Renovating & Remodelling Weekend: 14th-15th Nov 2009

This weekend event will see a great variety of seminars from a broad spectrum of speakers: renowned industry experts right the way through to first-time renovators presenting their case studies.

Whatever your area of interest, with three theatres and over 15 seminars each day, we're confident you'll find what you're looking for.

Seminars in Detail

RENOVATION

10.30 – 11.15	Finding A Renovation Project	BuildStore Experts
Often considered the hardest part of renovation, finding the right project or that perfect plot can be difficult. However, renovation properties and potential building plots exist all over the country; learn the basics of how to find them and how to make an initial assessment of viability. The expert will take you through the steps that will enable you to find the right renovation project for you!

11.30 – 12.15	Why Bother With A Survey?	Giles Cooper
A presentation about the types of house survey and the pitfalls of going without! A survey is essential when contemplating a renovation project. A property that looks like an excellent proposition at first glance can prove to be a money-pit the minute the outer layers come off - and then the costs soar to budget-busting levels. No one contemplating taking on a serious renovation project should miss this presentation.

12.15 – 12.45	Financing Your Home Improvement or Renovation Project	BuildStore Experts
Whether you are an experienced renovator, or you are contemplating your first project, securing the right type of finance is essential to ensure that your project is a complete success. BuildStore's finance expert will explain how finance options work for renovators.

12.45 – 13.30	Top Tips for A Smarter Renovation	Steve Tomlin
In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to be smart and 'box clever' with your renovation project. This seminar will reveal how to reduce your costs and maximise your impact on your property, whilst ensuring you stick to budget and make a tidy profit. Steve will be revealing clever tricks of the trade to ensure your renovation stands out from the crowd, including how to scour reclamation yards to find the jewel in your renovation crown, how to use recycled or second hand products and how to buy smarter.

13.30 – 14.15	Understanding Your Tradesmen's Quotes & Dealing With Hidden Extras	BuildStore Expert
Dealing with tradesmen's quotes can be a minefield for those new to renovation (or self build) and many learn the hard way from an unfortunate experience and to their personal cost. Our expert will show you "the easy way" today by explaining exactly how to get the best out of your tradesmen, how to interpret contractors' quotes, how to deal with those 'hidden costs' and how to get the most from your materials purchases.

14.15 – 15.00	Common Building Defects & How To Overcome Them	Geoffrey Hunt
The mere mention of defects or subsidence can strike fear into the heart of any potential house purchaser, however, help is at hand! With his wealth of knowledge, Geoff Hunt, Building Surveyor and Building Pathologist, will take you through the most common building defects you will encounter in a period property and how to prevent or cure them. He will also explain what subsidence is, how it is caused, how to prevent it and the options available for resolving subsidence issues in your potential renovation project.

15.15 – 16.00	Project Managing Your Renovation Project	Mike Hardwick
Could I really manage my own building project? Thousands of people do at many different levels, and so could you. But in making this decision, you should learn what is really involved and how much time you really need.

Remodelling

10.30 – 11.15	Low Cost Home Improvements & Practical Tips	Andrew Leech
Your home is probably your largest single investment and, as such, is well worth looking after! Andrew Leech, Exective Director of The National Home Improvement Council provides a fascinating run-down of low-cost ways to improve your home.

11.30 – 12.15	Improve To Sell	Kate Faulkner & Sarah Walker
If you are looking to improve your home in order to sell it, this is the seminar for you! Sarah Walker, Platinum Property Partners & Kate Faulkner, MD of Designs on Property, property industry guru and author of the Which? Essential Guides to Property, reveals what puts people off buying and what turns them on to buying your home, plus how to maximise the value of your property.

12.45 – 13.30	Remodelling Your Home For Maximum Potential	Simon Smith
What's your home's potential? Simon Smith shows how to make the most of the design opportunities by maximising the space you already have in your home, as well as pointing out the common pitfalls; he'll also outline your permitted development rights (work that doesn't need planning permission). If you want to develop your home but aren't sure how to add value, this seminar is for you!

13.45 – 14.30	Inspirational Ways To Add Space & Value	Nigel Keen & Digby Rowsell
An architect's viewpoint of how to successfully convert and add space - from loft conversions to extensions - with suggested breakdown of costs.

14.45 – 15.15	An Eye for Design - Inspirational design ideas for kitchens and bathrooms	Steve Gow, Homebase
Steve Gow from Homebase will engage you in the three principles of designing, exploring an insight into living skills and design solutions that will maximise the use of space and budget, making your Kitchen or bathroom design induce a state of mind which creates desire, adds value to your home and differentiates it from the rest.

15.30 – 16.00	Adding Value: Windows & Doors	Performance Window Group
The right windows can transform your home and enhance your home's appearance, energy efficiency and value. The street view of a house is vital when selling and nothing adds more to this than well designed windows and doors. If you do not have this wow factor already, then now is the time to act!

Wolseley Case Study Theatre

10.30 – 11.15	Renovation on a Budget with Eco Credentials	Dave Hilton
Renovation on a budget with Eco credentials: David Hilton provides the low-down on his own renovation - a 1983 timber-frame chalet bungalow renovated on a tight budget. Find out what products and processes were used and why, and what challenges David faced and overcame.

11.45 – 12.30	Home Improvement	VELUX
tbc

12.45 – 13.30	Award Winning Listed Building Restoration	Procter Cast Stone
Procter's were asked to look into the feasibility of replicating the colour, details & profiles of a large listed property of architectural importance, involving meticulous matching of cast stone items to the originals. The project has since gone on to win many awards.

14.00 – 14.45	Farmhouses to Railway Cottages and Everything In Between!	Yvonne King
After her husband passed away, former police officer and Environment Agency Enforcement officer Yvonne had to finish renovating their Wiltshire farmhouse alone. With a host of new skills and experience and totally bitten by the renovation bug, Yvonne has now turned her hand to renovation as a means of supplementing her income. Hear Yvonne's tips for renovation success!

15.00 – 15.45	Renovating & Converting A Grade 1 Listed Building (Sat Only)	Douglas Kent
Douglas, who works for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, jumped at the opportunity when a listed 15th Century building that he once drew as a child came up for sale. The property is part of an old inn and is reputed to be linked with Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War. Part of the building has not been occupied for over 40 years and, as you can imagine, Douglas has uncovered lots of interesting features. He will be using local experts from various fields in order to help with the sympathetic repair work,and will have to get consent from both English Heritage and the National Trust for any work he undertakes. This seminar will take place on Saturday only.

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