What do the statics reveal?

The data which has been highligh99ed by the firm Simply Business shows that a staggering one in three tradespeople in the country has been affected by the theft of their equipment. As a result, as part of the call for tighter regulations, tradespeople have algo urged on the government to impose stricter legislation when it comes to second-hand tools being sold. In addition, the government has been encouraged to also have a higher minimum for those who have been convicted of stealing equipment.

What is the impact of tool theft?

When tools are taken, this has a myriad of complications. As previously mentioned, it means that the tradesperson can end up losing a considerable amount of income (an average of £870 in lost earnings and a staggering £2,135 average spend on replacing lost tools), and it can also cause costly delays to the building project for the homeowner. After all, if the equipment is stolen it can end up impacting on the schedule of the entire project.

What is the government doing to prevent theft of tools?

In the survey that was carried out by Simply Business, involving over 1,000 people working as tradespeople, one of the questions asked was whether or not the believed the government was doing enough to protect them against tool theft.

If tools end up being stolen, it poses a risk financially to both the tradesperson and the person hiring them.

The large majority believed that there was not enough being done to prevent possible tool theft. For example, a whopping 84% stated that they needed to do more in terms of regulation. What’s more, over 60% stated the need for longer sentences for those who ended up being convicted of tool theft. 55% also highlighted the need for bigger fines for those who were convicted.

How can the risk of tool theft be reduced?

The survey also analysed where most tradespeople reported having their tools stolen. Approximately one in five said that their equipment was taken from their van whilst it was parked on a street, which is usually where most tradespeople tend to park if working on a home renovation project like a loft conversion.

With this information in mind, what can people do to reduce the possibility of tool theft?  We recommend the following:

• Always record the serial numbers of tools you have
• Make sure that your equipment is insured so that you are covered even if something goes wrong
• Parking your vehicle against a wall is recommended as it makes it harder for thieves to open the rear doors.
• Remove equipment from your vehicle overnight
• Try to add identification marks to your equipment, as this makes it harder for them to get sold on.

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If the renovation project you intend to carry out will require the expertise of a builder but you haven’t had experience of finding one before, then it could well be the case that you are feeling a little overwhelmed. After all, there is a lot of pressure (and a lot at stake) when it comes to choosing a builder: you want to make sure they are reliable, trustworthy and can also find one that will stick to your plans and on budget.

With all this mind, where should you start looking for a builder for your home renovations, such as a loft conversion project? Take a look at some of our top tips to help get you started.

Look for a builder recommended by other tradesmen

It can also be worth getting in touch with local tradesmen in your area to find the name of a builder who is well-liked, as well as also being able to decipher those who have a less-than-perfect reputation. Many tradesmen will have preferences for who they like to work with, and so this is a great way of finding out a network of reliable names you can call on.

Asking friends and family

This particular tip may not appear particularly groundbreaking, but it doesn’t mean you should avoid it! If you want to undergo a building project on your own home, or near to your current location, then it is well worth asking family members or friends to see if there is someone that they would recommend. Many trades such as this one, rely heavily on word of mouth.

Asking people close to you is often one of the most reliable ways of finding a good builder, as you are asking someone you trust and also you have the opportunity to view the work they have already completed, enabling you to make an informed decision as to whether they will do the job you want.

Looking for a builder online

An alternative to asking friends or family members for recommendations is to look online, but we recommend that you take precautions when looking on sites, to make sure that you do not end up with a dodgy tradesman.

What websites should you check out first? The first step you should take is to look at a site such as the Federation of Master Builders, as all tradespeople on the website have all been independently inspected and vetted in order to ensure they have valid documentation in place.

In addition, you could also look at the Guild of Master Craftsmen and Checkatrade.com which also carry out thorough checks on the people featured on their site, and allow you to find a builder who lives locally.

