CrossTeam Properties Offers Advice on Home and Garden Improvements

Having a designer radiator will be the perfect finishing touch to any new bathroom, and as well as providing an attractive feature they will also serve an essential practical purpose.

The vast range of options on the market will mean that there will be a designer radiator to suit nearly all bathrooms. Modern-style editions can come in some truly eccentric designs, such as mirror radiators, wave-designs and, ever popular with Scandinavian-style bathroom suites, bench radiators. However, easily the most common sight in most bathrooms and by far the most practical is the chrome towel rail, which is sure to look good in any modern setting.

But if a modern designer radiator is not going to suit the traditional style of the basin taps and shower cubicle in your bathroom, there will still be a wide range to choose from. Cast-iron column radiators are by far the most popular choice in this area and will also emit plenty of heat on cold winter mornings. Although these bathroom fittings might not necessarily complement the style which you are trying to create, a radiator with the right colour and a more basic finish will be able to fit into any bathroom.

However, not everyone has the luxury of being able to install a large designer radiator into their bathroom. And if you fall into this category, one well worth considering is a tube radiator that will fit neatly into any small corner, but can still provide plenty of heat to warm up the room.

Buying a property at a relatively low price, developing it, and selling it at a profit could possibly be worth the time and effort that you put into it. The more research and wise decisions you make at the beginning, the more likely that your development project will be successful.

There are different types of property development that you might think are suitable for a particular property. The easiest is to update and renovate a structurally sound building, which just needs a decorative facelift. As you’re not moving walls or pouring foundations for additional rooms, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to hire engineers and architects. If, however, you plan to convert a house into a number of different apartments, or to combine a building of apartments into a single-family dwelling, this is obviously much more complex. You may need to apply to the local authority for permission to do this, and your request might not be granted if the authority feels that it would negatively affect the rest of the neighbourhood.

Change of use is when you change a business premise into a residential dwelling, or to change a house to, say, a beauty parlour or restaurant. Again, you’ll need permission from the planning people to make sure you’re not destroying the character of the area. Most people who apply for a change of use for a property have the contract to purchase the building worded to say that only upon confirmation of the relevant permission will the deal go through. Only after permission is granted, will money actually change hands.

If you are planning to install underfloor heating then you may want to think about how much it will cost. The cost of underfloor heating will depend on the size of the room. Electric underfloor heating is not as expensive to run as conventional heating, but it may cost a little more if you are planning to use it as the only source of heat for the room and not just to warm the floor.

If you install underfloor heating in a house that is well insulated, the cost of running it will be very low. Thermostats also help you to keep the cost at a low level. Electric underfloor heating is best used in rooms with insulated floors, such as a conservatory, where you can have the floor as the main source of heat and still keep the cost low.

Electric underfloor heating is also maintenance free, meaning that you will not have to spend any extra money on repairs or replacements like you would do with radiators. Using underfloor heating also heats the floor first, with the lower part of the room becoming warmer, which is more cost effective than with radiators where the heat goes to the ceiling straight away.

Electric underfloor heating is more expensive to install than radiators, so bear this in mind when it comes to choosing your heating mehod. However, the many advantages to underfloor heating allows it to be much more cost effective than conventional heating, so you will not have to worry about it being too expensive to run.

How crucial lights are to the overall feel and look of any home cannot be overstated. While one may have decorated and designed the rooms with due care and taste, you will still find that lighting ultimately contributes in how a room looks more attractive.

Different kinds of lights are available like floor lights, down lighters, reading lamps, hanging lamps, table lights, recessed lighting, wall lights and chandeliers, it is important to find the best lighting option possible.

Generally these lights are utilised in three ways. These provide light for carrying out specific tasks such as sewing, cooking and reading. Usually the kinds of lights that are typically called under unit lights need to be brighter.

Lamps even offer ambient light to the rooms so that the people can easily move and see objects in that room. Ambient lights create moods for any room. Such lighting does not require being too bright like the under unit lighting. Also, the lamps can be utilised for drawing attention to some object or area. These lamps are known as the accent lamps.

Table lamps are highly admired and demanded by people due to the feature that they are greatly portable. These lamps can easily function as ambient lighting, under unit lighting and even accent lamps with great ease. They can even be utilised to add some touch of attractive flair when the lamps are not being used.

In addition, floor lights serve to be a good source of ambient lighting and may double up as accent lamps. These lamps can light particular tasks, if needed. They are available in a huge plethora of sizes, styles and brand. The crucial thing worth considering when choosing a floor lamp is the place where it will be located, the kind of lighting it will offer and the total space it will actually take up.

Installing a shower enclosure in your bathroom is rarely going to come cheap, but if you do some shopping around and a little research into fitting shower cubicles you could save a substantial amount.

Of course, the most basic designs come recommended for anyone on a budget and, if you are able to provide the space for a standard size shower tray (usually measuring around 100cm¬2), this will also help reduce the cost. Square shower trays are easily the best option and will also be easier to fit, therefore also reducing labour costs.

Both square and rectangular shower trays can be fitted with a standard open-and-close door, whereas curved trays will come fitted with a curved frame and door which could add more to the cost. Square shower trays usually measure between 75cm2 and 120cm2, but if you are stuck for room in your bathroom, another option well worth considering is a pentangle shape, which is not only able to fit into a tight corner, but can also be fitted with a regular open-and-close door. This is easily the best option if you are trying to fit your shower enclosure between the toilet and bathroom sink, and will also add a touch of style to your suite.

