https://t.co/xx6SjmcGAk thanks for following us! Have a great day :) #pavingcontractor

https://t.co/xx6SjmcGAk thanks for following us! Have a great day :) #driveways #pavingcontractor

— Wiltshire Driveways (@drivewaysuk) May 3, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/drivewaysuk

May 03, 2016 at 12:15PM

High Return on Investment Property Selling: a guide on property upgrades

Investing in properties in order to sell can be a tricky game to play if the return on investment isn’t as high as you’d hope. Upgrades can sometimes cost more than the added value to the final market price of a property. We’ve listed some of the best home improvements according to experienced real estate experts and property selling and remodelling specialists. Surprisingly, a lot of the most rewarding remodelling projects are rather low maintenance and not too costly: you don’t need a labour intensive complete property overhaul to get the most bang for your bucks.

1. Highest long-term Return On Investment: the entry door

Replacing the entry door of a property provides a ROI of up to 98% according to data obtained by HouseLogic and is probably the best investment you could be making. Transforming the front door is efficient: it gives the home an entirely fresh look and it can improve insulation. It’s also relatively low budget: for a spend of around £1300, expect to gain a minimum of 75% of the cost in the final sale. Steel door models though are your best bet over PVC and other materials.

2. UK’s favorite home improvement: the kitchen

Kitchens are the hub of every home and unsurprisingly, extensions and replacements are one of the UK’s most popular home improvements. It turns out that ROI is pretty good too: minor remodelling such as simply replacing the countertops, floorings or adding middle of the range appliances is enough to assure a RIO above 80%. Experts also recommend to spend a little extra on workspace and layout as flow is crucial in a kitchen. It will never need changing if done well and replacing cabinets and appliances can be done quickly for cheap if necessary.

3. Siding replacement: opt for fiber-cement

New siding is one of the best and immediate ways to show prospective buyers that the home they’re interested in is well-maintained. As as result, ROI on new siding is also around 80% if you opt for fiber cement. Fiber cement is low maintenance, stable and extremely durable. The only downside being in the actual installation: it requires the help of a professional with the right tools and techniques which can make the overall budget creep up but be aware it will be worth it in the long run.

4. Garage door replacement: low cost and big impression

Garage door replacement will set you up with a ROI of 80% too. It’s one of the top property remodelling investment as a middle of the range garage is relatively low priced (between £500 and £1000), installation is easy and rewarding: the entire feel of your front lawn can be changed for the best thanks to this simple home remodelling operation.

The post High Return on Investment Property Selling: a guide on property upgrades appeared first on http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk

Two huge 16.2 metre steel trusses will be lowered into position to top off Uni’s 27.5 million building

‘Topping Off’ ceremony welcomes the High Sherriff to guide the trusses into position – at 12.30pm on Today

Local firms help finish job

AS an architecturally-innovative £27.5 million building at the University of Huddersfield takes shape, two giant steel trusses that will help lock the structure in place are to be installed in a special twist on the traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony.

The ‘topping out’ ceremony usually commemorates the installation of a final beam at the top of a structure.  But the two herringbone pattern trusses – 16.2 metres tall – will extend vertically from the ground floor to the roof of the new Oastler Building at the University, four levels higher.  The trusses will act as a frame for the main entrance to the building and support the roof. 

Manufactured by the Halifax-based firm Elland Steel Structures Ltd – which has fabricated 674 tonnes of components for the new building – the huge trusses will be trucked to the University in the early hours of Tuesday 4 May, so as not to disrupt peak-time traffic.  On the site of the new building, which overlooks Huddersfield’s busy Aspley roundabout on the town’s ring road, workers  for construction firm Morgan Sindall will lower the trusses from a huge crane into specially “shoes”, which will position structures in place.  

The county’s High Sherriff, Mr Chris Brown and the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan, will then insert a bolt as a ceremonial means of marking this key phase in the completion of the building.  When ready for use at the start of 2017, the building will be a new base for the law school and for the study of humanities.

The University’s Department of Estates and Facilities encouraged Huddersfield-based architects AHR Global and building contractors Morgan Sindall to use local manufacturers and suppliers as much as possible in the design and construction of the building.

The structure’s steel and aluminium frame will be faced with 2,092 square metres of glazing, fabricated by Huddersfield firm Dual Seal Glass Ltd and Brighouse company HWA.  Other major contributors to the build include the Myers Group, proprietors of Johnson’s Wellfield Quarry at Crosland Moor, Huddersfield.  It has furnished 1713 square metres of locally quarried stone and are a major supplier of concrete for the structure.

