The Veranda market is ever growing in the UK. There are now more and more Veranda types to choose from depending on your requirements and, of course, your budget.

Verandas have mainly been made from a metal (usually aluminium) frame and a glass roof though polycarbonate is becoming more popular thanks to the ease it can be transported and the various options that are available.

Polycarbonate sheeting is far lighter in weight than glass though it is not completely transparent due to the channels than run between the layers.

The benefits of choosing polycarbonate is that the light weight allows for much larger Verandas to be erected using the same frame or a much smaller and neater frame being used in the first place. Verandas can generally use either clear, tinted or opal polycarbonate.  Clear will allow the most light through, tinted gives you some degree of shade and opal is the equivalent of using frosted or obscure glass – great for privacy.

Being that polycarbonate verandas are simpler to transport and erect, it is possible to even buy  DIY Verandas for you to install yourself. If you have flat wall then the installation is generally reasonably simple and anyone with a good head for DIY should be able to manage it with ease. Supply only Verandas should only be considered if you have a flat surface to install to and if you are confident to install your own foundations if required.

Polycarbonate Verandas can also be used as a carport. In fact, Verandas are really the same principle as a carport though they are generally designed to look more aesthetically pleasing and often have integrated guttering systems to avoid flooding your patio area.

The reason Verandas are proving so popular is that you are able to get outdoors more often without the worry what the weather will be doing.  There are various optional extras including screens and panels as well as sliding doors that allow you to create a complete outdoor room. With the addition of heaters and lighting this room really turns into one that can be used no matter what time of day or what time of year it is.

Previously we have discussed about the use of Verandas and how they can provide an excellent garden shelter. There is now an alternative to this in the form of Sun & Rain Awnings.

The Sun & Rain Awning is a cross between a Veranda and a standard Patio Awning.  It consists of a cassette that is mounted to the wall and a slimline frame that is supported at the front edge by two posts.

When the Sun And Rain Awning is needed then a simple press of a remote control will extend the blind. High quality, self cleaning, UV protective fabric will extend from the cassette creating a cool and shaded area whilst the sun is out. If it begins to rain then there is no problem as the tensioned material allows the water to safely run off.

For those who need a very shallow pitch on their Awning, one edge of the front can be lowered by up to 30cm to create a run off for the rain water.  This is achieved by pulling on a handle. Inside the posts is a gas assisted piston so when it comes to restoring the original height, all that is required is the press of a button and the end raises back up to its original location.

When not in use, the Sun & Rain Awning is retracted back into the cassette mounted onto the wall. It is then fully protected from the elements and keeps the fabric looking pristine ready for the next operation.

Thanks to the framework that is used, these Awnings are able to extend much further than a standard Patio Awning.  A single unit can be manufactured to a width of 5m and have a projection of up to 6m. Two units can be coupled together creating a width of up to 10m and projection of 6m. A special gutter profile fills the gap between the two fabrics, ensure that there is no sun or rain leakage.

Often the Sun & Rain Awning will be referred to as  All Weather Awnings. You can certainly see why this would be the case however the title can be misleading. Whilst it is perfect for use in sunny weather and also able to cope with quite heavy rainfall, you certainly could not use it in the snow as it would quickly damage the fabric. The Sun & Rain Awning is also able to cope with relatively strong winds however you would not want to leave it out in a gale as it could well lead to damage.

Could solar panels be the best investment you make in your home this year?

Government guarantee schemes and increasing electricity bills make solar panels a compelling solution for the smart homeowner.

But what is solar power anyway?

Solar power uses photovoltaic (PV) cells on the roof of your house to convert light from the sun into electrical energy which can be used in your house, or fed back into the national grid. A chemical reaction creates a flow of electrons in the solar panel (direct current or D/C), which feeds into an inverter to convert this into alternating current (A/C) to power your house.

What if I don’t want my roof covered in big ugly solar panels?

