Exciting progress has been made for the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone project. North Norfolk District Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of Influence, chartered landscape architects who will be undertaking the townscaping element of the project along with expert partners. The team aim to provide sustainable
Concern about global carbon emissions has never been higher. The Paris Agreement commits the signatories to reducing global average temperature to below two degrees above pre-industrial levels. This is critical to combatting climate change, but it’ll only happen if practices change. And among the most important contributors to the effort
Homeowners looking to upgrade their abodes this year can look to suggestions from property experts for must-have fixtures and fittings to add convenience and luxury to homes. From smart and handy devices to reliable and quality appliances, the experts at North Sands Developments have compiled their list of recommendations for ways to
Blinds are essential in your household as they provide privacy for everyone who’s inside. You don’t want other people to take a peep inside your home and see what’s happening. Not only can they invade your privacy, but they might even see the inside of your house and watch where
Demolishing a house isn’t as costly as building a new one. But it can go as high as $40K if all the factors are not checked properly. Here are some tips to make it lower. You build your dream home sometimes. And other times, at an attractive deal, you buy
A residential application of a wall retaining may require the help of an engineer and local councils to regulate the process. Retaining walls engineering Texas involves the process of employing innovative ways to solve a structural problem. Having a structural engineer from the initiation of the project can help make
For most people, having their own living spaces can be a dream come true. Typically, a home is considered a place of comfort and relaxation. After a tiring day of work, people look forward to going home to rest and spend time together. It’s also a place where everyone feels
When it comes to constructing the perfect building, you need to install the vital components and systems. You can find many examples of building systems and components such as electrical, plumbing, fire protection, ventilation, and HVAC. However, they can only operate whenever contractors provide enough protection from many factors. One
Whether you want to create a grand entrance or a bold first impression, windows and doors play an important role in enhancing a building’s kerb appeal. But with so many design options to choose from, how do you know which one to opt for, or what to recommend to your
Cranbourne Stone, specialists in providing bespoke and high-quality natural stone and porcelain products for swimming pools and landscape designs, is pleased to announce the release of its new 2021 product brochure, entitled The Collection. 21. The latest edition includes their bestselling natural stone and porcelain as well as new additions
Exciting progress has been made for the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone project. North Norfolk District Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of Influence, chartered landscape architects who will be undertaking the townscaping element of the project along with expert partners. The team aim to provide sustainable solutions to urban planning and have extensive experience of working in conjunction with local authorities and communities to deliver landscaping and public realm services, including working on High Street Heritage Action Zones projects elsewhere in the UK. “High Street Heritage Action Zones are such a key part of the future for our towns – especially post the pandemic – and are often driven by a strong local community interest. Revitalising and regenerating our high streets whilst reinstating the heritage roots is critical to their success, now and in the future. North Walsham is a vibrant market town but has been waiting for a long time to bring forward a high street public realm project. Now that it’s here, myself and the Influence team are honoured to have been selected to work on this important project, and are pleased to be supporting North Norfolk District Council’s in-house team,” said Shona Hatton, associate director at Influence. “Our previous experience in delivering High Street Heritage Action Zones has given us specialist knowledge and understanding of the challenges and huge opportunities in our high streets -and we are using those assets to re-imagine the physical and social environment in North Walsham – to enable it to be a prosperous town where people want to live, work and relax.” Master planning and consultation will be led by HETA – a studio of architects, designers and thinkers. Their focus is on people and how to create better, more meaningful experiences for them. Having completed a site visit the team will implement a programme of consultation and community engagement to see how the people of North Walsham want to see the space in the town centre used. Other partners involved include Rees Bolter Architects as heritage consultants, BSP for highways and transport consultancy and Gleeds Cost Management, quantity surveyors. This work is a vital part of the programme’s wider “placemaking” objectives, inspiring people to re-imagine and re-engage with the town centre as the heart of the community. It will focus on making the town centre a destination which embraces its heritage and community, creating a shared space people can enjoy, take pride in and encourages others to visit. The Council and partners will seek to hear what residents, businesses and visitors want to see in North Walsham and foster a sense of community that maximises shared value by making it easier to move around the town centre and improve the appearance and quality of public spaces, starting with work which will see the improvement of the Lokes and alleyways that connect different areas within the town centre. As part of this, the Council intends to purchase a piece of land adjacent to Black Swan Loke, a long-standing derelict area on an important pedestrian approach to the town centre, and is exploring options to maximise the potential of this busy route.
