The primary reason for householders installing a spiral staircase in their home is the aesthetic appeal. From a design perspective, a spiral staircase will certainly stand out and may well be the focal point in an overall design concept. Their popularity has been steady for decades. In fact the last decade has seen a noted growth in demand for this style of staircase.

Despite this, there are certain things to consider before installing a spiral staircase. The steps on spirals are angled, with the smallest part being at the centre. We all take the shortest route up and down any flight of stairs, and on a spiral, or even a normal staircase with angled (kited) landing steps this is the area with the least foot space. Whether climbing up or coming down, this limited foot space dramatically increases the likelihood of slipping and falling. So when you have a spiral staircase, and especially one that has a narrow width, it’s very important to consciously take the widest route going up or down and make full use of the handrail. The wider spiral staircase is always the safer one, especially those that have handrails on both sides and don’t pivot around a single central post.

There is also a common misconception that a spiral staircase is a space-saving item. In truth, the area that is occupied by a spiral staircase can, in most cases, easily accommodate a conventional staircase. Often a conventional staircase is actually a better option and will afford a far greater feeling of space in the stairwell. Space saving stairs are steep with paddle steps and are used in extremely tight areas that cannot take either a conventional or spiral staircase.

Anyone who has a narrow spiral staircase or one that takes up the whole area of their stairwell will understand the difficulty in moving furniture between floors. The design may well be appealing to the eye, but as with any product, this does not necessarily mean that functionality will be sufficient for the immediate purpose.

Before purchasing a spiral staircase, ensure you experience walking up and down one that is of same or similar design and size to the one you intend to install.

The installation of wooden and timber windows took an enormous dip during the late eighties when homeowners began turning toward UPVC. The promise of zero maintenance plastic windows easily overshadowed the budget timber window which was commonly problematic. The old wooden window required high levels of maintenance due to movement, weathering and rot, and the market was crying out for an alternative to alleviate these stressful problems.

Although plastic windows filled the void, it’s obvious that people hadn’t completely fallen out of love with the traditional wooden window as many of the upvc styles were designed to imitate timber. This is clearly evident in the upvc designs of “Rosewood” that imitates mahogany, and the rich looking “Golden Oak”. Later designs were even made to imitate the most traditional of timber windows, the sliding sash, also known as the box frame window. Obviously the look of natural wood is as appealing as ever, but the hassle element was more than enough to persuade the masses to opt for plastic.

However, the window industry is experiencing a resurgence of demand for traditional wooden windows, and there are a number of reasons to explain why. Although the changes are nowhere near as swift, fashion is just as relevant in the construction industry as it is on the catwalk. What’s in today will be out tomorrow, or at least in twenty years or so. That same twenty years has also given plenty of time to evaluate the long term performance of plastic, and it’s now obvious that there’s no such thing as “No Maintenance”, just ask anyone who has watched their upvc windows discolour, or struggled to make minor repairs without replacing the entire window.

Timber merchants and wooden window manufacturers have learnt from the mistakes of yesteryear and improved their products enormously. Durability has improved dramatically, especially as there are now timbers such as “Accoya” that come with a massive 60 year guarantee. Wood preservatives and finishing’s have also made huge advancements, and spray finishing prior to installation is becoming common. Many of the spray-finish wood coatings of today even carry their own personal protection guarantees. Additionally, the mechanisms and locking systems that operate and secure the moving parts of a window give the end user peace of mind. With the added bonus of wood being a sustainable, bio degradable product that won’t harm the environment long term, it’s no surprise that there is far greater confidence in timber windows than ever before.

For anyone harbouring fears that timber windows will still be problematic in comparison to plastic, you need not worry, in fact, the reverse is more likely. Plus, as the famous chocolate advertising slogan goes, “Why have cotton, when you can have silk”!

Of all the timber species available, Oak is by far the most popular. It is in fact the “Rolls Royce”, or 24 carat gold of timbers on a fashion scale, and is used for all manner of products within the construction and furniture industries.

