When it comes to the kitchen worktop, it can feel like there are endless choices. When you’ve gone through your own wants and needs, it can often come down to two simple options and quite often, we find people discussing the pros and cons of marble and quartz. Which one would be the best option? Today we’re looking at the benefits of Marble worktops over Quartz worktops and why it could be the perfect option for you.
When it comes to appearance, both marble worktops and quartz worktops deliver however, there’s a very clear distinction between the two. Marble is of course an all natural stone. It’s entirely unique and raw. It’s quarried, sliced, water blasted, buffed and polished into the finished slabs we see in kitchens and bathrooms all around the world.
While quartz is hand-made from a stone and resin mix, it’s quite simply that – man-made. There is nothing that will be the natural and raw appearance of marble. What’s more, it’s completely unique in its markings, which means no one else will have the same marble worktop as you, ever. If you’re looking for elegance, originality and sheer beauty, then Marble worktops will always win, hands down.
Quartz and marble worktops both offer great effects in terms of resale value. They’re both quality worktops that can help boost not only your home’s appeal but your home’s value too. That being said, Marble worktops are more expensive which makes them more appealing when it comes to resale value. Marble is synonymous with high-end quality and luxury living which is certainly something you want your property associated with when it’s on the market.
There have been reports in the past which have linked the emission of radon from natural and manufactured stone, with quartz being one such product which is said to emit this gas. While quartz emits almost no radon, marble emits zero radon emissions. It’s a clear, hands down winner in this respect.
If you’d like more information on marble worktops or perhaps even more information on other options available, we recommend contacting The Only Way Is Granite today. Not only are they one of the South East’s leading suppliers of quality worktops but they’re also experts within this field, working with some of the finest natural and man-made stones available.
Not only will they be able to supply you with the best materials available, providing a high-end installation service with ease, but they’ll also be able to best advise you on the most well-suited material for you, your home and your lifestyle. Call 01277 800 023 today.
When it comes to kitchen worktops, stone is fast becoming one of the most popular materials out there. More and more people around the world are now abandoning the more traditional materials such as wood and laminate in favour of natural stone. Whether you’re looking for a completely raw natural stone such as marble or granite, or a more manufactured stone such as quartz, the benefits are abundantly clear. Today we are looking at the benefits of natural stone worktops in your kitchens and bathrooms and showing you why so many are now choosing stone in favour of anything else.
Let it be said that stone is one of the most easily maintained worktops out there. More often than not they require a simple wipe down with a cloth and warm water. Cleaning and maintenance are virtually minimal. While there are certain options, such as granite that require annual professional sealant, there are numerous others that need nothing at all. Take a look at quartz for instance, quartz is a man-made stone. It’s crafted from stone and a resin mixture that creates a totally non-porous material needing only a wipe down at best, to keep it hygienic, clean and looking its best.
Stone worktops aren’t just easy to look after, they’re also a fantastic investment, allowing people to not only enjoy a stunning feature in the home but benefit in terms of property value too. With such high-end aesthetics and low levels of maintenance, they’ve become incredibly attractive and as such, have become a real selling point in any property. If they’re well looked after, many find their value isn’t lost over the years either.
Stone worktops are very hard wearing. Granted, while some are more hard wearing than others, there are a great deal that can handle heat, chemicals and much more, making the scrapes and bumps that often occur in a busy household like water off a duck’s back. Stop worrying about heavy crockery and spilt milk (literally) because stone worktops like quartz will repel even the darkest of wines, leaving you with pristine surfaces, virtually blemish-free.
Once again, quartz worktops are mentioned here however it’s not alone, other materials such as Corian and Tristone also boast non-porous features. These natural stone and chemical resin mixes are extremely tough and as such can stand up to even the toughest stains out there. Being non-porous also makes them incredibly hygienic as they won’t harbour bacteria and germs like other materials can.
Let’s face it, natural stone worktops are quite simply stunning. There is no other material that produces such an attractive aesthetic so it’s no wonder that they’re becoming as popular as they are.
If you’d like more information on the variety of different stone worktops available, we recommend contacting Total Tops. These guys won’t just supply you with incredible stone worktops, they’ll help you create a statement in your kitchen or bathroom with ease. Call Total Tops today on 01787 844 663.