Concern about global carbon emissions has never been higher. The Paris Agreement commits the signatories to reducing global average temperature to below two degrees above pre-industrial levels. This is critical to combatting climate change, but it’ll only happen if practices change. And among the most important contributors to the effort will be those whose job it is to design and build houses. The British government continues to implement ‘green schemes’ to help achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The house of the future is one that can be built and maintained in a sustainable way. In an ideal world, they’d be perfectly self-sufficient when it comes to their energy needs. The construction industry is pushing itself toward that goal through a series of incremental improvements in efficiency. These are coming as a result of new technologies, architectural methods, and increasingly stringent building regulations. The Importance of Windows Among the more notorious points of weakness in any building, when it comes to heat retention, are the windows. Energy Efficiency Windows have a big say in whether a given space is energy-efficient. A single pane of glass will transmit heat quickly from one side to the other. Two panes of glass, with a layer of vacuum or inert gas in between, will transmit heat that much more slowly. It’s this principle that makes double-glazing the standard choice. Efficiency is rated using a lettered system, which provides the scale for the development of energy efficient and sustainable housing. Natural Light Among the most important functions of a window is to increase the amount of natural light in a property and to reduce reliance on artificial light sources – and windows can serve this function in a number of ways. VELUX windows, skylights and sun tunnels provide a source of natural light, even in the more secluded parts of the house, where exterior windows are not practical. Natural light confers a number of health benefits, which means that homes which score well here are likely to be desirable, even if we discount the environmental upsides. Solar Gain But windows can also be a point where energy is gained. If windows are positioned in such a way as to benefit from the incoming sunlight, then they’ll draw in as much energy as they lose, even during winter. In the northern hemisphere, a south-facing window will benefit more from heat gain than a north-facing one. Blinds and Curtains The effectiveness of a window when it comes to thermal performance will depend on the quality of curtains and blinds installed. Heavy curtains will form a barrier, preventing warm air in the room from mixing with the cold air by the window. This only applies if the curtains have been drawn, however – which is why automatically-drawn curtains and blinds might be a boon, particularly in larger spaces and office buildings.
Homeowners looking to upgrade their abodes this year can look to suggestions from property experts for must-have fixtures and fittings to add convenience and luxury to homes. From smart and handy devices to reliable and quality appliances, the experts at North Sands Developments have compiled their list of recommendations for ways to improve and upgrade your home for the future. As many of us are staying indoors – working from home, looking after our loved ones and home-schooling our children, it’s no surprise that there has been an increase in the number of people wishing to make improvements to their home, to ensure it’s a comfortable and relaxing place to live. Upgrading fixtures and fittings will not only optimise living but also add value to your property if you are looking to sell in the future. “Last year saw all of us adjust to spending more time at home than ever before. Consequently, our daily routines and working patterns are changing and we find ourselves seeking ways to make these new habits more comfortable, enjoyable and beneficial to our lifestyle,” said James Hartley, director at North Sands Developments. “The team at North Sands Developments have more than a decade of experience in creating homes for families and young professionals and all properties are designed to suit all lifestyles, providing space, plenty of natural light and quality fittings throughout to optimise happy and healthy living. With that in mind, we have compiled this list of fixtures and fittings you shouldn’t live without to improve your home.” Here is the list of five fixtures and fittings you shouldn’t live without: 1. Smart technology Smart technology for the home has seen a huge increase in demand over recent years, as the scope of devices available continues to expand with more innovative and creative options. From smart doorbells to wireless speakers, virtual assistant artificial intelligence (AI), and light and heating controls, there are plenty of devices available on the market to kit out your home with the latest and best tech on offer. For added peace of mind, installing home security cameras are a good option to keep your property safe. Having an outside view of callers at the front door will allow you to see who it is without opening the door – particularly useful during lockdown, and many devices also let you speak to the person via an intercom system, so you can turn them away if necessary. Smart heating and lighting are also a great upgrade for your home, allowing you to control the lights and temperature from your smartphone via an app. Whether you’re out of the house and want to come back to a warm and cosy home, or feel like having a lie in and don’t want to get out of bed, having the power to switch the heating on from your phone can really increase your comfort. 