A solid oak staircase makes a statement in any property. Although we traditionally see Oak stairs in grand stately, Victorian and Edwardian properties, they are by no means limited to these dwellings alone. The huge growth in popularity of designer stairs means that people now see their staircase as a feature rather than just a simple means of access between floor levels, and T.V programmes such as “Grand Designs”, “Build, Buy or Restore” and “Property Ladder” have focused on making the staircase a fashionable item that deserves special attention during a build or renovation project.

Oak is a strong and durable timber with a natural colouration that can easily blend with a design colour scheme. It also has more than enough individual character to make a statement within a stand alone item or main feature of a property, which is why it’s still so popular for constructing stairs, even in modern homes of today.

Should you decide to have a completely solid oak timber staircase, or mix oak with other materials such as stainless steel or glass to create a more modern concept it’s worth understanding a few things about the timber itself.

Oak is sourced from a number of countries so there are variations in colouration and grain character. For example, European and American white are both strains of oak but look very different on closer inspection. The oak tree also branches out very early so sourcing extremely long lengths for large straight staircases can be difficult. The timber can also be highly defective with knots and shake, and although this is partly what gives it character, manufacturers must allow for a greater portion of waste. Subsequently, these points will be reflected in the final costs.

Due to its fashionable status, many people will not consider an alternative timber for their staircase, but it’s worth knowing that close alternatives do exist. American white ash is much cheaper than oak yet holds easily as much character, and it’s slightly lighter natural colouration allows for simple colour matching. In fact, a high percentage of end users actually prefer ash once they compare it directly to oak. The other alternative would be African Idigbo. This timber is generally used for exterior products (Although not exclusively) but when stained with a light oak coating gives a close colour match to real oak. Idigbo would be best suited to a period building or barn conversion, whereas ash is suitable for any interior, whether traditional or modern.

One thing is certain. Installing an oak staircase, or feature staircase of any kind will be an investment that enhances your properties value.

Patio doors first came onto the scene in the 70’s when the then modern aluminium sliding doors became fashionable. These doors have lasted fairly well, and there are still a few residential properties that have them in place today. However, the one draw back to this style of door is the reduced opening due to their parallel sliding action, which results in only 50% of the available space giving ventilation at any one time. This older style of patio door was also extremely metallic looking, and almost always silver.

The only other option to the modern patio door in those days was traditional French doors, which are still very popular today, especially in period properties. French doors usually open outwards (although not exclusively), and if they’re hung on parliament hinges will fold back a full 180 degrees against the property wall, and open up the entire space out onto the patio or garden area. The only draw-back with French doors is they have a limit to their size. For people with above average sized houses that also have of an open aspect of anything greater than 2 metres in width, French doors have to be placed into a large frame with glazing panels to each side. Although this is fine for light penetration, it doesn’t take full advantage of the available space.

Bi fold doors or folding sliding doors as they’re also referred to are designed from the same concept as concertina doors that usually separate two rooms. Concertina doors are not suitable for exterior use, and can often be problematic as room dividers because of their feeble construction. Bi folding doors have dealt with both the interior and exterior aspects that we want to fully open or use for dual purposes. Their sturdy construction, high level of security and ease of operation make them appealing, especially as you also get full light penetration into the area they occupy. The folding sliding doors are ideal for homes and businesses who want the option of a greater feeling of space.

Even though bi fold doors cover a huge range of sizes, once we advance to extremely large spaces that are commonly seen on modern extensions spanning the full width of a property it may be time to look again at the original sliding patio door. Rather than having ten to twelve doors covering an equal amount of metres and perhaps looking a little repetitive, the new sliding patio doors can cover huge distances and still be extremely aesthetically pleasing. Gone are the days of sliding patio doors only being available in a two door system. Three, four, even six door systems are now readily available, and are constructed from much sturdier materials than the originals. The new lift and slide patio door systems are available for openings as small as 2 metres, right up to the biggest opening spaces on a private swimming pool, entertainment room or wine bar. The doors are available in either powder coated aluminium or a range of hardwood timbers from specialist manufacturers.

