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Since it’s very common to find heated floors in the bathroom, it becomes very understandable that most home and property owners are fitting a radiant floor heating system under tile flooring. If you’re thinking about how you can fit heat under tile floor, then you’ve come to the right place. However, if you lack enough confidence to pull this off, then we’d advise you get in touch with a professional who can guarantee the best results for help. In this guide, we’d be considering how heating products are fitted under the most commonly heated flooring material which is tile. Let’s take a look!

1. Take a measurement of the room you wish to heat. When taking this measurement, you should leave out permanent fixtures such as tubs, toilets, floor vents and more. This information will be used to create a project sketch which includes the room dimensions
2. Test your electric floor heating rolls. To make sure that your floor heating rolls are in perfect working condition, you should use a digital ohmmeter to test it.
3. Inspect the subfloor. Clear the surface of any nails or other sharp objects which could cause damage to the heating element.
4. Install the flex roll. Simply roll out your flex roll till it gets to the opposite side of the room. Once done, you can then cut the mesh and turn 180 degrees to continue fitting in the other direction.
5. Place the sensor. If you happen to possess a floor heating thermostat that enables a floor sensor, ensure to position the sensor near the thermostat’s location and exactly between two cables, then use hot glue or weave into mesh to secure it.
6. Connect the thermostat. We’d advise you get in touch with a professional to have this done.
7. Install the tile.

Also referred to as Freon, the refrigerant “R22 is a commonly used chlordiflouromethane that’s usually incorporated in air conditioning systems as well as many other refrigeration applications. However, because of the evidence discovered which shows the gas can contribute to the damage of the ozone layer, the refrigerant has now been banned since Dec 31, 2009 as it became legally required that any system making use of R22 and became faulty must be replaced.

Generally, R22 owners in commercial applications are now responsible for checking for leaks, record keeping as well as labelling of equipment using this type of gas. Failure to comply with these directives can lead to hefty fines.

Existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that makes use of R22 can still be used. However, the owner of the equipment will be denied any rights to purchase extra tanks of gas that’ll keep the equipment running. In the event whereby an air conditioning system requires a complete recharge of the R22 refrigerant, according to the law, it’ll be considered obsolete and therefore will have to be replaced. What’s more? As the remaining supplies of R22 starts to decline, the price of getting the refrigerant is expected to skyrocket. As a result, do not be shocked if the cost of purchasing more R22 to keep your current equipment running outweighs the cost of replacing your existing equipment with a new and environmentally approved one.

As R22 is gradually being phased out, there are new ozone friendly alternatives which are being introduced into the refrigerant market. Out of these alternatives, the most common one is the R410A, which is purely a combination of hydrofluorocarbons which does not deplete the ozone layer.

If you find yourself unable to or dreading to climb or descend the staircase in your home, then maybe its time to look into the benefits of having a stairlift installed. For individuals with mobility challenges caused either by ageing body or a chronic health condition, making use of the stairs can become extremely exhausting and saps most of their energy for the day. In any of these scenarios, there’s simply no need to move into an assisted living facility as there are much less costly ways to retain your independence and continue to enjoy the comfort of your home. And that’s exactly where stair lifts comes in! Fortunately, there are a plethora of companies making not one, but varying stair lift models.

If you’re interested in getting a stairlift, one of the first things that comes to mind is to identify the best one in the market. If that has also got you thinking, then you’ve come to the right place! Here are our top picks:

• For the best budget, you can go for AmeriGlide - This company is committed to making stair lifts a lot more affordable for all individuals. It offer a bunch of features which makes it a lot cheaper and easier to enjoy your unit.
• For the best space saving straight stair lift, you can go for Bruno’s Elan - This company’s products are a great choice if you want to maintain a minimalist design aesthetic for your home.
• For the best outdoor straight stair lift, you can go for Stannah - Having been in the business for over 150 years, Stannah’s has perfected the art of making outdoor straight stair lifts. Their products possess a wide range of qualities which makes it highly reliable, durable and perfect for users.

Are Solid Roof Conservatories Any Good?

If your old old glazed conservatory roof is starting to yield to the elements, perhaps it’s time to starting putting your money where your roof is. In recent times, most homeowners in the UK are now opting for the solid, tiled conservatory roofing alternative and for a good reason. If you’re also wondering if solid conservatories are of any good, then you’ve come to the right place! In the article, we’re going to discuss whether or not solid roof conservatories are a solid worthwhile investment and reasons for the stand.

Firstly, let’s look at what wrong with the normal conservatory roofs. Despite the fact that these are the cheaper alternative, it must however be said that they’re lacking in terms of insulation. A bad insulation can only mean discomfort all year round - winter will be cold and draughty and summer, stuffy and baking.

Solid roof conservatories, on the other hand, are made from special material that resembles traditional roof tiles but will only have a fraction of the weight. They’re able to deliver a much better insulation than a glazed roof which implies comfort all year round. What’s more? They’re very easy and quick to install, and as a result of their lightweight, you can easily transport them and use them for an underlying structure. The solid roof conservatories are a worthwhile investment which also provides the following advantages:

✓ It helps you save money. If they actually cost more, how can they save money? The solid roof conservatories provides many benefits but the most obvious one is improved insulation. And when a space is properly insulated, your heating bills will be significantly reduced. Hence, saving you some money.

