If you’ve ever had to paint your entire house, you’ll know how tiring and frustrating it can become. Yes, you might rush into your new home with enthusiasm, and apply that first coat of colour in the first week as you stamp your mark upon the place.

But several years down the line, when all your furniture’s in and your pictures are hanging on the walls, decorating probably won’t seem as fun a task. At this point, many people make the decision to get some painting and decorating quotes, only to be shocked at the cost. So, just how much is too much when it comes to decorating? 

Asbestos was initially used extensively during the 1930s as a construction material. Unfortunately, the shocking health risks were not identified early enough. We now know that the fibres from this material lead to fatal respiratory diseases and lung cancer.

How Widespread is Asbestos?

It wasn’t until 1999 that the substance was confirmed as dangerous and outlawed in the UK. So if your home was built between 1930-1999 it is likely you have asbestos materials within your home. Here are the most common places it may have been used:

• Roofing
• Insulation (Boards, cavity wall, attic)
• Walls (cement)

So you’re thinking of getting a loft conversion? Great idea – not only will that extra accommodation provide you and your family with more breathing space, but your home should also fetch a better price when you come to sell-up (around 20% more, in fact, according to the HomeOwners Association). In other words, adding a loft conversion is a win-win – provided, that is, you get the renovation right from the start.

For, as in most areas of life, cutting costs or rushing in without doing proper research always results in regret. So it’s important to take days – and even weeks – to get your head round subjects such as:

Whether you’re a landlord or you’re simply interested in the electrical safety of your own home, having a regular electrical safety certificate inspection visit carried out provides you with the peace of mind that your tenants or your family are safe. Electricians also undertake a lot of other types of work around residential properties – we’ll be covering some of the more popular jobs later on in this article together with providing you with guideline quotes for each type of job.

In this article, we consider:

• why landlords should take note of the new law on electrical installation condition reports (previously called Periodic Inspection Reports)

Extensions can be a tricky subject. It can be difficult to get a clear understanding of all the rules, regulations and costs. That’s why it’s a good idea to get a proper handle on extension costs before you dive in. It’ even worth using an extension cost calculator to give yourself a general price overview.

But how much does an extension cost?

As with most things, the cost of building an extension varies depending on what you want. Obviously, smaller or less complex extensions are cheaper. Kitchen extension cost, two storey extension cost, single storey extension cost – all of these will differ.

Woodworm is a common problem affecting wooden aspects of many homes around the UK. Woodworm are the larvae of wood-boring beetles, and the most common species is the Common Furniture Beetle. Other common beetles include the following:

• Deathwatch beetle.
• House Longhorn Beetle.

The costs of a woodworm infestation can be immense, not only damaging your furniture, but may also affect the timber structure of your house.

We’ve all experienced it at some point – loud noise coming from a road, neighbour or party when all you want is a few minutes of peace. If it’s becoming a constant problem, however, then you need to take action and this often means taking steps to soundproof your home.

Though you can hire professionals, soundproofing can be can a relatively easy DIY project, especially if you’re tackling a floor. Alternatively, if doing the work yourself seems a little daunting, you should head online to a website like Quotatis to find contractors in your local area who can help.

There’s no telling when a pest might invade your home. From miniscule insects to gnawing and destructive rodents, it’s essential to eradicate them as quickly as possible if you’re to safeguard your property.

Knowing there are pests in your home can be extremely stressful too, so it’s best to get the professionals in to deal with them quickly and humanely. Many councils offer advice on how to get rid of pests, and some may even provide free eradication services.

Pest control prices vary depending on the problem you’ve got, as well as the infestation severity, so it’s important to act quickly.

Are you looking to create a bespoke bedroom complete with fitted wardrobes? Fitted wardrobes offer the best way of maximising the space in your bedroom. While freestanding wardrobes give you the flexibility of changing your room around when it suits you, there is a lot of dead space on them.

Instead of having the tops of your wardrobes collect dust, why not invest a bit of money, time and effort and have fitted wardrobes installed.

Sometimes, there’s only so much your vacuum cleaner can handle. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a powerful machine that sucks deep into the pile of your carpet, dirt, grime and dust will build up over time. And if you’ve got kids and pets – well there are going to be spillages and accidents that stain the carpet

Eventually, all carpets look a little tired and old and are in desperate need of replacement. However, before you rush out and end up spending a lot of money on something brand new, money can be saved by calling in some professional cleaners. The resulting deep clean can be quite astonishing, giving your carpets an entirely new lease of life.

One of the simplest ways to add some curb appeal to your home is to build a porch. Pulling out the front door and making the most of an entrance is an immediate way to please the eye and create a great focal point.

A new porch might also offer you some much needed space for bags, coats and boots; notoriously bulky and hard to store items. And, with energy costs being so high, anything to help prevent heat escaping is an added bonus.

When they’re done right, porches can be an extremely elegant addition to your home. They’re also very affordable.

If your stairs have fallen deeply into despair, having a stair replacement will really kick-start a renovation. Especially since it’s a significant feature within our homes, both structurally and visually. The construction must be safe enough to hold our load and allow us comfortable access to the floors above. On top of this great responsibly it still needs to look inviting too!