Once decided upon timber as a material, there are a number of things to consider which help ensure you choose the right species for your needs.

First of all, is the timber going to be located externally or internally, and what kind of finish and character do you want the timber to achieve? If your product will be outdoors and you are going to paint the wood your preferred colour, then there’s the possibility cost-effective softwood will suffice, as long as it receives the right treatments and aftercare. If however you prefer a wood with richer character and greater durability, then there are broad selections of hardwood timbers to choose from.  

When using exterior hardwoods it’s advisable to look at those with a medium to darker natural colour as they will be less likely to show weathering. Lighter hardwoods such as oak, although very appealing, can tend to discolour easily if not well protected or in some way guarded from the elements. Certain hardwoods, for example American white ash are simply not suitable for exterior exposure at all.

There are specific exterior timbers best suited when you want to achieve a weathered effect, perhaps for a barn conversion or period building. Oak, Western red cedar and Iroko are good examples of natural timbers that will be consistently durable and achieve the desired look by turning silver over time.

If sustaining the natural character of the wood is your preference then a good quality sealant is essential. A clear, micro-porous varnish will allow the wood to naturally expand and contract without the sealant cracking and exposing the timber to the elements. However, there are many different kinds of coatings and their suitability may well depend upon the elevation the product will face, so consulting an expert before application is advisable.

For interior wood products that are being painted there is no great advantage of using hardwood, so a soft or redwood either stained or painted will meet almost any need. For hardwoods the focus is generally on character and contrast to the overall interior design concept. Therefore wood grain and colouration should be of paramount importance.   

It’s important to realise that wood is a natural product and can subsequently expand and contract due to temperature and moisture changes. Although temperatures change externally, the quick temperature rises from heating systems in the home can cause timber to move, especially if the heat is directly aimed at the product. Always ensure your products are constructed from kiln dried timber with low moisture content. When installing new solid timber doors, stack the doors flat on top of each other and leave them to acclimatize for a few weeks before they are hung.

Your manufacturer should always advise the most suitable timbers for your purpose. Taking the time to make the right choice will give the greatest chance of your product lasting a lifetime.    

STAIRS

The options for modernising your stairs are more wide and varied than you may realise. Fortunately there are a number of companies possessing the skills to turn your existing staircase into a feature of your home. Coincidentally, the popularity of modern contemporary living has assisted the development of many new designs, meaning any home with a staircase can benefit from a design that adds character and value.

If removing your existing staircase is a daunting prospect, or outside of your available budget, its best to focus on what can be done to change the appearance of what you already have. Almost any staircase can be remodelled with a little creativity, vision and the right professionals to carry out the work. Initial makeovers of existing stairs were, and still are undertaken by cutting and drilling the newel posts, then inserting turned newels, new spindles and handrails. Although, there is much more that you can do besides. Your existing stairs can be totally covered so that they look brand new, including your steps and strings (side of stairs). Glass, chrome, stainless steel, and even stone can be incorporated for homeowners that want a modern or contemporary staircase that flows with their overall design concept. The key is to make sure you employ the right people with relevant experience to carry out such an overhaul. There are plenty of highly skilled people who can do this sort of work, but ensure you ask to see examples of their previous workmanship before making a decision.

If your existing stairs are beyond improvement, or the cost of a full overhaul is becoming overly expensive, then it may be time to consider a complete replacement. Once you reach a certain point in overhauling an existing flight of stairs, the labour costs of covering everything can easily exceed what you will pay for a totally new staircase. Although some companies can provide both services, make sure that you directly employ experienced staircase manufacturers when choosing the completely new option. There are many considerations when totally replacing stairs, and the most experienced manufacturers may be able to greatly improve upon the existing configuration. Obviously when you completely replace, your design options increase significantly. You may want to create more light and space by having an open rise, incorporate different materials for specific parts of the flight, create your own unique design, or prefer a certain species or mixture of solid timbers. All are possible with a brand new staircase.

