Posted by admin | Flooring | Posted on November 21st, 2011
Laminate flooring is a versatile option for a wide variety of situations. Many homes have laminate flooring as an alternative to real wood flooring, as it is easier to maintain and lay. Carpets and linoleum soon become faded and lose their fresh appearance, especially in areas where there is a high volume of traffic such as the kitchen or living area. Families may find that spills and mess from children and any pets in the home cause carpets to become tired looking and may even hold odours.
Laminate flooring is easy to clean and care for, with no requirement for specialist care other than a few simple rules. Avoid sliding furniture across the floor, as this will scratch the laminate. When you clean laminate floor, use a damp cloth and don’t apply liquid directly to the floor. Spills won’t damage the floor as long as they are cleaned up as soon as possible.
With regular sweeping and a wipe over, laminate flooring will keep its fresh appearance for many years.
Laminate flooring is also a cost effective option as it will stay looking new for much longer than carpets, and is much harder wearing than real wood. You can fit laminate flooring yourself as you don’t require any specialist skills. It is advisable to obtain advice from a reputable supplier before commencing this DIY project to ensure that you purchase the most appropriate laminate flooring for its intended location and lay it correctly. Here at Wickes, we stock everything you require to lay a laminate floor, including accessories such as skirting trim to cover the gap around the edges of the wall. You can also purchase pipe trim which covers the gaps left around pipes, leaving a professional and neat finish.
You can use laminate flooring in any room, although there are different types for varying levels of use. For instance, if you want laminate flooring in the living area and entrance hall, use laminate which is intended for heavy domestic use. You should always lay laminate on a floor which is even and free from clutter to ensure a level surface, as this could cause problems with your floor at a later date. For concrete floors you will require a damp proof membrane which will protect your laminate from any damp, causing distortion and expansion of the boards.
Underlay is required for soundproofing. This is especially required for upstairs rooms such as bedrooms. You can purchase different types of underlay according to the room type and your requirements. For many simple rooms such as the bedroom, laying a laminate floor may be completed within a few hours. For a room with a concrete floor or a larger area, you may need a little more time, but you can generally complete a room within the day.
Take the time to do some research before laying your laminate floor and making sure you have the tools and accessories required to help you achieve a professional and neat finish. Spending more time in the planning stages will ensure you enjoy many years of a perfect laminate floor.
Posted by admin | Flooring | Posted on November 11th, 2011
Are you looking to give your living area that extra something that gives off the correct ambience youre looking for? Many people would go about creating this atmosphere by buying some flowers, or maybe purchasing a new portrait to put up on their wall, but we have found a cheaper, more effective solution in floor lights. Lighting is often a factor that is overlooked when trying to create the desired theme in a household, but it is regularly the most effective way about creating a comforting feel within your home, and more people are starting to realise the benefits that come with the correct lighting in your household.
In this article I am going to concentrate on floor lighting, and inform you of the benefits that floor lights will have on your house. Firstly, these lights are portable so if you want to give a room a makeover or if you start to feel that your floor lights would look better elsewhere, then you can just move them around and see for yourself. Also, as these are not fitted lights, you do not have to worry about the expense and hassle that hiring an electrician will bring, you can simply plug them in and their up and running (although you will need to change the bulbs from time to time, so sorry their not completely hassle free!).
Floor lights also have the ability to offer a variety of styles and functions that help to make them practical in a variety of rooms. An example of this is the M&C floor lamp from Sparks Direct, which is a halogen floor standing up lighter, which comes with glass diffusers, double dimmers and an adjustable arm to help give you as much flexibility as possible when creating that desired mood. This small and slick design has a great contemporary look to help it fit in to a range of rooms, and can also be used outdoors for things such as evening garden parties. Or you could opt for the Flos Glo-Ball F1 Floor Lamp which boasts an externally acid-etched diffuser and a hand blown flashed opaline glass. It also offers a 0-100% light adjustment which is provided by a dimmer fitted on grey fabric-upholstered polarized power cord.
So why choose these new, highly fashionable lights over other traditional lighting? Firstly, table lamps take up room on your table, and stop you from displaying things such as centre-pieces or pictures. Also, as said earlier, floor lamps have the power to be portable and be used for a variety of occasions such as dinner parties or garden parties. You can buy them in a variety of heights and designs, so you have the option of an up lighter which will give your living room a healthy glow, or you could have a giraffe/ark or saddler shape which can help give the same effect as fitted ceiling lights. We also offer lamps in a huge range of colour schemes, helping you to ensure that you find the correct floor lamp for your household.