Chatting to previous customers is key

It is highly recommended that you talk to previous customers of the builder you are interested in using on your project, as it is an excellent way of filtering the good builders from the bad. Most builders will be happy to provide you with details of previous customers if they know they have done a successful job.  Wondering what you would need to ask? Questions that you might like to consider include:

• Was the builder prompt?
• Did you have regular meetings with the site manager?
• Were there any hidden or extra costs for the project?
• Were they respectful and polite?
• Was the project completed on time and on a budget?
• What are their labourers like?
• Did they keep the site tidy?

Asking building inspectors for advice

Have you ever thought about asking the building inspectors from your local authority? This is a great way to find out more about local builders. However, keep in mind not all inspectors will be willing to provide information, and they act simply provide details as informal guidance for your building project.

The post Where should you start your search for a builder? appeared first on Premier Lofts.

What is the self-build project?

The project which takes place in Leominster, involves veterans from the armed forces getting construction experience and skills, as well as a comfortable place to live. Up to nine veterans will be involved with the self-build scheme.

The development project involves 19 properties (comprising of both flats and houses). They are available to rent at an affordable price, and a percentage of these buildings will be specifically allocated for ex-members of the armed forces.

Who is organising the project?

The project is a partnership between the Royal British Legion, as well as the housing association Stonewater: who is working with the Community Self Build Agency.

These nine veterans will all receive support and training from the local contractor of Stonewater, Harper Group Construction Ltd. Once this development has been built, these veterans will then get the opportunity to rent one of these properties that they played a role in helping to build.

It is hoped that this self-build scheme will have a number of benefits. This includes helping veterans get further training and skills after having left the armed forces to aid them with further employment, as well as helping to tackle the growing issue of affordable housing across the country.

A need for more affordable housing

The announcement of this scheme for veterans comes as the situation regarding affordable housing has been worsening. For example, a recent survey shows that the cost of a property for a first-time buyer may rise by a whopping 150% in the next three decades.

There is also a severe lack of housing available in the UK. As a result of the lack of available properties on the market, house prices are surging for the 28 million dwellings in the UK. In data collected by the UK Housing Index, it is thought that the average price of a property in the country is rising by 4.2 percent this year to £224,144.

Furthermore, in research collected by the Office of National Statistics, this average house price in England and Wales now means that for a full-time worker, purchasing a house would now be 7.8 times more than their average salary.

The post Self-build scheme to help veterans appeared first on Premier Lofts.

Nevertheless, do keep in mind that there are limitations when it comes to Permitted Development, so always double-check before going ahead with the project. This is because if you live in a listed building, a Conservation Area, or have already carried out a number of home improvements, you may not be able to do these works.

In this guide, we explain the kinds of home renovation projects you can carry out that fall into the category of Permitted Developments.

Garage conversions

If you are converting an attached building into a living space then you will not need to apply for planning permission. however, if the garage is a standalone one, then things change: you will need to apply for consent under Building Regulations.

Roof lights

It is possible under Permitted Developments to make changes to the roof of the dwelling such as through adding roof lights, providing that they do not project further than 15 cm from the roof slope.

Roof lights do not fall under this category if your building is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or if it is in a Conservation Area.

Loft conversion

It is possible to carry out a loft conversion without needing planning permission too.

Not all loft conversion requires planning permission.

There are limitations when it comes to this regarding cubic content, but you will find that up to 40m cubed is usually accepted.

Conservatories

It might come as a surprise that it is also possible for you to add a conservatory to your property without having to apply for planning permission.

Adding a porch

In the majority of cases, it is possible for you to create a new porch without having to get planning permission first, providing that it meets the criteria below:

• It is not within 2m of any boundary that is adjacent to a highway
• The porch is not taller than 3m
• The ground area is not more than 3 m squared.

Building a swimming pool

Did you know it is also possible for you to build a swimming pool in your garden under your Permitted Development rights? This is providing that the total area that is covered by this pool is no more than half othe area of the garden curtilage.

Solar panels

If you want to boost your electricity savings by adding solar panels to your home, you will be pleased to know that solar panels do not require planning permission. The only exception is if you are looking to run ground mount solar panels – like a bunch of solar panels on your land because this is considered permitted development and also if you have a listed building, because any additions are always subject to planning. You may or may not need planning if you are adding panels in a conservation area.