Besides being well constructed in your preferred style and materials, the best stair configurations have a pitch that affords a pleasant journey travelling both up and down, minimal angled steps in it's landings (Known as kite steps), plenty of headroom, and a generous overall width that dosen't encroach or become overbearing to the occupied area.

Although it’s important to have the design that most appeals to you, it’s also advisable to ensure that any new staircase fits with the character of a property, and is able to accommodate decorative changes. While it’s fine to change your wallpaper, furniture and colour scheme on a fairly regular basis, doing the same with your stairs is an expense you cannot recoup. So be careful of “FAD” designs that change like the wind, especially if you don’t plan on staying in the property for the next 5-10 years.

WOODEN DOORS

The huge range of wooden doors on the market means that almost every conceivable design is readily available. Despite this, there are still a number of issues that should be carefully considered before installing new doors.

All modern houses and commercial premises are built with “stock size” internal door casings, so the expense of made-to-measure doors for every room is not a concern.  Nevertheless, prices can vary a great deal depending upon the level of quality and finish. Quality can often be judged by the weight of a door. Heavier doors are generally constructed from a more substantial material, whereas cheaper doors are lightweight and hollow. This is reflected in their price difference. The different

 Finish levels will also affect price, but the initial outlay of purchasing pre-finished stock doors can also be a cost saver in the future. Pre-finishing means the cost of varnish and arduous labour to apply it are removed entirely. Internal stock doors are normally 35mm thick, although when fireproof doors are required this size increases to 44mm. The advantages of stock doors are that they’re cheaper than made-to-measure solid doors, and won’t twist or warp due to the internal temperature changes.

Although stock doors are perfectly fine for internal use, and where the opening sizes suit, they’re nowhere near as durable for outside use, and can be very expensive to have them made to non-standard sizes.  When this is the case, solid timber doors are the best option. Although there are stock doors available for external use, manufacturer’s guidelines often state that they require a location away from direct sunlight and weather elements. In other words, you need a porch or canopy to shield the door from the worst of the weather, or it could literally begin to fall apart. Always check the literature and guarantees on engineered or stock doors that you intend using on external aspects of your property.

Real wooden doors can be made to accommodate door openings of non standard sizes and all external aspects. Made-to-measure also affords unlimited input on design, material and finish. For many properties, there is no other option due to extremely large door openings, which is common in large traditional buildings.

External wooden doors should be well protected with a micro-porous coating that allows the timber to “breathe” (Expand and contract). A non micro-porous covering will crack with any expansion or contraction. Internal wooden doors are less susceptible to twisting and warping when the section is increased from 35mm to 44mm, although it’s still advisable to stack new wooden doors in the property they will occupy for a few weeks to allow them to acclimatize and thoroughly release any remaining moisture content. Taking delivery of real wooden doors from a cold, damp factory in the middle of winter and immediately hanging them in a warm dry house can result in a lot of undesired movement.   

Although oak doors are amongst the most popular of natural wooden doors, they’re also among the most expensive and most likely to twist, warp and discolour when they’re not coated properly or left open to the elements.

Your supplier should advise and help you choose the right door to meet your requirements. The most expensive option is not always the best one in the long term.

Employing an apprentice is a big decision for any company. It’s a much easier option to take on a new staff member who already possesses the relevant experience and qualifications. Unfortunately, if we all operate in this manner, you can guarantee there will be a dire lack of qualified personnel to undertake innumerable tasks that we take for granted.

