Warning to put energy efficiency first

The UK's got to start putting energy efficiency at the top of it's home improvements list if it's to meet its target of having 80% of housing stock ready by 2050.

The comments made by the Director of the National Home Improvement Council - Andrew Leech - were made as he asked home improvement retailers and installers to encourage the public to have energy saving and efficiency in mind when they planned home improvements.

In particular, he singled out new kitchens and bathrooms as areas where more could be done. Energy efficiency measures would "pay dividends in the long run".

In addition to opting for energy efficient appliances, he also recommended that more homeowners should be looking at solar and other renewable energy sources.

His comments came after it was revealed that the UK had failed to meet its 2010 renewables target - a story we reported on last week.

Energy (and fuel bill) savings can be made all around the home but the chief energy user - heating - can be reduced with a mixture of insulation incorporating the latest double glazing advances and for older properties without a cavity wall, homeowners should consider interior or exterior wall insulation.

Even owners of newer homes should be checking their loft space for the current correct level of insulation.

Extra lagging of hot water apparatus and lowering thermostats by even 1 degree can still make enormous savings without affecting your families comfort. If you're replacing your heating boiler, it's the ideal time to use the most fuel efficient model you can afford or even opt for changing to a combo boiler which only heats the water as you use it.

The next time you're getting a quote for any home improvement, don't forget to discuss energy saving and energy efficiency with your installer.

photo credit: timothy vollmer

This article first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 10th May 2011 - click here to read the full newsletter.

A Kitchen For the Stone Age

In the ’70’s, Formica was all the rage – formica worktops, tables, you name it, it was probably covered in it. I can vividly remember an advert on the tv where a couple walk in and quiz a kitchen table salesman on his tables. The husband pulls out a home made lie detector and places it on the salesman’s head. You get the idea – the final question being did the table have a real formica top. The message – beware of imitations.

Wind forward to the ‘noughties’ and as far as kitchen worktops are concerned, Granite is making a bit of a comeback.

It’s very practical – easily wiped clean and if looked after will give years of service. No wonder it’s popular. Here we look at just some of the reasons why:

Durability.

Whilst any installer will always recommend using a chopping board to prepare food on, wiping up spills as soon as they occur, etc, with Granite worksurfaces, they are probably more resistant to scratches then any other worktop. Granite is the hardest of all building stone, its very close grain making it virtually impervious to stains.

If it’s polished, the liquid like gloss finish will never loose its shine. This makes it the perfect choice for fitted kitchens.

Manufacturers claim that if the granite hasn’t broken during transit and processing, then there are no flaws present and you shouldn’t experience any cracking or chipping in the kitchen – unless you used a hammer of course, but we’ve a feeling that might take some effort in itself.

Generally very low maintenance, installers recommend not using oily cloths etc as the granite will absorb the oil, producing a dark stain. This stain should disappear over time as the oil is drawn into the granite further. If an accident does occur, there are recommended ‘drawing’ poultices you can use to draw out the stain.

Look.

Granite is one of the hardest materials on earth. Composed of quartz, feldspar and mica, its unique colours and patterns are created by other minerals present in the stone. It’s a surface that is resistant to scratches, stains and heat.

You’ll probably come across terms like Honed and Polished. These terms refer to the finish of the granite worktop. Honed refers to anything from a flat to a low sheen finish which gives the granite a softer look whereas polished refers to the glossy, highly reflective finish most associated with a sleek look.

As more and more homeowners turn to improving their property rather than move, there has been a re-surgance in fitted kitchens and kitchen makeovers. Granite has played a large part in many of these makeovers and new designs and most fitted kitchen companies will now have several granite worktop options you can choose from.

DIY Beware. If you’re thinking of fitting them yourself, beware! Granite is extremely hard to both cut and handle. Cutting out holes for appliances or sinks may require more than a diy jigsaw, not to mention making a neat job of the joins and edges. It’s these sorts of details that will increase the value of your property rather than detract from it.

There are now specialist lifting gear gadgets that installers can use to install heavy granite worktops and mid height appliances like ovens and extractor fans and hoods. Going out and attempting to hire the right equipment yourself could end up costing more than paying a company to install it for you. Installers will also use specialist sealants on joints and plan for the fewest joints in general.

You can get a free instant online quote for a fitted kitchen, and get in touch with great local kitchen fitters, through KitchenQuoter.co.uk

Is this a Dishwasher?

Yes, it's a dishwasher and we love this one..

It's a Fisher and Paykel Double Integrated DishDrawer© What we liked about this is it's actually two dishwashers in one. You can have your delicate crystal in one drawer and your pots and pans in the other.

Pots and pans can be on a long cycle and your favourite mug can be done in the other drawer and back in service quickly without having to wait for the rest to finish. We think it's great.

To get a quote for a kitchen and inform the kitchen company you'd like to investigate one of these, here's the link to Kitchen Quoter