Loft conversions are one of the best known ways to add habitable space to your home, and we’ve all seen master bedrooms with en suite bathrooms that turn that attic space into a cosy place to get a good night’s sleep, right up at the top of the house.
But while most of us might think of converting the loft, many houses have a cellar too – and it’s equally likely to be missing out on its full potential if you currently only use it for storage.
It’s that time of year when many households’ thoughts turn to spring cleaning, and if you’re planning to give your house the onceover from top to bottom, a bit of simple preparation can help make it less of a mammoth task.
Here are just a few ways to get the best results from your spring cleaning in 2018 by combining the latest innovations in cleaning products and microfibre cloths with good old-fashioned remedies and elbow grease.
If you have a decent amount of loft space that has only ever been used for storing the Christmas tree and gathering dust, a loft conversion might be worth considering as a way to add living space and value to your home.
Back in the summer of 2015, Sainsbury’s Bank commissioned some research and found that 31% of estate agents consider loft conversions as one of the best value-adding home improvements, on a par with a new bathroom or even a single-storey extension.
Continue reading What you need to know about renovating a loft
Energy saving products sometimes suffer from poor public perception. It can be hard to look beyond the higher upfront cost of some eco-friendly products, while others may feel forced upon you, such as the ban on incandescent light bulbs or high-powered vacuum cleaners.
But the point that many people miss is that these are not just old second-rate technologies being forced into our homes; they are genuine innovations that mean we can get the same or better results with a fraction of the energy consumption.
Continue reading What difference do energy saving products actually make?
Homeowners everywhere dream of stamping their personality on their home, and while kitchen renovations can be ambitious, they can also have the biggest effect, and it doesn’t have to cost the earth to get the job done.
These are just some of the ways you can complete kitchen renovations on a budget, without compromising too much on the finished product – and how you can even save money over the long term.
Continue reading Kitchen renovations: tips for a more economical cooking space
Eliminating unwanted draughts from your home could save you anywhere from £25 to £50 a year, depending on who you ask – and as draught proofing the home can be done on the cheap, it’s easy to come out in profit even within the space of a single windy winter.
The autumn months have an undeniable effect on our gardens – not all trees lose their leaves of course, but those that do end the summer season in a blaze of glory before covering the grass with a crispy or mulchy mass that needs quick attention to avoid it getting trodden into the lawn.
Continue reading Garden waste: prepping the garden for autumn
If your home improvement skills are more ‘don’t it yourself’ than ‘do it yourself’, you might feel reluctant to try your hand at any new projects – but with a few simple DIY lessons to learn before attempting DIY again, you can avoid some of the most common pitfalls.
Continue reading Five DIY lessons to learn before attempting DIY
Loft conversions are a wonderful way to add more space to your home without the need to move house, meaning you can stay put for many years to come. Converted lofts are ideal for an extra bedroom, if you’ve got a growing family, and are also perfect as a living room, a study, or even a games room. While they are a great solution to the problem of space, there are a few things you need to be aware of before any building work begins.
1. Check you can accommodate a staircase
This may seem obvious, but it’s not just any staircase you will need; it’s a permanent one. This means you need plenty of available space for the staircase in the below room.
2. Check if you need planning permission
Most loft conversions don’t require planning permission, but it is still an important thing to check before you get started with researching the idea any further. A quick check with your local council could avoid a legal nightmare further down the line.
Whether you’re having work done to your own house or a commercial property, there are certain things you need to know and do before any work can commence. Read through our five key points and get prepared for any future building work you might be planning.
As the owner of the property, it is your responsibility to comply with all the relevant planning rules and building regulations when undertaking any building work. You may also need to check land boundaries and apply for planning permission. Additionally, you may want to consider extra insurance, depending on the work that is being done.
Continue reading 5 tasks to complete before starting building work