The construction industry has felt the effects of this in recent years. Due to the lack of apprenticeships available during the 1990’s, there was a resulting void of skilled tradesmen to carry out the necessary jobs. The government in the UK did recognise the need for training, began encouraging apprenticeships and creating new schemes to accelerate a supply element that could meet demand. Obviously there was a positive effect, but the void was the size of a decade, and the damage had already been done. Additionally, the popularity and greater availability of higher education, enormous growth in technology, (specifically the arrival of the internet), and the opening of European borders, all contributed toward a massive change for the construction industry and British tradesmen as a whole. Higher education opened the possibility of professional careers to everyone. The technological boom created entire new industries, and the opening of European borders allowed non UK national tradesmen to fill the gap. Although UK tradesmen did enjoy a period of inflated premiums for their skills, the subsequent competition quickly drove prices down considerably.

So, why should employers now be looking to spend their time and effort training young workers? Most importantly, will those efforts be rewarded with a healthy profit and market sustainability? In my personal opinion and experience, the answer is a resounding “Yes”! Firstly, the current generation of school leavers have grown up during the technological age, and can adapt to new software and technology with ease. In fact don’t be surprised if your young apprentice quickly starts teaching you far more than you could possibly teach them. They have also been raised in a world of rapid change, knowing full well they must move with the times or be left behind. Any seasoned employer will have a story of struggling to implement change with their long-term staff. Not so likely with a younger employee.

For any boss there is always the concern of being able to choose the right candidate for the position. Will they be willing to learn? Will they be punctual? Will they be loyal after their period of training is complete, or just take their newfound skills to one of your competitors? Perhaps the most important question is, will they fit into the existing team, or create havoc in the workplace? Judging such things during a few short interviews is difficult at best. However, there are much better ways of maximising your chances of hiring the right apprentice.

As an employer myself, I found out the hard way that allowing some government agency to provide a prospective apprentice for initial work placement with a view to full time employment, or going on what you can decipher from a twenty minute interview or two, is like doing the lottery. The result of which can easily be an endless stream of disinterested youngsters who cost time, money and lots of your energy that could be well used in other areas. Fortunately we did strike lucky a couple of times, and those people were worth every ounce of effort. They also encouraged me to be more calculated in my selection process.

The method I now use to find the right apprentice has since proved invaluable. I began by simply approaching our local construction college and speaking to their head tutor. After a short discussion with him I was able to narrow down a broad field to a few obvious leading candidates. Having someone who understood our specific industry recommend people that he had been able to closely evaluate for over a year was fantastic. He held documented reports on their aptitude, punctuality, attendance, willingness, social skills, ability to learn and overall attitude. From there my job became simple. All I had to do was select the person that I felt would fit in best with the current personnel, and I could actually go with that gut feeling we all talk about. Thankfully that gut feeling has never failed me since I chose to use the pre-selection process I’ve just described. In our fast and ever-more-competitive world, we don’t have much time to waste selecting the right people. So a process that gives us a much greater chance of success the first time round is a wonderful asset. The method I now use works brilliantly to source apprentice joiners for my company. I’m hopeful that same method or something similar can encourage employers in a wide range of industries to perhaps consider an apprentice.

Every generation adopts the saying that “Kids nowadays just haven’t got a clue”. Just remember, your peers said the same thing about you. Perhaps you might want to make a difference and give a young hopeful a chance. It may be the best thing you ever do.

If you ask the majority of homeowners what they would like most from their current, or next property, the most likely answer will be; “More space”. The first hurdle to gaining more space is that there’s generally a considerable cost that comes with it. So as a result, most of us are looking to maximise the space we have by removing walls, adding extensions, loft conversions and conservatories. Obviously there’s always a limit to the amount we can add to any property, which means we have to be creative.

Removing walls between reception rooms has been popular for years. But this can often be a compromise when you want more space, yet would still like the usability of separate rooms. The original solution to this home crisis was either French or concertina doors. Both work well but also have their drawbacks. French doors when opened will often protrude too far into one of the rooms, and end up being more of a hindrance than a help. Concertina doors on the other hand, slide and fold away neatly, but are generally thin, rickety and lack class.