2. Reliable internet connection Working from home has forced many of us to make some major adjustments to our routines, and has exposed the fact that our internet connection may not be up to the task! A reliable internet connection is vital for home working, and for enjoying your favourite streaming service with the rest of the family, so it is worth investing in fibre broadband if possible. It is easy to check online whether fibre broadband is available in your area, and the process of having it installed and hardwired throughout the home is straightforward – it is worth looking into so that you can always stay connected. 3. Underfloor heating As winter is now well and truly here, investing in underfloor heating is one home improvement that can have a huge impact on your living space. Often more efficient and effective than a traditional boiler, it can provide you with savings in the long-term and is a cosy and luxurious treat for your feet. 4. Quality kitchen appliances More time spent indoors and the closure of our local restaurants and cafes means we are utilising our kitchen space more frequently. It is therefore worthwhile fitting out your kitchen with quality appliances that are going to last and prove reliable with prolonged usage – this includes plenty of cupboard storage space to ensure you always have supplies at hand. For a taste of something different, consider installing an instant hot water tap so that you always have boiling water on hand for those much-needed teas and coffees. Alternatively, why not choose a coffee machine that will keep you going throughout the day with your favourite blends? Having a large American-style fridge freezer will also ensure you can stay stocked up with your preferred ingredients, and many designs come with built-in ice and filtered water machines – perfect for cocktail hour and the warmer summer months. 5. Windows and doors for natural light Improving your property with quality double glazing is a great investment that instantly transforms your home and provides long-term performance and cost savings. Choosing to install new windows and doors throughout your home will help to regulate the temperature in your home, keeping the heat in during winter and remaining cool during the summer, so you can save on energy bills and enjoy ambient temperatures all year round. There will be a dramatic difference in the level of outside noise from nearby roads and traffic too, making your house a peaceful and quiet haven. It will also go a long way in increasing the amount of natural light that your home lets in – a key factor in our mental wellbeing, helping us to stay productive and positive as we stay at home. To maximise the daylight in your house, consider installing patio or bi-fold doors that look out onto your outside space, or a skylight window in the ceiling – an increasingly popular option that allows light to flood in from above.
Blinds are essential in your household as they provide privacy for everyone who’s inside. You don’t want other people to take a peep inside your home and see what’s happening. Not only can they invade your privacy, but they might even see the inside of your house and watch where you keep your valuables. Apart from privacy, blinds also help to provide elegance and sophistication inside the room. These also provide excellent credibility in controlling the light that passes inside the room as the slats are equally distributed. With that, you need to look for the best blinds you could install in your home. There are plenty of stores like makemyblinds.co.uk where you can find blinds. Just ensure that these are reputable companies. Listed below are the different types of blinds you could choose from: 1. Venetian Blinds Venetian blinds are among the most popular and common types as they provide a classic look for anyone’s home. A Venetian blind has horizontal slats that use aluminum, wood, or plastic as its primary material. You can adjust how the slats go by twisting the wand, and the slats can face upwards or downwards, depending on how you decide to operate it. The way the slats move will determine the direction of the sunlight that goes through inside your home. You can also control how much or how little you’d like your room to lighten up. If you’d like the full light to come inside your homes, you can adjust the height of the Venetian blind by pulling the lift strings downwards, and the full slats should lift upwards, folding into one another. 2. Vertical Blinds A vertical blind works similarly to a Venetian blind, but it moves from side to side rather than going in an up and down motion. A vertical blind has thicker slats that are usually the preferred choice of blinds for office or patio use as they provide a classic and conventional look that’ll look best at any formal setting. They’re also perfect for floor-to-ceiling windows as they can help promote and highlight the windows’ height, allowing the room to look taller and more spacious. 