Your Guide to Getting a New Front Door

It’s probably a long time since you changed your front door. In fact, you probably have the same front door that came with the property when you moved in. Regardless, is now the time to consider a new front door?

Why? Well, an older front door is a more vulnerable door. The older the doors get, the easier it is for people to exploit weaknesses in them, to get through them without being supposed to go through them, and it’s mostly just a security risk.

How Old is Your Front Door?

One of the first and most serious questions that you need to ask yourself is how old is your door? The older a door is the more of a security risk it potentially is to your property.

The internal locking mechanisms of a door have also changed drastically in recent times. Door locks used to be a lot more simple back in the day, and so a lot of people know how to pick locks like that. New doors are a little bit more tricky because they have more up-to-date technology which is less susceptible.

If your front door is a bit older, and just generally worn down, replacing it wouldn’t be the worst thing on the planet.

Keep the heat In!

If you’re going to make an upgrade to your home, and replace the door, then you should probably make sure that you do it at the right time. Generally speaking, you will find that the best possible moment to do this is before the weather starts to turn bad.

If you make sure that you time the whole experience right, then you will make sure that you keep the heat out and keep your home cost and warm.

Heating bills can get pretty pricey if you’re not careful, which is why having an old door that lets all the heat out isn’t a very economical. Instead, you’re going to want to make sure that you make an upgrade to this sooner rather than later

You wouldn’t be alone for wanting to make this a reality that you have, because a lot of people find their doors are not great for energy efficiency. Older models, in particular, have a problem with keeping heat in, which can ultimately just cause issues when it’s minus temperatures outside.

In addition, it’s a sensible idea to start thinking about upgrading your door during the Summer and Autumn months. There is no doubt that when it comes to choosing a new front door, you consider all the options, and the type of door that you go for. Upgrading a door makes such a difference to your property and completely modernises the overall look of your home, and will no doubt improve the value of it as well.

The Benefits of a Conservatory

A conservatory is a very wonderful addition to a home, and a lot of people have had conservatories in their properties for many years now. There is no doubt that they can be very useful things, as well as very beautiful parts of the property.

However, why should you get a conservatory, what are the benefits? It’s a question that people ask quite a bit, and try to explain it as best we can, we’ve taken a look at some of the primary benefits here.

Natural Light

Natural light is one of the biggest things that a conservatory can bring to a property. If you’ve never had a conservatory before, then you won’t necessarily appreciate exactly how much natural light you can get into the house via this conservatory. Natural light does things for a property that artificial lights just can’t do. It gives it a sense of homeliness, of nature, and it’s fantastic.

As the conservatory is primarily just a collection of windows with a frame, the amount of natural light you get is astounding. It means that you can, theoretically, have a whole new dimension to your property, and experience the outdoors in a new way.

Improved Property Prices

One of the big benefits of having a conservatory is that it can help to improve the overall value of your property and increase the price that you’ll get if you try and sell.

A conservatory is a big thing. It’s a project which, if done correctly, can really make your property look even more attractive and boost the overall price of it. This is good for anybody who is looking to sell, or someone who is attempting to improve their home as an inheritance for children. It’s definitely something we recommend to anybody who is trying to kick the price of their property up a little in preparation for a big life event.

Cheaper than an Extension

A conservatory can be a really good way of improving the overall size of the property whilst avoiding having to pay for a whole extension. The objective with an extension is to increase the amount of room that you have, obviously, but a conservatory can do this in a cheaper way.

Even the biggest and best conservatory typically costs less than your average extension, because there’s so much to do that costs a lot. We recommend a conservatory for anybody who is attempting to upgrade their property without spending a fortune.

So, in conclusion, there are quite a few benefits to having a conservatory. A lot of people see a conservatory as being a dream, a pipe goal that they attempt to reach. It’s understandable when you consider just how attractive the conservatory can be. There is something about the natural light and sleek frame that really adds to a property, and there is no doubt it will look fantastic regardless of what type of home you have. It’s definitely something to take a look at.

Exploring our Check-A-Trade Profile

Have you ever visited Check-A-Trade?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the website, let us explain. Check-A-Trade is a website where people can go and look up people who work in a particular trade. Think of it as being a place for getting some honest opinions from people who have used the service before.

So, when we found out that we had a Check-A-Trade profile, we were interested to see exactly what people thought about us. It made for some interesting reading, and we thought that we would share what we discovered.

