The Different Types of Roller Shutter.

You may have recently undertaken some new home improvements for your home in Worthing or Brighton in Sussex, perhaps an extension or just a complete revamp of the interior. So you may now be thinking about doors, garage and roller shutter doors and windows for the property and whether they need updating or replacing. If that’s the case, then the sheer range of items out there can be overwhelming.

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If you’re looking for a new type of door or window protection, there are a number of different options available. From fire doors to roller shutter doors to garage roller shutters and steel security doors in Worthing, Sussex, Brighton and beyond. All have their pros and cons but often, it can be difficult to find out what the different types are. So here, we thought we’d start you off by outlining the different types of roller shutter. But before we do that, what exactly is a roller shutter and what is it used for?

What is a Roller Shutter?

A roller shutter is a door or window, which consists of rows of steel or aluminium slats, all joined together. When the frame of the door or window is lifted up, or lowered down, the slats loop around a rolling cylinder, forming a coil. They are most commonly used on garage doors, or garage roller shutters as they are more commonly known. They can also be used on windows and can be effective as a form of insulation and energy efficiency. They are often a popular choice due to their lightweight design but their comparative hardiness and ability to withstand consistent bad weather. This combination of durability with a sleek design aesthetic and the ability to increase your energy efficiency make them a popular choice for both doors and windows.

What are the different types of roller shutter?

Built-in and Built-on roller shutter doors

It can often be a common mistake to confuse these two types of roller shutters.  Built-on roller shutters are often used on garage doors. Often made from steel or aluminium, they have a polished, modern look that appeals to many homeowners. They work by placing the cylindrical tube or coil inside an external projection (usually above the garage door). This is then covered over, to match with the aesthetics of the house. When the door is lifted, often by a motorised component, the slats curl round the hidden cylinder and the door lifts up. They can often look like a new and interesting feature to the house, if installed and fitted correctly.

A built-in roller shutter door is slightly different from a built-on roller shutter, in that the reeling mechanism and guide rails are built into the wall during construction, meaning that they are hidden from view. This gives a more flawless look to the design and a sleek aesthetic. Many people choose this option when they are undergoing major refurbishments as the building work is already being completed. They can often be modernised with remote control available and energy efficiency options. They can also be a good security measure, if you don’t already have steel security doors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_shutter

Manual Roller Shutters

Unlike their motorised counterparts, manual roller shutters are, you guessed it, operated by hand. They can often be spring assisted, where the blind pops up when it is opened at the base. It then locks back down when the blind is lowered. The spring mechanism is usually only used for smaller shutters on windows as the heavier doors are far more cumbersome to operate in this way. For this reason, people often choose to go for a motorised design, as they can be more efficient and easier to use.

For the heavier doors, if you don’t want a motorised option, then the usual choice is a chain operated roller shutter. Working as a pulley system, the chains are pulled to open the shutters but this is often a laborious and slow task, so isn’t a great option for a door or window that has frequent use. Many people choose a motorised option for sheer ease of use and they often are comparable in terms of pricing. Take a look at roller shutter doors or garage roller shutters in Worthing, Sussex, Brighton or other areas to see what would suit you.

Integrated roller shutter windows

Like the built-in roller shutter doors, these work in a similar way. When building a new house, or performing considerable construction work on an old house, the shutters are built into the wall along with the window. This means that the mechanism is hidden, as well as the blinds when they are lifted. They are reeled into the wall above the window, meaning that you get a flawless look when you don’t need them. These are often chosen as another way to increase energy efficiency, while also appealing to the design concerns for your home.

