Double Glazing On The Web

 The conservatory is a longstanding British tradition which really came into its own in the 1800’s and with the great British climate being what it is; it’s easy to see why.

So Christmas is over and somehow you managed to shoehorn the entire family; pets, granny, uncles and aunts and the cousins into the one room again to open their presents and watch the Queen’s speech…  but wouldn’t it have been lovely to have had some extra space?  With the credit crunch still looming, the ‘improve or move’ question is larger than ever and a conservatory can often be the best solution.

If you decide to take the ‘improve’ route then read on!  A UPVC conservatory is always high up on people’s wish list and you can be almost certain that you will add instant value to your much loved property.  Virtually maintenance free, double glazing only needs a wipe clean every now and then to keep it looking nearly new. 

Imagine all that extra space!  With various conservatory styles to choose from, you could improve your home both inside and out.  Just think, this Christmas you could be enjoying a mince pie and sherry in the warm new conservatory.  Leaving the kids to play in the lounge if you like!

Did you know that the phrase daylight robbery originates from exactly that - a tax on windows? It sounds ludicrous doesn’t it? Nevertheless I heard it firsthand from a London taxi driver so it must be true. Apparently families would brick-up unnecessary windows to avoid paying raising taxes on windows. Eventually an enraged member of parliament spoke out and charged the government with Daylight Robbery!

Remarkable as it sounds, it seems that although progress has brought with it all the benefits of double glazing, we as a nation haven’t come so far.  It was only a few months ago that I was writing about a possible government initiative that would see the implementation of a tax on properties that would take into account views, conservatories and … you guessed it double glazing!

What does your HIP say about you?  Are you really as energy efficient as you think….or more importantly need to be to get a buyer?  The UK housing market has been hit so hard in this current economic crisis, with house prices at an all-time low; you can’t help but ask yourself whether you bought at the right time?  Or more importantly, when is the best time for me to SELL!

Regardless of which wrung of the ladder you are on….if you are on it, you want to stay on it.  However during a credit-crunch, how can we make low cost home improvements that add value to our property for its approaching sale? 

Research shows that simple changes such as a new double glazed front door, a modest and simple conservatory or a fresh new bathroom window can increase the value of your property, by more than the amount that it cost to install these improvements.   Surprisingly, the simpler things are actually higher up on people’s wish lists when buying a new home. 

If you are considering low cost home improvements, be sure to research well and select reputable suppliers and skilled professionals to ensure you are investing wisely in real opportunities that your property has to offer.  Improved energy efficiency is the absolute key, so go on….unlock that potential!

Finally!  After what seems like dozens of brochures, telephone calls and sales pitches, you have reached a decision on how your dream new conservatory will look and who will bring your vision to life.  But hang on….. have you organised for a surveyor to come in?  If you haven’t… make sure you read on!

 
Most double glazing orders are manufactured specifically to individual requirements; every millimetre matters!  Not only will the surveyor confirm precise measurements, there are essential safety checks to be carried out.  Your new conservatory will soon be the pride and joy of your home, but before work can get underway you need to be sure that the ground itself is suitable for the structure.   You must also identify whether your project is classified as exempt from Building Regulations.  Your conservatory may need to conform to the latest building regulations including provision for drainage and water run-off which often requires re-routing of existing pipe-work.

Planning permission may also be required for your installation to go ahead, be sure to check with your local council before giving the green light for any work to commence.  If your surveyor is local, they may be able to assist you with this. 

Now for the easy part: picking your surveyor couldn’t be easier – with various databases online to choose from, you are sure to get a price that’s right. Alternatively many double glazing firms and conservatory suppliers will have a reliable, specialist surveyor in-house, making the whole process even easier.

September 22nd marks the Equinox and the first day of Autumn. So folks, it’s official, the evenings are drawing in, the mornings are getting darker and pretty soon we’ll be getting up in the dark, going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark and going to bed in the dark…. Depressing? Not really. Personally I can’t wait;  I love the warm cozy evenings in front of the fire, with the rain lashing on the double glazing and hammering out a tattoo on the conservatory roof, while I’m all snug and warm indoors!

