LAYING PAVING SLABS AND FLAGSTONES - GETTING IT RIGHT

Laying Paving Slabs and Flagstones

 

For residential patios, pathways and domestic driveways. 

There are three popular methods of laying slabs: spot bedding, individual bedding and screed bedding. L & L Home Improvements only recommends and uses individual bedding and screed bedding depending on area to be paved and what type of slab is used.

SPOT BEDDING

Spot bedding is an antiquated method that lays slabs onto five spots of mortar. Do not use this method it will contravene with the British Standards BS7533:P4 code of practice. Spot bedding has been found to create voids under the slabs, which can fill with water and wash away the Sub-Base resulting in rocking slabs. It also means the slab is un-supported where it bridges the void and can therefore crack and break more easily.

INDIVIDUAL BEDDING

Individual bedding has a proven track record, and is necessary to accommodate slabs of varying thickness. Slabs are usually calibrated to the same thickness, therefore this method of individual bedding is more expensive and time-consuming method.

SCREED BEDDING

Screed Bedding is a very simple method of fixing calibrated slabs.

Instructions

• Make the bedding layer out of a dry mix of 10:1 sharp sand to cement 40-50mm thick. This should be laid on top of the Sub-Base which itself should have been laid to the appropriate falls for adequate drainage
  Note. the surface of the Sub-Base should be well compacted and free from voids
• Compact the bedding layer with two passes of a vibrating 'wacker' plate or vibrating roller and then the top 5-10mm scarified with a fine garden rake to assist bedding
• Lay the slabs with the sawn face down onto the bedding course, carefully avoiding causing any indentations in the bed that might cause voids behind the slabs
  Note. many slabs will have tapered edges, the top face of the slab is always the larger face.
• Working from the top of slabs already laid, use their edge to support the next slab to be laid, which can be lowered down into place and tapped into position with a paver's maul
  
L & L Home Improvements recommends  a high quality, easy to use jointing compound, for more information, ideas and costs please visit our website, click here.

Garden Offices, are they the future?

The usefulness of a quality garden office is becoming more and more apparent to people who are looking for extra space in their family home, but don’t want to move home or spend a very large amount of money on a traditional extension. On the other end of the scale, buying a very cheap garden office, with very little insulation and natural light, will quickly put you off the idea of working from home in a garden office. It will inevitably be unusable in colder weather, and unappealing to spend long periods of time inside. However if you choose the right garden office it can offer an ideal solution to this dilemma, offering a garden office that provides extra space, comfortable interior and stylish design that is excellent value for money.

It is estimated that almost 30% of the UK working population are now based from home. Recent research indicates that over the next five years, the number of people working from their own home will continue to rise rapidly. With high property prices (and associated moving costs), high office space rents and an upsurge in entrepreneurship the upward trend in working from home is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Life and work balance is the most important issue with any home based work or home business. The main reason people work from home is to achieve a more balanced, less commuter orientated lifestyle and spend quality time with their families. A garden office offers the perfect division between home and work.
Garden offices offer the most cost effective way to add extra working space to your home. Garden offices are very affordable when you consider the alternatives of office space rental, moving house, a traditional extension or a loft conversion.
Compared to the alternatives a garden office will always be the most cost effective solution. In addition a garden office will be constructed much quicker (normally within 7 working days), without any major disruption and typically without the need for planning permission. Garden offices can recoup their cost in as little as two years and will add value to your property.
Imagine coming out of your house and walking down the garden path into your own garden office - No more daily commuting! Close to family, yet far enough away to offer privacy and a professional working environment. Again research has clearly shown that working from a garden office will improve productivity and reduce the overall time spent working. A garden office encompasses a quiet, peaceful environment that ensures you can be highly successful without any distractions.

L & L work with different Garden Offices throughout the UK, supplying bases ready to be constructed on and ground works ready for the transformed garden including new fencing and pathways.
www.homeimprovementsdirect.co.uk

L and L Home Improvements Ltd: What type of Fence is best for your Property?

L and L Home Improvements Ltd: What type of Fence is best for your Property?: What type of Fence is best for your Property? Choosing a fence is not as easy as it used to be. In the days when choice was more limit...

What type of Fence is best for your Property?

 What type of Fence is best for your Property?
Choosing a fence is not as easy as it used to be. In the days when choice was more limited,
the most popular option was the simple white picket fence: clean and traditional, it looked
great with almost any style home. These days you have dozens of choices in terms of style,
height, material, and color. Choosing a good combination of style elements adds appeal and
value to your property, so it's not a decision to take lightly.

What's the Purpose of the Fence?
Why do you want a fence? The answer to that question is one of the most important factors that
will determine the type of fence you need. Just as important, it is going to dictate more
practical factors such as the height of the fence, and where and how large the openings in the
fence will be.

