If you are considering installing Underfloor Heating and looking for the best possible information and its suitability for your property. Then you will be delighted to know that Excelsior Information Systems (the owner of UK Home Ideas) has now launched www.AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk.

The website offers a wealth of in depth information, to provide solutions to your queries, so that you are not only well equipped to select the best system for your property, but also to achieve the best deal for this very significant

Once you start doing research on the web, you’re likely to discover, as Excelsior did, that there is very little independent first-class information and advice on the subject out there.

Most sites belong to product manufacturers, trade bodies or other organisations with an agenda to promote.
So Excelsior embarked on a mission to generate the finest underfloor heating website in the UK, to provide an independent source of information for the underfloor heating buyer – and AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk is the result.

Quenton Fyfe, Excelsior’s MD commented, “Because we are a publishing company rather than an underfloor heating supplier, we have no agenda, or partiality, so we can offer you an honest synopsis of the whole market, with no hidden plan, and no strings attached.”
“We have spent many months, and invested heavily in commissioning extensive, original research into the Underfloor Heating market in the UK, to enable us to bring you detailed, independent information to help inform your buying decisions.”

“Our aim is to create the highest quality, most informative websites in the UK, in each market we enter.”

AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk offers the following articles about the product, such as “Wet Underfloor Heating” and “Saving Money With Underfloor Heating”, as well as consumer advice articles like “Choosing the right Underfloor Heating” and “Installing Underfloor Heating”.

There are many more articles in development, to ensure that AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk becomes the most comprehensive underfloor heating website available on the web.

So before making that important decision to buy a system in the UK underfloor heating market, why not prepare yourself, by reading the detailed articles on AboutUnderfloorHeating.co.uk ?

As an informed consumer, you’ll be well prepared to make the best choice, and get the best deal on your underfloor heating system!
We hope you enjoy this site, and find it helpful.

If you have any comments or suggestions, Excelsior will be pleased to hear from you.

How would you like to cut your lighting bills by as much as 75%, yet still have an attractive lighting scheme.

Here are some tips from Sally Storey, (Design Director at John Cullen – Britain’s leading lighting company) to help you avoid possible pitfalls.

If you are thinking of redecorating, then now is the best and cheapest time to install more efficient lighting before you start.

The future of energy efficient lighting lies with LED fittings, which can last for as long as 20 years. They appear more expensive than regular products, but over their lifetime will more than make up for the initial outlay with energy savings.

John Cullen’s brand new, next generation Polespring LED downlight, sets new standards for energy efficient lighting. It uses just 12w of energy and gives you the equivalent of a traditional 50w halogen bulb at a fraction of the running costs. With its improved colour rendition and clarity, it is suitable for lighting throughout the home – even for paintings and other artwork.

If you don’t like compact fluorescent light bulbs, then replace traditional light bulbs with energy saving IRC (infra-red coated) bulbs. They come with all the usual fittings and give out the soft and attractive light we all recognise and love. A 40w bulb will give you 60w of light output – still helping you to keep your bills down.

Make sure all your lights can be turned off with the flick of one switch; if you have to turn lamps off individually, you will end up leaving them on even when you are not in the room.

Sensors are also an effective way of ensuring that lights are only used when they are needed. They are particularly useful in corridors, bathrooms and gardens, as well as in areas in the home where children (or adults) regularly forget to turn off the lights.

Good task lighting, such as a desk lamp or reading lamp by your bed, means that you don’t need to have the whole room lit up just to work or read. The new floor-standing 4w LED Pocket of Light floor lamp provides a well-directed beam of light, which won’t dazzle the person next to you. It is ideal as a freestanding task light by a bed or a sofa.

Finally, don’t think energy efficiency is all doom and gloom. For the first time ever, you can transform a roof terrace for as little as 7w, or bring your garden to life at night time with just 60w – no more than just one traditional light bulb! So get planning before the summer!
Prices: LED Strip Streamer, £72 per metre; Polespring LED, from £110;
Plaster Flat, £132.

For further information about John Cullen Lighting, please visit the website.

Stockist Enquiries: Tel: (020) 7371 9000

The new Rapide Ultra 2 carpet cleaner from leading UK floor care brand Vax, is able to achieve spotless carpets in just 20 minutes, with its deep cleaning, quick drying technologies.

An average front room takes just 20 minutes to wash, and is dry enough to walk on again within an hour or two.

Cleaning your carpets can seem like an enormous job that you never quite have time to do. Therefore it’s no real surprise that recent research by Vax, revealed that over half of UK parents let their kids crawl and play on carpets that are never washed.*

The Rapide Ultra 2 carpet cleaner takes all the hassle out of washing, so you can be confident your carpets look and smell as clean as your clothes, every day.

• Its flexible hose and wash tool make it easy to clean your stairs, upholstery and even your car seats.

• For really stubborn spots, there’s also a pre-treatment kit to break down dirt and stains before you wash.

• Watch the demonstration video at www.vax.co.uk/about/videogallery.php?video=rapide_ultra2 to see how quick and easy it is for yourself.