Since there is no planning required for your home and they are most effective on slanted roofs, it is certainly valuable to consider adding them to your loft conversion.

Typically, it is not necessary to get planning permission for solar panel installation.

As long as the solar panels do not protrude more than 200mm beyond the plane of the roof or wall, and the tallest part of the panels is not higher than the tallest part of the roof, it is accepted. This may not necessarily be the case if you live in a listed building or a Conservation Area.

Single-story extension

You might be surprised to also discover that providing that it meets certain requirements (such as some of the ones featured in the list below) a single-story extension will not require planning permission. But it will need to:

• Have similar materials used
• The single-story extension must not sit forward of the principal elevation
• The rear extension must be no more than 4 m depth if it is a detached house, or 3 m depth for semi-detached or terrace.

The post What doesn’t require planning permission? appeared first on Premier Lofts.

Who will be helped by these new plans?

The brand new scheme, called ‘TrustMark’ will see over 300,000 low-income households each year be protected and supported across the country, which is under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). The hope is that this new energy efficiency scheme will increase the level of protection that is currently offered to those on low-income or other kinds of vulnerable households.

How much is being invested into the scheme?

The government intends to invest over £3.6 billion into the scheme, to help upgrade peoples’ homes in order to help reduce carbon emissions. The scheme will help the most vulnerable in society to become more energy-efficient, by helping to install energy-saving boilers and insulation through trusted tradesmen. This will help those on low income to save considerable money on their monthly bills, whilst also helping to increase energy efficiency across the UK.

It is worth noting that the energy efficiency industry is booming: at this current time, the sector is thought to be worth around £20.3 billion in Great Britain. Furthermore, exports in this field are thought to be worth £1 billion per year, and the sector also employs nearly 150,000 people in total.

Why has the government implemented this scheme?

This recently announced news links to the UK’s commitment to becoming a net-zero emissions economy in the future.

The UK has announced that it will be putting into law that Britain will become a net-zero greenhouse gas emission economy by 2050. That makes the UK the very first G7 economy to make this kind of commitment into law.

At this point in time in the UK, it is estimated that around 15% of households take some sort of energy efficiency measure in their homes every year. Approximately one million are installing replacement loft insulation or adding insulation to their homes, and more than one million have upgraded to double glazed windows.

How can people search for trusted tradesmen?

The government will be introduced an ‘Each Home Counts’ quality mark across the UK. This will be implemented to help reassure households that any energy efficiency measures that are being carried out on the properties are being done by firms who have been known to meet the appropriate standards for setting up and installing new central heating systems and insulation in houses.

Furthermore, people will also have the ability to check the TrustMark website to look for certified and trusted tradesman, meaning they can check their installers are registered and recognised online prior to hiring them to work on their homes.

It is worth highlighting that it is already possible for customers to get access to free and impartial advice on reducing their energy bills, regardless of their income. People who are interested in taking energy efficiency measures, such as in their loft conversion, whether it be making green home improvements or making your home warmer by looking at Simply Energy Advice.

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However, do all home renovations or improvements add value to a home that is for sale? Not necessarily. Some home renovations tend to not be worth the expense, and in the worst-case scenario, it could actually reduce the entire value of the house itself. This is why you should always carefully consider any potential home improvements before going ahead with them.

But as a general rule of thumb, what are typically the best and worst home improvements in terms of adding property value? We take a look.

Don’t: buy expensive wallpaper

If you are decorating a house for yourself, deciding to splurge on expensive wallpaper may make the property feel more like home and so that you feel more comfortable in your surroundings living there. However, if you want to sell a house, you need to take into consideration that everyone has varying tastes, and your personal taste in wallpaper may not be everyone else’s. This is why it is important to keep walls neutral and painted when selling, as also wallpaper can put off potential buyers, given that it can be annoying and expensive to remove.

Do: convert your loft

If you have a loft or a cellar that is only used for storage purposes, then you should consider turning this space into a living area or bedroom through a loft conversion as it has the potential to increase the floor space of your property by a whopping 30%, therefore increasing your home’s overall value.