So go out and have a look for yourself and make sure you take advantage of some great deals for these beautiful floor lamps and give your household the correct atmosphere it deserves.
Posted by admin | Architecture | Posted on November 6th, 2011
The built environment is one of the most visible of man’s achievements, with structures dating from prehistoric times still in existence. Today, there is an even greater demand for buildings than ever before and courses in architecture are among the most popular offered by universities in Britain.
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The Challenge of the Profession
The life of the Architect can be full and satisfying, offering widely varying opportunities to both men and women. The work is both artistically creative and at the same time technically demanding, the resolution of the tension between the two bringing a sense of achievement. As in most areas of concern, there are often complications, but these are frequently outweighed by the satisfaction of providing a caring professional service which applies inspiration, design skills and technical expertise to the client’s needs.
The Architect is trained in all aspects of building, and can advise on and carry out the design of new buildings and extensions, the repair, preservation or rehabilitation of old buildings from initial feasibility studies through to the completion of the final account.
Architects are skilled in analysing building problems and producing design solutions to them.
The majority of Architects work in small to medium sized practices of up to 20 people, although there are some larger offices. Others are employed by local authorities and various public sector bodies.
The training of an Architect has to be exceptionally comprehensive and includes the aesthetic, practical, technical, economic and contractual aspects of construction. In a period of increasing specialisation in many fields, the Architect is expected to have a general understanding of all aspects of building. Not surprisingly, all courses, of whatever kind, are long and involved, not by any means easy, and require sustained effort and commitment.
The Personal Characteristics Required
A candidate for Architectural education should be able to think about and analyse complex problems, and a lively and inventive mind is an asset, together with some artistic sensitivity. Resourcefulness is needed, as is the ability to achieve an unbiased solution to the problems involved. As the work often involves dealing with legal procedures, there needs to be an aptitude to cope with such matters.
On a personal level, one will have to be able to get on with all types of people, such as clients, colleagues and contractors, and a keen sense of humour is a not inconsiderable help in some circumstances.
Qualification and Registration
In the United Kingdom the title of ‘Architect’ is protected by law, and to be able to use it one has to be registered with the Architects Registration Board Qualification for registration is by examination, usually undertaken at one of the recognised Schools of Architecture, with the course being in three sections:
1. A full time course at a university leading to a degree after three years.
2. A full time Diploma course at university. (Often there is a break between these two parts, when a year’s practical experience is gained).
3. A further year’s practice is required before the Professional practice
Examination is taken, leading to Registration as an Architect.
Information and Courses
Courses and their details vary from year to year, and it is advisable to approach the university chosen for details of the courses offered. Entrance qualifications for each University differ and should be checked with the university concerned. The normal requirement is the equivalent of three good A levels, with preferred subjects including: Maths, other Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, etc.), Art and Economics. Other useful subjects could include: Business Studies, Geography, Languages and those demonstrating literacy skills (English, History, etc.).
Architectural Technology
The Architect is assisted in this work by the Architectural Technician or Technologist, whose qualification and experience lie in the detailed technical area of the work as opposed to the aesthetic design of the buildings.
The Technologist will carry out many tasks on behalf of the Architect, including:
measured surveys of buildings and sites
drawing up technical and production drawings
computer aided drawing and design
preparation of specifications and schedules of works, with selection of appropriate materials
co-ordination of information and work of specialists and statutory bodies
quality control and site inspection
interpretation of Building Regulations and associated legislation
The Technologist must therefore have a full and detailed understanding of building science and technology and of building contracts and regulations and the law associated with building.
Qualifications
The Architectural Technologist has traditionally qualified by means of BTEC Higher National Certificate or Diploma courses and many of these are still available at Universities and Colleges all over Britain. However, in the last few years, many Universities have developed degrees in Architectural Technology and these are becoming increasingly popular. Entry to all of these courses is by A levels, with the preferred subjects being similar to those for Architecture, although Art is less important as there is less aesthetic design in the work involved. Other suitable qualifications would be lower level BTEC awards or GNVQs, or their equivalent. The individual Universities or Colleges should be contacted for their particular requirements.
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