Leading energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE has been appointed to provide a £67 million repairs and maintenance service on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council. As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide high standards of affordable housing for local residents, the contract – which begins on 1st April 2020 –
McLaren has launched a new national business dedicated to the residential market. McLaren Living brings together McLaren Group’s property and construction expertise, responding to local needs by creating tailored, residential solutions. The business, led by Managing Director Matthew Biddle, will work to create agile, solutions-focused partnerships and joint ventures with
Basement extensions become a hot topic over the last decade, especially in London where homeowners with no space to extend their property traditionally were looking for alternative options. Lacking space on the ground can be a problem for any property owner, and it has been common for loft extensions to
5 Things to Remember When Choosing Kitchen Appliances Perth It’s always terrifying when your refrigerator seems to stand on its last leg, your microwave oven refuses to turn off, or your food processor makes crazy noises. All this only points to one thing: It’s time to go shopping for kitchen
Looking For Timber Flooring In Perth – Here Are Your Options Are you searching for timber flooring in Perth? Are you aware of the various options available today? Do you want a long-lasting timber floor? Here is everything you need to know about choosing the right timber flooring in Perth.
Sunstar Flooring Perth – The Most Reliable Installer of Luxury Vinyl Flooring Do you always feel anxious when you see the wear and tear of your existing flooring? If you’ve had it for several years now, there’s a good chance that your floor has seen its better days. One of
Looking For Timber Flooring In Perth – Here Are Your Options Are you searching for timber flooring in Perth? Are you aware of the various options available today? Do you want a long-lasting timber floor? Here is everything you need to know about choosing the right timber flooring in Perth.
Finding And Choosing Right Plumbers In Perth Whether you’re facing a plumbing emergency or you are searching for plumbers in Perth for regular plumbing work, you would want to hire the services of a reliable, experienced and reputable company. You shouldn’t choose the first plumber you can find even though
Leading energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE has been appointed to provide a £67 million repairs and maintenance service on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council. As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide high standards of affordable housing for local residents, the contract – which begins on 1st April 2020 – will see ENGIE provide responsive repairs, adaptations and estate management services to more than 4,200 homes across the borough over a ten-year period. In addition, ENGIE will also provide gas maintenance work, day-to-day and out of hours emergency repairs and the servicing of void properties. Martin Smithurst, Divisional Chief Operating Officer at ENGIE, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working once again with Tamworth Council – a partner that so closely shares our core values. “ENGIE has a proven track record of providing an excellent repairs and maintenance service, as well as helping our partners across the UK address their housing, social value and climate emergency-related priorities, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating that in Tamworth.“ Cllr Michelle Cook, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Communities, said: “ENGIE was selected after a robust, two-stage procurement process which included external legal and consultative support, interviews involving tenants and detailed assessments of all elements of the bids submitted. “All submissions were of a high standard and the winning contractors demonstrated an understanding of our needs and instilled confidence in their ability to deliver the service.” As part of the contract, ENGIE has commited to a number of social value measures which will benefit the wider community. These include training opportunities and the creation of apprenticeships for local people, as well as improvements to council-owned facilities such as play areas and community buildings.
McLaren has launched a new national business dedicated to the residential market. McLaren Living brings together McLaren Group’s property and construction expertise, responding to local needs by creating tailored, residential solutions. The business, led by Managing Director Matthew Biddle, will work to create agile, solutions-focused partnerships and joint ventures with private and public-sector organisations, bringing speed and flexibility to the process of building much-needed homes and mixed-use developments, across the UK. There will be a focus on mixed-use, residential development and placemaking in the UK. Matthew Biddle joins the business with 18 years of experience, leading residential development businesses at Berkeley Group. At McLaren, he will work alongside former Chief Executive of Newham Council, Kim Bromley-Derry CBE, to strengthen McLaren’s partnership offering and develop long-term joint ventures. Kevin Taylor, Chairman, McLaren Group, commented: “We welcome Matthew to McLaren at this exciting point in the evolution and growth of our company. His skills and experience will help us to deliver homes that the country so badly needs and new places where people want to live, work and stay. We look forward to sharing our can-do culture with local authorities, registered providers and other organisations, working in partnership to help them to meet and exceed their housing priorities.” Commenting on his new role, Matthew said: “It’s a pleasure to be joining at the inception of McLaren Living, working with McLaren Group’s leadership team to establish this new business. We will be delivering developments for the public sector along with homes for rent and sale; working in true partnerships to develop places that make a positive difference to people’s lives. “I’m particularly excited to be joining a team of passionate, experienced individuals who bring a fresh enthusiasm to building homes and places that enhance and transform communities, drive local employment and protect the environment.”