In most cases, your fence will have several different purposes, which might include one or more
of the following:
Defining your property line
Ornamental
Provide privacy
Keeping children or pets on the property
Keeping neighboring animals out (depending on where you live, this might be dogs, cattle,
deer, or other species)
Block wind or sunlight
Act as a sound barrier
Act as a support for plants

At this point it's best to establish some other important aspects of the fence, such as how high
you need it to be. This is going to depend partly on aesthetic factors and partly on the function
you have in mind. If privacy is the goal, for example, you will likely want a higher fence than
you might if it's purely ornamental.
Another thing that is important to keep in mind at this stage is that if you have a large yard,
or one that has several different purposes, you may want to consider using two or more different
fence styles.
Finally, when deciding things such as how high the fence will be, do not forget to consider
building codes and how they might affect the type of fence you can build. It is also a good idea
to check where your boundaries lie, so you don't inadvertently build a fence that's lying on your
neighbor's property.

What's your Property's Personality?
The next decision is a simple one that involves looking at the architectural style of your home
and making some basic choices about what to consider and what to eliminate.

The key here is thinking about what's going to look good on your property based on what's already
there. Your fence needs will likely be different depending on whether your home is rural, suburban
or urban, older or modern, brick or stone, wood or stucco. You might prefer a rugged, rustic look
with a rough wooden fence, or a neat and tidy fence with clean lines made from stain-resistant
materials.

Choosing Materials
You have three main choices, here: wood, metal, and vinyl. Depending on the fence's purpose you
can sometimes rule out one or more of these three choices right away. Metal and vinyl, for example,
are not always suitable privacy fences, as metal fences tend to be more open, and vinyl fences
do not yet offer the wider range that wood does.
When choosing materials your primary consideration (apart from your budget) will probably be
aesthetic, but there are some other important factors to keep in mind.
One of these is how much time you are willing to spend on maintenance. Are you willing to spend a
day or so every few years repainting a wooden fence, or rust-proofing an iron fence? Do you live
in a neighborhood where graffiti is a problem? If so, you may want to choose materials that do not
lend themselves well to being spray-painted, or spend some extra money on paint that can be cleaned
easily.
The materials you choose are also going to depend on the function of your fence, of course.
If privacy or noise reduction is the most important consideration, you will likely prefer a higher
fence that completely encloses the area. On the other hand, if you just want to prevent your
younger children from wandering off the property, a lower fence that's partially open may suit
you better.
All the choices you make in terms of material should be bound by the style decisions you made
earlier, when thinking about your property's personality. Do not be tempted to change your mind,
here. You might have fallen in love with the idea of a wrought-iron fence, but if you live in an
ultra-modern urban home, that style is more than likely not suited to your property's personality.
This article was writen by Stephanie Larkin.

To see some types of panels, pictures and fitting click here

Have you ever wondered what paint to use?

Have you ever wondered what paint to use?

Even after a homeowner has chosen the perfect color for a room, there's another very important
decision to make. With 5 or 6 paint finishes to choose from, you should learn the benefits of
each and determine the right one for your job. Should you use flat or satin and why? Browse these
tips on selecting the perfect paint finishes for your interior home applications.

Matte Finish
Whether called flat finish or wall paint, this type of interior paint has a matte surface.
This paint finish is usually used on interior walls. It's expecially good if you have to
camouflage small wall bumps, cracks, or other imperfections, as this finish does not reflect
light. While some flat paints are advertised as washable today, you may need to touch up
scratches or marks by covering with a bit more paint, so be sure you keep some on hand after
you've finished painting.

Flat Enamel
Flat enamel is a paint with a durable flat, matte finish. It's a good choice for powder rooms
and halls, as it holds up to occasional cleaning.

Eggshell Finish
If you can picture the very low sheen of the shell of an egg, you have an idea of how an
eggshell paint finish will appear. With only a slight hint of shine or gloss, it's good for
walls and holds up better with cleaning than a flat finish paint.

Satin Finish
Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for
windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly
suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas which get a lot of traffic.
Paint with a satin finish is formulated to hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing.

Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss paint is most often used on doors, trim, and cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms.
It is easily cleaned and lays down a nice, subtle shine, without being too glitzy. Take care
with pre-paint preparation work, as poorly prepared surfaces can be a bit distracting when
highlighted by a semi-gloss surface.

Glossy
High gloss paints have an almost reflective quality, as their shiny finish mimics the look of
enamel or plastic. Though not widely used in home interiors, it is becoming more popular for a
dramatic look on cabinets, trim, and furniture in very formal and very contemporary settings.
This finish will magnify any surface imperfections, so careful preparation and sanding is
essential before painting with high gloss paints.

For more information on interior and exterior paints please click here

Landscaping add value to your home?

How much should I spend?

