Properties in the UK fit into one of two categories: Traditional Construction Most houses, bungalows and low-rise flats are brick or block wall construction. They generally have a sloping roof and will either have solid or cavity walls, depending on the era they were built. Non-traditional Construction Anything other than
ZED Pods, manufacturers of rapid build, affordable modular homes, have received planning permission from Bristol City Council for 11 houses to be built above the Chalks Road car park, next to St George Park. The scheme, including nine one bedroom pods and 2 two bedroom pods, will be the first
If you have recently given your home a serious makeover, now that the repairmen are gone and the mess is cleaned, you are probably assessing whether everything is as you imagined it. However, with so many choices to make it seems as though the work is never done, especially when
There are many details that need to be considered when setting up a home office. The room itself is very important, as are the desk and chair. Other utility items that help you do your job are next in line for consideration. Another important factor for a functional home office
Thousands of fire doors in blocks of flats across Brighton and Hove have failed fire safety tests and will need to be replaced, costing the council over £2.5 million. Dozens of council flats in the area were found to be using fire doors that could not withstand heat for the
Starting a company is always a big step. Not only do you need to carefully think about everything that’s on the table, but you need to bear in mind that it’s a complicated process that will cost you a lot of money unless you plan it to the smallest detail.
Do you feel like your interiors could use a makeover? While many of us have a wishlist, not all of us are quite sure how they can translate their ideas into reality. However, there’s no reason to worry. With just a few simple interiors design tricks up your sleeve, you
BLACKBX, the smart Wi-Fi and marketing analytics start-up, today announced the launch of its brand new “Wi-Fi Stories” feature – initially available on a free trial period. The Instagram-style stories feature is a unique digital channel for venue owners to display promotions, deals and events to customers, including links to
Properties in the UK fit into one of two categories: Traditional Construction Most houses, bungalows and low-rise flats are brick or block wall construction. They generally have a sloping roof and will either have solid or cavity walls, depending on the era they were built. Non-traditional Construction Anything other than a brick or block wall construction is defined as ‘non-traditional’. These include metal framed, pre-cast concrete, in-situ concrete and timber framed properties. The reason they’re split into categories is so that buyers and mortgage lenders are aware of any potential risks with the property. Mortgage lenders will want to know that a property is suitable collateral for their loan. Buyers will want to be sure that they won’t have to pay too much for repairs over time and that they will be able to sell their house fast should they decide to move. Now, let’s look in more detail at each of the constructions and what to be aware of if you’re looking at a property without much additional information. Metal Framed There are around 140,000 metal framed houses in the UK and a number of aluminium framed ones. The majority were built after WWII when rapid re-building was required due to bomb damage. They are, however, made to look like standard houses with finishes of brick, render or imitation brick and many of them are so convincing that a specialist eye would be needed in order to confirm whether they are actually metal framed or not. One way to find out if the house is metal framed is to look in the roof space. There will usually be unlined sheathed metal framing or metal stud framing, lined with plasterboard. Pre-cast Concrete Around 284,000 houses in the UK have concrete panels as their main wall structure. These were built throughout the 1920s, then again in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There are two types of pre-cast concrete houses – panel and pre-cast. Panel systems are created in a factory before being transported to a building site for construction. If they are used as external walls then they will either look like concrete, or will have brick or tile affixed to them, imitating a traditional house. Pre-cast concrete systems are concrete frames with in-fill panels. The panels will be slotted into the frame and can mostly be found in two-storey properties. In-situ Concrete Introduced during the two great wars in the UK, in-situ walling was intended to keep costs low and construction time down. However, they ended up being more costly than traditional builds. The most well-known buildings with in-situ concrete were the Wimpey homes built between the 1940s and 1970s. Timber Framed Houses with timber frames will usually have cladding on the outside that protects the property from the elements, as well as making them look more appealing. From around 1920 to the late ‘70s approximately 108,000 timber framed houses were built in the UK. During the ‘80s brick and block constructions became more popular, until the ‘90s when timber frames made a slight come-back again. Recognising whether your property is timber framed or not depends on when it was built. Pre-WWII houses were mostly clad with timber as well as the structure being built from it. However, post-war constructions were clad with bricks that made them more traditional in appearance. There will usually be indicators somewhere within the property as to whether it is a timber frame or not and a specialist will be able to work this out. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) More recently there has been an increased need for housing, at the same time as there is a lack of skilled workers. Therefore, the Government is now encouraging property developers to use MMC to fulfil demand. Methods such as using Aircrete blocks, thin joint systems and structural insulated panels are helping to evolve more traditional masonry and timber frame constructions. Similarly, steel frame systems have developed, along with in-situ concrete techniques which has led to insulated concrete forms becoming a more popular choice. The point of MMC is to find ways of reducing construction time on site, whilst increasing the number of properties built. The quality of the properties isn’t compromised and developers are able to more accurately forecast costs and turnaround.
