32 | SEPTEMBER 2020
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTRYSIDE
Estate agent Rightmove reports an increase in the number
of people looking to move from the city to the countryside,
with the COVID-19 lockdown inspiring more city dwellers
to swap the rat race for rural tranquillity. However, moving
from an apartment to a multi-bedroomed home
isn’t a dream that everyone can realise.
So, how can people who
cannot afford to move embrace a
countryside aesthetic, and more
importantly, how can installers
help them do it? Here, Nick Cowley,
managing director at outdoor
living product supplier Endurawood,
explains.
According to Rightmove, enquiries
about buying a property
in a UK village increased by 126
per cent in June and July 2020,
compared to the same months
in 2019. This peaked interest has
been influenced by a renewed
appreciation for open outdoor
spaces, which acted as the only
escape for many during the lockdown.
Furthermore, data from the
Office for National Statistics
(ONS) showed that in April 2020,
47 per cent of the UK workforce
had worked from home.
With more time spent at home,
gardens have become increasingly
important living space.
For those that cannot relocated,
whether that’s for financial, work
or personal reasons, some home
improvements can be made to
breath new life into a city-based
home.
Create space
If moving from the city to a
larger, countryside residence isn’t
instantly feasible, homeowners
in towns and cities may want to
renovate their current properties
to create a similar aesthetic.
With larger outdoor space one
of the biggest appeals of a more
rural area, creating the illusion of
space can have a great impact.
Typically, properties located in
a city have no garden, or a small
garden usually overlooked by
other houses. If extending the
garden itself is not an option,
creating more space from the
property could make you feel
closer to the countryside ideal.
Adding an extension such as
a conservatory or sunroom is
one of the most popular home
extensions. Not only does the use
of glazing create the illusion of
more space, but these extensions
do not require planning permission.
The
addition of bifold doors can also
bring in more natural light, while
creating the impression of more
space. Replacing the door that
leads from the house into the
garden with bifold doors removes
the barrier between the property
and garden, opening up the
entire wall. When folded, bifold
doors can make the garden feel
larger, creating a blend of the
outdoors and indoors. Even when
closed, the volume of glazing provides
great views of the garden.
Wooden appeal
Material choice is another
consideration when upgrading
a space to meet a countryside
aesthetic. Wood is often associated
with a more rural look,
and if your small garden doesn’t
have enough space for trees, investing
in wooden features could
make all the difference. However,
wood can be altered by changing
temperatures and its effect can
wear, requiring frequent maintenance
to ensure appearance and
durability.
Instead, it’s better to opt for a
more durable material that can
deliver the same wooden aesthetic.
Aluminium, for instance,
offers the resistance to corrosion,
warping and fading that natural
wood cannot.
Endurawood supplies wood-effect
aluminium batten systems
that can be used for fencing,
decking, awnings and pergolas.
Decking and pergolas can provide
homeowners with a renewed
outdoor social space, encouraging
them to spend more time in
the open air. Installing new fencing
is an important consideration
for those that want to gain more
privacy, and prevent neighbours
from overlooking their slice of
the outdoors.
With open outdoor spaces
craved during the lockdown,
more people are now appreciating
the value of a larger outdoor
space. For those that cannot
escape to the country, there are
ways to achieve a countryside
style. Although the sound of
wildlife and open fields may
be a far reality if you live in a
city, creating a light, open and
natural-looking space can help
to embrace a rural aesthetic, and
installing them is a business opportunity
not-to-be-missed.
www.euramaxuk.com
NEW HERITAGE HANDLES FROM MILA
Mila has launched its
own range of Heritage
espag handles, combining
fabricator and installer-friendly
features which
make them easy to fit as
well as easy to sell.
Available in both Monkey
Tail and Pear Drop
designs and in both left
and right-handed options,
the new handles
are the perfect option for
homeowners who want a
traditionally styled sculptured,
chamfered or flush
sash window. They even
come with a range of fully
suited peg stays and faux
butt hinges to complete the
overall look.
A simple push-to-fit, design-registered
screw cover,
for instance, incorporates a
faux clocked screw for the
kind of authentic styling
which consumers love.
And alongside that, there
is a simple, push-button
locking mechanism, which
comes with a beautifully
designed rosette dead lock
key.
Mila’s Managing Director
Richard Gyde says they
‘
Demand is still
surging ahead
’
are the ideal product for
the demands of the market
right now. He says: “Demand
is still surging ahead
for timber replacements,
flush sashes and coloured
PVC-U and these Heritage
handles compliment all of
those perfectly.”
There are nine classic
and modern finishes to
choose from in the new
range, including a traditional
textured effect in
either Black and Pewter, as
well as matt black, white,
polished chrome, polished
gold, satin chrome,
pewter patina and antique
bronze.
When it comes to security,
the Heritage handles
have been independently
tested to PAS24 and are
Secured By Design accredited,
and have a 10-year
guarantee on both finish
and performance.
www.mila.co.uk