Basement extensions become a hot topic over the last decade, especially in London where homeowners with no space to extend their property traditionally were looking for alternative options. Lacking space on the ground can be a problem for any property owner, and it has been common for loft extensions to be used, or extra storeys to be added. But building upwards can create challenges with stability, and may even difficulties getting permission from neighbours. Basement extensions offer a potential solution to some of those problems. In 2020, however, are they still a sensible option if you are looking to add space to your property? One trend that seems to be falling by the wayside is that of the so-called ‘iceberg home’ – properties with enormous multi-level basement extensions that dwarf the size of the house on the surface level. And there seems to be less demand for basement extensions generally, with applications for basements extensions falling by 27% since last year. But just because the basement extension isn’t right for everyone doesn’t mean that it’s not right for you. Not all basement extensions need to be gigantic mansion-style structures and it may be the case that you could actually see a lot of benefits from an underground extension to your home for better use of the space. Here we take a look at whether you should get a basement extension in 2020. Adding value to your property When it comes to adding value to your home, putting in an extension is always considered one of the most valuable things you can do. It speaks to reason that larger properties tend to sell for more money. However, it can get a little complicated trying to calculate exactly what kind of difference a basement extension could make. Some experts have suggested that return on investment could be at around 1.3% – however, this can depend very much on the worth of your property per square metre, as well as what you actually use the space for. So, there is no guarantee that you would see a return on investment on the costs that you put in to build the extension. How much do basement extensions cost? The cost of a basement extension can vary on a number of factors, but it has been suggested that a cost of around £4,000 (plus VAT) per square metre is a fairly typical figure. Naturally, this number could rise if you are looking to add a particularly high specification extension. This is another issue that can affect the overall return on investment of your extension. Adding a basement can only have so much value, so don’t believe that unlimited spending will see unlimited value added. It simply won’t work that way. The legal and planning requirements You may find that the planning regulations regarding basement extensions are not as stringent as if you were completing an over ground extension, however, there are still rules and regulations you need to follow. These will depend on where you are based and you should look into the matter with your local council. It should be noted that there are some issues that you may not have even considered. For example, if you are extending an existing basement which already has a joining wall with a neighbour’s property – you can easily fall foul of party wall regulations when you attempt to extend. It’s a great idea to talk the project through with experienced basement extension providers to discuss exactly what regulations you will need to deal with. But there are challenges… Building a base extension naturally comes with a number of challenges that anyone considering doing should be aware of. There are engineering challenges with going very deep – especially with regards to how you can successfully excavate under a building. There are even stories of JCBs having to be buried in the foundations as there is no way to recover them after the digging has been completed. It is also essential to do a great deal of structural engineering work to understand how your excavation will impact sewers, pipes, and more. Ultimately, homeowners may decide that this level of detail and complexity is too much for their extension.
5 Things to Remember When Choosing Kitchen Appliances Perth It’s always terrifying when your refrigerator seems to stand on its last leg, your microwave oven refuses to turn off, or your food processor makes crazy noises. All this only points to one thing: It’s time to go shopping for kitchen appliances Perth. For some homeowners, this proves to be an exciting time. For others, it strikes fear in their hearts. If you fall in the latter group, then stop worrying. While the choices seem limitless, there are a few tips that can help you narrow down your list. 1) Be aware of your space One of the most critical factors to consider is space. Take note that this includes the current space you have in your home and the space where you want to fit your new appliance. Sometimes, a new appliance calls for new construction as well, so that might be a problem especially with a limited budget. But you can always work with your existing space if you look hard enough. Take out your measuring tools and figure out the height, width, and depth of the space where you want to position your new appliance. 2) Set your budget It’s always tempting to buy the latest appliances that come with all the newest tech, but can you really afford them? Be honest with yourself and just settle for something that fits your needs. After all, some kitchen appliances come with gimmicky features that you would end up not using at all. Sometimes, it’s really best to go simple. Set your budget before you go shopping and be sure you wouldn’t go over it. 3) Do your homework You should always do your homework before visiting your local appliance showroom. Without enough research, you might end up with outdated and overpriced appliances. We help you cut to the chase by allowing you to easily scroll through the different categories of kitchen appliances Perth. You’ll find that each and every product we offer doesn’t compromise when it comes to quality, durability, and efficiency, Of course, feel free to do your own research like reading buyer’s guides to help you get more information. 4) Ask help from experts When you visit an appliance showroom, you can expect salespersons to come up to you and try hard to sell their products. This could be annoying, especially if you simply want to know what’s out there. If possible, ask a friend, relative, or neighbour to help you out. For instance, asking someone who owns a specific appliance you’d also want to have can be a lifesaver. This is the time to ask for honest feedback about the product so you know exactly what to expect. 5) Be patient It takes time to find the perfect kitchen appliance. There’s no need to rush, as doing so would only increase the chances of ending up with the wrong product. If you’re in the market for new kitchen appliances, take a look at our extensive collection. Rest assured that all our products come with excellent warranties so you can buy with full confidence.