Considering a loft conversion? Then it’s a good idea to find out every aspect of this type of home renovation, including the requirements needed to ensure you’re eligible for one in the first place.
Before you go full steam ahead, investing money into a loft conversion, it’s always a good idea to see if not only whether it’s possible but also whether it’s worth repurposing your loft into living space, whether that’s a bedroom an ensuite or an office or play room.
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to take a look at your loft space and what you have available to you. Does it have the necessary requirements? Here we go through exactly what’s needed, from height to pitch and more.
One of the first steps in assessing your loft’s potential to be expanded is to see whether it has enough height or headroom. You’ll need to measure from the top of the floor joists through to the underside of what’s known as the ridge beam. For real comfort you’ll want at least 2.4m however, some have been known to get away with 2.2m.
It’s worth noting however that the finished product will eat into this headroom massively and in some cases will leave your original height of 2.2m at a mere 1.9m. This won’t just feel claustrophobic but could be an issue for any of your taller family members. You’ll also need to measure the headroom available to you for staircases which require a minimum of 1.9m at the centre of the flight itself. If you’re measuring lower than the above minimums, your loft is likely too small to convert.
Generally speaking, the steeper the pitch in your roof, the easier the conversion will be as it’s considered they’ll me more useable space. Your pitch and the gradient you need will depend greatly on what you’re looking to have done. A Velux conversion will need a far different gradient and span to that of a dormer conversion. Do bear in mind however that you won’t be able to change your roof pitch or raise the height of the ridge without gaining full planning permission.
Once you’ve established whether your loft space has the room to convert, it’s then on to determining whether planning permission is required.
Many are shocked to find out that actually, this isn’t always required, in fact, for a great deal of loft conversions, planning permission isn’t needed as it falls under what’s known as ‘permitted development rights’. Having said that, if your loft conversion plans exceed the limits of permitted development then you will need to gain planning permission before doing anything. This will require you following strict building regulations in place to help ensure work is done safely.
First things first, will your loft conversion fall under permitted development? If it does, then planning permission will not be a requirement for you. This will save you time and money so it’s worth investigating. It’s of course always much easier to have an expert look into this for you. The likes of Clapham Construction Service will provide you with a free consultation in which they’ll take a look at your loft space for you and let you know if it falls under permitted development however, generally speaking, your loft conversion will fall under permitted development if:
If you think your loft conversion will exceed these restrictions, then planning permission will be a requirement for your loft conversion. It’s also important to note that the list above, for permitted development, only applies to those in houses. If you’re in a flat, a maisonette or even a converted home, then you’ll need planning permission.
In order to gain planning permission, you’ll need to speak with the relevant experts who’ll help you gain planning permission. From architects to structural engineers. Once you have the plans, you’ll then need to submit to the relevant planning office in order to have your plans assessed and subsequently approved/denied.
If that all sounds like a lot of work and hassle, then you’ll be pleased to know that Clapham Construction Service, loft conversion specialists in London, can do all of it for you. From assessing your loft space to ensure it’s possible to convert in the first place, to checking whether you need planning permission and if so, dealing with all of it for you; Clapham Construction Service have you covered. For more information, take advantage of their free consultations by calling 0203 950 7957 today.
Leading construction materials supplier Aggregate Industries has today launched four new products, further bolstering its asphalt offering.
The four asphalts – SuperLayer®, SuperPath, SuperSAMI and SuperCurve® – will give specifiers even more scope to find the perfect solution for their specific requirements.
SuperLayer
SuperLayer is a specially designed asphalt mix that can be laid in a single lift to form a combined surface and binder course layer, and can also remove the requirement for a regulating course layer. It therefore provides a faster, safer, durable and environmentally sustainable solution to urban, commercial and residential road projects, be they new build or purely maintenance.
SuperPath
SuperPath is a fast, single lift, durable and environmentally sustainable solution replacing traditional two course construction on urban, commercial and residential footway and cycleway construction projects.
The single application SuperPath means it can be applied quicker, enabling reduced disruption to the public. It is ideal for footways and cycleways thanks to its excellent load bearing capability whilst maintaining surface texture.
