5 Reasons To Hire a Forklift For Your Home Project

Whether you’re revamping your downstairs bathroom, or constructing an outbuilding from scratch – hiring a forklift can boost the efficiency of your project. From saving you money and time, to doing the heavy lifting when manual labourers are struggling, there are a few key reasons why you should consider hiring a forklift for your home endeavour.   

Fixed monthly costs

Bigger projects may need lots of heavy lifting, and the most cost-efficient way to approach a project is through hiring a forklift, rather than employing lots of manual labourers. When you hire a forklift, you pay only fixed monthly costs and will not be surprised with any sudden repair or maintenance bills – your forklift hire company will cover any problems the moment they arise without you needing to fork out. This payment plan allows for greater flexibility and cost-efficiency in the long run, particularly in regards to short-term hire.

Time-efficiency

Forklifts can not only save you money, but also time. The ease of movement and lifting that these machines bring to your project can save a lot of time and effort, and also potentially prevent injury from workers overstretching themselves. Consequently, hiring a forklift can also enhance the time-efficiency of your project.

Regular maintenance and servicing

Hiring from a forklift specialist means that you can rest assured that your hired machine will have undergone regular maintenance and servicing to ensure optimal performance and quality before you receive it. What’s more, if your forklift experiences issues mid-project, a professional can attend to the problem and offer a resolution – this comes from the specialists’ in-depth knowledge of all the makes and models they supply.

Flexibility

Different aspects of your project may require different machine capabilities – the good news is that machines can be easily swapped or upgraded when using a professional company, such as East Midlands Forklifts. This gives you total flexibility and reassurance in the knowledge that you can access the right forklift at the right time. Very often, different lease periods can also be agreed to adapt to your project’s schedule.

Can handle large projects  

Forklifts are designed to tackle big projects and heavy weights and are most often seen on large construction sites or in warehouses. However, they can also prove useful on home construction projects too, such as home renovations, landscaping projects, construction of outbuildings, or extensions. No matter how ambitious your project, forklifts can handle it. Simply get in touch with a specialist who can advise on exactly the right make and model for your needs.

East Midlands Forklifts are a leading authority on forklifts in their area, specialising in the supply, repair and maintenance of a wide range of trusted makes and models.

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What is the Best Type of Roof for Solar Panels?

Solar panels are a great way of making our homes more eco-friendly and sustainable. They can generate clean energy to cut down on bills and reduce our overall carbon footprint, but do you need a particular type of roof to install solar panels?

In this article, we’re looking at what factors might make some roofs more suitable than others for effective solar panel installation.

Key factors

There are some notable key factors which will influence your suitability for solar panels. These include:

• Ownership of the roof
• The direction your roof faces
• Age of the roof
• Material of the roof
• Roof size

More factors will likely come into play, but for the most part, these are the most decisive and easiest to consider. Let’s look at how these might affect your decision.

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Ownership

If you’re in a rental property, you’ll need to obtain the owner’s permission before making significant structural changes — such as the addition of solar panels. If you’re the sole owner of the roof, then you’re okay to proceed.

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Roof orientation

In the UK, a south-facing roof is a prime candidate for solar panels, as it will maximise the amount of solar energy you can generate. If your roof is north facing, then solar panels won’t be worth installing — although ground-mounted options could provide an alternative.

If your roof is east or west facing, then you’ll still be able to benefit from the power of solar panels. In fact, east/west-facing solar panels provide a better distribution of energy overall. This is because, when most people install south-facing panels, demand peaks at around midday and the grid can find it difficult to cope. By opting for east/west-facing panels, you can still generate an impressive amount of energy while also reducing demand on the grid.

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Age of the roof

When planning your panel installation, you need to think about the age and lifespan of your roof. Ideally, you’ll want to install your panels on a roof that’s in good condition and has more than a couple of decades’ life left to give. It might be that you’ll need to make sweeping repairs or even a full replacement if you have an older, traditional roofing system — such as slate or asphalt.

If you have a metal roof, then you’re already in a strong position. With their long-lasting lifespan and durability, a metal roof will likely outlast your solar panels.

