Sash Windows: You Have Choices!

Whether you want new sash windows installed or want older sash windows repaired or refurbished, sash windows offer great choices in terms of functionality and great looks. You might be thinking about changing windows on your older home. Before you replace older windows, here’s some food for thought:

Don’t Replace Sash Windows on Older Homes Until You Carefully Consider Your Options!

Older homes that have sash windows have a deep degree of character and this is desirable by many people. If you’re selling your home, they can add to the appeal of the property. And even if it’s just that you are someone who is house proud, you can do a lot to keep your sash windows looking and performing great.

Instead of changing to newer windows, you can have sash window replacements put in that perform well and that look gorgeous, too. Newer options in sash windows can have enhanced capabilities such as being easier to clean and maintain but they can still look true to the original design of your home. You could have better sound-proofing and security as well.

Talk to a sash windows specialist who can help you determine whether or not your sash windows should be restored, repaired, or replaced. When looking at replacements as the best option, you don’t have to change them out for different window styles. You can find great options that look like the originals but that perform much better. Today’s options can have thermal properties as well, making them highly efficient, which can mean a great return on your investment.

Tips for Choosing and Comparing Sash Windows Specialists:

· If you want to buy sash windows, look to deal with someone that is experienced in this area, particularly if you live in a much older home.

· Look for windows that meet rigid air-permeability standards and that have strong wind resistance abilities. Compare specs when looking at pricing differences between brands.

· If considering bespoke sash windows, look for windows manufactured in an ISO 9001 registered factory for increased peace of mind.

· Carefully review options and look for a guarantee. Higher end companies offer an insurance-backed guarantee on their windows.

If your home is in a conservation area, this is another reason to be discerning about choosing a sash windows specialist. When your council is being rigid about the allowable changes to the exterior of your home you’ll want to be absolutely sure that repairs or restorations meet those requirements.

A house’s windows do make a big difference to the look of a home. The way those windows perform will have a big impact on the energy efficiency of the home, too. Why not look at your options? Whether looking at refurbishments, repairs, or new window options, you have a lot more choices than you might expect when it comes to sash windows.

5 Tips for Orchestrating a Smooth Home Restoration Project

When you decide to have work done at your home, the right preparations can help things go smoothly. Whether it’s a window restoration project, sash window repairs being done, or you are having more extensive restorations or refurbishments done, the following advice can help your project happen the way you hope --- safely, swiftly, and with a great outcome.

Tip #1: Do Due Diligence

Research your options. Various things need to be researched including the best options for your home’s renovations or restorations and researching options for the right company to do the actual work. Having a bit of knowledge about what needs to happen will increase your chances of making smart choices. Even if you’re not a subject matter expert, a little bit of research can help you get a general idea of what needs to happen. This knowledge can make the project go more smoothly.

Tip#2: Take Time to Choose the Right Company for the Restoration

It’s wise to obtain more than one quote on a home renovation or restoration project. When you reach out to companies, pay attention to their professionalism and the information they provide to you about the pricing and the process.

Don’t just look at the price on the quote alone in an effort to make a determination. What information is provided to help you prepare for the project? Do you know what’s going to take place from the time you pay the deposit until the time the work is complete? Full knowledge of the policies and procedures can help you make a choice about who to deal with as well as make necessary preparations so that you can help ensure things can happen according to plan.

Important Advice: Take the time to look at the companies you’re deciding among a bit closer. Look at reputation, look at their portfolio, and consider who they have worked with in the past. When you see an impressive list of current and past clients, this can put your mind at ease. A long list of happy and repeat customers can help you choose.

Pay attention to the process of quoting and look for key cues that you are dealing with a professional organisation. Whether you know what you want or want professional expertise about the sort of work that should be done a solid company will make a recommendation based on your needs and based your budget.

If a company has clearly laid out and established policies and guidelines, this is a sign you’re dealing with a professional company and is another area can help you be at ease as you will know what to expect, in sequence.

Tip #3: Get it in Writing

Get everything in writing and make sure you understand all facets of the project before you sign a contract.

