Archive for the ‘Home Improvements’ Category

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What do You Need to Consider when Planning Your New Conservatory?

Friday, October 21st, 2011

Making the decision to get a new Conservatory is a very exciting moment. You may have run out of space in your house and decided to expand, or perhaps you have just always loved them and can finally get one of your very own. Once the decision is made though, it is time to start thinking about what you want… and more importantly, what you need.

Location

For some homes, there may be little choice in where you put your new conservatory. If you have a narrow back garden and no front garden then you have no choice. But if you have ample space in which to put it, then there is just one thing that should decide where it goes: the sun. Generally the sun rises in the north east and sets in the north west in the summer, then rises in the south east and sets in the south west in the winter, always with a trajectory that sweeps south.

In the UK the sun spends the majority of its time in the sky shining ‘northish’ from the south, so in order to take best advantage of the light; your conservatory should face south. However, if you prefer to have maximum light in the morning, then you should position it to the east and the opposite if you like to catch all the evening light you can.

Other location factors that need to be considered include:

  • Do you have the appropriate planning permissions? – Some companies, including Ideal Windows and conservatories, can deal with this for you.
  • Subsidence – Is the ground underneath and around where you plan to build your conservatory sound?
  • Will your neighbours approve? Do you need them to approve?

Design

The sun should be a factor in what conservatory designs you opt for too, as you can decide to have a roof that is all glass, or one that is mostly covered by proper roofing, or somewhere in between, depending on your preference.

You also need to consider factors such as:

  • What style will work with your house/neighbourhood? – There may be local heritage laws to consider.
  • Will summer temperatures in your area make living in the conservatory unbearable? How can you remedy this with design?
  • What will you use your conservatory for? Shape, size and layout should all be decided by this.

Before you select a conservatory off a shelf or out of a hat, make sure that you think long and hard about where to put it and what it needs to bring to your life.

Is there anything you hadn’t considered?

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5 Great Home Improvement Blogs to Spark your Imagination

Friday, October 21st, 2011

5 Great Home Improvement Blogs to Spark your Imagination

One thing is for sure, every home could be improved.

The nesting instincts that every home owner has, leads us all to seek out new ways to make our houses smarter, more efficient, prettier, bigger, more comfortable and generally better. This is so that our families and friends enjoy being there more, so that we are ultimately more comfortable there and also, on the exterior, so that people passing can see that we look after our house and ourselves. Keeping up appearances inside and out you might say.

While you may have a ton of home improvement ideas, there are always better and more knowledgeable people out there who will be able to spark the perfect idea in your head. So where can you get these ideas? Home improvement blogs of course (the clue was in the title!

Here are 5 of the best home improvement blogs for the UK that will offer you practical advice, tips and information on a wide range of home improvement topics:

Love Home – We know you do!

The Love Home blog is an online resource for information from the team behind programs such as ‘Homes Under the Hammer’, ‘DIY SOS’ and ‘Escape to the Country’. Their blog and the whole site in general, is a great resource for inspirational ideas, lovely images of new interior features, fabrics and decorative items.

UK Energy Saving Blog

As you might expect, this blog is all about helping you save money by making your home more green and more energy efficient. They introduce you to new low energy products and best value Double Glazing Prices, explain how a wood burning stove can change your life and generally act as a great source of inspiration.

Delight by Design

This blog is chock-a-block with fantastic interior design ideas that are certain to have you running for the fabric store to turn your new ideas into a reality. It is a creative outlet for an American designer whose goal is to help inject style into homes around the world. Great ideas, complimented by great ideas.

Ultimate Handyman

There are quite a few YouTube channels just like this but the Ultimate Handyman is a good example of a blog where you can find excellent video guides on how to approach and complete a number of DIY tasks. He tackles central heating, drilling, tiling and a lot more.

DIY Site

This website is stuffed with great tips and ideas on how you can improve your home. This includes, gardens, House Extensions, ecological tips and even some insurance and legal advice. Very handy indeed.

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What Home Improvements Produce the Best Return on Investment?

Friday, October 21st, 2011

What Home Improvements Produce the Best Return on Investment?

With a housing market that is more confused than ever, you may be one of the thousands of home owners looking for a way to invest money improving your home, so that you can sell it now or have it ready and dripping with appeal for when the housing market picks up once again.

Here are some of the top home improvements that provide the biggest return on investment (ROI) that increase the value/appeal of your home the most, based on how much you have to spend on the improvement.

Start with the Basics – Greatest ROI

One of the cheapest and easiest things you can do to improve the appeal of your home to a potential buyer is to clean and clear the interior and exterior of the property. This may sound very basic but when it comes to ROI the things that cost the least to do provide the greatest returns. Remove all excess furniture, ornaments, junk, and either hide them in a loft or in an external storage unit until the house is sold. Likewise clearing your garden or yard of lawnmowers, dilapidated bird baths or similar and storing them in a shed or away from the property will give potential buyers a clear view and make it easier to see themselves in the property.

