Once you have obtained planning permission and have been given the go ahead, you will want to consider the option of using an architect and whether you’ll need a project manager. More often than not, good builders will already have these contacts and may already work closely with companies who can do this. Architects are important because they can assist the builders in ensuring that the property is constructed safely and within the rules of any planning permission that you have obtained. They also have the knowledge required to assist with using the right materials for listed or period buildings to ensure the extension ties in.

A project manager will be able to assist by ensuring that the entire process from planning permission to the finishing touches runs smoothly and that all stages are planned so that things are done in the right order. They can also help to deal with any problems that arise while the builders are constructing the extension. All of these things are very important and can mean the difference between a good extension and one that has issues in years to come as the building settles.

If you have a mortgage, you will need to contact your mortgage provider too to ensure that they are happy for the extension to go ahead. The mortgage lender essentially owns part of your property until you have finished paying it off, and therefore they must be notified of any intensions to make changes to the property, no matter how big or small.

Next, contact your buildings insurance company too, because you will want to ensure that the building and any new parts to the building are covered in case of damage. Damage is a big risk while building works are going on, so you need to be certain that your property is covered against it.

When you get to the construction stage of your extension, you should take careful steps to ensure that your builders are legitimate and will do a good job of your extension as you will be spending a lot of money and will want it done properly. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is a good place to start, as they list registered builders and this can help you to avoid being stung by cowboy builders who will take your money and run or leave the work half finished. Also consider asking friends and family for recommendations of builder that they have used and have done a good job.

Have a good think before you talk to your builders, architects and other professionals about what you want from your extension. There may be certain things that are important in the building process, such as whether you need sound proofing or additional insulation, whether you want skylights and so on. All of this will need to be taken into consideration at planning stage.

Chimney Repairs Manchester / Roofers Birmingham /Roofers in Leeds / Nottingham Roofers / Roofer in Derby

Even if you do not have an open fire, your chimney still requires regular attention. You need to protect your chimney from smoke leakage, blockages, down-draughts, poor ventilation, insufficient draw and tar build up.

What type of attention?

Sweeping

The average chimney requires sweeping at least once per year. A modern chimney sweep ensures your flue is safe and free of clogging by bird nests, soot build-ups and other debris.

If you are installing a gas flame effect fire, the chimney should be swept beforehand – and regularly thereafter. With gas fires, it is vital for the chimney to be drawing properly as there is a carbon monoxide risk if not. The yellow flames from a gas fire look pleasant, but actually signify ‘incomplete burning,’ the by-products of which need to be drawn efficiently up the chimney.

The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) has the following guidelines for inspection/sweeping:

• Once per year if burning smokeless fuels
• Twice a year if burning bituminous coal
• Quarterly if burning wood
• Once per year if burning oil or gas

Regular sweeping is important from an insurance viewpoint. Insurance companies may insist on regular chimney sweeping/maintenance – there are, on average, some 12,000 chimney-related fires each year. A NACS-approved chimney sweep should issue you with a certificate acceptable to insurance companies and local authorities.

A chimney sweep costs between £45 to £90 depending where you live, and prices may increase depending on the number of floors. A smoke integrity test may double this cost: if your chimney fails a new flue lining is required.

Lining Repair/Replacement

Aswell as failure of the smoke integrity test, a deteriorating lining has important structural implications for your chimney. Mortar joints and brickwork are exposed to corrosion and, eventually, a collapsed chimney could result.

If using a gas fire, you will require a Gas Safe registered installer to repair or replace the chimney lining whereas if you are using solid fuel a HETAS qualified expert should be consulted.

External Chimney Maintenance

Ironically, water can be as damaging to chimneys as hot smoke and soot. There are certain measures required to minimise water damage:

Chimney Caps – These cover the chimney opening reducing the amounts of water entering the flues.

Repair/Replace Flashing – Flashing is the seal between the roof and the chimney, and stops rain water running down the chimney into the property and roof rafters. This should be inspected periodically for cracking and wear.

Water Proofing – It is possible to waterproof a chimney to minimise brickwork’s tendency to act like a sponge. Vapour-permeable water proofing agents allow the brickwork to breath out but not in. This enables water that has penetrated the chimney to escape therefore not becoming trapped and causing problems, whereas external moisture is repelled.

