Do I need planning permission? Many people in the United Kingdom are thinking about adding an extension or loft conversion to their home this year rather than move but what seems to put a lot of people off is acquiring planning permission. It is worth finding the answers to the question ‘Do I need…
New building regulations in the UK Building Regulations are Changing in England On the 20th Dec 2012 the Government announced key changes to the Building Regulation ensuring clearer and concise documents. Make sure you are aware of the new building regulations in the UK. Also remember they differ around the country. New approved Documents…
Why use cork for insulation? If you are looking for a sustainable insulation material with fantastic pedigree that’s 100% natural then look no further than Cork. Renewable It is considered a renewable material because it comes from the bark of the cork oak. It can be repeatedly harvested without killing the tree for over 200…
Five Ways of Lighting A Barn Conversion If you’ve looking to carry out a barn conversion building project, it’s important to think carefully about how you will go about lighting the spaces. Don’t leave the decisions around lighting your property to your builder or electrician. Instead lighting design decisions should be carefully considered during the…
8 Sustainable Building Products Any builder, architect or project manager is very aware that sustainable building materials represent the future of home building and improvement. Reports on the building industry say that commercial and residential buildings account for 39% of green house gas emissions. With this in mind it makes sense that by using more…
Designing for Sustainability – How to get the specification right A number of projects I am working on start at the ‘We want to fit such-and-such devices and have this-and-that technology on the roof and want to use a so-and-so system’. I think overall that you’ll get a better result to specify sustainability into your…
What do you mean, you want a zero carbon building? Zero Carbon Building. Can it be done? You might think it is going to be difficult to get to zero carbon, but technically it can be done quite easily. The right mix of insulations, managing passive solar gain, heat recovery and renewable energy will do…
Bringing Back British Decor! Be inspired this year with the Jubilee and Olympic Celebrations! 2012 is the year of the Queens Jubilee and the British Olympics. We’ve got a lot to celebrate and what better way to show it than in our homes! British inspired home grown design is finding its way into our…
Green Tips for Interiors. Green your home by following our green interior design tips and advice; Final instalment – Bathrooms. Here’s the final part in the series of elements to consider when you come to redecorate your new home. Our Heating and Energy Consultant looks at bathrooms. Bathrooms In the average household, each person…
Green your home by following those green interior design tips and advice. Here’s part three in the series of elements to consider when you come to redecorate your new home. Today, our blogs and case studies, looks at kitchens. Go Green in Your Home #3 Kitchens Kitchens Appliances Specifying A-rated appliances for your kitchen or…