We asked regular visitors to this blog 'when buying paint - do you'....
Here were the 4 choices:
Buy the cheapest
Buy a major brand
Buy shops own brand
Always buy a new brush/roller.
Here are the results:
80% bought a major brand, whilst the other 20% who voted favoured shop's own brands.
Interestingly - 80% also stated they bought a new brush or roller everytime they bought paint.
Now wasn't that more interesting than watching paint dry?
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Any upvc frame colour you like - as long as it's white?
Not so long ago, if you were choosing upvc double glazing to replace your old windows, then the frame colour choice was usually limited to white, white or… White.
You can’t keep a good plastic extrusion manufacturer down, though, and they quickly caught onto the fact that us homeowners quite like wooden windows – and that if they could make their plastics look a bit more like wood, they might just get a few more sales.
And so it was, that wood grain finish uPVC frames were born, and in the last few years, they have flourished. Nowadays there’s a huge variety of frames and fittings for your fenestration.
White.
White is the original, and is still the most popular colour choice by far. White upvc frames rapidly underwent major improvements soon after they were first developed to battle dis-colouration problems, and modern white frames keep their appearance for many years after manufacture.
White frames, whether they’re casement, bow, bay or sash style continue to look good in any property.
Hardwood.
Cherry – The darker wood colour particularly suited to fascia uses (as it doesn’t show the dirt so much) is a ‘foil’ layer that’s applied at the extrusion manufacturing stage rather than applied by the window company themselves. This makes for an extremely durable finish.
Light Oak – with the look of a more traditional timber frame colour, Light Oak is proving to be very popular and not just in windows. This frame colour looks great on conservatories and doors. Again, the coloured ‘foil’ layer is applied at the extrusion manufacturing stage so it’s a very durable finish.
It is possible to now specify either a colour finish on the outside to blend in with existing brick or stonework, whilst opting for white on the inside to brighten up the room.
Expect to pay around 15% more (than white frames) for one sided colours and around 20% more for 2 sided colours (Oak outside, white inside etc).
Cream.
A newer frame finish that’s quickly found favour with home building developers is Cream.
To our knowledge, it’s not available as a dual-sided colour, rather the colour (like white) runs through the whole of the extrusion from which the frame is made.
It certainly looks distinctive though and if you’re looking for something to really set your property off then cream may be the finish you’ve been looking for. I’ve seen them in period properties as well and they look very good indeed – they don’t have the starkness that white windows sometimes have.
Cream is a relatively new colour and at present will cost around 20% to 25% more than standard white upvc frames.
Black and White.
You don’t see them very often and not every window company deals in them but there are two other frame colours worth mentioning here – black, which has been around for a few years now and a much newer ‘foil white’ and it’s that I want to tell you about.
Like its colour foil counterparts, the white finish is applied at manufacturing so it’s extremely durable. Why choose white ‘foil’ on a white frame? Well one of the advantages of the white ‘foil’ finish is that it gives your frame a very realistic woodgrain finish and unless you’re up close,can easily be mistaken for wood.
Hopefully, as this product becomes more and more available, it will find uses in period buildings etc that were previously unsuitable for upvc frames because of planning constraints.
Expect prices to be around 20% more than standard white frames
Whatever frame you colour or combination of colours you prefer, you'll find instant online quotes at Windowquoter - double glazing quotes without the need for a salesman to call.
You can’t keep a good plastic extrusion manufacturer down, though, and they quickly caught onto the fact that us homeowners quite like wooden windows – and that if they could make their plastics look a bit more like wood, they might just get a few more sales.
And so it was, that wood grain finish uPVC frames were born, and in the last few years, they have flourished. Nowadays there’s a huge variety of frames and fittings for your fenestration.
White.
White is the original, and is still the most popular colour choice by far. White upvc frames rapidly underwent major improvements soon after they were first developed to battle dis-colouration problems, and modern white frames keep their appearance for many years after manufacture.
White frames, whether they’re casement, bow, bay or sash style continue to look good in any property.
Hardwood.
