Make Room For The Home Makeover…

Since the beginning of lockdown, homeowners have started to turn their attention to their home makeover.  

Make way for the home makeover and our top tips.

According to several surveys, DIY and home improvements have seen a real resurgence with garden makeovers coming out on top (mostly due to the weather, we suspect), alongside house improvements and we believe they are here to stay (at least for the time being).

It would seem that “staycations” are now turning into “Improvecations”, with bathrooms, gardens and kitchens all on the receiving end of a healthy boost from funds that were once earmarked as the ‘holiday fund’.

However, ensuring that you spend your money wisely is really important. Of course, this is down to a few different factors.  We’ve pulled together our guide on how to get the best out of your home makeover – whether you are changing your kitchen, adding an en-suite or upgrading your heating.

You’ve got to love a list…

1. Top of our list, is making a list – What do you really want versus what do you really need. These aren’t necessarily the same thing… you may want a £1000 bath, but do you really need one?
2. Budget – decide how much you want to spend. Is there any wiggle room, or is that the absolute maximum? Then start to allocate a spend against main items.
3. Pre-plan – think about where you are wanting to install/place your boiler, new sink, shower, dishwasher, etc., are you positioning them in exactly the same place as the previous ones or are they new installations.
4. Quote – once you know what you want (roughly), and how much your budget is, you’ll want to call in the professionals for a quote. Having your plan to hand will help them understand your needs.

Your plumber

Then it all boils down to guidance, a great plumber will give you options and discuss details with you, to try to give you the best solutions, that work with your wants, needs and budget.

Looking at the pipe work, determining the age and how it has been installed will help your plumber understand how much work is involved – whether it’s a straightforward re-use or a completely new renewal of pipework.

If you are building an extension it will mean adding in extra pipework.  This could include re-routing from existing pipework or installing completely new drains and pipes along with connections. As experts in their field, they will want to ensure that you get the best solution.

Understanding the requirements of your household will also play a big part in cost and time. If you are needing a new shower, it isn’t just about where you are going to site it, it’s about how many people are going to be using it; and how much pressure currently exists alongside what type of boiler system you already have.

Existing plumbing also needs to be factored in. This is down to the type of plumbing you have, how old is your house, are there any existing or previously known problems that might have an impact on whether you can re-use what’s already there?

Older houses, for example, can have pipes that are made of lead. Deterioration can mean lead poisoning, which can be particularly dangerous for children and babies. Some pipes are made of steel covered in zinc. This can break down over time and cause blockages and discoloured water. Alongside pipes made of cast iron or even concrete! All of these can have a significant impact, due to deterioration.

It’s also not uncommon for older houses to have some work done by an untrained hand, which can lead to inadequate set up and ongoing poor performance. Even some newer built houses (within the last 30 years) can see deterioration of PVC pipes and it’s not uncommon for new builds to suffer their fair share of plumbing issues. So, our advice is always get your pipework checked, to save any costly mistakes when planning your home makeover.

Whilst, it’s always good to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve before you start engaging with your plumber, there is an alternative way to do things, if you are open to suggestions.

Why not sit back and let them be in the driving seat? Ask them for their opinions, to help you design the project and appreciate their years of training, experience and dedication…

You may well be surprised by what a fantastic set of suggestions they come up with and it may well save you a lot of time and angst in the long run. Making your home make over a dream project.

Whether you are a born organiser or are open to suggestions, why not use this a guide to help you get the best out of your home improvements, because “you’re worth it”.

We, at Bradley Plumbing and Heating, love a good bathroom, heating, or kitchen installation project so if you need any help, advice or assistance, give us a call today. Steve and his team are ready and waiting to turn your house into a home.

Here’s some images during the preparation stages – Starting image, removing the sink and tiles, prepped and ready for installation and new towel rail.