Would you like new customers

Andrew WilliamsAliens, BNI, Books, Droids, Fanatasy, News

Would you like new customers? The BNI Merseyside networking groups including BNI Bravo St Helens has been proven to work year after year in generating new business for our members. The philosophy is simple. BNI Merseyside and BNI Bravo St Helens limits membership to one person only from each trade/profession. This is the perfect opportunity to grow your business with … Read More

A guide to home maintenance

Andrew WilliamsHome Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Surveying, Uncategorized

The external walls The walls of a property are the barrier which keeps the elements, and particularly water, from reaching your comfortable internal environment but they need maintenance. In order to fulfil that function effectively, however, they need to be clear of soil and ground level build up. The problem Old properties Already prone to rising damp, solid wall structures … Read More

Japanese Knotweed Identification

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Books, Japanese knotweed

At this time of year Japanese Knotweed is dormant during the winter but it won’t be long before the 2016 growing season starts in March/April. In Spring: Young red/purple asparagus like shoots appear which turn green as they age. Some plants leaf initially but can grow 50cm as straight rod. In Summer: These shoots turn into bamboo like hollow stems, … Read More

Planning – Fracking

Andrew WilliamsFracking, Planning

Planning – The house is the wrong colour. A woman from Lancashire designed her new house and chose the colour grey for the external walls, as the bricks they had wanted weren’t available. Part of the planning approval stated that the external colours had to be agreed prior to the works commencing. The design of the house was granted planning … Read More

Defects in property

Andrew WilliamsHome Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Surveying

  He was a marvellous gardener. The neighbour was right. The garden was perfect.  Pity about the defects. Pity he grew a low hedge up the front wall of the house and porch. (See photographs) This created defects that I had to report. As the hedge prevented visible access, I had to report that it was not possible to fully … Read More

UNDERPINNING FOUNDATIONS

Andrew WilliamsParty Wall

UNDERPINNING FOUNDATIONS, Building Regulations, Party Wall Notices and CDM. Underpinning foundations is structural work and notifiable under the Building Regulations. You must make an application to the building control authority in all cases, without exception. If the underpinning works are to be carried out adjacent or in close proximity to another existing building, you need to ensure the requirements of … Read More

EPC, Energy Performance Certificates, (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015

Andrew WilliamsCommercial Energy Reports, Commercial EPC, Energy Performance Certificates, Legal, News

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPC) Both domestic and commercial buildings require Energy Performance Certificates when they are sold or let. The ratings on both types of certificate go from A (the highest) to G. (the lowest) Domestic energy performance certificates for existing dwellings are assessed using RdSAP. (Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure.). Domestic ratings run from 1 (G) the worst  to … Read More

Wind turbines in England Welsh Planning changes

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Books, News, Planning

Wind turbines in England The government has honoured its manifesto pledge over giving local communities a greater say over onshore wind turbines and axing subsidies for them. The new rules concerning wind turbinescome in on 18 June 2015. Under these new provisions councils should only grant permission for wind turbines in their area if the site is in an area … Read More