We are proud to have partnered with Waverley Borough Council in producing a helpful beginner's guide to home renovation.
Starting Out
Whether it’s your family home or a new purchase, renovating a house can be an exciting and rewarding process. There are so many improvements that can be made to any property to make it feel more like home. Popular television, such as Grand Designs, can be very inspiring to watch but sometimes glosses over the reality of embarking on large-scale renovations. The Waverley Guide to Home Renovation is designed to de-mystify the process of home renovation and help you complete the work in a timely and cost-effective way. When home renovation work is not planned out properly, homeowners can encounter all sorts of unforeseen social, environmental, and financial costs.
Planning Home Renovations
Waverley Borough Council has identified two types of home renovation: structural and cosmetic. While these two types of renovation can differ in scale and cost, both should be approached with careful planning and budgeting.
When planning a task, such as renovating a bathroom or kitchen, it is best to be honest with yourself about your skill set. Some jobs can be easily completed with DIY guides, however, some larger jobs may require professional expertise. The Waverley Guide to Home Renovation provides top tips for selecting the best tradesperson for your planned renovation.
As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to investigate whether you will need planning permission before commencing your renovation. If you will require planning permission, you must seek this first. When you have permission from the local authority, your property will be visited during the renovation, and once the work has been completed to be signed off. Once complete, a certificate will be issued to demonstrate that the renovation is compliant with building regulations.
The guide offers detailed advice across pages 13-22 on the following topics:
Full Plans
Building Notices
Regulation Approval
Competent Person Schemes
Planning Permission and Other Consents
The Party Wall etc Act
How to Find a Good Builder
During the planning stage of any renovation work, it is best to consult with a professional. They will be able to give you advice on the best way to complete the work and identify any issues you may not be aware of.
Waverly Borough Council recommends that for large-scale structural renovations, homeowners should contact and engage an architect or project manager. This will help to lighten the managerial role of the homeowner and provide you with detailed advice and guidance throughout the building process.
Before finalising renovation plans, builders should be contacted so they can have some input before supplies are purchased. Many builders are selected based on family or friend recommendations. It is important to check if the contractor is registered with any recognised organisations, such as Checkatrade or the National Federation of Builders. Any builders you are considering contracting should visit the site before commencing any work. They should also provide you with a detailed quotation of the expected costs of the work.
Waverly Borough Council advises that you never pay contractors the full invoice before any work has been completed. It is best to agree on a payment schedule, e.g. 25% deposit to secure the contractor and the remaining 75% once the work has been completed. It is also important to have a written contract with any contractors you are working with to ensure clear communication and agreement across all parties.
Home Renovation Projects
The Waverley Guide to Home Renovations includes detailed advice and guidance on numerous types of home renovations:
Structural alterations
Conservatories
Doors and windows
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Rewiring/electrics
Replacing boilers and altering heating systems
Chimney, flues, and woodburners
Roofs
Lighting
Decorating
Insulation
Outdoors
Chimney, flues, and woodburners
We are proud to be featured in the Waverley Guide to Home Renovation. Loxwood Burners Sussex supplies and installs woodburners across Sussex and Surrey with our HETAS-registered team of installers. Visit our homepage to see our catchment area for stove installations.
Woodburners and multi-fuel stoves are an elegant and practical way to heat your home. Averaging 5kW output, these stoves will comfortably heat any room while providing a cosy atmosphere.
However, due to the fire risks associated with burning fuel in your home, it is important to seek out professional advice before attempting to install a woodburner or flue in your home. The stove and all installation parts must be up to standard and function safely to prevent a chimney fire in your home. Once a stove has been installed, it is important to service it annually and complete regular chimney sweeps to prevent the risk of a chimney fire, or smoke emission into your home.
All new woodburning stoves must adhere to the Clean Air Act. At Loxwood Burners Sussex we only supply stoves that are certified 2022 EcoDesign Ready and meet all of the required emission standards of the Clean Air Act. We can also advise customers on which stoves are suitable for use in smoke-controlled areas.
At Loxwood Burners Sussex we complete a survey of the planned installation site before agreeing to complete any work. This allows us to inspect the existing space and chimney, or assess the exit route for a twin wall system. We provide a breakdown of the labour, additional items, hearth, chamber, and stove costs. We then ask for a 25% deposit to confirm interest and secure the stove and will request the final invoice once the work has been completed satisfactorily. All new stoves are smoke tested before being registered for a HETAS certificate. We also always provide and test a carbon monoxide alarm before leaving your home. Shortly after your installation is completed you will receive a HETAS certification confirming that the installation met all of the necessary compliance standards.
Visit our showroom to talk through your plans for a stove installation. We can provide detailed advice on a suitable stove size and output for your home, hearths, and chambers. We keep in stock a large array of brochures from trusted suppliers which are free to take home.
Get your copy now
The Waverly Guide to Home Renovation is available to download as a free ebook on our website. Visit our online shop or the blogs page to click the downloadable link.
We thank Waverley Borough Council for producing this guide and featuring Loxwood Burners Sussex.
Comments