UK Home Improvement Blog

Your home is fitted out for your own comfort and to your own taste.  As you begin to prepare to sell your home there are a number of renovation and brush-up items that may be required in order to make it suitable for a real estate listing.   If a formal structural renovation is not in the budget, there are a number of smaller scale improvements that you can make that will improve the showroom appearance of your home and help you get the best possible price for your property.

1. Light Switches

How dated are your lighting fixtures?    It is simple to shop for affordable fixtures and upgrade the appearance of any room by removing outdated, stained or cracked light switch plates.   Typically quality light plates can run in price from £1.50 to £ 14 or more at the local hardware or supply store.   While there are many manufacturers of creative, designer light switches including cartoon themed options or artistic versions on Etsy and other websites, your best bet is to choose a fixture that is standard and neutral in design and colour.  Keep it conservative with universal appeal to all interested buyers.   Average Improvement Cost: £50

2.  Paint Your Space

A fresh coat makes all the difference when it comes to brightening and renewing an interior space.   A word about colour selection however, before you begin.   When you are preparing your house for sale, it’s not the appropriate time to start experimenting with odd colours or wall preparations and textures.   Aim for a quality paint that requires one-coat application as it will save you both time and money, eliminating the need for more than one coat and always use a primer and quality rollers and brushes for perfect results. Average Improvement Cost: £170

3.  Window Coverings

Chances are that the future buyers of your home will remove the window coverings and replace them with their own preferred style and colour.   New home owners however may not change the window coverings immediately, and so they will judge the quality and appeal of the window coverings which are already installed and those which will come with the home in sale.

Quality window coverings such as natural wood venetian blinds or roman blinds enhance the esthetic quality of your home giving it a fresh new look that is appreciated by perspective buyers.    If replacing your window coverings aim for a neutral fabric (no pattern) in order to appeal to the broadest group of buyers, or opt for the perennial favourite venetian blind.   If you want to sell your home, choose wisely and select something that will marry well with their furnishings and colour scheme, not something that you personally enjoy.  Average Improvement Cost: £250

4.  Curb Appeal

Has the garden got out of control?  The hedges, trees and bushes in the front of your home can either enhance or deter prospective buyers.  Well maintained foliage and lawns make a great impression and can help you sell your home more quickly and for a better price than poorly maintained grounds.   Basic lawn seed, topsoil and fertiliser and some manpower will get your grounds looking their best before any buyer visits.  Average Improvement Cost: £80

The smaller things really do add up when it comes to presenting a home that is desirable to buyers.  Invite family or friends over to be candid and honest about the things that ‘stand out’  and could use some upgrading or improvement, make a list and allocate some time and money to fixing any issues that might delay the sale of your home.

You can view a range of custom made blinds from Made to Measure Blinds UK

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Choosing a room to extend

You may look at your house and feel the need to add more space, in which case an extension can add value to your home, as well as precious useable space. When it comes to extending your home, the heart of the property will be your kitchen. Extending your living room or sitting room will provide you with more space, but in terms of adding value to your property in a versatile entertaining area, the kitchen is key. But it’s important to consider the layout of your house first; having an enormous kitchen dining space but a small living room will unbalance the layout, whereas a small extension to both spaces would be a better solution.

If you are extending towards the rear of your property, as most kitchens are situated in this space, you should consider your neighbours. Will you be overlooked, or will an extension overlook someone else’s property? And structurally, would an extension mean moving any structural walls or damp proofing party walls – in this case, you need to research the party wall agreement.  Extensions to your downstairs bathroom or WC will not be particularly beneficial; better to spend a little bit of extra money on replacing the taps or adding a fresh coat of paint – in the long run this won’t add value to your property, and as long as it’s of a useable size you probably won’t miss an extra square metre of room.

Once you’ve chosen which room you’d like to extend, before rushing into designing your extension you should find out if you require planning permission. Many extensions of a certain size are classified as a permitted development and don’t require planning permission, and if you are faced with the choice, opting for a smaller but just as functional extension could save time and money in the long run. Addition rules apply to listed houses or houses within a certain area, however, you should check with your Local Planning Authority for the most up to date information for your area.