It can also be a very lucrative upgrade, as whilst an average loft conversion costs £11,500 it has the potential to add more than 12.5% to your house’s value.

Don’t: knockdown bedrooms

Whilst we can understand the appeal of knocking down the walls of two small bedrooms in order to create one larger bedroom, it is worth avoiding if you want to put the house up for sale. Why? This is because, with most estate agents, your property’s overall value will still largely be based on the number of bedrooms it has. As a result, you would effectively be downgrading the property by removing a bedroom.

Do: update your kitchen

For many people, the kitchen is considered to be very important when buying a house (source: ProperEaze). After all, many believe it to be the heart of the home. As a result, this is why it is worth thinking about modernising your kitchen.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend money on having an entirely brand new kitchen fitted before you put it up for sale. Instead, think about whether it might be possible to have smaller upgrades instead. For example, what about replacing lighting or cupboard fixtures, or getting a new worktop or sink? If you do believe that it would be best to get a brand-new kitchen, think about important selling factors such as good storage facilities, space and also adding energy-efficient appliances.

The post The best and worst home improvements for added value appeared first on Premier Lofts.

The garden’s condition is important to buyers

In a recent survey carried out by the property website Zoopla, asking potential buyers what things puts them off houses when searching to buy, messy gardens were a huge turn-off. 47% of those who took part had said that a garden that was in bad condition (such as being cluttered, or the grass being vastly overgrown) had put them off purchasing a property in the past, or they asked for a lower price.

Evidently, such a simple thing to potentially overlook as a seller (and a simple thing in most cases to put right too) could possibly cost sellers thousands of pounds.

Good garden layout important for buyers

50% of buyers who participated in the survey also said that an excellent garden layout was key when looking to buy a home. In fact, it was considered to be more important than a well-designed kitchen or a bathroom. This shows that contrary to popular belief, investing in the exterior of your house, and its overall appearance should be focused on more by sellers if they are looking to not only increase its value but also to sell in the first place. After all, it has been reported that almost nine in ten homeowners (as well as renters) believe that their outside space to be either very or extremely important.

How much do people spend on their gardens

In the same survey, Zoopla asked people as to what they spend on their current gardens, as well as terraces and courtyards, in order to keep it in good condition.

The research revealed that the average person spent approximately £678 per year to keep their gardens in tip-top shape.

Garden tips for house sellers

Looking to sell a property soon, and think your garden may need sprucing up beforehand? Here are our top tips to get you started:

• Highlight focal points of the garden, such as a patio or large trees
• Think about purchasing outdoor furniture to make the space feel more inviting
• Use potted plants to help provide structure to the garden
• Always clear away any debris and wash any paths before a visit
• Make sure lawns are freshly mowed
• Think about adding accessories such as cushions
• Remove any dead plants in the garden
• Trim any overgrown foliage that is in your garden
• If the garden walls are looking a bit tired and dated, why not give the walls a fresh lick of paint? Keep to neutral colours to ensure widespread appeal to potential buyers
• Think about purchasing and planting flowers, a colourful garden will make your property stand out to a possible homeowner.
• If there are any items in the garden that are not being used, remove them! Clutter in a garden can put off potential buyers.

The post Half of buyers wouldn’t buy home with a messy garden appeared first on Premier Lofts.

What about built-in furniture?

It is often common for older properties to not have rooms that are square, which can make older houses more charming but can nevertheless make finding the right furniture to fit in the space a bit of a challenge. It can also make it difficult to use the space effectively.

However, there are ways to get around this. For example, have you ever considered creating built-in furniture? This can be a fantastic alternative in older properties, as you can make use of sloping ceilings and uneven walls too.

Using reclaimed columns

An inventive way to make your home more modern is to use reclaimed columns. These can help to make a property look not only more aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps to remove the need for a load-bearing wall in a roo, helping to provide additional space.

Exposing original materials

Whilst modernising the space tends to be the usual route when it comes to renovating older houses, it can also be nice to make the most of the original features of the property too to provide additional character to the property.

