Loft conversions are one of the greatest ways to add floor space and value to your home without spending the earth and more importantly, without sacrificing precious outdoor space. In London especially, where space is undoubtedly limited, they’re fast becoming one of the most popular methods of home improvement. If you’re thinking of adding a loft conversion to your home, then keep reading. Loft Conversions – What You Need To Know Below we’ve compiled a basic guide to loft conversions in 2021. Here we list the different types of loft conversions available as well as providing more information on planning permission and other aspects. Let’s get started… Getting Started There are several types of loft conversions available. Some are simple, others are more complex. To decide on the best type of loft conversion for your home, it’s a good idea to get to grips with the structure of your roof as well as the type of floor and insulation you currently have. To do this, we recommend contacting either an architect or a company that will handle the entire process. Clapham Construction Service in London will begin with a free consultation that will encompass them checking out your loft and telling you what type of loft conversion will and won’t work. Costs Costs will always depend on the work you’re having done, from the style of the loft conversion itself to the amount of construction work involved. Generally speaking, you’re looking at anywhere from £12,000 for a simple Velux or Rooflight Loft Conversion, all the way through to £50,000 and more for a more in-depth loft conversion such as a Dormer or Mansard. During your initial consultation with a building company, you should be able to get a rough idea of cost. Planning Permissions While some loft conversions require planning permissions, others do not. It’s worth noting however that loft conversions that don’t require planning permission will be required to stick to a certain number of restrictions in terms of look, size and shape. Regardless of whether your loft requires planning permission however, it’s worth noting that all will require building regulations approval. Yet again, this is something a qualified expert can advise you on. With regards to gaining planning permission, this will need to be gained through your local authorities planning portal, which can be done via yourself through the ‘Planning Portal’ or if you’d prefer it taken care of, through the company you choose to work with. Clapham Construction Service will take everything off of your hands. From the drawings to planning permission, building regulations and the construction itself, so you can sit back and relax. Types Of Loft Conversions There are a number of different style loft conversions available, from roof light or Velux style loft conversions that simply require roof lights being installed with the existing space in the loft being utilised as it is to Dormer loft conversions that can add more space to your current loft either at the front, rear or side of your house. There are also loft conversions available in a Hip-To-Gable style that allows you to extend over one side of your sloping roof. These are particularly popular as they can provide a much more spacious loft conversion than other options. Contact The Experts If you’d like help and guidance from the experts, we recommend contacting Clapham Construction Service, London’s leading specialists in loft conversions. With their team behind you, you can rest assured you’ll be in safe hands every step of the way, resulting in a high quality loft conversion that not only looks great but serves you well, providing that much needed additional space in your home. Contact Clapham Construction Service today on 0203 950 7957.

Are you looking to revamp your home and thinking about making it one big DIY project? Are you worried that you may not be able to get everything done to your liking and standard? The prospect of renovating your home can be new, fun, and exciting, especially if it’s something you have never done before or if your house is starting to look a little bit outdated and needing to be spruced up a bit. While some of the projects in a home renovation are easy enough to do yourself, others projects may be far beyond your skills. It is important that you don’t just take it upon yourself to do these, but rather inquire the help of a skilled and well-practiced handyman. If you’re looking for a great handyman in Wimbledon, BBOJ is known to have some of the best. If you are still unsure about whether it’s the right decision or not, here are a few reasons why you should be using a handyman for your next home renovation. Can save you money Sure, some projects may be simple enough to do by yourself, like hanging up picture or maybe even replacing cupboard doors. You might think that some of the bigger tasks are going to be quite easy too, like tiling, painting, or ceiling work. Quite the opposite, however, as they can tend to be quite difficult and tedious tasks to complete. Making a mistake when it comes to home renovations is nothing new, and this is exactly why handymen are around. They are skilled in their profession and will, most of the time, actually save you more money than doing it by yourself. Most handymen can get products at a business rate which you would not be able to