3. Mini blinds A mini blind works just like a Venetian blind, except that they have smaller slats. Each slat of a mini blind is usually one-inch thick. It’s typically perfect for small windows. You can place it in the bathroom or kitchen where the windows aren’t too big. 4. Roman Shades If you’d like to lean towards having a traditional and classic look for your window treatment, you can never go wrong with having Roman shades. A Roman shade uses fabric as its primary material rather than the usual plastic, aluminum, and wood. You can compare a roman shade to a curtain due to the same materials, but it lays more flatly on your windows. A Roman shade is raised and folds itself once you decide to pull them to allow more light to come inside the room. It can be similar to a vertical blind, only that it doesn’t have slats, but rather a whole fabric that folds up. There is no gap in between, which disallows you to control the light’s direction coming inside the room. With a Roman shade, it can stand as a perfect window treatment if you have a traditional or Victorian-themed home. 5. Roller Shades One of the most basic yet popular shades of all time is a roller shade. A roller shade usually uses the material of either synthetic or natural fabrics that roll up and down. Unlike Venetian and vertical blinds, a roller shade doesn’t have any slats, but rather a whole piece of large fabric. When you want to lift the shade, the fabric can move upwards to allow more light to enter the room. Depending on the fabric that your roller blind has, it can act as thermal or blackout blinds that can benefit the entire household highly. With a thermal fabric, you can block the heat from coming inside and keep it on the other side without letting it pass through the room. For a blackout fabric, you can expect no light to come inside your homes, especially during the night when you’re highly sensitive to light as you go to sleep. 6. Cellular Shades If you’re looking for a cheaper yet effective way to promote proper insulation inside your home, the cellular shade would be the perfect window treatment for you. While the cellular shades may not be everyone’s favourite look for their shade, they’re unique for a reason. A cellular shade has a honeycomb shape on each bar that’s responsible for insulation. The honeycomb can hold the heated air, not allowing it to enter your home. A cellular shade uses thin fabric as its primary material. Hence, it’s one of the cheapest types of blinds available for your household. Not only is it cheap, but it can also help you save money on heating or cooling the room as you don’t have a constant battle with the outside temperature coming inside your homes. 7. Panel Blinds Panel blinds may be similar to a vertical blind as each slat comes in an upright shape. However, with a panel blind, the blinds only have four wide sections compared with vertical blinds which have many thin slats. In most cases, panel blinds are used for vast and floor-to-ceiling windows to provide full coverage. They’re perfect for any type of room as long as it has a broad set of windows. With a panel blind, you can’t expect it to tilt to control the amount of light inside the room, but you can, instead, slide it across the room to allow maximum light to come inside. A panel blind uses soft fabrics and can be a cheaper alternative to other options. Conclusion While there are different types of blinds available, ensure that you purchase one that fits
Demolishing a house isn’t as costly as building a new one. But it can go as high as $40K if all the factors are not checked properly. Here are some tips to make it lower. You build your dream home sometimes. And other times, at an attractive deal, you buy trash, knock down the entire house, and then construct the new house from scratch. For instance, if you’re using the latter path and not aware of what you’re doing, your dream home can turn into a total budget nightmare. The expense of tearing down a house is not as high as constructing a new building, but it needs to be addressed properly. For a three-bedroom home, the estimated average price in Brisbane, Australia, is $17,000. We’ll help you look more closely at the demo plan to ensure whether it’s all good enough to justify it. They’re not only easy to do, but they also benefit the environment. Demolition is a massive project, and beginning a demo project will lead to considerable time and financial strains down the track if you don’t have a definite plan in mind. Get a hard hat; we have a job to do. The tips below will guide you on the right path if you’re concerned about saving some cash on your house demolition project. What does that really imply to Demo A House? In simple terms, demoing involves tearing down small parts or all of a home to reconstruct it., This could mean only tearing down a wall or maybe two to enlarge your main bathroom, or it could require breaking the whole house to the ground to create something even more modern. There are two traditional methods of demolishing a house in either situation. Mechanical Demolition: The demolition of a structure using heavy machinery. Deconstruction: Using simple equipment for the project of demolishing a building manually (well, saws, hammers, and all of that stuff) We’re going to let you decide which seems to be more of your type. A mixture of the two is pretty standard for people to choose; they remove as much of it as possible manually and then bring the large machines to complete the job. You might need to knock down an old house, or you just want to tear down part of your home to create a new addition. Whatever your reason, knowing how much it will cost you comes in handy. To ensure that the correct demolition approach for the building is employed, it is necessary to recruit professionals. Deconstruct on your own as much as possible You might be shocked by the amount of stuff in your home that is still reusable, even after years of wear and tear. Not just that, but you may be surprised too by your potential to deconstruct your own home! If the thought of having neighbours or a team of qualified volunteers come into your home to retrieve items/materials for you is comfortable, then this would be a