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Scarification is the name given to the process where you remove excess thatch and moss from your lawn to encourage it to grow and look healthy. Although it sounds difficult, it’s actually pretty easy – simply grab a sturdy rake and apply moderate pressure to rake out moss, thatch and dead grass. Then collect it up and add to your compost heap if you have one. You can also use a petrol or electric rake, but you just want to tease out the moss and thatch. Don’t be tempted to go deep into the grass, as this could damage your lawn. So when should you scarify your lawn? The experts say that the best time is in the autumn, when the grass is actively growing and it’s not too hot, cold or dry. Most of summer’s weed seeds will have gone, so you won’t encourage weeds to grow in the raked-up soil. This soil also makes an ideal seed bed for over seeding with new grass seed, so that’s why you don’t want to get weeds in there as well. However, you may also carry out light scarification in the spring – usually around April. Make sure you don’t go too far though – as you will end up with a rather disfigured lawn if you scarify too heavily and the dryness of summer stops the lawn from recovering. It’s also best to scarify your lawn in the spring if the following apply:

• If you couldn’t do it the previous autumn – if you keep putting it off, you might end up with extreme moss and weed growth
• If your lawn is shaded – these areas will thin over winter and start to thicken from spring onwards, so if you scarify in the autumn you’ll make your lawn even thinner.
• If your lawn is under trees – pair the shade from the trees with the fall of leaves in the autumn and your grass won’t be healthy, but in the spring the trees are bare, allowing lots of light onto your lawn to help it grow.

In 2002 the Government amended Building Regulations governing the replacement and installation of glazing units. For the first time, windows had to meet energy efficiency standards and tough thermal performance levels. For new window units you must have efficiency ratings of at least a level C.

If you’ve decided to construct a porch to your property and now looking to figure out the cost required to complete the project, then you’re at the right place!

There are many factors that comes to play when determining the price of building a porch. These factors includes the size of the porch, the number of windows, the style of the roof as well as the type of the porch selected. Now let’s take a look at these factors one after the other.

• The Porch’s Size

As you would have correctly imagined, a large porch will definitely cost more money than a smaller one. A rough estimate of a porch’s cost per square metre is approximately £1,400.

• The Number Of Windows

Just like in the scenario above, the more the number of windows to be incorporated, the more money you’ll have to pay to complete your porch. A porch window will generally cost you within a range of £300 to £1,000

• The Style Of The Roof

There are two popular styles of porch’s roof which includes a tiled rood and a rubber flat roof. Generally, roof tiles are costlier than a rubber flat roof. A tiled roof would cost you between £0.80 to £1.80 per roof tile, while a rubber roofing will cost your between £70 to £90 per metre squared.

• Type Of The Porch

Another huge determinant of a porch’s price is type of material incorporated. For instance, if your preferred type is a lean-to, the price of a uPVC would be between £2,300 to £2,700. Meanwhile, a flat gable roof porch should cost within a range of £3,300 to £3,800.

Kindly note that the costs quoted in this article are only rough estimates, for a more accurate estimate you can contact a porch building professional within your local area.

Quantity surveyors are professionals trained in the management of all costs that’s associated with building and civil engineering projects. Typically, their works is both site and office-based with the main goal of minimizing expenses and also to keep them within the set limits of a budget. What’s more? They aim to achieve all these without having to compromise on the quality of the outcomes and while also complying with the building, health as well as safety regulations. Quantity surveyors also take part in projects and work hand in hand with clients or contractors right from the start - preparing detailed project estimates. They also work to gather tender and contract documentation, carry out feasibility studies and see to the implementation of risk control. Upon the commencement of a building project, quantity surveyors carefully monitors any variations which may result in cost fluctuations.

Quantity surveyors will, over the course of the project, undertake key tasks such as outcome analysis, work evaluation as well as progress reports. However, it’s also very common for surveyors to carry on extra responsibilities which includes allocation works to subcontractors, ordering of construction materials as well as seeing to the arrangement of payments. Generally, the list of what they can handle can be limitless, it all depends on the project as well as the employer.

From the above, you may presume that quantity surveyors are only involved in large construction projects, but this is actually not the case. Asides working with local authorities, commercial businesses, consultancies as well as property developers, quantity surveyors also offer their services to both residential clients and small business owners. They’re very flexible and can capitalize on many different services like providing an initial maintenance schedule for Strata managers and more.

How Much Does A Handyman Charge Per Hour?

Do you need the professional services of a handyman? If yes, then you’d probably like to know the hourly rate a handyman charges in order to set a budget and make the necessary plans. Here, we’ll discuss the amount charged by handymen per hour and reason for the differences.