Replacement staircases are seemingly limitless in shapes and sizes, materials and designs. When it comes to staircase cost, the material, craftsmanship and overall design are all hugely significant factors.

What is the fair price to pay for the services of an electrician? How often should the electrical installation in my house be tested and how do I know the electrician doing the work is qualified? Electrical inspections are critical because they are just like an m.o.t for your home.

The inspections ensure the electrics in your home are working correctly and above all, safe. In this article, we discuss the importance of electrical inspections, how often it should be carried out and how much they typically cost. We will also consider average costs of partial and full rewires for different types of home. Looking to upgrade the electrical wiring in your home? This is just the article for you.

If you’re thinking of having a new kitchen installed, you’re probably already reeling at the potential expense. Fitted kitchen prices can be staggeringly high, and even a budget project can cost thousands of pounds.

If you’ve got your eye on some designer brands and shiny appliances, then it’s likely to cost a lot more. The size and shape of your kitchen, combined with your dream layout, will have a major impact upon the expense.

So, how much does a new kitchen cost?

On average, around £8,000. This price includes VAT and fitting but excludes appliances and any preparation work that may be needed, such as ripping out the old kitchen, plastering walls, removing wallpaper etc.

Need a locksmith in a hurry? Although locksmiths are professionals who can actually do a lot more than just help people who need extra keys cutting and who are locked out of their home or business, it’s for these two emergencies that we call them out the most.

The price of a new door lock supply-only is likely to start at around £15-£25 for a basic cylinder lock for a uPVC door. For a mortice deadlock, prices start at between £25 and £35 and for a BS3621-approved night latch, expect to pay a price starting from around £45.

Mould is a serious nuisance that affects almost every home at one time or another. Spores in the air can affect your health so it is important to deal with mould properly as soon as you can. But this is sometimes easier said than done.

Black mould, or mildew, is the most common type of mould found in homes, and the easiest to deal with. It can be alarming to discover black mould in your home, lurking around bathroom tiles, on walls or ceilings or behind furniture. But it is not unusual and, thankfully, not very difficult to remove. Read on to discover how to get rid of mould in your home once and for all.

Our bathroom is usually the most humid room in the house. Hot showers, baths and running taps all contribute to building excessive moisture within the air. This circulating moisture soon condensates on any cold surfaces and leaves the room damp.

Without sufficient ventilation, the room cannot fully dry out and leads to a variety of damp related issues. Mould, mildew and rot begin to take a hold of the wood, plaster and flooring.

An extractor fan performs a fantastic job at quickly removing excess moisture in the air, along with bad smells. Moisture laden air is extracted and vented outside, balancing out humidity and mitigating damp related problems.

There’s nothing quite like the feel of a squishy new carpet beneath your toes, and fresh flooring can completely transform a room. Even if your current carpet isn’t very old, bringing in a splash of colour can be a lot less messy than repainting and can breathe new life into your home.

The cost of carpet varies considerably depending on the quality you decide to buy. In addition, it’s also worthwhile paying for professional installers, particularly if you’ve bought an expensive material – imagine the horror of doing it yourself only to realise you’ve cut it in the wrong place!

Wanting a new kitchen but just don’t have the money? Did you know that you stand to save thousands of pounds by just giving your kitchen cupboards a facelift?

Instead of funding an entirely new kitchen, why not spend a fraction of the cost and replace kitchen cupboard doors and worktops instead. The results can be astonishing and you will give your kitchen an entirely different look.

For the majority of people, their kitchens have served them well for years and they now just need a different look. Over 70% of all kitchens replaced in the UK every year are still functional.

Floor tiles are one of the flooring options that can add colour and texture to your kitchen or bathroom. Ceramic floor tiles are larger and thicker than wall tiles in size so they can withstand the weight of foot traffic. Tiles come in different shapes and sizes, but if working on a budget then square and rectangular tiles are the best options. In addition to being cheaper to buy, they are also easier to lay compared to hexagonal or octagonal tiles.

Wooden flooring has become extremely popular in the modern era, and it’s easy to see why – it’s beautiful, hardwearing and easy to clean.

There’s nothing quite like the sheen of a gorgeous oak floor to set off a room. Flooring prices vary significantly so you might look upon owning your own wooden floor as a dream rather than something that’s realistically attainable.

However, lower priced laminate flooring is a cheap solution that, if installed well, can look lovely. If you want the real thing though, you should expect to pay for it. When you’re working out your budget, it’s important to consider the various types of wooden flooring available as this will have a major impact on cost.

Have you recently moved into a new house with a loft space but you have no way of accessing the loft? Or maybe you are planning to turn your attic into a storage area and will need a convenient way of accessing it?

Installing a loft ladder is a simple solution that will enable you to maximise the use of space in your home. However, is it something you can tackle yourself using your existing DIY skills, or it’s something best left to a professional builder?

Replacing a kitchen sink is one of the simpler DIY jobs a homeowner can do on their own. However, things may get a little complicated on the plumbing side when it’s not a straightforward like-for-like replacement.

Suddenly the waste water pipes don’t line up, and more plumbing than you bargained for is now needed. This is when you decide to call in a professional and seek their help. But why let it get to that stage? Why not ask a plumber to quote for the whole job and sit back while they perform their mastery for you?