Inspiration and design

Extending your property can be a wonderful experience that adds value to your home, but in order to best utilise the space available, it’s imperative that you take time to plan and design so you are absolutely sure that your new space will cater to your every need. It is important to remember that your tastes will change over time, and whilst you may not need a large extension now, if you are planning on having a family or using the room for a different purpose in future, it might be a good idea to invest in the extra few square feet of room.

The internet is a valuable resource; even the most computer illiterate of us can type a few keywords into Google and achieve fantastic inspirational images. And whilst you may find extensions to houses that are the complete opposite of your own, you will be able to identify elements you like and might like to include in your design, such as floor to ceiling glass panels to maximise light and space, LED floor lights, or flat roofing. You will also find helpful tips regarding extensions such as related interior design or a guide to understanding planning permission, or this blog itself!

Another good place to start for inspiration is your very own neighbourhood; visit your neighbours, take a tour of your local area, and ask lots of questions. This is a useful step because you can see what worked for other people with the same period or build type as your own home, and to rule out any extensions which you don’t like or which wouldn’t work for you. It’s easy to lose your head in the clouds at this point as you’re dreaming of your perfect extension, but remember to critically evaluate your needs and how they match up to the extensions you’ve seen, and learn from other people’s experiences. It’s important to have a space that is functional as well as beautifully designed.

Ask the professionals

Cutting corners in your extension, in most cases, will lead to long term problems that will burn a crater sized hole in your wallet. Perhaps you will be one of the lucky few who receive excellent work for amateur prices, but if you’d like a guarantee and a service you can trust, you should always choose a professional company who specialise in extension work.

This article was written by Ella, she works for JL properties who specialise in creating beautifully-designed, highly functional loft conversions. For more information you can visit the JL Properties website.

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Renovation of my semi-detached home in York begun after the news that my wife was expecting another addition to our family of four.  House refurbishments often prove to be a popular solution for families that have outgrown their homes, and this is what we opted for rather than going through the financial and emotional stresses of upping sticks.

Initially, we did consider moving home; our three bedroomed house that had provided enough room for my two kids to grow up in suddenly seemed small and cramped. However, a valuation from a local estate agent indicated that moving wasn’t an option, as the price of our home had fallen since we moved in 2002. Moving to a different area wasn’t an option either, we love where we live, and didn’t want the kids to have to move schools.

Research into the most effective ways to renovate our home wasn’t easy; professional advice came at a cost. The most important consideration into the transformation of our home was to make the current space more liveable, and to potentially build an extension once there was enough money in the bank. So, after scouring the internet for hints and tips, my wife and I decided on the most effective ways to breathe life back into our home, as well as making space for the new arrival.

1. 1.       Renovate the Conservatory

We had a conservatory, but it was largely unused; it was there when we bought the house and we never sought to utilise it. It wasn’t a liveable space, and certainly not suitable for young children as it tended to overheat in summer and be too cold in winter. However, after doing some research, I discovered that the inconsistent room temperatures were most likely the result of the polycarbonate roof, which is renowned for being very poor at regulating heat.

One solution we looked into was to fit an insulated roof system, but choosing this option is not ideal as it meant that the roof of the conservatory would be tiled and light could be lost.

An alternative solution was to simply fit a new glass roof on the conservatory. Browsing the internet lead us to Refresh Glass, who supply glass roofs for conservatories, whereby the roof actively reflects heat in the summer and prevents heat escaping in the winter.

A new glass conservatory roof was the perfect solution to creating extra living space, without the costs of having to extend. The kids now use this as a play room all year round and with their toys all stored in that one room, the rest of the home is much freer for other living arrangements.

1. 2.       Creating an open plan kitchen-diner

Another room that we didn’t really use was the dining room. It was generally only used when guests came over for dinner; the kids rarely ate in there and usually squeezed onto the tiny table in the kitchen or ate in front of the TV.

