Did we say conservatory? We meant porch...

A bit of feedback from some homeowners who have been exploring getting quotes for a new entrance porch.

Because todays modern porch constructions mirror the exact same processes as a conservatory, whether that's in wood or UPVC, homeowners can get an online quote for their porch at WindowQuoter.

Just follow the prompts for conservatory and when you get to the part where you're asked for your approximate measurements, just enter the dimensions of your porch.

A modern porch does more than just make your home stand out from the others. It may be a small room when it's complete but it can make a big difference to your home - somewhere to leave the wet or muddy shoes, wellies' and of course coats and umbrellas.

It can also make a huge difference to your comfort as a modern fitted porch puts another weather-proof layer between you and the outside world.

On a nearby new housing estate, we've noticed a few houses where the front door was set back into the house creating an 'open' porch / entrance way - the owners have blocked the open end to the entrance up with a fitted upvc door and side panels effectively creating a sealed porch area.

For a whole range of instant online home improvement quotes - head over to Home Improvement Quotes now. Select the project you're interested in and enter your measurements and details for an instant online price. Alternatively, find out more about the project you've got in mind with our range of useful features and articles.

Bathroom flooring – the choice is yours

Bathroom flooring – the choice is yours

With your mind full of images of beautiful bathroom suites, elegant porcelain and rain forest shower experiences, you could be forgiven for not thinking about the floor in your new bathroom but it’s a fact that choosing the right flooring will not only finish the ‘look’ of your new bathroom, it will also make it much easier to care for and more comfortable to use. That’s why we’ve put together this quick rundown of the choices available today to the discerning homeowner and bathroom re-modeler… The Usual Suspects Ceramic Tiles. Traditionally the most popular bathroom flooring choice. Tiles are not only durable, but also hygienic and very easy to keep clean. They’re also, most importantly, waterproof. Ceramic tiles are not without disadvantages, though – the grouting can quickly become discolored and even mouldy with damp and mildew. Ceramic tiles are available in a seemingly endless array of colours and patterns and designs can include ridged tiles to aid grip. Of course, if yiou do slip over or fall, then tiles are a pretty hard surface to land on. Vinyl. The next most popular bathroom floor covering, vinyl is both affordable and easy to maintain. Like tiles, vinyl floors are waterproof and stain resistant. They’re also easy to lay – but a vinyl floor hardly gives one a sense of luxury. The ease of laying, the wide choice of styles and colours and the low cost make Vinyl flooring a very practical choice for families. Laminate. perfect if you want to re-create that wooden floor look in an area where traditional timber might be prone to the damp and wet. The top wood grain ‘image’ is protected by a further layer making it stain and water resistant. Again, Laminate is durable and hard wearing although it’s much cheaper than the hardwood it imitates so well. And now for something completely different…. If you really want to break away from the norm, then these floorings might be worth considering. Cork. soft and comfortable to walk on, cork is a great choice. As well as being warm underfoot, Cork can also help insulate and is naturally non slip and rot resistant even when wet. Sealing is recommended to stop dirt becoming engrained. Cork is also an environmentally friendly choice. Hardwood. can be used in a bathroom or high moisture setting providing it is adequately sealed. Hardwood flooring has an inherent warmth and beauty and if you’re already a fan of real wood then why not have it fitted in the bathroom too? Rubber. perhaps suited to more contemporary interiors, rubber has many redeeming qualities making it ideal for bathroom flooring use. It’s durable, insulating, water resistant and even burn resistant. It can also be patterned to prevent slipping. Stone. from marble to slate, if you can stand the price tag, then why not? Naturally resistant to wear and tear and of course waterproof. Like it’s ceramic counterpart, not the most forgiving of surfaces if you fall over – and stone certainly can be cold underfoot. Natural stone may require sealing to prevent staining. Be wary of polished stone, which will be even more slippery when wet. And finally… Carpet. Carpet is available in water stain and mildew resistant finishes now and can provide underfoot warmth and a ‘soft landing’ suitable for all the family. However if its going to be subjected to repeat heavy soaking from children, then tiles or vinyl may prove longer lasting and more appropriate choices. With many of the tile / stone options, it may be possible to include underfloor heating (consult a qualified fitter) removing at least one obstacle to having a tiled floor. Either that or wear your slippers!