perfect way to dump things from your house while assisting others as well. You deconstruct the home, and they’ll get the recovered building materials. This is a win-win! Someone in need might also reuse fittings and flooring, so letting friends and charities know that you intend to demolish your home and that its materials are up for grabs is a great way of spreading love. Salvage for some additional dough Did you know that your home’s internal fittings will earn you some nice bucks and net a decent return? Scrap yards will love to take away any copper pipes and wires in the house. How much does demolishing a house cost? The cost of demolition would differ based upon your house’s size and the materials it consists of. The estimated price is about $15,000 to demolish a small detached house (80-120 square metres). The typical demolition cost is around $30,000 for a large detached house (200-250 square meters). The dumping of the components is the largest part of the overall demolition expense, as demolition firms can charge transport and landfill premiums. That being said, if any of this ‘waste’ can be recycled, you can decrease the cost you are paying for demolition. * The cost data is based on third-party sources Does the expense vary depending on location? The expense of house demolition and destruction in Australia differs by area and population. A Brisbane home could be demolished for approximately $16000, whereas the cost for the same home in Sydney is about $17,500. How long can the demolition take? Depending on the size and scope of the project, the timeframe for demolition can differ. Demolition normally takes 4-8 days to finish. If you’re demolishing a terraced or semi-detached home, then the time and expense will rise. Costs & Considerations of Site Planning Plumbing pipes, HVAC units, and electrical wiring, and outputs must be handled by an expert. It is necessary to detach gas, electricity, and water lines if you’re bulldozing an entire building. If you’re just tearing down a few walls, these services would also need to be turned off so that any cables, pipes, or HVAC lines can be removed, diverted, or replaced by your contractor. For safety purposes, the expense of hiring an electrician is well worth the expenditure and may even be needed by the code. While knocking down a house, you will have to invest in safety gear. Tape all construction areas off and clearly mark them. Make sure that during evening work hours, outdoor areas are illuminated with floodlights. Be sure to inquire whether they plan to supply and install site planning resources when recruiting professionals for the work. Wearing protective clothing, gloves, work boots, goggles, and a hard hat is necessary. Types of projects for demolition Commercial Buildings: Commercial demolition costs are much higher than those for residential ones. A single-storied building can take around a hundred dollars per square meter in Brisbane, while two floors can cost around $120 per square meter. Buildings on three
A residential application of a wall retaining may require the help of an engineer and local councils to regulate the process. Retaining walls engineering Texas involves the process of employing innovative ways to solve a structural problem. Having a structural engineer from the initiation of the project can help make changes in the preliminary design. Retaining walls are required in places where there is a need for extra support to hold a sloping soil patch. The best retaining wall designs can withstand gravity and lateral force from a sloppy place. Below are the most common retaining wall designs, and it’s important to note that retaining wall costs in Australia can vary depending on the design, materials, and labor involved. If you’re planning to build a retaining wall in Australia, you may want to consult with a local contractor or use a cost estimator tool to get a better idea of the potential expenses involved. Gravity retaining wall This type of wall can withstand soil pressures because of its weight and geometry hence ensuring the stability of a building. Materials used in their construction include natural stone or rock, limestone blocks, and gabions. They improve stability and are best when used for low height walls. Taller walls are quite expensive. Cantilever Retaining Wall This type of wall is made of a concrete and base concrete slab. They are mostly used in places where there may be large changes in grade elevation. They resist soil pressure due to the weight of the backfill material used to construct them. It has two parts i.e. the stem and the base slab. It is mainly constructed on mining sites and is more cost-effective than gravity walls. Anchored Retaining wall Anchored retaining wall resists soil pressure by using tension supports such as drilled cables or rods. They are mostly used when the workspace is not big enough. Before selecting a retaining wall design, the following should be put into consideration Conclusion Structural engineers are always engaged in inspection and repair of damaged retaining walls or to design the retaining walls to be constructed. This type of wall fails mostly due to poor construction or poor design hence the need for professional engineers during their set up. Retaining wall designing required to be done by an expert trained and registered engineer. The process of selecting the best and suitable retaining wall design must put into consideration the soil parameters and a workable geometry. The building designer also tests the wall’s performance and resistance to sliding and chooses the best materials to use for support eg steel.