Sheffield Joiners / Kitchen Fitters Leeds / Edinburgh Joiner / Joiners in Glasgow

Joiners often work in a workshop, as some of the tools they need include non-portable machinery. Traditionally, joinery was seen as the formation of joints that did not require nails or screws. However, many joiners now use nails and screws to add extra strength to joints, which might otherwise be fairly weak. Glue is also often used to bond two joints of wood together.

In the process of building something, a joiner will be responsible for the building of timber elements for construction, and the fitting and installation of joinery components. A joiner will work in close conjunction with other tradesmen, such as carpenters and plasterers.

Joinery covers a wide aspect of items made from wood. Some of the most common items that a joiner may build include tables, bookcases, stairs, cabinets, chairs, windows, decorative boxes (such as jewellery boxes), and interior and exterior doors. A joiner will need to master many different types of joints so that they can build these different items. Joinery is not merely as simple as sticking two pieces of wood together (although simple joints can be that simple!). A good joiner will be skilled in forming joints that will fit together using intricate ‘teeth’ or dovetails, or grooves and channels. Joinery is all about precision.

There is no requirement for formal qualifications to become a joiner, but most employers will want people with either a college qualification or some on-site experience. There are also some apprenticeships available. If you haven’t worked in construction before, you could work as a joiner’s mate in order to gain some site experience. Many employers may also be willing to offer further training in joinery.

Joinery can be studied as a specialist subject on its own, as part of a course in Bench Joinery, or may form part of a wider course, such as one in Site Carpentry and Joinery. Bench joinery focuses on the preparation, setting out and manufacturing of joinery components. Site Carpentry and Joinery tends to focus more on timber construction and installation of joinery components.

Joinery as a skill has been in existence for many years. Before the advent of industrial design, joiners, carpenters and specialist cabinetmakers were responsible for the conception and production of any piece of furniture. With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, mass production techniques began to take over, and traditional craftsmen ceased to be the main suppliers of furniture. Fortunately, the arts and craft movement in the United Kingdom in the middle of the 19^th century reignited people’s interests in traditional craftsmanship, and the demand for individual pieces of furniture rose again.

Today, joiners combine both traditional techniques with modern machinery and practices, and so can find work in a wide variety of carpentry aspects.

Leeds Locksmiths / Sheffield Locksmith / Locksmith Liverpool / Manchester Locksmiths / Locksmiths in Birmingham

Locksmiths can often also help with fixing any damage done to the doors and windows, and as they usually offer 24 hour emergency locksmith services, you should be able to get this done very quickly even if you are burgled during the night. It is important however that if you are broken into in the night, that you contact the police first as there may be evidence on the doors or windows. Locksmiths should only be called once the police have conducted their investigation at your home and told you that it is OK to do so. You should also ensure that you don’t touch anything until the police have arrived so that any evidence is not lost.

Emergency Locksmiths Leicester  / 24 Hour Locksmith Nottingham / Bristol Locksmith / Locksmith in Glasgow

You need to also contact your insurance company once you have been given a crime reference number by the police so that your insurance company are made aware as early as possible that you wish to make a claim. You should also inform them that you have had locksmiths into your home to fit new locks and give details of the new lock fittings, so make sure that when you call for emergency locksmithing that you get this information. You will need to ask your lock fitters the make of the locks, the lock type and details of its adherence to British standards.

When you have dealt with the immediate issues, you should look to get new insurance on your home as by having more modern and upgraded locks on your home, your insurance premium may be lowered, so speak to your current insurer and see if you can find a better deal by comparing online. Again, you will need the details of the new locks that have been fitted.

Something else to consider is whether you might wish to seek crime victim compensation, and if you do you should let the police know when you report the crime. This would mean that if the criminals are caught and convicted, they will be ordered to pay you compensation for any damage and inconvenience caused.

In order to get a good locksmith to change locks or deal with break in damage to your windows or doors, the best thing to do is search online for locksmiths in your area or lock replacement companies who can deal with the issues for you. Make sure you check before you agree to them coming out whether they will be charging call out fees and what costs are involved.