Looking For Timber Flooring In Perth – Here Are Your Options Are you searching for timber flooring in Perth? Are you aware of the various options available today? Do you want a long-lasting timber floor? Here is everything you need to know about choosing the right timber flooring in Perth. Timber floors have that natural timeless elegance that isn’t matched by any other flooring material. Timber floors can be extremely durable when maintained properly and can last generations. You also have a wide range of species available for flooring such as Spotted Gum, Black Butt, Jarrah, American oak or Bamboo among others. Types of Timber Flooring 1. Solid Timber Flooring Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular options for builders and families in Perth. It offers a durable surface and brings a level of sophistication and natural warmth to a home. Some of the common species of hardwood include Rose Gum, Red Mahogany, Iron Bark, Brush Box, Blue Gum, Spotted Gum and various others. It offers excellent value and is environmentally sustainable. Your solid timber floor can be resurfaced and polished many times to maintain that classic look. It’s also available in a wide range of styles, colours and species. 2. Engineered Flooring It’s a solid alternative to hardwood floors. It is generally recommended for areas where solid hardwoods can’t be used. It is made from multiple sheets of wood bonded together to create a single board. Engineered floors offer excellent resistance to shrinkage and expansion as well as temperature and moisture variations. These can be glued or floated. 3. Bamboo Flooring Bamboo flooring has the advantage of being harder than most Australian woods. It is an excellent choice for families who are environmentally conscious as it is sustainable, durable and brings that unique elegance to a home. 4. Laminated Flooring Laminate floors provide the class and texture of wood at an affordable price. These boards are made from high density fibre with a high quality timber image at the top. There is a protective layer that provides scratch and stain resistance. Laminate floors are a popular choice if you want a low maintenance floor. It doesn’t need any polishing, varnishing or sanding. It is also resistant to stains, discolouration, scratches and fading and you can install it over almost any flat surface. Choosing the Right Timber Flooring in Perth Now that you are aware of different options of timber flooring, here’s a list of important parameters to consider in order to choose the right timber floor for your home or business establishment in Perth. Durability Consider the amount of foot traffic a particular area in your home is likely to receive to choose the right timber floor for that particular area. For example, areas around the kitchen, main hallway and front door experience a lot of foot traffic and you would want a board capable of withstanding such high foot traffic in the long term. Sunlight Exposure and Humidity If a particular area of your home is exposed to sun for extended periods of time, you would want a timber floor that is resistant to shrinkage or discolouration. Standard timber floors shrink and lose colour when consistently exposed to sunlight. Similarly, humidity levels in particular areas of your home will also affect the durability of timber flooring. Discuss these things with your installer before choosing a particular board for these areas. Supplier and Installer Choose an experienced and reputed supplier and installer for your timber floor. Make sure they have the necessary experience to advise you on choosing the right flooring type. Keep in mind that timber floors can be installed in a variety of ways such as floated installation, plank on ply installation or direct installation. The choice of installation method will depend on the choice of board as well as conditions in your home. An experienced contractor will help you choose the right flooring type and installation method to ensure a long-lasting timber floor. Conclusion Overall, there are a number of options for timber flooring. Carefully consider the pros and cons of different options for different areas of your home, and choose an experienced installer to get a long-lasting and perfectly installed timber floor.
