Tag: construction

Architecture & Building

Advantages and disadvantages of Shipping container homes 

4th November 20220

Shipping container homes have become increasingly more popular over the years. This is because living a more sustainable and cheaper life is becoming more people each day.  

What are shipping container homes? 

If you have never heard of this type of home, they are exactly what they sound like. They are houses typically made up of multiple shipping containers joined together.  

Shipping container sizes –  

Shipping containers come in a range of different sizes. The most common types are 10ft, 20ft and 40ft. A 20ft container can hold up to a 3-bedroom home and have enough room to store all of your furniture, boxes, and appliance, too. Also, these storage containers measure 20’ long, 8’ wide, and 8.5’ tall. 

How much do they cost? 

Furthermore, the total average cost of for a DIY shipping container home in the UK is between £20,000- £80,000.  

Advantages of container homes –  

They are prefab –  

Shipping container homes are available as prefabricated modular homes, meaning construction time shorter. Building inspections are completed at the factory, and this simplifies and speeds up the process. Some companies advertise delivery in under 10 weeks. 

Environmentally friendly-  

Container homes are often labelled as being environmentally friendly because firstly, you’re recycling, which is one of the greenest things you can do. Secondly, you are saving metal resources.  

Easy to transport –  

Because shipping container have been around a while there are experienced delivery systems in place to make the move easy as possible. Once they get to your property it is a quick and simple process of constructing them.  

Disadvantages of container homes –  

Structural issues-  

In addition, if you want to stack the containers to create a larger home, you may have to weld them together. So, this process can be costly.  

Safety concerns –  

Usually, you would be unaware of what was once shipped in the containers such as, hazardous materials. The paints and finishes used on containers are industrial, and not for residential homes, so that they could contain toxic pesticides. 

Photo : studiokfa

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Architecture & Building

Revolutionary female architects that shaped the Industry

2nd November 20220

Architecture has often been seen as an extremely male-dominated field. However, there are female architects who are changing the industry and are also working to ensure that young female architects feel inspired to keep going.

Eileen Gray (9th August 1878 – 31st October 1976) –  

Eileen Gray was an Irish architect and furniture designer wo became a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. 

By 1921, Gray was romantically involved with Romanian architect and writer Jean Badovici. He encouraged her growing interest in architecture. From 1922/1923 to 1926 Gray created an informal architectural apprenticeship for herself as she never received any formal training as an architect. 

In 1926, she started work on a new holiday home near Monaco to share with Badovici. The house was given the enigmatic name of E-1027. It was code for the lovers’ names; the E standing for Eileen, the 10 for J, meaning Jean, the 2 for B standing for Badovici. And the 7 for G standing for Gray. 

E-1027 is a modernist villa in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It’s an L shaped, flat roofed villa with floor to ceiling windows and spiral staircases. It also had an open plan interior that mixed moving screens with fixed walls.  

Gray only ever completed three more architectural projects. A house for herself near Castellar, a studio apartment in Paris for Badovici, and a final renovation project in St Tropez—before she passed away in the ’70s. 

Getty Images

Dame Zaha Hadid (31st October 1950 – 31st March 2016) – 

Dame Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-British architect, artist, and designer, recognised as a major figure in architecture. 

For many years, Hadid was a “paper architect.” But during this time, she established her reputation through her drawings, paintings, and by teaching architecture internationally at schools. In the ’90s, her work was finally given the chance to be realised in physical form by way of the Vitra Fire Station. 

More work followed in Europe, each more ambitious than the next. Including the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Bergisel Ski-Jump on Bergisel Mountain in Innsbruck, Austria. The New York Times called the former the “most important American building to be completed since the Cold War” and marked the first American museum designed by a woman. 

A year after the completion of the art museum, Hadid was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2004. Not only was she the first woman to receive the prize, Hadid began to attract more media attention as well as higher profile clients. 

Denise Scott Brown (3rd October 1931 – Present) –  

Denise Scott Brown is considered to be one of the most highly influential female architects. She was then a partner at Venturi Scott Brown Architects. She shaped most of the 20th century’s architecture. Furthermore, Denise refers to herself as the grandmother of architecture. Some of her highly acclaimed designs are of buildings such as the Sainsbury Wing of the London’s National Gallery, Provincial Capitol Building of Toulouse and Seattle Art Museum.   

image by frank hanswijk, courtesy of venturi, scott brown and associates
main image by robert venturi, courtesy of venturi, scott brown and associates
Loft Conversion

What are the planning rules for Terraced House Loft Conversions? 

