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If you’re about to acquire an electrical safety certificate, it’s quite normal to be a bit curious about the length of time the certificate is expected to last for. Well, this is also a bit tricky as the duration is determined by your type of property. In this post, we aim to shed more light into this topic in order to give you a detailed insight and help you make informed decisions moving forward.

As earlier stated, the validity of your electrical safety certificate or report is based on the type of property you own. In event whereby you happen to have tenants living in the property, the electrical safety certificate will last for 5 years or with every change of tenancy, depending on whichever comes first. However, in the event whereby you happen to live in your property, the electrical safety certificate is going to remain valid for 10 years. What’s more? For commercial properties, the electrical safety certificate is also valid for only 5 years. Meanwhile for caravans and swimming pools, the electrical safety certificate possesses a shorter lifespan of just 3 year and 1 year respectively.

The suggested length of validity is only the industry standard. And as such, landlords are not under any legal obligation to get their electrical safety certificate updated at the aforementioned times. According to the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985, landlords are only required to keep the electrical wiring in proper condition at all times. It does not in any form require landlords to get an electrical safety report or certificate.

One of the primary reasons why you need to get an electrical certificate is that you may not be allowed to show legal proof that the wiring and electrical set up in your property was in the best possible condition in the event of an electrical accident. Several insurance companies will not accept your claims if you’re unable to present the electrical safety certificate.

A roof serves as something which is so much more than just a top of a building. A roof delivers guard from the elements and precipitation, it also helps drain water from a structure, and helps to provide insulation to the structure allowing it to keep the interior of a building cool or warm, according to season.

There are several steps to building a roof

Mount the trusses.

This step requires the building’s wall frames to be completely level, square and plumb. If you are building the roof onto a building that is still a frame you must use ladders or scaffolding. Hoist the trusses onto the roof.

Install temporary braces.

You will need to install temporary braces that the trusses can rest on until the sheathing and permanent bracing are installed, this has to be done before you install the trusses. At the centre of the back wall, nail the bottom half of one two-by-six board that's 16 feet long to the top of the outside wall, making sure you fasten it to a stud.

Install the end trusses.

Install the two end trusses at the front and back of the building, making sure you affix them to the temporary bracing. The batten you take will have to be a bit longer than the distance will separate the trusses.

Install the standard trusses.

According to the instructions provided by the manufacturer, you will first need to install the first standard truss. You will also need to nail it to the batten from the first truss.

Sheath the roof.

Once your trusses permanently braced, you can begin with the sheathing of the roof. Starting from the bottom corner and moving across the bottom, the sheathing is installed lengthwise.

Install the roof cover.

Like the sheathing and underlayment procedures, the roof cover is installed lengthwise from the bottom up. The shingles should be staggered, and they should also overlap at the same time. You will need to work up to the ridge and use a ridge cap shingles to finish the ridge.

Depending on the size and location of the blockage, a blocked drain may be fixed by simply removing the build-up. This can be done either by using drain cleaner or physically removing the blockage. If the blockage is very serious or located within the pipes themselves, you will need to contact a plumber.

The short and simple answer to this question is, no. If you’re a seasoned DIYer then you should probably know a thing or two about electrical works around your property. However, house rewiring works should only be carried out by a qualified and registered electrician for a handful of reasons. In this FAQ, we’re going to take an in depth look at a few reasons why a house rewiring project should always be tackled by a reliable professional.

• Risk. Not only do you out your own health and that of your loved ones at risk when you attempt to complete electrical rewires on your own, but you also put your property at risk. Tackling electrical works involves a great danger. These dangers can come in different forms such as electrical wires electrocution, shock as well as fire. What’s more? Items in your home also possesses higher voltages, and when it comes to electrical wiring, the higher the voltage, the more dangerous the project becomes. Another tricky task to get around is hidden junction boxes as well as connections. Since these components are out of sight, the chances of you getting shocked increases rapidly. All these risks can only be mitigated when proper procedures are followed . therefore, if you decide to do electrical work on your home, then there’s the need to obtain necessary permits for completing the work. Once completed, the work done should be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector. However, the best way to reduce the risks is by hiring the services of a licensed electrician.
• Safety. Electricians are trained to perfect their craft and comply with safety protocols. They’re also required to pass a licensing test so as to work as an electrician. The safety of your property and loved ones when it comes to your home’s electrical works can only be guaranteed when done by a qualified and registered electrician.

