Following the success of Pilkington Activ™ and Pilkington Activ™ Blue, the maker of the world’s first self-cleaning glass has extended its range to include another product, specifically designed to help keep conservatories clean and cool all year round.

Pilkington Activ™ Neutral is a revolutionary new double-coated glass that combines dual-action, self-cleaning properties with solar control performance and is perfect for use in glass extensions and conservatory roofs and windows.

As the name suggests, Pilkington Activ™ Neutral is neutral in colour and particularly suitable for conservatories, glass extensions, skylights and large French doors, to allow natural uninterrupted views of surrounding gardens.

The new Neutral glass uses advanced solar control technology, which helps prevent conservatories becoming unbearably hot in the summer; the interior surface is covered in a thin layer of solar control coating, which reduces the amount of heat entering a room by reflecting the heat back outside.(Prevents around 60 per cent of solar heat from entering a conservatory).

The exterior surface of Pilkington Activ™ Neutral is covered in a microscopically thin dual-action coating, which reacts with UV rays to breakdown and loosen organic dirt (e.g. finger prints, tree sap, bird droppings and pollen) from the surface of the glass; this effectively encourages rainwater to sheet down the surface of the glass without forming droplets, washing away the broken down dirt and any loose particles.

The new glass is available now throughout the UK, at a price premium of around 15-20 per cent over the fully-installed cost of standard PVC-U windows.

Web: http://www.pilkington.com/selfcleaningglass

Tel: (01744) 692 000

Haddonstone - a world-renowned manufacturer of cast stone garden ornaments and architectural features - can also provide spectacular cast stonework for use
inside almost any home.

The extensive range of architectural features, including half columns, balustrading and cladding can be used to enhance any design scheme, whether contemporary, classical or traditional:

As illustrated here, Haddonstone can provide the cast stonework for stunning orangeries.

A Haddonstone ornament, for example a planter or statue, can add the finishing touch to any room.

Cladding is ideal for a contemporary scheme.

A stone fireplace makes a perfect focal point.

Columns and entablature can create a dramatic interior effect.

For more inspirational ideas for your home interior, why not request a Haddonstone’s 200-page catalogue, on CD-ROM?

Web: http://www.haddonstone.co.uk

Tel: (01604) 770711

Why not convert your cold and under-used garage into a warm and habitable extra room, with the potential to increase the value of your house significantly?

Your options are endless but here are a few ideas to inspire you:

A family room, a bedroom with or without en-suite, playroom, home office/study, kitchen/utility room, dining room or even a home cinema.

The Garage Conversion Company were the UK’s first specialist garage conversion company; they are market leaders in this area of the industry and
offer a complete “One Stop Shop”:

• They make your building regulations application and if requested, will provide the drawings and form filling for your planning application for around £500 extra.
• A single sized conversion (without W.C. or bathroom) with no complications, is usually completed in 7-10 days.
• The company’s consultants can help you plan and will supply all the information you need to enable you to make a decision, without pressure to buy.
• Subject to need for planning permission, your conversion can be started in as little as four weeks from the signing of the contract.
• The Garage Conversion Company are members of The Federation Of Master Builders and have completed over 2,000 garage conversions to date and in doing so, have attained considerable expertise.

The company’s installers have bought into the business to secure their own postcode area, so they have a vested interest in keeping you the customer happy!
All conversions come with a ten year guarantee.

Web: http://www.garageconversion.com

Tel: 0800 587 0262

Pilkington, developers of the world’s first self-cleaning glass are launching a new glass called energiKare, which will help home-owners reduce fuel bills and their carbon footprint.

energiKare has been specifically designed to cut energy loss from the home and is twice as efficient as standard double-glazing, meaning homeowners save between £80-£100 off annual heating bills.

The new glass reduces the net heat loss from windows, by allowing more heat from the sun in through the window (known as solar gain) and in turn reducing the amount of heat loss from inside the home.

To do this, it uses Pilkington K glass (a low emissivity glass which stops heat escaping through homes) and Pilkington Optiwhite (a special ‘extra clear’ glass that increases the amount of heat from the sun passing through the window).

