Why your windows are making you cold and broke

Affleck are extending an outstanding winter warmer windows offer – but why should you upgrade your windows?  The principal benefit is that double or triple glazed windows save you money – as much as £400 a year on your energy bills!  But there are more benefits that greatly improve quality of life as well.

Cost Benefit of Double/Triple Glazing

Poor window energy rating = waste of heat energy = high energy bills

If your windows are old, single glazed or in bad condition it will contribute hundreds to your energy bills through heat loss.  Homeowners continually spend more than they should in attempts to keep their houses heated throughout the winter and autumn months.

It is reported by Energy Double Glazing that highly rated triple glazed windows, can go as far as to save over £400 a year on your annual energy bill,  or according to the British Fenestration Rating Council, the average, semi-detached house can reduce 18% of energy usage by investing in double glazed windows.

But it’s not all about the money.  There are more benefits of double & triple glazing that have a real impact on your quality of life.

Benefits of Double/Triple Glazing

• Saving hundreds of pounds on annual energy bills
• Adding thousands to the value of your property – also making it easier to sell
• Beautiful makeover – improving the aesthetic of  the inside & outside of your home
• Elimination of drafts – keeping your home cosy for less
• Reducing damp – keeping condensation outside the home
• Sound proofing – reducing noise pollution
• Improved home security – as well as being very difficult to smash, most double-glazing comes with safe locks which don’t allow windows to be opened fully
• Environmentally friendly – the reduction in the energy needed to keep your home warm can lower your carbon footprint – 300kgs per year for the average, semi-detached house

With the cold and noise outside, the warmth in, feeling secure we can almost guarantee you’ll sleep better at night with our latest offer.

Winter Warmer Windows Offer

This winter Affleck is providing customers with the chance to create elegant energy efficient housing through the installation of hardwood box sash windows.

Professional craftsmen at Affleck have been fully trained to install the superior hardwood timber frame box sash windows. The stylish windows not only provide great insulation and will add a clean finish and modern look to your home.

The offer ends in March 2014 and is available to the first 50 customers only.

Windows are also available individually. For further information please contact us at 0208 971 7000 – quote the ‘Winter Warmer Windows Offer’.

4 Easy Steps to Protect Yourself & Your Home from the Winter

While it’s easy for you to wrap up warm or stay inside, your home isn’t as lucky and will face the worst of what the British weather has to offer. In preparation for the rain, snow, strong winds and whatever else may be looming; Affleck has compiled some simple tips in order to help you take care of your home this winter.

1. Roofing Damage: Inspect now

For those of you who were confident enough to brave the cold and lace your homes with outdoor Christmas lights and decorations, you might know the condition of your roof.  For those without the Christmas bling look out for:

• Any visibly loose or broken tiles
• Signs of moss build up/blocked gutters:
  • Overflowing gutters
  • Warped or sagging gutters
  • Visible wet patches on the walls
  • Discoloured paint/walls
  • Wet external walls/penetrating damp
  • Damp basement
• Check your attic for any wet spots or beams of light from the ceiling as this would suggest that there are holes in the roof

If you see any of these it’s a strong indication that repair work is in order.   A small tweak now might save you from serious damage when the weather turns nasty.  We’ve had tens of customers in the last week who left it too late and now having to do major repairs.

If you need any help with your roof call Wayne - Affleck's Head of Roofing - on 0208 971 7000 or follow our Guide on How to Clean Your Gutters.

2. Prevent Burst Pipes: Drain the System

Burst pipes are a common problem during the winter months.  The burst is usually caused when the water in pipes expands when it freezes and cracks the pipe. We suggest that if you’re going to be away from your home for a while, it's worth turning the flow of water off from the stopcock and letting the remaining water in the pipes out through the taps – ensuring that there is no water in the pipes to freeze.  Pipe insulators can be used to avoid frozen pipes, particularly in exposed areas.  In general your central heating is enough to keep your pipes safe.

3. Avoid a Slippery Path or Drive:

After it has snowed your local council will usually place salt and grit down on main roads and popular pedestrian paths in order remove the danger of falling over. If you are unfortunate the snow can cause extremely slippery surfaces on the paths leading to and from your home. If the council doesn’t place salt and grit down in these areas you can use cat litter or sand instead.  You can pick up a bag of sand for around £5 from hardware stores or even order from Amazon; a good thing to have by the front door.  You can even keep the spirit of Christmas going by helping an elderly neighbour with a bag too.