Cherry – The darker wood colour particularly suited to fascia uses (as it doesn’t show the dirt so much) is a ‘foil’ layer that’s applied at the extrusion manufacturing stage rather than applied by the window company themselves. This makes for an extremely durable finish.
Light Oak – with the look of a more traditional timber frame colour, Light Oak is proving to be very popular and not just in windows. This frame colour looks great on conservatories and doors. Again, the coloured ‘foil’ layer is applied at the extrusion manufacturing stage so it’s a very durable finish.
It is possible to now specify either a colour finish on the outside to blend in with existing brick or stonework, whilst opting for white on the inside to brighten up the room.
Expect to pay around 15% more (than white frames) for one sided colours and around 20% more for 2 sided colours (Oak outside, white inside etc).
Cream.
A newer frame finish that’s quickly found favour with home building developers is Cream.
To our knowledge, it’s not available as a dual-sided colour, rather the colour (like white) runs through the whole of the extrusion from which the frame is made.
It certainly looks distinctive though and if you’re looking for something to really set your property off then cream may be the finish you’ve been looking for. I’ve seen them in period properties as well and they look very good indeed – they don’t have the starkness that white windows sometimes have.
Cream is a relatively new colour and at present will cost around 20% to 25% more than standard white upvc frames.
Black and White.
You don’t see them very often and not every window company deals in them but there are two other frame colours worth mentioning here – black, which has been around for a few years now and a much newer ‘foil white’ and it’s that I want to tell you about.
Like its colour foil counterparts, the white finish is applied at manufacturing so it’s extremely durable. Why choose white ‘foil’ on a white frame? Well one of the advantages of the white ‘foil’ finish is that it gives your frame a very realistic woodgrain finish and unless you’re up close,can easily be mistaken for wood.
Hopefully, as this product becomes more and more available, it will find uses in period buildings etc that were previously unsuitable for upvc frames because of planning constraints.
Expect prices to be around 20% more than standard white frames
Whatever frame you colour or combination of colours you prefer, you'll find instant online quotes at Windowquoter - double glazing quotes without the need for a salesman to call.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Self Cleaning windows explained - are they worth it?
Self-cleaning windows have been available for a little while now, but over the years we’ve seen plenty of fads, fashions and must-have new features come and go. We want to know, are self-cleaning panes here to stay – and are they worth the extra money?
Self cleaning glass is available from a variety of glass makers under a number of different brand names, but they all work by the same basic principle: the glass has a fine coating which reacts to sunlight to break down dirt particles on the window, and then when the window is rained on, these loosened particles are washed away easily. The coating also causes the water to run off the window in sheets, instead of as droplets as you would usually expect.
Self-cleaning glass is an option offered by many of the double glazing suppliers in the Home Improvement Quotes network. If you go to WindowQuoter.co.uk we can help you find up to three recommended double glazing suppliers in your local area.
But do they work?
The short answer: Yes! Self-cleaning windows have proved themselves to be extremely successful in reducing, or even removing, the need to have the window cleaners in. The self-cleaning coating does indeed work as advertised, and this is one glazing innovation that is proving to be very popular.
Are there any drawbacks?
There are one or two. Some marks can take a little while to break down, and using strong chemical window cleaning products to remove stubborn stains could damage the self-cleaning coating, so you need to remember to only use soapy water when washing your windows. Also, after picking up dirt from the window, rainwater can run down the pane onto the frames and occasionally the dirt can be deposited onto the window sill. This can be particularly troublesome if you have white uPVC frames.
Are they worth the extra cost?
Clearly, this will depend on your circumstances, your budget and how often your windows generally need cleaning. Typically, self-cleaning glass will add around 10-20% to the price of your window units, but will also reduce your future window cleaning bills, and possibly could add some value to your home.
Generally, self-cleaning glass is worth its weight in gold for the difficult to reach panes – in particular conservatory roofs, loft skylights and other such windows. Also, if your house has lots of windows it’s well worth considering self-cleaning windows, as they can easily work out to be an economical choice when considering the cost of regularly getting the window cleaners in.