ZED Pods, manufacturers of rapid build, affordable modular homes, have received planning permission from Bristol City Council for 11 houses to be built above the Chalks Road car park, next to St George Park. The scheme, including nine one bedroom pods and 2 two bedroom pods, will be the first development to be built as part of the five-year Bristol Housing Festival. Some of the pods could be on site in time for the next Bristol housing Festival exhibition in mid-October. The pods will be road-tested, in a real-world scenario, to accelerate the delivery of quality, affordable housing in Bristol. This decision pioneers a way to create a 100% affordable, low carbon housing development over an existing land use, a car park in this case. This environmental and socially focused development will deliver much needed affordable housing in the area for young people and others at risk of housing crisis. By creating a mixture of affordable tenures, with four units to be let at social rent level, a new community model will be created to ensure that the support networks are in place for the tenants. This project is a collaboration between Bristol Housing Festival, ZED Pods Ltd, a Bristol based Housing Association, the YMCA Bristol, Bristol and Bath Regional Capital and Bristol City Council. National planning and development consultancy Turley provided planning and strategic communications services for the scheme. Jez Sweetland, Project Director for Bristol Housing Festival said: “Bristol City Council’s decision to support this development is great news for Bristol. Our initial plans were for 7 pods, however we are now able to provide 11 pods through this planning approval. We are excited that this Festival project is a quality, low carbon build with great sustainability credentials and we look forward to seeing the pods completed.” Once all of the relevant planning conditions have been met, ZED Pods will begin production of the 11 pods at the Peterborough factory of their partner Lesko Modular Group. The pods delivered to site will include hard fixtures such as a kitchen including fridge/cooker/hobs and a wet room with shower, loo and washbasin. Dr Rehan Khodabuccus, Operations Director of ZED Pods said: “The ZEDPods development rethinks existing land use, demonstrating a new possibility in helping solve the housing crisis, whilst at the same time providing beautiful, low carbon housing that lasts. Our focus on a 100% sustainable end-of-life construction solution involves an integrated roof mounted solar array, a super insulated building envelope with triple glazed windows, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery coupled with a design that gives exceptional levels of daylighting resulting in extremely low running costs.” Ben Silvey, Director YMCA Bristol said: “On behalf of the young people we see day in and day out who can’t afford a decent home in our city, we are absolutely delighted. We can’t wait to the moment that the first young people move into these excellent quality, truly aspirational and genuinely affordable homes.” ZED Pods will provide several additional improvements on the site including new lockable bike storage for future residents and repositioning CCTV cameras to improve observation for residents’ safety. It will also maintain all mature trees and retain all the existing car park spaces – so retaining the amenity for the community, whilst delivering needed affordable housing. Amy Hickson, Associate Director at Turley said: “We are delighted to be working with ZED Pods and Bristol Housing Festival and by this outcome. We believe it marks an important step forward in finding solutions for Bristol’s housing challenge. The proposals represent an innovative solution to maximise the efficiency of land (a scarce resource) for a great social purpose.”