We are always reading about how beneficial double glazing, insulation and efficient boilers can be for our properties, our utility bills and the environment, so much so that many of us take it completely for granted. However, for me it’s always the first few days of autumn, when I first detect that fresh damp chill in air and notice that I can see my own breath on the air, that I really appreciate just how wonderful double glazing and all my creature comforts truly are.

Ludicrous new plans have been unearthed regarding a new government stealth tax on everything from views, to parking spaces, patios and conservatories! The proposed taxation on would be imposed through the council tax system and has already come under serious scrutiny and heavy opposition .

Perhaps more controversial than the proposed tax itself is the investigative work, already undertaken by the Labour government, into over 100,000 individual homes. Aside from the strong moral objection to the nanny state, surely the money spent alone in employing tax collectors to carry out in-depth assessments on everything from the width of a balcony to the extent of the view, cannot possibly be justified?

The extent of the surveying is mind-boggling; even the difference in the type of conservatory would be considered a contributory factor when calculating the level of added tax. The Valuation Office Agency, which is compiling the massive database of every home, has divided the three-quarters of a million people with conservatories into groups, for example, double-glazed conservatories will be hit harder than those with single glazing or lean-to’s.

Malcolm Moss, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, has today been quoted as saying “Only Labour would think of taxing people for having double-glazed windows or a patio. I hope Gordon Brown will see sense and scrap these plans immediately.” – We can but hope!

I can think of lots of reasons to buy a conservatory –  for us, it was the chance to get a bit more precious living space without breaking the bank. But since we’ve had it, it has been the best room in the house, terrific for soaking up the sun all year round regardless of the weather; catching a few rays of winter sun in January is absolute heaven for me. It’s also been brilliant entertainment for our two cats, which can bird watch to their hearts content without have to get their paws dirty!

However in a recent article I read, I was surprised to find ‘smoother transition from dining room to garden’ listed as a good reason to erect a conservatory – surely that’s clutching at straws? The journalist explained that a conservatory could provide a kind of gateway from your dining room to your garden. Call me clueless, but one thing my husband and I never said when considering buying our conservatory, was ‘you know what darling – what the dining room really needs is a uPCV / glass gateway leading onto the lawn…’ 

Still there you have it – forget the extra space and the value it will add to your property, more significantly, a conservatory will add that all important gateway from your house to your garden!

The conservatory is a longstanding British tradition which really came into its own in the 1800’s and with the great British climate being what it is; it’s easy to see why.

When considering buying a conservatory you will quite often hear cynical advice such as ‘they get far too hot in the summer you know…’ Well yes, they do, I agree – a glass box which is in effect a green house, pegged onto the side of your property is bound to get a little heated in direct sunlight. In fact I don’t sit in mine at the moment (mid-August) partly because it’s really hot in there, but more importantly, because it is one of those rare moments in the British calendar when it is actually possible to sit in the garden!

However, at all other times of the year, my favourite place in the house is the conservatory. There I can soak up precious rays of sunshine whilst smugly sheltered from the ravages of the bitter wind, pouring rain, drizzle, sleet… whatever the great British weather chooses to throw at us. In answer to the question ‘is it too hot to sit in the conservatory in the summer?’ I would say ‘yes it is’ - but when the summer only lasts about 2 weeks, I consider it a terrific investment for the remaining 50 weeks of the year.

FENSA stands for the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme and with over 9,000 members, it  is very much the regulatory body in the world of glazing. With encouragement from the Government, FENSA was established by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and other industry bodies, to monitor and ensure that Building Regulations for England and Wales are enforced and applied.

Any DIY project undertaken by a homeowner, or installation undertaken by a company, which is not registered by FENSA or a similar body,  has to have full Local Authority Building Control approval, which is likely to incur a charge.

Changes to Home Information Packs (HIPs) introduced on 6 April 2009 heighten the importance of using a regulated glazing installer. Sellers now need to provide better information to prospective buyers from the first day a property is put on the market.

FENSA registered businesses can assist with the selling process by reminding homeowners to insert their FENSA certificate into the optional part of HIPs. When the time comes to sell a property, the purchaser’s solicitors will ask for evidence that any replacement glazing installed since April 2002 complies with the Building Regulations. The FENSA building regulations certificate will act as documentary proof of compliance.

To find out more about FENSA click here  or visit www.fensa.org.uk/