The Health Benefits of Taking a Holiday in a Luxury Shepherds Hut in West Sussex

It’s a sad reflection on modern working life in the UK that research shows that the majority of us have some unused holiday at the end of most years. So the thought of even a short glamping break in a luxury shepherds hut in West Sussex has real appeal to many people coping with the hustle and bustle of urban life in major cities like London.  And it’s even more important to take the chance to take time off when you see the evidence of how not taking a holiday can upset your physical as well as your mental health.  Here are some of the major health benefits of taking that country break. 

https://www.barnhamhuts.com/

Relieving Stress

Stress can be a great motivator, helping people get through the work when they’re under pressure, but maintaining levels of stress over extended periods has serious detrimental effects.  Experts have shown that 80% of workers overly stressed for at least part of their working lives, and 70% of referrals to the doctor are attributed to stress-related conditions.  Holidays in the country are recognised as a great antidote and quickly reduce stress levels, keeping an individuals’ good health intact and preventing the dreaded burnout.

Improving Creativity

Taking it easy in the rural areas in West Sussex, especially the South Downs and along the coast around Chichester, allows the mind to relax and creative thoughts to flow more freely.  So a holiday, especially glamping in a luxury shepherds hut really boosts creativity, the change of pace allowing people to view the everyday world in a fresh way.   When people get to enjoy this clarity, clearer thinking and increased creatively result from disconnecting from the work environment for a while.

Boost emotional stability in a Luxury Shepherds Hut in Chichester

Too much time at the office, no matter if it’s because you have to or you really enjoy it and actually want to, can leave you feeling tired and run-down. Getting away from it all with a glamping stay in the Sussex countryside around Chichester can be the perfect anti-dote and a real chance to re-charge your batteries.  The calming environment of somewhere like a luxury shepherds hut, however, can put you back on an even keel and prevent outbursts or “did I really say that to my colleague?” moments.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/tools-and-accessories/shepherds-hut-became-new-middle-class-must-have/

Improve Confidence

Much researcher has shown that it is normal for people to return from a country holiday with a renewed sense of self. They feel refreshed, and thereafter tend to approach life and work with more vigour, and with a tendency to projects tackle with gusto rather than just settling for an easy approach.

Improves Clarity

It’s a simple physical reality that the human body requires downtime.  Not allowing for this over a period of time results in the individual quite literally running down, so when people ignore the human natural cycle of alertness and fatigue (which come in 90 minute periods), they’re not allowing for the body’s fundamental need to reboot.   While short breaks are good, longer getaways allow a person to fully recharge, which in turn improves mental alertness and the ability to think clearly.

Holds Off Low Moods

Continued exposure to deadlines and high-pressure environments results in stress, which can really dampen an individuals’ mood.   Removing yourself from this environment with a country holiday can reverse irritable, depressed or anxiety-ridden moods to ones that reflect a more calm and relaxed outlook.

Reduce Coughs and Colds

It may seem like an old-wives tale, but getting away for a few days really does help keep your body healthy.   Medical research has proven that continual, or chronic, stress can seriously depress the immune system and compromise bodily function.  In the most severe circumstances, even the genetic material of our cells can become disrupted when placed under too much stress.

Improve Bonds & Relationships

Time spent with a partner and family in the relaxing environment experienced during a country break in Sussex and Chichester allows you to bond in ways that are far more important than the usual “how was your day?” discussions. Experts have discovered that time together during a holiday builds personal bonds and increases family integration.

Save the Company Money

It’s often overlooked that staying healthy and in a better frame of mind by taking time off work is in fact a good way to improve company’s bottom line. It’s a simple fact that over-stressed employees can end up being off work for long periods as a result of the physical and mental health problems that resulted from too much time on the job. So that stay in a luxury shepherds hit can make all the difference.

Finding Inspiration

Blue sky thinking is something of a modern jargon favourite, but it quite literally does work.  A countryside break, or time spent on the beach under a bright blue sky frees the mind of the usual clutter and allows time for free thinking.  Under these conditions inspiration will often just emerge and the best ideas appear.

So taking time away from the usual routine doesn’t need to involve the expense of a trip to Vegas or 4 star luxury in London.  Simply taking a few days out in the simple comforts of a luxury shepherds  hut, where you soak up the peace and quiet of a rural setting, can be just what the doctor ordered.