Why wash your carpets?
A clean carpet is not just about how it looks; even if it’s vacuumed daily and looks spotless on the surface, your carpet can still become a breeding ground for dust mites, pollen, bacteria and mould.

They get trapped between its fibres and thrive in the warm, humid conditions of our double glazed, centrally heated homes. Regular washing helps keep these unwanted houseguests at bay, so your home is a healthier place for you and your family.

The W90-RU-P Rapide Ultra 2 is available from major retailers for RRP £279.99 and includes a 2 year guarantee.

For more information about the Vax Rapide Ultra 2 carpet cleaner, please visit the website.

Customer Careline Tel: (0844) 412 8455

*The Vax survey of 1,937 respondents found that while 88% of parents said they let their children play on their carpets, 48% of parents never washed their carpets.

NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty provider and standards setting body for new build homes, is offering the following tips to keep your home watertight and draught free for the coming winter:

There are many things we can and should do to protect our homes from the effects of harsh weather and good planning also helps to reduce maintenance and utility costs.

Gutters: Gutters should be cleaned out at least once a year to remove leaves and debris. Wet patches on the walls below (both external and internal) may indicate that gutters or downpipes are blocked.

Paintwork: External finishes will become dirty over time and, where appropriate should be washed on a regular basis. Owners of new homes should consider repainting after two years. You may need to repaint more often if you live by the sea or in an exposed area.

Drainage access: Inspection chambers and rodding eyes are there to provide access to the drainage system below ground – so it’s important that these are not covered by soil, turf or paving.

Flat roofs: Flat roofs should be inspected once a year, to ensure that they remain in sound condition and rainwater outlets checked to ensure that they are not blocked.

Heating Systems: Central heating boilers should be checked and serviced at least once a year by a registered competent maintenance engineer, to check they remain safe.

ChimneysShould be swept at least once a year (unless the notice plate suggests alternative maintenance arrangements) to prevent chimney fires and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Bleeding radiators: If you notice that a radiator is warm at the bottom but cool at the top, this indicates that there is air in the system, which prevents the warm circulating water from reaching the top of the radiator. If this is noticed, the radiator will require bleeding.

Cold Spots: An important job as winter creeps in, is to make sure that the house is free of draughts. Look for potential cold spots, and take the necessary cheap and simple measures to eliminate them, to keep the heating down and the home comfortably warm.

If your home is covered by NHBC’s 10 year Buildmark warranty and you spot any problems within the first two years after the home is finished, you should notify the builder in the first instance (keeping a copy of any correspondence) telling them about the damage or defects to your home.

If the builder fails to meet his obligations or it is after the two-year period (years 3-10), contact NHBC on 0844 633 1000, or visit http://www.nhbc.co.uk for further advice.

Would be thieves are well aware that we all have lots of high value presents in our homes during the festive period and they do their utmost to take advantage.

So Yale are offering some seasonal security advice, to help keep your gifts safe from surprise visitors, other than Santa Claus:

Alarm Systems
It’s important that your home is protected while you’re out visiting family and friends or away on holiday, therefore a security alarm can act as a crucial visual deterrent and will alert neighbours when activated by burglars.
60% of burglaries attempted on homes fitted with an alarm are unsuccessful - Yale’s wirefree alarm kits are quick and easy to install, and offer discreet protection for all types of properties.

External Doors
External timber doors should be secured using a mortice lock and/or night-latch that meets British Standard BS3621 and if you have a PVCu or Composite door, then it is recommended that you upgrade the euro profile cylinder in your multi-point lock to British Standard as well.

Windows
Yale advises that all windows, both upstairs and downstairs, are fitted with at least one appropriate lock. Many burglars will avoid smashing a window and will instead try to force the window frame itself.

Sheds, Garages and Outbuildings
Sheds and garages are often used to store larger, more expensive presents like bicycles and televisions, making them a prime target. Heavy-duty padlocks are recommended for shed doors, whilst anchor locks and cables can secure individual items. Stand alone alarms, which run on battery power, can also be fitted to outbuildings as an extra security measure.

Identity Theft
At Christmas time, you are more susceptible to fraud, as the increase in larger purchases, Internet shopping and a busy social calendar means you are less likely to notice unusual activity on your account. To protect yourself, keep your gift receipts in a home safe that’s bolted securely to the floor or wall.

Answering The Door
Yale recommends fitting a door chain and spy hole to external timber doors to enable you to check who is at the door before opening it.

Personal Safety
Christmas is the official party season but don’t let your fun be ruined by compromising on your safety. With darker nights and more evening social events to attend, it is crucial to remain self-aware when travelling and Yale recommends always carrying a personal attack alarm.

Yale security products are available from your local DIY store, locksmiths or hardware stores.

For more information please visit the website or visit http://www.yalesecuritypoint.co.uk , where you can fill in your details to request a free home safety security survey.

Tel: (01902) 364647

Kandabi is a lighting design studio in Edinburgh, specialising in mood lighting, just right for those wishing to make a space statement in home lighting.

Mood lighting is a term now widely accepted in the interiors world inspired by cinematography:

Just as in film production, it involves the composition of a scene and addition of special effects, to achieve the images desired by the director – so mood lighting for interiors is a critical lighting layer used to create a desired atmosphere in a given space.

