More homeowners improving current properties

Continually rising house prices has meant that many homeowners are now making additions and adjustments to their own properties rather than moving home, the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has said.

But householders opting for such renovations and extensions must make sure that the builders, architects and surveyors' efforts were in accordance with sustainable building practices, NHIC advised.

Environmental concerns would also play a big part for homeowners looking to install a conversatory, noted NHIC consultant Andrew Leech.

"The builder […]would certainly make sure they didn't violate any current sustainable building measures," Mr Leech commented.

"If you're putting a conservatory-type extension on your home, you've really got to comply with the planning regulation. You've got to have double doors between the conservatory and the home to save loss of heat.

"But some of the really top-line conservatories will have really good double-glazing, sometimes triple-glazing, to beat the problem of heat-loss through the glass," he added.


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