Garden
Garden rooms and canopies
When economic times are hard, many people prefer to stay where they are instead of incurring uncertain extra spending by moving. But this does not mean that they want to stagnate in their home – and many look for ways to improve their home for their own use as well as adding value should they come to sell. Many now look at the space they have and want to get better use of it. Their outdoor space is often underused if the weather is poor – and fitting a patio awning may be the affordable answer to continuing the barbecues even when it rains (doubles as a smoking shelter too for those antisocial friends!). There are also available a range of patio canopies which are more substantial than awnings but can be fitted with sides as well as a roof and which means that you can use this outdoor space all year round. (It could cover a Jacuzzi!).
It is also possible to build a room – perhaps a cabin style- and create an entirely new room in the garden which could be used as an office, workshop or studio. This can make all the difference for someone working from home.
Most people nowadays create their garden room by having a conservatory extension to their house. Built with new energy-efficient glass this room can be an extra room for entertaining, for using as a greenhouse or as a sunroom. It is worthwhile contacting a double glazing company such as SEHBAC to get advice on types of conservatories and garden rooms.
Adding Value
Add value: create a car parking space
Many people will be put off buying a house because there is nowhere to park near the house. If you live next to a main road it may be that parking at the kerbside is not allowed, or there may never be a space for you when you get home from work. Commuters may abandon [...]
Add Value-Deal with Damp part 2
There is nothing quite like having problems of damp in your home to put off a prospective buyer, as damp is an insidious problem many people do not feel confident of taking on a house with unresolved damp problems unless they are going to get it very cheap. It is therefore clear that solving the [...]
Add value-Deal with Damp Part 1
Damp looks extremely unsightly and as it spreads will be really depressing, but it is also unhealthy – the moist air encourages moulds and fungi, and the spores float around in the air and can cause health problems with allergies and chest ailments. One major cause of damp is: Penetrating damp- this is where water [...]
Outdoors
Does your home look smart and tidy outside?
We live inside our houses – this seems a silly thing to say but it is the reason that often we forget to keep the outside of the house as good looking as the inside, and yet it is the outside that visitors and prospective buyers see first. After a while we stop looking at the peeling paint on the front door or cracks on the rendering. If we do notice it will go on the list at the bottom-again.
Your external doors paintwork get the full impact of the weather- wind and frost, sun and hail can all have a very negative effect on the overall looks of the doors and paintwork and also on how long it will last. External paintwork obviously needs an effective water repellent coating to protect it. Ideally this will be an external quality varnish or paint – though if your door has a wood finish a plain or tinted varnish can give a very attractive finish -you may start with a stain and add a clear varnish afterwards. You may choose to put wood oils on your external doors – they are durable and waterproof and will need reapplying twice a year for the best effect. If you are not sure of the right paint or varnish finish form your external paintwork then check with your local DIY store.