ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

A family of 4 releases on average 12 liters of water in the air. The rate of moisture is very important in a home. Too high, it can be a destructive factor for your health and your home. In addition to problems respiratory infections and degrade wall coverings, moisture encourages the growth of bacteria novices on the environment. So it is very important to perform regular checks for the prevention of prevents & its appearance.

Why it is important to check the moisture rate in your home?
A significant presence of moisture is needed in all healthy homes. An average of 30% and 40% humidity in the air is good in the interior of house, Below or above might be problematic. That is why today the standards in new homes are regulated and define those needs to ensure good air ventilation. But sometimes the mere presence of people is enough to raise the moisture content. For example, a family of 4 releases on average 12 liters of water in the air. This amount may increase depending on the activities like Households, showers, dishes, bathroom. sometimes climb rate to 80%. Good ventilation  system in the house can overcome to surplus moisture.

4 steps to optimize ventilation for a healthy indoor.

• Treat damp rooms by maintaining it regularly.
• Do not block the vents of ventilation ducts.
• Always allow 2 inch gap for air circulation.
• Do not turn off the electrical ventilation system.

checks  for proper ventilation in the house.
Insulating your home is good for the optimum performance of heating & cooling system of the house. But a poor  insulation work might prevent air circulation in your home, which promotes rising humidity. Always choose industry experts to for home insulation. If moist air did not escape, the water collects. A glaring example: a very modern detached house offers nearly 10 hours to renew its air, then an old house or less isolated about 1 hour. - Ventilate your home every day at least 5 minutes, taking care to turn your radiator and after all activities that cause moisture load as a bath or cleaning. - Check the sealing barrier in your home. Everything that surrounds your house or come into contact with moisture should be regularly maintained. Roofs, walls, cracks, masonry joints should be checked. Frost, wind, sun or heavy rains can damage the surfaces often requested. - Check capillary rise. This phenomenon comes from up welling from the ground. They relate mainly to the ground pavement. This rise can be caused by a diversion of the water system, too steep terrain, poor water drainage …

I love exploring small rural villages, and particularly enjoy looking at the pretty traditional properties in them, such as thatch-roof cottages. I’ve always dreamt of living in this type of home, but I know there’s a lot to think about before snapping one up. For a start, they can be costly to maintain. There are a few problems that can occur with thatch roofs – just as you’d expect from a normal one – but you’ll find these issues are not as obvious as a missing slate.

The straw laid down on top of a house tends to begin the rotting process straight away, and while it can take years for it to turn into a serious problem, it’s something to be aware of. If you want your roof to look perfect all of the time, you might find you require a professional tradesman to come round once a year to keep on top of maintenance.
This is a cost you should keep in mind before buying a thatch-roof property. Some councils will provide a re-thatching grant to residents help maintain the traditional look of the area, but others may not, so make sure you factor in the on-going price of repair work before parting with your deposit.

When looking out for rot, the most obvious sign is light patches coming through the darker exterior, along with clumps and cracks forming. You might be happy to let this process continue for a little longer into the lifespan of the straw, rather than having to fork out for repairs on a regular basis. While there’s nothing wrong with this, I think I’d need to stay on top of things more frequently, as I’d want my thatch roof looking its best at all times. If you want an extremely durable thatch roof, water reed is a good bet, as this can last from 30 years upwards. Ridges has the shortest lifespan, at around ten years, while you can also choose to have your roof thatched with longstraw and combed wheat.

However, as good as your intentions might be at keeping on top of rot, you should also keep in mind the risk wildlife poses. Rats and birds are known to destroy thatch roofs, so be prepared to do weekly inspections to prevent the problem spiralling out of control (you’ll need to look for clumps of straw and holes close to one another). It’s also important to find a cheap deal for thatched property insurance, as you’ll find standard polices will not cover your home. This is for many reasons, although the main one is that in the incident of a fire, the flames will spread a lot quicker than in a standard property.