The first and most important thing is to ensure that your boiler is serviced regularly by a qualified plumber who is Gas Safe registered. The cost of annual servicing for your boiler is generally not as expensive as the cost of repairing the boiler if it breaks down. This is why it’s sensible to have your boiler regularly serviced. When you contact a qualified and gas safe registered plumber to booking for annual servicing, it is important that you understand what tasks your plumber will need to do.

First of all, your plumber will need to visually check over the boiler to see whether there are any obvious faults. Once this is complete, the plumber will then need to remove the front of the boiler so that he can access the internal parts. Here, he will conduct a gas tightness test to ensure that no gas is leaking or escaping from the boiler unit. Any gas leaking from your boiler can be very harmful and could lead to fatalities, which is why this test is probably the most important part of your boiler servicing.

Your plumber will then check that all parts of the boiler are working, and will clean all internal parts of the boiler. If any parts of the boiler are not working or need replacing, the plumber will ensure that all repairs are taking care of. Before the front of the boiler is replaced, the plumber will fire the boiler to ensure that it is working fully. The front of the unit will then be put back on, and you will be issued with a report on your plumber confirming the details of the service.

Generally, you may sensible to have your boiler serviced before the cold weather starts. This will ensure that the boiler remains efficient during the cold and that the year. During the winter months, plumbers tend to be very busy as this is the most common time for boilers to break down. This is why it is far better to have your servicing completed during the summer when you’re plumber is less busy. Your servicing should be carried out at least once every 12 months.

There are steps you can take yourself to prevent issues with your boiler, such as regular cleaning and properly maintaining your central heating system. Simple tasks such as bleeding your radiators on a regular basis and dealing with repairs to pipe work, radiators, and the boiler itself and all ensure that your boiler remains efficient and in good working order and that you and your family remained warm and safe during the winter.

It is essential that you ensure that your plumber is Gas Safe registered, and this is the only way that you can be certain that your plumber think to work with gas plumbing and is legally allowed to conduct the work on your boiler. Gas Safe replaced CORGI in 2010, and required or plumbers the work with gas to be fully qualified and have adequate insurance.

Commercial Electricians Sheffield / Leeds Electrician / Electrician Nottingham / Electricians Leeds

Personal recommendation is the course most often taken, but there are sources online, such as the Electrical Safety Council, which provide information. These will also help you to find an electrician with knowledge of the correct electrical safety standards, as these vary between England and Wales and Scotland.

Liverpool Electricians / Electricians in Leeds / Electricians Bristol

Find three electrical contractors who seem to fit the bill and then contact them and ask for a quote for the work you require. Remember to be clear about what you want and always ask for a written specification and quotation.

You should also ask for references. A good electrician will not hesitate to provide them. Check they are approved by a recognised organisation or are government-approved.

Ask each to provide a copy of their Public Liability Insurance and check whether they have a complaints resolution process. It is also essential that they offer an insurance-backed warranty. If you are employing the electrician through a builder or contractor, check their credentials by going through the same process. Do not just take the builders word, as spoken agreements do not provide any recourse if the electrician is incompetent.

Once you have made your decision you need to agree a number of things before they start work.

What is the timetable of work and expected completion date? You should have this in writing as part of the overall agreement or quotation. If the job is large, ask for regular updates on progress. If they are not going to meet the completion date given, make sure that they will tell you at once.

You should also agree the payment terms. It is quite normal for the electrician to request the cost of materials in advance, and you may also be asked for stage payments on larger jobs.

Once work begins, try not to make any changes to the requirement. These can be costly if work needs to be carried out again. If you do need to make changes, ensure that they are in writing and as part of the original specification or quote. If you are unhappy or concerned with the work or its progress at any point, speak to the electrician straight away. If you are dealing with a large contractor, try to speak to the person in charge and, once again, get any changes agreed put in writing as soon as possible.

Finally, when the work is completed and you are content with the outcome, ensure that you are provided with an electrical installation certificate.  This will confirm that the work carried out meets the UK Safety Standard, BS 7671. If the electrical work carried out is covered under Building Regulations you should also receive a certificate to confirm that the work meets the applicable standards.

Store these documents carefully, as they provide the proof that you have had the work undertaken safely. This will be essential if you should decide to sell the property.

