MAK PRESSURE PROS

Want to be proud of your driveway or patio?

As we approach the time of year when our gardens, driveways, house exterior and roofs need a boost, we find out how MAK Pressure Pros can help you!

At Mak Pressure Pros we offer a full range of services in making your home, shop or office immaculate. Our portfolio includes decking and patios, moss and algae removal, power washing, graffiti removal, pavements, mobile home and boat Cleaning. Along with gutters, gum removal, farm cleans and place of worship i.e., churches.

We are a family run local business located in the south that started trading during the first lockdown. We cover areas such as Bournemouth, Christchurch, New Forest, Sandbanks, Ferndown, Swanage, Ringwood, Sailsbury, Southampton, Portsmouth, Wareham and London.

A little bit about Mak Pressure Pros; it was founded by CEO Kam, who has spent a lot of time and hard work building his customer portfolio along with his Account Director Monica, who deals with all of his clients and social media marketing. As a business we have two vans out on trade Monday to Sunday, ensuring our customers are happy. Our vehicles are fully equip with the market leading custom built fuel driven commercial cleaning system enabling superior cleaning and greater versatility, also allowing cleaning on softer surfaces such as Indian Sandstone, Portland stone and other soft stone - risk free without any damage. We offer a generous discount for Blue Light cardholders, as well as Defence Service Members. Our trust is confirmed by trading standards.

To all our existing customers in and around the Dorset area, myself and the team would like to thank you for choosing us in making your property look clean!

BEFORE

AFTER BEFORE

How long does it take to clean? Well it all depends on how big or small a property is, however on average a good clean takes around 2.5 hours.

How much does it cost? Again it’s all down to size, and if we are doing residential or commercial cleans – our starting price range is from £150 and can increase to £1000 plus.

AFTER

How long does it last? We recommend to all our clients to clean their properties at least once a year.

What makes you different from the rest? I find genuine satisfaction in my work and take great pride in achieving total customer satisfaction, and only believe in offering the finest service. My team and I speak to a lot of customers every day, who have all used different companies in the past, however the difference with us, so I’ve been told, is my charisma and energetic positive personality. I will never leave a job until the hard work is complete and unlike most companies out there, I use elbow grease instead of quick short time chemical fix.

We have so many compliments about our team and how polite and friendly they are, our primary source of work originates from customer referrals which speak for themselves.

Contact us for a FREE no obligation quote For a FREE no quote please call or WhattsApp 07769 666994 and be sure to check out our social media for up-to-date work, offers and giveaways.

CALL OR WHATSAPP

07769 666994 EMAIL

makpressurepros@hotmail.com FOLLOW US @makpressurepros

5

Outdoor living trends set to be big this year

With a spike in searches for outdoor living upgrades, experts share their tips and trend insights with Sam Wylie-Harris.

After a year of lockdowns, it’s hardly surprising we’ve been looking to enhance our outdoor living and entertaining areas.

According to a survey by home design platform Houzz. co.uk, 36% of renovating homeowners now plan to upgrade their gardens, inspired by the pandemic.

“We’ve seen a spike in interest for outdoor projects, with enquiries rising by 116% in January, compared to the same period of 2020,” explains Houzz editor, Amanda Pollard. “Our gardens have provided sanctuary throughout the pandemic and as restrictions begin to lift, homeowners are searching for solutions that are beautiful and functional to maximise theirs.”

Here’s what’s piquing our interest…

The fifth room Gardens have grown into another room, essentially, with spaces set up for cooking, dining, relaxing and socialising. Recent photos uploaded to Houzz feature cosy garden seating areas with unexpected furnishings. These include rugs, floor cushions and 2021’s hottest garden accessory, the hanging chair.

LEFT

Egg chairs, suitable for indoor and outdoor

use, available to preorder, priced from £395, Ella James | PA

Photo/Ella James

BELOW

Stylish garden

entertaining area featuring built-in under seat lighting, designed by Harrington Porter | PA Photo/Harrington Porter

Comfortable garden sofas, layered cushions and heaters are also helping create spaces to enjoy throughout summer, and even into the cooler months. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, Ella James (ellajames.co.uk) have a lovely selection of egg chairs available to preorder, from £395.

“We’re seeing a rise in clients who see their garden as an extension of their home, and want it to reflect their interior style. Luckily, outdoor furniture design has come a long way in recent years, with more stylish options and better weatherproof fabrics available,” says Chris Harrington of Harrington Porter, a garden designer on Houzz. “The technology for outdoor speakers and heaters has also improved, so gardens can be used further into the evening.”