Looking at Our Stats

Well we took a look at our stats and they’re pretty impressive, we have to concede. It’s incredibly gratifying to see everyone think so highly of us.

We scored a 9.67 for reliability, a 9.9 for courtesy, a 9.81 for tidiness, a 9.9 for our workmanship and a fantastic 100 for quote accuracy.

Honestly, it’s so nice to see these glowing reviews from people. We’ve done nothing but try and be as reliable as possible, and we’re so glad to see it’s paid dividends.

Sharing Top Reviews

To try and give you a little more of an idea as to what people think, we thought we would share some of the reviews that made us feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy.

“Outstanding company, really pleased with the work. Arrived when they said they would, if they were going to be late they let us know. Kept us informed at all times as to progress etc. All the guys on the team were grafters, they were polite and all in all nice guys.”.

“From our first contact with Abbie on the phone we had a good impression. On our first meeting we found Lewis to be extremely professional and friendly. Lewis and Matthew really helped put us at ease and had some great ideas and suggestions without being pushy. Our project manager Terry was always available either in person or by phone. The team on the job were brilliant…Nick, Kieron, Charlie, Daniel. There was only 1 day during the build when nobody was on site. Any issues we had, Lewis and Matthew were calm, professional and resolved them without fuss. Would not hesitate to recommend”.

“Excellent standard, very pleased with the products. Very polite and helpful. Happy with our choice.”.

So, to wrap it all up, we’re really proud of the team. They’ve all gone above and beyond and it’s shown. Our Check-A-Trade profile isn’t necessarily the biggest out there right now. But it’s definitely something we can be proud of. All we’ve ever wanted to do is help you all to get the home improvements you deserve. If you’re happy, then so are we. We’re glad to have such helpful and easy-to-work with customers, as well as staff who go above and beyond whenever they can. We’re looking forward to doing more over the years – and we’re not going to stop anytime soon!

Check out our profile here.

Proudly Sponsoring Tigers Junior Football Club

Our sponsorships are very important to us. They are a sign that we are committed to not only you, the customer, but to the community we live and work in.

We try and sponsor good causes and encourage the community to flourish, which is why we chose to sponsor the Tigers Junior Football Club. They are a team that we feel deserve our support, and we’re grateful for the chance to work with young talent.

Why Tigers JFC?

Some of you might be wondering why we would sponsor a group like Tigers JFC. It seems a bit random for a home improvements group, doesn’t it? But that is where you would be wrong.

You see, we actively try and make sure that our community flourishes even during difficult periods. Right now, we’re in the grip of a serious challenge being faced globally – COVID-19.

We all talk about how adults have lost their jobs, been sent into economic troubles, or had to rely on support from the government, and this hasn’t changed. But one group of people who have also suffered are the children in our society.

This period of time is very important from a formative perspective. You see, children are in a period of development and growth. To be stuck inside, in a climate of fear – it hasn’t done them any good. Instead, they should be outside, learning confidence, teamwork skills, coordination.

By supporting this club, we think that we can help with just that.

What We’ve Offered

By sponsoring the club, we have been able to provide them with a selection of key services which will no doubt benefit all who use the club and are fans of it.

Our support extends for the duration of the 2020/2021 season. We have been able to provide support to the Futures program. This is a special program that the club has developed which allows children in the under 14’s category to train to be a qualified referee and also to coach the younger age groups at training sessions. Our support will provide funding for both the courses themselves, and for the kit that participants in the program will wear.

We hope that by doing this, we can put the under 14’s into a position of responsibility and consideration, which will equip them with the skills they need to be productive members of society, as well as good role models.

Final Thoughts

So, to conclude our news, we’re proud to be able to support the community in this fashion. COVID-19 has hit everyone, but we wanted to help a group who may not have had as much support from a developmental perspective – the children. The club is a vibrant and wholesome part of the local community, which is why we are thrilled to give them the support that they need. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone grow and develop over the course of the season, so that they can become well-rounded players, and well-rounded young people.

What is an Orangery?

In its earliest form an orangery was a large glass building attached to wealthy homes or sitting in the grounds, and in which fruit trees were planted. Fast forward 200 hundred years and today’s orangeries tend to be used as offices, a playroom for the kids, or an extension at the back of our homes.