For example, why not look at trying to salvage original materials, or exposing the original fabric within the property, such as exposing timber frames?

Have you thought about a ‘broken plan’ layout?

We have all heard of the term ‘open plan layout’, and whilst it can have its advantages for many kinds of space, thanks to its ability to make the most of smaller rooms and help light travel more easily, it isn’t always the best option. One of its drawbacks tends to be the difficulty in being able to create more private areas in renovation projects.

However, you could look at having a ‘broken plan’ layout instead. Wondering what we mean by this? That means thinking about a layout for a property that is open, but also has partial walls, internal windows or room divides in order to create a more private space.

It isn’t all about floorspace

For most people carrying out renovation projects, such as creating a loft conversion, they are usually scoping out their property for ways to create maximum floor space in their existing property. But, what about the space above? There are a variety of ways in which you can make the most of the space above you, especially in an older house where high ceilings can often be a common feature.

For example, you could look at strategically placing roof lights, having picture windows and making the most of vaulted ceilings in order to make the house feel more spacious and airy.

The post Home renovation ideas for old properties appeared first on Premier Lofts.

Removing walls is usually necessary in order to create a new extension or provide more space and give you the living environment you desire. However, if you intend to remove internal walls in a property, you need to make sure that you have carefully planned how you are going to do it, as failing to plan appropriately could mean that you risk the property not being structurally sound. As a loft conversion firm with many years in the field, we know one or two things about knocking down internal walls. Therefore, we have put together the guide below to help give you some tips on how to best go about this.

Will I need planning permission?

In the majority of cases, getting planning permission for knocking down internal walls is not necessary. This is because this type of renovation typically falls under permitted development rights, which means as a property owner, you will not be required to apply for planning permission in order to carry this work out.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that it does depend on the type of building you plan to remove internal walls from. For example, if you are intending to do this work in a listed building, you will most likely need planning permission. This might mean you need to make a Buildings Regulations application. That means your work will be inspected, an providing that it meets the supervisor’s requirement, you will be issued with a certificate to carry out the work.

Consider getting structural engineer advice

Before starting to remove walls, it may be worth getting in touch with a structural engineer if it is the first time you have removed a structural wall.

A structural engineer can help to advise you as to how best to go about this, helping you to ensure that the work is carried out safely.

Think about fire regulations

Prior to removing internal walls, it is also worth seeing if the wall you want to remove is currently providing fire protection. Take for example a loft that has been converted: you will find the walls surrounding the staircase usually provide you with protection, enabling you to escape easily if a fire occurred. If you removed such walls from a loft conversion, you would need to get Building Regulations consent beforehand.

Will removing internal walls also affect party walls?

You will find that in a semi-detached or terraced houses, new beams will need to rest in the party walls that keep you separated from your neighbours, and before starting internal walls you should do your research first. Making sure you remain compliant with building legislation is important, therefore think about talking with a specialist Party Wall surveyor prior to undertaking work.

Have you got a completion certificate?

It is worth getting a completion certificate when carrying out internal wall work as if you fail to get one it could potentially cause you problems in the future.

Why might a lack of completion certificate cause you problems? this is because not having a certificate means you have no evidence that the internal wall work carried out in your property was safely and correctly carried out. This is why it is important to contact Building Control, in order for an inspection to be carried out and so you can then receive the necessary paperwork.

Is the wall loadbearing or not?

You should always make sure before knocking down internal walls that you have verified if the walls are loadbearing or not. This is because some walls are integral to the structural integrity of the house and may be harder to alter, whilst others are simply there to divide up space.

Don’t be fooled into think that simply tapping a wall to see if it sounds hollow means that you have figured out if a wall is loadbearing or not. Make sure you have sought the advice of your structural engineer or builder first who can verify this information for you.

The post Everything you need to know about knocking down internal walls appeared first on Premier Lofts.

It is also important to keep in mind that the exact process will inevitably end up varying depending on the building and individual requirements of the project itself. The schedule is given to provide an outline of the sort of things you can expect in a loft conversion project.