I don’t want to scare you into thinking thatch roofs come with a greater fire risk, though. This type of home is not any more likely to suffer from a blaze, but rather there is the potential for greater damage due to the roof being made from straw. My final piece of advice for those of you who are considering buying a thatch property is that a lot of them are also listed under English Heritage. If you want to make changes to the exterior, including adding new windows and doors, you’ll require permission before going ahead with the work.
If you own a thatch-roof home, what top tips do you have for potential buyers who are considering following in your footsteps?

Whether you’re planning a large three storey renovation or a simple extension, conducting a survey will provide you with the vital information needed to ensure your project is a success. Here we’ve outlined some of the most common surveys used in construction projects across the globe.

Property Survey
When we hear the word “survey” the thought of complicated drawings and extensive investigatory tasks immediately spring to mind. However, a property survey is a simple sketch or map of your home which presents its boundaries and other physical features.

Residential property surveys are used to show the location of the house, garage, shed, pool, fence and/or any other features on your land. This helps you plan and complete the renovation task at hand with ease. Property surveys are often required by law when the home’s ownership changes. It is therefore a good idea to enlist the help of a professional, experienced surveyor to ensure the correct information is recorded.

Measured Building Survey
Measured building surveys are ideal for larger, more extensive renovation projects as they provide a detailed, colour drawing of your floor plans, elevations and 3D models.

Depending on the task at hand, expert surveyors can use laser scanning technology to quickly and accurately produce a 3D model of any structure. Elevations will provide an outline of all your home’s external features. If required, they can show full brick-by-brick detailing when history records are needed.

Floor plans are standard in many surveys as they provide you or your building contractor with handy information such as net and gross internal areas and accurate positioning of windows, doors and any other structural elements. Detailed versions can include additional information such as power outlets, switches, lights and radiators.

Homebuyers Survey and Valuation
Homebuyer surveys should be conducted if you’re thinking of buying or selling a property. They provide a general snapshot of the home to identify which areas need work or more specific investigation. A general HSV will include tasks such as the assessment of major and minor faults, assessment and reporting of damp areas, woodworm, insulation and drainage issues, recommendations for any further surveys, and the surveyor’s valuation of the property on the open market.

Asbestos Survey
These are generally conducted on older builders before any kind of remodelling, renovation, repair or demolition project. The specialist survey ensures all property structures are asbestos free. Your surveyor will then provide you with a report which outlines a detailed notification of the investigation and findings.

Surveys provide an all over all health check for your home and reveal the property’s exact structural state. SUMO Services are professional surveyors providing a wide range of surveys to suit your property and your project. The well established company delivers top quality surveys which you and your builder can rely on.

Toying with the idea of purchasing a conservatory? But can’t make your mind up whether they’re for you or not? With the right conservatory, you really can’t go wrong. They bring a countless number of benefits. A worthwhile addition to the home, purchase a conservatory and it could well be one of the best investments you will ever make. Here are just some of the wonderful benefits a conservatory can bring…

Benefits of owning a conservatory

• A conservatory will instantly give you more living space. You could either use your conservatory as an extra room – or to increase the size of one of your rooms – say the kitchen or dining area.
• If it’s more space you’re after – and you’ve actually considered moving to a larger property because of it – hang fire. A conservatory can actually work out a lot cheaper than moving home – so this is an option definitely worth considering.
• When compared to a standard extension to the home, a conservatory can work out a lot more affordable.
• If you’ve got quite a lot of land you don’t use, then a conservatory is one of the best ways you can make use of this otherwise wasted space.
• Enabling you to sit with your garden in full view, with a conservatory you can enjoy your garden all year round – whatever the weather.
• If you have a family – and toys and games are just about everywhere you turn – then a conservatory can come to the rescue by giving you an area of the house in which you can relax and unwind in. They offer the perfect escapism. Alternatively, pop all your children’s toys and games in the conservatory – and make the rest of your house a toy free zone. Conservatories can make great playrooms.
• Owning a conservatory will give you more space when it comes to entertaining your guests and visitors. It’ll make a really nice change from sitting in the lounge
• Conservatories make for the perfect summer time retreat. Featuring large window areas, conservatories allow lots of sunlight to pour in, making it a really pleasant room to sit in on a sunny day
• Conservatories can even used as a greenhouse. From seedlings and cuttings through to tomato plants and lemon trees, a conservatory provides the perfect environment to grow plants in, if the above benefits aren’t enough, a conservatory can also significantly increase the value of your home

So if you are in need of that extra space – and have enough land space to do so – then add a conservatory to your home – you’ll treasure the day you did. With a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from, If you want to know the prices you can Request Brochure from Philip Woods. you’ll soon find the conservatory a perfect outdoor living space for your home.