In summary, finding a qualified tradesman will bring you peace of mind.

Leeds Gardener / Garden Fencing Sheffield / Gardeners Leeds

The first thing that you should do is to contact landscape gardeners who can assist you with creating a practical design for your garden. You can express to the designers what you would like to be included in the garden design, and they will be able to create a design that is suited t your style and taste that you can enjoy for years to come. So what are the possible features that could be included when improving your garden?

Liverpool Gardener / Gardener in Leeds

You may want to have your garden divided up into different areas for various activities. Perhaps you’d like a play area for the children, somewhere to dine and entertain guests, and somewhere to relax. You can create these separate areas by using different types of paving or materials on the ground. A child’s play area can be covered with gravel or wood chip, while you can create a patio or decking area for dining, and wood decking with a hot tub installed for a place to chill out. You can also use decorative paving bricks to link each of the areas, and may wish to have turfing between the sections for a natural look.

Another thing to consider is whether you’d like any water features incorporated into your design. This will be a major factor and could influence the entire design of your garden, so it’s essential that you’re certain about what you want. Having a solar powered water feature is something to consider too, as it would save energy, cut your electricity bills and would also avoid the need for the feature to be wired to the mains in your home.

For the finishing touches to any garden design, you should discuss lighting with your landscape gardeners. Carefully placed lights can make your garden look absolutely stunning at night time. You can have floor lights along pathways and in decking, lights pointing up trees to light the underside of the foliage, and lights that highlight your water features. You can also have security lights put in to deter criminals from entering your garden and stealing your precious plants and ornaments.

By hiring landscape designers to take care of your garden improvements, you will end up with a beautiful garden that flows and the entire outdoor space will tie in for a perfect place to enjoy the outdoors in the warmer months. You can often choose from wide range of materials to suit your taste too, including natural woods, natural stone, coloured block paving, gravel and much more. It’s best to make it clear to your landscape designers what your preferences are before you start, including whether you want plants, bushes and trees so that they have a starting point and know what you’d like incorporated into your design.

Landscape Gardener Nottingham / Gardeners Bristol / Edinburgh Gardener / Gardeners in Birmingham

Landscape gardening is easier than many people think. Modern technology and innovative design have combined to make landscape gardening accessible to all – whatever the size of your garden or available budget. Have a look at a few simple suggestions to help you create a thriving wildlife sanctuary – in your own garden or yard.

Leicester Gardeners / Manchester Gardener

Attract birds by hanging feeders in different locations. Insect-eating birds, like robins and tits, provide eco-friendly pest control, minimising the need for harmful pesticides. A simple landscape gardening project would be to install a water feature such as a bird bath. Birds need to bathe regularly to keep their feathers in good condition.

When you think about landscape gardening, a compost bin may not spring to mind immediately. But compost is an essential feature of the eco-friendly garden. You can recycle   kitchen waste effectively and benefit from a continuous supply of organic fertiliser to nourish plants and shrubs. You’ll never use chemical fertiliser again.

Choose the right kinds of trees, shrubs and flowers. Butterflies love buddleia, candytuft, aubretia and brambles and many more plants. Help our disappearing honey-bee population survive by planting lavender, thistles and clover. Don’t forget caterpillars – the Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell love the humble stinging nettle. Plants need time to become established, so it’s important that you make the right choice from the start. If you use the services of a local landscape gardening company, they should be able to help you select plants that will thrive in your particular locality.

If you’re hooked on the idea of eco-friendly landscape gardening, why not take it to a new level by creating your own wildlife pond? The idea is to establish a mini eco-system capable of supporting a variety of plants, animals, amphibians and insects – and you don’t have to have a large garden to do this successfully. You don’t even need to add fish to your pond – in time, it will attract a whole host of wildlife.

When digging your pond, remember that the depth of the water needs to vary. The shallowest water should be less than 5cm deep and the deepest water no more than 80cm. Call in a landscape gardening company for a perfect job. The ideal location should have some sun and some shade – you don’t want extremes of temperature. Concrete can be used as a liner but it is susceptible to damage. Landscape gardening experts prefer durable butyl. Stock your pond with a variety of aquatic plants. When filling your pond, remember to add a few bottles of natural pond or lake water, and it will soon be teeming with healthy micro-organisms.