For most people, having their own living spaces can be a dream come true. Typically, a home is considered a place of comfort and relaxation. After a tiring day of work, people look forward to going home to rest and spend time together. It’s also a place where everyone feels loved, cared for, and respected. However, when they’ve decided to have their own houses, they may be thinking about whether to buy or build one instead. While the decision depends on them and their unique lifestyle, the following are the four reasons people are building houses themselves: Brand-New People usually opt to build houses because of the fact that everything is brand-new. For instance, when they construct their own living space, the odds of needing to make repairs and replacements within the first few years are low to none. This means they’ll be able to enjoy their houses and settle in there for a long time without worrying about getting it damaged anytime soon. Thus, to get the most out of their decisions to construct a brand-new house, they opt to consider having a steel house. Typically, steel building homes are increasingly becoming popular due to their wide range of benefits. For instance, expert companies in the home building industry published an article about how one can actually start the construction of a steel house, including the things to consider from the beginning. 2. Learn A Lot About The Building Process Purchasing an existing house can be a good idea, but it doesn’t really make sense if homeowners don’t know how to troubleshoot a plumbing issue or how the electrical circuit works. When this happens, they may have to deal with some headaches plus spend more money for hiring professionals for the repairs. Because of this, people see it as a good idea to build their own so that they’ll know more about the entire home-building process. For example, if they know exactly how the construction process works such as how all the inner workings connect, they can efficiently address some problems in their houses. 3. No More Mortgage Buying an existing home may mean paying a considerable amount of mortgage for a long time. But, for most people who want to be mortgage-free for the rest of their lives, it can be one of the reasons they should invest their money in building a new home. When they construct their own houses, they don’t need to apply for a mortgage from banks and other traditional lenders which will more likely cost them hundreds to thousands of money. While home ownership is usually expensive, they can still get rid of hefty mortgage payments by considering building their own residences that’ll suit their needs and budget. 4. Customize The Living Space In most cases, finding a ready-made house that suits their preferences is never easy. Hence, if they love to customize their living space and make it more comfortable and inviting, then building their place can be something that comes to their minds first. When people decide to build, they’ll not only personalize and design the entire place, but they’ll also have full control of what their space should feel and look like. This means they can choose their own interior designs and building constructors, plan their own furniture arrangements, and many more. Also, when they construct their own residence, they can freely add some little extras without violating any property rules and regulations from a landlord. Wrapping Up Indeed, home ownership can be a significant milestone for anyone. With the information mentioned above, it’s no doubt why most people prefer to build houses themselves. It’s usually an exciting experience that some people don’t get the opportunity to try themselves. But, it’s always a possibility that one can consider.