If you have a big DIY project at home that needs to be started, you’re going to need to be equipped with the right tools for the job. Here is a quick list to help you save a little cash when heading down to your DIY store.

Make a list
Before you head to the store, make sure you take the time to sit down and work out exactly what you need. This will greatly reduce your number of trips to the shop, as well as curbing your temptation to be seduced into buy something you probably don’t need.

Colour match
Always make sure you take colour samples with you when heading to the shop for any decorating or DIY supplies. This way, you will always get a match that is perfect rather than a guestimate. You will save time and money if you head to the shops prepared.

Shop mid-week
Unless necessary, avoid shopping for supplies at the weekends – the aisles will be full of stray children and the shops are less likely to have exactly what you want. Head out on your shopping trip mid week to avoid the crowds for better service and a stress-free shopping experience.

Try online
If your project isn’t urgent and you have a clear idea of exactly what you need, scour the internet for cheap deals. Keep an eye out for special offers, such as free returns, just in case you’re disappointed by what turns up in the post. It’s also worth remembering that price comparison sites are not only useful for finding buildings insurance, but can be useful when shopping for supplies too.

Hire
If you need a tool that you’ll probably never use again, or is a little more expensive than you’d like to shell out for, simply hire the tool. DIY stores usually hire out their tools for a fee, but friends who are DIY inclined are likely to lend them to you for free.

Measure
Take measurements of any spaces before you step out of the door and keep a measuring tape in your back pocket. This will save you the hassle of getting something home and realising it won’t fit in the space you want it to live in.

It’s fair to say that premiums rise every year because companies that offer home or household insurance are trying to keep up with the ever-increasing cost of claims and continue to make a profit.  You might think, therefore, that insurance companies would also try to minimise their pay-outs and maximise their profits by rejecting as many claims as possible.

Actually, that’s not the case.  Insurance companies estimate how many claims they are likely to receive in a given year, based on previous years’ claims, and calculate the premiums on that basis – they are assuming that they will be paying out claims rather than rejecting them and will still be making a profit.  There are so many insurance companies out there that it’s really a buyer’s market – and a company that gets a reputation as a poor payer won’t get much repeat business from existing customers, or new customers through word-of-mouth.

However, there will be occasions when an insurance company won’t pay out for a claim against buildings or content insurance policies.  Every insurance company has standard terms and conditions and these are really worth reading before you take out a policy.  For example, a company might routinely exclude any claims due to flooding – not ideal if you live on the bank of a river.  If your claim falls under a standard exclusion clause the company won’t pay out. Similarly, if you have omitted some information or answered one of their questions incorrectly when applying for the policy, when you submit a claim the company might well discover that you haven’t given them all the facts and might refuse to pay out for that reason.  For example, if you’ve said you have mortis locks on all your doors and windows and burglars break in through the tiny window at the side of your house which has no lock, the insurers could refuse to pay out.

Some insurers will refuse to pay if any information was incorrect whilst others will only refuse to settle a claim if the faulty or missing information is pertinent or relevant to the claim.  So if you didn’t mention the small window without the lock, some companies won’t pay out even if the claim is for a broken roof, whilst others would pay out as the lock wasn’t a factor in the damage being caused. Check your policy for details of the cover provided.  If your contents insurance limit is £50,000 and your contents are actually worth £100,000, a claim for a broken shower unit that is worth £800 might only receive a pay-out of £400 to repair or replace it.

If you’re not happy with a decision made by your insurance provider about a claim, you’d need to go through their complaints procedure first, and if you’re still not happy then you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which firstly looks at the bare facts and suggests a compromise solution and then, if either party is unhappy, investigates further and provides recommendations.  If that doesn’t resolve it, the Ombudsman makes a final decision.