Decorate and Landscape – Excellent ROI

Another simple way to increase the appeal of your property is to decorate the interior and landscape the garden. Appearance is incredibly important when showing a home so it will be worth your while redecorating your interior in light colours. Plus an extra tip is to use higher wattage bulbs so that every room is literally brighter like quality sunrooms. Externally, buyers look for clean and green spaces. Paying a professional gardener to clear out undergrowth and improve the quality of your lawn can have a big impact on the appeal of the property and on your ROI.

Upgrade Fixtures and Fittings – Considerable ROI

By repairing and upgrading fixtures and fittings such as your plumbing and electrical infrastructure, as well as your windows and doors will make sure that your property is prepared for any queries a potential buyer might have. Old wiring or single glazing can immediately turn off potential buyers as they start to factor the cost of upgrading these themselves into the amount they are paying for the property. By sticking to repairing faults and completing superficial issues with windows or applying UPVC Windows, you can expect a considerable ROI, while of course large scale rewiring or complete window upgrades will push the ROI lower.

Can you afford not to consider these home improvements?

Excerpt:

Are you looking to upgrade your home but don’t know where to start? Here are some of the top home improvements that offer the greatest return on your investment.

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Lean Tos – the Most Economical Type of Conservatory?

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

When you have made the decision to invest in a Conservatory, chances are that you have a nice Victorian one in your head. These are among the most popular styles because indeed they are all very nice, but there is a slightly less well known style that has many features that normally prove to be most economical for the happy homeowner.

This is particularly important while energy prices are so unfeasibly high. Just recently prices have risen massively in light of global oil prices and with winter on the horizon we all have to keep our purse strings as tight as possible so we can make it through the winter.

With this in mind, here are several points about lean to conservatories that might just make your conservatory buying decision that bit easier.

They’re Simple

For starters, lean-to conservatories are simpler than their counterparts. This means that it takes less time to install them, they use less materials and are easier to maintain. These savings filter down into a generally lower average price for this design and cheaper installation for the home owner.

They Add Space

Being cheaper you might have thought that they would be smaller, or had big support posts or something, but you would be wrong. Lean to conservatories provide a particularly large space that really gives you a lot for your money, which works out nicely when you get round to selling your property. They can be designed to make the absolute maximum use of the space you have to work with and always become incredibly flexible spaces because of their shape.

They’re Fast

As mentioned, they go up pretty fast, especially in comparison to some of the more complicated conservatory designs. This means less disruption for you and your home and reduces the hours required to cover the costs of installation engineers.

They’re Efficient

Above all lean to conservatories are excellent energy savers. With 2 or 3 big walls of glass that let in a lot of light, you might think it would get really hot and you would have to buy an air-conditioning unit so you don’t melt. But in actual fact, the special glass used along with the gracefully sloping roof manages to reflect much of the heat while letting the light in to keep things cool in summer, and in the winter, the same glass retains most of the heat inside, often better than the walls in the rest of your house will.

Lean to conservatories are naturally economical and make a gorgeous addition to homes in all parts of the UK.

Are you tempted?

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4 Ways to Change the Feel of Your Conservatory

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Every Conservatory is different, as is every person that owns one. When you first built your conservatory you will have done so with your lifestyle in mind so that you got the most out of it. The thing is though that lifestyles change over time, while conservatories stay the same year in and year out. This can result in people spending less time in their conservatory over time. This is a bit of a waste.

To remedy this situation here are 5 suggestions as to how you might want to change your conservatory in order to make better use of it.

Change of Use

One of the simplest ways to change the feel of your conservatory is to change what you use it for. Perhaps it is currently set up as a play room for children who have long migrated into their bedrooms, or maybe it has been an art studio for a hobby that has been given up. One suggestion is to clear everything out and set it up as a dining room instead. Even if you already have one, spreading your rooms out and making use of the light in the conservatory can be very refreshing. Also, if you want a big change, you could knock through a wall and merge your conservatory with your kitchen.

Colour Scheme

If you want to be a little less dramatic with your changes, you could just give the room a lick of paint. A top suggestion is to paint it all white, replace existing furniture with big soft ostentatious white furnishings and install off white stone flagstones in place of your existing flooring. You may worry this will make it feel like a big bright cloud, but the effect of the colour from the green trees or blue sky from outside always makes the space feel very fresh and super cosy.

Heating Upgrade

Perhaps you stopped using your conservatory because it just gets too cold in the winter months. A simple solution to this is of course to have heating installed. You will need to check first though what the energy efficiency rating of your windows is, otherwise you could end up losing a lot of expensive heat through inefficient single glazing. Quality UPVC Windows can offer a great deal in terms of saved heating and often come with argon gas insulation.

