Add To Your Home With An Extension

Throughout the UK, homeowners intent on selling their home for a profit are spending their money on home improvements in a bid to increase the value of the property. Real estate agents advise against this practice because most renovations make little difference. For example, installing new floorboards will do nothing in terms of increasing your home’s value. Coming up with new and interesting décor is a risk because there is always the chance that interested parties will not share your taste. On the other hand, an extension such as a sunroom or conservatory can significantly increase the value of your home.

Yet you must plan well in advance to avoid the problems that inevitably show up when creating something as large as an extension. For example, planning permission and building permits are often not sought and this is a major mistake. Although new regulations came into force back in August 2008 which stated that extensions are permitted development work, you still have to satisfy a raft of conditions. For example, the extension cannot take up more than 50% of the original land that surrounds the property and it cannot be higher than the tallest part of the house. These are pretty basic rules and regulations but there are far more complicated ones. Therefore, you have to learn all about the restraints you face before planning the extension.

The best option is to find an experienced architect who can help you circumnavigate any potential planning permission hurdles. On top of this, the architect will also help you make the most of the space, light and design of the extension. Remember, once the extension is completed, there is no turning back unless you have thousands of pounds to spare. A badly designed extension will not only be wasted money, it could even reduce the value of your home. If the whole extension building process is too complex for you to handle, why not sell the home with the planning permission consent? This will add some value to the property and you won’t have to spend money creating it.

If you decide to go ahead with the project, consult at least three different architects before choosing one. There could be a major discrepancy in their quotes and one may have a better vision for the extension than all the rest. As well as this, asking several architects for their assistance helps you get a clearer picture of what you want. Ensure that there are penalties built into your contract with a contractor for delays in the building process. This way, you won’t lose out if a company turns out to be less efficient than advertised. Finally, avoid asking friends for advice on this matter even if they have had an extension built. They are not experts but will try to give ‘expert’ advice. By all means, ask them if the architect and contractor they used were up to scratch but that’s it.

Building an extension can be a profitable addition to your home when it’s done correctly. Make sure you go through the proper channels to ensure that this is the case. 

Create The Perfect Entrance With A New Composite Door

We all like our home to look prim and proper. Hundreds and even thousands of pounds are spent on home improvements to make our castle look like a palace. However, we still have a propensity to neglect the exterior of our home. A number of homes may look like Versailles Palace on the inside but resemble a slum from the outside. Aside from ensuring that high quality paint is used and double glazing windows are installed, what else can one do to improve the external appearance of their home? How about installing composite doors on the front and back of your home?

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, there are few better choices than composite doors. There are literally billions of choices in terms of design. In fact, some websites claim to have more than 100 billion options! While this may be hyperbole on their part, there is no doubt that your array of choices are virtually limitless. Unlike UPVC doors, you can choose a design/colour scheme that will not be found anywhere else in the world. With UPVC doors, you will have neighbours with the same kind of design!

But there are many more reasons why you are better off choosing a composite door to provide the perfect entrance into your home. For a start, the level of maintenance required to keep it in great shape is minimal. An industry standard composite door can last for more than 30 years, even if you spend little or no time maintaining it! The materials used in composite doors don’t require sanding or painting. In fact, the surface of a composite door is specifically designed to be as easy to clean as possible. All you need to do is give it a quick wipe with a cloth to ensure it stays presentable. Unlike their wooden counterparts, composite doors will never warp or crack when faced with harsh weather conditions.

Your castle should be impregnable and composite doors are the modern equivalent of a portcullis. The rock hard polyurethane core of these doors is almost impossible to bypass. A standard composite door is among the thickest and heaviest doors on the market. Criminals simply cannot penetrate the heavy door or multi-lock security system.

On top of everything else, composite doors save you money on your energy bills. They are essentially the door equivalent of double glazed windows and have low ‘U’ ratings which depend on the manufacturer. The materials used plus the thickness ensures that little heat escapes your home. With winter fast approaching, this is a welcome benefit.

If you’re in need of a new door, don’t waste your time and money by choosing any other type. A composite door offers everything you need and more. You can be the envy of your neighbourhood with classy designs, never having to maintain the door with time-consuming measures such as sanding and painting, always being secure against thieves and saving money on your energy bill. Make sure that a composite door is on your shopping list this Christmas.

Staying Warm This Winter With Quality Windows

We have been pretty fortunate to avoid cold weather up until this point but the last few days are showing signs that the UK is finally starting to head towards winter. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to get in some high quality double glazing windows to protect your home against the inevitable cold. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the unseasonable warmth we have been fortunate to have had in the last few months. The previous two winters were among the coldest in the last 40 years and there is every chance that a freezing December and January are on the horizon.

This means you need to be prepared to invest in some top quality double glazing. But what am I looking for? First of all, bear in mind that all double glazing was not created equal. For a start, what is contained between the sheets of glass can make all the difference. Conventional windows have air between the glass. Although there is nothing wrong with this, inert gas is a much better option. Krypton and Argon are examples of inert gases which are heavier than air and have a lower conductivity than air. This means that windows with inert gases between the sheets of glass have a higher insulating value which ultimately ensures that more heat stays in the home.

