Outdoor Living

Outdoor Living Taggart Homes begins construction on innovative new outdoor multifunctional work pods

Taggart Homes has commenced works on the first phase of 100 high spec outdoor work pods suitable for home working and a range of small businesses including beauty salons and gyms.

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£10,000 + vat. he pods will come in a variety of sizes and designs and will be available to the public in the UK and Ireland, as well as buyers of Taggart Homes properties this week, at a starting price of addition to any home.

“At Taggart Homes, we always put ourselves in the mind of the customer and we have a duty of care to the buyer. Practicality, aesthetic and energy efficiency are all key aspects that we try to incorporate into all of our homes to guarantee value for money and quality that will last several lifetimes of wear.”

Tim Downing, director at Pygott & Crone, said: “With a change in people’s working practices and a shift to working from home - the Taggart garden rooms offer an ideal solution and the team at Pygott and Crone are receiving an incredible number of enquiries.”

With the rising trend in home working due to the COVID-19 pandemic and many business closures causing economic uncertainty, the pods will offer customers an outdoor office option, and a dedicated outdoor space, from which many sole traders and small business owners such as personal trainers and beauty therapists can run their own businesses away from the rest of the house, with room for supplies and equipment.

There is also scope to be creative with the pods for personal use – as a personal gym, bar, or a place to rest and relax, or to indulge in a hobby.

The first phase of garden pods by Taggart Homes will be available to purchase from this week, and existing Taggart homebuyers will be offered the opportunity to have a pod installed on their property.

Selling agent Pygott and Crone has been appointed as the UK agent to launch the garden rooms.

Michael Taggart, CEO of Taggart Homes, said: “As living and working habits continue to shift for many given the present circumstances, there is a growing movement to home working and as people look to optimise their living environment, and they are looking to upgrade properties.

“With this trend for home working and many businesses having to close their doors – the outdoor work pod is a versatile asset and can work as a home office, or a space for small business owners – adding value and versatility to homes.

“We are excited to introduce these pods to the public and will be offering our existing Taggart homeowners the chance to snap one up for their property. This is just the first phase and we plan on creating more in the future as we believe they will continue to be a desirable and valuable •38•

Outdoor living Unfortunately for the construction industry, the price of structural steel has once again increased.

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ndustry giants British Steel have now increased their prices for the fifth time since July 2020 and, in the UK, the price of structural steel has rocketed from approximately £500 per tonne to over £700 per tonne. This sudden surge has been blamed on the sharp increase in raw material costs and further price hikes are expected. What does this mean for your project?

This spike in structural steel prices has huge repercussions for the construction industry as project budgets are being vastly and unexpectedly exceeded. With enough consideration at the design stage, this price increase can be offset by reducing the number of steels that are required. What can you do to reduce the cost of structural steel?

If the cost of structural steel supports is crippling your budget, it may be time to look into the spanning capabilities of your chosen balcony decking. By using a modular decking system that is able to span a lot further than traditional plank decking, you will be able to reduce the number of structural steel supports that are required and reduce your overall costs.

How can choosing modular decking save you money?

Using modular decking as opposed to plank decking is the easiest and most effective way to offset the increased steelwork costs down. Firstly, modular

decking is constructed to bespoke panel sizes in a factory so less time and manpower is needed on site.

Modular decking is manufactured to precise measurements so there is much less material waste and call backs can be avoided. Another considerable saving that can be made by incorporating modular decking is that of installation time. Modular decking is pre-fabricated, banded and cut-outs are already in place when the decking arrives on site; this means that, compared to plank decking, modular decking is over 12 times faster to install. On a large-scale project, this Cost Comparison Choosing a plank system may initially appear to be the most cost-effective solution, however when considering steelwork, fixings and installation, this is often not the case. Because of the reduced supporting structure requirements, the modular solution offers a 20% saving in material costs - a detailed analysis for your scheme can be provided. Combine this with an installation speed that is more than ten times faster and the modular decking solution is the clear choice!

To take advantage of our free specification service, send us some drawings or find out more about our products, please email sales@neaco.co.uk, call 01653 695 721 or visit www.neaco.co.uk.

