A properly installed roof window tends to bring light and air into the darkest and most dismal of loft conversions, kitchen and anywhere else you decide to install a roof window. The key feature of a roof window is that it is on the roof, so the room it is going in, needs to have the roof above the ceiling or next to a wall. 

With over 70 years of glazing experience, Velux Roof Windows are a brand to trust. Velux Roof Windows come with a ten-year manufacturer’s guarantee. For general maintenance and wear and tear, there’s 25 years of availability on spare parts. Most of the parts are so simple to replace, you won’t need to hire someone to come out. 

Sunlight

Natural light is needed in the home. Sunlight is needed to maintain health, both in the body and the home. 

A dark and dismal room with poor ventilation isn’t just oppressive, it is damp and can lead to mold. Extractor fans are noisy and don’t brighten the space, like a roof window. 

The human body requires sunlight. The amount of sunlight impacts mood and increases the production of the happy hormone, serotonin. Even before hormone production kicks in, walking from a room that is dark and dismal into a space that is lit by sunlight has an immediate impact that isn’t experienced with artificial light. 

Roof windows may be the only way to get natural sunlight in a room. They work in oddly shaped rooms without much wall space. 

Window Combinations

Velux pitched windows can be combined with vertical windows to create glass walls straight out of a magazine. A glass wall creates the illusion of space, making a room appear much bigger than it actually is. 

A glass wall in a loft conversion is possible with pitched windows or the combination of pitched and vertical windows. If the loft is mainly being used as a bedroom, you can watch the stars lying in bed. Don’t forget the tinting for privacy. 

Glass walls aren’t just for bedrooms. They work in dining rooms and even kitchens. Glass walls offer excellent views and can aide in relaxation, turning a space from somewhere oppressive to somewhere pleasant to spend time. 

Sound Insulation

Velux offer soundproofing as a glazing option. With all their years of experience, they can reduce noise by up to 50 per cent. It even works for those directly under a flight path. Being woken by planes or other outside noise on a Saturday morning isn’t pleasant, so be sure to have this option if you live anywhere noisy. 

Safety

Roof windows can look like a giant cat flap to burglars. Velux uses toughened glass, reinforcements and extra locks. The burglar will be in for a nasty surprise if they try messing with a Velux window. 

Built-in Smoke Ventilation

With smoke ventilation accessible either by the press of a button or automatic sensor, no one will know you burnt the bake sale cookies and replaced them with store-bought.

Getting an extension is no easy challenge, and it’s something that should take a lot of thought and consideration. There are certain criteria you’ll want to meet before moving forward with such a project. Here are some things to consider before getting an extension.

Do You Have The Space?

Is there enough space in your home to think about a terrace house extension on your land? For some, there might be an excess of land that you can build on or it might be a case of building up, or down, depending on what you are able to work with. Some properties will allow for an extension, and some might not be possible. Before you go applying for any relevant permissions or spending the money on laborers or architectural designers, make sure that you have checked that you have enough space for what you have planned. Whether it’s an extra bathroom or bedroom, each one is going to be different from the next, and it’s important you figure out what’s doable and what might not be doable.

Can You Afford It?

The cost of a renovation isn’t cheap, and therefore you want to think about the costs involved and whether you can afford it at this moment in time. It’s not to say that you might not be able to in the future, but renovations can often demand a lot of money from you. Once you’ve figured out the finer details of the costs involved, you’ve also got to make room for potential snags and delays in the project, which could mean you’ll end up spending more than you’d hoped for.

Will It Add Value To Your Home?

When it comes to adding value to your home, there are certain things that can bring it down and bring it up. Ideally, you always want to look at improving your property value, and renovations can provide that most of the time. As long as you are extending your property, creating a new bedroom, reception room or bathroom can really add on the money when it comes to getting your home valued further down the line. You might not be looking to sell your home, but it’s good to have the option of increasing its value where you can.

The Legal Side

And finally, renovations are simple in just getting on with the work from your side. There are also legal factors that might prevent you from doing certain work and even the renovations themselves. It’s worth considering looking at what the legal implications would be for the particular work you’re doing to your home and how you might get around it. It’s worth getting in touch with the experts to check it’s something you can do before committing all the money to it!

Getting an extension can definitely be challenging, but it can have its benefits. Extensions can add value to your home as well as provide more space in scenarios where you’re adding on extra floor space. Use these tips to ensure you’re making the right choice.

If you have a cabin where you only go for a portion of the year, you likely won’t want to break the bank on decorating. What you can’t let that reluctance do is stop you from decorating completely. Simple, inexpensive choices can go a long way when it comes to decorating your cabin. Here are the top 5 inexpensive strategies and tips to decorate your cabin.

