Tag: home renovation

Should you invest in a wetroom?

Should you invest in a wetroom?

When it comes to redesigning your bathroom, there are many options. These can include traditional designs, but you could also opt to splash out on a wetroom instead. We’re here to take you through the advantages and disadvantages of these areas of the home.

Walk-in shower

The look

Wetrooms can be a real statement for your home, as they create a modern, futuristic feel. These can be designed in using colours and textures – just like any traditional bathroom. Where they differ is that they look cleaner, as there are few steps or segments.

The average bathroom will have a shower tray and glass, which can take away from the appeal of the room. With a wetroom, there are fewer barriers and areas, which creates a more complete look. You can also have single colours or styles of tiles, as they cover all areas of the room.

There’s a lot of flexibility involved when you’re creating a wetroom. You can choose to use different colours to emphasise the areas of the room, or just stick with one. Accessories and other elements can still be used to show your personal style too – like fittings and controls. It’s up to you whether you want it to be filled with bling or more muted.

It’s a good idea to view any tiles that you plan to buy in person to get a real feel for what they look like. While there are many online retailers out there, it can be difficult to get an accurate depiction of these online. Smaller tiles will generally require more work to fit, as they take longer to line up and grout into place.

Lighting can also be used to great effect in these rooms, as they attract attention. Backlights and spotlights are very popular in bathroom design at the moment as they add an extra touch of class. They’re also able to withstand the steam and water that will be created in the room.

Grey-tiled shower

Functionality

Wetrooms aren’t just form over function, as you can enjoy both with the right design in place. These can serve many more functions than the average bathroom, as there are fewer barriers. This could mean you go for a rainfall or spa shower, because you don’t have to worry about housing them.

For individuals that perhaps have a disability or accessibility needs, these can also be more appropriate. With the right bathing and showering areas, they can use these much more easily. For example, access level bathing can present fewer risks as there are fewer ledges on which they could potentially trip or fall.

Getting into and out of a bath can be challenging for some people, so you may also want to invest in walk-in bathing facilities too. You can read more about the more straightforward access that these can offer in this handy blog post: https://www.bathingsolutions.co.uk/blog/elderly-showers/ease-difficulty-wet-rooms/

Shower enclosure with wooden duck boardcredit

Value

Creating a wetroom that really looks great will also add value to your home. This can potentially create more demand on the market, which also adds to the sale price. This can be a stand out area of your home that makes it much more lucrative for buyers. For more ideas on how to make your home more appealing to buyers, take a look at this article: https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/best-ways-to-add-value-to-your-home-177509

With buyers checking out so many houses before they opt to purchase, this can help your home stick in their mind. This can have them coming back for further viewings and potentially putting in an offer on your home.

Wetrooms do have a lot of advantages, although they can initially be more costly. This can be worth the investment to have a great room in which you can relax.

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How to add value to your home when renovating on a budget

How to add value to your home when renovating on a budget | H is for Home

There are plenty of improvements that you can carry out on your house to make it more appealing to buyers, without the need to add an extension, as this can not only be costly but you may have to wait around for planning permission too.

We’ve teamed up with Wunda Trade to explore ways that you can add value to a property without splashing too much cash.

Overfloor heating installation

1. Adding overfloor heating

If you want to add value to your property and save yourself money each month on your energy bills, then overfloor heating would be a great little addition to your house.

Overfloor heating will emit the same warmth as a radiator, without its water needing to reach high temperatures, therefore also being a more sustainable solution.

This is different to underfloor heating and will only take a few hours to install as it goes just below your carpet/laminate/tiles, rather than ripping everything up to install new piping.

Long galley kitchen

2. Renovate the kitchen first

We’re sure that you’ve heard the expression, “The kitchen is the heart of the home”. Well, this is exactly why this should be the first room that you renovate.

According to consumer reports in 2015, over half of estate agents consider the kitchen to be the most important room in the house when it comes to selling a property. Not only is it a room where the majority of time is spent, but it’s also a room that the home-owner’s guests will most definitely see when they visit, unlike the bedrooms and office spaces that often go unseen by most guests.

