Advice & Guides
Hire, buying and running it properly: trailers and towing, tools, plant, vehicles, storage, removals, clearance and the trades. Plain answers, UK law included.
Damp Treatment Options Compared
Can a Tradesperson Ask for a Deposit Before Work?
Yes, a tradesperson can ask for a deposit before starting work, but Citizens Advice says paying everything up front is always inadvisable.
What You Can Hire to Treat Damp, and When to Call Someone
Rising Damp, Penetrating Damp and Condensation Told Apart
Lawn Mower Types Compared
Lawn mowers fall into five broad categories - cylinder, rotary, hover, ride-on and robotic - and the right choice depends on lawn size, terrain, the finish required and, for trade users, the safety…
Do You Need a Written Contract With a Tradesperson?
You are not legally required to have a written contract with a tradesperson, but Citizens Advice strongly recommends getting one for any medium or large job. A contract does not need to be in legal…
Does Your Tradesperson Need Insurance?
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement for most tradespeople in the UK, but it is widely considered essential protection for you and for them before any work starts on your home.
Pitched Roof Materials Compared
The four main covering materials for a pitched roof in the UK are natural slate, clay tiles, concrete tiles and fibre-cement slate. Each performs differently in terms of lifespan, structural load,…
How Many Quotes Should You Get From a Tradesperson?
Getting at least three quotes before hiring a tradesperson is the standard, widely accepted practice across the UK home improvement sector. Three quotes give you enough data to gauge a fair market…
Does Your Tradesperson Need to Be VAT Registered?
No - a UK tradesperson does not have to be VAT registered unless their taxable turnover exceeds the current HMRC threshold of £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period. A sole trader, partnership or…
Questions to Ask a Tradesperson Before You Hire
Before hiring any local tradesperson in the UK, there are a set of practical questions every homeowner should ask - covering insurance, qualifications, references and paperwork - that separate a…
Handyman or Tradesman: Which Do You Need?
A handyman suits small, mixed and non-regulated jobs around the home, while a certified tradesman is required whenever the work is legally regulated - such as gas work, electrical installation or…
Specs and comparisons
Check the numbers before you hire or buy, then see who near you has one.
1014 product fact sheets
Weights, sizes, power and payloads for the trailers, plant, tools and vans UK firms hire and sell.
259 makes
Who builds what, where they are from and which models they are known for.
Size guides
Skips, storage units, containers and vans: the dimensions and what fits in each.
Side-by-side comparisons
Two models or sizes, every shared figure lined up and the differences spelled out.
Popular comparisons