Garage Conversions – Creating More Space in Your Home
Garage Conversions are becoming more popular as a great way of creating more space in your home. More and more people are choosing to utilise their garage space and convert it into a more useable room. We have done garage conversions for people that have converted their garage into an office space, a new bedroom, a gym, a living room, a utility area, a bathroom and one customer who made a fantastic cinema room.
Creating the Space
If you have a garage, the chances are it is used as a storage area rather than a space for your car. In most modern homes the garage space is quite small which is not great for bigger cars and SUV’s. More and more people are considering utilising the mostly unused space and changing this into a room that can be used for a variety of purposes such as another bedroom, a living area, or a utility space or bathroom.
Garage Conversions give your home the extra space that most families need. The great thing about converting your garage into a liveable space is that in the majority of cases it is not an overly complicated process. The main changes are swapping your garage door for a brick/window, choosing appropriate flooring, working out the required electrics into the space and boarding and plastering the walls. The building/footprint of the space is already there so there is not the need for the extensive building work that you would need when creating an extension.
Matching Your Brickwork & Windows
One of the first things that would be done is to match the brickwork and the windows on your home. This enables the front of your home to look like the new garage conversion was always part of your home. Matching your brickwork is commonplace for a lot of construction companies who are either creating an extension to your home or doing a garage conversion so that chances are that a perfect match will be found. With the windows, the majority of homes will have UPVc windows in the property so finding a suitable match will be no problem.
Electrics & Plumbing
Once you have decided what the space is going to be used for, be it a bedroom or living room or utility, the next thing to plan is what electrics, lighting or in the case of a utility or bathroom, what plumbing is required. Discussing electrical points or plumbing points is an important part of planning your new room and the contractor will make sure that the necessary work is undertaken to give you the amenities that you need.
Boarding and Plastering
When the electrical and plumbing first fix has been done, another stage will be to board and plaster the internal walls. Sometimes it is necessary to look at insulating the walls to ensure the new space is warm and as cosy as the rest of your home.Once the boarding and plastering is completed you can look at the decorating options for your new room. Again depending on the type of room you may want to either paint or wallpaper the walls or even look at tiling for a utility or bathroom. The contractor should be able to give you the right advice on what will work well for your new room.
Choosing you flooring
The choice of flooring can largely depend on what you are using the space for. For a bathroom or utility you are likely to want the space tiled. For living areas or bedrooms you may want carpet, wooden flooring or laminate.There are times when the height of the sub-floor or the original floor in the garage will need to be raised to match your existing property. This is not uncommon an the majority of contractors will be able to do this without any issues at all.
The flooring can also make a huge difference to the final look and feel of the room. Make sure you take the time to choose the most suitable flooring for your new space.
Internal Finishes
The final touches of a garage conversion would be to match the internal finishes in the new room to your existing property. These final touches would include the skirting boards, the light fittings, the switches and sockets and the internal door from the garage conversion into the home.Thinking of Getting a Garage Conversion
If you’re considering getting a garage conversion, check out our page on Garage Conversions for inspiration on projects we have done. Alternatively, if you would like a free no obligation quote, feel free to contact us on 0151 545 1400
- Published in Building, Garage Conversions, Home Improvements
Get Your Home Ready For Summer
Is your home ready for summer? You may be pre-occupied with holidays, festivals, BBQ’s and all other summer plans, but why not give your home a fresh summer glow and get your home ready for summer.
Giving your home a summer look should focus around having fresh, light and open spaces. You don’t need huge renovations, but with the right creativity and changes, you can turn your home from a cosy winter fortress to an open, bright hospitable summer home.
Celsius Home Improvements have compiled 5 ideas to get your home ready for summer.
Bring the outdoors in
Spending as much time as possible outdoors is all we want to do in the summer months, and it’s easy to bring the outdoors in with a few adjustments to your home.
Patio doors or bi-fold doors can really help accentuate a light, airy feel and create seamless access between the outdoors and your home. Not only do these doors look stylish they are perfect for hosting summer gatherings. Even when closed and the weather isn’t so good you won’t sacrifice anything, with the large glass panes allowing the light to flood your home and create an un-obstructed view into your outdoor sanctuary.