Attached or stand-alone, thankfully orangeries are also a lot smaller than their monster-sized predecessors of yesteryear. They also tend to have either double or triple glazing instead of single glazing, making them far more thermally efficient and far more likely to get Building Standards approval.

In fact, today’s orangeries can be likened more to a home extension. Some suggest they are like conservatories – although we don’t believe that’s the case. This is because an orangery has bricks – usually matching those in the main home – as well as either a tiled composite Equinox Roof or a handy Solar Reflective self-cleaning glass variety. A conservatory’s main role is to bring in light. The downside is that due to its large windows, lack of bricks and large pointed ceiling a conservatory won’t be as warm as an orangery in winter.

Roof and base

But the difference between a conservatory and orangery doesn’t end there. An orangery roof tends to be flat with a glass centre, whereas a conservatory’s is more than likely to be pitched roof. You’ll also find that where a conservatory typically has French doors, you can expect to see the sliding variety or bi-fold doors in an orangery. And, in fact, you can tell an orangery right away – especially if it’s stand-alone. That’s because conservatories are nearly always attached to one wall of the house.

An orangery and conservatory also differ in terms of the materials used to build each. The frame of a conservatory is usually made from uPVC whereas orangeries tend to come in ‘classier-looking’ wood. The frame is also shorter in an orangery. We’ve seen orangeries built using aluminium but they always have a smarter-looking material to cover the silver poles.

The materials used will obviously also influence the cost of each extension. Your typical conservatory in the UK today will cost in the region of £10,000 whereas an orangery will set you back almost double that amount.

Lighting

It’s pretty simple to fit downlighters or other forms of artificial lighting to the flat roof of an orangery (not so with the pitched conservatory variety). The fact it has more glass than a house extension means an orangery gets lighter than the former. It also results in the orangery performing in a similar fashion to a greenhouse during the winter months, ie where it can store solar heat. A skylight window means you can admit air if it is too hot during the summer months. Today it’s also possible to buy glass which will lessen the solar effects of the sun during the typically warmer summer months of July and August.

Call us today!

Fancy your own customised orangery for your family home? Then get in touch with the Sovereign Home Improvements team today. We’d be happy to chat through your ideas and perhaps suggest others. Tel: 01277 810 910 or see sovereignhome.co.uk.

10 things to consider when choosing a builder

The building industry does still have a stigma of the rouge traders or cowboy builders attached to it, many of the people I visit are scared to commit to anyone due to the horror stories they have heard or experienced themselves. Here are 10 tips to help you make the best decision possible:

Company reviews and testimonials. Make sure you use companies such as check a trade and which as the reviews left are by real customers and are fully vetted reviews. Some other search engines are not vetted and anyone can leave reviews which is misleading to customers.
Photos of previous work, make sure you can see visual evidence of the companies work not just images from the internet they show you.
Ask to see some work and speak to real customers of theirs to get a real view into what it is like dealing with them as a company. Seeing work for your own eyes and speaking to real people gives a great insight into what working with them will be like.
Company history, make sure the company has some trading history, no discrepancies against them etc. Some people set up a lot of companies and fold them every single year which is not good.
Breakdown of the quote, may sure its very detailed and you know exactly what you are and are not getting. Especially look for ‘hidden extras’ there could potentially be.
Payments, make sure they are broken down clearly. Stage payments is what we believe is the best way to work. This means you pay once each stage is completed. A usually extension will have roughly 12 stage payments.
Quality of products, make sure when you do your comparisons it is like for like as a lot of companies will use cheaper products than others. Also make sure the products confirm with building regulations.
Point of contacts, make sure there are multiple people you are able to contact as one-man band builders are sometimes hard to get hold of as they are on the tools a lot so need someone else to speak to when you need it.
Accreditations, make sure the company has some form of accreditations with governing bodies.
Insurances, make sure the company has all of its public and personal insurances in place before starting work at your property.

Difference between a UPVC Door and Composite Door

You’ve probably heard about uPVC doors – they’ve been around for a while after, all – but what about a Composite Door? Newer on the market, these became popular in the late 90s, and are the first choice for most homeowners these days.

But what’s so special about them? And why should you also consider uPVC for your back or front door? We’ll go onto discuss both types of door here, to give you a better idea when it comes to choosing your next front door.