So do your bit for the planet on your own doorstep – start your eco-friendly landscape gardening project today.

Roofers Sheffield – Flat roofing Sheffield – Roofers Liverpool – Flat roofing Liverpool

So if you are having a new extension built or need an existing flat roof repaired or replaced, all you need to do is ask a professional roofer to assess the job and give you advice about options and realistic quotes. If your existing roof is still sound but has some local damage, you may be able to have it repaired.

Roofers Bristol – Flat roofing Bristol – Roofers Leicester – Flat roofing Leicester

If you need a new roof you can choose to have it covered with modern, high performance roofing felt (Reinforced bitumen membrane or RBM) which is rot proof and copes well with thermal expansion or you could go for rubber. RBM tends to be stronger, more long lasting and easier to join than rubber but rubber does come in huge rolls so may need no joins. More people are opting for GRP laminate which is reinforced polyester resin infused with fibre glass. This comes in liquid form so has no joins, is very flexible and copes well with awkward spaces.

You will need insulation which is often under the ceiling below but can be laid on top of the decking. This creates a warm roof which is less vulnerable to condensation. Interestingly, one of the other things that complement a flat roof is soil and grass. Covering your flat roof in a layer of grass helps protect the original membrane and keeps all the moisture above the roof rather than on it. So if you fancy going green and having a living roof why not ask your roofer?.

You might also want to explore the possibility of turning your flat roof into a patio, roof garden or balcony. If the structure can take the weight and you have handrails fitted, you could have a whole new living space. A good roofer can lay lightweight patio slabs on top of a new, flat roof for a great finish.

Whatever flat roof you have laid, make sure that you ask for a system with a BBA certificate (a British Board of Agrément). The Flat Roofing Alliance which is a non- profit trade association also vets all its contractors or members so is a good indication of reliability.

Find a qualified professional roofer and you can expect your flat roof to be finished to a very high standard. It will be completely water proof, look good and have a 20- 30 year guarantee.

In winter time, plumbers are called out time after time due to frozen pipes causing families to be without water and heating in their homes. But there are ways that you can help to protect your plumbing and prevent the pipes from freezing up in the first place. In this article we will look at some of the things that you can do to keep your pipe work healthy in your home, regardless of how cold it gets outdoors. This could help save you money on costly plumbing repairs.

Many people during winter go on holiday to escape the cold weather – and it’s clear why! We get freezing temperatures between November and March and so many of us like to get away to an exotic sunny place to lift our spirits. If you do go away, you can help to prevent your pipes from freezing by turning off the water at the mains. If you’re away the water pumps through your plumbing for days and this can lead to severe damage and frozen pipes. Simply switch off the main water valve and any electric water pumps that you have in the house.

Gas plumbers Leeds – Plumbers Liverpool
- Plumbing Edinburgh

Another great tip that plumbers offer to people who want to prevent the plumbing in their homes from freezing in the winter time is a really simple one that many people don’t think of. Many homes have pipe work that is hidden away in cupboards. By simply opening the doors to the cupboards where there is plumbing, the pipes will be warmer because the central heating system will warm the house and the warm air will be able to circulate around the pipes – this is a great way to keep the temperature of the pipes a little higher than if the cupboards are left closed. It is advisable to always keep your heating on a low temperature even if you are out also to prevent freezing.

Plumber Liverpool – Plumbing Services Nottingham – Plumber in Glasgow – Plumbers Leicester

Finally, any pipes that are outside should be insulated to keep the cold weather from freezing them during the winter. However, sometimes this is just not enough and the pipes can still freeze when temperatures drop to really low levels.  What you can do is have heating cables installed into your home to run along any pipes that are either outside or are on outer walls of your home. This will stop the pipes from freezing and could save you a lot of money in plumbing repairs works.

If you do happen to find that your pipes freeze during winter, it is very important that you call in a qualified plumber straight away as if they are left they may not thaw out depending on how long the cold weather lasts and this can lead to the pipes bursting and flooding your home, which would cost a lot more in repairs than dealing with the frozen pipe work. You should treat frozen pipes as a plumbing emergency and should contact a plumber immediately regardless of the time, especially at night when temperatures are generally lower than during the day.