If you aren’t thinking about this much of renovation or your budget doesn’t stretch that far then why not add some green. By adding some easy to care for indoor plants and allowing nature to influence your home decoration you can really bring an element of summer inside. Take a look at some of the best indoor plants here.
Head to your nearest garden center and get choosing.
Get a colourful front door
A trend that we are seeing a lot more of recently is more and more people going for colourful front doors. Choosing a front door can often be overlooked or brushed passed when thinking about freshening up your home, but the right front door can add style, freshness, curb appeal and fun to your home.
This idea offers a unique perspective on home décor, but it can really liven up your home. Look at some of our options here.
Update your outdoor space
Summer is the time for socialising outdoors, so it goes without saying that you should have a well-kept outdoor space. Create a welcoming and hospitable outdoor space that can be enjoyed by everyone. Summer is the perfect excuse to buy some new outdoor furniture or a new BBQ, but if you’re stuck for ideas look at an article we put together here.
Get rid of some clutter
Clutter can really weigh down your home, excessive mess laying around can make your space feel stuffy. Why not freshen up your rooms with a de-clutter. This is also a chance to purchase some seasonal products that can add something summery to your home. Freshen up your bedsheets with lighter covers, put your winter pillows and blankets in storage and create a lighter space.
Even re-arranging your furniture can change the feel of your home, push the sofas to the side to open your living area. Forget about the formal dining area. Think laid back, eat at your breakfast bar or outdoors. Nobody wants to be stuffy and confined on a bright sunny day so move the telly to one side and make your outdoor area a focal point.
Clearing some of your surfaces can make your home feel ready summer. This also gives you a chance to purchase some natural accessories such as woven baskets that add a real summery feel and give you storage space without sacrificing a summer flair.
So, open the windows and let that warm summer breeze flow through your home.
Think about summer scents
So, you now have your home looking ready for summer, it’s now time to get it smelling like summer. When choosing a fragrance for your home its important to choose one that makes you feel happy. Choose a summer fragrance that matches your new look, think light, fresh and floral. If you love the comfort of a candle or you prefer scented oils, summer scents can brighten up your mood. Get some summer scent ideas here.
Summer is the time to enjoy and love your home and put all that handwork to good use. So, dust off the winter blues and enjoy a bright, fresh summer home.
- Published in Bi-fold doors, Building, Home Improvements, Uncategorized
Get Your Home Ready For Winter
It’s that time of year where summer seems like a distant memory, the days are short and cold with much more time spent indoors. With this, you want to be as comfortable as possible, so you need to make sure that you get your home ready for winter.
There are many different things you can do to prepare your home but these tasks may seem easy to put off until its too late.
That’s why we’re here to help, we have compiled a list of things you should do to get your home ready for winter.
Check your boiler and heater
Having no heating or hot water can be a real problem on bleak winter days, and all you can do to resolve it is a simple maintenance check.
Contact a gas safe registered company to get a certified engineer to make sure you’re not going to end up in any preventable issues when the winter really kicks in.
Look at our plumbing services here.
Secure your roof
It’s important that your roof is secure enough to stand the winter onslaught. You should take the chance to check for loose tiles as heavy snow and strong winds can wreak havoc on an unprepared roof.
It may also be a good chance to think about changing your conservatory roof if you have one. The winter months may see your conservatory neglected but with a lightweight roof system, this can mean you can enjoy your conservatory all winter. Find out more about solid roof conservatory’s here.
Keep central heating on
To save money on your bills and avoid any frozen pipes it can be useful to keep your heating on a timer and set to low heat throughout the day. Rather than turning the heat up high when you feel cold, keep it an all-around warm temperature and reap the benefits.
Prepare your windows
This is not the time of year to be letting the elements in due to ill-prepared windows. If you’re experiencing drafts or condensation, it’s probably time to upgrade. Our windows are designed to make your home feel safe and comfortable.
Amongst our choice of windows, we also supply secondary glazing, which can be applied to your existing windows for increased energy efficiency and insulation.
Make sure your windows are prepared and check our range here!
Clear gutters
Be sure to keep gutters and downpipes clear from leaves, moss and other material that can cause blockages. If not, water can fracture pipes if it freezes in them or causes quicker deterioration of soaked wall faces in frosty conditions where gutters spill over. You want to make sure that water runs away from your house, so a blocked gutter can cause much more serious problems.