Even the spacers in a double glazed window are extremely important. A spacer bar can be found around the edge of the windows to provide separation between the sheets of glass. A surprising amount of heat is lost through the edges of windows and the right spacer can prevent this from happening. Originally, spacers were made with aluminum which effectively conducts heat and cold. However, it is now possible to purchase spacers which are made from less conductive materials. A spacer made from high quality material will also hold down moisture on the inside of the window.

When searching for high quality double glazing that will keep the cold away, it’s also important to look for low-emissivity (low-E) windows. These have a layer of metal oxide covering their surface which prevents heat from escaping while allowing sunlight to come into the room. As a result, the temperature of the interior window remains high thus ensuring a low level of condensation. It is also possible to purchase special low-E windows that prevent sunlight from coming in and damaging furniture but in the UK, we are certainly more interested in allowing sunlight into our home!

For the best level of energy efficiency, you need to have the spacers made from the correct material, inert gas between the panes of glass and low-E windows. Last winter, we had temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius in some parts of the UK. We will need to keep the heating on for most of the next few months. However, heating fuel is very expensive. With poor quality windows, most of the heat will escape so you will still feel cold and have a massive energy bill to boot. Prevent this with high quality windows for winter.

What Do Your Home Colours Say About You?

It is amazing that we have managed to create so many different variations of colour from just three primary colours: Red, blue and yellow. Combinations of any two or all three lead to the creation of every other colour in existence. As a result, homeowners have a virtually limitless choice when it comes to adding colour to their décor. It is said that a certain colour scheme in your home gives a revealing insight into your personality. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most common colour schemes and what they say about you.

Red

This has always been a traditionally fiery colour. People with a passion for red in the home are vigorous, extroverted, confident and aggressive. Those who love red are uncomplicated and prefer to do something now rather than wait their turn. These individuals don’t know about their shortcomings but they do have an enviable appetite for life.

Blue

This colour is the opposite of red. Those who prefer to use blue in the home are generally calm, caring and patient. Such individuals are known for their wisdom and character and also for being dedicated to doing the right thing. Lovers of blue may actually have inner turmoil that is hard to spot under a tranquil exterior.

Purple

If you have a penchant for this colour, it is likely that you wish to be seen as an individual. Those who love purple tend to be extremely temperamental but also exceptionally artistic. It is known as a royal colour so those who favour it are likely to enjoy life in positions of advancement.

Yellow

This is a colour associated with joy and imagination. It is a bright, vibrant colour and those who prefer to use it in the home are likely to be of similar character. Those who love yellow tend to be extremely conscientious and are deeply aware of their own high mental capacity.

White

This is a colour that has always been linked with innocence and purity. If you love seeing white in the home and are of a certain age, it may be an indication that you are attempting to recapture your youth or else you have a desire for perfection. Alternatively, a preference for white could indicate a desire for simplicity.

Green

This is a colour that symbolizes a person’s desire for peace and is an indication of someone who is an idealist and filled with hope. Those who like green in the home are sociable people who are always willing to help others. This attitude may see them get exploited by less scrupulous people however.

Black

If you enjoy having black in your home, it means that you’re someone who enjoys giving off an air of mystery. Such people often have hidden depths and dreams which are shared with no one.

Of course, if you have a preference for a certain colour, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will follow the above character traits. However, researchers have found that there is more than a ring of truth in the assertion that a person’s favourite colour speaks volume about who they are. 

Completing Your Home’s Outlook With New Windows

Once you’re happy that the building you’ve moved into is now your home after significant interior decorating, it’s time to move outside and make your house looking welcoming to visitors and to you when you come home from work. You should add paint to the exterior walls and clean the driveway if you have one. This will certainly add to the aesthetics of your home. But this is still insufficient if the windows are old and rotten because this can ruin the entire look of the home. You need to install new windows for a variety of reasons, not least because it will remove the ugliness of the old windows. New double glazed windows will also save energy, add value to your home and keep it more secure.

If you fancy installing the windows yourself, you’re in for quite a surprise. This is an extremely difficult task that should only be attempted by professionals. It will probably take around 6 hours to fit a single downstairs window with each one costing several hundred pounds. And this is only if you know what you’re doing. The process begins by measuring the existing window frame to ensure that the right size window is cut. As you can imagine, a simple mistake during the measurement stage will be a complete disaster. If you try to DIY, you could be left with an expensive window and nowhere to put it.

The old sash needs to be removed from the window frame. This can only be achieved if the interior wooden stops are removed along with the parting beads. You’ll also need to take of the jamb liners, prepare the frame and take off the old sash weights before preparing for insulation. It’s recommended that you use polyurethane foam rather than fibreglass because it is better at blocking air. Holes have to be drilled in the area around the window so that the foam can be sprayed in. It will harden but this could take several hours. You are then required to caulk the opening, install the window, fasten, shim, caulk again, prime and paint.

If this sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is! Make an error at any time during the process and all your hard work will be undone. This is why you need a professional to install your window because an expert will have performed this task on hundreds of occasions. Are you really willing to test your DIY skills on something as expensive as a window? A professional installer make cost several thousand pounds but at least you’ll get a high quality result.

If you have old windows and they are spoiling the overall appearance of your home, it’s time to get them changed to give your house a new outlook. What you don’t want to do is DIY because this option is fraught with danger. As you can see above, fitting a window is a precise process and should only be performed by someone with many years experience in the field.