2nd November 20220

When homeowners are looking to add more space to their homes, loft conversions are a great route to look down. According to the ONS UK housing report, there are more than 30% terraced houses in the country. Most of the houses are situated in areas, where people want to live. Which is why many people are looking to add on to their property.  

Factors that need to be considered –  

There are factors which need to be considered when having a loft conversion in a terraced house, but some of them apply to any kind of loft conversion: 

  • Budget 
  • Planning constraints 
  • Access from the floor below 

Budget –  

Before you do any type of work on your home, you need to make sure that you can fit it in your budget. Well done loft conversions can be pricey. For example, a simple loft conversion starting costs can be around £25k.  

Planning application –  

Loft conversions on terraced houses don’t automatically require planning permission as long as they stay within the bounds of what is known as Permitted Development. 

A loft conversion will fall under permitted development and does not require planning permission as long as it meets the following conditions: 

  • The head height must be above 2.2m.  
  • The new loft space won’t be larger than 40 cubic meters for terraced houses. 
  • The loft conversion does not extend higher than the highest part of the existing roof. 
  • The loft conversion does not include any verandas, balconies, or raised platforms. 
  • It is made using materials that are similar in appearance to the rest of the house. 
  • Any side-facing windows must be obscure-glazed (to stop people from seeing in and out). 
  • Any side-facing windows must be at least 1.7m above the ground. 
  • Your home is not located in certain designated areas, including national parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), conservation areas, and World Heritage Sites. 
  • A roof extension, with the exception of hip-to-gable extensions, must be set back at least 20cm from the original eaves. 
  • A roof extension must not overhang the outer wall of the original house. 
Image: https://www.absolutelofts.com/galleries/aerial-view-of-l-shaped-dormer-loft-conversion-in-hackney-e5-east-london-victorian-terrace/

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Garage Conversion

Garage conversion: is it right for you? 

21st October 20220

How to know a garage conversion is right for your home – 

Before you start planning, you first need to accurately assess whether converting a garage is the right option for your home or not. No doubt converting a garage have lots of benefits. But it is also true that it can put a lot of load on your bank account. 

It is easy to get planning permission for this type of conversion. However, it depends on the area you live in. Furthermore, you need to give away your garage space to get some extra living space at home. If you own a car and parking on the street is an issue, then it can devalue your home. Moreover, you need to consider which type of room you want to convert your garage in: 

  • Kitchen Extension 
  • Bedroom 
  • Bathroom 
  • Gym 
  • Cinema 
  • Family room 

Well, all of these options have their benefits. Some of them cannot help with increasing the value of your property compared to their counterparts. If you have the plan to sell your home in the future, then you should keep this in mind. 

Benefits of a garage conversion –  

There are lots of benefits when choosing a garage conversion as a way to extend your house. One of the advantages is that it is a cheap way to increase living space. If your home has two garages, then you can convert the half-space. In this way, you will have a place to park your car and extra living space for your family. 

Another great benefit is that you do not need to change the structure of the house and do not need to lay down new foundations, which can help you save a lot of money. Usually, the garage has electricity, which means it can reduce garage conversion cost even more. 

When we compare the garage conversion with other options, it is most cost-effective 

How much will it cost?  

Any type of house extension services can cost thousands of pounds. When we talk about garage conversion cost, you can expect to pay £11,000 to £25,000 in 2021. However, the actual cost of a project depends on various factors such as garage size, plans, etc. It can also add up to 20% to the value to your home.  

Extensions

Single storey extension: what you need to know before planning  

21st October 20220

Adding a single-storey extension is a great idea to have some extra living space in the home. But before you start planning, check out advice from experts. 

There is no doubt that an extension is a great alternative to moving home. Buying a new home is a lengthy and daunting task than adding a simple extension. We also know that space in the UK is often tight for families in the cities. Hence, an extension is a neat solution to all of their living space problem. 

Most common extensions in the UK –  

When we talk about British homes, there are mainly three types of extensions: Side return extension, wrap around extension and the rear extension. However, we are going to focus on the most common, the single-storey rear extension in this article. 

A rear extension goes across the full width of the house. It goes out towards the garden. Edwardian and Victorian houses have a cellular feel. So, adding a rear extension can link together two areas to provide you with more open space for your family. Furthermore, if your house doesn’t get much daylight, adding bifolding doors or large windows to the extension can brighten the place up.  

Will you need planning permission?  

Whether you need planning permission or you can develop under permitted development rights. Single storey rear extension does require LDC (Lawful Development Certificate). You need to apply for this certificate to your local authority. Basically, it indicates that the extension you are building met permitted development requirements and you don’t need planning permission. It will cost you around £103 which is less than the planning fee. 

