Tips for Converting Your Garage
There are many things you need to know when converting your garage. If your property has unused garage space, you may be asking yourself what you can do to maximise it. Your living space may be shrinking while your garage goes unused.
Garages tend to be less about storing your car and more about storing forgotten items. If this resonates with you, then converting your garage may be a good option so why not design and build a creative space or a warm and habitable room to add a unique touch to your home.
What type of Garage do you have?
Your conversion can differ depending on what type of garage you have. Your garage will fall into three categories;
- Attached
- Integral
- Detached
Attached and integrated garages are usually accessible from the house this makes a conversion easy whereas a detached garage may require planning permission as it’s a separate building. However, a good contractor can make any type of conversion run smoothly.
Different ideas for your conversion
When converting your garage, there are many different ideas that you could choose from for your conversion, such as;
- Another lounge
- An extra bathroom
- Children’s playroom
- A larger kitchen
- Home cinema
- Gym
- Office
If you are in the fortunate position to have a double garage you may even consider splitting the space, keeping one side for storage and the other as an extra living space.
Building a conversion to the highest standards can bring fantastic benefits to your home and choosing your options should be fun, practical and creative.
Benefits of a garage conversion
There are many benefits of a garage conversion and a significant one for when your garage is attached, is that there is existing structure meaning you don’t need new foundations, nor do you need to build new walls, many existing garages also have electricity wired in. With these factors this type of conversion can be a very cost-effective way to add space to your property and can even add value, a well-done garage conversion can add up to 10% onto the value of your home which may mean making a profit from your project.
What to consider
A conversion won’t always be straightforward and there may be some things that you need to consider. Such as when the external walls of an integral garage are comprised of a single course of bricks, as this can cause problems with insulation and weatherproofing. Your contractor will be able to advise you on all these issues, but there are many ways, around this, including the creation of an independent stud wall of the damp proof course. These types of problems need to be addressed to meet building regulations so as a result, any design must factor in;
- Moisture proofing
- Ventilation
- Insulation
- Fireproofing
- Structural soundness.
If you are working with the right contractor, then they will go through these issues with you and manage building regulation issues. If you’re looking for contractor help on converting your garage to a living space request a free estimate for your conversion needs.
- Published in Building, Home Extensions, Home Improvements, Solid Roofs, Uncategorized
Top Tips For Extending Your Home
Deciding whether to extend your home can be a hard decision to make, so we have compiled a selection of top tips for extending your home that can help you with your decision.
There can be many reasons why you are considering moving properties; a growing family can begin to restrict your living space, you could have that itch for change that no new colour of paint can satisfy. But uprooting and leaving memories built in your home can be challenging to do, so why not consider extending?
Why extend
Extending your home can be a decision that requires a lot of thinking and discussion with your partner, so we have compiled some reasons as to why you would consider extending.
- Loving the area where you live.
- Being close to what matters to you.
- Adoring the house where you live in and not wanting to uproot.
- Full design control over your dream home. The usual reason for extending or moving is to gain more space, but by extending your home, you are in control of the area you create at the design stage.
- Add value without overcapitalizing. Your extension will undoubtedly add value to your property. The increase in cost will of course vary depending on the number, size and use of the additional rooms but a well designed and built addition will increase the price of the property even further.
- Although extending your property can cause some upheaval to your living situation it can be somewhat cheaper than moving, and you can add value by shaping your family home to the dream you envisioned.
What to consider
There are many different things to consider once you have decided to extend your home, from permissions and regulations to styles of extensions. Read below to see what factors you need to think of when determining the decision to develop your home.
- Planning permission – You can undertake some extension projects without the need for planning permission, such as a rear wall of a detached house can be extended by 8m to the rear if it is a single storey property, and 3m if it is a double storey. If you live in a semi or terraced property, it can be reduced to 6m. There are also height restrictions to this: a single storey extension cannot be higher than 4m in height to the ridge and the roof space, and ridge heights of any extension can’t be higher than the existing property. For a double storey extension, it mustn’t be closer than 7m to the rear boundary. Check our page here for more information.
- Extension style – When designing your extension there are many ways you can do it, depending on how much space you have and how you want to utilise it. Look below at different extensions you can add to your property.