1: Secondhand Furniture 

The first element that you will be wanting to buy for your cabin will likely be furniture. While some elements, such as mattresses, would be better for you to buy new, secondhand furniture, when wisely sourced, can be a huge savings and a source of eclectic cosiness in your cabin. Sourcing your secondhand furniture from reliable and reputable thrift stores will ensure that your new to you furniture will not have any huge defects or flaws, and you can easily find ways to take the variety of patterns and colors and turn them into an aesthetic all of their own.

2: Practical Touches

The second element that you should be looking for consists of the most practical considerations after furniture. Small appliances such as a coffee maker and a microwave, curtains or blinds for the windows, and air conditioning if the cabin isn’t well-ventilated are only some of the somewhat boring details that you will have to consider for your cabin. Like with furniture, some of these things can be bought secondhand, such as small appliances, while larger items such as air conditioning will have to have a larger slot in your renovation budget. Getting these considerations out of the way early in the process will make it easier to know what exactly your budget is for the more interesting portion of the decorating process.

3: Outdoor Items

A cabin is unique in that the outside is almost more important than the inside. After finishing the bare minimum on the inside of the cabin, you should turn your attention to the outside. Consider what you will be using most often. Do you want a grill, a firepit, or both? Would you prefer a charcoal or gas grill? If you want larger items outside, such as porch swings, picnic tables, or shade canopies, you will have to budget for those as well and consider what sacrifices you are willing to make on your budget for decorating the inside of your cabin.

4: Paint

One of the least expensive ways to instantly change the character of a room is to paint it with a new color. While you may want to keep any natural wood that might make up the walls of your cabin, you should also consider whether you want to paint any of the rooms. Bright colors such as orange and yellow or earthy colors such as green and light brown are perfect colors for a cabin getaway, and the fact that you will be able to repaint a cabin for a relatively low price tag only makes this decoration option more attractive.

5: Secondhand Decorations

For any other touches, such as rugs, pictures, or knick knacks, you should once again go thrift or secondhand shopping. Not only will it be less expensive overall, you will be able to get things that have a sense of nostalgia and hominess about them due to their age. Brand new decorations and items almost always look unnatural until you get used to them, and a place that is less often used will benefit from the already broken-in nature of secondhand decorations.

‘Winter is coming’ but you don’t have to fear the freezing season! You can enjoy the snowfall outside by staying warm inside your home.

There are several tricks you can follow to keep your home and family warm. To minimize the discomfort of the approaching cold weather, we bring you six things that you should keep in mind to stay prepared for the cold weather in advance. Keep reading for snuggly-cozy cold evenings.

Use warmer curtains

Time to embellish your windows with warmer curtains for cold weather. You can use warm-toned or bright-coloured curtains. Bright curtains absorb the day heat, which helps in keeping the house warm. Moving ahead, swap your net curtains with thick cotton or woollen drapes. Warm curtains will help you maintain a constant temperature in the house and you won’t be affected by the cold weather. 

We usually overlook curtains during cold weather, but they play an important role in keeping the house warm. Plus, they will help you add a new touch to your decor.

Food that keeps you warm

We all are well-aware of the fact that eating healthy keeps us far from illnesses. However, you can pick certain foods that help in keeping the body warm too. For instance, you can drink hot coffee as the caffeine gives you a fresh start while also heating your body up. You should make dry fruits for your winter snacks. 

Walnuts and almonds increase the metabolism of your body. Other than this, you can enjoy eating dates as they boost your body’s energy levels. They keep you energized during sluggish cold days and keeps the body warm.

Check your drainage system

When you live in areas of extreme snowfall, your pipes could use some warmth too. In the cold weather, pipes usually crack or burst because of the frozen water in them. When water freezes, it expands, which leads to such losses. To avoid that, you can insulate the pipes that are directly exposed to the cold weather. You can maintain a constant warm temperature inside your house with a thermostat, which will prevent pipes from cracking. Keep the sink’s cabinet door open as it will allow the heat to reach the uninsulated pipes.

Hot water systems

Why make do with cold water in the already chilling winters. You should rather make arrangements to have access to hot water right when you need it. That can be done using a hot water system at your place. Hot water systems can be used for cooking, cleaning, and other domestic purposes as well. To know more about hot water systems, visit Same Day Hot Water Service. 

Workout

You should exercise for at least an hour every day and try not to sit still for long. Workout increases the blood circulation in your body which further helps in keeping the body warm. After a good hour of workout, you should give yourself the sufficient time needed to cool down as it helps regulate the body temperature. If you immediately head outside post heavy workout, you may end up catching a cold or worse, a high fever.