Conclusions
It may not yet be time for window cleaners to start hanging up their mops and checking the classifieds, but with self-cleaning window technology continuing to improve and prices growing ever more affordable, self-cleaning glass is here to stay – and well worth a second look.
To find guide prices and suppliers for all kinds of windows, go to WindowQuoter.co.uk
Self cleaning glass is available from a variety of glass makers under a number of different brand names, but they all work by the same basic principle: the glass has a fine coating which reacts to sunlight to break down dirt particles on the window, and then when the window is rained on, these loosened particles are washed away easily. The coating also causes the water to run off the window in sheets, instead of as droplets as you would usually expect.
Self-cleaning glass is an option offered by many of the double glazing suppliers in the Home Improvement Quotes network. If you go to WindowQuoter.co.uk we can help you find up to three recommended double glazing suppliers in your local area.
But do they work?
The short answer: Yes! Self-cleaning windows have proved themselves to be extremely successful in reducing, or even removing, the need to have the window cleaners in. The self-cleaning coating does indeed work as advertised, and this is one glazing innovation that is proving to be very popular.
Are there any drawbacks?
There are one or two. Some marks can take a little while to break down, and using strong chemical window cleaning products to remove stubborn stains could damage the self-cleaning coating, so you need to remember to only use soapy water when washing your windows. Also, after picking up dirt from the window, rainwater can run down the pane onto the frames and occasionally the dirt can be deposited onto the window sill. This can be particularly troublesome if you have white uPVC frames.
Are they worth the extra cost?
Clearly, this will depend on your circumstances, your budget and how often your windows generally need cleaning. Typically, self-cleaning glass will add around 10-20% to the price of your window units, but will also reduce your future window cleaning bills, and possibly could add some value to your home.
Generally, self-cleaning glass is worth its weight in gold for the difficult to reach panes – in particular conservatory roofs, loft skylights and other such windows. Also, if your house has lots of windows it’s well worth considering self-cleaning windows, as they can easily work out to be an economical choice when considering the cost of regularly getting the window cleaners in.
Conclusions
It may not yet be time for window cleaners to start hanging up their mops and checking the classifieds, but with self-cleaning window technology continuing to improve and prices growing ever more affordable, self-cleaning glass is here to stay – and well worth a second look.
To find guide prices and suppliers for all kinds of windows, go to WindowQuoter.co.uk
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Online register of 'dodgy' estate agents from Office of Fair Trading
Office of Fair Trading launch online register of dodgy estate agents....
The Office of Fair Trading has just launched an online version of its register of dodgy estate agents.
Estate agents listed have all been given warnings or been banned from estate agency work. The list can be viewed at www.oft.gov.uk/estateagentregister
Users can browse alphebetically or by date; the register provides details on how to report suspected breaches by a firm of an existing warning or prohibition order.
Those estate agents listed will have committed certain specific offences in relation to their business such as fraud, other dishonesty or violence; discrimination on the grounds of race or gender or failing to belong to an approved redress scheme.
Reputable estate agents are now desperately seeking new vendors with the National Association of Estate Agents recently reporting that there are four house hunters for every property on the market.
This is at a time when properties on estate agents books are at historic lows and the UK property scene is far from being a sellers market.
If you've recently moved home and you're thinking of improving it or perhaps you've decided to stay put and improve what you've already got? Home Improvement Quotes can help by providing instant online quotes for a variety of home improvement projects - from double glazing to loft conversions, kitchens to paving.
The Office of Fair Trading has just launched an online version of its register of dodgy estate agents.
Estate agents listed have all been given warnings or been banned from estate agency work. The list can be viewed at www.oft.gov.uk/estateagentregister
Users can browse alphebetically or by date; the register provides details on how to report suspected breaches by a firm of an existing warning or prohibition order.
Those estate agents listed will have committed certain specific offences in relation to their business such as fraud, other dishonesty or violence; discrimination on the grounds of race or gender or failing to belong to an approved redress scheme.
Reputable estate agents are now desperately seeking new vendors with the National Association of Estate Agents recently reporting that there are four house hunters for every property on the market.
This is at a time when properties on estate agents books are at historic lows and the UK property scene is far from being a sellers market.
If you've recently moved home and you're thinking of improving it or perhaps you've decided to stay put and improve what you've already got? Home Improvement Quotes can help by providing instant online quotes for a variety of home improvement projects - from double glazing to loft conversions, kitchens to paving.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Transformers: Garages In Disguise
In the vast majority of houses, getting more space doesn’t require getting the builders in – the space is already there, being wasted. Here’s three ways you can turn the unused space you already have into valuable living space, so you can get the most out of the house you live in.
Garages
The possible uses for a converted garage are only limited by your imagination. Whether you need a Granny annex, an office, a playroom, music room or even a home cinema, a garage conversion is an ideal solution.
The reason for this is that garages are generally just the right size and shape for a multipurpose room – a little larger than an average living room.
Check the latest planning authority guidelines and discuss your particular plans with your conversion company. If the garage is an external one, then usually more work is involved in insulating the walls etc but a good garage conversion can make your property highly desirable when you sell it later on.
Click Here for a free instant onling Garage Conversion Quote
Lofts
Whilst you might have to pinch a bit of space from an existing room or staircase for the new access staircase, there’s no doubt that loft conversions, done properly, not only give you an amazing amount of usable room space, but they also increase the value of your property.
The other really great thing about a loft conversion is you can use the conversion for any purpose – don’t be limited by our most regular requested uses: Bedroom (with or without en-suite), Bathroom, Study or Office, Playroom, Home cinema, Craft room, Teenagers ‘den’.
And the position means you can really let natural light flood in when you want it. Got a roof with a view? Why not open the view up with a comfy observation style lounge?
Finally, don’t be put off a loft conversion if your roof is of a newer trussed construction (where the supporting roof rafters are a prefabricated W shape) – these lofts are equally ripe for conversion, it just takes a little more specialist construction know-how and there are specialist loft companies that only deal in these types of lofts.
For a free and instant Loft Conversion Estimate head to LoftQuoter.co.uk
Basements: Down, Not Out.
Dark and damp basements and cellars can be turned into warm cosy nooks, perfect home cinema’s and gyms or a stylish study or office out of the way of the rest of the house.
It’s worth calling in the experts to discuss the water-proofing of your cellar first and to handle all the structural work etc needed to comply with planning requirements.
In fact, there are even companies that will dig out a new basement for you (where none previously existed). These are becoming hugely popular in London and other inner city areas where planning restrictions mean homeowners can’t extend outwards or upwards, but they can build downwards instead.
Garages
The possible uses for a converted garage are only limited by your imagination. Whether you need a Granny annex, an office, a playroom, music room or even a home cinema, a garage conversion is an ideal solution.
The reason for this is that garages are generally just the right size and shape for a multipurpose room – a little larger than an average living room.
Check the latest planning authority guidelines and discuss your particular plans with your conversion company. If the garage is an external one, then usually more work is involved in insulating the walls etc but a good garage conversion can make your property highly desirable when you sell it later on.
Click Here for a free instant onling Garage Conversion Quote
Lofts
Whilst you might have to pinch a bit of space from an existing room or staircase for the new access staircase, there’s no doubt that loft conversions, done properly, not only give you an amazing amount of usable room space, but they also increase the value of your property.
The other really great thing about a loft conversion is you can use the conversion for any purpose – don’t be limited by our most regular requested uses: Bedroom (with or without en-suite), Bathroom, Study or Office, Playroom, Home cinema, Craft room, Teenagers ‘den’.
And the position means you can really let natural light flood in when you want it. Got a roof with a view? Why not open the view up with a comfy observation style lounge?
Finally, don’t be put off a loft conversion if your roof is of a newer trussed construction (where the supporting roof rafters are a prefabricated W shape) – these lofts are equally ripe for conversion, it just takes a little more specialist construction know-how and there are specialist loft companies that only deal in these types of lofts.
For a free and instant Loft Conversion Estimate head to LoftQuoter.co.uk
Basements: Down, Not Out.
Dark and damp basements and cellars can be turned into warm cosy nooks, perfect home cinema’s and gyms or a stylish study or office out of the way of the rest of the house.
It’s worth calling in the experts to discuss the water-proofing of your cellar first and to handle all the structural work etc needed to comply with planning requirements.
In fact, there are even companies that will dig out a new basement for you (where none previously existed). These are becoming hugely popular in London and other inner city areas where planning restrictions mean homeowners can’t extend outwards or upwards, but they can build downwards instead.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
How much to paint a room?
If you want to freshen up the look and feel of a room, then its said there's nothing cheaper (or quicker) than a lick of paint. But how cheap an option is that really? Time you've added brushes or rollers, trays and surface preparation/protection, the cost can soon mount.
Home Improvement Quotes took the basic Dulux Pure Brilliant White Matt Emulsion (5 litre can), and compared a few prices from the major high street retailers websites. Here's what we found:
B&Q - Ordinary 5 litre tin not available, nearest was Dulux Paint Pod System at £19.98. They recommended a coverage of 9-15 sq mtrs per litre.
FocusDIY - £14.99. No coverage recommendation.
Homebase - £13.68. They recommended a coverage figure of 1 litre covers 14 sq mtrs
We'd be interested to hear from you - what prices have you been able to find on the high street recently for a 5 litre tin of brilliant white matt emulsion? Did you find stores 'own-brands' were better value in terms of cost and coverage?
(prices as displayed online at 14:27 15th July 2009, prices didn't include delivery or any special promotions)
Image credit basykes
Reduce Flood Damage With Permeable Driveways
Climate change and storm damage.
The Environment Agency has calculated that funding for better flood defences along our rivers and sea shores needs to be doubled to £1bn a year by 2035 if we are to avoid widespread flood damage to houses in Britain – a figure that has been difficult to get Governments and agencies to admit to in the past.
1 in 6 homes in England are already at risk from flooding, they say, whilst also warning that the effects of climate change could cause that that number to rise unless we invest heavily in improving our sea defences.
The normal cost of economic damage could be as much as £4bn a year if more is not done.
The warning came as climate impact projections predict every part of the UK was likely to receive up to 20% more rainfall in the Winter by 2080.
What Can You Do?
It can be difficult to figure out what you can do to help negate the effects of climate change, but we’re going to concentrate on one thing which will definitely help reduce the levels of flooding, and the damage caused, if these predictions turn out to be accurate: make sure your driveway and patio has proper drainage.
As more homes have replaced lawns with low-maintanance patios, our towns have become less able to deal with sudden downpours due to a lack of natural drainage. When this effect is added to rainfall increases, it isn’t hard to see that this could present problems.
In recent years, increasing awareness of surface water problems is leading to more and more ways to tackle the problem including using porous bricks and membranes which will still allow rain water to ‘soak through’ and drain away naturally.
Local planning authorities have brought in new regulations regarding surface water drainage in new driveways, but if your patio is more than just a couple of years old, it is quite likely to have been built before the new regulations came into force, and possibly to be part of the problem.
That’s why, if you’re thinking of having a new driveway laid, extending an existing driveway for additional family parking or just replacing an old surface, you should talk to your paving or driveway company about drainage and what your options are.
What’s more, the regulations only apply to newly built driveways, not to replacements, so if you're having a driveway replaced you need to be extra careful to ensure your supplier knows you want a permeable driveway.
By ensuring your driveway meets drainage standards, you could be helping to reduce the problems that climate change may bring in the future.
To get competitive quotes from up to 3 local approved paving companies to where you live, use Paving Quoter – get an instant online quote that we can back up (at your request) with a UK wide directory of approved installers.
The Environment Agency has calculated that funding for better flood defences along our rivers and sea shores needs to be doubled to £1bn a year by 2035 if we are to avoid widespread flood damage to houses in Britain – a figure that has been difficult to get Governments and agencies to admit to in the past.
1 in 6 homes in England are already at risk from flooding, they say, whilst also warning that the effects of climate change could cause that that number to rise unless we invest heavily in improving our sea defences.