Tip#4: Know What to Expect

Make sure you have a good understanding of the process and timelines around your project. When you know what to expect, things seem like they’re much more organised and streamlined. Having a schedule and sequence of events helps you, the home owner, be prepared and helps you stay out of the way so that work can commence.

Tip#5: Stay Out of the Way

It’s important that homeowners do try to stay out of the way, incidentally. This can maximise productivity and quality assurance. For the progress, the safety, and the quality of the work at hand, the team of renovation or refurbishment specialists needs to be able to focus. Don’t let your curiosity about the process result in slowing things down.

With all that said, you should be well aware of whom to speak with in the event of a question or a problem. A professional company won’t require babysitting but if anything seems amiss, don’t hesitate to speak to your contractor or the site supervisor. A company working on your home should be accountable to you for delivering what was promised.

In summary, discussing your project requirements with more than one contractor is a good idea. Assessing their professionalism, their reputation, and being prepared with full disclosure of the process, schedule, costs, and anticipated outcome can put your mind at ease about having someone do work on your home.

Note: There is always a chance that things won’t go 100% according to plan. But dealing with the right contractors will help minimise frustrations and maximise the chances of a successful restoration project with a great outcome.

Is Renovating Your Older House a Better Idea than Selling?

Keywords: renovating, restorations, repairs, refurbishments

Meta Desc: Are you wondering if you should be renovating instead of selling? Here’s some food for thought:

A lot of people opt to move to a new house when they feel like they’ve outgrown the old one. Maybe they’ve outgrown it in size. Or perhaps they feel that it’s time to move up to a nicer house. But more than ever, people often choose to renovate rather than sell. There are a lot of good reasons for this.

Older Houses Have Character

Many people who buy a newer home complain. It looks like every other house in that neighbourhood. It feels ‘cheap’ (but wasn’t cheap to buy!). If you appreciate the unique characteristics of older homes, you might want to consider doing some renovations, refurbishments, and repairs instead of selling up and moving somewhere else.

Larger and Better Properties

In many cases, older homes are going to have many more features than a newer home. They often have mature treed lots and the size of the property is often quite a bit bigger, too. Many new homes are on postage stamp sized lots without much room to enjoy your grounds. And inside, older homes tend to have larger rooms, more storage, higher ceilings, and much nicer and larger windows.

The Housing Market is Volatile

The housing market is unpredictable. It’s not always easy to sell a house. You might not get the right value for it today. It might be better for your finances to fix it up and hang onto it for a while longer. It’s often cheaper to do renovating and repairs now and then benefit from them later when the value of your home will increase. Not only will it increase when the real estate market improves but those improvements you’ve made that make your home more liveable will also make it more appealing and valuable if and when you do decide to sell.

You Love Your Neighbourhood

It’s not always easy to uproot your life. Renovating your home to make it more liveable could make good sense for you in terms of travel to work and school and in terms of your neighbours and other local amenities. Starting fresh might sound good, in theory, to some but it’s not always what all people want. Some think it’s easier than renovating but the right renovation company can do the upgrades, fixes, and repairs on a tight schedule and in a way that makes it as easy as possible for you to get through the renovation period.

Why Not Investigate Renovating?

Why not consider looking into finding out what can be done to make you happier in the home you already live in? It couldn’t hurt to consider your options. Have an assessment done on your home to see how much it’s worth right now. Compare that against what you owe and what you can afford in terms of moving. Factor in that if you did sell, you’d likely get less than asking on your home offer. Consider making a list of the things you’d like to have repaired or changed in your home and speak to a company or two who can quote you. With all the information at your fingertips, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that’s right for you, your family, and your finances.

Benefit from Working with Environmental and Health and Safety Conscious Contractors

When having exterior refurbishment or renovation work done on your property, it’s essential that you choose the right company to deal with. The right professional traits are going to put your mind at ease and maximise the chances of your being happy with the outcome of the project. Your choice will ensure you get a high level of quality products and workmanship, fair pricing, and the right choice will also help you minimise headaches, delays, and overall frustration.