The fact is, there’s no accurate or single answer for all handymen as the project varies and the handyman mostly charges based on the type of work to be done. However, there are also other handyman pricing strategies which includes project pricing. When you’re being charged based on the tasks involved, you should ensure to ask the handyman for possible discount as several handymen will offer a considerable discount for bulk projects or tasks that can be completed on after the other. If the task is a small, one-off job then you’re likely to pay a minimum charge fee which would usually be higher when compared to the task being part of a larger project. Consequently, the first one hour of a handyman’s service will usually attract a premium, while the charges for remaining hours after the first will be a smaller charge. This is mainly due to the fact that a handyman will need to travel to deliver a service and it’s generally going to be a lot more economical to arrive on the site and take on a couple of tasks sequentially.

Moving forward, you should be aware that there’s an economy in sticking to one handyman. Handymen usually charge less to repay clients for their loyalty as they’d already have an idea of the client’s projects and needs which makes the job a lot easier. However, generally a handyman will charge within the range of £20 to £30 per hour.

Do you want to install a new patio? If yes, then on top of the agenda will definitely be the cost of paving slabs. However providing a single and accurate estimate to the cost of your new patio is almost impossible as there are many factors that can influence what the price would be. These factors include the size of the area, the choice of stone, installations and lots more.

To get a more accurate estimate of your cost there’s is the need to look at some factors before calculation. These includes envisioning your patio as well as putting the drainage in mind. Firstly, you’ll need to decide where you want your patio to be - this should include considering whether you’ll get enough privacy sitting on your patio and more. If you’re able to identify where to put your patio, you’ll be able to have a clearer idea of the potential shape and size of the patio. Secondly, there’s a need to consider the drainage because failure to provide adequate drainage will only result in storing of water which leads to a development of algae or vegetation across your patio.

The material you opt for is also a huge determinant of your patio’s cost. When it comes to paving slabs you’ll only get what you pay for. Deciding to go for cheaper paving slabs will most likely lead to frequent staining, slippery surface, tough maintenance as well as constant cracking. Consequently, the act of cutting back on the cost of paving slabs will only you cost you more money in the long run. What’s more? If you have an existing patio you’d like to replace, then you’d probably need to include the cost of removing the existing one.

Basically, what a tv aerial does is simply to receive broadcasted tv signals from the television station, then transmit those vibrations directly to your screen. Just like any other antenna, the tv aerial is made of metal. How exactly does it work?

The small electrical currents present in the antenna is induced by the electromagnetic waves transmitting tv signals. The tv set then acts as an amplifier to the signal and chooses the information which carries the sound as well as vision. The tv aerials are also commonly referred to as “yagi arrays by engineers. The metal plates present at the far end of the array directs the signal back down its length. Meanwhile, the parallel rod-like structures which run along the aerial’s length are designed and spaced to improve the strength of the signal.

Generally, aerials are divided into two categories – indoor and outdoor. Indoor antennas are the types located on top of your tv set or next to it, while outdoor antennas are installed on top of your building and exposed to the elements. Most times, the type of aerial you’ll require will be determined by the location of your house. For fringe or rural areas which are far from the transmission stations and likely to be blocked by natural obstructions like trees and hills, outdoor antennas are more suitable.

The performance or effectiveness of your TV aerial can be affected by a couple of things. Firstly, it can be unaligned by poor weather which will affect the signal received and interfere with the picture quality of the TV. Secondly, the TV aerial cable can also become faulty or disconnected. This is mostly the case when you get a “no signal message on your TV screen.

Being one of the most used and important rooms in any house, the bathroom should be looking its best every single time. We make use of it on a daily basis to maintain hygiene and health and also to get ready every morning. Truth is, it may be a relatively small space, but the bathroom has a significant impact on our everyday life. As a result, we should make an effort to make the bathroom as appealing as possible, so we get to enjoy it even better. If you’re wondering how to decorate your bathroom, then you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’re going to give you some tips to make your bathroom look its possible best. Let’s take a look!

• Air purifying plants. You can decorate your bathroom while also keeping it fresh with a small indoor plant. Plants that fits this environment with high humidity are air purifying or aromatic plants.
• Smart organizers. By using a few baskets and trays to organize your supplies and toiletries, you can keep your bathroom looking very neat and tidy.
• Kaleidoscope wallpaper. You can inject a new lease of life into your bathroom space with some of this type of wallpapers. Not only will it add the much needed fun element, but it’ll also make the space a lot more attractive.
• Metallic embellishments. To give your space some sort of modern appearance, simple add some gold, copper and neutral shades to it. Some geometric shapes and lines will give it a real modern vibe.
• Unique framed art. Make use of some unique framed art to add an artistic touch to your bathroom space.