Lighting With a focus on outdoor socialising, households are looking for ways to extend the use of their gardens into the evening too. “Lighting is key to creating a space that works equally as well in the evening, with searches for ‘garden lighting’ spiking in popularity,” says Pollard.

And the options are endless – from strings of solarpowered festoon lanterns, to built-in ground-level spotlights and everything in-between. For permanent options needing mains powered electricity, make sure you find an electrician.

The pros on Houzz also advise considering the mood you want to achieve, with bright white a good option if you’re after a well-lit space, and warm white a better option if you’re hoping to create a soft glow. “Do consider wildlife when you’re planning your outdoor lighting,” adds Pollard. “Use it sparingly and only when you need it, and switch it all off when you head indoors.”

Pergolas It’s set to be the year of the pergola, with searches on Houzz dramatically increasing in popularity. “If you want to create an inviting outdoor living space, you’ll likely need shade to do it,” says Pollard. “A pergola is a relatively quick and aff ordable solution. These simple shade structures, which can be built and installed by a professional in a day or two, provide adequate shade for dining, lounging and other outdoor activities.”

As landscape designer Patricia Tyrrell, of Living Landscapes, points out: “From framing views to creating welcome shade and supporting climbing and twining plants, pergolas can play many roles in a garden. A vertical structure not only adds another dimension to your garden, it can act as a subtle screen, particularly if you’re overlooked by neighbouring properties. With simple wire trellis attached to the uprights, or overhead, and some well-placed planting, you can create a private space away from the world.”

ABOVE

10 Warm White

Connectable Festoon

Lights White Cable,

£49.99 | lights4fun

RIGHT

Pretty pergola, styled

with solar lanterns and

trestle table | PA Photo/

Chris Snook/Houzz

Multifunctional gardens Gardens now have many jobs, from places to work or exercise and spots to eat, relax and socialise with friends. With so many activities now taking place, professionals on Houzz say their clients are more frequently requesting gardens with clear zoning.

Worried about summer socials becoming a wash out if it rains?

Cuckooland (cuckooland.com) has an Alvantor PopUp PVC Bubble Tent, from £399.95, with an entrance door that can be rolled up to let the fresh air in but keep raindrops out.

If you’re looking to break it up into diff erent areas, try adding interesting contrasts by using diff erent materials for each section, or varying the planting. Screens are another popular tool to add privacy, creating more secluded spots, perfect for dining.

Purpose-built garden rooms are also becoming more popular. For many, more flexibility in working from home means finding longer-term solutions to carve out dedicated workspaces, so garden rooms are a great option for this. They typically don’t require planning permission, however it’s always advisable to check.

“Make sure you know where you stand in relation to planning permission,” says Martin Lawson, of Swift Garden Rooms.

“The majority of projects are possible without a full planning application, but there are many exceptions. When you’re making a significant investment, you owe it to yourself not to risk a knock on the door from a planning enforcement off icer.”

An ode to joy, Nick Taylor of BOWA, a garden rooms specialist on Houzz, says they’re seeing a lot of enquiries from people wanting to create a space for entertaining: “Some are interested in the idea of BBQ rooms, or simply places to hang out and enjoy the garden from.”

LEFT

Contemporary garden

BBQ room designed by

BOWA Garden Rooms |

PA Photo/BOWA

BELOW

Alvantor Pop-Up PVC

Bubble Tent, with entrance

door that can be rolled

up, priced from £399.95,

Cuckooland | PA Photo/

Cuckooland

They’ve also received enquiries from people needing office space, but often the brief will be to accommodate a mixed use, with gyms that feature a small workstation, or full offices with space for an exercise bike and weights. “It feels like we’re only starting to wake up to the potential in our gardens for improving our day-today life,” says Taylor.

Greenery Garden designers say their clients are moving towards more green planting schemes, with big leafy plants, ferns, palms and grasses popular on recent projects. Along with adding drama, using them in strategic points provides much-needed privacy, especially in an urban garden.

Leaves usually last longer than blooms, meaning planting will look good for months or even, with the right choices, all year.

However, you still need to care for them. “These plants may look low-maintenance but they’ll need some upkeep,” says Harrington. “Look for banana trees, hardy palms and grasses, which all work well in the British Isles.”

Elho (elho.com/en) offer a wide selection of vertical forest planters in various sizes and colours, from £17.99 for a Corsica Vertical Forest 24cm Set of 3.

Planters and pots are a great option for smaller spaces. Try opting for various heights, sizes and styles to add interest to patio areas – and watch your mini garden grow.

Words by Sam Wylie-Harris, PA

ABOVE

A lush green garden | PA Photo/Maike Wagner/Houzz

LEFT

Vertical forest planters in various sizes, from £17.99, set of 3, Elho | PA Photo/Elho