Add Decking

A final excellent way to give your conservatory a new lease of life is to extend the use of the room outdoors with decking. You may have thought that the conservatory would have encouraged you to use the garden, but if this didn’t happen then a deck may be what you need. This makes it very easy for you to extend the use of your room into the outdoors. Especially as there is lots of nice outdoor furniture you can get that makes going outdoors irresistible.

Feeling inspired?

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Does Building a Conservatory Always Add Value to Properties?

Monday, August 15th, 2011

As a homeowner, or a ‘soon-to-be homeowner’, you will probably have money issues on your mind. Don’t we all at times have these? Perhaps you are looking to maximise your investment in a new property or maybe you have a bulging family that needs more space but are unsure what the best way to go about it is.

You may have looked at various House Extensions but discounted them as particularly expensive options. Then you perhaps looked at getting your loft converted but were put off by the issues over where to put the stairs. Also, you probably looked into getting a garage conversion, which will add value but will leave you without a garage that you may find quite useful at some point. So then you came to the Conservatory option:

conservatories are a very versatile option for expanding your home, but do they always add value?

Basically, yes, in three ways:

Increase Overall Value

Adding a conservatory will normally increase the value of your home by at least 5%. This is thanks to the increase in floor space and the quality of the fittings. The most important element of house valuation is indeed location. But after that when the cost approach to valuation is used, and you consider the fact that conservatories devalue only very slowly, it becomes clear that they are a wise financial investment.

Increase Resale Appeal

Not only this, you may have heard about ‘kerb-side’ appeal. This refers to how a property looks from the street but more specifically how much the way a property look makes a prospective buyer want it. This feeling can be very powerful and can be the difference between a buyer being determined to buy your property or indifferent. A conservatory gives a property a great deal of ‘kerb-side’ appeal which you can really bank on as they have never been out of fashion.

Increase Energy Rating

A further way in which installing a conservatory will increase the value of your property is by improving your energy efficiency rating. A common misconception is that conservatories will leak heat, but the fact is that Ideal Windows and Conservatories advanced windows are often better at keeping the heat in than most walls. As of 2007 all homes being sold need to have an energy efficiency rating and estate agents generally think that a good energy rating will be a major factor in buyers decisions in the future.

So does a conservatory increase the value of your home? Of course it does!

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Fight the Energy Price Hike with these Home Energy Saving Tips

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Fuel poverty is a term you would never have expected to hear in the UK. But unfortunately due to a series of massive price hikes, this is exactly the situation many people find themselves in today.

We all know that energy prices will rise over time but such sudden price hikes, with little or no explanation by the energy companies has left a particularly bad taste in the mouth that smacks of an uncompetitive market that is far too difficult for new players to get into.

The government is trying to help with various discount schemes and clear billing rules, but if you want to tackle how much you have to spend on energy in the long run, you need to think about making some practical changes to your property that will affect your energy requirements.

Here are some great ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home:

Turn Your Heating Down

It may seem like a simple suggestion but you may be surprised just how many people don’t consider this. If you are used to a warm house, you may find this hard, but if you bring the average temperature of your home down gradually over time you won’t feel the difference.

Check Your Tariff

Energy tariffs are pretty confusing. There are so many suppliers, with so many different variations on what looks like the same costing that it can be a bit overwhelming. If you have the time and the patience you should really make the effort to sit down with a pile of information and work out what is best for you. The least you should do is pay a visit to an independent price comparison site where you will hopefully find a cheaper tariff than what you are on currently.

Insulate Your Home

The government has provided help to certain household in the shape of loft and cavity wall insulation installation. But even if you don’t qualify for this assistance you will benefit by seeking out and installing this kind of insulation, along with other fixtures like looking out Double Glazing Prices and as one particular recommendation UPVC Windows and roofline products. Think of it like this: the more insulated you make your home, the less money you will have to spend on energy.

This energy price storm is unlikely to go away. It may calm down and it may ebb slightly but in the end, the best thing you can do is plan for the worst.

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Amazing Guest Room Decoration Ideas… You Can Use Even If You Don’t Have One

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

It is always a lot of fun having friends and relatives round to stay so why not make their stay that little bit more special by turning a normal spare room into a special place they will be clamouring to come back and stay in. Here are some simple ideas that won’t cost too much to put together.

Themes

A great way to go is to come up with a theme and apply it to the room. You could keep it simple by having a particular colour as a theme. With ‘green’ for example you could not only paint walls shades of green, you could decorate with plants and have green rugs and green pillows on the bed. Follow this up with green towels and even green soap.

If you want to take the idea of a theme a bit further you could choose ‘cinema’ as a theme and have a nice big screen for them to watch movies and adorn the walls with film posters and leave popcorn and 3D glasses on the side. The further you go with the theme the more of an impact it will have.