Let in the light

Bi-fold doors can help you maximise space, light and personality

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he average size of a new build home increased from 2,479 square feet in 2007, to 2,584 feet in 2019. New places might be gradually growing, but the common design objectives of most homeowners are to create the impression of additional light and even more space. Instead of looking for a bigger home, opting for bi-folding doors could bring these aspirations to life. Here Nick Cowley managing director at windows and doors manufacturer Euramax, runs through the top considerations when investing in bi-fold doors.

Bi-folding doors are an increasingly popular design choice in UK homes. Homeowners have been able to install planning permission-free single story rear extensions since 2019, cutting the red tape for those who desire a larger living space. However, building more room isn’t feasible for every homeowner. Instead, the large, concertina panels of bi-fold doors are a favourable choice for those that want to create the illusion of more space.

A room with a view

Having ample natural light often gives the impression of more space. Natural light also boasts a variety of health benefits, such as boosting vitamin D production and, according to research, improving morale while promoting feelings of calmness.

An unhindered view of your outdoor space is a great way to harness the benefits of natural light, while creating a wider entrance point gives the impression of a larger room. For homeowners that want to admire the view of their garden, there are a couple of options to consider.

Sliding doors that are made of a few larger panels of glass require less frames, so are less likely to obstruct the view of the garden. Those opting for sliding doors should choose ones made from two large panels, with one sliding over the other, to give two wide apertures.

However, bi-fold doors are able to open further to give a wider entrance space than sliding doors. It’s therefore important to consider how you want the doors to look when they’re open and shut. Bi-folds are also better space savers for those with smaller rooms. Due their folding mechanism, bi-folds do not have the arc-of-opening that traditional French doors possess, so space is enhanced both in the room itself and as a wider access point.

In the frame

While favoured for their large number of glass panels, bi-folding doors still require sturdy frames. When choosing the frame material, homeowners should consider their property’s aesthetic, as well as potential upkeep.

A period property may suit a hardwood such as timber. However, these frames will need regular re-staining to maintain their appearance. Wood also risks twisting and warping in the heat, so you should select either an engineered wood or a different material altogether. PCVu is the best choice for those on a budget, and requires far less maintenance. Standard white PCVu frames may easily match existing windows to create a consistent look. However, frames are also available in a range of modern colour options, such as on-trend grey, so they can easily match any home’s aesthetic.

Thermal performance

Large glass panes can be a chillier replacement for solid wall. To maximise energy efficiency and keep heating bills down, good thermal performance is crucial.

Energy-conscious buyers should look for bi-folds with the lowest rated U-value, which indicates the heat lost in watts per square metre. To comply with building regulations, bi-fold doors must be 1.8W/(m2k) for replacements, or 2.0W/(m2k) in new builds and extensions.

There’s nothing to stop you from aiming lower. Euramax products have a U value of 1.4 W/(m2k), making them a superb option for those wanting to keep their brighter, lighter space warm during winter. We can supply French, sliding and bi-fold doors to suit a range of preferences, and all our windows and doors are rated A+ for energy efficiency by the British Fenestration Rating Council.

Whether you are renovating a house to let in more light or to save on space, bi-folds are a great way of achieving multiple design ambitions in one fell swoop. By maximising light and space anyone can turn a simple room into an optimally used space.

Four Stop Platform Lift for historic Old Portsmouth

We’ve just fitted our Home Lift in a historic property overlooking the harbour in Old Portsmouth.

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ld Portsmouth is the area of Portsmouth which was covered by the original medieval town of Portsmouth. It is steeped in history, and contains many historic buildings including Portsmouth Cathedral and Portsmouth Point.

Our client was a resident of a rare, historic four storey property overlooking the harbour and the Solent. They were in need of a lift to enable access to all floors of the property, and contacted the lift experts at Invalifts for a solution.

After an initial site survey, Invalifts recommended and installed their Home platform lift, with a custom footprint of 910mm x 870mm optimising the available space.

The Home Lift was the perfect solution, as a quiet and efficient platform lift, with a capacity of 250Kg. The carriage controls are clear and easy to operate whilst the aluminium handrail located just below the carriage push button enhances the feeling of Swedish quality and design. The home lift was installed with glazed 800mm wide landing doors at every level.

The client was thrilled with the quick and hassle-free installation and now has easy access to all of the floors of their property.

If you would like to know more about our platform lifts or other access solutions, please contact the Invalifts team on 0845 468 2543 or alternatively, email sales@invalifts.com •44•