alive is now in your hands!!!

Scary proposition I know but do not fear, EEC Hardware knows the In’s and Out’s of botanical care and we are more than happy to share our knowledge to you and to help keep that plant alive just that tad bit longer!

Checklist

So now that you have your houseplant you are going to need resources to keep it looking flourished and more importantly to keep it alive.

Below is a checklist of products we here at EEC Hardware suggest you round up to make you and your plants lives easier

Pots – A pot is like giving a new home to your plant and a new space to breathe.

Fertiliser – Adding fresh fertiliser to your plant is essentially feeding the plant keeping it alive for a longer period of time.

Gloves – When handling fertiliser its best to wear a good pair of gloves as transporting gloves can be a messy job.

Ready To Go!!!

Now that you are well prepared to look after your plant we will bring you through a step by step process to take care and how to let the plant climatise with some tips and tricks to make your life easier.

Guidelines To Your New Plant

  • First thing you should do when you have your new plant is repot it, take your new pot and line it with Fertiliser, with this fill it up to the halfway point and create a little round hole in the middle of the soil and place the house plant in the new fertiliser, gently pat around the plant with the fertilizer and make sure its covering the root of the plant.
  • One key thing to note when placing your plant is whether or not it’s getting enough and sufficient sunlight, best place to place your plant would be at a window sill or close to a window, if this is not doable do not fret, we have a solution.
  • If you can’t lay your plant near a window you can place it in any cool corner in your house but keep in mind that it will need to be watered a lot more often than one placed near a window feeding of direct sunlight.
  • Key thing to note is to avoid moving your plant if possible as moving your plant after it climatize. as it can go into a state of shock and die before it gets a chance to reacclimatize.
  • Water your plant once a day if possible and avoid over watering the plant, water around the plant and let it soak into the soil, continue until soil is mushy and wet.

Conclusion

This has been EEC Hardwares Tips and Tricks Guideline on how to maintain a house plant and keep it in the best of conditions.

All equipment mentioned in this blog post are available Online and in our Store.

Thank you so much for using our blog post to help you, stay tuned for more blog posts on our site!