4. Avoid Electrical Heating Fires

Portable electric heaters become very popular during the winter months especially when the entire family is situated in one room. According to Fire Brigade, electrical heaters cause more than one fire a day.  It is very important that you remember not to place them so that they’re facing furniture and not to keep any wires underneath rugs as this may cause them to overheat and in turn cause a fire.

These simple pieces of advice should be easy enough to undertake yourself but if you would feel more comfortable having assistance from professionals feel free to call us on 0800 316 9595 | 0208 971 7000

Finding the right maintenance partner for your business

Kate Murphy, Head of Property Management at Courtenay knows a thing or two about how to look after properties.  After ‘chasing her tail’ with cheap one man vans, she now relies on Affleck to maintain over 200 properties which has made her day easier as she can ‘just pick up the phone once and know that everything will be taken care of’.

One of our biggest commercial clients for maintenance work here at Affleck is estate agency Courtenay – how we’ve worked with for over three years. Affleck are Courtenay’s first choice for maintenance repairs; anything from repairing a leaky roof, broken-down boiler or a faulty light switch.

We caught up with Kate Murphy during a typically busy day at Courtenay’s office in Clapham Junction to ask a few questions about her relationship with Affleck.

On a day-to-day basis, what types of problems do you have to deal with?

It can be anything from a broken boiler, to a washing machine, blocked drains, leaking roofs, and non-flushing toilets; any problems that you could think of and even more that you wouldn’t. I can get up to 60 emails a day if not more.

What made you switch to working with Affleck?

When I first started at Courtenay, we used to use little one man vans and with the amount of work coming through I found that I was always chasing my tail.  They offered cheap prices but in the end the ‘cheap’ became expensive, with the time spent chasing them and getting the right standard of workmanship.

I can honestly say that my call is always Affleck now. For instance on Friday I need a plumber and an electrician at the same property, so I’ve told James (Affleck’s Maintenance Administrator) and they’re both going in on the same day so that saves two phone calls and I know we’ll get a reliable result.

Why do you like working with Affleck?

James’ honesty is absolutely brilliant! If I ring up and say I need something a.s.a.p. normally he’s straight on it and if he can’t do it he tells me so I can get some-one else in. James is absolutely spot on, I can’t fault him.

How has Affleck made your life easier?

"It’s one phone call (for everything)"

It’s one phone call (for everything), whether it’s plumbing or roofing. Wayne (Head of Roofing) is fantastic and Colin (Head of Plumbing) too; everyone is so easy to deal with there. They all make me laugh. 90% of the time I’m speaking to James and we always have a bit of a giggle. It was nice being invited to the Christmas party.

Would you recommend Affleck to other companies?

Yes!  They’re fantastic to work with and when the total costs of work are considered, cheaper than the alternatives.  They have all the right accreditations and expertise which is very reassuring. Working with friendly and reliable people makes my job so much more enjoyable and easier. 

Call Affleck on 0800 316 9595 | 0208 971 7000 to find out how we can help your business.

Courtenay is situated on Lavender Hill. Whether you’re buying, renting, selling or letting in Clapham, Battersea or Wandsworth, let Courtenay assist you in making the right decision.

How To Bleed a Radiator

After a summer of inactivity radiators often fail to provide the heat they should. If your radiators are warm at the base and cool at the top, you need to bleed your radiator.  Occasionally air gets trapped inside keeping the hot water from providing the heat throughout.

Bleeding a radiator is easy to do, all you’ll need is a radiator key and a piece of tissue/cloth.

1. Locate the radiator value
2. Place the tissue/cloth just below the valve
3. Open the value with a quarter turn anti-clockwise
4. Wait until water drips on the cloth; the air is now out
5. Turn the key clockwise to close

It is worth checking periodically if your radiators need bleeding, simply feel for a difference in heat between the top and the bottom when the heating is switched on.  If there’s a difference you know what to do.

After bleeding the radiator is cold

If you have thermostatic radiator valves and you find that one radiator is completely cold when the rest of your radiators are on, it could be that the pin on the radiator valve has become stuck.

Unscrew the head of the valve with the temperature controls - you should be able to do this by hand.  Once removed you will see a small pin, take a pin-head hammer and give the pin a small tap which should release the blockage and let water into the radiator.  You may be able to hear the water entering the radiator, wait a few minutes and the radiator should start heating up.