SuperSAMI
A stress absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI), SuperSami can be used where reflective cracking is a problem, for example to overlay jointed concrete carriageways or on hydraulically bound mixtures in flexible composite pavements prior to installing binder and surface courses.
Fully recyclable SuperSAMI is highly fatigue and crack resistant, workable and easy to lay and compact, with no special equipment required to lay it.
SuperCurve
A high performance 10mm polymer modified asphalt surface course designed and engineered to provide enhanced performance for more heavily trafficked and stressed road carriageways areas, such as roundabouts and junctions.
New SuperCurve offers an alternative to a standard hot-rolled or chip asphalt, which saves on the cost of a chipping gang. It has been developed in order to meet the Specification for Highway Works clause 942 and can be formulated to meet that standard at the specifier’s request.
Commenting on the new products, Chris Hudson, Managing Director of Asphalt at Aggregate Industries, said: “We’re delighted to launch these four new asphalts, each offering a particular set of benefits for a wide array of applications. Our focus, as ever, is on providing our customers with the right product for the job, while offering convenience and sustainability as standard.
“Furthermore, SuperLayer, SuperPath and SuperCurve can all be offered in our SuperLow configuration, which gives specifiers the option of reducing the carbon impact of their asphalt of choosing all the way to carbon neutral.”
SuperLow – which launched in October of this year – is the market’s first carbon-neutral asphalt solution. It features reduced carbon levels when compared to standard asphalt as it is manufactured at reduced temperatures. All remaining emissions are then offset through carbon reduction projects on the customer’s behalf through Aggregate Industries’ offsetting partner, Circular Ecology, all without any change to product performance.
About Aggregate Industries UK
Aggregate Industries UK is a leading company in the construction and infrastructure industries. It produces and supplies a wide range of construction materials including aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete products. It also produces, imports and supplies cementitious materials and offers a national road surfacing and contracting service.
It prides itself on best practice in sustainability having become the first company to be certificated to BES 6001, The Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products, developed by the BRE (Building Research Establishment). Aggregate Industries UK is a proud member of the LafargeHolcim Group.
More information is available on www.aggregate.com
About LafargeHolcim
LafargeHolcim is the leading global building materials and solutions company serving masons, builders, architects and engineers all over the world. The Group is organized in four business segments – Cement, Aggregates, Ready-mix Concrete and Solutions & Products – and is a partner for clients ranging from affordable housing and small, local projects to the biggest, most technically and architecturally challenging infrastructure projects. As urbanization increasingly impacts people and the planet, the Group provides innovative products and building solutions with a clear commitment to social and environmental sustainability. With leading positions in all regions, LafargeHolcim employs around 80,000 employees in more than 80 countries and has a portfolio that is equally balanced between developing and mature markets.
More information is available on www.lafargeholcim.com
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Darmstadt, November 2020
World leading sensor manufacturer Hottinger Brüel & Kjær has launched a new addition to its MCS10 Multicomponent Sensor line from HBM – MCS10-200.
As part of the well-known MCS10 series, this latest version features capacities double the size of the previous version, making it suitable for nominal loads of 40 kN for Fx/Fy, 200 kN for Fz, 3.5 kNm for Mx/My and 3.0 kNm for Mz.
The sensor also offers high accuracy, IP67 protection, low crosstalk, compensation matrixes, TEDS and a wide temperature range.
It’s suitable across many different industries, including automotive, aerospace, industrial assembly, production lines and robotics. The sensor can be partnered with one of HBM’s amplifiers to provide a complete measurement chain for R&D, education or production tests.
More information, including technical details, documents, STEP models and accessories can be found on the HBM product website: https://www.hbm.com/en/5626/multi-axis-sensor-mcs10/
About HBK – Hottinger Brüel & Kjær
For many decades, HBM and Brüel & Kjær have been trusted across multiple industries to deliver highly accurate technologies and expertise in test and measurement and sound and vibration. HBM as the market leader in testing, measuring and analysis and Brüel & Kjær as the world’s leading solution provider for measuring and managing sound and vibration.
The two companies have now joined forces as HBK – Hottinger, Brüel & Kjaer to form the world’s foremost provider of integrated test, measurement, control, and simulation solutions.
For more information visit www.hbkworld.com
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