At the height of the credit crunch, and the tip of a recession, more and more homeowners are looking to improve their properties than move. This is to do with the sliding house prices that has created a barren market for sellers, prompting a large proportion of households to turn to home improvements, such as loft conversions, kitchens, window replacements and conservatories, but to name a few, in a bid to increase sale value and property size.

Converting your home can add thousands of pounds to your property’s value…and with recent figures in the sale of DIY products spiking, not to mention an increase in hiring trades, it would seem that many are of the same mindset, but before you rush out and hire a contractor to knock down walls it is worth investing in exactly how much you will get back for your investment…and of course what to look out for when choosing contractors.

Becoming more energy efficient is certainly going to see positive returns, especially with HIPs (Home Information Packs) now required when selling a home, not to mention Gordon Brown’s latest efforts to help resolve the rise in energy costs.

One area in particular that has proven to add value to a property is the installation of replacement windows. More and more consumers are focusing on the energy efficiency of building products, but how many can say they really know what they are looking for?

The simple U value of a window does not mean the window is energy efficient, but deals with the amount of heat it loses. Consumers should be ideally looking for windows rated C and above on the Window Energy Rating chart devised by the BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council). Anything below this will soon be deemed as obsolete so should be avoided regardless of cost.

In the past, selecting energy efficient windows has been difficult due to the lack of independent and validated information, but there is a wealth of information out there to help you make your selection. Windows make up on average 15 to 40 percent of the wall area in a house, and have the potential to allow large heat losses. In the average house, heat losses through windows can represent 22 to 37 percent of the total heat lost. Careful window selection when building a new house or renovating an old one can make a significant difference by helping to reduce heat loss.

Windows come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and material combinations. Each type of window design has different attributes that affect the overall performance. Knowing what to look for in a window is not an easy task, given that window technology has undergone rapid developments in the past few years.
The standard double-glazed sealed unit is quickly being replaced by windows with improved thermal performance, which are known as high-performance windows. There are several features to consider when selecting high-performance windows. The main characteristics which should inform your decision include: special coatings, multiple glazing, framing materials, gas fills and low-conductivity spacers.
But it doesn’t end there…looking into the company you are employing to undertake the work is equally as important in order to protect your investment, regardless of the job. Don’t be bamboozeld by statistics and jargon, and never employ a company on hearsay alone. With the cost of living on the rise, every penny counts and for those that research the market well, and employ reputable companies, that money spent will certainly secure their investment.
Renovations, additions and new construction for homeowners can be very confusing. Many choices and difficult decisions will be made along the way, and you as the homeowner should be in control of those decisions. Left to themselves, contractors more often than not will base decisions on lowering costs rather than on long term energy conservation and environmental criteria. It pays to do research or get professional advice to determine your priorities before hiring a contractor. Spending some time to consider the design options and the environmental and energy benefits at the initial stages can pay off in the long run.
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Issued on behalf of CPA by VAST PR. For further information contact Paul Godwin or Jonathan Crosby on 01296 329826 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .