Find a Shop Fitter you can trust in Loughton.

With cavity walls being very similar to other type of brick works, it can be quite confusing to figure out the type of wall your property possesses. If your house was constructed after the 1920s, then its highly likely the you have cavity walls, while older houses (houses before the 1920s) are likely to have solid walls. What’s more? If you happen to own a home that was built in the last decade, then it’s very possible that it was built with insulation installed during construction.

An effective way to determine whether or not your property is built with cavity wall is to examine the brickwork on your home’s exterior. The bricks will typically possess a regular pattern if it features cavity walls. In the event whereby the brick work is covered by render, you can also figure it out by taking a measurement of the wall’s width. If the brick wall is beyond 3000mm in thickness ( from the exterior wall to the interior wall), then it probably features a cavity. Meanwhile, a wall that’s narrower is very likely to be solid. Stone walls, on the other hand, may actually be thicker but are most times solid.

In a situation whereby your house is built using steel frame or timber frame, or made using pre-fabricated concrete, there are varying rules that applies when it comes to insulation and should be examined by an expert before any insulation is installed. More often than not, most contractors will have installed special air vents, which can also be a good indicator that a cavity wall insulation has been done.

If used and maintained properly, air conditioning can actually be a great way to create a healthier environment. As well as controlling the temperature, it also filters your air, removing pollutants like dust, pollen and mould particles.

However, to maximise these benefits, it’s important to keep your system clean. Dirty units and systems can become a health hazard, so always make sure you service your air conditioning at least once or twice a year.

Do I Need A Planning Permission For Bifold Doors?

Are you thinking about installing bifold doors for your home or property? If yes, you’d probably want to know if you’re going to need planning permission. Well, you’re not alone! Being fully aware the application process for planning permission might not be the easiest of tasks, several home owners would like to know if they’ll be going through the process for installing bifold doors. The answer is, you may actually not need a planning permission for installing bifold doors in your home. Adding or replacing doors is basically one of the home improvement efforts that are less complicated and as a result, they normally do not require planning permission. But despite that, they still need to comply with the UK’s building regulations.

Changing or adding doors to your home or property are usually considered to be covered under permitted development and even more so, when there’s no extension constructed for the doors. However under certain circumstances, these rights can be removed by the local authorities. A good example is when the property is a listed building or in a designated conservation area.

In the event whereby you find yourself having to apply for a planning permission, the time it usually takes to be granted one depends on the number of planning applications on queue. However, it typically takes about 8 weeks or 2 months to tender your application and be granted planning permission if it’s required. To apply for planning application by UK households, you’ll have to pay £172 - which is the set application fee nationwide. In certain situations where objection arises, there may be some delays in the process. If you’re still not certain whether your new bifold doors will require a planning permission, we’d recommend consulting your local authority.

There always seems to be lots of things to take care of when moving house. No matter how good your organizational skills may be, it Will be quite challenging to perfect all work without trace of slip.

Therefore, some questions are asked, how long does it actually take to move house? What is the average time to relocate? How long does the moving process take? How much time do you need to organize and perform a smooth and trouble-free relocation?These questions are very difficult to answer,Yet, you can get a rough idea of how long you are going to need to move to your new home.

1) Finding an Appropriate New Home

House hunting is exciting but very tasking. You look out for the perfect new property to buy or to rent in your new area one that is easily affordable and utmostly appropriate for your lifestyle.

2) Selling Your Old Home / Ending The Lease Agreement

If you’re moving out of a rented property, you need to recall the terms and conditions in your lease agreement and notify your landlord about your movement to a new house.

3) Ensuring Professional Moving Assistance

Unless you’re Moving just within the town or have very few items to relocate, performing a DIY move is not a recommendable option. You’re going to need professional moving assistance in order to ensure the successful outcome of your relocation, so you’re strongly advised to allow yourself enough time to research your moving options.

4) Putting Your Paperwork in Order

Have in mind that obtaining and/or updating all the necessary documents usually takes time, so you need to start preparing the paperwork as early as possible. Don’t forget that you will need some time to review and properly organize your papers, as well.