 

House and Property Extensions Reigate – Building Survey Types

As part of the architectural services offered by many builders in Reigate and Horsham, surveys are often the starting point of many building projects, including house and property extensions.

Building surveys are a way of providing detailed advice to a home buyer or investor and are typically usually around 20 pages long.  They are essential for properties over 150 years’ old, larger homes with more than 5 bedrooms, and for buildings that include non-conventional construction features or methods.

As well as providing details about any urgent or significant defects, a Building Survey will also include information on a range of less serious items.  If a valuation is needed, it usually needs to be requested.

https://abmbuild.co.uk/about-abm-build/

Homebuyer Survey from Builders in Horsham

This is by far the most popular type of survey commissioned by builders in Horsham and is appropriate for the majority of homes built since the 1880’s. The survey looks at the whole property, inside and out and is written on an RICS report format.

To make things easier for the home buyer, an easy to follow ‘traffic light’ is included that has a  ‘Condition Rating’ of 1, 2 or 3.

The HomeBuyer - Report will point out any significant defects, and anything that could affect the value of the property. It will also alert the home buyer about any future maintenance problems that show up. A valuation and insurance calculation can also be included.  This not usually the right type of report for older period buildings, large houses, rambling mansions, or buildings in need of extensive renovation.

Valuation Report - This is the simplest type of building inspection and simply offers a market valuation.  It is relatively limited as it only comments on defects that have a major bearing on value. When produced by a chartered surveyor the report has legal status, unlike reports produced by unqualified estate agents. They are ideal for use in tax and matrimonial cases, or working out ‘Help To Buy’ shared equity loans.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for Sussex for Design and Build Solutions in Sussex

An EPC for home sellers or those seeking design and build solutions in Sussex, are now legally required in the UK before marketing a property.  Landlords must also provide an EPC when letting a property.  The EPC uses an ‘A to G’ energy rating, similar to those on new white goods, and can only be issues by certificated Domestic Energy Assessors.

Condition Reports – A form of budget survey, condition reports are less much less detailed than a Homebuyers reports.  They were originally brought in to help sellers identify defects prior to putting their building and properties on the market, but nowadays are now usually commissioned by buyers who want more information than provided by their lender’s mortgage valuation.

The reports are prepared by accredited Home Inspectors, who may not be qualified chartered surveyors. Unlike Building Surveys and Homebuyer reports they don’t go into detail on the causes of defects or provide advice on suggested repairs, and they don’t include a valuation or insurance reinstatement figures. These are simply straightforward surveys suitable for more modern houses where no significant problems are thought to exist.

Scotland Home Survey - A Home Report is required by law for the majority of homes for sale in Scotland, so does not apply to builders in Horsham or Reigate.  They are only permitted to be carries out by, along with the valuation and energy report and are similar to the popular RICS Homebuyer report used elsewhere in the UK.       

Architectural Services in Crawley - Historic Property Surveys

If you are considering the purchase of a listed building, or one that’s very old, help from an expert could be useful.  This is especially true if your architectural services in Crawley are looking at making alterations, building an extension or carrying out repair work.  A Building Surveyor who specialises in historic and listed buildings would undertake this type of survey, and will take account of the traditional materials and techniques originally used in the construction of the building.

Structural Engineers Report - If your home is showing serious cracking, possible subsidence or serious bowing to the roof, then it is sensible to appoint a Structural Engineer to survey the building. This is especially true if the problem in just a single area and the whole building doea not need to be assessed. They are also the right expert to provide services in relation to making structural alterations and the design of new buildings.

Party Wall Surveys - The Party Wall Act defines the rules concerning building work to a wall that separates a house from a neighbour’s property, as well as construction work close to a boundary.  This could be the erection of a new building, changes to an existing property or excavating within 6 metres of an adjoining property or boundary.