Step 1: inspection of roof space

The first stage in any loft conversion will typically involve your roof space being inspected for it suitability in terms of a conversion taking place. When it comes to what is actually being inspected, it will be things such as access, height as well as any potential obstacles that could arise. For example, chimney stacks or a water storage tank in the roof could make things a bit more complicated, but can be addressed nevertheless.

Step 2. An architect or surveyor confirms suitability

Once the roof space has been assessed for suitability when it comes to a loft conversion, the next step usually involves an architect or surveyor verifying the loft’s suitability for work to be carried out too. In addition, the architect or surveyor will also take into consideration as to whether the building itself is adequate to take the added load that is typically involved in a conversion.

Step 3: Plans are made

Once this step has been carried out, the plans are drawn by the architect or surveyor, and this is also a chance for you and your team to get a thorough understanding of what your costs will be, and how you can potentially cut the cost of certain things by carrying these out yourself on a DIY basis.

Step 4: the loft is cleared

Once you have also got Building Control approval (this can be sorted out yourself or by the surveyor or architect you have hired) then it is possible for work to get going on the loft conversion.

The first step in this individual process is clearing the loft space. This includes things such as water storage tanks, or chimney stacks, which will need to be moved to a more convenient space so extension works can take place.

Step 5: rewiring is assessed

The next step in a loft conversion project more often than not involves sorting out electrical wiring and assessing carefully what needs to be done to make sure that safety is not jeopardised.

For example, it is vital that any electrical wiring or other services which are attached to binders and joists are removed as well as rerouted.

This usually also presents itself as a good time to both replace and improve the original wiring too. The requirement will also mean that certain services will probably not be available in the meantime in the property itself, which is something to remember. It will usually not work until new wiring or pipework has been completely replaced.

Step 6: floor insulation

This part of the loft conversion process will involve ensuring that spaces between joists are now filled with insulation to a depth of 10mm. After this, joists can be covered with floorboards, providing that a Building Control inspection has already taken place.

Step 7: floorboards are laid

The next step involves floorboards then being held in place with screws.

Step 8: rafters reinforced

Rafter reinforcement can now start in line with structural requirements, which means that collars, struts and purlins can be removed safely.

Step 9: dormer installation

If applicable, this is the point where dormers are usually installed.

Step 10: rooflight installation

Typically, roof windows are then installed, providing a great way of letting in natural light to the conversion.

Step 11: staircase installation

Exactly where in which the staircase is fitted will usually be dependent on the individual conversion itself.

The exact costs and requirements will also differ depending on the building itself.

Step 12: dormers tiled and vents fitted

In order so that they are completely weatherproof, dormers are tiled and cladded at this stage. Ridge and soffit vents will also be fitted too.

Step 13: windows fitted with dormers

The next stage involves fitting the windows in the dormer openings that have already been measured.

Step 14: roof insulation

At this part of the project, roof insulation will usually take place. It is placed between the rafters, with a gap between the roofing felt and the insulation (a 50mm gap) for ventilation.

Step 15: partition walls erected

A quilt will usually be placed within the spaces in between the studs whilst the plasterboard is attached.

Step 16: wall plates and first fix

Wall plates are then fitted between studs so that a secure fitting is provided to items such as radiators.

Step 17: electrics upgrade

It is necessary for all new electrics to meet the requirements to Part ‘P’ of the building regulations as well as the 17th Edition Electrical Regulations.

Step 18: access to panels for water, eaves storage

Water supplies and central heating feeds can be connected to the loft conversion in this stage.

Step 19: walls are plasterboarded and skirting fitted

In one of the final stages plasterboard is attached to the studs and rafters using drywall screws. Then the area is painted as required and skirting will then be fitted.

Step 20: the bathroom clad and extraction is then fitted

In this stage, the shower room walls are clad with a cement-based aquaboard, and an extractor fan is fitted.

Step 21: second fix, finishes and heating carried out

Plumbing and second fix electrics are fitted into place.

Step 22: decorating

The final step! Now you are all ready to decorate your loft conversion.

The post What does a typical loft conversion schedule look like? appeared first on Premier Lofts.