5) Organizing Your Belongings and Getting Rid Of Unwanted Items

When moving house, there is need to look through all your physical possessions and decide the fate of each and every one of them – set aside the things you’re going to relocate to your new home, throw away any useless.

6) Packing Your Belongings

Packing is the most strenuous and time-consuming task you’ll have to take care of when moving house.

7) Moving Day

The actual time your movers will need to take your belongings out of your old home and load them onto the moving truck depends on:

The number of boxes to be loaded onto the moving truck;

The number of furniture pieces and household appliances you want to relocate;

How well prepared you are,

The flights of stairs your items will have to be taken up or down or the free access to an elevator;

The moving truck accessibility.

8) Transportation to Your Final Destination

Depending on the actual distance between your old home and your new one, as well as on the traffic and the weather conditions at the time of your move, the transportation of your items may take from several hours (for a move across town) to about a week (when moving from coast to coast).

9) Unpacking and Settling In

It won’t take the movers long to unload your goods and take them into your new home (several hours, depending on the size of your shipment), especially if you know where you want each and every item to go. Upon your request, the moving experts will also help you reassemble furniture, connect appliances, and unpack your most essential items.

The time it takes to relocate depends on individual circumstance, Therefore, the average time to move house is estimated to be about 8-16 weeks.

If you’re about to start your house extension project and wondering how long it’ll take to complete, you’re not alone! This is one of the most common questions that’s asked by homeowners in the UK and across the globe. However, there’s no single precise answer for this as there are multiple factors that’ll affect the length of time it’ll take to complete your home extension. These factors include the size of the construction work as well as whether you’re planning to live in the house after completion or otherwise.

For a single extension, the length of time it’ll take to complete the home extension is normally up to 3 months. So let’s break this down:

As you would have expected, the first step to be taken is the preparation of the site. You start by digging out the footing and preparing the foundation which should take about 2 weeks. This is then followed by the damp course installation as well as the fitting of any drains needed around the extension which will also take a further 2 weeks.

The 5th week will be for the construction of the external walls as well as putting the blockwork in place for the provision of the cavity wall insulation. A further 2 weeks after this, will be dedicated to the installation of the roof structure and the internal walls.

It’s at this junction that you’ll call on your weather proof installer to fit in your uPVC windows and doors. Once done, the gas fitters and electricians will have to be on site to connect power to your new extension building. Subsequently, this will be followed by internal wall plastering as well as breaking through your main house. Once the plaster is dried, decorations completed and all the required furniture and units installed, the extension is ready for use.

Garden slabs are a joy to behold but only when done the right way. Well, the installation of paving slabs shouldn’t be exceed digging a little here and there, buying a small amount of mortar and pressing down the garden slab, right? Absolutely not! But we must admit how great it would have been if only it were that easy in real life. Let’s be honest, in reality, laying garden slabs does not only require you to prepare your sub-base painstakingly and mix your mortar using the appropriate materials, but you’d also have to work with accurate and precise paver placements to guarantee the patio’s longevity. Consequently, this happens to be a stressful and quite tricky challenge. If you lack the required confidence to pull this off, we’d recommend you hire the services of a seasoned professional who can guarantee the best results and also save you time and extra cash that may result from possible costly errors. In this guide, you’d gain more insight into the garden slabs laying process.

To get started, you’ll need sharp sand, cement, shovel, wheelbarrow, pointing trowel, rubber mallet, spirit level, jointing compound, hard-bristled brush and tarpaulin.

1. Mix a layer of mortar for each paver.
2. Apply the mixed mortar onto the sub base by using the trowel.
3. Slot the first flag in place and ensure not to stain the paver’s surface with the mixed mortar.
4. Using a rubber mallet, carefully tap the paver to the mortar bed. Once done, ensure the surface is even with a spirit level.
5. Take a measurement of the gap between the pavers
6. Repeat the above steps until all pavers have been perfectly laid
7. Leave the pavers to dry for about 1 to 2 days. You can protect it using a tarpaulin if concerned about rain.
8. Use the jointing compound to fill up the paver gaps to bind together the pavers. Ensure to wipe off any excess compound using the hard-bristled brush.