Skylights are available in two types: •Venting – which can open •Or Fixed – which don’t If you decide on the fixed unit, be sure to consider if the room has adequate ventilation, or you could see a build-up of condensation, this is especially important in bathrooms. If you have gone for the venting option, think of the practicalities! Is the window within reach? Can you open it easily? If the answer to these questions is “No” then you might be better off considering the fixed skylight, which is actually cheaper anyway. Or, you could look at the electric opening skylight. However, you need to decide is this is an affordable option. Bear in mind that if you have a power cut, you won’t be able to open or close... Read More »

Thatching is one of the oldest forms of roofing and dates back for thousands of years and has been used across the globe with different materials from banana leaves in the Amazon and coconut palm fronds in the Caribbean to Savannah grasses in Africa and anything from oats to bracken in England. Nowadays in England you tend to only see 3 types still being used: water or wheat reed and long straw. Both water and wheat reed are cut with a binder and then combed to give the appearance or reed, whilst providing a compact even texture across the roof. Straw is threshed so that the butts and ears and mixed together, this gives a rounded almost “shaggy” appearance to the roof – very contrasting to the reed roofs. Thatch... Read More »

Green roofing is becoming extremely popular, especially for those who want their homes to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Green roofing is essentially a multi-layered pre-grown system. A typical green roofing solution will include the following: Structural Support Vapour Control Thermal Insulation Waterproof Root Membrane Moisture Protection layer Drainage and a filter membrane Growing membrane Vegetation This type of roof almost looks like a turf, and it’s durable. It can really make your home blend in to the countryside scenery, and it’s a roofing solution that’s ideal for environmentally friendly enthusiasts. This natural system provides natural air conditioning, while you get no heat reflection. Insulation is superb with this products and the top layer of vegetation is extremely strong and hard-wearing.

There are several different metal materials available including aluminium, steel and even copper, all with their own qualities. Being lightweight and fire resistant they definitely have their advantages. If you are concerned about your carbon footprint and protecting the environment then you might like to pick an organic underlay or even synthetic underlay. These will assist you in becoming LEED certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. Steel is most commonly used as a metal roofing material. However, manufacturers have to coat the metal to protect it from rust. Copper is usually a very expensive option. Over time it will become oxidised, turning it from a bright penny reddish-gold to a blue/green colour so be sure this will work with the ‘look’ of the property before you go ahead. It... Read More »

You may have heard about solar PV tiles but it’s important to understand the benefits, especially if you’re considering incorporating them into your roof. Solar tiles do tend to be more expensive than solar panels, and that’s mainly because they’re more expensive to make. These tiles work together to offer a good level of home energy, but they do look like ordinary tiles. Many people will not completely cover their entire roof with these durable solar PV tiles, and instead they will incorporate them into their existing tiles, whether they’re slate, clay or metal. These tiles can be designed to match your existing tiles but solar panels could prove to be wiser investment if you’re not too fussed about roof styling. These are cheaper, and actually more efficient in terms... Read More »