Garage storage

3. Convert your garage

A garage can easily work as an extra room in the house, rather than just being a place to store your bikes and household junk. Add some wallpaper or some flooring and it will instantly look homelier. Some suggestions for what you could do to your garage include converting it into an extra lounge space, an office or a home gym.

Double glazed window

4. Switch to double glazing

Not only will double glazing increase the value of your house, but if you’re in a noisy neighbourhood it will decrease the volume of sound coming in from the outside. Plus, this is another way to save on the energy bills, as it will be harder for heat to escape. Double glazed windows can add up to a massive 10% to a house’s value.

Container garden

5. Improve the garden

If your garden doesn’t look like the most desirable spot to hang out in, then do something about it. A well maintained garden makes a house a lot more attractive. Research shared by Pure Commercial Finance says that 37% of Brits are spending more time in the garden than they were 5 years ago. Adding features such as a shed, summer house or patio will also add value to a property.

Wunda Trade is one of the UK’s favourite underfloor heating companies. Based in South Wales, its online store sells everything you could need to transform a room with water-based underfloor heating, and manufacture its own innovative overfloor boards.

What are some of your experiences of, and suggestions for, renovating on a budget?

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The pros and cons of converting your garage

The pros and cons of converting your garagecredit

Lots of people like the idea of converting their garage into a functional space and potentially adding some value to their homes. However, it’s vital that you research the process and understand all the ins and outs before pushing ahead. Garage conversions don’t always produce the desired results, and that’s because some home-owners take the hit and hope approach. That’s never sensible, and the information on this page should help to set the record straight. You’ll find a list of the pros and cons below, and they should ensure you leave no stone unturned and always make the right decisions. With that in mind, let’s get started!

The pros of converting your garage

There’s no getting away from the fact that converting your garage should mean you have more usable floor space in your home. You could use the extra room as a home office, games area, or guest space. There are no limits to what you can achieve. Converting a structure that is already standing sturdy is much easier and cheaper than building an extension. So, if you have to choose between those two options; it always makes sense to work towards a conversion instead.

Converting your garage will also add value to the property and encourage potential buyers in the future to make better offers. People are always going to pay more for a house with five bedrooms than they are for a home with only four. You get the idea, right? Working towards a garage conversion might require a lot of hard work, but the price of materials is minimal, and you can reduce the costs dramatically if you take the DIY approach according to https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/garage.htm and other sites. Of course, you’ll need to check how that affects your home insurance before pushing ahead.

Bedroom conversion

The cons of converting your garage

Just as there are many positive outcomes when you choose to convert your garage; there might be a few adverse ones too. For instance, there are situations in which you might have to apply for permission from your local authority. That is especially the case if you will change the exterior of the structure in any way. Your neighbours might have to give their permission for the work too. However, with a decent lawyer or architect in your corner; it is possible to overcome all those hurdles.

Contrary to popular belief; you don’t have to convert the entire garage. You could build a false wall and leave around six feet for storage. That would mean you can still keep your garage door or buy a new one from sites like https://www.vps247.co.uk/garage-doors. When you decide to sell your home; having clean and fresh doors always helps to add some curb appeal. However, there’s a problem. If you convert the entire garage and turn it into a spare bedroom or office; you’ll lose all of that storage space. Unless you have a massive shed in your garden, that could become an issue. You’ll also have to install some windows.

The procedure you need to follow

If you decide that converting your garage is the best option on the table; you need to follow the process outlined below to ensure you work within the law and avoid getting into trouble further down the line.

  • Work out what you want to do with the garage and how you want to use it.
  • Get in touch with your local authority to find out if you need to apply for permission or not.
  • Contact local tradespeople and ask them to come and give you a quote for the work.
  • Search online to see if it is possible for you to reduce the cost of materials.
  • Call real estate agents and ask them to come and value your property.
  • Instruct the tradespeople to start work.
  • Ask a safety expert to come and assess the structure.
  • Call the real estate agents and ask for a new valuation that includes your conversion.

