The Patio, The French and The Bi-Fold

We often talk to people who are uncertain which doors they should plump for when they’re getting quotes to sort out the back of their house. Ever keen to provide you with useful information, here’s the Home Improvement Quotes Back Door Shootout.

Firstly, the basics: In a nutshell, French doors open on hinges, Patio doors slide on rails and Bi-Fold doors concertina open. You can have doors made in uPVC, Hardwood or Aluminium. Most double glazing companies will also fit doors, and uPVC are the most common and the cheapest variety.

The Patio

The biggest plus side to patio doors is that they require less space. Because they slide instead of opening outwards, you don’t need to worry about leaving a space free on the patio for them to swing through. There’s also an important safety advantage to patio-style doors, because they won’t be blown shut suddenly by gusty winds which may exist.

Another advantage to patio doors is, of course, the possibility of running into Gwyneth Paltrow as she wonders through parallel dimensions.

The French

Whilst not gust-proof like their sliding counterparts (typically, you would overcome this using a hook to keep the door against the wall), French doors have the significant advantage of opening on both sides, which means you get the . This naturally comes in quite handy when hosting parties or BBQs,

The Bi-Fold

<p>Bi-Fold doors, as the name suggests, open concertina style, with each individual panel being able to fold up against the next as you slide them open. In some ways they provide the best of both worlds – they can’t blow closed, but they still open across the entire doorway. They also look fantastic – and can almost turn your patio into just another room of your house.</p>

So which is best?

Naturally, the best is a matter of preference, and it will depend on your needs, priorities and budget. If space is an issue then patio doors must be the ones to go for; for the thrifty or those on a small budget, French doors are probably the cheaper option. If we had to recommend the most practical, the most stylish and the one with the highest wow-factor, it would have to be the Bi-Fold, every time.

You can get free and instant online quotes for patio or french doors from WindowQuoter.co.uk. For Bi-Fold Doors, head to BifoldDoorQuoter.co.uk.

Paving in the Rain

It’s understandable that home owners planning on having a new driveway laid might be caught in a bit of a quandary this time of year.

On the one hand, there are those incredible deals as the home improvement industry looks to pick up some early work with ‘New Year sales’. On the other, there’s the worry that any paving job, whether it’s block paving or impressed concrete, will suffer delays due to the British weather we all know and love at this time of year.

Fear no more, though, because we’re here to answer a few of those worries and give you the added confidence to go ahead with that new driveway anyway. Besides, waiting till Summer is no guarantee of better weather. I’m sure we’ve been on plenty of summer holidays spent mostly in wellington boots, crouched under a soggy canvas or listening to the rain hitting the roof of a caravan as if you were sheltering inside a biscuit tin. So, to get a quote for paving, rain or shine, you can visit PavingQuoter.co.uk

In fact, for the vast majority of driveways they can be installed whatever the weather. The first job in any driveway installation is to dig out the’footings’ and compact the correct mix of larger and finer rubble and hardcore. Unless an absolute cloud burst happens, this can usually continue without hinderance.

Next for block paving, comes one or two layers of traditionally grit sand, which is compacted to form the base for laying the blocks onto. This is the stage most affected by excess water as the sand when extremely wet tends to retain the water, making it less easy to work with, which can lead to dense areas forming that will need tapping out later.

Once the blocks are laid, and the finished surface has been swept with sand to work into the gaps between blocks, a little rain can be very beneficial in helping the sand ‘soak’ down into the gaps and settle.

With Impressed concrete finishes, the base is laid as above. Instead of the two layers of sand, a finer mix of aggregate will be used to bring the surface up to the required level prior to pouring the cement. The pouring stage is critical as its this that will provide the final surface. If too much water falls as the concrete is being poured, it can weaken the mixture or make it a shade to pliable to work with. This can effect drying times.

Usually, contractors are able to cover over recently poured surfaces so if it starts raining once they’ve already started there’s no need to worry.

Although its no detriment to the surface and it shouldn’t make you favour block over impressed in any way, when laying an impressed concrete driveway, there’s one finishing touch that needs a little dry spell… the colouring.