My wife was worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on the kids when they were eating and when she was looking after the baby. A simple solution seemed to be knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the diner to create a large, open family space. A small team of builders came and knocked the wall down, and the results were immediate. My wife took advantage of this renovation to get a new kitchen, and now the layout maximizing the space we have, and has proven to be a real hub for the family to gather.

1. 3.       Decorate and additional storage

Whilst this seems like an obvious one; a lick of paint can work wonders. Once the main building work had finished, I took a couple of weekends to repaint the downstairs living areas and fit storage units in the living room, kitchen diner and master bedroom. Repainting has breathed new life into our family home, whilst additional storage has meant space in the house is more practical, and there is more space for the kids and my wife and I to enjoy.

I would really encourage families out there to consider renovation as a strong alternative to moving home. After the work had been completed, (out of curiosity) I invited the same estate agent back to the house for a revaluation. The value had increased by 15%, which was great to know, but now all the work is completed, we wouldn’t dream of selling, and the whole family is excited to welcome the new bundle of joy into the world and our family home.

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Extending your property is a big commitment, and getting it right is important. Do it the correct way and you can add considerable value and living space to your home.

With so much to consider before taking the step, we’ve outlined several top tips to simplify the process for you…

Consider Your Extension Requirements

Firstly, you need to think about what you need and want from the extension – single storey or double storey? Planning permission can be easier to obtain for single storey extensions, however double storey will obviously generate more space, further increase property value and provide greater flexibility for its use.

Secondly, identify which type of room that you wish to add as well as what is will be used for. This will obviously influence your decisions. For example a small bedroom will require less room than a large bedroom complete with en suite.

Once you have recognised your requirements in this area, you must consider the actual location of the home extension. Will it occur to the front, rear or side of your property? How will this impact on your existing building and that of your neighbours? Will they become overlooked or lose valuable sun light?

Consider Planning Permission & Other Restrictions

Depending on your home, location and type of extension, you may require formal permission from your local council or government before any extension work can commence.

Failing to comply with specific regulations and completing the extension project without prior consent can lead to legal action and even the destruction of the extension once built.

It is therefore of paramount importance that you obtain the relevant permissions prior to starting any work. This will ensure that all extension work is legally sound and will eliminate the risk of action in future.

Consider Your Funding

Home extensions can be expensive, so it’s important to set yourself a budget to work to. In conjunction, it will be wise to set aside a contingency fund in case of complications further down the line.

When considering your options, it’s vital to shop around for quotes from multiple providers to secure the best deal.

Consider The Extension Design

In line with your extension requirements you must consider the element of design. Do you want the extension to be in-keeping with the current external property style?

Internally, do you want the interiors decorated similarly to the rest of your home or in an entirely different way?

Contemporary, modern, traditional etc. – the choice is yours.

Also think about how the extension will integrate with the rest of your property and the potential entry points you will need in place.

Consider The Power & Water Supplies

When constructing your extension, appropriate connection with your power and water supplies needs to be a key consideration. How will the extension be heated and powered? Will it need to be connected to the water supply?

Some rooms will not require a water supply; however a kitchen, bathroom or toilet extension will require extensive plumbing. In conjunction, any kitchen, bathroom, utility room or WC without a window will need an extractor fan in place for ventilation.

Consider Your Additional Features

When it comes to constructing a home extension, you will clearly need to ensure that it will stand the test of time. For this reason, you need to consider the style and quality of all components used. For example:

• The roof: Whether it’s a flat or tiled roof, the roofing material used will need to be strong, waterproof and durable. For flat roofs in particular, one such quality roofing material is that of EPDM rubber.
• Windows: Identify your window needs – do you want uPVC windows? Aluminium or wooden sash? Do you have a desire for additional window features such as roof or sky lights, stained glass windows or other styles?
• Flooring: What are your flooring requirements? Tiled, carpeted, laminate, wooden – each type of flooring has its own merits.
• Doors: Consider the location and types of door required for both internal and external access.  If external doors are needed, do you prefer traditional doors or alternatively, sliding or folding doors?

