| Webmasters |
 |
| | |
|
|
|
 |
| Download or order a great free handbook, The Essential Guide to Home Improvement. |  |
Order  | Download |
|
|
|
Some ideas:
Creating decking or paving - creates an extra room outdoors where you can barbecue and enjoy long summer evenings. It's easy to maintain and can be raised to the existing floor level within the house.
The key to creating a good decking area is the frame - or in the case of any patio or paved area it is crucial that there is a correctly constructed base. Your local builder can give you advice or quotes.
Off-street parking/driveway - Not only adds kerb appeal, but increases the value of your home and makes it more comfortable unloading your car in the heat or the rain.
Your driveway is seen as the welcome mat to your home, so take care in choosing the materials you want to use. There are a huge range of tiles, bricks and other surfaces. Ask your builder for advice on the options.
Talk to your local authority about whether you need planning permission. They will be able to organise the lowering of your kerb to create a driveway and move lampposts, if required.
Built-in seating - integrates the living area into your garden and avoids the need for additional seats.
If there is a fence behind the proposed seating, consider whether it is strong enough to support people's backs - a wall may add more support. Also consider whether it is your fence or wall. Do not take down a fence or wall, if you are not sure - it may be worth getting a builder in to advise you.
Levelling the lawn - turns a difficult slope into a flat football area or a croquet lawn.
Make sure that you still allow the lawn to slope slightly away from the house, so water drains away.
Don't forget to consider access into the garden, as you may need to bring in a skip to remove excess soil and other garden debris. If you are considering putting a skip on the road, don't forget to contact the local authority for a licence.
Adding walls and fences - can increase privacy or block out sun, wind or street noise.
When considering putting in a new wall, fence or hedge, make sure you are completely clear that the boundary is yours and that any existing fence or walls do not belong to your neighbours. New laws will come into effect in October that will restrict the height of hedges. Check with your local council, as they may have bye-laws governing the height of walls and fences. If you are in doubt, your local builder can advise you.
Block paving - simply by levelling the ground and laying paving stones can create a new play area for your children.
While paving is far lower maintenance than grass and is easy to make attractive with pots of plants, it makes for a hard surface for children to fall onto and can get very hot in the summer.
The key to building any paved areas is the correct and level construction of the base. If built correctly, the paving will last for many years. Contact your builder for advice.
|
 |
|
|
| Webmasters Join Now! |
Webmasters - add high quality articles from the FMB to your own site, absolutely FREE!
Find out more...
|
 |
 The FMB is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing over 13,000 small & medium sized companies. |
| For further information go to FMB On-line at www.fmb.org.uk |
|
|