When it comes to constructing the perfect building, you need to install the vital components and systems. You can find many examples of building systems and components such as electrical, plumbing, fire protection, ventilation, and HVAC. However, they can only operate whenever contractors provide enough protection from many factors. One way buildings can protect them is by installing access doors. Even if it assures efficient protection, other building owners might say otherwise because they have no idea how it works. If you don’t have enough knowledge about access doors, you can find several reasons why installing them is crucial. 1. Protect Components Effectively As mentioned a while ago, building systems and components need adequate protection from possible elements such as temperament and damage from fires, moisture, etc. Most building components like electrical wires should not come into contact with water as much as possible because it can cause significant building problems. Many building fires have started before because of moisture penetrating and passing through electrical wires, circuit breakers, and other parts of the electrical system. If you don’t have access doors within your building yet, don’t waste any time and have contractors install them as quickly as possible. Once you have them installed, expect no severe problems will happen to your building. 2. Keep Everyone Safe in the Building Contractors will always hide components and systems behind walls, ceilings, and floors because it’s an eyesore and can become a nuisance, mostly when many people walk around. You might encounter several building tenants’ complaints when you have exposed plumbing pipes or electrical wires within your building. A time may come that they will cause accidents like causing people to trip over it. What’s excellent about access doors is they hide them most of the time, providing a safer space for people to walk around. The access doors can even prevent systems like water pipes from getting out. If the pipes suddenly burst, water can gush out in the open and create a slippery surface. Thankfully, you can install access doors with a gasket to prevent water from seeping through the surface. 3. Provide Convenient Access Behind Surfaces Since most building components and systems are behind surfaces, maintenance personnel might have difficulty accessing them. In most instances, they will have no choice but to damage the surface to access and work on the system behind, causing you to pay more for building expenses. But when you have access doors installed within your building, they won’t have to destroy any surface since they can simply open the door and close it once they finish doing the job. Apart from access doors for walls, you can also install aluminum roof hatches if you have technicians accessing your building’s roof frequently. As long as there’s space behind a surface that gets accessed, the access doors can provide safe and easy passage all the time. 4. Become an Alternative for Storage You might have a vault inside the office that you want to hide. You have the usual cover-it-with-a-portrait technique that most spy movies show everyone. Using that trick may not be as effective anymore since anyone can check behind paintings. You don’t have to fret because you can use access doors as an alternative for storage. You can have the vault placed in any area behind your wall’s office and then have an access door installed. You should get access doors that match the walls if you want to make it appear almost invisible. There are even access doors with a thicker door if you want to ensure no one can quickly access your vault. 5. Several Applications If you have enough access doors on your interior walls, you should note that there are other areas where contractors install the components. Examples of areas are the floors and exterior walls, so installing a plain access door will not cut it. These areas need specific access doors to get the right kind of protection. Take Away When you need to install access doors on your building’s exterior areas, they need to be weather-resistant because of the constant exposure to rain, snow, weather, etc. And for components found underneath floors, they need floor hatches because they can withstand pressure from getting stepped on. Your contractor will usually tell you what access door type you need, depending on which systems get access the most by maintenance personnel. Now that you know several reasons about the importance of access doors, the next step is to choose a reliable access door supplier such as Best Roof Hatches. You should always choose high-quality construction materials, and you should never exempt access doors.
Whether you want to create a grand entrance or a bold first impression, windows and doors play an important role in enhancing a building’s kerb appeal. But with so many design options to choose from, how do you know which one to opt for, or what to recommend to your customers? As we head into a new year, Nick Cowley, managing director of manufacturer of uPVC windows Euramax, analyses some of the key trends for 2021. DIY sales soared in 2020, as homeowners spent their time indoors making home improvements. In fact, the Office for National Statistics reported a 1.5 per cent rise in DIY sales between August and September 2020, at a time when many industries stood still. This trend could well persist throughout 2021, with homeowners continuing to spruce up their spaces. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the window and door trends worth the investment. A splash of colour It’s a common assumption that poly vinyl chloride (uPVC) window frames come in standard white. While some may prefer to keep things simple, coloured window frames are becoming an increasingly popular choice. Dubbed “the new white,” grey frames work well across numerous house styles, from trendy modern spaces to more traditional, period properties. The neutral shade can create a sophisticated effect while offering a hint of colour, making it the perfect choice if you want a subtle break from conformity. Moving away from traditional woodgrain and white uPVC, doors could also receive a splash of colour in 2021. Composite doors are one of the most popular entrance door options, and are available in a range of colours. Inspired by perhaps the most famous front doors in the country, 10 Downing Street, black is an increasingly popular choice for those who prefer a sleek and simple statement. Taking inspiration from elsewhere in politics, Chartwell green is another shade that continues to gain traction. Named after Winston Churchill’s Kent home, the light and bright pastel shade provides a refreshing change from traditional colour options. Time to open up As well as revitalising homes, many homeowners paid extra attention to their gardens in 2020 — and what better way keep enjoying them than to bring a touch of the outdoors inside? Open plan has been a popular trend for many years as homeowners seek to create a large and airy space that transports them from feeling confined indoors. However, budget restrictions and the need for extensive remodelling can put the open plan dream on hold. Instead, additions such as bi-folding doors can make an effective replacement. In the warmer weather, bi-folds can completely fold away to create the illusion of more space and a fluid transition between the home and garden. In the winter months, their floor-to-ceiling glass panels bring in plenty of natural light. Opening just one panel at a time means they can still be used as an access point while keeping the heat in. Window shopping As we grow a year closer to the UK’s 2050 net zero emissions target, our homes need to do more than just look good. Among all building envelopes, the design of a home’s exterior, windows and doors are a main culprit for heat loss — with losses accounting for 20 to 30 per cent of a building’s entire energy consumption. To improve thermal efficiency, some may opt for triple glazing. The third pane of glass, located halfway between the inner and outer panes of double glazing, creates two air locks that beat the energy performance of regular double glazing by around 50 per cent. Between each pane is a pocket of air or inert gas, such as argon, which is heavier than air and works as an insulator for both noise and heat. However, this window option can cost around 20 per cent more than double glazed options, so it’s worth evaluating if the extra pane is worth the upfront investment. Thermally efficient frames can also have a large bearing on the overall performance of a window, so should also be considered when looking to improve energy efficiency. Because argon gas is denser than air, adding it to the captive air in double glazed windows improves their thermal efficiency, without the needed for added glass. When used in conjunction with a special low emissivity glass coating, argon gas can bring the temperature of the window closer to room temperature. Whether you plan to continue sprucing up your space in 2021, or are looking to reduce your heating bills with smart upgrades, windows and doors could be the key to your new year’s refresh.
Cranbourne Stone, specialists in providing bespoke and high-quality natural stone and porcelain products for swimming pools and landscape designs, is pleased to announce the release of its new 2021 product brochure, entitled The Collection. 21. The latest edition includes their bestselling natural stone and porcelain as well as new additions which are tipped to be popular design choices this year. As the largest stockist of pool copings and matching paving in the UK, The Collection.21 is packed full of products including natural stone like limestone and marble, as well as Cranbourne Stone’s range of porcelain tiles and deck level grilles. New for 2021 is the stunning Trevose Black Granite. Its dramatic dark colour and flamed finish make it the ideal stone for modern swimming pool surrounds and terraces, and is already garnering attention from those looking for a contemporary finish. A Porcelain Mosaic range has also been introduced for the first time in Cranbourne Stone’s 17-year history. Available in nine stunning colours and two sizes, it is the perfect tile choice for swimming pools. The latest range can be paired with Cranbourne Stone’s large format tiles to create sumptuous style for your pool. “We are thrilled to present The Collection.21 product catalogue to our customers,” said Jo Standfield, Cranbourne Stone’s Sales Director. “It brings together our whole range of products, including the favourites that continue to be popular year on year. We have also replaced some natural stone with brand new updates like Trevose Black Granite. This beautiful rich-coloured stone replaces Chattis Black Basalt granite and is a perfect choice for contemporary designs. “What I am really excited to introduce is the new Porcelain Mosaic range. They match our Elegance range of large format porcelain tiles and are the ideal choice for those looking for chic styling. By using the mosaic tiles as a pool lining and the large tiles for the swimming pool surround it creates a beautiful seamless finish. “With over 100 pages bursting with luxurious stone and tile choices, this new brochure is a must-have for those looking to create beautiful swimming pool and landscape designs in 2021.” The Collection.21 includes natural stone and porcelain and wood porcelain tile ranges, which will satisfy all tastes and styles. Also featured are Deck Level Grilles from Stonetech and a range using Lapitec® sintered stone, which Cranbourne Stone is an approved fabricator of. As the UK’s exclusive distributor for Stonetech Pools’ products, Cranbourne Stone imports the unique Grilles from Greece and stocks the product at their Hampshire facility ready to be delivered quickly for pool projects. Concluding The Collection.21 is a section of detailed information including Cranbourne Stone’s extensive service which includes bespoke masonry, site template and survey options to help pool builders, architects and landscapers successfully design their project. To download The Collection.21 visit www.cranbournestone.co.uk