Composite doors

As its name suggest, a composite door is produced from more than one material. It’s actually hardwood at the core, with a PVC sub-frame and a uPVC outer frame (which is reinforced with galvanized steel for extra sturdiness). The combination of these ingredients leads to a rigid and sturdy door while a foam core leads to better insulation and a glass-reinforced plastic grained surface makes it more resistant to becoming dented or easily scratched. Meanwhile, it’s worth mentioning here that our own Sovereign Home Improvements composite doors are 48mm doors – 10 per cent thicker than our nearest competitors, making them amongst the strongest on the market right now!

Meanwhile, as well as providing super-effective security for your home, a composite door will also remain looking good for longer. Rest-assured the colour of your door won’t fade or the shade alter – even despite the often-harsh British weather. The end result is a door which is solid, secure and easy to maintain. It should also last your for around 35 years.

uPVC doors

If you opt for a uPVC door, then you will have a one which consists of an insulated steel frame inside a casing of un-plasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC). This gives the door it’s thermal properties, as well as making it a sturdy and effective choice for any front door. Slightly thinner than a composite door, this type of door is nevertheless also easy to maintain; simply wipe over with a damp cloth if need be. You can expect to have your uPVC door for around 25 years – a decade less than the composite.

The main advantage of a uPVC door over its more contemporary composite equivalent though is the fact that it’s less expensive to buy – you could save as much as 50 per cent by opting for a uPVC door over a composite door. Another advantage of this type of door is the choice of design. More likely chosen for a back rather than a front door, a uPVC door can consist of a full panel or half panel of double glazing which means more light can flood into your kitchen area. This is a great compromise if the room is rather gloomy, making it a must for narrow galley kitchens in particular.

Door locking

Both composite doors and uPVC doors are available these days with a multi-point locking system. This means all locks close simultaneously consisting of a cylinder with kite-mark. This makes them incredibly effective should a burglar attempt to break into your home by this means.

Want to know about our composite or uPVC doors? Then take a look at our website. There you’ll find we offer both in a selection of colours or woodgrain finishes and at very competitive prices.

Why You Should Opt for a Local Home Improvement Firm

When it comes to getting new windows or doors installed it’s always a better bet to go with a local – rather than national – company. Why? Well, there are many reasons and here at Sovereign Home Improvements Ltd in Brentwood, we have attempted to list some of the main ones right here:

Local knowledge

It’s possible to speed up the planning process (if necessary) by using an individual who has knowledge of how the local council’s planning and building regulation teams work. This is particularly valuable should you run into a problem concerning a conservation or similar issue somewhere along the line. A local installer will know which individual to contact in order to remedy the situation, as well as how to go about approaching the Council’s team.

Fixer on hand

Very occasionally problems can arise with a new set of windows or doors. If this happens you can get your local installer on the scene right away. If it’s a national company who have carried out the installation then it could take days or even weeks for them to get someone on the scene. And that means increased stress and anguish for the unfortunate home owner.

Friend and colleague recommendations

With a local firm chances are your friends and colleagues have already used their services. If so, you can get recommendations that you know you can trust to be genuine and truthful (and which isn’t always the case with online reviews). Not only that, but you can physically go and see for yourself the work that the local company carried out. That way you don’t have to take anybody’s word for the fact they can supply exactly what you’re looking for.

Better communication

Communication is always better face-to-face – and is something you will be able to achieve with a local firm. They may even have a showroom where you can go and see windows, doors and conservatories etc for yourself. At the same time, being able to discuss something quickly with the person on the spot is far better than attempting to solve an issue over the phone or by email.

Better deals with local suppliers

Local firms tend to be better at securing local discounts on materials than national firms. This ensures that your home improvements are undertaken with cost-savings in mind right from the very start.

Giving back to the community

Hiring a local company and ensuring it stay afloat means a benefit to your own community and safeguards jobs for local people.

Contact your local Sovereign Homes today

If you live in the Brentwood area of the East of England then you can consider ourselves at Sovereign Home Improvements Ltd a local company. As such we would be happy to have a chat and provide a free quote for windows, doors, a patio, conservatory etc. For a quote call our team on 0800 1777 771. If it’s advice you would like then the number to ring is 01277 810 910. Alternatively drop us an email via info@sovereignhome.co.uk.

Why You Don’t Have to Wait for New Windows or Doors

Is the thought of paying upfront putting you off having those new windows you fancy? Or is it a brand-new front door you’d like to have installed? Well, now you don’t have to worry about big upfront payments.

