Issue 5 April 2004
WIN TICKETS TO CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Seeking inspiration for your garden? Well, here's your chance to win tickets to Chelsea Flower Show - and be inspired as you enjoy the stunning gardens created by the landscape gardeners working with builders.

Just visit our website at www.findabuilder.co.uk and complete the entry form to enter the prize draw. The winner will be announced in a future issue of Better Building projects. It couldn't be easier!

With summer round the corner, it's time to start revamping those plans for your garden and outdoor space: Remember you planned last year to create an outdoor eating area, a proper play area for the children or off-street parking? Well now's the time to start working on those plans.

Don't forget that improving your outdoor space can also significantly increase the value of your home: experts suggest by up to around 15%. But if you want it finished this year, don't bank on being able to do it all on your own.

Landscape gardeners can help you plan your outdoor space, but it may be worthwhile getting in a builder to do the work - especially if you need to level the garden, build decking, lay paving, create built-in outdoor seating or walls, a swimming pool or create off-street parking.

Creating decking or paving - creates an extra room outdoors where you can barbecue and enjoy long summer evenings.
Off-street parking/driveway - not only increases the value of your home but makes it more convenient unloading your car in the heat or the rain.
Built-in seating - integrates the living area into your garden and avoids the need for additional seats.
Levelling the lawn - turns a difficult slope into a flat football area or a croquet lawn.
Adding walls and fences - can increase privacy or block out sun, wind or street noise.
Block paving - simply by levelling the ground and laying paving stones can create a new play area for your children.
One Winchester homeowner had some tips for would-be garden-improvers… click here for more





LOOKING FOR A BUILDER?

Don't forget you can search the FMB's member database, containing 13,000 builders and contractors, at www.findabuilder.co.uk. 		  BUILDING PROJECTS

For the FMB's top tips for managing a successful building project, click here.
 

The Essential Guide to Home Improvement
For further information check out the FMB's web site at:

www.findabuilder.co.uk

or telephone 08000 152522 for a free copy of The Essential Guide to Home Improvement, which is packed with sound advice on planning home improvement projects, and choosing and working with your builder.

Are you building, converting, extending or improving your home?

Then a visit to a Homebuilding & Renovating Show near you is a must.
Scotland: 8 & 9 May 2004, SECC Glasgow
Eastern: 3 & 4 July 2004, East of England Showground

Tickets available on 0870 010 9031.

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Images by The Royal Horticultural Society. Top left: image of RHS Garden Hyde Hall, the Lower Pond 2001 and top right: image of The Merrill Lynch Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2003 taken by Michael Walter of Troika. Source PA Picselect.
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