Archive for December, 2010

Dec28

Is the new “Green Deal” really good for home owners?

Author: Martin | Leave a Comment >>

According to the earth “environment” section of the Telegraph website, in an article entitled “Environmental Preview of 2011” it surprisingly asserts that “The ‘greenest government ever’ has an opportunity to live up the title while climate change will be back in the spotlight as hope grows once again for a global deal.”. Anyway time will tell, but I have to own up to being a little sceptical given the massive Government cutbacks and an economy that is barely growing, plus the environmental, political and financial cost of building new wind farms is enormous and not to be underestimated.

The article on the Telegraph website suggests that “The ‘new green deal,’ that aims to make all homes more energy efficient, will be pushed through …

Dec24

Protecting the exterior of your property – a no brainer

Author: Martin | Leave a Comment >>

Maintaining your existing woodwork is not only time consuming, but over time costs a considerable amount of money too. Gone are the days where ladders can legally be used to paint your rooflines if they are over a certain height above ground level due to current health and safety requirements, expensive scaffolding or “cherry pickers” must now more often than not be used.

Rotting cladding or fascias and soffits or rusting cast iron steel downpipes can really let a property down both aesthetically and in value terms. Rotten woodwork can also cause structural damage leading to woodworm and could encourage vermin. If this is the case it makes good economic sense, whether you intend to stay in your home or move, to replace old rotting …

Dec18

Does being legitimate & honest in business “cost” us?

Author: Martin | Leave a Comment >>

Put simply, yes! Jesus sums it up best in the bible when he states we should all “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12v17 New International Version).

Jesus said this in response to a question posed by the Jews, who were trying to trap him into saying something they could then (they hoped!) use against him. Mark 12v14-16 sates “They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus …

Dec15

4Homes tips on preparing your home for a big freeze

Author: Martin | Leave a Comment >>

I came across some preventative measures suggested by Kerry Young on the 4Homes website that UK home owners can take to help their protect from the winter elements. Whilst none of these will necessary save any damage to the property, there is nothing more sensible that a bit of preventative maintenance and applying common sense. In her article entitled “Prepare your home for a big freeze” Kerry suggests the following:

• Clean out the guttering and check for any leaks or damage.
• Cast your eye over the roof from ground level to look for problem signs such as loose or missing tiles. Check that TV aerials are securely fixed, too.
• Look out for cracked, loose or missing pointing or rendering on …

Dec11

Fitting compliant double glazing avoids future hassle

Author: Martin | Leave a Comment >>

It genuinely appears to me personally that from the hundreds of calls a week we get in the sales office at Hazlemere Window Company’s High Wycombe Head Offices that too few UK property owners seem aware of the new Building Regulations that came into effect on 1st October 2010. Plus it seems that my firm of independent double glazing manufacturers and installers are one of a minority in the industry currently complying with these new regulations. Whilst this is very frustrating for double glazing suppliers like ourselves from a competing on a level playing field point of view, it is something I am proud of.

Whether some firms appear to be supplying non-compliant products deliberately or through ignorance of the new Building Regulations I have …

Dec4

Canny tips on insulation & heating from Alice Cannet

Author: Hazlemere Windows | Leave a Comment >>

I came across an extremely long, but extremely helpful online article by Alice Cannet that was published in the Normandy Advertiser on 1st December 2010 entitled “How to control your heating bills“.

Now whilst the article primarily is focused on properties in Northern France, the principles involved in reducing heat loss and saving energy, apply equally to homes in the UK. For example Alison Cannet states that “a house that is not correctly insulated loses a significant amount of heat through walls, windows, floor, roof and chimneys. Even a well-heated home can feel cold in some places if the walls and windows are not insulated, because they lose heat to the outside and feel cold on the inside. Putting in proper insulation will …

Dec1

It is wiser to install legal energy saving safe windows that risk fitting “cheap” non compliant double glazing

Author: Martin | Leave a Comment >>

UK Building Regulations exist for a reason, and whilst complying with them might cost property owners a pretty penny, it is money well spent. There is the temptation to save money and ignore them, but nowadays home owners do this at their peril, both legally and for health and safety reasons.

The additional requirements set out in the new Building Regulations that came into effect on 1st October 2010 might seem onerous, but they are in our best interests. Indeed, why would anyone not want the safest, best possible living environment for themselves, their family and work colleagues? Why indeed would any property owner not want highly thermally efficient windows?

At Hazlemere Window Company we do get lots of requests to lessen ventilation in …