get, and not to mention, if you make a mistake or mess something up, you will probably end up spending more money than you would on a handyman, just trying to fix your mistake. Tools and experience When renovating your house, there will be several different kinds of projects to work on. This means that you will also need all the tools available to you in order to finish all of these projects. But are you familiar with all of these tools? Most handymen will already have access to these them along with the knowledge on how to use them efficiently and correctly. On top of this, handymen typically have a lot of experience from other previous jobs and will be able to guide you in the right direction as to whether your idea is a good one or a bad one. They can even give you tips on what you should be doing on seemingly daunting tasks, to gauge whether a project is even possible. Can assist with many things A handyman can typically do at least 5 to 6 different kinds of jobs around the house and are not normally restricted to one kind of thigns like plumbing, electrical work, or even flooring. This means they that have a lot of experience from previous jobs in various different fields and have both technical knowledge along with practical skill. They are the jack of all trades! Normal home renovations mostly include, repairing ceiling and roofs, changing the flooring such as tiles or carpeting, safety in and around the house, all the electrical work, drain repairs, plumbing installation and fixing, and even just remodelling to name a few. Most handymen will be able to do at least a few of these each. Additionally, when large amounts of debris or waste are involved in these projects, services like montgomery dumpster rental can assist with efficient waste management, making the cleanup process easier for homeowners. Most handymen will be able to do at least a few of these tasks each. Licensed Being a handyman may seem like a simple and easy job but what most people see is that majority of handymen need to have some kind of certification and licence to be allowed to work on other people’s houses and property. This is typically with people working on the electrical work in your house and is purely for your safety as well as their own. On top of that, certain project also require licenses, like if you are adding an extension to your house or building higher. Normally you would have to get this license yourself but a good handyman would be able to sort it out for you for a price. Don’t be a hero and try to do everything yourself, it might just be worth it in the end to get someone to help you.

Buying a fixer-upper can be extremely tempting since it outlays the perfect opportunity to purchase a house at a much more discounted price than that of a brand-new home. . The opportunity presents itself after the purchase, since you can improve the property and sell at a higher profit once you’ve done the house up, another factor adding to its appeal. However, this easier said than done, and there are many factors worth considering before diving  headfirst into a fixer-upper project. Ultimately you want to ensure that you are getting your time and money’s worth when making this purchase. Outlined below you will find a few useful tips that will lead you in the right direction. Research the market One other factor to take into consideration when choosing whether to purchase a fixer-upper is the market in that specific area is to research the market. What is meant by this? Let’s say you are looking for an incredible deal for a fixer-upper in a particular area of Australia. You should do some research into the current and future buying potential/interest for that given area before jumping to make any payments. This is where a good real estate agent would really come in handy, and https://www.top10realestateagent.com.au/ recommends some of the best if you’re in Australia. A real estate agent will be able to tell you if the price value of houses in that area will decrease soon, which let you know whether it’s worth making this purchase. On the other hand, if looking to buy a fixer-upper home in an upmarket residential area, chances are you can probably raise your selling price based on the other luxury homes around you. You can use this information to make your price more affordable in comparison to some of the other brand-new properties for sale. Bargain! Cosmetic improvements Essentially your ideal fixer-upper house would be one that only requires cosmetic improvements, not any drastic foundational ones. These pertain to any interior and exterior damages that require an easy, affordable, fix such as broken windows, peeling paint, patchy walls, faulty door hinges, or missing floor tiles. Such problems can easily be improved with a flick of paint, or with floor replenishes for example. When looking out for cosmetic improvements that need to be done, it’s imperative to know that these don’t include the expensive core/foundational fixes such as replacing a new roof, water systems, electrical rewiring, etc. Taking on the work of replacing such damage is extremely costly, and thus probably isn’t worth the investment. It’s important to be aware of the different rooms in a house that are the most worthwhile to fix, for example, the kitchen. This is often one of the most used spaces