The normal cost of economic damage could be as much as £4bn a year if more is not done.
The warning came as climate impact projections predict every part of the UK was likely to receive up to 20% more rainfall in the Winter by 2080.
What Can You Do?
It can be difficult to figure out what you can do to help negate the effects of climate change, but we’re going to concentrate on one thing which will definitely help reduce the levels of flooding, and the damage caused, if these predictions turn out to be accurate: make sure your driveway and patio has proper drainage.
As more homes have replaced lawns with low-maintanance patios, our towns have become less able to deal with sudden downpours due to a lack of natural drainage. When this effect is added to rainfall increases, it isn’t hard to see that this could present problems.
In recent years, increasing awareness of surface water problems is leading to more and more ways to tackle the problem including using porous bricks and membranes which will still allow rain water to ‘soak through’ and drain away naturally.
Local planning authorities have brought in new regulations regarding surface water drainage in new driveways, but if your patio is more than just a couple of years old, it is quite likely to have been built before the new regulations came into force, and possibly to be part of the problem.
That’s why, if you’re thinking of having a new driveway laid, extending an existing driveway for additional family parking or just replacing an old surface, you should talk to your paving or driveway company about drainage and what your options are.
What’s more, the regulations only apply to newly built driveways, not to replacements, so if you're having a driveway replaced you need to be extra careful to ensure your supplier knows you want a permeable driveway.
By ensuring your driveway meets drainage standards, you could be helping to reduce the problems that climate change may bring in the future.
To get competitive quotes from up to 3 local approved paving companies to where you live, use Paving Quoter – get an instant online quote that we can back up (at your request) with a UK wide directory of approved installers.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Extend outside the box: Introducing ExtensionQuoter.co.uk
Probably the most value-adding way to grow your home is to add an extension, and that’s why we’re adding a brand new site to our Quoter Family: ExtensionQuoter.co.uk
With Extension Quoter, you can get instant online estimates for extensions, without paying a penny or seeing a salesmen.
What’s more, we can back up our estimates by helping you find local tradesmen to build your project. Our network of over 5,000 approved home improvement companies stretches from the Isle of Wight to Inverness and beyond, and we'll save you money by helping you find three of the best tradesmen in your area.
Whilst the housing market is showing the first few glimmers of a recovery of sorts, many homeowners who desperately need more internal space are still extending rather than moving.
Extensions represent an excellent way to increase the size of your home, particularly because they don’t have to be very large to have a huge impact on your house. Rather than building a whole extra room on the side of your house like a conservatory, an extension simply increases the size of an individual room (or several rooms).
This means that even a small extension goes a long way towards opening up your house, whilst retaining the style of the original building.
Extensions are also an environmentally friendly way of building onto your home – because they’re made of bricks and mortar, they require less heating than glazed conservatories through the winter months.
If you’re starting to feel like your family is growing out of the space you have for them, and you could use a few extra feet on the kitchen or the living room, head to ExtensionQuoter.co.uk now to find out how much you can save.
With Extension Quoter, you can get instant online estimates for extensions, without paying a penny or seeing a salesmen.
What’s more, we can back up our estimates by helping you find local tradesmen to build your project. Our network of over 5,000 approved home improvement companies stretches from the Isle of Wight to Inverness and beyond, and we'll save you money by helping you find three of the best tradesmen in your area.
Whilst the housing market is showing the first few glimmers of a recovery of sorts, many homeowners who desperately need more internal space are still extending rather than moving.
Extensions represent an excellent way to increase the size of your home, particularly because they don’t have to be very large to have a huge impact on your house. Rather than building a whole extra room on the side of your house like a conservatory, an extension simply increases the size of an individual room (or several rooms).
This means that even a small extension goes a long way towards opening up your house, whilst retaining the style of the original building.
Extensions are also an environmentally friendly way of building onto your home – because they’re made of bricks and mortar, they require less heating than glazed conservatories through the winter months.
If you’re starting to feel like your family is growing out of the space you have for them, and you could use a few extra feet on the kitchen or the living room, head to ExtensionQuoter.co.uk now to find out how much you can save.
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