Patios can be made from brick, natural stone or paving stones or slabs. These materials come in a huge range of colours, sizes and effects, so your patio can perfectly complement your garden space. Have a look for yourself or get a paver in to show you and bring samples.

Are you interested in tips on how you can plan out your bedroom? Well, you’re at the right place! When it comes to planning out a bedroom, there’s a need to create the right balance between function and style. This may seem easy, but its very probable to get lost half way through the task. However, since we spend a great third of our lives sleeping, it’s simply a no brainer to invest a little time and effort so as to make sure the room is worth the while. In order to help you plan a harmonious space you’ll love spending time in, we’ve put together these plan-to-perfection bedroom ideas. Let’s take a look!

• Make the bed a priority. Being a dominant feature in the room, the bed commands a lot of attention. As such, a lot of thought must go into setting it up. You should try to get creative with the setting in order to make sure the bed has a strong influence on the overall look of your room.
• Choose a streamlined storage. For a relaxing and comfy space, the less clutter the better. Here, you can put into consideration customized built in furniture which helps you inject orderliness and putting every inch of space to use.
• Make use of a comfy underfoot. On a chilly night, stepping onto a soft carpet with bare feet is always a great way to kick start a good night rest. You can opt for wool due to its bounce and natural warmth.
• Ensure that your windows are adaptable. Go for a flexible set up and privacy during the day time with underlined curtains featuring sheer voile panels alongside a blackout blind for daytime.
• Layer the light. Dimmable low energy LED ceiling spots around the edges of the room and directed to wash over the walls and curtains are perfect background light.
• Create a relaxing mood. This is essential for every bedroom as it’s meant to be a quiet zone.

Do you have existing floorboards and wish to fit new solid wood floor over it? If you’re planning to go for a DIY effort, there are a number of things you should put into consideration before you even get started. Firstly, you should have it in mind that existing softwood floorboards are usually not flat, implying that the surface of the existing might not be ideal to serve as the foundation on which to put your new solid wood flooring. Secondly, if you’re going to lay the new solid floor on the existing floorboards, it would be wise to select wood that is a minimum of 18mm thick to make your new solid wood flooring a lot more stable.

If you discover that your old floor is not too even, there are two option you can consider to protect your investment. You can lay the new floor at a 90 degree angle over the existing one. In other words, you should lay the new floor lengthways if the old one is laid widthways. Using this technique alongside a method of fitting referred to as secret nailing will go a long way to make sure your installation efforts is a successful one.

The second option you can put into consideration when laying solid wood flooring over old ones is to lay chipboard or plywood over the existing floor prior to the installation of the new floor. Here, there will be an increase in the cost of your installation, however it will be more reliable and durable as it assists in ensuring the stability of your new flooring. Some benefits that comes with this option includes the freedom to lay the new solid wood flooring in any direction you want as well as the freedom to use any fitting method you deem fit. Click here to learn more about wood flooring.

The quick and simple answer to this question is yes, stairlifts can be fitted to almost any staircases, however there are some instances where this won’t be very easy. There are a number of factors that determines whether a stairlift will perfectly fit your home. In this post, we aim to provide you with a good insight on these factors. Let’s take a look!

• The staircase width. The primary factor that really determines whether or not you can have a stairlift fitted is the width of your staircase. In the event whereby your staircase happens to be too narrow, this can lead to safety issues - users can hit their knee s on the rail or wall or the stairlift could also become a potential trip hazard. Generally, the minimum width a staircase can be to allow for a stairlift to be fitted is about 29 and 32 inches.
• The staircase height. Before going for a stairlift, the height of your staircase also needs to be put into consideration. This is prevent any potential head knocks when the stairlift is in operation. Normally, this shouldn’t be an issue for people considering a stairlift for their home, but the vertical space is one that must be considered if you’re planning to get a perch stairlift. This is due to the fact that when the user stands up, more vertical space will be taken compared to when he’s seated.
• The curved stair case. The challenge here is the fact with a curved staircase, the fittings and fixtures of your new stairlift must be tailored to the area in which it’ll operate.