Windows made with Pilkington energiKare will receive a Window Energy Rating of A, B or C and will also be ‘Energy Saving Recommended’.
Recently introduced Home Information Packs (HIPs) require everyone selling a three or four bedroom house to produce an Energy Performance Certificate, rating the house energy efficiency between A and G.

Therefore, installing energy efficient products like Pilkington energiKare, will contribute to improved energy performance; a real positive factor for anyone selling a house.

Pilkington provides an official installation certificate as a permanent record of the installation.

Web: http://www.pilkington.co.uk/energikare

Tel: (01744) 692 000

The renovation generation is in danger of falling into a planning black hole, according to research carried out by Architect Your Home, a leading supplier of architectural services for the UK residential market.

The survey revealed that a staggering 74 per cent of homeowners were not sure of, or didn’t understand, the planning regulations that would affect the renovations they were currently planning, or carrying out to their properties.

The research also revealed that one in 10 homeowners had already started a renovation project, without first getting planning permission and a further seven per cent would be tempted to start a project without first gaining permission.

Hugo Tugman, the founder of Architect Your Home, warns,‘Whether intentionally or unintentionally, starting a project without the correct permissions could have dire consequences for homeowners, who if discovered could be forced into the costly act of altering or removing their building works; the truth is that, even if your project does not need planning permission, it will still need planning.’

Architect Your Home’s advice for homeowners is to seek expert guidance, before embarking on any home renovation project.

Web: http://www.architect-yourhome.co.uk

Tel: (0800) 849 8505

Architect Your Home has turned architecture into a commodity that is more accessible to the consumer.

Thanks to the company’s menu of services, people can pick and choose the services that suit them and their project, thus enabling homeowners with varying budgets to get access to affordable ideas, advice and drawings in a pay-as-you-go style.

As part of the initial session, clients will receive advice on planning and building regulations, likely costs, pitfalls and their budget. Customers can then involve the architect as much, or as little as they like during the project.

Case Study - Shamis and Kathy O’Farrell’s five bedroom semi-detached home in Richmond, featured here, required complete renovation.

By using Architect Your Home’s, pay-as-you go menu of services, they were able to consult an architect about several areas in their home where they needed professional input.

After the initial visit with the company’s architect, the couple was able to see their house’s true potential:

Kathy explains why Architect Your Home’s service has worked so well for them: “We wanted something with a WOW factor and we couldn’t have come up with a design this inspiring and bold by ourselves or with a builder.”

“Their pay-as-you go menu of services allowed us to use our architect only when needed, for the initial design, for planning submission, building regulation drawings and advice along the way, the rest I did myself.”

Now that the project has been completed Kathy is delighted with the results and believes that the professional input was key to the estimated increased value of their property, of between £100 – 150K.

Web: http://www.architect-yourhome.com

Tel: (0800) 849 8505

In the first couple of hours, dozens of people interested in securing a home on the UK’s first BoKlok housing development, visited IKEA’s Gateshead store to apply for the much sought after properties.

They obtained information about the different homes on offer and the application form that could qualify them to acquire a BoKlok property at St James Village in Gateshead.

Once the application forms are submitted, BoKlok will begin the process of allocating the homes, which will involve interviewing people who meet the necessary criteria,

This will include prioritising those who earn between £15,000 and £35,000 per year and not already homeowners; home ownership tenure preferences will also be discussed, including whether outright or part purchase options are the most suitable for applicants.

In the first release in Gateshead, there will be 60 flats and houses available for shared ownership or outright sale:

• A one-bedroom flat will cost £99.500 while a two bedroom one will be £124,950.
• Two-bedroom townhouses the Molna and the larger Ålsten, will cost £132,500 and £139,500 respectively.
• The three-bedroom townhouse the Järnbro, will cost £149,500.
• Some additional units will be released for rental in early 2008.

Work on the St James site is now underway and the first homes will be ready to move into in January 2008.

See also our previous article - BoKlok Homes Are Set To Launch In The UK

Web:  http://www.boklok.co.uk

Tel:   (0800) 028 3629

Due to high house prices in the UK, more people are choosing to improve their homes rather than move, and the creativity and professional advice of an architect can be vital to the success of any renovation project.