Sunstar Flooring Perth – The Most Reliable Installer of Luxury Vinyl Flooring Do you always feel anxious when you see the wear and tear of your existing flooring? If you’ve had it for several years now, there’s a good chance that your floor has seen its better days. One of the best ways to enhance the look and functionality of your house is to replace the floors with something more durable, elegant, and economical. These three things are what you can expect from luxury vinyl flooring. And when it comes to installing new floors, you should look no further than Sunstar Flooring Perth. Even experienced DIY builders may find it challenging to replace the flooring in their house. It’s best to leave this job in the hands of real professionals. Sunstar Flooring Perth has a team of experienced and reliable flooring experts who can guide you throughout the process—from picking the exact design of your luxury vinyl flooring to giving you valuable pointers on how to maintain them once the installation is complete. Here are some reasons why they recommend luxury vinyl flooring. 1) Aesthetics If you’ve looked into luxury vinyl flooring Perth before, then you probably know that they didn’t look as great as they do now. Without question, this type of flooring option has come a long way in terms of aesthetics. It’s not uncommon to see vinyl flooring that simulates the look and feel of hardwood flooring. This means you can enjoy the timeless beauty of hardwood flooring, but you wouldn’t have to deal with the maintenance costs associated with it. You can find both smooth and hand-textured vinyl flooring, so you shouldn’t have any problems installing the perfect floor that compliments the rest of your home. 2) Easy installation As noted earlier, installing vinyl flooring isn’t as difficult as installing other types of flooring. Still, you’d be better off letting the professionals do what they’re best at. While you need to shell out more money to pay the installer, you can rest easy knowing that the job will be done right the first time. You can avoid costly mistakes that could hurt your pocket, which could be a lifesaver if you still need to pay for other home renovation projects. For a small room, expect the installation process to be done in under 2 hours. 3) Durable One of the best things about luxury vinyl flooring is that they’re tough as nails. That’s something you’ll keep hearing from the folks at your local hardware store. They’re just that durable. As you probably know, your flooring can suffer a lot over the years, particularly if you have kids and pets running around all day. Vinyl floors are scratch and water-resistant. They’re so easy to clean as the stains wouldn’t penetrate the same way they do on hardwood floors. 4) Affordable Of course, you also have to consider your budget when choosing new flooring for your home. It could cost you quite a bit if you plan on replacing the flooring in the majority of the rooms, so it makes more sense to go for vinyl flooring because they don’t come with hefty price tags. Hardwood flooring costs a fortune, but you can get the same look and feel with vinyl flooring at a much lower price. And since the installation process is easy, expect a lower fee from your installer as well. If you’re ready to bite the bullet and switch to luxury vinyl flooring, be sure to get in touch with Sunstar Flooring Perth. As the leading flooring company in Australia, you can count on them to install your new flooring and give your home some much-needed makeover.
Looking For Timber Flooring In Perth – Here Are Your Options Are you searching for timber flooring in Perth? Are you aware of the various options available today? Do you want a long-lasting timber floor? Here is everything you need to know about choosing the right timber flooring in Perth. Timber floors have that natural timeless elegance that isn’t matched by any other flooring material. Timber floors can be extremely durable when maintained properly and can last generations. You also have a wide range of species available for flooring such as Spotted Gum, Black Butt, Jarrah, American oak or Bamboo among others. Types of Timber Flooring 1. Solid Timber Flooring Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular options for builders and families in Perth. It offers a durable surface and brings a level of sophistication and natural warmth to a home. Some of the common species of hardwood include Rose Gum, Red Mahogany, Iron Bark, Brush Box, Blue Gum, Spotted Gum and various others. It offers excellent value and is environmentally sustainable. Your solid timber floor can be resurfaced and polished many times to maintain that classic look. It’s also available in a wide range of styles, colours and species. 2. Engineered Flooring It’s a solid alternative to hardwood floors. It is generally recommended for areas where solid hardwoods can’t be used. It is made from multiple sheets of wood bonded together to create a single board. Engineered floors offer excellent resistance to shrinkage and expansion as well as temperature and moisture variations. These can be glued or floated. 