When it comes to extending your home, there are a great number of considerations to take in. What we’ve explore here is simply the very tip of iceberg. One thing is certain; you should seek professional advice throughout the process to ensure that the home extension of your dreams is legal, safe and designed to last.

This post has been brought to you by www.rubberbond.co.uk, UK providers of flat roofing materials for home extensions.

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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With the current housing market making it difficult to move house homeowners all over the UK are looking for ways to create a more versatile living space. One way to do this is to utilise your conservatory in a better way to suit you.

The first thing to think about when refurbishing your conservatory is what you are going to be utilising it for. With the advent of amazing blinds, heating systems and flooring the common conservatory is fast becoming much more than a relaxing place to read your book on a sunny  afternoon. Conservatories make fantastic dining spaces, allowing for a relaxed dining experience whilst overlooking the garden, they also make a great playroom for the children, with some careful planning and storage the children can enjoy a fun space whilst leaving the home living quarters free of toys, clutter and play-dough!

The first component in achieving a year round room is heating, as they are not a fully insulated the heat from a conservatory can quickly escape. One way to combat this is to have a radiator fixed in the conservatory as part of your central heating system, this is a convenient and effective way of heating the room to a comfortable temperature. If you don’t have central heating or don’t wish to have an additional radiator you could purchase a “radiant heat panel”, these slim line heaters are non intrusive and are very easy to use. They can be wall mounted or left free-standing and they are very capable of providing a nice even heat, just remember to purchase one that is frost safe.

Another key component in your conservatory is blinds, if you take care when buying these they can be hugely beneficial at helping to keep heat in for the winter months and keeping the heat out in the summer months. Some companies provide blinds for the roof and sides of your conservatory; in my opinion they are a very worthwhile investment especially as they soften the look of the room, reduce glare without making the home feel dark and make the conservatory much more private. Shop around for blinds, look at colours that compliment the rest of your home and don’t forget to talk to your supplier about the different high – tech fabrics now available.

Now we have tackled the conservatory roof lets have a think about the flooring. Bearing in mind that most conservatories lead straight into the garden it is worthwhile taking extra time to get the flooring right!

Floor tiles work brilliantly in a conservatory as they are not as sensitive to the temperature changes and damp atmosphere as laminate or wooden flooring. If chosen to compliment the rest of the house they look stunning and are very easy to keep clean. When buying your tiles it is important to choose the correct product to meet your needs. Floor tiles are manufactured and tested using a PEI rating system. If you are looking to purchase tiles for your conservatory you will need tiles that have a PEI rating of 4 or 5 as they will need to be able to withstand people walking in from outdoors with their shoes on and potentially bringing in grit from the garden. Once you have found your perfect tiles you can always soften the look and feel of the floor area with a soft, snuggly rug.

If you make these few alterations you can quickly achieve a good, versatile room for you or your family to work, rest and play.

This article was written by content specialist Becky Whitaker, who works for Tileclick; a UK based tiling company with stores in Bristol, Cardiff, Gloucester and Swindon.

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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There are a few ways in which a balcony can be added to your house. Although they date back hundred of years, our use of steel, glass and other contemporary materials has modernised the balcony.

Roof Top Balconies

Some will have their balcony added atop a flat roofed garage. For those considering this, check with a surveyor or structural engineer whether the roof of your garage will need be strengthened. If you wish to place a table and chairs to your property’s new extension, you must have adequate support.

Also, you want to ensure there is adequate drainage, as a puddle of rain water not only looks unappealing, but again adds more undue weight to the roof.

Juliet Balconies

Named after Shakespeare’s leading female in Romeo & Juliet, quite a few new build properties sport iron rails or glass panels affixed directly in front of the opening doors, acting as a waist height barrier. Juliet balconies are not adding any extra square footage, merely enhancing the doors/windows of your upper floor. Key things to look out for include the sizing of the rails – make sure they are not too large to allow pets / young children to get through.