There are now far more options for your solar installation than the “traditional” thick aluminium framed panels that first spring to mind. In fact there are now options including slate coloured solar tiles which integrate into your existing roof – not only generating electricity but improving the insulation of your house – saving you even more energy and cash!

I don’t live in Southern California – will solar panels still work here?

Solar panels don’t actually need sunshine to work, the photovoltaic cells react to daylight. So even on a completely overcast day solar panels can generate 40% of their potential electricity yield. And you are still connected to the electricity grid, so outside of daylight hours you can draw from the grid just as before. Plus, any extra electricity from your panels which you don’t use will be fed back to the grid and you’ll actually get paid for it!

Ok, it sounds good so far – what are my options then?

There are two options for home solar. If you have the cash up front to buy the panels then you can see large returns through both the savings on your electricity bill (on average between £70 and £130 per year) plus large returns through government back Feed-in-tariff schemes. This can see a profit over the 25 year life of the solar panels of over £15,000. The other option is for the solar panel installer to pay for the system’s installation and maintenance. They take the feed-in-tariff and you get the bill savings and satisfaction of a greener home completely for free.

There are many reasons why people would choose to have Awnings installed to their homes. Of course, the primary motive for an Awning would be to provide shade and protection from the sun.  Awnings do a great job of this. They can extend your home at the press of a button giving excellent UV protection as well as a cool retreat when then sun does come out! Awnings will also keep your home cool and furnishings protected from fading with the rays of the sun.

With all this inconsistent weather a lot of people are buying Awnings to use, not only for sun protection, but also for sheltering from the rain. Is this a wise choice?

A good quality Awning will provide shelter from the rain, the fabric, whilst not necessarily being waterproof, will not let water penetrate it unless there is a significant amount of water pooling on the fabric. If you were to let water pool on your fabric to this degree it would break the Awning!

So are awnings designed to work in the rain? The simple answer is no. This is not the design. However, if you ensure that the angle or pitch of the Awning is sufficient, there should be no problem using the Awning in light to moderate rain as long as you ensure that pooling of water does not occur.

The recommended angle for water to effectively run off is a pitch of 14 degrees. To achieve this kind of angle with an Awning with a 3m projection you would need to look at fixing the cassette at a height of 3m at the back, which is rather high. This may not look the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye and it also will reduce the amount of shade.

The more you bring the cassette down the wall, the more vigilant you have to be when using the Awning in the rain. Of course, the Awning will look more aesthetically pleasing and will be much more effective at providing shade.

Ultimately it is down to the customers’ requirements as to what is best. Does anyone really want to sit outdoors when it is absolutely pouring down? If the answer is no, then look to having a lower fixing height on the wall and be vigilant when using the Awning in the rain.

Primarily garden shelters provide shelter from either the sun or rain. Most shelters will do both. Patio Awning are really good garden shelters as you can choose to have them out when you need them and put them away into a nice and tidy cassette when you no longer require it. This is all done at the press of a button so it makes things really easy.

Patio Awnings are generally designed for providing shelter from the sun however they can be also used in light rain. Generally the angle of the awning should be greater than 14 degrees which will allow the water to effectively run off the Awning. This stops water pooling on the fabric which will lead to damage. You can use you Awning with less pitch than this, however you will need to be even more vigilant to stop water pooling.

Of course, Awnings are the best at sun protection as, using a quality Awning, the fabric will have UV protective properties so, as well as blocking the glare and heat from the sun, you will also be protected from the harmful rays of the sun.

Patio Awnings are limited when you want to be outdoors in heavier rain or if it is too windy. In the circumstances your Awning would have to be retracted.

