Hazlemere “the Home of Improvements”- true or false?

However without the right protective outer waterproof and insulated “shell”, there would be not point in having anything of value internally. The Hazlemere Group specialises in high quality products to strengthen the outer core of your living space, to ensure you the warmth, security and energy efficiency that modern materials and technology now offers.

So if you view your dwelling as your home, then Hazlemere is genuinely “the home of improvements” as supplies and installs UPVC and aluminium windows, doors, conservatories, garage doors, French doors, patio doors, slide and fold doors, roofline cladding, gutters, downpipes, fasicia, soffits and security shutters, window bars and grilles. Internally the Hazlemere Group also supply and fit underfloor heating, ceramic floor tiles, ceiling fans, domestic and commercial blinds, fly screens, garage flooring, garage storage, living room, dining room and conservatory furniture.

As leading home improvement specialists and independent manufacturers, this wide range of product is on permanent display, along with all the different materials and colour choices at Hazlemere’s 4,000 square feet showroom on Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, which is open seven days a week. When visiting the showroom during the week, do ask one of Hazlemere’s experienced home improvement consultants to show you round the factory if would like to see it in operation. Hazlemere is a successful family firm, and has grown since started by George Braham in 1985 to become a significant employer in High Wycombe.

Government tighten rules on conservatory construction

I know from visiting homes with conservatories that it is true most homeowners tend to leave the French Doors or Sliding Patio Doors that lead onto their conservatory open, or in some cases have had them removed post installation so that their conservatory becomes an integral part of their home. This is great in the Summer, but not so great in the Winter when the heating system has to work harder to heat the whole area, especially if the conservatory has not been fitted with energy saving windows and highly efficient glass, something we at Hazlemere strongly recommend, as the most cost effective time to fit this is during construction. It can be fitted afterwards, but then you are paying twice, so my advice is to research the market, get free professional advice to ensure you install the most cost effective glass (long term) for your situation, which will depend on your property’s aspect, etc. etc.

Most Hazlemere Conservatories customers opt for the most suitable double glazing for their conservatory to ensure they keep them as warm in Winter and as cool in Summer as possible. Very few opt for the cheaper polycarbonate roofs, not only because they are less energy efficient, but also because they tend to be noisy when it rains, but obviously do not look as nice as glass!

Double glazing really does keep out the noise & cold!

Having lived with my wife in a refurbished maisonette above Boots the Chemist in Beaconsfield New Town (that clearly previously had issues with cold and damp) I do not know how we would have coped without double glazing. Boots is also next to Beaconsfield Train Station, but the real problem was the car horns, the screeching of breaks and accelerating cars at night, compounded by shop burglar alarms regularly going off.

I can therefore truly empathize with Himanshi Chawia who works at Langley Green Parade in Crawley, and lives above one of the flats above the shops. Having lived there without double glazing I do not know how she coped. However, commenting on the current refurbishment of Langley Parade and the flats above on the Crawley News website she said “So far the work on the parade has been wonderful, especially the double glazing in the flats, it’s really keeping the noise and cold out.”

Be wary of double glazing firms requiring a deposit

With so many builders, developers and double glazing companies in the UK now going into administration and/or liquidation because of the credit crunch, it is always wise to think very carefully before parting with a deposit, as you need to be sure that whoever you are dealing with is well established, have an excellent reputation, along with the resources to complete a project, plus will be around for the entire period of the guarantee “promised”. If your project is a large one (or the deposit you are being asked for is more than about 15%), do please consider carrying out a credit check on the company you intend to deal with before parting with your savings!

A recent example of what can sadly happen to folk who part with money up front appeared in the Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, where a local builder has allegedly taken over £80,000 up front from unsuspecting pensioners and then not carried out the work. As a rule Hazlemere do not take deposits for replacement double glazed windows and doors, plus welcome and encourage being credit checked as we want our customers to have complete peace of mind when dealing with us. Our robust 10 year guarantee can be further projected by taking out optional additional deposit and guarantee insurance provided by the Independent Warranty Association, who specialise in offering added security if you feel you need this! Please be careful whether you are considering a conservatory or replacing a house full of windows, as either is a sizeable investment, so do invest wisely in high quality energy efficient products that will give you a good return on your investment, which in 20 years time you will still be delighted with.

25% of homes making occupants sick

According to an article on the New Zealand Herald website yesterday, a survey of 3,500 households commissioned by “The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development” says that ”a quarter of a million homes are so cold, damp and poorly built they are causing serious health problems.”

The report says it is not just a problem with old homes. “Many new homes and renovated homes lack adequate insulation, heating, ventilation and double glazing.” People responding to the survey stated that “mould and damp had caused their children to be repeatedly admitted to hospital wth respiratory and other health problems.”

According to the 3news.co.nz website “There’s virtually no reward for making homes perform better by putting in more insulation and double glazing.” If developers are putting profit before health, legislation must surely be brought in to protect peoples health? Thank goodness that in the UK Building Regulations now require any new dwellings or extensions to existing properties to have significantly higher standards of insulation and double glazing than in the past.

Many UK homeowners wanting to extend their homes will find that their existing double glazed windows and doors do not conform to the new required minimum standards, so will need to purchase more energy efficient, energy saving double glazed windows and doors for their extension to comply with building regulations. It is therefore a false economy to buy “cheap” double glazing for any extension or new building, as all Local Council Building Inspectors will require any products that do not conform to be ripped out and replaced at the owners own cost with double glazing that meets the new more stringent standards.