This is a key element to think about if you’re planning to build a new roof alongside your solar array; you’ll want to install a roofing system that will outlive your panels. Metal roofing is an ideal choice for this type of installation.

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Size of the roof

The bigger your roof, the more panels you can install and the more energy you can produce. In domestic terms, the roof space of a small terraced house is definitely on the small side, and likely won’t be worth having panels installed. A three-bed semi-detached house, however, is a much healthier proposition.

When you think of size, you also need to factor in the ease of installation. Standing seam metal roofs offer a clean and easy installation surface for solar panels, without needing to drill any holes. This allows you to maximise space and create an unimpeded installation that draws as much energy as your roof size allows.

Finally, you’ll also need to take into account any obstacles on the roof — chimneys, vents etc. — as well as ensuring you have enough internal space for the string inverter.

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Material of the roof

While solar panels can be installed on a range of roofing materials, an ideal choice would be a standing seam metal roof. As mentioned above, age and condition of the roof is important and this is intrinsically linked with the material. A metal roof is a sturdy and efficient platform for solar panels, and one that will last for many years to come without needing to be repaired or replaced.

Standing seam roofs also make it easy to install solar panels without any kind of restructuring or additional work, and some solar panel installers have dedicated metal roofing rails to accommodate simple installation on these kinds of roofs. If you have a metal roof — or are thinking of installing one — it’s the ideal companion for solar panels.

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How to Add Value to Your Home

With the housing market looking extremely unpredictable thanks to Brexit, it’s unlikely that many buyers or sellers are going to put much stock in spikes and dips until the dust settles. That said, if you want to squeeze as much value out of your home when the time comes, then these tips are for you.

Kerb appeal

When people talk about adding value to domestic properties, the term ‘kerb appeal’ gets thrown around a lot. What is kerb appeal, you ask? Well, put simply, kerb appeal is how attractive your home looks from the street. Everyone knows just how important first impressions are and boosting your home’s kerb appeal is all about capitalising on them.

There are numerous ways in which you can boost your home’s kerb appeal, here are some popular ones:

• A new front door is an excellent way to smarten up the front of your home, particularly if you go for a nice composite one. And, if that seems like a daunting task, even installing a nice new brushed aluminium door handle will improve the first impression your home gives.
• Freshening up the front of your home with a lick of paint is a surefire way to make your house look more appealing to passersby. You don’t necessarily need to worry about the other sides – unless the contrast is glaringly obvious, that is.
• Clean up any clutter on the drive. This is a very quick win for anyone looking to boost their home’s kerb appeal. Whether you need to tidy up some renegade toys or your drive needs a quick sweep – this one’s a no-brainer!

New windows

If you’re looking to improve the look of your home as well as its thermal efficiency, then some new windows are a great choice. You’ll save money on your heating bills, which buyers will definitely appreciate, and the clean, new look is bound to catch their eye.

A home office

Given that working from home is becoming the norm in many professions, for some, the idea of a home office isn’t just enticing – it’s essential. Whether you can simply rework a currently defunct room, or you have to do something a little more DIY-intensive, a home office could be a great way to tempt prospective buyers to consider your home.

Get round to those repairs you’ve been putting off!

A stitch in time saves nine – and it could also net you some extra cash. Whether the damage is structural or purely cosmetic, it’s definitely worth getting round to fixing some of the issues you’ve been turning a blind eye to before your home goes on the market. If someone who’s viewing your home notices that the house needs a great deal of work done to it post purchase, they will be much less likely to put in an acceptable offer, or worse, put in an offer at all.

Hitchcock & King have over 40 years of experience providing customers with an excellent variety of top quality building supplies, including roofing materials. With eight branches spread across the London region, we’re ideally placed to serve customers throughout the capital. For added convenience, we can also offer prompt same and next day delivery of our building supplies directly to your site. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts today for advice and enquiries.

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Making Your Conservatory Better with Tech

Your conservatory is a place you can go to relax and enjoy the view of your garden all year
round. When done correctly, it can also potentially add a lot of value onto your property. If
you’re looking to get the most out of this unique space, why not consider enhancing it with
technology? There are a few ways you can add tech to your conservatory to enhance its comfort and design. Here, you’ll discover just some of the tech to consider adding to your conservatory space this year.

