A report launched today by Experian for the ‘Cut the VAT’ coalition, an alliance of 21 organisations including the Federation of Master Builders, the Modern Masonry Alliance, the Clay Roof Tile Council and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, has unveiled that as many as 55,000 new jobs in the building sector and construction industry could be created if VAT on labour for building work and home improvements was cut to 5%.
Creating Building Jobs
The Cut the VAT coalition believes that by cutting the percentage of VAT paid on labour for renovation and property maintenance work from the current 12.5% to 5% would help the current economic situation of high numbers of unemployed people, and would also have a number of social and economic benefits for the UK as a whole, including helping the Government reach its carbon emission reduction targets.
The report anticipates an additional 24,000 construction jobs could be created in 2010 alone, with this rising to nearly 35,000 building sector jobs by 2019. In addition, the report explains that the additional demand for tradespeople to carry out work in domestic properties will have a knock on effect for companies who supply materials to the trades as people decide to upgrade central heating systems, repair roofs, build extensions and rewire homes. As a result of making building work and renovation of properties more affordable for homeowners, this will in turn help people make their homes more energy efficient, reducing energy consumption and saving them money.
If your home is getting cramped and you could do with an extra bedroom or a home office then having a loft conversion is a great option. Loft conversions are generally cheaper and less hassle than an extension as you already have the fabric of the house there and there is often no building work involved.
The space in an attic or loft is roughly 30% of the total floor area of your home and most of the time all that is up there is a water tank or cylinder and some pipes that can be easily moved if necessary. Also in most cases there is no planning permission required, although it is always better to check with your local council. Read more…
Knowing exactly what type of chimney your property has can be important, not only if you ever need to find a roofing contractor to carry out repairs, but if you’re planning a project such as installing a new fireplace. The type of chimney your property has may dictate or narrow the options available to you.
There are four different sorts of chimneys that you may find in your home, and you can identify which your home has by looking for certain features. The different sorts of flues are:
- brick chimney
- pre-cast flue
- pre-fabricated flue
- no flue
Read more…
Whether you need a bigger kitchen or an extra bedroom when your family has out grown your home you have 2 options, extend your home if you have land available or move house. Both are valid options but which one is best for you?
First we will look at extensions and what they entail. Taking on an extension can be quite daunting when you think that you may not be able to use your garden or drive for a few months and you may be living out of 1 room and bathing in the sink, but a well planned extension can not only add value to your property but transform your cramped house into your dream home.
Read more…
With the global population rising dramatically, more people using cars and densely populated cities producing thousands of tons of carbon emissions it’s time to start changing the way we live. While we can’t change the world single handed in a week, we can change what we do in our own homes and lives which together will make a difference over time.
Read more…
If you have been thinking of extending your living space in the home an attic room is a good idea to give you that extra square footage. It can be used equally well as a general loft storage area or if you want to make an extra bedroom perhaps with en suite facilities, or simply just a chill out area.
Read more…
The problem with birds nesting in your chimney isn’t just the noise the bird will create whilst flapping about in your chimney or the possibility that they may get into your home, but you also have to take into consideration the safety issues a nest in your chimney can bring.
Read more…
Whether it be your roof joists, timber frame of your home or wooden furniture, certain types of wood attract insects and larvae that will eat and damage the wood causing a costly repair or structural damage.
Read more…
Dormers give a house an extra room in the attic or loft space, often increasing the value of the house significantly as well as giving extra space if needed. A dormer window is similar to a sky light but rather than being flush to the roof it protrudes out giving extra head room and creating more space in the room.
Read more…
Chimney flashing is an important part of ensuring you have a full waterproofed roof. If your chimney flashing is old or is leaking you could end up with internal structural roof problems or problems with the structure of your house as a whole. Water leaking into your home can lead to moisture build up within rafters which can then rot and no longer have the strength to support the roofing felt and tiles nailed to them.
Read more…
