HOMES AND GARDENS
MAKE CHANGES TODAY
AND ENJOY TOMORROW
t is no secret that people are prepared to try
almost anything to tighten up those purse
strings at the moment so if you want to start
spending less, why not start in the home with a
few, inexpensive improvements which could really
give you that cheaper, ‘greener’ home.
Most high energy bills can be traced to one or a
combination of common problems, such as using
high energy appliances or having insufficient
insulation.
If you want to start making your home more
green, follow these steps:
Start by changing the light bulbs in your mostused living areas to energy saving ones. These cost
around £3 each but last up to eight times longer
than normal bulbs. Each bulb only saves around
£7 a year, but considering how many bulbs there
are in your house, it soon adds up.
Having some quality loft insulation can really
save big money too. The recommended 270mm
insulation costs around £250 to put down yourself,
and soon pays for itself, saving well over £100 a
year.
Other simple cost-cutting measures include
sealing air leaks letting the warmth out. This can
be achieved through inexpensive foam strips which
can be used on windows and doors to seal gaps and
by keeping the heat in means less energy is needed
to keep your home warm.
These small measures can really help make
your home more energy efficient, and work best
alongside major saving measures such as doubleglazing windows and adding extra wall insulation.
But for their low price, these measures can save
those valuable pounds that can be spent elsewhere.
So as we battle through the last few weeks of
darker nights and cooler days why not consider
getting stuck in to all those little home
improvement tasks that you have been putting off,
by getting them done now enabling you to relax
and unwind in the home of your dreams
throughout the warmer seasons ahead.
In fact, as the weather gets warmer, you could
find yourself coming across extra tasks that you
may need to complete, especially outdoors.
For example, over the cold winter period you
may have found that your windows need a little bit
of extra care and attention.
I
Cold weather can strip paintwork and destroy
woodwork, so perhaps sanding these down and
applying a fresh lick of paint or varnish will spruce
up both the inside and outside of your home.
In fact you may find that a fresh lick of paint is
needed in more than one place if certain areas have
become dull and boring. A nice fresh, bright colour
may in fact brighten up your house reflecting the
changing weather outside. And it is better to get
painting now before summer.
Prepare your walls by sanding them down to
achieve an overall smooth appearance. This will
also mean that your paint will go on easier and
have a more professional finish.
You may feel like it is your bathroom that is
looking rather tired and in need of a facelift. Think
about whether or not your bathroom needs
replacing fully, or if it would benefit from some
attention to specific areas such as a new suite, retiling, adding a shower or even under floor
heating.
ACORN
®
FIREPLACES
DEAL DIRECT WITH THE MANUFACTURER
Wide range of Stoves, fireplaces & fires on live display
• FREE SURVEY • IN HOUSE DESIGN
• MANUFACTURER INSTALLATION
Sovereign House, Warren Street, Longton
(by W.T. Lighting)
Tel: 01782 331722
www.acornexcelfireplaces.co.uk
Leek Life March/April 2014 41