Electric windows

If your conservatory features hard-to-reach skylights, electric windows could be a great
option. These allow you to control the window electronically, adding both convenience and a
cool tech factor. You’ll feel like James Bond, well almost, as you push the button and watch
the window open and close.

There’s a lot of different types of electric window openings to choose from, so it’s worth
taking your time to browse through the options available to you before making a final
decision.

Solid roof installation

If you’re looking to add better thermal efficiency into the conservatory, solid roof installation
could be the answer. This type of roof offers great insulation, although it does typically
require planning permission before you can install one. A good idea may be to actually opt
for a combined roofing solution.

Some companies offer what’s known as a living roof, which combines solid roof and glass
construction. The shaded areas this type of roof creates are great for times when you want to
use a laptop or watch TV in the conservatory. If you have the budget, a combined roof
construction would be great for adding a contemporary look while also boosting thermal
efficiency.

Entertainment

Once you’ve upgraded the windows and roof, it’s time to focus on actually enjoying the
conservatory space. These days, you can buy a lot of different types of entertainment systems
to enhance the space. From smart TVs to games consoles and excellent surround sound
systems, you can easily turn the conservatory into an entertainment room.

As you can see, there’s lots of great tech you can add to your conservatory to make it more
comfortable and enjoyable to use. The above are the main types of tech you’ll want to
consider adding. Don’t forget, installing carpets and soundproofing the conservatory can also
help to enhance the space further.

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Do Patio Doors Need Blinds?

Patio doors are brilliant investments, often providing a seamless passage from the back of the home to the garden area. After all, gardening is becoming more popular as a pastime, and patio doors make that therapeutic, quick relief even more appealing and accessible.

Patio doors are also great for letting light into a room, as well as providing wide open views from atop a balcony. Essentially, they’re a big window that can open as a door, and that will always be trendy and add a flare of originality to the home.

With all that said, it’s worth asking what might seem like a bizarre question; do patio doors need blinds?

Blocking the Outside

You could have the very best view in all the land, but every homeowner needs their privacy from time to time. Additionally, what’s a nice view on a sunny day can be spoilt entirely by rain, mist or fog, so it’s obviously not always desirable. The point is, depending on the day and time, people can change their minds about what they want from their patio doors.

This is where blinds are useful, exposing and blocking off the view at will. They’re also not as clunkier or heavy handed as thick, obtrusive curtains, and are more subtly inserted into that space where the outside and inside bleed into one another more fluidly. Consequently, roller blinds from Direct Blinds works best here, with no gaps for anyone to peep through while remaining thin and nimble.

Controlling Lighting

Once again, depending on the weather, different amounts of light will be unleashed upon the house. While some might yank regular curtains across the scene if it’s all too bright, this scenario isn’t entirely ideal. After all, such people would only have two stark choices through using standard curtains; no natural light at all or letting in all the natural light.

Obviously, with blinds there’s more room for customising just how much light comes in through the patio door. You can twist the louvres to accurately control just how much light comes in, enabling you to find that perfect spot. The fabric is also easily moved across the rail if you do decide to commit to just letting it all inside. No matter what you decide to do, the important thing is that you can decide thanks to the blinds!

Duette Blinds

Sleek, stylish, and extremely modern; the Duette blinds achieve everything the vertical blinds can but with a different kind of flare. Dubbed as honeycomb blinds, these slick additions are fitted horizontally but can also be scaled up and down the patio door in their entirety.

The stacks are light and extremely responsive too, meaning there’s no heavy yanking on chains and louvres to get them working. This is because they can be controlled and configured with a paired smartphone app, which is another flare of luxury that can be added to your patio area. In the end, Duette blinds would be an extremely stylish addition to the patio area.

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Ways to Make Your House More Valuable

If you’ve come to the decision to sell your home, then no doubt you want to make it as valuable as
possible. Obviously, the more you get from your house, the better, and there’s always little projects you can undertake to get your home into the best shape possible. It’s time to get creative!