From expert advice on fittings and materials, to innovative ideas on making the best use of space and light, their professional input can offer any project the WOW factor.

Architects can also provide essential guidance with all of the regulations involved in the planning process and help manage the project to ensure that your dream renovation becomes a reality.

Often, architectural services are seen as an expensive luxury and many people find approaching an architect extremely complex.

However, there is a unique alternative option available now:
Architect Your Home - is a company launched in 2001 by Hugo and Jude Tugman, who after 10 years of running their own architectural practice, realised that traditional working methods didn’t always measure up to the needs of the individual homeowner.

In response to this, they pioneered a unique pay-as-you-go menu of services, specifically designed to encourage more people to use an architect for small domestic projects like loft conversions, extensions, or open plan living.

The full range of architectural services is offered, broken down into individual components; from initial ideas and sketches, through to detailed design and project management; this enables people to pick and choose the services that suit them and their project and know exactly what they will be paying for.

Architect Your Home now has more than 45 practices nationwide and their most popular services are the half-day and full-day ‘kick start’ initial visits, which involve a four or seven hour site meeting.

These ‘kick start’ visits (with one of the company’s RIBA qualified architects) are the starting point of the Architect Your Home service.  Priced at £450 for the half-day visit and £750 for the full day.

Web: http://www.architect-yourhome.com 

Tel: (0800) 849 8505

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show at ExCeL London from 21st to 23rd September, is the only show in the South East dedicated to building, improving, or renovating a home.

This wide-ranging show offers products, advice and inspiration on how to improve or renovate a home and how to make it more environmentally friendly.

The Show also offers the opportunity to consider the option of saving money by building your own home, as well as how to make the most of the latest smart home technology.

The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show boasts the Move or Improve Pavilion, Eco Homes Zone, T3 Smart Home Zone and a wide range of self-build exhibitors.

The Show offers a series of free seminars and exhibitor-led masterclasses;

The seminars cover a range of topics from ‘How to build your way up the property ladder’ to ‘How the intelligent home can transform your life’;

Whilst the masterclasses will concentrate on specifics such as ecological restoration and renovation, rainwater harvesting and home automation controls.

New this year is the Eco Homes Zone, reflecting the demand for more information on eco products and services; key products will be presented in areas such as renewable energy, insulation, heating systems and building materials, through to those designed to save energy and money within the home.

Over 220 national and specialist companies will be on hand to offer the latest products, innovations and services.

Tickets are £8 in advance or £12 on the door (children under 16 go free).

Web: http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

Tel: (0870) 906 2002.

Pilkington-UK, working with leading interiors stylist Alison Davidson, has devised some invaluable tips for you to create a seamless link between house and garden and maximise the use of your conservatory throughout the year.

By making clever use of garden features and by using furnishings to mirror the colours in your garden, you can easily take the inside out for the summer.

Installing Pilkington Activ™ glass ensures that you’ll get a clear view through your windows even after the heaviest downpour and by adding Pilkington Activ™ Blue, you can also prevent heat build up in your conservatory. (See our previous article about these products.)

The Top Tips:

1.  As featured in our picture, choose folding doors that open up to bring the outside in; the garden then becomes an extension of the house and effectively gives you another room.

2.  Foliage plants such as Aeoniums, Plantain Lillies (Hosta Sieboldiana) and Australian tree fern (Dicksonia Antartctica) will give picturesque  structure to a garden in the summer.

3. Add lights to illuminate particular plants – it really adds drama and draws you out into the garden.

4. Choose furniture that will look good in winter and summer, something neutral so that you can change the accessories with the seasons.

5. Add lime green in the accessories and soft furnishings to add zing to your colour scheme and to mirror the green outside.

6. Choose plants that flower at different times of the year so that you have colour all year round; a Virginia Creeper is ideal as it has green   leaves in summer and red leaves in autumn.

Web:  http://www.pilkington.com/selfcleaningglass
Tel:   (01744) 692 000