Beyond choosing a company for home improvements that is good at their job and that will meet their promises to you, it’s also a good idea to choose to deal with a firm that has a good reputation as an environmentally conscious and safety-conscious company, too. Here are some of the benefits of taking the time to make sure you are dealing with a company that places a high level of importance on health and safety areas:

· Choose a Health and Safety Conscious Company: In terms of health and safety, you’ll be assured that staff on your premises will be following high safety standards at all times. Then, you won’t have to worry whether or not staff carries CSCS cards, for example. And a company that has rigid safety policies with their staff and work sites are much more likely to have the same mindset when it comes to overall quality assurance.

· Do They Strive to Protect the Environment? Environmentally conscious companies tend to deal with responsibly harvested and produced materials. If you’re dealing with timber windows, for instance, you may feel more at ease knowing that your renovation company is dealing with FSC timber. The Forest Stewardship Council certifies carefully managed forests to acknowledge that sustainable practises are followed. If this is something that’s important to your own core values, you’ll probably appreciate this.

· Environmentally conscious renovation companies also tend to handle the waste disposal aspect of the project responsibly, too. Hazardous products are going to be disposed of according to legislature and staff, residents, and the local population’s safety will always be at the forefront of priorities.

Don’t hesitate to investigate the background and reputation of any renovation company you’re considering dealing with. Whether doing a major or a minor exterior refurbishment project, taking the time to locate companies and contractors with a high level of importance placed on health, safety and the environment is going to benefit you in many ways, including helping you feel good about the work you’re having done to improve your home.

Tips to Help You Draught Proof Your Older Home

An older home can possess a great deal of character and charm. But a lot of people who own an older home will tell you that a major downside can be that it can be rather draughty in the cold months and that it seems to cost a fortune to cool in the hotter months.

Not only are draughts uncomfortable to contend with from a fluctuating temperature perspective but they’re also uncomfortable to contend with from a cost perspective, too. The cost of heating and cooling your home are going to be substantially higher if you are dealing with a draughty older house. Here are some ideas to help you eliminate those draughts in a ways that won’t compromise the look or the safety of your home.

Dealing with Sash Windows

Instead of covering your windows with unsightly plastic to keep them from being too draughty in colder weather, draught-proofing your windows can make a big difference. Older homes that have sash windows, for instance, can be infamous for being draughty. A draft exclusion product can be used on your sash windows to help in this case. Not only will the draught-proofing seal the window from gaps but it will also help eliminate annoying rattling in older windows as well as improve the window’s sound proofing ability.

Tip: Choose a company that is well versed in draught-proofing sash windows so you can be sure the aesthetics and character of your windows are not going to be compromised in the process.

Some people opt to have their sash windows repaired and restored while dealing with draught exclusion. Many look at double-glazing as well for the thermal benefits. In this case as well it’s important to deal with a company with a strong level of expertise in older and heritage homes, particularly if you live somewhere with strict conservation rules.

Tip: When choosing a draught exclusion product, make sure that you chose something independently tested to conform to British Standards BS6375 - Part 1 for the best results.

Is Your Loft a Culprit?

Are draughts coming in as a result of your loft or attic? Having the area inspected for adequate insulation and draught-proofing is smart and can help you save money as well as improve the comfort level of your home, too.

Audit the Exterior of Your Home

Are their exterior or structural issues that need addressing on your home? Having an assessment done can help you decide on exterior restoration that will help your home look better as well as save you money on energy costs.

Are Draughty Doors Contributing to the Problem?

Gaps underneath and around doors and as a result of letterboxes and large keyholes could be a bigger problem than you might suspect. It’s smart to have an analysis or energy audit done to help you determine the best ways to save money. Note: Ventilation shouldn’t be mistaken for gaps that are causing draughts, of course. The right approach is necessary to ensure adequate ventilation so that you don’t negatively impact your air quality. Be sure that you work with a contractor or builder with a great reputation so you can be sure that things are handled the right way. It may take less work and a smaller investment than you think.