When an impressed driveway is laid, after the base preparation and the concrete pouring, the next stage is to apply the final colour – usually through using a pigmented powder that reacts with the still wet concrete and stains the colour down to about an 8th of an inch below the surface. Once the colour has been applied, then the installers will move quickly to apply the patterned mats and ‘imprint’ your chosen design onto the surface.

If there is an excess of surface water collecting when the powdered colouring is being applied, obviously, some of the powder is going to float off rather than stick to the surface area it was applied to. This could lead to uneven colour surface, so it’s one of those jobs best done when its dry. Alternatively, the contractor may be forced to apply makeshift covers with tapulines etc to keep the worst off until the powder has had time to do its job.

So with a little luck, you can go ahead and get that driveway sorted and make use of the paving companies less busier times of the year. Remember, once the summer months approach, many paving companies will be booked solid so if you decide later to go ahead with a driveway quotation, you may have a very long wait indeed.

If you’d like find out how much it would cost you to have your driveway re-laid or extended or you’d like a new driveway installing, then just visit PavingQuoter.co.uk. Just type in a few basic dimensions of the size you’d like your drive to be and select either block or impressed (there’s even a tarmac option) and our clever online software will work out an approximate cost of the job there and then. No need for a paving contractor to call round – our online quotes are completely free, absolutely no obligation but we do promise to give you an instant online price guide and save you money.

Patio Perfection

Patio Perfection.

With spring well and truly here, thoughts inevitably turn to preparing the garden for summer. Whether you dream of lazy days on a sun lounger, or having fun with friends around the barbeque, a patio can act as a transition area between house and garden, creating an area to entertain, dine and relax. A patio can provide you with an attractive outdoor space, and with some well chosen accessories, it’s also an extra 'room' that can be enjoyed all year round.

In these times of uncertainty in the housing market, it is worth considering that a stylish patio can increase a home's value above and beyond the price of the patio itself, and unlike many home improvement projects, there is usually no need for planning permission. Here are the five essential stages to getting the most out of your investment:

Remember our new quoter website Pavingquoter can help you find local quotes and paving companies.

And if you're just looking for a Patio awning, our new Awningquoter can give you an instant online quote, without a salesman having to call.

Stage One – Time to call in the professionals?
The first thing to consider is whether to employ the services of a professional. You have a number of options here. Many landscape contractors will design, project manage and install your new patio, making it a relatively stress-free process. However, if you have very strong ideas on the look you would like to create, you may want to design and manage the patio yourself and then get the professionals in to do all the hard work! Of course, if you are competent at DIY you may decide to complete it all yourself, from design through to completion. However, remember that patios can be tricky to get right and are often very hard work, so this is not a decision to take lightly.

If you do decide to use a landscape contractor, it's best to rely on recommendations from family and friends, or to identify local companies that have been approved by The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) or The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) by using the search facilities on their websites. Try to get more than one quote (ideally three) for the work you want doing.

Stage Two – Making the best use of space
The obvious location for a patio is immediately outside the patio doors or the back door of the house. This way you have quick access to the kitchen when entertaining, and can easily keep an eye on children playing on the patio from the house. However, there are other considerations when deciding on the placement of your patio. Even if you're not a sun worshipper, it's a good idea to pick a sunny spot – after all, you can create shade, but you can't create sun. You could also consider using a spot that's sheltered from the wind, though it is always possible to create protection using shrubs, fencing, or perhaps a trellis screen.

You also need to think carefully about the size of your patio. What will you use the space for? If you're a fan of alfresco dining, think about how many people you want to be able to seat. As a minimum, a space of three metres square will allow enough space for a table and four chairs, while a bigger family or a couple who like to entertain will require a bigger space. However, be careful that your patio takes up no more than a quarter of your garden or it will dominate the space and make it appear smaller.

