Whether it is a sandstone window surround, stone letter box or a stone light, our dedicated and skilled stonemasons can craft any item to give your project a unique feel. Have a look though our gallery for examples of our previous projects. Contact Us for More Information The Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Alex White TD launched Ireland's National Postcode System, Eircode, on 13th July 2015. An Eircode is a smart location postcode for all Irish addresses. other countries, where postcodes define clusters or groups of addresses, an Eircode will identify an individual address – rural or urban – and help show exactly where it is located. means every residential address and business will receive a unique Eircode.During the launch phase, all residents and businesses will receive a letter notifying them of the Eircode for their address. Addresses will not be changing, an Eircode will simply be added to current addresses.The addresses displayed on the Eircode finder and the letters that were sent out are postal addresses– these were chosen to ensure accurate and efficient delivery of the Eircode notification letters and may differ slightly to the address that you use.
You can continue to use the address as you currently do and simply add the Eircode on a separate line below the county.There are numerous benefits of introducing Eircode into Ireland. Not only will it make the delivery of goods and services to households easier, but in the case of a medical emergency, being able to accurately and quickly identify an address can save valuable minutes. Community Outreach Programme uses networks of community and voluntary organisations to provide information. More on the Outreach Programme This video informs Irish householders that they will be receiving a letter in the post with their Eircode number. Minister White launches, Eircode, new postcode system for Ireland on 13th July 2015. More on the Eircode launchA drunken yob who left a young mum and her daughter terrified by sticking his manhood through their letterbox narrowly avoided a jail sentence yesterday. Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Mariusz Wojcik had left a pub in a drunken state and ended up at a flat in the town’s Well Street.
Although 45-year-old Wojcik didn’t know the people who lived there, he began to kick the front door, reports the Paisley Express. A woman who was inside with her child and her niece became so alarmed that she decided to call the cops. When her boyfriend arrived, he made his way past Wojcik and into the flat and used his weight to barricade the door, amid fears the bare-chested thug would be able to get inside. Moments later, the woman and her daughter, who can’t be named for legal reasons, saw Wojcik shove his penis through the letterbox. Depute fiscal Pamela Flynn said when police reached the scene, they found him still standing in the tenement close, heavily intoxicated. Wojcik, of Brown Street, Paisley, lashed out as officers moved in to arrest him. In court, he admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, likely to cause fear and alarm to others, by repeatedly kicking the door of the flat, shouting at the occupants and placing his penis through the letterbox. He also pled guilty to resisting arrest and hindering and obstructing police at the incident in June last year.
The court was told the Crown accepted there was no sexual motivation to his actions. Defence agent David Nicholson said his client had been so drunk at the time he had no recollection of the events. He added: “He accepted from the outset that this must have been extremely distressing for those inside and is deeply ashamed of his conduct and apologises. "He did not know those involved. It was a random, spontaneous and impulsive act.” Sheriff Seith Ireland described the incident as “disgraceful behaviour” that could easily warrant a prison sentence. However, after hearing the accused had only recently been made the subject of a Community Payback Order at Glasgow Sheriff Court, he added that he felt “constrained” to allow that to take some effect. Sheriff Ireland ordered Wojcik to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and told him he would be supervised by social workers for a year. He added: “Those inside this flat must have been terrified. This was quite atrocious conduct.
“It is very worrying when so much alcohol is taken that you lost control and became a menace to people at that address, with a young child inside.”Controlled ventilation helps reduce condensation and damp, by letting fresh air in when needed. However, draughts are uncontrolled: they let in too much cold air and waste too much heat. To draught-proof your home you should block up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. Saving warm air means you’ll use less energy to heat your home, so you'll save money as well as making your home snug and pleasant. Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you £25 to £35 per year. Draught-free homes are comfortable at lower temperatures – so you may be able to turn down your thermostat saving even more on your energy bills. Draughts happen where there are unwanted gaps in the construction of your home, and where openings are left uncovered. You’ll find draughts at any accidental gap in your home that leads outside, such as:
You should block most of these – but be careful in areas that need good ventilation, such as: If you’re happy carrying out simple DIY tasks, draught-proofing will be no problem. However, some homes, especially older homes with single glazing, will be more difficult to draught-proof. Professional draught-proofing is likely to save more energy because the installer will know exactly the right materials to use and where to use them. There are plenty of DIY stores that sell draught-proofing materials, but look for draught-proofing with a Kitemark – this shows that the product is made to a good standard. British Standard Institution accredited products have a 20-year life when correctly installed and maintained. For windows that open, buy draught-proofing strips to stick around the window frame and fill the gap between the window and the frame. There are two types: Self-adhesive foam strips – cheap, and easy to install, but may not last long. Metal or plastic strips with brushes or wipers attached – long-lasting, but cost a little more.
Make sure the strip is the right size to fill the gap in your window. If the strip is too big it will get crushed and you may not be able to close the window. If it's too small there will still be a gap. For sliding sash windows, foam strips do not work well. It’s best to fit brush strips or consult a professional. For windows that don't open, use a silicone sealant. Draught-proofing outside doors can save a lot of heat and will only cost you a few pounds. There are four main things to consider. Keyhole – buy a purpose-made cover that drops a metal disc over the keyhole. Letterbox – use a letterbox flap or brush, but remember to measure your letterbox before you buy. Gap at the bottom – use a brush or hinged flap draught excluder. Gaps around the edges – fit foam, brush or wiper strips like those used for windows. Inside doors need draught-proofing if they lead to a room you don’t normally heat, such as your spare room or kitchen. Keep those doors closed to stop the cold air from moving into the rest of the house.
If there is a gap at the bottom of the door, block it with a draught excluder – you can make one stuffed with used plastic bags or bits of spare material. Inside doors between two heated rooms don’t need draught-proofing, as you don’t lose energy when warm air circulates. If you don’t use your fireplace, your chimney is probably a source of unnecessary draughts. There are two main ways to draught-proof a chimney: Fit a cap over the chimney pot – this might be better done by a professional; buy a chimney draught excluder – devices that help stop draughts and heat loss through the chimney, usually fitted within the chimney or around the fireplace. Remember to remove the draught-proofing if you decide to light a fire! Floorboards and skirting boards You can block cracks by squirting filler into the gaps. Floorboards and skirting boards often contract, expand or move slightly with everyday use, so you should use a filler that can tolerate movement – these are usually silicone-based.
Look for the following: Fillers come in different colours, and for indoor and outdoor use. They block gaps permanently so be careful when you apply them – wipe off any excess with a damp cloth before it dries. Fillers may break down over time, but can easily be reapplied. Check whether you also need to insulate between the skirting board and the floor. Hot air rises and gets lost into the cold space in your loft or attic, so it’s worth blocking off draughts around your loft hatch. Use strip insulation, as you would on a door. You can fill small gaps around pipework with silicone fillers, similar to the fillers used for skirting boards and floorboards. Fill larger gaps with expanding polyurethane foam. This is sprayed into the gap, expands as it dries, and sets hard. Old fan outlets may need to be filled with bricks or concrete blocks and sealed from both the inside and outside. You can fill in cracks using cements or hard-setting fillers, but if it’s a large crack there may be something wrong with your wall.