3. Bamboo Flooring Bamboo flooring has the advantage of being harder than most Australian woods. It is an excellent choice for families who are environmentally conscious as it is sustainable, durable and brings that unique elegance to a home. 4. Laminated Flooring Laminate floors provide the class and texture of wood at an affordable price. These boards are made from high density fibre with a high quality timber image at the top. There is a protective layer that provides scratch and stain resistance. Laminate floors are a popular choice if you want a low maintenance floor. It doesn’t need any polishing, varnishing or sanding. It is also resistant to stains, discolouration, scratches and fading and you can install it over almost any flat surface. Choosing the Right Timber Flooring in Perth Now that you are aware of different options of timber flooring, here’s a list of important parameters to consider in order to choose the right timber floor for your home or business establishment in Perth. Durability Consider the amount of foot traffic a particular area in your home is likely to receive to choose the right timber floor for that particular area. For example, areas around the kitchen, main hallway and front door experience a lot of foot traffic and you would want a board capable of withstanding such high foot traffic in the long term. Sunlight Exposure and Humidity If a particular area of your home is exposed to sun for extended periods of time, you would want a timber floor that is resistant to shrinkage or discolouration. Standard timber floors shrink and lose colour when consistently exposed to sunlight. Similarly, humidity levels in particular areas of your home will also affect the durability of timber flooring. Discuss these things with your installer before choosing a particular board for these areas. Supplier and Installer Choose an experienced and reputed supplier and installer for your timber floor. Make sure they have the necessary experience to advise you on choosing the right flooring type. Keep in mind that timber floors can be installed in a variety of ways such as floated installation, plank on ply installation or direct installation. The choice of installation method will depend on the choice of board as well as conditions in your home. An experienced contractor will help you choose the right flooring type and installation method to ensure a long-lasting timber floor. Conclusion Overall, there are a number of options for timber flooring. Carefully consider the pros and cons of different options for different areas of your home, and choose an experienced installer to get a long-lasting and perfectly installed timber floor.
Finding And Choosing Right Plumbers In Perth Whether you’re facing a plumbing emergency or you are searching for plumbers in Perth for regular plumbing work, you would want to hire the services of a reliable, experienced and reputable company. You shouldn’t choose the first plumber you can find even though it seems the easiest thing to do in a plumbing emergency. The thing is anyone can start a plumbing company and start offering their services at a cheaper price just to get a foot in. It’s up to you to do your homework and research to ensure hiring of a reliable and experienced plumber. Here’s what you need to do in order to make the right choice when hiring a plumber. 1. Finding Plumbers There are several sources. Ask your friends and family members for recommendations or ask a neighbour if they have used the services of a plumber in the recent past. Use your favourite search engine or online directory to discover plumbers near your location. Plumbing companies also tend to advertise in local newspapers. Check local newspapers to find plumbing companies. 2. Check Their Licensing Before you think of giving them a call, make sure they are properly licensed. Keep in mind that you might be on the hook for damages in case an unlicensed individual tinkers with the plumbing system and causes problems for you or for your neighbours. So, make sure to check their licensing information. Ideally, this information should be available on their website. If the plumber doesn’t have a website or this information is unavailable there, ask them politely. Experienced Perth Plumbers understand the importance of sharing license information when customers ask for it. 3. Check Their Insurance All licensed and professional plumbing companies maintain proper insurance. It is important to have necessary insurance as without insurance they might be on the hook for damages caused by a person working in their company. However, you should never take their word for it and ask them to share it politely. They should never shy away from providing the required information when you ask them politely. 4. Check their Experience Plumbers are known as tradesmen as they learn most of the things while on the job. There is some theory to learn but most of the plumbing knowledge comes from practical experience. Check the website of the plumbing company to find their experience, especially the experience of the person who will work on your property. If the experience isn’t available on their website, ask them politely about it. Don’t hire a plumber who does not have many years of experience in the industry as plumbing can’t simply be learned from the books. 5. Reviews All plumbers use the same tools and techniques but still, there’s a lot of difference in the level of service performed by different plumbers. This difference in their service levels is reflected in customer reviews online. Fortunately, you can now check reviews from real customers for all kinds of services and a plumbing company is no exception. Use your favourite search engine to discover forums and review websites where users from Perth share information about plumbers in Perth. Go through the reviews and make sure the plumbing company you are considering has mostly positive reviews. Don’t be deterred by a few negative reviews as nobody can keep everyone happy. 6. Pricing Transparency One of the most common problems people have with plumbers is hidden charges. They will quote one price when you call them and describe the plumbing issue but when you get the final invoice, the numbers are completely different. You do not want to work with a company that is not clear on their pricing. If you’re not in a plumbing emergency, ask for estimates from at least 3 different plumbing companies who have years of experience and are known to be reliable, before choosing one. It will help you in getting the best value for your money. Conclusion To summarise, hiring a plumber without proper research is inviting trouble into your home. Follow the above tips and make sure you check their experience, license and insurance before allowing them to work on your property.