Modern sliding doors are becoming extremely popular for dividing rooms, and for opening large aspects of houses to the garden. The sliding doors of today are available twofold. The first of these are similar to aluminium sliding doors that were very popular some years ago, otherwise known as “patio doors”. Although today’s sliding doors are much more elegant and smooth, and are also available in natural wood thanks to great advances in mechanisms. In new build properties it’s even possible to design the building so that the doors slide into the wall cavity, allowing the maximum of open space. However, for most of us this just isn’t a viable option, and we can only open one sliding door or the other, resulting in only half the clear space. Fortunately there is another kind of sliding door available which will allow you to take advantage of the full opening. These are more commonly known as bi fold doors, and basically work on exactly the same principle as concertina doors by sliding and folding to one side. The mechanisms for these have also improved enormously which has allowed for their use on external aspects. These are also available in wood, aluminium and upvc plastic.

The massive advantages of more natural light, ease of use and high security locking systems of modern sliding doors are encouraging people to replace their old French windows and even remove normal windows and brickwork to accommodate them.

Sliding doors are very much a “Lifestyle” product of today.

For more information on sliding and bi fold doors go to http://www.ehjoinery.com/products/doors/timberbi-foldingdoors.phuse or www.bespokebifolddoors.co.uk  

The popularity of solid wood flooring has increased dramatically since laminate flooring burst onto the market some years ago. Until fairly recently, solid wood floors were only seen in large traditional houses, stately homes and generally much older buildings, such as golf clubs. However, once laminated flooring became a popular choice in residential dwellings, it was only a matter of time before the solid wood floor would again be fashionable.

Our modern preference of open space living, minimalist contemporary concepts, and the appeal of natural materials has certainly assisted the growth of the solid wood flooring market. As a result, the ease of availability and healthy competition has also made the product an affordable option for the majority of people.

Oak is by far the most popular choice. In fact there’s probably more of that one species sold than all others combined. Oak has always been a timber held in high regard for a large range of products besides flooring. So it comes as no surprise that it would be the number 1 solid wood flooring choice for the general population. This timber has high character, durability, and is one of the most forgiving of surface markings. In contrast, a darker timber such as American black walnut, although beautiful, will show almost every single mark and require the utmost of care.

The one problem with solid wood flooring however, is it’s susceptibility to temperature changes. Therefore, its use in houses with under floor heating is just not possible. The increase in temperature will encourage the timber to expand and inevitably burst at one or more joint locations. Fortunately there is an option that alleviates this hurdle. Engineered flooring is a combination of fibre or chipboard with a layer of solid wood flooring on top (Usually around 6mm / ¼ of an inch) worth. This reduced amount of solid timber stops the expansion, allowing it to be placed in modern buildings with under floor heating. Another advantage for new build projects is that there are engineered floors that can be fixed directly to joists, but the lower content of solid timber in an engineered floor does not necessarily mean that it will be cheaper.

There is now an enormous range of solid wood and engineered flooring to choose from, with every finish from completely natural to a high shine polish. The majority of these can also be sourced in a variety of widths. The larger widths and thicker sections also carry the greater cost.

It’s important to strictly follow installation guides for all wood flooring. Most timber and engineered floors require an expansion area around the outer edges. This is achieved by either removing and replacing the skirting boards, or, leaving a gap which can then be covered by a beading trim. Some floors require their joints to be glued. Others are nailed along the tongue to a board beneath. Installing the floor using a wrong method or missing a step in the process will almost always result in problems arising fairly quickly. Always consult your supplier and manufacturers for installation guidelines, or employ the services of a professional to carry out the work.

A good quality solid wood floor will last a lifetime. Unlike carpets, you can sand over the surface and re-treat the area to reinvigorate at any time.