Find a Shop Fitter you can trust in Sowerby Bridge.

The energy efficiency of windows is measured using ratings, varying from A, the most efficient, to G, the least efficient. This scheme is run by the British Fenestration Council (BFRC). To comply with Building Regulations you’ll need windows of energy efficiency at least level C.

How To Tile A Kitchen Wall

Tiling a kitchen wall can seem like an easy task until you get started. Errors made will forever be evident for everyone to see unless you’re prepared to spend some extra bucks. When done right, it can actually be a very satisfying project, but don’t even think about rushing into it. If you lack a proper training or experience, it’s advisable to leave the task to a skilled professional for the best results and to avoid extra costs. This guide is meant to give you a detailed insight into the process and help you avoid possible errors.

lPreparation

• Ensure you have the required amount of tiles, adhesive and grout.

• Take the tiles measurement and calculate in square metres.

• Determine the number of tiles to be used and add about 10% to the total number to cover for possible wastage.

• Check to surface to make sure its clean and dry.

lMark Out The Area To Be Tiled

• Mark out the width of the tiles with spacers using a baton of timber.

• Position a tile against the bottom-most point and draw a line.

• Put a baton along this line and follow this by a vertical line at the wall’s end.

lInstall The Tiles On The Kitchen Walls

• Apply an even layer of adhesive with a wall trowel on the kitchen’s wall surface.

• Place the first tile on the adhesive and apply small pressure, do this for the remaining tiles with similar pressure to ensure its levelled.

• Make use of tile spacers to get a uniform space in between.

• Leave the adhesive to harden before applying the grout.

lGrouting

• Remove the tile space and clear out excess adhesive

• Prepare the grout

• Make use of a grout float to apply the mixture into the joints.

• Let the grout dry up a bit before washing the surface off with a sponge and water.

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.

The main distinction between a Building Survey and HomeBuyer Report is that the survey is a great deal extra thorough, and offers you a highly comprehensive testimonial on the condition of your home.

Both major types of property survey from RICS are the Building Survey as well as the HomeBuyer Report. Although it is down to you, as the owner or buyer, to pick which survey is the right one for your requirements, there are some guidelines in place to aid you determine.

A HomeBuyer Report is generally far better for properties that:

• were built within the last 100 years
• are of even more conventional style
• are constructed from typical building materials
• are in a practical problem, as far as you can inform

A Building Survey is generally much better for residential or commercial properties that:

• are much older and developed greater than 100 years ago
• have gone through significant expansion or change
• are a lot bigger as well as supply considerable holiday accommodation
• you plan to change in the future
• are of non-traditional fabrication.

Satellite TV is a service that provides its customers with a wide range of TV channels by transmitting signals from a communications satellite. Users around the world can pick it up using a satellite dish mounted on their property and connected to their TV. Satellite TV is particularly useful for viewers who live out of aerial and cable TV range in remote areas.

With your finger probably hovering round the ‘order now’ button, one thing often comes to mind, what size of skip do you actually need? Being fully aware that there’s a huge array of skips sizes and hiring the appropriate size can make a whole world of difference when it comes to cost, efforts must be made to ensure you determine the right skip size before clicking on that ‘order now’ button.

To give you a better idea of skip sizes and the type of project that they are best suited to, we have decided to provide this simple breakdown that’ll make your decision process a breeze - quick and easy.

• 4 Yard Skips ( 3 cubic metres )

The 4 yard skip is best suited to small domestic projects like home or garden clean or clear outs, bathroom or kitchen refurbishments and the likes, due to its relatively small size. It has a capacity to carry about 30 bin bags at a go.

• 6 Yard Skips ( 6.5 cubic metres)

Do you want a skip for domestic purposes or for small commercial projects?if yes, then you should definitely give the 6 yard skip a shot. It has a capacity to hold up to 60 bin bags.

• 8 Yard Skips ( 6 cubic metres)

This skip size is best suited to large domestic tasks or light commercial projects. It has a capacity to hold up to 60 to 80 bags effortlessly.

• 10 Yard Skips ( 7.65 cubic metres)

With a skip size this big, both large residential and commercial projects can be handled with relative ease. Not only does it have the capacity to hold up to 80 to 100 bin bags, but also comes with an enclosed lid option, if you need an extra security for your property.

• 12 Yard Skips ( 9.18 cubic metres)

This skip size is best suited to both large residential projects and building sites. It has a capacity to hold up to 100 to 120 bin bags, and just like the 10 yard skips, it comes with an enclosed lid option for an extra security.

Click here to learn more about skips

Do I Need A Gardener Or Landscaper?

This is a question that’s often asked by most homeowners across the globe. While it’s true that both gardener and landscaper can make your garden a lot more beautiful and pleasing to the eye, it’s also crucial to know the significant difference between the two professions.

So who is a landscaper? We have two types of landscapers: the landscape architect whose job is to design a landscape and a landscape builder whose job is to do the physical requirements of creating a landscape. Both types are very interrelated such that landscape architects can also be landscape builders or have one or more of the other type in same team (as most landscaping building projects will be supervised by a landscape architect).

Now the main difference between a landscaper and a gardener is the type or scope of work they’re qualified to undertake. Generally, landscapers require just one or more types of trade licences to work, meanwhile a gardener may or may not need a trade licence. So who is a gardener?

It’s the job of a gardener to come in and maintain the landscape garden once the landscape has successfully built the outdoor area. In other words, it’s part of a gardener’s services to prune plants, mow the lawns, do the weeding, fertilize your soil and much more. It’s not their job to construct a large retaining wall or a gazebo. And you can also be sure they won’t appear with a backhoe ready to sculpt your landscape.

Overall, deciding who to choose between a gardener and a landscape depends on the type or scope of work that’s required. With the aforementioned differences, you should be able to easily determine who to call when in need of a landscaping or gardening service.

How To Put Up Plasterboard

Putting up a plasterboard is a vital process when it comes to home renovations. However as daunting as it may seem, with a good guide and regular practice you can master the skill within a small period of time. If you lack proper training and experience, we’d recommend you hire a seasoned professional plasterer for help so as to get the best result and also avoid additional costs due to possible damages.

Putting up plasterboard is way quicker than wet plastering and also significantly reduces the drying time that can slow down your renovation plans. With a plasterboard, you can delve straight into the decorating stage and achieve a smooth finish. Below are the steps required to put up a plasterboard.

• The first step is cutting the plasterboard to shape which be one of the most challenging parts of the process. This is because you’ll need to fit the board around things such as plug sockets and window sills. As a result, this involves cutting complex shapes rather than just a simple straight line. To get this done, simply mark out the cut required with the use of a tape measure, combination square and spirit level for a better precision. Once done, you can then use a plasterboard pad saw to cut along the marked spots.

• After you made the required cuts, the next step is putting up the plasterboard. And depending on where the boards are going to be put, this could be a very challenging task. If you’re going to put the boards on the ceiling or somewhere very high up, you’d probably need an extra pair of hands for help. To get this done, use the appropriate screws to secure the boards in place if you’re installing them directly on studs. However, if you’d be fixing them onto bricks or blocks, a drywall adhesive is your best bet.