Double Storey
A double storey extension can be a fantastic way to transform your home. This style of extension is great for increasing living space and bedroom accommodation at the same time. If your home is too small for your family, a double storey extension could be best for you. Click here for more information.
Single Storey
If you are thinking of building a single storey extension, then this can be the ideal way to transform your space into a better lifestyle decision. There are different styles of single-storey extensions such as an Orangery or a lean-to extension that can renovate your home and give you the space you need. A single storey extension can add benefits to your property in the way of flooding interiors with natural light by adding roof lanterns and bi-fold doors. Read more here.
Conversions
You don’t have to extend your property to create more space, consider a transformation of unused space to form the house you desire. Convert your wasted loft space into a brand-new bedroom and bathroom, or your basement into a new area of peace and tranquillity or even turn your garage into the designer kitchen you always wanted. Not only does professionally installed conversion make a great addition to your house but it will add value and comfort without the stresses of moving.
Whatever you want to transform your home Celsius will be with you every step of the way to make your decision as streamlined as possible. Click here to contact Celsius today and speak with our friendly team to find out more.
- Published in Building, Home Extensions, Home Improvements, Orangeries, Orangery ideas
How to choose the right windows for your home
Windows are an important part of any home and when you come to replacing the existing windows in your home there are a number of factors that you should consider.
As there are so many different styles, materials and features to choose from the choice can be overwhelming and the majority of people only think about their new windows in terms of the style and how they are going to look on their property. As the cost of replacing your windows is a major investment and they are expected to last a number of years it is worthwhile doing some research before you invest as it can save you problems in the long-run.
In this comprehensive guide we will explain what you should look out for before choosing the right windows for you.
Window Materials:
Windows are generally made from three main materials, UPVc/PVCu, Aluminium or Wood. Here are the main benefits of each:
- UPVC/PVCu Windows – this is the most common material used in the manufacture of windows. UPVc windows are usually cheaper than Aluminium or Timber and are a relatively cost effective solution. They require very little maintenance and only generally need a wipe down with a cloth. UPVc never rots, fades or rusts and so they will also look good for a long period of time. UPVc is a durable material and as such the majority of window manufacturers provide a 10 year guarantee with the windows. We would recommend that you choose a company that does offer this type of guarantee. Although UPVc windows come in a range of styles such as casement, sash and tilt-and-turn windows they can be deemed to be less aesthetically pleasing than aluminium as they generally offer less colour options and mainly come in a traditional white finish. Don’t let this put you off UPVc windows as modern manufacturing techniques have allowed for a much broader range of colours and finishes to be offered by the most reputable companies.
- Aluminium Windows – The cost of Aluminium windows is generally higher than UPVc but we would suggest that cost should not always be the deciding factor in your choice of new windows. Aluminium does offer some considerable advantages over UPVc such as durability. While UPVc is a durable material, it can degrade over time whereas you can expect to get a further 10 years on the lifetime of aluminium with the right care and attention. Aluminium windows offer the advantage of having a higher glass-to-frame ratio as the frames are stronger than UPVc and can be manufactured to a thinner profile (thickness of the frame). Aluminium Windows also offer the greatest choice in terms of flexibility of design and aesthetics. The windows can be coloured using powder coating giving the homeowner a far greater choice of window colours than traditional UPVc and can be different colour on the outside and inside. Another advantage of Aluminium over UPVc and Wood is that it will stay consistent throughout the year and will not swell and contract due to heat. Both UPVc and wood can expand and contract due to weather and temperature. A new aluminium product on the market today is WarmCore – Warm Aluminium. This features a thermal core which creates a window system with up to 25% more thermal efficiency than traditional aluminium.
- Wooden Windows – Are generally more expensive than UPVc. The majority of householders that choose wooden windows do so as they think the windows will match the style of the property or surrounding houses, although this can be replicated with UPVc. Wooden windows will take the most time in maintenance as they will need to be treated regularly to prevent on-going damage. Wood can also expand, warp and rot if not looked after properly. You do have the option to paint the windows using appropriate external paint so you would have a considerable choice of colours to complete the look you may require.
Window Styles:
Once you have decided on a material that best suits your home, the next thing to do is choose a style of window, the most popular styles are as follows:
- Casement – A casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side or the top and are contained within a single frame. Casement windows have a handle and lock system used to open the windows from the inside.