Architectural Design Services by Builders in Reigate and Horsham

Architectural design services provided by builders in Reigate and Horsham can help you with a full range of building projects, from extensions to new build homes.   While qualified architects are members of RIBA, choosing a professional designer to draw up your plans doesn’t always mean you have to appoint an architect.  Some building surveyors are able to provide architectural services, and as well as drawing up plans can write the specification and tender the job.

https://www.comparemymove.com/chartered-surveyors/full-structural-building-survey

How Brighton UPVC Double Glazed Windows Are Made

When you’re considering buying UPVC double glazing windows in Brighton, it’s good to understand how the windows are made.

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UPVC windows are made from sections of profile, which are then cut and joined together to create the shape of the window. The profiles are manufactured by forcing molten PVC through a precision made die that creates the desired shape of the frame.  The extruded material is then cooled off almost immediately prior to being cut to manageable lengths for the manufacturing process.

Windows destined for installations in Worthing and Brighton are then put together with sections of profile that have previously been cut to the right size. These sections of profiles are welded together with the options of heat-fusion welding or T-joint connectors.  To make the window frames more robust, steel or aluminium strengthening sections are inserted inside the UPVC profiles to provide extra strength when specified.

Additives and Stabilisers for Brighton Double Glazing

UPVC uses the plastic polyvinyl chloride polymer.  But to make the plastic suitable for use as a window frame, you have to add number of different additives and stabilisers. These have heat and UV stabiliser properties and are an essential part of any PVC that is destined to be used in the manufacture of UPVC windows.

The choice of the actual stabiliser to be used will depend greatly on the particular end-application in mind.  There are always specific technical reasons why each stabiliser type is used for particular applications.  

https://tridentwindowsanddoors.co.uk/windows/

UPVC Windows Maintenance and Repair

One of the main benefits of UPVC windows is the fact they are very low maintenance, but this does not mean they are totally maintenance free.

There are two main types of repairs required:

 1.  Surface Repairs

Two types of repair can occur on the surface of window frames, namely:

·         Cosmetic damage –this is mainly scratches and minor damage that has no practical effect on how the window functions.

·         Structural damage – Actual holes, chips, knocks more severe damage.

For surface repairs to frames such as scratches and indentations there are simple repair kits readily available. They have everything you might need to carry out general cosmetic repair including soft hard wax, tools (including a special tool to melt the wax and lacquers) and touch up pens to make sure the repair matches the original window frame.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/double-glazing/article/how-to-buy-double-glazing/double-glazing-explained

2. Functional repairs

These types of repair are to the working parts of the window, as damaged handles, locks or hinges.  Most are easily replaced with readily available spare parts.   Locking mechanisms can also break especially if they have been used too roughly and the small gearing section fail.   

Hinges are normally easy to get to and fairly simple to remove.  UPVC double glazing window systems are specifically designed for this ease of fabrication and along with that functionality comes the ease of replacement. Hinges can also be replaced with larger sizes as an option, which makes their repair very flexible.  

Tail Docking - Canine Osteopathy Sussex – Part 2

………Continued from

http://sussex-brighton-buzzin.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/tail-docking-dog-pain-sussex-part-1.htm

It has been made clear to breeders, vets and Sussex canine osteopaths that potential exemption from the current dog tail docking regulations would be made only for outdoor-related activities such as exercise or work (which accounted for 17.5% of the total injuries surveyed).  On this basis, around 2,800 puppies would have to be docked in order to protect the one working dog from tail injury.  It could be argued that the majority of working dogs do require (and deserve) a much greater degree of protection from injury and dog pain than animals that lead less active lives.  In principle we would agree with that.  This has to balanced against the consideration that working dogs are regularly placed in environments and situations where they are likely to hurt themselves, and the injuries are not limited to the tail.

http://www.canineosteopath.co.uk/

http://www.canineosteopath.co.uk/services/

The study refers to research by Houlton (2008)1, which details injuries sustained by working dogs including:

·         lacerations to the inguinal region.