Obviously it also goes without saying but if you are altering a window to double doors for your new Juliet balcony, have them open inwards, otherwise you’ll not be able to make much use of your new addition!

Steel Beam Balcony

Another option is to add a steel beam balcony, with universal beams being inserted into the wall and a grid formed on which to place the floor and rails. Steel beams are incredibly strong, require minimal maintenance and will last a long time.

It doesn’t have to look like plain steel either – your supplier can usually colour it, whether that’s black to appear like traditional wrought iron, or to match in with your property’s existing fixtures, be that green, brown, blue or whatever!

Planning Permission

Naturally, prior to any alteration work being done, you should contact a reputable tradesman, as well as your local building authority. If you do any unapproved work, when you come to sell, you may find you hit road blocks from officials inspecting the integrity of your property.

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Cowboy builders are the bane of the construction industry. Although they only make up a tiny percent of those working in the building trade, they are still out there, and it pays to know how to spot and avoid them.

We have all heard the horror stories about cowboy builders who wreak emotional and financial misery by targeting unsuspecting homeowners by failing to deliver on their promises. This list of tips is designed to help you filter out the dishonest tradesmen and to find yourself a great reputation builder to undertake any building work including kitchen fitting or loft conversions on your property.

Here are some easy to remember steps to identify a cowboy builder:

• Quality builders do not knock on people’s doors and say they are working in the area and have a lorry load of tarmac left over or they have noticed that there is a animal nesting in your chimney stack or any other construction work relevant to your household. Just remember to thank them politely and ask them for a business card and contact details so you could perhaps call them at a later date.
• Good tradesmen are always busy so If a builder says he can start tomorrow the chances are he has no other work to do. This sounds a bell that he/she is most likely not good enough for the job.
• A cowboy will probably only have a mobile phone number. No land line means he is not traceable. Good builders may work from home but they will not be frightened to give you their number and address.
• Always insist on a written receipt on a piece of headed paper. Cowboy builders may suggest that giving them cash will reduce the bill. It will, but it also means there is no proof that they ever did the job.
• Cowboy builders do have an infuriating habit of trying to confuse you with unnecessary jargon. Make sure your builder explains everything to you in clear terms that you fully understand.

Here are some steps you can take to find a builder with a good reputation:

• Ask people you trust for recommendations; family, friends, colleagues who have had building work done in their house. Key questions to ask about their builder: Was their timekeeping good? How was quality of work good? Were they polite? Was their language or behaviour in any way intimidating? Was any guarantee given on the work? These questions should help you identify a more trustworthy builder.
• Searching Google for e.g. builders in Worcester will bring up results of tradesmen in the area. Look out for reviews left by other customers, as well as any photographs of their work.
• Stay away from random online directories as anyone can apply for a free listing posting unverified information. If you feel that this is a last resource, again make sure to look for companies with a landline telephone number, a website and hopefully even a registered VAT number.

Tags: Builders / Building Work, House Extensions, Loft Conversions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Orangeries are popular in rural England thanks to their affinity with the garden and nature, as well as the light, airy environment they provide.

There’s little doubt that glass conservatories are a popular choice across the UK, thanks to the streamlined design and relatively inexpensive pricing. However, those seeking a more solid construction made of timber and glass may find an orangery to be a better match.

From an Orangery to..

Orangery designs afford amble light when compared with a spare bedroom or unused dining room, you may be surprised at how much more time you actually spend in there.

Orangeries could be considered “bigger” than regular conservatories, but it has the potential to serve as the family room for years.

Numerous families opt to transition their kitchen and dining area into the orangery. Others use it as a sun room, or reading space.

There are also a number of people that opt to use their new orangery as a home office. And what an office they turn out to be! Light, airy and spacious you should feel refreshed to work.