- French Windows – are similar to Casement windows with sashes hung vertically but the main difference is that French windows have a floating mullion (centre bar) and as the windows are opened it gives a complete unrestricted view from the windows, whereas a casement window has a fixed mullion with windows that open either side.
- Sash – a sash window (or sometimes known as a box-sash window) is a window that is made up of one or more panels or “sashes” which can be slid vertically or horizontally to make an opening. As sash windows are a traditional style they often come with Georgian styling which gives the appearance that the window is made up of smaller squares.
- Tilt-and-Turn – a Tilt-and-Turn window functions in two ways. The tilt function opens the top of the sash inwards for ventilation, whilst the turn function creates an inward opening side hung operation similar to a casement window.
Window Glass or Glazing:
The next step is to choose the glass or glazing options for your windows. With advances in technology and manufacturing there are more choices than ever:
- Double Glazing – Is the glazing process in which a window is made with two panes of glass formed into one single window.The two panes of glass are separated by a layer of trapped gas either Argon or Krypton gas. The layer of gas acts as a trap and is a poor conductor of heat, this helps to keep warm air trapped inside your home and not leaving by your windows and helps improve energy efficiency.The second panel of glass acts as an extra barrier to the outside world which helps to reduce noise pollution into your home, thus keeping your home quieter. It also acts as another strengthening layer to help improve the security of your windows and home.
- Triple Glazing – Is the glazing process in which a window is made with three panes of glass formed into one single window and offers the ultimate in thermal efficiency. Triple glazing is only available in our UPVc range of windows.These glazed units have smaller internal chambers compared with double glazing which helps to reduce heat loss. The central glass panel reflects more heat making it warmer in your rooms and helps to reduce your heating costs. The gas used within triple glazed units is either Argon or Krypton gas. If your home suffers from external background noise, triple glazing offers superior noise reduction to double glazing, giving you a warmer and quieter home. The units are ideal for north facing windows or where the windows suffer from little natural sunlight. Depending on the placement of windows and the elevation of your home, you may not need triple glazing in every area therefore you could mix and match double glazed and triple glazed units to suit your particular home.
- Energy Ratings – We would recommend a glazing option that offers A, A+ or A++ energy efficiency ratings. These units will provide better thermal insulation of your home and help to reduce heating bills.Windows are rated from A+ (no heat loss at all) through to G (extremely energy inefficient), the window Energy Rating label allows you to see at a glance how energy efficient a window is.Windows Energy Ratings are calculated using various values:
- Thermal Transmittance (U value) – represents how much heat can escape through the glass
- Solar factor (G value) – represents how much energy is gained through your windows from the Sun
- Air Leakage (L value) – how much air is leaked through the windows (the lower the better).
Window Quality
You do get what you pay for with windows, while cost will be an important factor for most people it is even more important to choose a quality product, preferably made by a well known or reputable company. You want to make sure you choose a well made window that gives you the style you want, energy efficiency, ease of use and low maintenance to save any headaches in the future
Window Warranties & Guarantees
It makes sense to carefully examine the guarantees offered by the various window manufacturers. This is where a well known company with a good reputation will serve you much better than a one-man-band who may offer you a cheaper price but no security in the products that they are providing. Companies that have been around for a while are more likely to be around in the future should your window have problems or need replacement parts.
Other things to consider:
Sun direction on your property:
The sun is a source of free home heating and knowing the sun’s path and direction on your home can help you determine if your windows would need to have better thermal efficiency on one side of your property than the other. For example; if the rear of your property is south-facing the front or north-side of your property may be cooler therefore you could opt to have better thermal glazing on the north side of the property than the south. You could choose to have double glazed units to the rear and triple glazed units to the front.
This not only creates a better living environment but can also help to increase the energy efficiency of your home and potential reduce your heating bills.
- Published in Home Improvements, Windows
Choosing the best home improvements company for you
Making changes to your home is not a decision you can make lightly, there are so many companies out there to choose from. Are the companies reputable? Can you see examples of their work? Is their work guaranteed? The questions can seem daunting. That is why when you come to picking a home improvements company you need to do your homework and check whether they offer the sort of services and products that are right for you. Below are our top tips on ensuring you pick the right company.
