Here at Arcadia Builders our experienced team provide specialist services such as bathroom renovations in Richmond and across the North East. When you are working with a room that has many different pipes such as a bathroom, it can be quite the challenge to refurbish it but often the outcome can be pretty special, and you are left with an amazing bathroom that you are very proud of. It’s common that when people begin bathroom renovations that they all encounter similar issues. In this blog we are going to explore and explain these mistakes so that you can avoid them.

Planning enough room for storage

Storage is vital in any property and the majority of rooms. People quite often think, do I really need storage in the bathroom? Well, our answer is yes! There are your cleaning products which you can store away, toiletries and spare products too. It’s better to have too much storage rather than not enough. Plus, with the right creative ideas, you will be able to create storage for other items such as towel racks.

Creating a budget

You won’t have a bathroom you love without a budget, and this is one of the most common mistakes. People don’t allow for their bathroom renovation within their budget and then feel disappointed that it could not be completed to a standard as high as the rest of the property. You need to know what you will be replacing, what you need to purchase and any other items you would like to add such as mirrors etc. Don’t forget about your subcontractors either. They will play a huge part in completing your bathroom and having it finished to a high standard.

Plus, you need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. It’s likely that it won’t happen but on the chance that it does you need to be ready for replacing a pipe you didn’t think was going to be a problem or purchasing an extra few tiles as they smashed. Be prepared for all eventualities.

Repair or replace?

Which would you rather do? In some circumstances replacing an item completely will be cheaper that repairing it so always have that thought in mind. On the other hand, if it’s not completely broken and can be easily fixed, what’s stopping you! If it’s going to save you money by not having to replace the sink for example, keep the original one in place. You can do other things to modernise it such add new taps and colours around the bathroom.

As trusted builders, we can help you to create the perfect home, from concept to completion. We specialise in kitchens, new builds, extensions, garden rooms, conversions and bathroom renovations in Richmond and across the North East. To speak to our team, call 01748 5299700 and we can help your dream come true and create the perfect property for you.

As professional Builders in Darlington and across the North East, we need to keep up to date with the latest building regulations. From 2022 new homes will need to produce less carbon emissions, around 30% less to what they are currently producing. This is part of an update to the new Building Regulations. These significant changes have been put in place to uplift all existing energy efficiency standards. These Building Regulations are five new approved documents including uplifts to Part L, fuel and power, and Part F, ventilation which will both take effect from 15^th June 2022. Are you prepared for the changes? They will have the biggest impact on new and existing homes.

What Has Been Announced?

There has been a direct £6.6 billon investment for improving energy efficiency of buildings and the changes will impact both new and existing homes across the UK. The changes for new homes…

• 30% cut on emissions from new homes as well as a 27% for any new commercial premises such as offices and shops
• There has been a new building regulation and the new approved Document O has been set to mitigate the risk of overheating any homes
• New homes will pick up the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards and measure energy efficiency
• There will be a maximum flow temperature requirement of 55% for new and replacement heating systems (as stated in Part L)
• There is a new appendix in Part L which outlines a good practice specification for any home built with a heat pump

For existing homes…

• Extensions to Part L & Part F of the new Building Regulations have set new minimum standards for fabric efficiency
• There will be a new requirement for all new replacement heating system designs that will accept low carbon heating

The transition period will begin in June 2022 and the new rules and regulations will come into effect. It is starting at the later date to allow for any planning applications that are currently underway.

Our expert team of builders in Darlington can help you to improve your home with a new kitchen, extension, renovation, conversion or even build you a BRAND NEW house! Contact us today on 01748 529700 or email enquiries@arcadiabuilders.co.uk.

Sweater weather is very nearly here so it is important to start preparing for the autumnal months. As much as we need to prepare ourselves, we also need to prepare our home to ensure that the different seasons don’t have an effect on what we can do. When having your own home there are lots of preparations that you may not have thought about. As experienced builders in Northallerton, we can provide you with our tips for preparing your home.

Check Your Gutters

It’s no secret that leaves can cause problems. As much as they create a beautiful, crunchy carpet outside they can also have an impact on how businesses operate and our drains. If your gutters become full of leaves and we experience heavy downpours, the British weather is unpredictable, you could end up with a blocked drain. Gutters and drains allow thousands of gallons of water to pass through them yearly so they could do with some TLC. If they become clogged up, you could damage the interior of your home with damp patches or floods.

Move Your Outdoor Furniture

It is so lovely to spend time outdoors in the summer months and enjoy our outdoor furniture, however during the colder months you don’t want to ruin your furniture. Bring it inside, store it in your garage so that it is in a sheltered, dry place. You spent money buying the furniture and took time to build it so don’t let it be ruined. If you don’t have enough space to store the furniture some place dry, you can purchase a waterproof cover that will protect the material during all kinds of weather storms.

Stop The Drafts

Autumn and winter are a cold enough time of the year, so if you have drafts coming from under the doors or windows, now is the time to block these up so you can keep warm all year. Heat loss through windows is responsible for around 25% of heating energy use. One way to check if there is a draft issue in your home is to close a window or door on a piece of paper and if it can slide through you will need to have to take a closer look at what the issue is.

Don’t delay it any longer, prepare your home for autumn! Our expert team of builders in Northallerton can help you to improve your home with a new kitchen, extension, renovation, conversion or even build you a BRAND NEW house! Contact us today on 01748 529700 or email enquiries@arcadiabuilders.co.uk.