British bedrooms were not always designed with long, hot spells in mind. Loft rooms, top-floor flats, south-facing bedrooms and modern homes with large windows can hold onto heat long after the sun goes down. A fan may move warm air around, but it cannot lower the room temperature in the same way as a properly [...]
A driveway that worked for one small car can become frustrating when a household changes vehicles, adds a second car or needs easier access for children and passengers. Widening the existing tarmac may provide extra parking and make daily manoeuvring less awkward without replacing the whole front garden. However, driveway widening involves more than laying [...]
Asbestos can be found in many older UK homes, particularly properties built or refurbished before the year 2000. It was used in a wide range of building products because it was strong, heat resistant and useful for insulation and fire protection. As a result, asbestos-containing materials can turn up in places that many homeowners would [...]
Not every paving slab is suitable for a driveway. This is one of the most important things to understand before choosing a new front-garden surface. A slab that performs perfectly well on a patio may crack, rock or break when repeatedly driven over by cars. Driveway paving needs to withstand much greater forces than ordinary [...]
A small front garden does not automatically mean there is not enough room for a useful driveway. With careful planning, many compact spaces can accommodate one car while still leaving room for a path, bins, planting and access to the front door. In some cases, an awkward existing driveway can also be redesigned to make [...]
Sun tunnels need relatively little maintenance once an installer has fitted them correctly. Unlike opening roof windows, they have few moving parts and do not need regular lubrication, adjustment or repainting. However, they still form part of the roof, so homeowners should inspect them occasionally and deal with small problems before they lead to leaks, [...]
Chimneys remain a familiar feature of homes across the UK. They are particularly common on Victorian terraces, Edwardian houses, cottages and properties built before central heating became standard. However, many of these chimneys no longer serve their original purpose. The fireplace may have been blocked up decades ago, while the chimney breast still takes up [...]
A leaking shed roof does not always need a complete replacement. Where the damage is small and the timber underneath remains sound, a repair kit may provide a practical and affordable solution. UK homeowners can buy kits for traditional roofing felt, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and corrugated roof sheets. Some contain only a patch and [...]
Roofing problems often need attention quickly. A leak may be spreading across a ceiling, tiles may have come loose in a storm or water may be entering around a chimney. Unfortunately, urgency can make homeowners easier targets for dishonest or poorly skilled roofers. A cowboy roofer may exaggerate the problem, recommend unnecessary work, demand a [...]
Moss is a common sight on roofs across the UK. Our damp climate, regular rainfall and long periods of cloud cover create ideal conditions for it to grow, particularly on shaded roof slopes. A small amount of moss may not cause an immediate problem. However, thick moss growth can hold moisture against the roof covering, [...]