WHAT DOES YOUR HOME SAY ABOUT YOU?

H aving storage that’s functional is important but having a design that truly suits your home is vital when choosing what to do with your understairs space. A discreet design that blends seamlessly with your existing decor can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your living space.

For example, Hammonds’ Stair Space offers a wide selection of customisable colours, materials and finishes, so you can integrate your understairs storage with the interior style of your home, create a flawless, cohesive and harmonious design. This ensures your creative storage solutions don’t disrupt the flow of your space but complement the overall appeal of your home.

U nderstairs cupboards are often overlooked when it comes to renovating our homes. However, with a little creativity and planning, this neglected area can be transformed into a functional and stylish addition to your living space.

B y making the most of your understairs cupboards, you not only maximise storage capacity but also add personality and character to your home.

www.hammonds-uk.com

An award winning company with over 30 years experience offering Bespoke solutions for the domestic market across the South East. Including water supply, sewage treatment and renewable heating. Feasibility can usually be determined with a site postcode.

WATER SUPPLY & SOAKAWAY BOREHOLES & DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS

Independent water supply for irrigation or consumption*

Soakaways, drainage fields and other drainage solutions.

Members of the WDA, we have been constructing boreholes across the South East since 1984 and aim to provide the highest quality cable -tool percussion-drilled borehole service available.

*subject to analysis and suitable filtration

Reduce heating bills by up to 50%

Groundwater can be used as a heat source for an Open-Loop Ground Source Heat Pump which could meet all hot water and heating needs.

We are a fully MCS accredited and award winning company who aim to provide the highest quality service available in South East England. Customers can rely on our advice and flexibility to suit individual requirements

Bespoke or package options

Whether for domestic or commercial purposes, if there is no mains sewer connection a sewage treatment system may be the solution.

If you are not sure where to start contact us for an informal chat.

Our systems are designed to meet the needs of individual clients and comply with strict discharge legislation.

Servicing contracts are offered on all our installations.

Adding or updating a fence around your property can have a number of benefits. Here, Antony Reed, DuraPost General Manager at Birkdale, looks at the ways you can improve the appearance of your garden as well as enhance security by using a contemporary fencing solution.

When it comes to choosing the right fencing system for your property, you might be surprised to learn that there are many different options available on the market today, thanks to years of product development. Now, when it comes to selecting an option that is fit for purpose – it’s important to make an informed choice as it will impact the results.

Fencing is often part of the first impression a passer-by or visitor has of your home. It makes little sense to invest hours of hard work into bringing your ambitions for a beautiful home to life only to hide it away behind an ugly or badly-designed fence.

Instead, referencing the materials, colours and textures of neighbouring properties through your fencing system can help to integrate your property into the local area – or achieve the standout look you want.

T hinking in the longer term, doing the research can help avoid future repair costs and any neighbourly disputes should the fencing system fail to perform as expected. So, first of all, it’s about getting back to basics and here is what you need to know.

In most cases, you will not need planning permission for a new fence; however, this is dependent on whether it aligns with specific restrictions. A new fence cannot be over 2m tall – in most areas, this includes a trellis – and must be 1m or under if your boundary is adjacent to the line of a highway or a path along a highway.

If you live in a conservation area, it is likely that there will be restrictions on both the dimensions and finish of the fence you choose, especially for the visible boundaries of your site. If you are unsure about restrictions in your local area, it is a good idea to check with your local planning authority.

There are many different choices when it comes to choosing the right fencing system, and these are often defined by the material that they utilise: the most common being wood, concrete and steel.

Timber remains popular because of its versatility, natural appearance and ease of installation. As timber is relatively lightweight, it makes a good choice for self-builders. However, a timber fence may only last a maximum of 10 years as it is common for the posts to rot and break.

Concrete does offer strength and durability. The catch is its weight and bulkiness: a concrete fence post can weigh 50kg, and this can make installation difficult and more of a risk when it comes to back injuries. The appearance of concrete is also contentious; its thick dimensions can make it jarring to look at, and its stark finish can be polarising, especially in conservation areas.

In addition, faults during the manufacturing process or impact damage can lead to hairline cracks in the concrete which, when exposed to cold temperatures and water ingress, can become large cracks. This exposes the steel below and allows rust to compromise the structural integrity of the post.

Galvanised steel fence posts provide an ideal combination of an attractive slimline finish with the required strength. They won’t rust or rot like timber and can weigh as little as 7kg, while an excellent strength-to-weight ratio results in an easy installation, minimalist appearance and a clean and modern finish.

Like timber posts, timber fence panels have long been a go-to solution. However, timber panels are very likely to sustain damage and break in highspeed winds, while upkeep requires regular treatment to help keep rot at bay. Depending on the installation, timber panels can also often easily slide out of place, especially if installed with concrete posts, providing little in the way of security.

Composite panels provide a longlasting and attractive alternative with minimal fuss when it comes to installation. A pack of eight composite panels – such as those in the DuraPost range – weigh less than 25kg and can be installed with only six screws, making for a simple and safe installation.

