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If you have ever obtained a few removal quotes and wondered how the costs can be so wide-ranging, as a rule of thumb, any price differences are linked to the time taken on the job (access and degree of handling). These are the key factors that can drive up cost:Continue reading →

Heavy rain might not seem like a big deal at first, but it can cause quite a few problems for your drains, especially in the UK, where sudden downpours aren’t exactly rare.Continue reading →

Three names crop up again and again when it comes to DIY or ordering sheet materials from a timber merchant: plywood, OSB and MDF. They look similar in a stack but will behave worlds apart when you start cutting, fixing and exposing them to Great British weather. For advice from Timber Merchants Bournemouth, consider //www.timbco.co.uk/timber-merchants-bournemouth/

Your go-to guide on picking the best one for floors

Cheat Sheet: The Best of Each Board

Plywood is constructed from thin sheets of wood veneer joined together with the grain at adjacent layers running in perpendicular directions. It is lightweight and yet it has a great strength to weight ratio making simple fixings easy.

OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is a compressed wood strand. It is durable, inexpensive and the material of choice for post frame buildings.

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) High quality fine wood fibres and resin. Smooth to work with and perfect for inside joinery, but is water-hating.

Best for floors

For most flooring jobs (subfloors, loft boarding, shed floors) you are looking for strength and stability.

Plywood is a good solid board and perfect for where you need to fix it or want it not to sag.

OSB is the second most popular material; it’s great for subfloors and structural flooring because of its durability, strength, and sense to your wallet.

You should never be using MDF for floors, especially in places where there is the possibility of dampness. This will cause it to swell and weaken.

Best for walls

Whether a wall is structural, part of the decor or intended for certain damp areas.

OSB is perfect for structured wall sheathing (e.g. in timber frame builds or as an internal layer of a new shed/garage). Strong, well taken to nails/screws.

You can also use plywood for wall linings if you do not require textured finish but want to have quality screw holding.

MDF works well for paint ready smooth finishes (great for most interior walls and panels or larger areas, featurewalls, boxing-in etc). Keep it away from moisture.

Best for sheds

Sheds are also subjected to humidity and there can be temperature fluctuations, so you require moisture resistance.

Cheap and tough, OSB is the material of choice for flat-packed sheds.

Plywood is the go to choice for shed floors and roofs when you need extra strength.

MDF is always a no-no for sheds unless fully contained indoors!

OSB is a good choice when you want structural strength for an excellent price. If you desire higher screw-holding as well as a far more robust board, plywood is the way to go. For a finish of glory smoothness, this stuff is perfect, assuming it stays dry.

Living a greener lifestyle is something that you can do with small and easy changes – it doesn’t have to be something that is drastic. Taking small steps in the right direction helps to set you on a path to creating a more sustainable home and lifestyleContinue reading →

Sustainability can be more cost-effective than the immediate alternative for a number of reasons, but it is at least partially about upgrading to greener systems and tracking those results. The best plan is to incorporate sustainability into the layout and spec from day one. For Commercial Kitchen Design, consider targetcatering.co.uk/commercial-kitchen-designers

Save energy (without delaying service)

Begin with the largest energy users: cooking, refrigeration and ventilation.

Appropriate equipment size: Oversizing of the kit occupies energy and space. Pick volume based on your menu and peak number of covers.

Refrigeration: Position fridges away from hot lines, use good door seals and leave space for airflow around the units.

Smart ventilation: attenuated extraction; assists during cooking and non-cooking.

Save water where it matters

Saving water is essential.

Install low-flow pre-rinse spray valves and taps.

Select low litres-per-rack dishwashers.

Potwash staff constantly moving pots between stations (or storing them in the dishwasher) won’t be faffing about trying to run hot water from one tap while juggling a boiling pan; they can empty immediately using cold running water.

Layout and storage are ways to reduce waste

Food waste is typically a systems issue.

Store plans to be visible and rotated (FIFO).

Space for separated bins (food, recycling, glass, cardboard, oil).

Set up a path free of waste traversing across prep areas.

Practical, sustainable kitchens work the best. Just make sure that if it slows staff down, then nobody uses the solution – so start from speed and work backwards to find out how you can design a better way of doing things.

As well as being something that is essential for hygiene, a bathroom is so much more than that – it is a room that can provide you with a sanctuary at the end of a long day, a place to rest and relax, a place for kids to play in the bath and an integral part of your home in general.Continue reading →