“Mood lighting is the indescribable stardust, the ’special something’ that allows an interior lighting scheme to become more than the sum of its parts.

It is all about injecting extra character into a space through visual drama, a sense of calmness and relaxation, an element of frivolity and fun, a quirky individual touch, or a combination of any of the above.”

Character and individuality is precisely what Kandabi stands for” commented Eva Hammerson, Head of Design, Kandabi.

Perhaps more than any other type of lighting for home interiors, mood lighting has the potential to create a true delineation point between one interior and the next.

Unlike most conventional lighting, mood lighting’s true reason d’être is perhaps less functional and more aesthetic and emotional.

As the interiors world moves into the age of personal interior design, the Kandabi statement wall lighting, (Five star rated by the UK Lighting Magazine) is designed to take centre stage and created to capture the eye, engage the mind, and put a big smile on your face.

From the pop art iconic “LOVE”, to the Japanese philosophy centred “The 4th Monkey”, there is a Kandabi design for everyone out there.

For further Kandabi home lighting inspiration, please visit the website.

Last year IKEA launched, LEDARE (meaning ‘leader’) light bulbs, which are made with Light Emitting Diode technology, which use up to 85% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Now the company has created an LED bulb that looks just like the old light bulbs we know so well:

• This reduced usage makes a marked difference on electricity consumption and if you save energy, you save both your own money and the earth’s resources.

• If you decide to replace your bulbs with the new LEDARE E27 8W bulbs, it’s estimated that you won’t have to replace them again for another 20 years. That’s a long time, but it also means big savings!

• IKEA believe that high prices shouldn’t put you off saving resources, therefore, they are offering the LED 8W bulbs at the lowest price in the market at £10.99 each.

LED lighting also has great benefits such as, energy efficiency, longer lifetime, mercury free, instant start-up, natural colours and of course better design.

LEDARE bulbs will be available from IKEA online in October 2011.

For further information about IKEA’s LED energy home lighting and bulbs, please visit the website.

Introducing the compact and lightweight HandyCut™ DIY tool from Worx Icon, which is half the size of standard models, making it a resourceful and desirable tool for dealing with tasks in tight spots easily:

• The protective blade guard automatically lowers, to enclose the blade for increased safety once cutting is completed.

• With four interchangeable blades, the HandyCut slices easily through materials such as floorboards, tiles, plastics, wood, aluminium and more, all without the need for another tool.

• Laser guide technology projects a sharp laser to ensure total precision when sawing and an adjustable gauge lets you control the depth of the cut at the flick of a switch. The blade depth varies up to 22mm, making it easily the best tool for cutting out kitchen surfaces and other plunge cutting tasks in the home.

So forget frightening and bulky circular saws and treat yourself to the versatile Worx HandyCut tool, available exclusively from B&Q. Priced at £99.99.

About Worx Icon - Worx Icon is the latest innovative range from power tools brand, Worx. This multi-use range, offers powerful performance, whilst being ultra-lightweight, incredibly versatile and, in some cases, unbelievably compact.

Wood burning stoves and open fires are making a comeback, due to concerns about ever increasing energy prices and people looking for more eco friendly ways to heat their homes.

Wood burning stoves in particular, are more environmentally friendly and cheaper than regular heating methods, especially if you season and prepare the wood yourself:

Slow burning and smokeless fuel is produced when wood is allowed to dry naturally and weathered over time.

A sturdy log store is needed to store and season the wood, but it can make a striking garden feature, and by gradually stocking it up during summer, you can provide enough free fuel for the entire winter!

The robust British made log store featured here, is constructed from high-pressure treated wood, making it much harder-wearing than it might otherwise be. It is delivered in flat pack form and can be erected easily by one person.
Available online from GreenStamp priced at £275.

These log stores are made in the UK from the finest quality timber, all with FSC certification every process from harvesting, debarking, rounding, profiling and machining, is undertaken with the highest level of care and precision by a highly skilled workforce.

To view Green Stamp’s extensive collection of garden log stores, please visit the website.

Tel: (01637) 854717

A new range of accessories for the home has been introduced by Peacock Blue, some of which would also make ideal gifts.

The vintage style Silvered Candlesticks in our picture, are made from glass and have an antique silvered finish. They are available in two sizes: H20cm priced at £15 or H27.5cm at £26.

The Posy Cushions have an antique inspired print. These linen scatter cushions are woven in a linen mill in Scotland and printed in England, so are a real British product. Available in Old Blue, Ivory and Duck Egg with a natural coloured reverse.
The cushions measure 45 x 45cm and are priced £45 each.

The collection of luxurious velvet Ribbons are wrapped around an old fashioned wooden bobbin. They are great for gift wrapping, sewing projects or just as decorative accessories.
The ribbons are available in: brown, blue/turquoise, natural/grey, violet/pink and green.
Available in two sizes: W5mm x L20m (£18) and W10mm x L10m (£20).

To view the entire new Peacock Blue accessories collection, please visit the website
Tel: (08450) 17 55 66