Stage Three – Choosing your materials
There are many materials to choose from when designing your patio, and there are several things to bear in mind. While gravel can be cheaper and easier to lay, furniture tends to sink into it and sit unevenly. While materials like brick, sandstone and slate are very attractive, they are also rather pricey, and non-porous materials can become very slippery when wet. Paving slabs are generally the most practical and affordable choice, and are now available in a whole range of colours and textures. It is a good idea to choose a colour that contrasts or complements the colour of the house, so if your house has light brickwork, choose dark materials for your patio and vice versa. However, when using light materials, do be mindful of glare. Also, darker slabs retain and radiate the heat of the day, creating a warm feeling well into the evening.

At this stage it is a good idea to consider which accessories will enhance the usability of this new space, so that you can work these into your budget. Your first purchase will inevitably be patio furniture, which is available in many different sizes, styles, shapes and materials.

There is also a wide range of patio heaters available, making your patio usable all year round. Fans of alfresco dining might like to invest in a state-of-the-art barbeque, while those who see their patio as a place to relax might like a water feature to be central to their design.

Stage Four – Preparing the ground
If you have decided to install the patio yourself, this part of the process is both the most important and the most difficult to get right. Many a patio has been ruined by uneven foundations! The first step is to mark out the area and remove turf, soil and stones to a depth of 15cm below the intended final height of the patio. Be aware that the level of the patio at the house wall must be at least 150mm below the damp proof course. This is usually visible as an extra wide line of mortar in the brickwork. Then put a layer of hardcore roughly seven centimetres deep, rake the entire area to ensure the material is evenly spread and use a wacker plate (these can be hired) to flatten out the area.

Next, use wooden pegs to mark the final height of the patio. Position several all over the patio site, using a spirit level to ensure they are all even. If you have chosen to build your patio next to the house, you must remember to include a slight gradient away from the building, so that rainwater runs off.

Stage Five – Installation and finishing off
Once the foundations are prepared you can lay your patio. Make a mortar mix of five parts building sand to one part cement. You could do the mixing in a wheelbarrow, but it's probably a good idea to hire a small cement mixer. Trowel five generous dabs of mortar on to the base and lay the first slab in place. If you have chosen to lay your patio up against the house, start against the wall. Tap the surface of the slab with a rubber mallet and check with a spirit level in both directions remembering to allow for the fall, using the string as a guide.

Continue to lay the remaining slabs in the same way, checking each slab with a spirit level as you go. Once you have laid several square metres, spread some mix on top and brush it into the joints. You may have to do this several times as the mix settles in. Laying a patio will take you several days, so with this in mind, at the end of each day wash down the slabs you've laid, making sure you remove any splattered mortar before it can harden and stain the paving. When the work is complete, you can sit back and admire a job well done!

Price Engines' new quoter website Pavingquoter can help you find local quotes and paving companies. And if you're just looking for a Patio awning, our new Awningquoter can give you an instant online awning quote, without a salesman having to call.

Keeping up with the Jones - Alfresco dining

Keeping up with Jones - Alfresco dining.

The garden is another room of your home and deserves the same attention to detail as your lounge, kitchen or bedroom. Patios provide a striking feature and are very versatile, allowing homeowners to relax in tranquillity or wine and dine with family and friends.

This month’s featured company is The Driveway Company, a driveway and patio specialist based in the West Midlands. For more information contact www.drivewaycompany.co.uk

Patios can be shaped to flow naturally through the garden creating a peaceful and relaxing environment. Clever designs will leave plenty of room for an array of plants, bushes and water features where you can sit and enjoy them.

Long gone are the days of pulling a dusty BBQ out of the shed. BBQ’s make a great patio feature and even though summer is over, there’s nothing better than a night time BBQ party – think about getting a patio heater or chiminea to keep everyone warm and toasty while they eat.

Consider colours, patterns and planting to make your patio stand out against a natural background and create the right atmosphere – in both summer and winter. This will add a new dimension to your garden, particularly during the next few dreary winter months.

If you’ve got a home to run and a family to sort out you probably haven’t got time to keep a garden with complicated planting schemes looking at its best. Patios are low maintenance and can still make a garden look interesting using a range of materials, colours and shapes flowing through different levels.

For an instant online paving quote, visit pavingquoter now.