Author: Jack Shackleton
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Is Your Home Suitable for a Heat Pump?
In Britain, we have a dysfunctional relationship with the heat pump. They’re popular in the rest of Europe, and a proven way to electrify our heating. But still, people don’t trust them. ‘Heat pumps don’t work in British houses’, they say, ‘our homes are too old and drafty’. And, I admit, we are world leaders…
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The 5 Types of Conservatory at a Glance
There are 5 main types of conservatory: They are mainly determined by the size and shape of their roof. There’s also the Orangery, which is like a conservatory with more brickwork. Lean-to Conservatory This is the simplest type of conservatory. Modern and unfussy, and useful when roof height is a concern. Gable Conservatory Gable or…
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How Fast Do Houses Sell? (Using Real Data for the UK)
On average, it takes 59 days to find a buyer in the UK. This is followed by 98 days average during conveyancing, plus 14 days between exchange and completion, giving 171 days (or around 6 months) in total. But it varies. A lot. By region. By house type. By other things. I’ll explain how. I’ve…
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What are U-values and How do Different Materials Compare?
In the UK, a U-value is the critical metric for a building’s insulation. It measures how much heat can pass through a material. This is known as ‘thermal transmittance’. At its simplest level, a U-value is a number, and lower is more insulated. A double-glazed window might be 1.4, whereas an external wall might be…
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How to Insulate a Conservatory Roof
If your conservatory is too hot in winter and too cold in summer, the culprit is probably right above your head. The roof. Specifically, cheap plastic roofs, which have very poor insulation. The long-term solution is to change the roof entirely. Or to knock the conservatory down and start again. However, there is a cheaper,…
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Can You Advertise Directly on Rightmove?
No, you can’t advertise directly on Rightmove. Although, in a way, you sort of can. There’s a kind of loophole. Let me explain. Who can advertise on Rightmove? In order to advertise on Rightmove, you need to be an estate agent. Agents pay a fee to Rightmove, in order to show their listings. This is…
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The 10 Biggest Self Storage Companies in the UK
If you’re shopping around for self storage, it’s good to know the market. Which provider has the most locations? What are their key selling points? And that means you need a list. These are the top 10 self storage brands in the UK, as ranked by number of locations. Of course, you may have a…
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Are Conservatory Roof Replacements Worth It?
A conservatory sounds like a good idea. More space. More sunlight. No planning permission. And all for a reasonable price. At least, that’s what the salesmen said. And by God it worked. Britain is littered with conservatories. Unfortunately, many of them from the 90s and 00s are pretty unusable. Too hot in summer. Too cold…
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Black or Blue Solar Panels: What’s the Difference?
Black solar panels are the modern, more efficient technology. Blue panels are less advanced, and less efficient at turning sunlight into electricity. It’s like when Astroturf changed from sand into those tiny bits of rubber. Nowadays, installers generally offer black panels. You’ll only really get blue panels if you buy a house with them already…
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How Fast is Planning Permission Granted in the UK?
We’ve all heard horror stories about waiting for planning permission. It can severely slow down a project while your Local Planning Authority (LPA) consider your application. Many home improvements can avoid planning permission entirely by building under Permitted Development (hint: if at all possible, do this). However, some projects do need planning permission, especially if…