Fun Painting Feature

If you want something a bit less labour intensive why not try some kind of painting feature. No, not just a big painting, get a nice big blank canvas in a nice frame and hang it bare on the wall. Provide paints and drawing materials and then whenever someone comes to stay get them to put their own mark on the canvas. This will be a nice fun thing for guests to do as well as a nice memento for you to remind you of all their visits.

Freshness

A classic way to decorate a guest room that is always enjoyed is with a feel of freshness running through it. People can feel uncomfortable when they are away from home so by making your guest room light and airy with draped white sheets, fresh flowers and clean white or pale fabrics and paintwork they are sure to feel perfectly comfortable and happy.

And if you don’t have a guest room but you want one…

Ever Heard of Garage Conversions?

One thing Ideal Windows and conservatories has found is that many people who do not wish to sell their property but do want more room for guests are converting their existing garage which is hardly used into a new guest room. This can be seamlessly blended with your property both inside and out and even adds value. Plus you can have fun decorating it from scratch too!

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How to Pick the Best Colour for Your Doors and Windows

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

One of the very first things visitors or a potential buyer will see when they arrive at your home is your front door. This makes getting its colour and style absolutely crucial. This is because as with most things, first impressions count and your door can either convey the delightful character and warm feel of your home proudly, or it can give off all the impression that your home is shabby, cheap, tasteless or even ugly. One idea to consider when getting started is whether you are looking to replace your door or windows. Double Glazing Prices are competitive at the moment and are worth considering if you are going to the extent of making alterations.

First things first, walk around your house and get a feel for how it looks to people as they walk up to it. Then use this impression to address each of the following points…

Style

When choosing the style of your front door or windows, you need to think about what will fit in with the building as a whole, what will fit in with your street and what will work with the interior of your property. Present someone with a vintage country cottage front door before guiding them into a modern clean lined hi-spec decorated home and they will notice the awkward difference. Go for something that fits neatly with its surroundings but don’t be afraid to be creative as long as it doesn’t look out of place.

Matching Colours

The next thing to consider after you have picked a style, or the first thing if you are just painting existing windows or doors, is to choose colours. While you were looking at your property you will have noticed the colours on and around your home. Maybe you have a lot of greenery around your building or maybe you have a distinct red brick house. Try to go for a colour scheme that goes with your home and not just one that matches the colour of your car.

Testers

A good way to make a decision on colours is to get a set of testers made up. Either ask your supplier or go to your local paint supplier and get some tester pots of paint. Paint them on to a good sized piece of wood or board and sit them up against your existing windows or doors. Take a step back and see what looks right to you.

Type of Paint and Finish

Once you have a colour you love, either allow your supplier to advise you on what paint or finish to go for or make sure you go for one that is environmentally friendly and will also be long lasting. Remember that different materials will require different paint. UPVC Windows for instance can require different paint depending on the material of the finish.

Take your time, have fun, but don’t forget that even if you realize you don’t like how it looks in a few months you can always change it.

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Why Not Give Your Home a Victorian Makeover?

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

The Victorian era in the UK was the period from 1837 – 1901 when Queen Victoria was the reigning monarch. This period was a time of great peace and population expansion in the UK which meant that a great deal of architecture was thrown up all over the UK. It was a kind of Gothic revival that took place where classical styles met gothic ones and buildings like Westminster Abbey became a feature of this period’s architecture and style. This style has had a lasting impact on architecture to this day and is still highly desirable.

One of Ideal Windows and conservatories most popular conservatory designs for example is a Victorian style. It is identifiable by its sharp angled roof, a round façade and detailed finishing touches. If you look at classic Victorian architecture like the Royal Albert Hall in London you can see some of the major architectural features that have survived in this lovely Conservatory.

Aside from getting new conservatories though, what else can people change in their home to give it that Victorian feel?

Colours

If you want to create a Victorian colour scheme in your home you may be surprised to find that you already have one. Cream was a very popular colour at the time as it is now, but they also went for deeper colours too like reds and purples as they offer a particularly rich almost wine-like texture to rooms that may be a bit too much for softer pastel shades people tend to opt for today.

Certain metal colours were also very popular at the time too so by either swapping your metal fittings for copper, bronze or pewter ones you will give your home that authentic effect. This can be quite expensive though so why not just use a paintbrush and create a budget aged metal effect.

Furniture

Victorian furniture was generally large, heavy and intricately carved. They liked to match all their furniture too back then so when you get a dining table, try to get a side table or set of chairs to match.

Curtains

Pencil pleat curtains became a very popular way of decorating a room in the Victorian era, so get yourself some specially made to match the furniture and colours used in your room. These add a thickness to your window surrounds and a lot of texture that makes rooms feel softer and (depending on the colours) a great deal grander too.

Try some of these changes and you will soon see your Victorian style home taking shape.

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