If you have recently given your home a serious makeover, now that the repairmen are gone and the mess is cleaned, you are probably assessing whether everything is as you imagined it. However, with so many choices to make it seems as though the work is never done, especially when it comes to the interior. For those lost in a multitude of options and who are worn out from making major remodeling decisions, here are a few smaller projects to consider that will highlight the beauty of your freshly renovated nest. Go green If you are an outdoorsy person, you shouldn’t think twice before you fill your home with plants. Huddle them in order to make a green corner or place them gingerly around the room. Esthetically speaking, plants will enrich any space with a dash of color. If you play around with how you arrange the pots, you can create many interesting arrangements which will revive a dull room. However, plants are more than decorative elements to your house. They purify the air, which then makes the room feel fresher and people less fatigued and therefore happier. Besides consequentially lifting your mood, the greenery is a good place to rest your eyes. The only thing to be mindful of is the intake of water and the amount of direct sunlight each plant requires, as well as whether you are able to provide them with those conditions. Let the light in Even countries which get a lot of sunlight all year through, like Australia, have to sometimes compensate with lamps and chandeliers when there is not enough light or windows in a room. If you wish for a room to appear spacious and open, consider track lighting. It is quite convenient since it can be placed even on walls and beams, enabling more light sources to be placed throughout the room. Even the atmosphere in the house can be set with a specific light setting. For example, head for well-equipped lighting stores in Sydney in search of dimmers and lamps which can give your bedroom a cozier and warmer feeling. Such stores always have an employee who can provide you with advice on the choice of the light source, depending on what your wishes are. Accessorize moderately Striking a balance between peppering every available surface of the house with trinkets and having room to move is not always an easy task for people who love ornaments. However, too much clutter, no matter how gorgeous those individual items look, can turn your elegant family house, whether it`s a country house or a downtown 3-bedroom apartment, into an aesthetically-challenged flee market. So, think in terms of central pieces, those that will catch everyone’s eye and enrich the lovely undertone you already created. It can be anything from a vase to a clock, but once you set it in place, make sure that other elements, if any, accentuate the beauty of both your home and that central piece, instead of disrupting it. Mix and match Don’t be afraid to play around with fabrics, materials, and colors since the combinations you can create can give your interior just the right boost. Hardwood goes well with finer elements, so your wooden crate can be a resting place for a modern glass lamp. Cold marble kitchen countertops are perfect for placing a small flower pot, or a set of wooden utensils. A leather armchair could be combined well with soft cashmere thrown over it, and if your living room is black and white, throw in a yellow pillow or two to give it some life. If your bathroom has just a little window as the source of light, paint the walls white, choose bright colored tiles, as well as towels. Depending on the floor color and material, mix dark surfaces with pastel carpets and vice versa, but don’t forget that you would need a thicker fabric for tile floors if you wish to stay warm. Although you might be happy with the way the interior of your home looks like, there are probably a few things that you could change, just to strike a better balance with the atmosphere you created. If you are a nature lover, adding plants and flower pots will please you both visually and psychologically, while carefully positioned lighting can contribute to boosting your mood. For trinkets collectors, the only cure is to limit their budget and aim for central pieces instead of the whole store, while artistic souls could enjoy bravely mixing styles and materials. Whatever you choose, just bear in mind that when it comes to interior decorating, less is more.