Winter is a time of year you want to be warm and enjoy the comforts of home, so keeping on top of these issues and making sure your home is in working order can prevent unexpected, unnecessary headaches. So all you need to do is sit back and relax and enjoy the comforts of winter.
- Published in Building, Conservatories, Home Improvements, Solid Roofs, Uncategorized, Windows
How to Add Value to Your Home
Wanting to add value to your home is usually the main reason that a person would look to develop their home. Working your way up the property ladder is an achievable goal, but you need to know how to maximise the value of where you live now.
The co-op insurance conducted a study in which it found that 60 percent of homeowners had added value to their property with renovations. As well as finding that people had typically spent £18,224 and seen a £14,900 profit.
Whether you are planning on selling or just looking to add long-term value by investing in your home, this article will cover the best ways to achieve this.
Garage conversion
A well-done garage conversion can potentially add 20% value increase to your property. A lot of garages are left empty and unused meaning wasted space. Converting your garage doesn’t have to cause a headache either, if it is attached to your property then converting to a habitable room shouldn’t cause an issue. To find out more about converting your garage read here.
Kitchen Refurbishment
Kitchens are becoming the focal point of a lot of homes due to the popularity of open plan living, and a well-done kitchen refurbishment can add up to 6% value increase. When updating your kitchen, it’s essential to keep expense in proportion to the size value of your property. A clean looking kitchen is necessary both to buyers and valuation surveyors. When revamping your kitchen, there are fundamentals to consider such as shape and position. You may also decide to make structural changes, or you may relocate it. However, you can make a big difference to your kitchen by making modest changes to the fixtures and fittings. New doors and handles and other soft touches can make a massive difference to your existing kitchen as well as energy efficient appliances. Head to our kitchen page here for inspiration for your home.
Conservatory / Orangery
Extending your living space is always a good idea if you have that opportunity. A conservatory or orangery can be an excellent way to achieve this if done well. This means making sure that they are proportionate to your home and matches the style. You don’t want the build to look separate to the rest of your home. At Celsius, we always give the best advice on what’s right for your property. We can deliver bespoke designs to enhance your property. An orangery can also offer a fantastic alternative to the traditional conservatory. The additional use of brick built pillars means an orangery has a feeling of an extension at a fraction of the price. Allowing glass windows and roof to give an airy and bright feel to your home. Read more about Celsius’ Conservatory and Orangery installations here.
New Bathroom
Redeveloping or adding a new bathroom to your property is usually a good investment. A new bathroom can add 2.88% value to your home. To get the most out of a new bathroom creating an ensuite is the best option. However, you can also remodel existing space. Ideally, there should be a toilet facility on every floor that has bedrooms. Therefore, if you are converting the attic, try to include a toilet, if not a full bathroom.
Keeping the existing layout of a property can be an excellent way to keep costs down when updating your bathroom. Moving sanitaryware could mean relocating soil pipes and so forth which can become expensive. A bathroom doesn’t need an awful lot doing to increase value on your property. It can be more about the features that you put in. You can make a considerable difference with a set of new taps, a big shower head and power shower, a glass screen or door.
Extension
When deciding to extend your home, you can add a few rooms or extend existing living space. Your extension can differ from adding extra square feet to your home to make an open plan living area. You can also undertake a much more significant project like second-storey addition. An extension can potentially add up to 10% value to your property. To reach its full potential your build will need designing carefully so that the new space is integrated well with the original home.
During the planning process of any extension, you want to develop the rooms to be as big as possible, without sacrificing too much of the outdoor space. Our experienced team at Celsius can make the design stage as comfortable as possible. Read our pages here for more information. The most critical process for any extension is choosing the right people to do it. Read our comprehensive guide for selecting the right building company here to make your decision streamlined.
Loft Conversion
A safe investment for your home and one that can be carried out relatively easily requiring the layout of your home suits is a loft conversion. Converting your loft can be the easiest way to add an extra bedroom in your home and depending on the size of the space possibly an extra bathroom, which can add up to 10% value. For more information read our loft conversion page.