That’s because, here at Sovereign Home Improvements Ltd we’ve made it easy for you with our zero per cent interest-free payment scheme. This allows you to pay what you can afford each month over a set number of years, making purchasing those windows and doors far more manageable as far as your finances are concerned. Most people pay monthly over a number of years for their car, so why not do the same for your windows and other home improvements? For your windows or doors there isn’t even any large deposit to pay upfront.

Interest-free credit available on all windows and doors

The good news is our interest-free payment scheme is available for all of our windows and doors. That means you can choose from Bow Bay, uPVC and Tilt & Turn windows, as well as aluminium or casement versions for your home. Both double and triple glazing qualify for the scheme.

The same applies to our doors in relation to the scheme. This means you can treat yourself and your home to anything from a set of stylish French doors, to contemporary bi-folding doors, doors for your patio, a composite front and back door, or some uPVC doors. All our doors are weather-proof draught-proof. The popular bi-fold doors we sell are equipped with a multi-point stainless steel locking mechanism, toughened or laminated glass and come with a high-security lock cylinder. There are also around 260 colour combinations to choose from.

Our recognised credit credentials

We are also authorised and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). What this means that you will be entitled to compensation in the event of any default (which is highly unlikely). In addition, all companies which are registered with the FCA have a strict set of guidelines and rules to adhere to with relation to finance and consumers.

At Sovereign Home Improvements Limited our financial role is as a credit broker. Rest-assured too that our zero per cent finance scheme is administered using only one single lender.

We have physical commercial premises at Systems House, Horndon Industrial Park, West Horndon in Brentwood CM13 3XL. The company is registered in England and Wales (VAT number 08164017).

Get in touch for more information and advice

If 2020 is the year you would like to finally replace those old windows of your and, at the same time, benefit from a warmer and better insulated home, then contact us today. One of our installation team will be happy to advise you on the different types of windows or doors we have available, along with their benefits and costs.

In order to book a free quote, call us on tel: 0800 1777 771. For more general information call 01277 810 910 or send us an email via info@sovereignhome.co.uk.

Ponder over Planning Permission No More

These days you can change your home’s external cladding, fit a couple of delux windows to your roof and even add a conservatory – and all without the need for planning permission.

That’s because all of these home alterations come under the realm of ‘permitted development’. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that fitting new doors and windows is no big deal as far as your local planning department is concerned.

The exception to this rule is if the windows you plan on fitting are bay windows (some local authorities in England and Wales consider them ‘an extension.’) That’s because the windows extrude from the building and permanently alter its external dimensions.

If the property in question is a Listed Building then you will, of course, require permission from Historic England to alter its appearance in any way. Being in a conservation area also merits special attention and you will have to contact your local authority to inform them of your intent. And at which point they could refuse… so it’s definitely worth checking first.

Elevated side extension windows

If it’s a side extension or conservatory that you plan on getting fitted then it’s still possible to go ahead and fit windows. But there are restrictions in that the glass has to be obscure-glazed (having level 4 or 5 obscurity). The windows should also be at least 1.7 metres above the ground and/or non-opening. This is to protect the privacy of a neighbouring home which is often overlooked by a renovated property.

Meanwhile, if the new windows or doors are larger than those they are replacing, or inserted into a new area of your home, then this will have to be approved by your local authority Building Control team beforehand. There is no point in going ahead and fitting them only to be told to remove them at a later point because they don’t conform to specific regulations.

Different types of windows

When it comes to choosing your windows there is a variety of different types to select from. What you ultimately go with depends on where in your home they are being added to.

The most popular type of windows for home owners in the UK are double-glazed; triple glazing is sold too but proves less sought-after due to the mild climate on these shores. In Norway, for instance, where there are arctic winters, triple glazing is practically standard.

Other types of windows available include those made from uPVC, bow bay windows, Tilt and Turn, aluminium and casement windows (the latter are usually fitted in period properties, such as Victorian, Georgian and Regency style homes).

Today’s adorable doors

Contemporary doors are produced in a range of smart and stylish designs. Here at Sovereign Home we produce and install uPVC doors in a huge number of shades and finishes. There are French doors for conservatories and doors with the best security locks around for the front and back of the house. There are also smart sliding doors for patios and bi-fold doors which provide excellent space-saving options.

Get in touch today

Why not take a look for yourself at some of the latest window and door designs on our website? You can also call the team here for advice, tel: 01277 810 910.