However, houses have been selling extremely slowly recently, partly due to the rising costs and younger generations being priced out of the market. Still, this shouldn’t deter you from making your home as valuable as possible. In the end, the right buyer is out there, even if they’re somewhat harder to find today.

Therefore, here a few tips and tricks to help you make your house more valuable.

Consult the Experts

Some estate agencies are bonified experts in selling property. They know everything that potential buyers want and expect, and really shape the housing market with their vast quantities of knowledge. Absolutely nothing escapes their notice, which puts them in a prime position for some quality consultation.

If you’re looking to add value to your home, there’s no one better to advise you than agencies like
Andrews, who work tirelessly to minimise your moving stress. They have digital valuation tools to help you value your property, stay on track with any adjustments, and provide information and advice from conveyancing services to surveys. In the end, your valuation projects will hit the ground running if you start here.

Room Conversions

While many people are quite happy to add rooms like extensions and conservatories to the mix, this can be highly expensive. In the latter case, the winter months see conservatories very rarely used, making the investment questionable in the first instance. In the end, if you’re now selling your home and are considering adding a room for some added value, hold that train of thought.

Instead, convert an existing room. It’s a far cheaper process, a more creative project for the potential buyer to view, and leaves room for the new owners to choose whether they’d like to extend the property.

If you can turn a garage into a living room, or merge your kitchen and dining room together, this will give the property a more unique, and thus more appealing, identity.

Use What You Already Have

Many homeowners make the mistake of burying the natural order of things in their property. Still, the following point is an important one to remember; adding value to a home isn’t always about adding things on, but also about using what you have too.

Some homely adjustments can feel tacked on as an afterthought, a desperate bid to add a bit of ‘umph’ to the property while instead making it cluttered.

However, the best homes very often speak for themselves, at least at a foundational level. For example, if you’ve got a view of any kind at the front or back of the property, make sure it’s always on show as they can add thousands to property value. Also, plan all your rooms economically, relative to the space you have. Only then will things look organised, appealing, and more valuable, instead of congested and
overstuffed.

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The Benefits of Garage Door Servicing & Maintenance

As a cornerstone of security, convenience and beauty of your home, garage doors need a little TLC to keep them performing well and looking great. Regular maintenance and servicing are the key to restoring the quality of your garage door and avoiding any problems down the line.

 

Is garage door servicing worth it?

The sure answer is, yes! Looking after a valuable element of your property will always be advantageous for its longevity, quality and performance. The benefits of garage and maintenance include:

• Cost-Effective: Ensuring that simple and regular maintenance tasks are carried out on your door a few times a year is much cheaper than needing to replace an entire garage door, should faults be neglected. A bi-annual servicing by a professional is recommended, along with regular visual checks performed by you, the owner, on a regular basis.  

• Enhances the Safety of Your Family and Vehicle: Garage doors are heavy machines with lots of mechanical components keeping them operational. Should a door malfunction at the wrong moment, it has the potential to injure nearby people and animals, as well as your vehicle. Regular maintenance and checks can reduce the likelihood of malfunctions occurring.

• Protects the Security of Your Property: The main function of garage doors is to act as a strong, reliable barrier between the contents of your garage and potential thieves. That’s why you should try not to allow weak spots and potential entry points to go unnoticed, and make sure you catch problems early to avoid break-in risks.

• Avoids DIY and Amateur Mistakes: There is no harm in performing occasional visual checks of your garage door to try and spot issues, but correction of real issues should always be undertaken by a professional – even the most technically-adept DIY enthusiast may worsen the problem, or risk injury to themselves, in an attempt to fix the door.

 

Warning signs that your garage door may need servicing

Is your garage door making a bizarre sound? Perhaps it is a little stiffer, looser or slower than normal? While these signs could see minor, they should never be ignored as they may be signs of garage door deterioration or damage, which could eventually transform into an unsafe situation. Surefire signs that you may need the assistance of a garage door specialist include:

• Unusual noises
• Door closes too quickly or too slowly
• Door will not close completely
• Door will not stay open
• The outside has cracks or gaps in door

Contact a reliable local company like our friends at Doormatic Garage Doors who can inform you of what’s involved in a garage door service, and how they can help diagnose, maintain and repair your garage door.

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