Will a single storey rear extension add value to your home?  

Well, how much value it’s going to add depends on the extension and space you want to create. Any extension adds value to the property that’s for sure. But you have to create a balance. You have to make sure that the extension is cost-effective and also adds value to your house. 

Image: https://www.thermaframe.co.uk/upvc-sash-windows-sevenoaks/
Advice Center

Basements: why are they uncommon in the UK?

20th October 20220

Having a basement in your home may seem like a given if you are from most parts of the United States. However, if you are from England, you probably don’t know that much about having a basement. 

When were basements common?  

Although, you may have not seen many, basements/ cellars actually are pretty common in some places in the UK. The Victorians and Georgians loved them. So, any town with lots of Georgian and Victorian housing like Leeds, Manchester or Edinburgh will have lots of basements. As for the places that don’t, you can break them down into a few reasons: 

Age of home. While the technology required to build underground spaces has existed for thousands of years. However, the requirement to do so has not. Before mass urbanisation began in the early 1800s, 60% of people lived in small, communities where land was pretty cheap. The cost of digging a basement for your house compared poorly to the cost of just buying a field out back and building a bigger house. 

Ground conditions. Unlike Scotland, Wales and the west of England, much of eastern and central England is quite low lying, and a lot of the east coast was reclaimed from salt marshes by the Georgians. This means that the ground was too wet and muddy to build a basement in, especially when it’s expensive and impractical to pump the water out every time it rains heavily and the water table rises. 

The weather. One of the main reasons that basements became very common in America is the weather. Both the intense cold in some parts and the risk of adverse weather in others. Foundations have to be built far below the ground to stop them being damaged by frost, so you might as well fill all that space with an extra room or two. Similarly, a basement doubles up as a tornado shelter in other places. The UK has little extreme weather, so basements weren’t as functional in the past as they are in North America. 

Why did the UK stop making basements? 

However, nowadays almost all new build homes have no cellar or basement. This is due to the extra cost of digging down further into the sub-soil and a requirement for much deeper foundations and waterproof tanking.  

How much would It cost to build a basement? 

If you are thinking of building an entirely new basement under your home, you should expect the starting costs to be around £2000 – £3,500 per square meter. On top of this you would need to pay for the contractors to complete the job. So, it’s not often a cheap project.  

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Advice Center, Architecture & Building

Stilt houses: reasons why you should raise your home 

18th October 20220

What is a stilt house?  

Stilt houses are houses built on elevated platforms. They can be built in a variety of locations. They are usually constructed over water, but they can also be built on dry land.  

Why are houses built on stilts?  

Many people have been building homes on stilts since the prehistoric times. Elevating homes can protect them against flooding and keep animals out. Which is why these types of homes are very popular in tropical and coastal regions.  

Are stilt houses safe?  

Even though they may seem unstable, houses built on stilts are normally secure. Builders traditionally use wood, bamboo, cane, or rattan for stilted houses. However, steel is now more commonly used as a construction material.  

Steel usually holds well in the ground and is less likely to break than other materials. Steel stilts will hold up adequately even if you want to build your house on an uneven surface. Although, like any house the structural integrity lies within the hands of the builders.  

Benefits of stilt houses –  

  • Maximise the view. By elevating your home your house will typically stand higher than other houses in the area. This will provide you with amazing views and far-reaching perspective of the surrounding environment.  
  • Extra space and ventilation beneath the house. With the house being raised you have a load of free space under the house, many people use this area as a car port. It also improves ventilation because the cool air can flow under the house. 
  • You can build on uneven ground. Because the house is off the ground you can build above uneven ground. This is good for the environment because the land is facing minimal damage. 
  • Can build over water. This not only makes for an unusual living space, but it also lessens the house’s mass and footprint on the fragile shore. 
Image: Shutterstock

Advice Center

How to protect your home from flash flooding  

17th October 20220

It’s impossible to completely flood proof your home, but there is a lot of things you can do to lower the flood damage. Here is a list of improvements that could help you during this stressful time. 

Firstly, what is a flash flood?  

A flash flood is a flood caused by heavy or excessive rain in a short period of time, usually less than 6 hours. Flash flooding happens when rain falls so fast that the underlying ground cannot cope, or drain it away fast enough. Roads can become like rivers and if there is a lot of water, it can flood buildings and carry cars away. 

How to identify if you live in a flood risk area –  

The quickest and easiest way to find out if your house is in a high-risk area, is to check a flood risk map. There are environment agencies that provide live maps which give information about long tern flood risks to properties.  