An alternative to the Patio Awning is the Veranda or Patio Roof. These are permanent structures that consist of a roof that is mounted onto two columns. The Patio Roof can be made from either glass or polycarbonate and it will give you all year round garden shelter. Verandas can be combined with a special type of Awning, generally used for exterior conservatory roofs, which will also offer you sun protection when needed. You can also combine screens around the side of the veranda, enclosing part or all of the open sides. Screens of this nature are designed for keeping the sun out without cutting the light however, using the Zip screens that are becoming more and more popular, will also stop virtually any wind from interfering with your outdoor living!

Now is a good time for you to start considering a purchase of a Sun Awning. Usually a custom made Sun Awning will take some weeks to manufacture, depending on the company that you use. The longer you leave it, the less likely you will have it during the busy summer months.

Sun Awnings are a great way to extend your home with the minimum of fuss and hassle. When the Awning is not in use it resides in a compact aluminium casing that can be quite discreet, depending on your frame colour choice. At the press of a button the Awning will extend giving a large area of shade and protection for the rays of the Sun.

Choosing a high quality Awning will not only guarantee that your Awning remains trouble free for many years, using high quality fabrics also give the best UV protection.

As everyone is aware, the rays of the sun can be extremely damaging to our skin. If you enjoy outdoor living then sun protection is a must. High quality Awning fabrics will keep you cool and protected allowing to you remain comfortably outdoors for as long as you desire.

The sun can also damage carpets and furnishings. On a nice sunny day you do not always want to have to close the curtains or shut the blind. However, by not doing so your room can get hot, you suffer the glare of the sun and your carpets and furnishings get damaged. With the use of a Sun Awning you can protect your furniture as well as remaining cool and all this without blocking the light or your view!

Many Awnings come with a choice of either electric or manual operation. The electric Awnings are now by far the most popular choice as they can be operated with no effort using a remote control. It is also possible to utilise a sun and wind sensor to automatically extend and retract your Awning even when you are not at home. This will keep your home cool and furnishings protected even whilst you are out!

Please accept our apologies for this. The problem has now been resolved and we can be contacted once again in the normal way.

It is especially true here in the UK as for the last couple of years we have had very cold drawn out winters. Whilst our winters do not compare to some other countries, it is certainly not something that we are not used to.

The problem with the great British weather is how unpredictable it can be. We hope that moving into spring the number of warmer days significantly outweighs the number of days that are cloudy or raining. Unfortuantely this optimism can often lead to disappointment.

One of the newer home improvement products can allow you to enjoy the outdoors even when the weather moves against you. This is the Patio Roof, Garden Shelter or Veranda that is becoming more and more popular within the UK marketplace.

Essentially the Veranda is a lean to roof that extends from the wall of your property and sits on two or more columns at the front. The patio roof is usually glass or polycarbonate that has no sides and no front. It can be manufactured in almost all sizes to fit with your requirements.

The obvious benefit of this kind of garden roof is that you have an area of shelter to sit under no matter what the weather is doing.

One of the great things about the Veranda is that you can then modify things further to really get the maximum out of your new shelter. One of the best accessories is an outdoor heater.

Outdoor heaters use new technology that does not heat the air which makes for a very cost effective and efficient method of heating outdoors. These heaters mount onto the wall or the roof of your Veranda and they can be operated either via a remote control or a fixed switch. With the addition of an outdoor heater you can enjoy your outdoor area long into the summer nights. It will also allow you to get outside much earlier in the year without feeling cold.

Another great addition that you can consider with your Veranda is to get zip screens which can enclose the sides, the front of both.

Zip screens are a new product to hit the UK. They allow light to get through though block the heat and also a lot of the wind. They come in a variety of colours to blend with your property. As their names suggests, zip screens has a zip down either side that binds the fabric to the guide channel. This means there are no gaps which not only makes a great barrier for the wind but also stops unwelcome insects from coming in.

If you find that on a hot summers day your veranda becomes too hot to sit under then you can consider using a blind that is commonly found on the roof of conservatories. This blocks any heat before it hits your roof. Again, like the Zip screens, this blocks heat but not the light. It also reduces glare. In the summer months you can sit in a cool outdoor environment with no concerns about the heat, the wind or the rain!