If you are like most people, you landscape your home for your own pleasure. You want your home to be attractive from the front for both yourself and your visitors. Backyard landscaping is designed for both your enjoyment and for functionality. The backyard is utilized more frequently for entertaining and you want a comfortable and eye appealing environment for your guests and family.
In today’s real estate environment, many people have asked me about the relationship between how much money they should spend on landscaping and the resulting value of their home.


Will the money spent on landscaping be recouped by adding value to your property?

Research shows that a well landscaped home has a 5-1/2 to 12% advantage over the same type of home with no landscaping. You can determine what this would mean to you by multiplying the estimated value of your home by these percentages. This will give you an idea of how much you would want to spend on landscaping.



Here are the results from some recent studies:

A well landscaped lawn was ranked as one of the top home improvements for a return on your investment. Also, there was a recent study that demonstrated the recovery value to be 100% - 200% of the costs of landscaping when it comes time to sell your home.

Homes with excellent landscaping will often sell for 6 to 7% higher than comparable homes with just average landscaping. This can mean thousands of pounds in today's market. Studies also showed that perceived value of a home is higher by 12% in a home that is improved with landscaping.

A survey was recently conducted that demonstrated that landscaping a home adds value and actually causes the home to sell more quickly.

I am also often asked about trees. Studies have shown that trees can increase the value of a home by 3% to 7%. We are always available to advise you on what trees are good for your area.

These studies have shown that adding landscaping can definitely provide an increased value to your home. We realise that money can be tight. We can help you put together a plan that can be implemented over time and will bring pleasure to your family and value to your home.

Adding property Value

The property market, in many parts of the UK seems to be, once again, at a standstill.

A glut of properties coming on to the market after the abolition of Home Information Packs, combined with the continued reluctance of banks to lend, means there are too few buyers for the number of properties available. In short, it's becoming hard to sell up and move on so the only option for space-starved homeowners is to extend up or out.
No wonder, therefore, that according to research from Everest, a glazing firm, the average homeowner plans to spend £2,831 to give his home a facelift or make the most of the space he has over the next year.
Top of the list as the most popular home improvement and by far the easiest way to add value is decorating the inside of the property, with 67 per cent of those surveyed by Everest planning to spend an average of £1,326 on this. Many homeowners are planning more expensive renovations too, with 12 per cent planning to shell out £4,340 on a new bathroom and 9 per cent setting aside £3,713 for a new kitchen.
Although first impressions are crucial when you're trying to sell your home, improvements don't come cheaply, so the question is whether they will actually add any value.
"Prime homes in prime locations always sell well, but there is a shortage of better-quality homes on the market," says Paul Smith, the chief executive of Haart estate agents. "So any work done has got to enhance the property, make it stand out from the crowd."
If you make the wrong improvements you run the risk of being unable to recoup the cost when you make the sale, or even, in some extreme circumstances, actually reducing the value of your home.
One worthwhile thought, however, is updating your home's green credentials. Buyers are now far more aware of energy costs and will be appreciative of improvements such as insulation in the walls, floor and roof, and a modern, energy-efficient boiler. "Around a third of all heat is lost through the walls and loft space of our homes, and most homes should be able to have either their loft or cavity walls insulated for less than £250. If you are aged 70 and over, or on benefits, you could even qualify to have your home insulated for free," says Susan Jones, the energy efficiency advice manager at the Energy Saving Trust (EST).
Green homeowners could take it a step further by installing renewable energy saving technologies – the EST says that a typical £6,250 photovoltaic system would save £200 a year in electricity bills and earn £900 in cash back each year under the Government's feed-in-tariff.
Remember to check for planning permission before you undertake any major changes. Lowering the curb, for example, is a useful and relatively inexpensive way to create off-street parking but you will need permission first.
Even if you don't go on to make any changes yourself, having permission in place may add value by providing assurance to potential buyers that they can undertake the improvements and create space when they take on the property.
Beyond the big changes, you don't have to spend thousands of pounds to make a difference. There are less expensive and less invasive ways of attracting buyers; simple changes such as freshening up walls and replacing old carpets, for example, can pay off, and getting rid of clutter and carrying out basic repairs will have a big impact.
"Redecorating the outside and improving the garden will add instant curb-appeal. Light and airy properties are attractive to buyers so decorate with light neutral colours," says Mr Smith.
Similarly, although most experts agree that the kitchen and bathroom are the most important rooms, this doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. A clean, practical space should keep buyers happy, so spending £15,000 on a new bathroom suite may prove fruitless. Likewise, top-end kitchens can cost £30,000 upwards but if they are not in keeping with the property, or not to buyers' tastes, this money will not be recouped at sale time.
All in all, if you are improving with more than one eye on resale, it's best to keep to neutral colours and remember the outside space too, a well landscaped garden can also add value. Blog Listings Blog search directory