Also recommended is to install your shower enclosure close to the existing pipe work, as there could be increased fitting costs if the job takes more time than usual. Power-showers and heads will also vary in price and a bit and shopping around is sure to help you stick to your budget.

If you are planning on purchasing a ready-made gazebo think twice; you might find it is much better to create your own garden gazebo. Follow these simple steps and you may be surprised by where your creativity and resourcefulness can take your gazebo.

First, measure the area in the garden where you would like to place the gazebo. The size will depend on your planned use of the gazebo. If it is for personal use alone requiring only a small table and chairs to fit, there’s no need for a bigger size.

Second, level the location you chose. Most likely, you will need to remove sod or rocks in the area. You must also rake and smooth it several times. The smoother the area is, the easier it is to build the gazebo.

Now for the hard part; dig the holes for your support posts, at least two feet in depth. Normally, at least six holes are needed. These must be placed in a hexagon shape, three feet ten inches apart from each other.

The support posts must be eight feet or more in length. For more stability, you should fill the holes with concrete. The next step is to add the sides. Use five pre-formed plastic trellis sheets. These come in different colours, so you can choose the colour that suits you best. Leave one side open to serve as a door. Then attach the remaining sheets to the support posts.

As for the roof, place three 2×2s at the top of the support posts to form a frame in the centre. Customise the floor with layers of sand or flagstones. Put in a bench and table. Now relax in your own personalised gazebo.

It would be fair to say that the majority of people fitting en-suite bathrooms have not got much room to play with. Most semi-detached homes will have limited space for an en-suite and you may be surprised how much space even the smallest of layouts can actually use.

The most important factor when designing your en-suite bathroom is economy of size. Fortunately there are many bathroom sinks, toilets and shower cubicles on the market that will make designing the layout of your en-suite a lot easier.

For your shower cubicle, a curved fronted shower tray and sliding door will be the best option. These convenient and space-friendly bathroom instalments will free up the extra area taken up by swinging-door cubicles and also add a nice curved design to your shower. Naturally, the shower tray would fit into the corner, against both walls. There is a wide range of bathroom sinks that can also be fitted into a corner of the room, but you will find that the majority of options available will be quite small.

However, as much as you think you may have free reign over the layout of your en-suite bathroom, where the pipe work is located will be the main deciding factor over where each unit is placed. Toilets should be put on an external wall, or as close to the main waste system as possible, while shower cubicles and bathroom sinks will be slightly easier to place, especially if you are confined to a small area.

Due to its easy installation and modern design, laminated flooring has become a popular type of flooring in the home.  Although a laminated floor provides more warmth than other types of flooring, such as tile, installing some electric underfloor heating is still a good idea.

Heating mats are an ideal option for laminated flooring.  These often come as part of heating packs, and include a thermostat and installation instructions. Heating mats are the best option for those looking for a type of underfloor heating that is easy to install.

There are laminate floors that can be used alongside water floor heating, although extra care needs to be taken if you opt for this type of underfloor heating.  The temperature for water floor heating must be kept at a particular level when using it with laminate flooring.  The water tubes must also be installed a certain distance away from the surface.  Guidelines for temperatures are usually provided with the installation instructions.

Another option for laminate floor heating is heating film.  Heating film is ideal for laminate flooring as it provides a soft heat and is maintenance free. It is easy to install, although an electrician may be needed to make any final electrical connections.  Since heating film provides a low temperature, it may be a better option than water floor heating given that you must be careful not to exceed a certain temperature.  This makes heating film one of safest and most ideal options for laminate flooring. 

Do it yourself projects can be a lot of hard work. This may be rewarding but it is important to never lose track of finances and to make sure that they have been estimated correctly. This can be done by following a few steps.

Step One
It is important to think through any project fully. It will be worth making notes so that the cost of all DIY materials and tools can be accounted for. This will allow an estimated financial figure to emerge.

Step Two
Make two lists for tools. One will be for all of the tools that you already have and the other will be for tools needed. These can either then be purchased or hired and will give you the time to research the cheapest options.

Step Three
Make a third list that will detail all of the fixtures and fittings that will be needed for the project. This will save time on a visit to the hardware store and staff will be able to advise on the most cost effective methods.

Step Four
Make a final list that will be or all other materials or services needed. This list will include things such as the cost of hiring a skip or an electrician. This again will allow an estimated figure to emerge.

Step Five
The final step is to tally up all of the figures and create a project fee. This can then be adapted and changed and will allow you to see how much a total piece of work will cost to do it yourself.

There are many factors you will need to take into consideration when choosing the right shower cubicle for your bathroom suite. Of course, size is always the main issue, but fortunately there are many different options on the market and you are sure to find the right one to meet your needs.

Corner units are easily the more popular choice for people stuck for space. As well as taking up less floor area, another convenient feature of this type of shower cubicle is that its curved face will allow for sliding doors, leaving more room in your bathroom. However, if you are paying someone to install your shower, the extra work involved in installing these units will undoubtedly come at a cost.

The wide range of designs means there will always be an option to suit the rest of your bathroom fittings and furniture. Of course, you will find that the majority of choice will cater for more modern-style bathrooms, but there are more simple and authentic-looking designs that will be ideal for a traditional bathroom. The swinging-door shower cubicle is probably the most common and if you have the room, will be the most hassle-free solution. They can also be fitted to the wall or ceiling.

Frosted glass is also a familiar sight with the latest modern cubicles and can add a touch of class to your new bathroom suite. Of course choosing the style that is most in-demand is not going to come cheap and the higher-end of shower cubicles on offer can reach prices of up to £1000.