Avoid alcohol 

There’s a big myth that alcohol keeps your body warm during cold weather. Consuming alcohol in cold weather expands your skin vessels which is why your body feels warm. However, those expanded vessels drive the heat away from vital organs. When you consume too much alcohol during winters, there is a high risk of falling sick due to hypothermia, dehydration, and seasonal depression as well. So, swapping alcohol with carbohydrate-rich foods can be a good idea.

Get ready to welcome the cold weather with a warm hug by following these six tricks. They will not only keep you warm, but they will also protect you from falling ill.

Around on a carpeted floor, there’s a possibility they could have an allergic reaction or pick up a nasty bug. Obviously, this isn’t what you want for your family home. Instead, we recommend installing laminate flooring or oak wood flooring because both these materials have smooth surfaces which prevent pollen and dirt from collecting on them. Oak flooring is also non-allergenic by comparison to other wood floorings (such as pine) and an incredibly beautiful raw material. This means it’s perfect for a stylish and sensible family home.

Low Maintenance

Running a household is like juggling as there’s a lot of chaos, multi-tasking and you’re bound to drop something. Therefore, it’s important to install flooring in your home which makes cleaning up quick and easy. Avoid porous materials which stain easily and instead choose flooring with a water-resistant coating or polyurethane finish. This means you can sweep or mop away messes without breaking your back as you scrub baby food out of the carpet. Also, flooring which is low maintenance will look more attractive because it isn’t covered in stains.

Hard-Wearing

Children are always going to be running around, pulling their chairs in and out, causing all kinds of trouble. You’re going to need a heavy-duty material for your flooring to withstand the high level of activity going on. Carpet isn’t ideal because it can quickly look worn down and the fabric can be torn. Sturdier materials like laminate, vinyl or reinforced wood flooring are better in these circumstances as they’re able to withstand areas of high foot traffic without losing their appearance. These materials are usually coated with substances like polyurethane which help them become more scratch-resistant, while also giving them an attractive glossy finish. The more durable your flooring, the better your house looks and the more functional it becomes.

By looking for these qualities when choosing a new floor for your family home, you can find something gorgeous and feel reassured that it’s practical, too. 

Receiving an offer for the house you have always wanted may look like a cause for celebration however, it is just the beginning. You will have to get the property assessed before you can do anything else, as there are a lot of issues that could be stowing away. This is not about something as insignificant as peeling paint, which will be clear and very simple to fix, but about expensive issues that can influence the liveability of the property.

Here are a few things that warrant special attention during your home inspection.

Pest control inspection – Pest control services can recognize mounds of dirt created by earthworms and crumbs from biting wood that termites leave behind. Inspectors analyse the outsides of homes, including foundations, and around windows and rooflines, including rafters. On the off chance that they locate a problem, they will jab an opening in the wood effectively with a probing gadget. This is a part of an examination and ought not to be a problem for the mortgage holders. If an investigator can jab an opening in the wood, that essentially fills in as proof of an issue far more noteworthy than one little gap. Boston wasp control is one of the best in the market – if you are looking.

Oil tank – If the house is heated with gas, it is a possibility that the home may have been heated using oil at one time. Check if there is an oil tank on the property. You have to check whether the tank has been loaded with sand or not. You have the option to leave it there however, certain regions may demand that it be displaced. Nevertheless, you will have to discover its status and ensure it hasn’t spilled into the ground. Tidying up a wreck like that can be a problem.

Air conditioning – “A standard home overseer will affirm that a home’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) is working at the hour of examination, however, will make sure that it will continue working once you buy the home,” Lynnette Bruno, Trulia’s previous VP of correspondences told Curbed in 2016. Your examiner should disclose to you to what extent your home cooling condenser (the unit outside) should last, just by checking the sequential number, as indicated by Nigel Turner of West Milford, New Jersey-based Total Home Inspection Services. He says most condensers will last 12 to 15 years before requiring a substitution.

Water seepage and dispensing – “Water is the greatest enemy of your home,” Turner says. There is the potential for harm to the foundation. In the event that water is seen in the vicinity of the house, you need the water to flow away from the house, not towards it. Outside, check the canals and spouts, in such a case that they aren’t working properly, it can harm the foundation as well. While external water damage is simple to spot with a visual inspection, potential harm covered up inside a home’s walls are hardest to identify, Bruno says. To guarantee that your house is protected from water damage that can prompt moldy walls, ensure your inspector takes extra precautions of using an infrared camera to discover water damage that exists beneath the surface of a home.

Power framework – Turner says there are a few frameworks to pay special attention to. One of them is referred to as knob and tube wiring, also called K&T, typically found in homes from around 1880 to the 1930s; this sort of electrical system is normally unground, which prompts potential for electric shocks. The other thing to pay special attention to is a Federal Pacific Electric panel – when circuit breakers are tripped on those frameworks, it leads to overheating and fire.