People who follow that procedure will stand the best chance of making sure their garage conversion works in their favour.

Now you’ve come to the end of this post; you should have all the information you require to make an informed decision about whether or not to push ahead with your garage conversion. You are the only person who can make that decision, and you should never rush into anything. Take the time to talk about the idea with your family, discuss the pros and cons together, and then attempt to reach an agreement. In most instances, it’s possible to convert a garage into a functional living space in less than a week.

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Why you should hire a skip instead of travelling to the tip

Why you should hire a skip instead of travelling to the tip

A lot of hard work is involved in getting rid of large amounts of household waste. There are many options available to make this task less stressful, with the two main ones being either to hire a skip or driving to the rubbish tip yourself.

When it comes down to choosing an option, a decision needs to be made about which choice is practical for you. We’re going to go through some reasons why hiring a skip can be highly efficient and environmentally friendly.

Row of skips

1. Convenience

The disposal of large amounts of waste can be much more convenient when choosing to hire a skip rather than doing it yourself. The clearance company will arrange and deliver the skip – and then you decide when it will be taken away. All you have to do is dispose of the waste at a time that’s convenient to you.

To many, it may seem like driving waste to the tip is a cheaper option, however, once you factor in time and fuel everything adds up – and you pay a lot to just get rid of a few bags. Breaking the waste down and placing it in the designated containers uses a lot of precious time that you may just not have. This task can be left to a reputable and responsible waste company. It can become even more costly if the tip is far away from your doorstep, as the cost goes up with every return trip you make. Also, you may not have access to transportation, meaning this complete service could be a total godsend.

By hiring a skip from websites like Envirowaste.co.uk who can deliver and collect at a suitable time to you could be very beneficial – freeing yourself from all the hassle and strain of doing the job yourself!

Skip beside a red brick house

2. Affordability

Affordability is another major reason why people opt for skips, especially if you think of all the trips you are going to make if you have a lot of waste. Driving to and from tips will not only cost you money in terms of fuel, but waste time as you will also have to load and unload the items in your car, sort recyclables and deposit the waste in the correct areas. The weight of the waste in your car can also impact fuel consumption.

Many consider the cost of hiring a skip is only offset by the convenience it brings, but it’s worth noting that there are many competitive skip hire companies offering a variety of services at highly affordable rates.

Rusty bicycle in a blue skip

3. Type of waste

You need to consider the type of waste you’re moving and throwing away when deciding between a skip and a tip. Dirty and dusty waste can easily find its way into the fabric in your car and be a potential source of permanent damage. As this is not a one time job, days of moving around with the waste can result in holes and tears in the seats and leave them stained. Added to that, loading and unloading heavy objects can cause scratches and dents in the paintwork.

Hiring a skip is a stress-free service that gives you peace of mind and saves your vehicle from potential damage.

Skip full of domestic waste

4. Sanitation

Dusty and dirty waste can leave your vehicle filled with unwanted germs and odours. Sorting all the waste is not an easy task and can be dangerous if the disposed items consist of broken glass or leaking liquids. Hiring a skip will ensure careful handling of all the waste as the company can take appropriate action in a safe and hygienic way. They will know how to handle and dispose of the items with great care so you don’t have to get your hands dirty!

Large yellow skip near trees

5. Protecting the environment

Hiring a skip is one of the best ways of conserving the environment by discarding unwanted materials properly, instead of them ending up in landfill. You can even hire a skip according to the type of items of which you need to dispose. Be it glass, metal, plastics, or any kind of household or commercial waste, it will all be taken care of in an ethical and environmentally friendly manner as the provider will have access to many recycling depots, waste treatment plants and dump yards. This way, the environment not only stays safer, but cleaner and healthier. Also, if you prefer, the skip hire Dover that helps to manage your household waste, contact TW Services for more help.

These multiple advantages of hiring a skip seriously outweigh travelling to the tip to dispose of unwanted items.

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