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

PUBLISHING FANTASY IN THE UK

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

You know what they say; everyone has a book inside them. Although I have published two technical books, I have always wanted to try publishing a novel. After a lot of abortive attempts, I finally hit upon an idea that ended up with a good story line for a science fiction / fantasy novel. To be sure that I wasn’t … 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

Knotweed

Andrew WilliamsHome Buyer report, Home Condition Reports, Japanese knotweed, Surveying

Japanese Knotweed   I was discussing surveying matters with a friend a few days ago and thinking about the results of surveys. If a surveyor finds a major problem with a property, the chances are that finding the problem wasn’t really chance; it the result of years of training. There is of course the temptation to dance a jig to … Read More

NEW HOMES, HOUSE BUILDING AND PROPERTY

Andrew WilliamsBNI, Commercail Energy Reports, Home Condition Reports, News, Party Wall, Surveying, Uncategorized

The number of new homes being completed is exceeding 2014 figures by 14%. The majority house building was made up of private sector completions.  According to Knight Frank prime UK waterfront property is 70% above that of inland homes. The Environment Agency saying 1.8m homes in the UK are at risk from sea or river flooding.  Jeremy Corbyn is proposing … 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