Making the Most of Your Bathroom Space

Making the Most of Your Bathroom Space

We know bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes, but how can you rearrange your bathroom to make the best use of the space available? Good space management is particularly important in en-suite bathrooms, or in houses which only have a small bathrooms and little room for all the mod cons. You might be able to just about fit everything in, but you don’t need to drop your toothbrush in the loo many times before you realise that a little extra elbow room can go quite a long way. So, how can your rearrange your bathroom to make space, where there wasn’t space before? Space Saving Utilities If your floor space is limited, it’s worth asking yourself how much you really need the bathtub. Whilst a nice soak on a Sunday morning isn’t to be sneered at, much of the time a standing shower cabinet is all you really need, and you’ll save a lot of floor space. If you really can’t stand to see the end of your long hot bath-time soak, another option that’s growing ever more popular is a corner bathtub. These will not save floor space – they actually take up slightly more floor space than a standard bath – but they do save wall space, which can in many cases be more useful, since you can place cupboards and other utilities along the walls. A standard toilet is surprisingly space consuming, so you could consider having your toilet replaced with one designed to go in the corner of the room. Be careful to make sure you still have a big enough cistern, though – there’s nothing worse than having to flush repeatedly because there’s just not enough water left! Hand basins come in a variety of sizes, some ideal for the smaller cloakroom. While a small basin might seem like a bit of an inconvenience, it’s a simple way to save space when Getting the Feel Right Even a small bathroom can be made to feel bigger than it is, by Lighting plays a crucial part in making an en suite or cloakroom appear light and airy. No one really wants to sit in a dark cramped space. Try to maximise natural light through windows or other clear / reflective surfaces – shower doors and mirrors etc. If you don’t have a window, you could also look into creating a skylight – which is useful for ventilation as well as light. For artificial lighting, recessed ceiling spotlights can light dark corners and give your small room a ‘Tardis-like’ quality. They also save vertical space – you don’t want to be banging your head against lightbulbs all the time. There are plenty more things you can do to give the illusion of more space, too. Consider the tiling – larger tiles that require less joins (and less grouting and cleaning) will give the impression of a more spacious room. Smaller tiles create more joins which can make your new bathroom appear busy. It’s important to be realistic about the space you’ve created and use it wisely. If you’ve planned for a corner bath, then the room size should be able to accommodate it. If it’s going to make the room look cramped, then consider a smaller unit or going with a walk in shower instead. Visit BathroomQuoter to get your instant online quote for your new bathroom - without the need for a salesman to call.

Put a little Feng Shui into your bathroom

Put a little Feng Shui into your bathroom...

Feng Shui wisdom teaches that problems in life can easily be identified with problems in your bathroom - cash flow blockages, drained finances etc. Similarly, the location of your bathroom in your home can also have a negative effect on your wealth, however all is not lost!

For example, bathrooms located next to (or above) a front door, bathrooms on a second floor above a kitchen, bathrooms under the stairs and even bathrooms in the center of offices are all considered locations that can have a particularly negative effect. The idea being that Chi can drain away before it's had chance to enter your home. Of course leaking plumbing (where ever the location) can have a draining effect.

So how can you encourage that good Chi stuff to hang around a bit longer when faced with a poorly positioned bathroom?

If your bathroom is in an important Feng Shui area, a full length mirror on the outside of the door can encourage wealth. A bowl of pebbles above the toilet (or on the cistern) and a black or red coloured rug at the base of the pedestal are all considered protective devices.

Smaller steps like keeping the toilet lid closed, placing plugs in sinks and showers all prevent Chi flowing away. If your bathroom is over the front door or kitchen, suggestions include hanging a faceted crystal in the center of the room, placing a round mirror on the ceiling directly above the toilet and placing earth type objects in the corners of the room will encourage positive Chi.

In general, the more faucets, sprays, water jets etc that a bathroom has, the more energy will be encouraged to travel in directions other than downwards. The larger a bathroom is, the more Feng Shui principles of colour and elements can be adopted.

If you're thinking of re-modeling your bathroom then why not visit Bathroom Quoter where you can enter your own measurements and details and get an instant online quote without having to put up with loads of visiting salesmen.

photo credit: axeldeviaje