Some improvements you can make to your home –  

  • Stock up on sandbags – sandbags are a simple, but effective way to prevent or reduce flood water damage. The sandbags can act as a barrier to divert moving water.  
  • Raise the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5m above ground floor level. However, this is not always practical and it can cost around £1,000 – £4,000.  
  • Raise your household appliances. Putting your appliances on raised plinths is an easy way to keep them out of the water and from getting damaged. 
  • Separate the electrical circuit for upper and lower floors.  
  • Installing shelves. You should place valuable and sentimental items on the shelves to keep them out of reach from the water.  
  • Have tiles on the ground floor. Carpets can get ruined by the water, so its best if you install tiles on the ground floor. 
  • Landscaping – the outside areas of your home can be designed in order to divert the water away from your home.  

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Design and Inspiration

The advantages and disadvantages of bifold doors  

14th October 20220

Bifold doors are a great way to improve your home. They are able to blend the inside and outside space together, increasing the amount of natural light and fresh air into the home. In this blog we will look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of bifold doors.  

Firstly, what is a bifold door? 

Bifold doors are doors that slide open, made from a series of panels that fold up against the wall, kind of like an accordion. They are usually glazed with large glass panels that let plenty of light in. The doors are usually located at the back of the property, leading into the garden creating indoor outdoor living.  

The advantages of bifold doors  

Easy to live with and maintain –  

Keeping aluminium and UPVC bifold doors in good condition is very easy. This is because they only require a wipe down with a standard window cleaner, just like you would do with your windows.  

The doors are fitted onto tracks that are flushed with the floor. This makes the doors easy to open, and because they are flushed it reduces the trip hazard. They come with a slim profile which not only looks unobtrusive, but which allows them to be easily moved back and forth. 

Bifold doors are modern and desirable –  

Bifold doors have become a staple in new builds and modern homes. Aluminium is a great choice for the frames as they are strong and they look very impressive. Furthermore, many people now days love the idea of inside, outside living, so bifold doors is a great choice for them.  

Highly secure –  

The doors include multiple locking points across the structure making them one of the most secure patio doors available. Especially if they are made with aluminium.  

Disadvantages of bifold doors  

Some doors may stack inside the home –  

If the doors fold into the home, then they will stack inside. If you have limited space this could be intrusive  

Cost – 

Because of the complexity and engineering that goes into high quality bifold doors, it’s not a surprise that they can be more expensive than sliding or French doors. On average, you are looking at around £1,000 per metre. Some installations need to be bespoke designs which will raise the cost 

The doors include a lot of frames –  

Each folding pane of glass has its own frame which, when closed, can mean a slightly obstructed view. You can minimise this by making the frames as slender as possible. 

Image: https://www.vufold.co.uk/external-bifold-doors/aluminium-bifold-doors/status-grey-6000mm-6-door

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Design and Inspiration

Everything you need to know about roof lanterns  

13th October 20220

Roof lanterns are an impressive addition to an existing house or great to incorporate into your plans for a new house design. They create extra natural light, as well as being a beautiful statement piece in the room.  

What is a roof lantern?  

A roof lantern is a glass structure that sits on a flat roof, allowing light to flood he room below.  A roof lantern is an elongated pyramid, usually rectangular based with four panes of glass, two trapezoids and two triangles making up the traditional lantern shape. 

Skylights vs roof lanterns –  

Many people get roof lanterns confused with sky lights, the main difference it the shape. As we explained a roof lantern is a pyramid shape whereas, a skylight is simply a window set in the roof.  

People that have lower ceilings often opt for a roof lantern because they will increase the head height in the room. This makes the room feel bigger and more open.  

Skylights are seen as a more modern feature on a house. Whereas, roof lanterns were first used by the Victorians, but they are becoming more popular in modern designs.  

How much does a roof lantern cost?  

The cost of roof lanterns depends on the size, materials, glazing, and any extras you may want to add. The average cost of installing a roof lantern in the UK is around £2500. However, for more accurate prices we recommend speaking to a roof lantern specialist to get a quote.  

Where should you position your roof lantern?  

The popular spot to install an overhead roof lantern is the kitchen, where the day light is the best. They are usually places above the dining table or the island in large kitchens. Although, some people like to place them in their living rooms to create extra natural light in the space.  

Will you need planning permission?  

Planning permission is not usually required for a roof lantern as long as these permitted development rules are followed:  

  • Roof lanterns must be no higher than the highest part of the roof.  
  • No roof openings, unless the height is at least 1.7m above the floor. 
  • Roof lanterns positioned in a side elevation roof slope must utilise obscure glazing. 
  • Roof lanterns must one extend 150mm above the sloping plane of the existing roof.  

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