If you radiator is still not warming up contact your local London Plumber.  Affleck’s friendly and qualified plumbers are available 24 hours a day on 0800 316 9595 / 0208 971 7000.

Roofing: Choosing Between Natural and Man-made Roof Slates

Many home-owners when building a new roof are faced with a common decision, choosing between natural slates and man-made roof slates.  There are quite a few factors to consider, longevity, aesthetics and availability but most often the key one; price – isn’t as different as it might first appear.

Natural Roof Slates

Natural roof slates tend to be the most expensive option on the market with natural Welsh slates often being sold for over £3 per tile – however there are cheaper natural slate alternatives. We have just retiled the new Affleck office with machine-cut Spanish slates, which we were able to buy as little as £1.20 per tile.

Natural slates tend are already millions of years old and have fantastic durability and are less brittle than alternatives.  Most slates are likely to last at least 50 years although it is not uncommon for them to last 100 or more.

Although the slates are smaller than some alternatives, they often require less labour to install so on a smaller roof may only be marginally more expensive overall.  When maintenance costs are factored in natural slates offer the best value for money and will add significantly to the value of your home.

Man-made Slates

There are various types of man-made slates, some entirely synthetic some blending ground-down natural slate which is then mixed with a synthetic resin.

For people looking to economise man-made slates seem like the natural choice given their greater area and lower cost.  When first laid man-made tiles look very good however are prone to deteriorate over time; the colour fading with the effect of UV rays.  Man-made tiles are usually guaranteed for about 25 years

After exposure to the sun man-made tiles tend to become more brittle, which adds to the maintenance cost and potentially hazardous water damage.

Roof Tile Cost Comparison

	Natural Roof Slates	Man-made Slates
Cost per tile	£1.20 (Spanish) to £3 (Welsh)	£0.80
Size (inches)	10 x 20	12 x 24
Longevity	50 - 100 years	25 - 30 years
Strength	Stronger	More brittle/fragile
Colour / Aesthetics	Natural Grey	Start looking good but gain whitish fade over time
Slate Cost (Typical Front of Pitched Roof: 25m2)	c. £510 - £1275 (425 Slates)	c. £240 (300 Slates)
Labour Cost (25m2)	c. £950	c. £950
Total Cost	c. £1460 –£2225 + Sundry items	c. £1190 + Sundry items
Conclusion	Natural Roof Slates are the clear winner, better looking much longer-lasting and only costing a small amount extra	If you're very tight for cash and looking for a short-term solution man-made slates may be better

Expert Roofer Opinion

If the condition of your roof is causing a problem with selling your house, man-made tiles offer the lowest cost solution.  However long-term, the savings made on the initial investment will be lost with higher maintenance and the need to replace. We would almost always advise our clients to opt for natural roof slates.

Boilers: Repair or Replace? Why Change your Boiler if its not broken?

Top Five Reasons you should replace your boiler

1. According to Which? people in a terrace/semi-detached home could save over £400 a year on energy bills with a new efficient boiler
2. It if often more cost effective to have a new boiler installed that is under warranty than continuing to pay out for repairs to an old boiler – often the case if the boiler is more than 10 years old
3. Boilers over 10 years old can be unreliable and may not comply with current regulations
4. Health and Safety (HSE) regulations changed from the 1st January 2013 stipulating that boiler flues must be accessible, any Gas Safe Engineer that services a boiler with a hidden flue will have to class them as unsafe and they will fail their inspection
5. Affleck are currently offering a combi boiler swap with a seven year warranty for as little as £1700 + VAT

Tripwire: if you are calling out a Gas Safe Engineer more than once a year for your boiler, it’s time to change

Boilers fix or buy new?

Colin Hunt, Affleck's Head of Plumbing & Heating

"Cost of servicing a boiler for the first years is generally £85+VAT but after the warranty expires the costs often exceed £600 + VAT including parts - plus the discomfort that comes with having no hot water or heating, often at the coldest time of year. Typical parts failure includes pumps, diverter valves and thermostat controls.

There comes a point normally after 10 years where you end up paying so much to repair it, it’s far cheaper to get a new one. Not only will you save on maintenance costs and hassle but also modern boilers tend to be 30% more efficient which will save considerably on your energy bill. Which? calculates that with new condensing boilers – like the ones we’re offering – you could save over £400 a year on your energy bill in a terraced or semi-detached home. The average household saving is £310, which added to servicing costs on old boilers, gives a huge saving.”