Replace windows
Replacing your windows with the most energy efficient and up to date windows available can be seen as essential to add value to your property, although thermal efficiency is significant, in higher valued features you will need to address the aesthetics of your windows. Look at the vast range of windows that Celsius offer here.
- Published in Building, Conservatories, Home Extensions, Home Improvements, Orangeries, Windows
Choosing the right building company
You need to make the right choice when it comes to choosing the right building company for you. With so many companies vying for your business, it’s essential that you do some research to make sure you pick the best company.
Online searches, general enquiries, word of mouth recommendation and general marketing can be good ways to find your next contractor. In order to get someone you can develop a relationship with it will be better to delve further.
We have compiled some useful tips on how to choose your next builder. So read further to make your first steps in shaping your dream home.
- In the early stages of looking for a contractor conduct research by searching online. Doing this, you can look for companies that are local to you. Examine their portfolios and customer reviews to get a good understanding of them. Speaking to friends and family who have already had similar work completed is also an excellent early indicator of the standards set by the contractors, so advice from them is well worth considering.
- Once you have managed to get together a shortlist, you would then need to obtain quotations. You will need to have a brief prepared as this is your project. Having a firm idea of what you want from work undertaken will be essential. The company you choose will need to visit the property and survey the project to give you a free quote. A good project manager will consult with you about what is possible in order to reach your house goals.
During your meetings you will need to get as much information in writing as can be provided, you should ask about;
- Site maintenance
- Clearance
- Material supplies
- Time-scales
- Costs
- Disruption
You will also need to ask for confirmation as to whether planning permission is required and if they will need to apply for Building Regulations approval. Having a healthy relationship with your contractor is very important, so you want a professional yet personable rapport. You need to have sharp lines of communication.
- After meeting with a list of possible contractors you should have narrowed your search. A good building contractor will show you other sites and jobs that they have completed, so you should visit other properties, notably ones with similar work. When site visiting make sure to pay attention to the craft and take note of things you like and dislike. Discuss whether this can be translated to your property and bring up any issues that you may not like.
- When you are discussing costs, you will need to agree when and how you will pay. For example, ‘stage’ payments when specific tasks are completed. Some contractors may require payment upfront for materials, however, make sure you pay when the materials are on-site.
Choosing the right contractor can seem daunting, but knowing what you want and developing a good professional relationship you can make your decision easy. Following the steps laid out should lead you to find your perfect contractor one that you can trust and work with to create your dream home.
Celsius Home Improvements could be the company for you
100% of customers who answered our satisfaction survey said they would recommend us to a friend, and as mentioned earlier reviews and previous customer satisfaction can be a crucial indicator when securing your next building company. You can see further accreditation for our work from our online reviews on CheckaTrade and our testimonial page here.
At Celsius, we have the largest showroom in Merseyside so feel free to visit us to help make your decision. We are open 8 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday 10 am – 2 pm on Saturday and by appointment only on Sunday.
We offer free no obligation quotes, all you need to do is call 0151 545 1400 and speak to a member of our team to organise a surveyor to visit your home at a time suited to you.
- Published in Building, Home Extensions, Home Improvements, Uncategorized
Tips for Converting Your Garage
There are many things you need to know when converting your garage. If your property has unused garage space, you may be asking yourself what you can do to maximise it. Your living space may be shrinking while your garage goes unused.
Garages tend to be less about storing your car and more about storing forgotten items. If this resonates with you, then converting your garage may be a good option so why not design and build a creative space or a warm and habitable room to add a unique touch to your home.
What type of Garage do you have?
Your conversion can differ depending on what type of garage you have. Your garage will fall into three categories;
- Attached
- Integral
- Detached
Attached and integrated garages are usually accessible from the house this makes a conversion easy whereas a detached garage may require planning permission as it’s a separate building. However, a good contractor can make any type of conversion run smoothly.
Different ideas for your conversion
When converting your garage, there are many different ideas that you could choose from for your conversion, such as;
- Another lounge
- An extra bathroom
- Children’s playroom
- A larger kitchen
- Home cinema
- Gym
- Office
If you are in the fortunate position to have a double garage you may even consider splitting the space, keeping one side for storage and the other as an extra living space.
Building a conversion to the highest standards can bring fantastic benefits to your home and choosing your options should be fun, practical and creative.
