Posts

Residential Construction: The Importance of a Contract

Image
 Residential Construction: The Importance of a Contract A domestic building contract does not have to be complicated but the consequences of not having a robust contract with your builder can be. Picture a villa in a prestigious location, it is in need renovation and an extension and would allow the property to keep up with the neighbours. A builder has been found, a price agreed and all involved are hopeful the works will be completed in 18 months. There is just one, seemingly small problem, the contract consists of five pages of outline design drawings and a promise to carry out the works described in the document for an agreed price. Perhaps not surprisingly, the above project does not complete in 18 months and the price is certainly not as agreed. In fact, the project eventually completes at twice the anticipated price and over a year late using a replacement contractor. In the interim the original contractor is terminated and legal proceedings commenced in relation to the amount d
Post a Comment
Read more

The Complete Buyer's Guide to Choosing Laminate Flooring

Image
 The Complete Buyer's Guide to Choosing Laminate Flooring When it comes to choosing laminate flooring we know that it can feel overwhelming.  What style to choose, what colours will look best, do you need underlay and how long it will last are all questions that will be going through your mind when trying to choose the perfect laminate flooring for your home. What is laminate flooring? Laminate flooring is a type of floor covering that is made from several layers of material to form a firm and durable type of flooring. It usually has at least 4 layers.  A backer layer – this layer provides the stability and support for the flooring and is the base of the laminate flooring. A core layer – this layer helps to prevent dents (which can often occur in real wood floors) and retain the inherent structure of the flooring. A décor layer – this layer shows the style of the laminate flooring, whether it’s a wood effect, tile effect or stone effect. A wear layer – this layer provides the prote
Post a Comment
Read more

Reasons why your drains are draining slow

Image
 Reasons why your drains are draining slow If your drains are draining slow it might seem like a mild inconvenience. However, this can be a warning sign that means something is wrong with your drains. Below are some tips to make sure on how to sort out this problem before it gets worse. Diagnosing why your drains are draining slowly: Slow drainage is one of the most common drain issues and while it can be easy to fix it, it could also be an early warning sign of a greater issue. The most common cause is either deteriorating old pipes or obstructing in the pipes which are breaking down and causing blockage. There could be a bigger problem such as root ingress in the drains or blocked drains. We can assist with any domestic or commercial drainage issues. Some people have received advice on pouring boiling water down the drain along with baking soda and vinegar. We advise that you should NOT do this as this can damage your pipes and the sink or bath itself. Not to mention the danger to yo
Post a Comment
Read more

10 Things You Need To Know Before Building A House Extension

Image
 10 Things You Need To Know Before Building A House Extension Many people are full of enthusiasm and are very keen on working on a new project, with thought, careful planning and patience you will be much more likely to get your desired end result. There are many important things which you need to know about, here are some below: 1) Quality Why have an extension? There are many reasons to this as some of it can be for longer term enjoyment, change the building in to your final dream property, add value to your home, need to create much needed extra space in the short term until you can afford to move. These are the reasons why quality is important when extending your house. 2) Cost Many people clam up at the mere mention of the budget but the purpose of setting a proper budget is that so that design time is not wasted and the final design is something that can be afforded by you and can be actually delivered. Your budget is not to do with setting architectural fees or any consultant an
Post a Comment
Read more

Tips of Bricklaying

Image
  Tips of Bricklaying  Try to ensure a good mix of your facing bricks For an attractive appearance without any unsightly colour differences or banding in the wall, we strongly advise you to select and mix the bricks from 3 or 4 different packs. We would recommend building a small sample wall panel on site prior to build. This will provide bricklayers with a reference of how to mix the bricks as well as a being good indication of how the finished walls should look like. Bricks with frogs Bricks with frogs which is a shallow indentation in the top surface, should be laid frog uppermost as it will maximise the brickwork’s structural performance.  Do not lay bricks in the rain Do not lay bricks in the rain! Also ensure that any fresh brickwork is completely covered from the elements. If brickwork is exposed to water for a prolonged period of time, the risk of leaching, cement residues and efflorescence will increase which can cause an unsightly finish. The effect of different  mortar colou
Post a Comment
Read more

What are your landlord responsibility for gas safety?

Image
What are your landlord responsibility for gas safety? The gas safety regulations 1998 outlines the duties as a landlord to make sure that all gas appliances, flues, fittings and chimneys and working successfully. If you're letting a property with gas appliances installed, there are three main legal responsibility: 1) Gas Safety Checks To ensure tenants safety all the gas appliance and flues need to undergo an annual gas safety check and this needs to be done by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer. Once this is done you will be provided a Landlord Gas Safety Record or even Gas Safety Certificate with details of all the checks that were carried out. Gas safety checks can be carried out any time from 10-12 months after the last check. Appliances owned by your tenants are not your responsibility, However it is still up to you to ensure the safety of connecting anything. 2) Gas Safety Record  Following the annual gas safety check and receipt of your Landlord Gas Safety Record and will need t
Post a Comment
Read more

Mandatory Electrical Safety Regulations to be Introduced in England

Image
Mandatory Electrical Safety Regulations to be Introduced in England The government have introduced mandatory electrical installations inspecting for all rented homes. Detailed regulations are enforcing an compulsory 5 years electrical safety checks in private rented sector starting from July 2020 and this has been put forward and needs parliamentary approval. The regulation proposes that, from 1 July 2020, all new private tenancies in England need to make sure that electrical installations are tested and inspected by a qualified person prior to the start of a new tenancy. The landlord will be required to make sure that the installation is tests and inspected at least every 5 years and more regularly of the most recent safety report requires it. For existing tenancies, an electrical safety test will be carried out by 1 April 2021, with regular tests in accordance with the new regulations, which will apply to all properties across the PRS. A breach of the regulations could see landlords
Post a Comment
Read more