Orangery Considerations

However, there are a few considerations that should be considered. You could find using laptops or PCs a little difficult on a bright Summer’s day due to the glare.

Depending on the size of your construct, you could find that you are able to simply section off the work area, or dining section using Japanese-style screens in lieu of fixed dividers.  These screens can then simply be folded away when required.

Externally, wooden beams (if you go the traditional route) and the solid base will normally need to be blended in with the façade of your existing home. uPVC ones equally will benefit from matching your existing windows, for that desired continuity.

Traditional orangeries being made up of natural timbers means that you will need to maintain it over the years staining the woods, or end up with it looking a little worse for wear. Fortunately, as technology advances we are now seeing self-cleaning glass meaning you have more time to enjoy your orangery.

Smart Investment

The costs, especially if you have set your eyes on a larger structure can be huge but the returns are well worth it.

Tags: Conservatories, House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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When you first buy a home, you normally take into account the space you currently need, with perhaps some forethought into the future with an extra bedroom as a consideration.

However the unpredictability of the future can mean that space requirements change and you may find yourself needing more room than you have.

When this happens you have 3 choices; Muddle on and cram things in, move to a bigger property or extend your home. Choice one isn’t really a remedy to the issue, so for the purposes of this article we’ll put that to one side, which leaves us with moving or extending.

Moving Home

Moving home may seem the harder option, and a much larger hassle, but that isn’t necessarily true. As simple as extending your home sounds, it can be a long process with a lot of pitfalls along the way, and so buying a new home may actually be the better choice, but that can depend on a lot of factors.

The pluses of moving home include a fresh new start, the option of finding your ideal home with exactly the space you need and the option of moving to a whole new area. Other benefits can include a larger garden or better access to local amenities such as schools or day nurseries, doctors, shops or transport routes.

Of course there are a lot of downsides to moving home as well.

To start there is the fact you are going to have to sell your current home. That means advertising it, signing up with estate agents, house viewings, legal costs, stamp duty, house viewings, housing chains and that’s just to name a few. Then there is the fact your house may be worth less than it was a year or two ago due to changes in the economy, or the ideal house you want may be financially out of your reach.

Then take into account mortgage repayments, the cost of hiring a removals company (or simply van hire if you are doing it yourself) and the stress of the move, and the cost of redecorating and possibly even refurnishing your new home and moving home may not be ideal for you after all.

Extending Your Home

There are several things to consider when deciding whether to go for a home extension (as opposed to moving home as mentioned earlier) or not.

The very first hurdle is whether or not you have the required space to actually have a house extension in the first place. Many people build over a garage, but some will place a top and bottom floor extension on the side or rear of their home, so make sure there is enough room (get someone out to measure up!).

Next you need to find out if you are allowed to build the extension. So get in touch with the local council to see if you can even get the plan of the ground. This is not the green light, merely confirming you would more than likely be allowed to build depending on finished plans.

Once you know that the council consider the option of an extension viable you need to approach an architect to draw up the plans (many home extension contractors can provide you with this service as a part of an overall package). The plans then need to submitted to the council for planning permission and building regulation approval; both of these services require a fee.

Once you have the go ahead then you are going to be paying for the construction of the extension, which means, if you are going for the DIY approach, materials and equipment. If you are using building contractors then most of this would be all part of the cost, along with labour charges, which is more expensive but means a professional job.

Other costs can include structural engineers, quantity surveyors and architects (if for any reason the plans have to change). Also not that a quote can change if for example a structural engineer finds there are more complications that builders would not have been able to see from an external survey of the premises.

Other costs can include the decorating and furnishing the new space, and even landscaping your garden after all the work is complete; also let’s not forget the fact that your home will feel and look like a construction site while the work is being undertaken.

So as you can see a home extension is not necessarily the easier option to moving, but taking into account the pitfalls and expenses of buying a whole new home, it may be the right option for you. The important thing is to way up all the options, and make as informed a decision as you possibly can.

Tags: House Extensions by UK Home Improvement Team
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