There are many details that need to be considered when setting up a home office. The room itself is very important, as are the desk and chair. Other utility items that help you do your job are next in line for consideration. Another important factor for a functional home office is the lighting. Unfortunately, many people forget this aspect and often times invest in good lighting way too late. Poor lighting can cause eyestrain and headaches, which often leads to tiredness. Here are some of the best tips that will make your home office lighting enjoyable and keep you in a more productive mood. Every room is different Before you start installing your lighting, you need to evaluate the space. Start by tracking the natural light during the day in order to determine which areas are already getting enough sunlight and which areas need your assistance. The position of the furniture in the room will have a huge impact on your decision as well. Try to keep the areas where you spend the most time well lit. If necessary, don’t hesitate to move some furniture around. If you have especially big windows and/or are simply positioned in a way that you get too much sunlight, you should also consider putting up curtains. The goal is to find the perfect balance of light that will make you feel comfortable. Explore, enjoy, and let your imagination run wild with the amazing style of custom neon lights to your home with the help of Echo Neon Studio. Avoid direct lighting While you need to ensure that the area you work in is well lit, you should try to avoid direct lighting. The goal is to diffuse the light in order to keep it warm, but still bright enough to see. This is by no means an easy task and you should experiment around until you figure out what suits you best. Try moving around a few different light sources until you get the best results. A good way to avoid direct lighting is by opting to use lighting sources like desk lamps that can illuminate your desk without shining it directly into your face. Hire a professional Designing your lighting is just one part of the job. The second part is actually installing it. When it comes to electrical work, it’s always best to have a professional do it. Installing all the cables and lights is much harder than it looks and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Badly installed lighting can also cause electrical fires, which is one more reason to consider a professional. In Australia, such matters are taken seriously and there are very strict laws when it comes to electrical work. A professional electrician in Sydney is therefore always the best solution when it comes to lighting installation. Professionals often end up costing less in the long run as they get the job done faster and with more efficient materials and tools. Natural lighting should be a priority Natural light is very unique and offers a variety of advantages over artificial light sources. Natural light is much warmer and healthier for the body. In order to keep up a positive mood, people need to spend at least some time in the sunlight every day. Natural light is also vital for vitamin D production. Because of that, you should always make use of the natural sunlight available in the home office. The desk should be moved to a position where it’s exposed to natural light as much as possible during the day. Just try to avoid the light hitting a direct angle on your monitor. The best solution is for the light source to be next to your work surface. Consider decorative lighting The light purpose shouldn’t be only as a practical means of making things visible. Light can also be decorative and help set the mood of your home office. Consider installing smaller lighting sources that won’t have a huge impact on the visibility, but instead serve as decoration. There are many decorative lights that can be bought in shops and you should pick a few that best fit your style. Proper lighting plays a vital role in every office, including the one at home. Bad light will not only slow you down, but can also have a negative effect on your health. Use the tips above to experiment with light and figure out which solutions provide you with the optimal working conditions. There are many decorative lights that can be bought in shops and you should pick a few that best fit your style. One of the options that are often considered as a vintage accent point in the workplace is Neon lights, as they will bring a piece of that old business vibe you might need on boring days, another advantage of using them is the LED Neon lights durability. New lighting designs have been adjusted to LED technology, resulting in a remarkable improvement in affordability and energy saving. These are also safe options for use in the house since there is no breakable glass in them.
Thousands of fire doors in blocks of flats across Brighton and Hove have failed fire safety tests and will need to be replaced, costing the council over £2.5 million. Dozens of council flats in the area were found to be using fire doors that could not withstand heat for the required 30 minutes. The doors in question are all at least 10 years old and were made by a company called Masterdor, which recently went bust. In high-rise blocks, the total number of faulty fire doors reached 1585 and there were 669 noted in ‘other flats.’ Councillor John Allcock, the new chair of the council’s Housing and New Homes Committee, said: “We have been in constant contact with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since they told us that Masterdor fire doors failed the 30-minute fire resistance standard in their tests. “We want to reassure residents that our highest priority is their safety.” The council are working with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to reviewing their fire safety practices. John Allcock continued, “The advice we’ve been given on these fire doors is that the risk to public safety remains low as a building’s fire protection uses a range of measures and a failure of one should not significantly change the overall safety. “We’ve carried out additional fire risk assessments on the high-rise buildings where these doors are fitted to look specifically at the potential impacts of the doors failing within 30 minutes and the assessments confirm that the risk remains low.” Original SourceBrighton and Hove News