Verandas or Patio shelters do not generally require planning permission unless you live in a conservation area or in a listed building. It is always wise to check this out with your planning office prior to proceeding with any order. The Verandas are designed as a permanent structure and their aluminium framework will give many many years of trouble free use. That being said, if you decide to sell your home and the prospective buyer doesn’t like the veranda, it is easy to remove with no damage to your property!

The primary reason that people would require Roller Shutters for their homes is for Security. Security Shutters are found in many places including over closed shops and other commercial premise. You will also find Roller Shutters over bars and restaurants that have closed.

If you are keen to protect your home using something similar these industrial Security Shutters may not provide the best solution.  They are big, bulky and extremely heavy. Their concern is not with the design and hope well it blends but just security.

Residential Roller Shutters are different in the fact that the design is such that they are extremely practical, offer security and also style. These Roller Shutters are designed to fit over windows or doors of varying sizes so the Roller Shutter Boxes vary in size also keeping the size of the box to a minimum for aesthetic purposes. As well as the size of the box you will find a much wider choice of slat and frame colour allowing you to find the perfect blend for your requirements.

Rather than steel, residential Security Shutters are usually manufactured from aluminium which provides strength as well as requiring little to no maintenance to keep then operating well and looking great for many years after they are installed.

The slats used on Roller Shutters for the domestic market are often foam filled. This offers additional advantages such as increased insulation for your home -keeping the heat in of the cold out. They are great at stopping unwanted noise from getting in or out of your home. Some manufacturers use a perforated slat. This is where small light slits are made in between each slat. These are only visible when the shutter is partially closed. You can therefore have the benefit of security or insulation without blocking all of the light. Once the shutters is locked in its closed position the light slits are not visible at all.

If you are considering buying Roller Shutters for your home then you can consider using a Roller Shutter Specialist such as a top home improvement company or your can consider buying your Roller Shutters direct. The home improvement companies will look after the installation from sale to installation and beyond. You will not need to worry about any stage of the process as it will all be looked after for you. If you would prefer to save money then buying your Roller Security Shutters direct will allow you to choose your size and design and have it delivered to you for to install yourself.

Whichever you choose, Roller Shutters can really benefit your home and provide you with the peace of mind that you are not an easy target for any potential burglary.

Security Roller Shutters can be installed either inside or outside (though generally they are found outside) and when in use they roll down in front of a window or door. When retracted they reside on a slimline box that is usually potion above the window, in the soffit or even in the window reveal.

High quality roller shutters are manufactured from aluminium which is strong and durable and does not rust. When closed down, the shutters are almost impenetrable. This makes them a fantastic deterrent and often criminals will move onto a far easier target.

As well as the security benefits roller shutters can offer, there are other benefits that generally only become apparent once someone has started to use their shutters more.

Roller Shutters are really good at insulation. This is the case both in the winter when you are keeping the heat in and in the summer when you are keeping the heat out. Often residential security shutters will be made from a foam filled aluminium slat which is even better at insulation. You can often find that heating bills are significantly less when the shutters are used for this purpose.

Roller Shutters are a great noise barrier. If you live next to a busy road, train line or airport then you might suffer from noise getting through your windows or doors. Security shutters offer excellent noise protection. Perhaps you like load music yourself or have a home cinema where the noise levels can get up. Security Roller Shutters can stop unwanted sound getting out of your home as well.

Roll Down Shutters like these can easily be operated either by a pull cord (if you want manual operation) or with an electric motor operated by a remote control. If you opt for the latter you can use remote time switched to regularly close your shutters at any given time of day. If you do opt for electric is important to choose a manual override in case of a power failure!

Roller Shutters have so many other benefits and now, with a hug range of colours and designs you can add a touch of style to your home as well as having the peace of mind that your home is protected whilst you are not there.