·         abdomen face and ears.

·         puncture wounds including stake penetrations of the inguinal region, chest and pharynx.

·         foot injuries, lameness, elbow fractures, ligament injuries and sprains, internal injuries, nostril damage, eye injuries and tail injuries.

Sussex canine osteopaths assert that such a range of injuries shows the flawed logic of docking as means to prevent tail injuries.  It would be impossible to protect working dogs from such a wide range of injuries by cutting off parts of their bodies.

Canine Osteopaths in Sussex

When considering just tail injuries, the study found that working dogs were not, in fact, suffering significantly increased rates of injury.  It was other factors, including breed characteristics and general levels of activity were shown to be more important than the working activity itself.  Breed was found to be a major factor, with English springer spaniels, lurchers, greyhounds, cocker spaniels, and whippets all being noted as being at a much higher risk than labradors and other kinds of retrievers.

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/FAQs/Pages/Frequently-asked-questions-about-canine-tail-docking.aspx

Of these, only spaniels are the only breed that is routinely docked.  An exemption for working dogs would not be of any help in providing extra protection for greyhounds, lurchers or whippets.  As spaniels have feathered tails, they were traditionally thought to have an increased risk of getting caught up in undergrowth.  However, such tangling can be avoided simply by trimming the dogs tail hair, as opposed to docking the tails of whole litters of puppies soon after birth.

There is a traditional view that puppies do not feel dog pain while their tails are being docked.  This is based mostly on observations from people observing the procedure who say the puppies don’t seem to react strongly.  There is, however, considerable scientific evidence that they do in fact suffer considerably. The faulty thinking comes from the way we expect dogs to react to stimuli in the same way that humans do.  We are coming to understand that dogs react to pain in ways that are not immediately obvious, but they are suffering nonetheless. The loss of the tail also affects the dog in other ways as it removes an important means of balance and communication.  This can have other impacts on the animal throughout its life that Sussex canine osteopaths could assess.

It is important to now have this authoritative study which finally confirms there is no compelling scientific or statistical argument in favour of tail docking.  There is now a growing movement that believes the matter is now settled for the argument about what is actually in the animals’ best interest.  
Following the publication of the report, it was telling that the Veterinary Record editorial focused not on whether working dog exemptions should be created in Scotland, but instead made argument about whether the current exemptions in England and Wales should be allowed to continue.

Modern Wood Burners Sussex Style

People have always burnt wood and wood burning stoves of one sort or another have been used in homes in places like Chichester, Worthing, Brighton and Sussex for a long time. Here we take a look at how such wood burners have evolved and been helping to heat homes and cook food throughout Sussex.

The Original Wood Burner - Campfires

Though they don’t really qualify as a Sussex wood-burning stove, campfires have been keeping in used Sussex towns like Brighton and Worthing for many thousands of years.

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Nowadays we mostly use campfires for when we out the great outdoors fun. 

The Open Fireplace

 Open fireplaces are always popular as they provide a really homely feeling and romantic atmosphere. They can be a pain to start, although practice makes it much easier.  They can be expensive to clean, and on occasions can be quite often smoky – so much so that some areas of Sussex can restrict the use of open fireplaces to curb pollution.

When it comes to heating the house, open fireplaces are actually quite inefficient because they have a habit of sucking warm air out of a room and sending it up the chimney. They’re also poor at converting the heat from wood burning in the hearth to move around the house.

In order to improve the efficiency of wood burning fireplaces, some people install an additional heat exchanger.

