As the clocks spring forwards and the first of the bank holiday weekends start to arrive, it’s that time of year to hire a skip and give the garden a proper going over ready for the main growing season of spring and summer.
What to think about when planning a conservatory
The UK can thank the North Atlantic Drift, an extension of the Gulf Stream, for its temperate climate, with winters significantly warmer than you’d expect in a country this far north.
Unfortunately for sun-lovers, the summers are temperate too, and if you want to enjoy the warmth of the British summertime sun at its best, you’ll need a summer house, garden room or conservatory.
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Why a vegan diet is better for the environment
People choose to be pescetarian, vegetarian, vegan and everything in between for a whole range of personal reasons, ranging from the ethics of slaughtering animals for meat, to just not liking the taste.
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Top tips for renovating a basement
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.
Perfect spring cleaning tips for 2018
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.
What you need to know about renovating a loft
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.
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Can carpets be recycled?
Can carpets be recycled? The short answer is yes, of course! Like most other materials, there are all kinds of ways to directly reuse or recycle carpets so that you don’t have to send a fairly large and bulky item to landfill.
Here are some of the suggestions from Recycle Now, which is operated by the charity Wrap – the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
How to do the perfect house clearance
With February underway and (at long last) some blue skies over parts of the UK, the evenings will soon start to feel a bit lighter and brighter, not to mention a bit warmer.
That will mean an increase in people moving house, and more households turning their thoughts to spring cleaning even if they’re not planning a move.
How to keep office paper to a minimum
The ‘paperless office’ was a dream of the late 20th century, when the promise of the digital era seemed like it could eliminate the need for hardcopies of just about everything.
What difference do energy saving products actually make?
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?