in a home, so do check out for things such as easy to replace cupboards and handles, kitchen location, etc. Bathrooms are another particular room that add or decrease value, so make sure to give them a thorough inspection too. The location Ever heard the expression: location is everything? When purchasing a fixer-upper, the purpose of fixing up the home is to resell it at a better/higher value in the future. Location plays a pivotal factor in deciding where to purchase any home for that matter and there are various elements that you should consider when thinking about location, especially when it comes time to sell. Is the house close to schools and supermarkets? Is it conveniently placed within the CBD? Are there effective transport systems close by? Realistically, location not only affects the price value but also the likelihood of your fixer-upper house being bought. Calculate the cost Following on from the previous tip, even if it is simply cosmetic improvements that are necessary when purchasing a fixer-upper and no work is needed to the foundation of the house, the total cost of these improvements should still be calculated as accurately as possible. This allows you to gain a rough estimate of how much needs to be spent in total, and if the purchase is then worthwhile or not. Essentially a fixer-upper will always cost less to purchase than that of a home in perfect selling condition, but it’s still beneficial to gain an idea of just how much extra you will be spending. After purchasing the initial property, you now have to make the fixes and renovations to the house, and according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA), on average buyers end up spending between $40,000 and $200,000 (Australian) on these changes.

With the unpredictable weather and ever-changing lockdown rules, ensuring your outdoor space is functional and welcoming when you need it most has never been more important. Homeowners looking to make the most of their outdoor space, can look to the experts for guidance on easy to integrate features that will take their outside space – be it a garden, terrace or balcony – to the next level, and all in time for when we can invite friends and family around again. Research shows that being outside improves your mood and reduces stress*, so when things are out of our control, relaxing in your own outside space is unbeatable. “Since the start of the pandemic and for the majority of people, gardens and balconies have become the only accessible outdoor space, so ensuring it maximises its potential is key. Simple, contemporary modifications can enable homeowners to create a space they love and that they want to spend time in, and are always a good investment in terms of maintaining or increasing the value of their property. Plus, showing it off always feels good once we can entertain again. We’ve outlined our tips on how to make outside space work best – even in an unpredictable Britain,” commented David Hough from home improvement specialists, SMART Balustrades. Weather adaptability Whilst we can’t predict the weather, what we can say is Britain’s weather is diverse, from downpour one day to scorching heat the next. Installing glass balustrades to your patio or balcony area will create a windbreak, keeping you warmer against the spring and autumn breeze, whilst still allowing natural light to shine through. A removable canopy will ensure that you can be protected from the wetter weather, but also allow you to enjoy the sun when it’s out. A mix of green and landscaped space For garden owners, fitting a patio gives you a new area to enjoy your outside space which is much steadier for garden furniture and puts you less at risk of getting muddy. Having both a patio and garden area provides a stylish and modern upgrade, whilst still having nature to enjoy. For those with limited or no existing greenspace such as balcony and terrace owners, you can introduce greenery through potted plants on the floor or baskets attached to the balustrades, allowing those without the option of a garden to enjoy nature. Accessibility for all the family Ensuring that your outdoor space is safe and useable for all the family will allow it to be used it much more often. Installing handrails to steps and level changes, and enclosing your decking with secure balustrades are practical measures to reduce the chances of tripping and causing injury. Lighting around your garden will also improve its accessibility for the darker days and nights. The patio area can often be slippery when wet, and hard structures can hurt when banged into, so installing lighting to this area is recommend. Festoon and string lights are popular options for both balcony and garden owners, as they can be easily hung from surrounding structures. Suitable seating areas Sitting outdoors is the ultimate way to enjoy the fresh air, so if homeowners have the space, having a dedicated seating area brings a great focus point to a garden. When the rules permit, we will be able to mix households again, so having suitable seating to host guests will allow you enjoy the great outdoors more with friends. Where possible, choose non-fixed outdoor seating – so it can be moved at leisure to create different spaces, and packed away when not in use for those with smaller outdoor spaces such as balconies.