Starting a company is always a big step. Not only do you need to carefully think about everything that’s on the table, but you need to bear in mind that it’s a complicated process that will cost you a lot of money unless you plan it to the smallest detail. So, there are many different types of companies that you can start, but today, we’re going to focus on one that can be quite rewarding financially – starting a construction company. Now, there are plenty of things that you need to keep in mind, and tips that don’t apply to starting a different kind of company. So, if you had this in mind, let’s move on to the most important tips before you start your own construction company. What should you know? Make a killer business plan This is the most important thing, as your business plan will serve as the guide for your construction company. The things that you include in the business plan will be the things that differentiate you from the rest of your competition. Moreover, the business plan is there to make sure that you have thought about all the different aspects of your future business. This will include a summary of your job, the description of the company, any marketing and sales plans, and also your financial projections. Have everything you need Another quite important thing is that you have what you need from the very beginning. Apart from the interior of your office, which needs to be pretty (as your clients will judge a book by its cover), have the necessary equipment on which you will definitely spend a lot of money. Never try to save money on this as the equipment and the materials are the pillars of your business. You can save money by looking for trucks for sale and finding good ones that are offered at a price that matches their quality. Sometimes you might pay more for a certain thing, but if it will help you save money on replacing it in the long run, it’s a good idea. Take care of the business registration Now that you have drafted a business plan and that you acquired all the essential equipment for your business, it’s time to start thinking about the rules, licenses and registrations. Bear in mind that the location of your business plays a very significant role. Your town, city or country might have specific rules and regulations, so you really need to do a bit of research on the topic. As far as licenses are concerned, you will probably need to have specific licenses that will make it possible for you to do your job. Also, don’t forget that there might be special licenses and permits that you need in order to bid on government contracts (which is a very important thing that can make your company much stronger). Think of business insurance Obviously, you need to think about the insurance of your company. The first thing to think about is the general liability insurance, as it will protect you against worksite injuries, among other things. Also, think about other vehicle and property insurance policies just to make sure that your new construction company’s equipment and machines are covered in case of an unforeseen issue. Think about business loans Now would be the perfect time to start thinking about any loans that you might need. Starting a construction company is not an easy and cheap task, so you will definitely need some help on the side. Put on paper everything that you need and see which things you can rent or purchase for a small price (such as tools, for example, but once again, make sure they are in perfectly good order). Once you finish with your business plan, you can present it to the bank and ask for the loan that you need. There are different business loans that you can apply for (but these differ from country to country and from state to state, so acquaint yourself with these different options). Basically, starting a construction company is a pricy and challenging task. However, it’s not impossible, and if you play your cards right, you might end up earning three or more times more than you invested. So, good luck and remember – think carefully!
Do you feel like your interiors could use a makeover? While many of us have a wishlist, not all of us are quite sure how they can translate their ideas into reality. However, there’s no reason to worry. With just a few simple interiors design tricks up your sleeve, you too can transform your living space and give it a fresh, new look. The best part is – you don’t have to break the bank to make it happen. Take a look at our list of five brilliant ideas you can use to freshen up your home and make it look like new. Boost your home’s curb appeal with effective landscaping The exterior of your home matters just as much as its interior, as it is the first thing everyone will notice when they come for a visit. Although it’s often overlooked, the way that your landscaping is designed greatly affects your home’s curb appeal. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still have a gorgeous garden. Go to your local greenhouse and talk to the experts about the types of plants that would be easy to grow in your area. Garden beds, flowering shrubs, and a couple of trees go a long way in designing a beautifully landscaped front yard. Update your cabinet and drawer handles Many homeowners think that, in order to give their kitchen a new look, they need to spend a fortune on renovating it. The truth is, there is a much cheaper way to freshen up your cooking area that will not set you back thousands of dollars. A simple way to boost the appearance of your dated kitchen is to swap your old handles. Take off those old, dirty and dated handle pulls and knobs and treat your kitchen cabinetry to something more modern. Give your cabinets a new look with bronze, brushed nickel, or shiny stainless finishes. The design choice is up to you. Swap your dated lighting fixtures for something modern Proper lighting goes a long way in transforming the look of your interior. When used strategically, it can elevate your living space and bring your room to life. However, before you buy modern fixtures, be sure to check your home wiring. While hanging fixtures do not call for new wiring, other lighting fixtures may require the wiring to be replaced altogether. Now, almost all electrical work requires a permit, and in some states such as Australia, it’s illegal to do your own electrical work. That’s why many homeowners from Sydney count on a reliable electrician in Western suburbs to tackle the electrical issues and assure a safe installation. Add wallpapers to change the look of your interiors Another way to boost the look of your interiors is to install wallpaper. And no, we don’t mean those tacky floral wallpapers everybody used to have back in the ‘90s. Nowadays, there are all sorts of wallpapers that can make your home look as it was decorated by an interior designer. Easy to apply and remove, these wallpapers are reusable, so you can use them again for another room. Update your walls with amazing patterns and graphics – whether you opt for funky geometric patterns or something more subtle, you’re sure to transform your living space and freshen it up. Spruce up your interiors by bringing the outdoors in An instant decorating tool, plants are an easy and inexpensive way to update your interiors. Natural air purifiers, they’ll absorb toxic pollutants from the air, producing oxygen in turn. Bring in the outdoors with a couple of low-maintenance plants – Aloe Vera, Philodendron, Bromeliad, and Snake Plant are houseplants that are sure to spruce up your home and will forgive you in case you forget to water them for a couple of days (or weeks). Updating your home doesn’t always mean you have to spend a fortune to be able to see some changes. Sometimes, even the smallest of tweaks can help rejuvenate your living space and bring in a breath of fresh air. Use the tips above to infuse your home with new energy and renew your space as well as your overall sense of well-being.
BLACKBX, the smart Wi-Fi and marketing analytics start-up, today announced the launch of its brand new “Wi-Fi Stories” feature – initially available on a free trial period. The Instagram-style stories feature is a unique digital channel for venue owners to display promotions, deals and events to customers, including links to encourage TripAdvisor and Google reviews. It is important market your brand right, finding good instagram advertising agencies is a key step to take. These short five second videos and landing pages, which are immediately displayed to returning customers when they go online, eliminate the need for wasteful and time-consuming paper promotions. This allows venues to create new promotions on the fly and, since detailed conversion analytics are available for all promoted Stories, lets venues experiment with different displays and track their success. Stories gives venue owners more value from their Wi-Fi, which has historically been given away for free, while also keeping customers up-to-date on relevant deals in real-time such as Happy Hour promotions, today’s specials and upcoming live music. Stories is now available on BLACKBX’s Wi-Fi and data analytics platform, which is an alternative log in option for secure guest Wi-Fi that doesn’t require a password. The launch also follows BLACKBX market research in May 2019 revealing that the majority of British food and drink venues put little or no effort promoting new deals or attracting new customers, and that only 38% of people have left an online review for their favourite restaurant – see more in notes for editors. “Like paying for dinner by cheque or smoking at the bar, I think that physical food & drink promos and Wi-Fi passwords scrawled on blackboards will be alien concepts in the next five years,” said BLACKBX founder and CEO, Patrick Clover. “We’re on a mission to make Wi-Fi better for everyone and give physical venues the digital tools they need to reach their customers. Physical promotions are easily ignored, they take time to design, must be re-printed for every change and, let’s face it, paper is a poor environmental choice. For businesses that want more value from Wi-Fi or don’t know how to get started with digital marketing, our Stories feature is the ultimate in-venue promotional tool and the perfect replacement for boring paper promotions.” Core features of Stories include: Stories can promote anything chosen by the venue eg. a new menu, an upcoming event, a TripAdvisor review page, or a daily promotion to help increase transactions (eg. buy-one-get-one-free cocktails, happy hour events, the weekly pub quiz) Venues see detailed conversion analytics for all their Stories (eg. how many customers left a review, how many saw their latest cocktail promotion), letting them experiment with different promotions and track their success No other guest Wi-Fi / captive portal provider has a solution of this kind “High street shops and the hospitality sector at large is struggling, it can’t compete with the likes of Amazon, Airbnb and JustEat, and things are getting worse not better,” continued Clover. “We want to empower these venues with the digital tools and customer understanding that have made digital businesses so successful – helping them know their customers better, showcase everything they have to offer and be a bit more agile when it comes to communicating with customers.”