An Early Classic - The Franklin Wood Burning Stove

This type of wood burning stove has a U-shaped flue that draws the hot gases from the firebox into a hollow baffle. This heats up cool air that is drawn into the baffle, sending it out into the room through vents at the top of the stove.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/12008283/Furniture-fashion-this-seasons-hottest-log-burning-stoves.html

Potbelly Stoves

Cast-iron potbelly stoves are named after the round bulge in their mid.  They first appeared in homes around the 1860s and quickly became a standard wood burning stove in train stations, kitchens and hunting lodges throughout Sussex and Brighton.

Their great advantage was being a multi-fuel stove able to burn coal or wood, the fully enclosed firebox generates a lot of heat and many of the more modern models feature a flat cooking top so they can also be used to heat water and food.

Traditional Cook Stove

Early on in the nineteenth century stove manufacturers began experimenting with wood burning cooking stoves.  These designs reached their peak early in the twentieth century, with one of the popular models in the US came from the Canadian manufacturer the Findlay Bros.

With a large cast-iron hot surface and an enamelled oven, the stove cooked food, hearted up water, and warmed homes very efficiently for the time.  Though people are still using these old stoves they comment that they are burning a lot of wood.

The Masonry Stove

While potbelly and airtight stoves are most efficient when producing heat from long, gently smouldering fires, masonry stoves rely on faster burning, hot fires that burn much cleaner thereby producing far less emissions.

Airtight Wood Burning Stoves

The design of potbelly stoves meant they had leaky seams that let in so much air a fire could burn out in just a couple of hours, and then be cold within three or four hours.  The newer design of airtight wood burning stoves stay hotter for far longer by the use of openings to control the airflow, and thus the rate of burn.  Once the wood burning well, the openings can be closed off almost completely, allowing the hot embers to glow hot for eight hours or even more. But there is a downside to the slower burn – these wood burning stoves mean more smoke which is more polluting.

Modern Wood Burning Stoves Sussex

With the widespread concern about air pollution that developed at the end of the 20^th century, new designs were developed to reduce the wood burning stove emissions.   This led to a new range of stoves – highly efficient catalytic and non-catalytic airtight stoves that have now become increasingly popular, helping to eliminate emissions and increase heat transfer efficiency through the total combustion of the wood used as fuel.

Escape from the Hum Drum at Dog Friendly Pubs in Sussex

If you haven’t yet visited one of the many excellent dog friendly pubs in Sussex, you should be aware that you’re missing out one of the quintessentially British institutions.  A most pleasing aspect of life in these little slices of rural paradise is the fact they offer an ideal chance to totally get away from it all.  However hectic your life might seem at the moment, it’s good to know there is an oasis of peace and quiet just down the road, ready to help you forget the stresses and strains of everyday life.

For most of us, the pressures of work and domestic life do take their toll, which is why it is important to find that all important sanctuary.   A place to spend some quality time unwinding, taking the chance to get in the right frame of mind to face whatever the world will throw at us next.  There is something very therapeutic about time spent relaxing in dog friendly pubs in Sussex.  This is especially true when you’re in the mood for a few points of craft bees and some particularly tasty food.

 http://shepherdanddogpub.co.uk/

Dog Friendly Pubs in Sussex – Offering a Perfect Sanctuary

Good shopping centres abound in the south-east of England, offering succor to a large number of retail therapy fans over the weekends.  It doesn’t matter whether people are looking for the coolest designer labels, state of the art gadgets or even some new furniture for the home, they can always head over to the dog friendly pubs in Sussex to enjoy some much-needed recovery time. These are the times when all you need is a comfy chair, a relaxing atmosphere and some top quality refreshments.

On a sunny summer’s afternoon, a bit of al fresco dining in one of the dog friendly pubs in Sussex is always a welcome treat.  Many of these fine establishments are to be found nestled in some glorious countryside, offering diners plenty of spectacular views as they enjoy their meals.  While the sun is beating down and the feel-good factor in felt in abundance, you can forget all about the tensions and upset caused by those shopping trips.  Everyone deserves a chance to recharge the batteries of life, and the local country pub can be the ideal place to do just that.