The term Reinstatement value refers to the costs that would be involved if a homeowner were to rebuild a building and / or piece of property using the same materials and putting it together in the same way. Reinstatement value is different from the actual value of a home.

In fact, reinstatement value and actual value have fairly little to do with each other. Actual home value is important when assessing how much the property can be sold for. The only time reinstatement value is important to a homeowner is in regards to insuring their home against catastrophe.

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Okay then, back to the park problem of vertically developed cities and urban environments.

Having trees which line roadways has been a typical solution to this problem, but with the levels of the problem increasing now and into the future, will this continue to be a viable solution. If we fast forward 50 years, we may see cities like New York and London with wide areas of the cities with buildings which are constructed to heights seen only very rarely today. These buildings will obviously obstruct a large portion of the sunlight from reaching the pathways on the ground level. There are two solutions to this problem: we could construct building which reflect light downward to the ground, or we could use energy to artificially provide much needed sunlight. Even when you do this, I think most people would agree that only having trees on roads would not be enough for an entire city. People have considered the possibility of perhaps dedicating entire floors of skyscrapers into parks, so that its residents can enjoy it.

With the current levels of population growth, many very intelligent people have dedicated their lives towards considering how we would go about constructing a sustainable city/urban environment. One important conclusion they’ve made is that the current way the western world goes about expanding cities outward and horizontally is not sustainable in the long run. This of course mean that the only sustainable way of continuing to grow our cities is if we grow them upward or downward, i.e vertically. From this, they’ve considered the ways they would go about growing a city vertically, and yet still maintaining all of the things which our modern society needs in order to function at the optimum level. If we are limited to expanding our cities and urban environments upward, what do we do about parks and other greenery? In order for our people to function properly, we can’t just have a concrete jungle, we need to have access to fresh air and wildlife. This creates an interesting dilemma for our city planners of the future to solve.

A technology improves so do the products in our kitchen, and we’re providing you with a list of items that are now a must, especially if you have a relatively roomy kitchen.

First a TV should be included. Being able to make a coffee, sit down straight away and watch the morning news is brilliant, and it’s better if you can do it without leaving the kitchen.

Next up, coffee maker. The quality of coffee makers have improved significantly, the coffee can even be made on a timer, meaning you have fresh coffee waiting for your when you wake up in the morning. The online downside is that there are no coffee makers on the market that can bring it straight to your bed.

Another modern convenience is an orange juice squeezer. Again breakfast themed and it’s great if you want to make sure your family are getting their 5 a day. Some orange juice squeezers can offer a glass of juice in just seconds, if you have these items in your kitchen; we promise you’ll be a lot happier in the morning.

Many home insurance claims are made each and every year, and the repairs on a property should be done by highly qualified tradesmen. Before choosing your contractor, it’s important to research and see if they are worthy of the work on your property.

Firstly they should have health and safety training, and this is a necessity. Next it’s important to find out their relevant experience, perhaps also looking at testimonials on their website. If possible request photographs of their work, before and after. Finally checking their repair services is also important. They may be able to do exterior construction work, but if you have a great deal of internal damage, then you may want to find a contractor who can cater for all of your requirements.

They should also have relevant experience in dealing with insurance companies and loss adjusters. If you’re unfortunate and require a skilled contractor to work on your property, then make sure you research beforehand rather than making rushed decisions.

Barn Conversions are becoming an increasingly popular type of property, not only do they obtain character and style from the previous property, but they also have modern features, which you tend to see in contemporary builds. We see a barn conversion as a property which offers the ‘best of both worlds’, and it can surprise and shock your guests.

It must be said that barn conversions are not cheap or easy to build; some may require relocating rooms, perhaps knocking walls through and building new ones. Timber beamed structure may need to be changed, and it can sometimes seem like your building a new property. Barn conversions are supposed to maintain original features, and if that’s not possible it is best to replace them with materials that are as close to the original as you can get.

If a barn is in such poor condition that it does not hold many original features, it may occasionally be better to start fresh with a new build. To find about your options make sure you speak to a barn conversion specialist, preferably one who is located to your area.

This property had to be restored with traditional lime plaster throughout the ground floor.  The owner took the opportunity to relocate the kitchen to greatly improve the use of space.  As you can see the transformation was very impressive.

Flood damage can be one of the worst types of property damage, yet it is also one of the most common problems, either for accidental problems or natural. A good flood repair contractor or tradesman will work to make sure additional work is carried out to prevent secondary flood damage. With floods, there will likely be different colours of water, whether it’s clean, grey or even black. These can cause nasty stains and it’s vital to make sure all types of water are fully removed.

In some cases there may even be sewage, and each and every object that has been affected must be removed from the property. Once removed, there can be the second stage, which involves cleaning and sanitising. A good contractor will also be able to dispose of any materials and have a safe place for storing damaged items.

Once cleaning is complete and any damaged areas of structure are removed and replaced, carpeting, plastering and painting can be the next steps. Then your house will begin to look like it did before, perhaps even better.

Flood damage can be a nightmare, especially if it is deep rooted; consequently damaging the structure of the property, meaning professional help is needed. If you think you may need structural repairs because of a flood, it is important to get it looked at as soon as possible.

Today the term ‘structural repairs’ doesn’t always mean spending a lot of money. There can be extremely cost effective solutions which solve your structural repair issues, but this will depend on the property itself, occasionally it can work in your favour if your property is a new build. Specialised flood damage contractors can make sure you problems are not only fixed, but they are built to prevent any further flood damage. Timber beams can be some of the most expensive to repair, so it is important to make sure your spending money correctly, with an individual who has relevant experience.

The main culprit for damaging timber is wet rot or dry rot, but specialist can make sure your issues, either by replacing the beams or even strengthening them.

Health and safety is essential, and it is your duty to employ a contractor who is trained in health and safety before they start working on your property. Health and safety is not just for the individual working on the property, it’s to make sure you’re safe, and the general public is safe.

Good contractors will regularly take health and safety training, and if they refuse to show you their health and safety certificates, it is better to avoid them. Health and safety also applies to legislation, because it’s vital to keep up to date with any current practise regulations and rules.

If you contractor refuses to talk about health and safety or you cannot find any information about their training, qualifications on their website or in their mission statement, then again it is better that they were avoided. Make sure you choose a contractor who solves your issues rather than causing more headaches by asking them about health and safety.