Annual fuel costs with different boiler types (source: Sedbuk)
Boiler type	Efficiency	Flat	Terraced	Semi-detached	Detached
Old gas heavy weight	55%	£779	£1062	£1204	£1705
Old gas light weight	65%	£659	£898	£1019	£1442
New non-condensing	78%	£549	£749	£849	£1202
New condensing	89%	£481	£656	£744	£1053

Boiler Change: Case Study

Converted Victorian Terrace between the commons

Lilly - Affleck’s former Office Manager – has a common story.  When she bought her house she was alerted to the age of the boiler and the fact that the heating system was old and the house was plumbed with micro pipes.  Over the past 3 years she kept putting off buying a new boiler and instead paid for boiler services, replacement parts, new pipes throughout the house and new radiators.  All works were carried out to increase the heat capacity of the property. However the boiler continued to fail and some of the radiators didn’t heating up as well as they could – scarves and hats were all the fashion in the house.

Why Affleck Recommend a New Boiler For This Client

• Boiler was over 10 years old and prone to problems
• Lilly had already paid out for repairs and new parts to boiler over the past 3 years and bills were only going to rise
• There was a persistent dropping of pressure which cannot be traced to an obvious leak
• A planned loft conversion which would require a more reliable boiler
• Boiler flue crossed boundary wall and will need to be moved for access to flue

Boiler: Action Advised

Old boiler to be removed, new boiler with 7 year warranty (Vaillant Combi Boiler) installed in new location with easy access to flue.

Replacement Boiler Cost

£2500 + VAT

Client Feedback

Lilly - "Having paid my deposit I had a date with the plumber; the work began two days later. The plumber arrived on time and took charge of my keys and got to work. The works continued into the next day and were finished on time with minimal disruption.

"I hadn’t realised what discomfort we were in until we had the new boiler installed – my home felt cosy again and the hot water was constant, not fluctuating has it had some for some time. My advice is to take Affleck’s advice, if you have more than one service/call out per year on a boiler over 10 years old get your boiler changed ASAP."

• Affleck are currently offering a combi boiler swap with a seven year warranty for as little as £1700 + VAT – saving you hundreds of pounds
• Affleck are offering 7 Boiler Services for the price of 5 when paid for in advance. (In order to maintain your seven year warranty you will need to keep records of your annual Boiler Service)
• We are offering a 15% discount on Boiler Services for August
• Why not book a service now and receive a free estimate for a boiler swap this summer?

Call us now on freephone 0800 316 9595 - to book a service and a free estimate at at time that suits you.

How to choose a trustworthy builder or tradesman - Questions & Apps

Our Affleck tradesmen are often called on to repair or take over poorly finished or unsafe work untaken by inexperienced ‘cowboys’.  Often the client has opted for the cheapest option and left themselves exposed risk and financial loss. You can avoid their mistakes.

Talk to your Traderman App

The TrustMark organisation has recently developed an excellent app which prompts you with questions to ask builders/tradesmen and records the important information.

As a reputable local London building services company we welcome this tool. Many of the questions you should ask are seemly straightforward, but you’d be surprised by how many people do not know what to expect from a builder or what to ask.

Having a clear set of terms from a company is invaluable. Both the consumer and tradesperson will have protection and peace of mind that each party will undertake their part of the contract.

Download the Trustmark App here:

Questions to ask your builder or tradesman

• Does the company hold insurance?
• What are the payment terms?
• Does the work come with a warranty?
• What availability does the company have to undertake the works?
• Does the company follow the latest health and safety guidelines?
• Does the company charge VAT?

These questions will help you form an opinion on the builder outside of the personal and first impression you receive. In addition always ask for relevant references and visits to completed projects. Some builders will show you a work in progress, which can really help you see how the company works

When you find the right builder you will return to them for years to come and recommend them to family, friends and colleagues.

Affleck’s London Builders 100% record

Affleck are very proud to say that once again we have received glowing feedback from our annual customer service survey:  100% of customers surveyed would use Affleck again and would refer us to a friend/family member.

Affleck Property Services has a clear cut policy for projects and maintenance laid out in our terms and conditions, found on our website, in addition to the reverse of all maintenance invoices, appointment confirmation emails and written estimates for larger works.
If you are looking for experienced London Builders for your loft extension, kitchen or bathroom project, call us on Freephone 0800 316 9595 and we can organise to visit you & offer a free quotation.