Exterior Restoration Ideas - Preparing Your Heritage Home to be Sold

If you are selling an older home, it could be billed as an older house in need of some TLC or it could be billed as a heritage property with retained character and charm. Which one do you think will fetch a better offer? Read on for some ideas for exterior refurbishment areas and preparing your heritage home to be sold.

Exterior Building Refurbishment

Getting a professional survey by a skilled refurbishment company can help you determine which exterior refurbishment areas should be addressed before selling your home. You want everything in a good state of repair and you want to do things that will appeal to prospective buyers, too. Recommended renovation areas could include concrete repair, painting, cleaning, glazing, door restoration, windows refurbishments, roof refurbishments, and other renovation areas, too.

It might sound like a tall order, both from an organisational standpoint and from a cost perspective but dealing with the right company could make everything simpler and the right approach could result in a tidy profit for you when the sale happens.

Windows Refurbishment – Important for Your Home’s Appeal

A popular selling point on a newer home is that it has newer windows. But on a heritage home, having original windows is important. Window refurbishment could not only help with the look and feel of the building but it could also give you the ability to list this as a feature of the home because not only are the windows good-looking but refurbished windows can function better as well from an energy efficiency perspective. Homes with restored windows won’t lose as much heat and won’t feel drafty and this is something many homebuyers consider when looking at their options.

Roofing Refurbishment – It’s a Big Deal!

The roof does make an impact on the aesthetic appeal of the home and if it’s an older home, roofing refurbishment might be necessary. You might need to remove asbestos. You might want to replace some tiles. A good roof can help to instil confidence in a prospective buyer about the soundness of your home as an investment. Roof refurbishment is something to seriously consider.

Landscaping – Boost Curb Appeal

Landscaping is important, as well. If your home’s grounds are well maintained, this makes a big impact on potential buyers. Do be aware that there may be restrictions on whether or not you can remove trees but regardless of what you have to work with, a big of effort can help you make a good impression with the gardens.

The interior of the house should be staged appropriately for showing as well, of course, but keep in mind that remembering to also focus on the exterior of your house is what will often draw initial attention from people who see your “For Sale” sign and that curb appeal can help you increase the chances of selling your home as fast as possible and for as high a price as possible, too.

Tip: If your home is in a conservation area, you may need planning consent before you make changes. Be sure to work with a refurbishment specialist with a solid track record in windows, roofing, and other exterior restoration areas to ensure legislation is adhered to.

Should You Restore or Replace Your Windows?

Windows don’t always last forever. But they shouldn’t always be replaced by newer windows. As time goes by some homeowners decide to weigh their options in terms of replacements or window repairs. There are a number of reasons why you might be looking at your options and trying to decide whether or not to: a) go with window restoration / window repairs, or b) look at replacing the windows with new windows altogether.

If it’s time to look at your windows and you live in an historic house, you should be aware of all of your options and be well aware of potential responsibilities, depending on where you live and what the rules are regarding older houses. Replacing your windows with new ones might not only be a bad idea but it could be something you regret.

In some conservation areas you may need planning permission before being able to do window replacements on historic buildings. Even if you find what appears to be like-for- like replacements, some areas are very strict about various elements of the windows. In some areas, the wrong choice could result in your being forced to remove them. Restoration might not only be the most cost effective choice but it could also be the best choice from a red tape perspective, too.

Benefits of Refurbishment of Windows

Refurbishment of windows could cover all your needs for restoration and it could improve the performance of your windows, too. Refurbishment could allow for you to:

· Have your aesthetic needs meet so that the building looks original and looks good,

· Help you meet the conservation needs of the building so that you don’t upset your council and have to deal with undue hassle or expense,

· Keep the character, curb appeal, and value up on an older / historic home,

· Be environmentally friendlier than sending your old windows to a landfill,

· Make the right changes that help you improve your energy costs and enhance the comfort of the home, too.

It’s important to look at all of your options for your home and to get the right advice so that you can be sure to be pleased with the outcome. Having a survey done by qualified window restoration specialists is a wise and important step and it can help you determine the best course of action for your specific circumstances.