- Recommendations
Who can you trust more than your family or friends? Ask around, have your family, friends, friends of friends, neighbours or co-workers recently had any work done? There is nothing better than first hand experiences and if they recommend a company, chances are they are going to trustworthy. Best of all its easy to pop round and see the job for yourself.An important thing to remember is not to just accept a recommendation alone, do they have more recommendations from happy customers? – Companies may have done a good job for one client and a bad one for another. Make sure you check out the company in more detail before you consider spending the amount of money that will be involved with the average home improvement, would you want to spend thousands based on a recommendation alone? – make sure you check if they have more testimonials from happy clients.
- FENSA registered or Accreditations
Organisations such as FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) have been set up for the consumer and to help protect them against cowboy companies. FENSA registered companies are continually reassessed which means hiring a company that is FENSA registered will give you a peace of mind that your works are being carried out by a trusted company.Trademarks on products are also a sign of a trusted company, they are not mandatory but they are definitely something to look out for when choosing the right home improvements company for you. Look for trademarks such as, Home Pro, Trust Mark and Fairtrades.
- Visit the showroom
Using a local company is always beneficial because you do not have to travel far to visit their showroom and see their work for yourself. Once you visit the showroom, you may find it easier to decide if they are the right company for you. At the showroom you can meet with their team, view some of their work, look at the brochures and talk to a member of the design team directly about suitable options for your home. The feel of the showroom will give you a clearer idea about the company and whether or not they are right for you. A company that has their own showroom and displays a large array of their products generally will have more confidence in the quality of the products they are offering you, giving you piece of mind in knowing the standard of the products that you will receive.
- Get multiple quotes
Making changes to your home isn’t a light hearted decision, it is something that you need to ensure you are 100 % happy with. That is why you are advised to get more than one quote from different home improvements companies, this way you get to compare prices, surveyors and overall service. Just remember that the cheapest quote is not necessarily the best quote for you, and if price is an issue you should look for companies that offer an offer of finance because a job badly carried out will cost you a lot more money to fix further down the line.
Remember, all reputable companies will offer free no obligation quotes.
- Check the workforce
Does the company use subcontractors? Or are all staff directly employed? Companies that do not subcontract give customers that extra peace of mind knowing that all staff have the correct accreditation and are directly affiliated with the company.
- Where are the products coming from?
It is always a good idea to find out where the products are manufactured. Does the company themselves manufacture the products or are they purchased elsewhere. This will have a big influence on the time scale of the job, if the company manufacture the products there will be a shorter waiting period on materials needed for the job, therefore total completion time will be quicker.
It is also vital to make sure all the products come with a guarantee- the lengthier the guarantee the better it is for you!
- Trust your intuition
You can spend hours reading testimonials, checking websites, social media platforms and viewing pictures of jobs online from different companies but overall you should trust your instinct. If you have a bad feeling about a company, you will usually be right. If you like a company and what you see, you should go with your heart to ensure you get a job well done.
- Contracts & Agreements
When you have chosen a company, before any of the work is started, check out what contracts and agreements they have in place for your particular job. A good contract is better than a verbal agreement and the contract should include:– A full list of works being undertaken
– A description of the products that will be used
– Clear terms and conditions on how the company works
– A payment structure for receiving payments
– Whether your project needs any planning permission or building regulation agreementsWithout knowing this information and having the necessary contracts signed and agreed you are relying completely upon memeory and are not covered in a point of law by a wriiten contract but soley a verbal agreement. we always advise for your protection, to clearly address this issue as this makes the works alot easier to refer to should there ever be any disputes between client and contractor. You will have much more security using a company that uses written contracts as this will prevent any hassle for you on the project further down the line.
Why Celsius Home Improvements could be the company for you
At Celsius 100% of customers who answered our satisfaction survey stated that they would recommend us to a friend. Celsius are FENSA registered and their products are all trade marked with Home Pro, Fair Trades and Trust Mark, to give customers that extra piece of mind when dealing with us.
If you are still unsure about which company you should choose, we suggest visiting our indoor showroom, which is the largest showroom in Merseyside. We are open 8am -6pm Monday to Friday 10am -2pm on Saturday and by appointment only on Sunday.
We offer free no obligation quotes, just speak to a member of our team and we will organise a surveyor to visit your home at a time suited to you.
Still unconvinced? Check out what our customers had to say here and feel free to give us a ring to speak to a member of our team on 0151 545 1400
- Published in Home Improvements
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