The ‘topping out’ ceremony will welcome representatives of many of the firms and practices involved in the project, including Morgan Sindall. AHR Global and structural engineers Tim Stower and Partners Ltd.

The new building is to be named after the 19th century campaigner for factory reform Richard Oastler, who had strong Huddersfield connections.

The post Two huge 16.2 metre steel trusses will be lowered into position to top off Uni’s 27.5 million building appeared first on http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk

Looking Good After a Long Day On-Site

When you have had a long day on the construction site, it’s time to switch out into more comfortable clothes. Depending on the job you’ve been doing, your clothes are all covered in soot. Maybe you’ve been plastering, perhaps you’ve been drywalling, roofing, or even putting up steel girders. No matter what job you have been working on, it’s safe to say you’d appreciate getting out of the job-site clothes and into something more relaxing.

If you’ve got a date after a long day on the construction site, you definitely need to change out of your work clothes before meeting with your date. Be sure to check out some of the great outfits available at Boden for some of your options. Plus when you visit Groupon, you can find savings from Boden. It might feel like you are living paycheck to paycheck, but remember- your date is choosing to spend their time with you this evening, so don’t let them down by showing up like you just laid down the hammer and nail gun.

Instead of looking like this is your first date, make sure you get cleaned up after getting off of work. Take a shower, shave, put on fresh deodorant- do whatever you have to do to take the job site off of you. Aside from the physical burdens, make sure to let go of the emotional stress, too. Upset with your boss? Sad over the injury of a friend? Worried about where the next paycheck will come from once this project is complete? Be sure to leave these emotions back at your place before you go on that date.

If you can successfully transition from the worksite to a smooth at-home life, you’ll be able to pull off a career in construction just fine. The key to keeping your cool after many years in the field is knowing how to look and feel your best after a long day on-site. No matter what you worked on today, be sure to try and relax  by getting cleaned up, changing in to some fresh clothes from Boden, and treating yourself and a nice lady to a great evening out.

The post Looking Good After a Long Day On-Site appeared first on http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk

https://t.co/S6yjDr4MFN thanks for following us! Have a great day :) #pavingcontractor

https://t.co/S6yjDr4MFN thanks for following us! Have a great day :) #driveways #pavingcontractor

— Wiltshire Driveways (@drivewaysuk) May 2, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/drivewaysuk

May 02, 2016 at 02:37PM

https://t.co/MzlH3e3LNC thanks for following us! Have a great day :) #pavingcontractor

https://t.co/MzlH3e3LNC thanks for following us! Have a great day :) #driveways #pavingcontractor

— Wiltshire Driveways (@drivewaysuk) May 2, 2016

from Twitter https://twitter.com/drivewaysuk

May 02, 2016 at 09:11AM

Property Renovation Calculator Gives Homeowners Estimated Cost of Home Improvements

New Property Renovation Calculator Gives Homeowners Estimated Cost of Home Improvements

A brand new microsite has launched allowing people considering making home improvements to input information, such as the room they are looking to renovate, the size of the space and the region they live in, and then get an estimated cost for the work. Months of research have gone into making the home renovation calculator as accurate as possible.

In a bid to help people understand the cost of home improvements before they start the work, the team at www.Web-Blinds.com has designed and built a home renovation calculator, based on months of research, to help users create the property of their dreams.

The calculator initially asks users to choose the room they want to update, with a choice of the kitchen, bathroom, conservatory, bedroom, dining room or living room. They are then required to measure and enter the size of the room in metres squared (m²).

Next, users of the calculator are asked to consider whether they require a budget, mid-range or high-end finish. Finally, the region the property is located in is also needed, in order to account for the varying costs of services in different areas of the UK.  For example, the cost of renovating a 7m² bathroom, on a budget, would equate to roughly £4,175 in the North East, but would cost £5,322 in London.

Kirsty Martin, spokesperson for www.Web-Blinds.com, made the following comments on the creation of the calculator: http://www.web-blinds.com/resources/home-renovation-calculator/

“Making the decision to completely renovate a room in a house can come about for a multitude of reasons. You may be considering a house move and want to ensure that you make as much as you can from the sale, or perhaps you are a first-time buyer with limited funds and considering a fixer-upper.

“This calculator has been built to give users the chance to generate a rough estimate of the work needed to improve the room. And while we don’t know the specific tiles, taps or fixtures you want to incorporate into your lovely new room, it will give you an idea of whether or not you can afford the home of your dreams!”

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