With the costs involved in moving house endlessly increasing, and the stress involved in doing so being no secret, it is no surprise that so many people choose to extend or modify their homes rather than sell them.
Howells Patent Glazing have put together their top tips on how to really add value to a home before deciding whether to sell up, or stay put:
Loft conversions - loft conversions have the potential to add around 10% to the value of a home. However, letting in daylight could be a problem unless rooflights are installed, careful planning is a must.
Going underground - underground extensions are becoming more popular, particularly in London where space is tight and the market value can support the high cost of excavating under a home. Underground rooms do not need to be dark and gloomy - it is possible to harness natural daylight by fitting a walk-on rooflight flush with ground level, letting natural light flood in to the area underneath.
Kitchen extensions - an open plan kitchen/living area is a great way to bring everyone together, but the danger of extending kitchens is that they can often result in long, dark spaces where the light struggles to get from one end of a room to the other, leading to a reliance on stark artificial lighting. Consider installing mono-pitched glazing along with bi-folding doors. This not only lets light flood into the room, but also gives a much larger feel to the space.
Bathroom updates - the humble bathroom window isn’t often recognised as something that is useful, or needed, but there’s nothing worse than stepping into a room that feels like it was an afterthought. Then there’s the potential for mold and bacteria clogging up corners and windowsills. Letting in natural light could be the answer to solving this - most diseases, including chronic respiratory problems, are often associated with bacteria and fungi built up in damp areas. Did you know that sunlight is considered to be one of the best natural disinfectants?
Make the most of what you’ve got - natural light is one of the most appealing lights, and is used by most interior designers to showcase a building in all of its glory. If restrictions apply to buildings and planning, consider getting an expert in to show how to ‘daylight’ a home. It can be a difficult technique to get right, but when it is used correctly it encompasses all of the above benefits whilst showing a building in its best light.
Howells Patent Glazing have an expert design team who help architects and builders alike to make the most of glazing systems and natural daylight on their projects.
With 40 years’ experience, and three record-breaking years behind them, the team are hoping to spend the next 40 years delivering professional, trusted and creative solutions to the UK’s glazing industry.