Benefits of a garage conversion
There are many benefits of a garage conversion and a significant one for when your garage is attached, is that there is existing structure meaning you don’t need new foundations, nor do you need to build new walls, many existing garages also have electricity wired in. With these factors this type of conversion can be a very cost-effective way to add space to your property and can even add value, a well-done garage conversion can add up to 10% onto the value of your home which may mean making a profit from your project.
What to consider
A conversion won’t always be straightforward and there may be some things that you need to consider. Such as when the external walls of an integral garage are comprised of a single course of bricks, as this can cause problems with insulation and weatherproofing. Your contractor will be able to advise you on all these issues, but there are many ways, around this, including the creation of an independent stud wall of the damp proof course. These types of problems need to be addressed to meet building regulations so as a result, any design must factor in;
- Moisture proofing
- Ventilation
- Insulation
- Fireproofing
- Structural soundness.
If you are working with the right contractor, then they will go through these issues with you and manage building regulation issues. If you’re looking for contractor help on converting your garage to a living space request a free estimate for your conversion needs.
- Published in Building, Home Extensions, Home Improvements, Solid Roofs, Uncategorized
Top Tips For Extending Your Home
Deciding whether to extend your home can be a hard decision to make, so we have compiled a selection of top tips for extending your home that can help you with your decision.
There can be many reasons why you are considering moving properties; a growing family can begin to restrict your living space, you could have that itch for change that no new colour of paint can satisfy. But uprooting and leaving memories built in your home can be challenging to do, so why not consider extending?
Why extend
Extending your home can be a decision that requires a lot of thinking and discussion with your partner, so we have compiled some reasons as to why you would consider extending.
- Loving the area where you live.
- Being close to what matters to you.
- Adoring the house where you live in and not wanting to uproot.
- Full design control over your dream home. The usual reason for extending or moving is to gain more space, but by extending your home, you are in control of the area you create at the design stage.
- Add value without overcapitalizing. Your extension will undoubtedly add value to your property. The increase in cost will of course vary depending on the number, size and use of the additional rooms but a well designed and built addition will increase the price of the property even further.
- Although extending your property can cause some upheaval to your living situation it can be somewhat cheaper than moving, and you can add value by shaping your family home to the dream you envisioned.
What to consider
There are many different things to consider once you have decided to extend your home, from permissions and regulations to styles of extensions. Read below to see what factors you need to think of when determining the decision to develop your home.
- Planning permission – You can undertake some extension projects without the need for planning permission, such as a rear wall of a detached house can be extended by 8m to the rear if it is a single storey property, and 3m if it is a double storey. If you live in a semi or terraced property, it can be reduced to 6m. There are also height restrictions to this: a single storey extension cannot be higher than 4m in height to the ridge and the roof space, and ridge heights of any extension can’t be higher than the existing property. For a double storey extension, it mustn’t be closer than 7m to the rear boundary. Check our page here for more information.
- Extension style – When designing your extension there are many ways you can do it, depending on how much space you have and how you want to utilise it. Look below at different extensions you can add to your property.
Double Storey
A double storey extension can be a fantastic way to transform your home. This style of extension is great for increasing living space and bedroom accommodation at the same time. If your home is too small for your family, a double storey extension could be best for you. Click here for more information.
Single Storey
If you are thinking of building a single storey extension, then this can be the ideal way to transform your space into a better lifestyle decision. There are different styles of single-storey extensions such as an Orangery or a lean-to extension that can renovate your home and give you the space you need. A single storey extension can add benefits to your property in the way of flooding interiors with natural light by adding roof lanterns and bi-fold doors. Read more here.
Conversions
You don’t have to extend your property to create more space, consider a transformation of unused space to form the house you desire. Convert your wasted loft space into a brand-new bedroom and bathroom, or your basement into a new area of peace and tranquillity or even turn your garage into the designer kitchen you always wanted. Not only does professionally installed conversion make a great addition to your house but it will add value and comfort without the stresses of moving.
Whatever you want to transform your home Celsius will be with you every step of the way to make your decision as streamlined as possible. Click here to contact Celsius today and speak with our friendly team to find out more.
- Published in Building, Home Extensions, Home Improvements, Orangeries, Orangery ideas