Some manufacturers produce timber-look composite panels that emulate the natural aesthetic that many self-builders desire. These are available in a range of colours and finishes that emulate natural timber without the drawback of needing to be treated or retreated throughout the panel’s life.

Furthermore, composite panels come with the added bonus of being resistant to UV, insects and mould. The long lifespan of a composite panel is enhanced by its material composition. Birkdale’s composite DuraPost panel range is made from recycled plastic and rice husks, a natural but indigestible by-product from the production of the foodstuff. This combination of materials creates a strong and stable panel that comes with a warranty of up to 15 years straight out of the box. As a result, composite systems represent a sustainable choice, as well as a strong and stylish one.

So, if you are in the midst of a project to build your dream home, make sure when you are ready to tackle the fencing system that you research the benefits of galvanised steel and composite panels. They are an ideal way to achieve an attractive aesthetic, with ease of installation and results that will withstand any extreme weather thrown at them to maintain a robust and secure perimeter.

www.birkdalesales.com

Poised to deliver excellence beyond expectation, the new British-made Beyond Wool collection from Furlong Flooring will give customers the wool-like look they want, with the finish they need. This treat for the feet is sure to create the very best interiors and includes a great new addition with a 100% recycled yarn range to give customers a sustainable, durable and easy-to-clean carpet.

Th e luxury Beyond Wool collection consists of five ranges with a choice of luxury twist and loop pile carpets that give customers the natural wool-like look combined with the practical benefits of stain and moth resistance. Featuring the twist pile ranges of Renaissance, Elegance and Serenity along with the loop piles of Henley and Marlow, the Beyond Wool collection will also include the 100% recycled yarn loop pile range of Amesbury and Castlerigg from June 2023.

M ade from recycled polypropylene yarn, the Amesbury and Castlerigg range features 100% bleach-cleanable fibres, which keep a carpet looking great while being easy to clean. With a choice of six natural hues and two on-trend loop designs, the range is made in a two-ply construction with Furlong’s award-winning Combi-bac backing to ensure a trouble-free fitting and a stunning finish. These Class 33 carpets are also suitable for heavy domestic and commercial applications.

O ffering outstanding value and choice, without compromising on contemporary style, the Beyond Wool collection will give customers a hard-wearing and stylish carpet suitable for use across the home.

Bo th CaberMDF Pro and CaberMDF Pro MR from timber product specialist, West Fraser, are premium-grade medium-density fibreboards developed for interior joinery. Their uniform consistency offers all the benefits of timber but without natural defects. Due to their construction and smooth surfaces, CaberMDF Pro and Pro MR are ideal for use where intricate detailing is required; plus, the boards are ideally suited to machining and surface finishing, as well as being able to accept highquality paint finishes. Both are easy to saw, drill and rout cleanly without chipping or splintering. Therefore, elaborate detailing is possible, while for the most artistic of interior designers, developers or builders, the boards will even accept foils and ornate veneers.

International Timber and Jewson have teamed up with Ascia Construction to provide sustainable, quality cedar timber for a Costa Coffee drive-thru. John Packer, Timber Development Manager at Jewson, comments: “This project was one of the first major enquiries we’d worked on for Ascia Construction, and we wanted to ensure that the quality of the materials, together with the customer service provided met the company’s expectations. International Timber proved to be the perfect choice of supplier, offering a cost-competitive quote alongside a high-quality, durable product.” International Timber’s Western Red Cedar is often a favourite for both internal and external cladding due to its natural resistance to decay and insect attack, as well as being an excellent material for thermal insulation.

www.internationaltimber.com

0844 728 0320

IronmongeryDirect has added over 160 cabinet furniture products and several door handles to its exclusive Hampstead collection, offering quality at the right price to fit any project. Designed with high-standard materials, the premium Hampstead range offers sophisticated styles and trending finishes, making it easy to achieve a complementary luxe aesthetic. Plus, all products are backed with a 25-year guarantee to ensure long-term peace of mind.

Scott Copeland, Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect, said: “Our Hampstead range offers top-tier hardware you can’t get anywhere else. These products cover the design spectrum, so there is something to suit every upmarket project – whether it be commercial buildings or a luxury home.”

Offering elegant aesthetics and ease of installation, the new Circular Glass rooflight from Brett Martin Daylight Systems will maximise daylight and exceeds the thermal performance requirements of Building Regulations Approved Document L 2021.

With its clean internal appearance and a slimline exterior, this modern and circular rooflight is a costeffective option that delivers visual impact into any space.

The Circular Glass rooflight is available in four standard sizes ranging from 600 to 1500mm and bespoke sizes. It can be mounted directly to a builder’s upstand or with a robust prefabricated insulated GRP kerb for both newbuild and refurbishment applications, which can reduce onsite installation time and cost.

The Circular Glass rooflight exceeds on technical performance, as well as aesthetic impact. The unit comprises a double-glazed panel encased in an environmentally-friendly RAL 7016 powder-coated aluminium frame. All frames are thermally isolated to minimise the risk of condensation.