✓ It also improves the safety of both you and your loved ones.

If you’re currently experiencing some structural issues with your building or property and you’ve heard a thing or two about the several benefits associated with getting underpinning done, you may be wondering if underpinning might just be the answer to your worries. Well, one thing you should when it comes to underpinning is the fact that, while there are some structural issues that may actually warrant an underpinning job, there are also some situations that can not be fixed by underpinning. In this post, we’re going to consider the events whereby underpinning of your house will be required. Let’s take a look!

First and foremost, you should know that underpinning isn’t required for issues related to slab heave. Footing movements which are likely to reverse normally occur when the content of the soil moisture changes unevenly which gives rise to slab heave. This movement results for a reversible effect.

Generally, underpinning is done to remedy problems related with the movement of the footings of a building or property, but as stated above – not all movements require underpinning. So, when is underpinning required? More often than not, a situation that’s resolved by underpinning is the event whereby the footings of a building or structure drops or subside as a result of some reasons that are irreversible. For example, footing movements caused by a footing set on a soft or loose soil which may be irreversible.

In the event whereby the footings of your house haven’t been installed as deep as required during the initial construction, then you will need to have your building underpinned to make it more stable. If you’re also looking to increase the load on your foundation like adding another storey, you may also need to have your house underpinned to support the extra weight added.

With the prices of buying a house skyrocketing, many of us are tempted to building our own house. This is sometimes an excellent choice, but you will first need to understand the costs of building a house from scratch. As per a general estimate, the cost of self-build ranges between £300 per m2 to £3,000 per m2.

As you can see, this is quite a variation in price from lowest to highest. Location is a prime factor in determining the costs. Building a house in London and the South is more expensive compared to other regions. Aside from location, several other factors make up the price.

Self-manage with subcontractors

You hire professionals directly like builders and carpenters. You also buy all the materials yourself allowing you to get the best prices.

Hiring a main contractor with other subcontractors

You will first need a main contractor who will help to create the watertight structure for your house. For the rest of the work, try hiring out subcontractors. Make sure that you buy all the materials yourself to get the best price.

External cladding materials

If you are looking to install other external material other than brick, you will also need to factor in the cost for the same.

Here are some example prices:

• Render on blockwork costs around £25 per m²

• Timber cladding is around £25 per m²

• Hand¬made all-weather tiling costs around £54 per m²

• Rubble walling or flint is around £90 per m²

• Reconstituted stone costs about £48 per m²

• Natural stone is about £75 per m²

Make sure to include these costs when coming up with the estimate.

Roofing materials

Non-standard roofing materials tend to add more to the cost and therefore you will also need to account in for this factor.

Here are some examples:

Welsh slate – £60 per m²

Second-hand slates – £35 per m²

Handmade clay tiles – £65 per m²

Reed thatch – £80/m²

If you choose to add any unique material to your roofing, be sure that you remember to factor in its cost.

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.

According to several studies and survey of ex-burglars, a home or building is less likely to be burgled with the availability of properly functioning and well fitted burglar alarm system. So if you’re thinking about installing one in your house, you can as well make sure you get the best possible burglar alarm that’s just right for your home. Several people asks the question of the best burglar alarm, but the fact is, it all depends on a number of factors such as your budget, personal preferences, your location, home features as well as the protection and response level you require. To put you in the right direction to make the best choice, here’s a breakdown of the types of burglar alarm systems to help you determine the one that will best suit your home.

lBells-Only Alarms

This makes a loud sound but that’s as far as it goes. It will not contact anyone.

Pros

• No monitoring contract and payment

• Easy to install

Cons

• It does not contact anyone.

• It may not deter the burglars if there’s no one around to stop the intrusion.

lDialler Burglar Alarms

This contacts your phone or any other numbers nominated once the alarm is triggered.

Pros

• No monitoring contract and payment.

• Nominated numbers would be dialled

• It can also notify you of other dangers such as fire if extra sensors are acquired.

Cons

• If you opt for a GSM dialler, a weak mobile network can affect its effectiveness

• Nominated numbers may be unavailable when dialled.

lSmart home security system

This contacts your or your loved ones whenever the alarm is triggered via a Smartphone or tablet application.

Pros

• Notifies you when away from home

• Can be monitored and controlled from a Smartphone

Cons

• If you opt for a GSM dialler, a weak mobile network can affect its effectiveness

• They can be expensive depending on your selected elements

lA monitoring contract

This implies paying a monthly or annual fee to a company to act or notify the police the your alarm is triggered

Pros

• The monitoring company is in hand to act in order to prevent the potential burglary and liable if it doesn’t.

• Some of the companies also offer maintenance services

Cons

• Expensive

• It cannot be installed by yourself

Click here to learn more about burglar alarms.