Friday 27 June 2014

Go About Replacing Old Windows With Aluminium Windows

Aluminium windows are becoming increasingly popular for their durability, weather resistance, and environmental benefits, as well as for the way they improve the appearance of the home. Replacing your old windows with new installations of this material is not difficult, provided adequate safety measures are taken, and provided you have at least a basic knowledge of building and carpentry. However, before you can install your new windows, you first have to remove your old ones, and if this is not done properly, your installation will not be a success. 

Removing Old Windows

For removing your old windows, you need a reciprocating saw, a hammer, a wrecking bar and a knife. This task can be quite dangerous -- you should have at least two people on the job, and always wear gloves and eye protection. If your old windows have wooden frames, the easiest way to remove them is to pull the trim away from the outside of the window, and then go inside the house to take the glass panes out from the inside. Using your wrecking bar, you can prise away the window stops. Window stops are the strips of moulding that keep the panes in place. If the moulding has been painted over a few times, you may have to run the knife down it to free it more easily. For a sash window, first loosen the window stop from one side of the lower pane, and you should then be able to slide the pane out, followed by the upper pane. 

Do I Need Planning Permission Before The Doors Can Be Fitted

Home renovations, reconstructions and refurbishments can be exciting. They can also be nerve-wracking. When it comes to replacing doors, especially, many of us are concerned that we will need to navigate through a sea of confusing paperwork before we can even get started. Planning permission is probably one of the most frustrating concepts to any person hoping to achieve any home improvements at all. So this begs the question: If I want to install door, do I need to seek approval from the local building regulations authority?

Unfortunately, we live in a world where building regulations dictate our every move. If you plan to make any alterations to the existing structure of a building, you need to submit your plans for approval. The whole process is frustrating, to be sure, but it could save your skin further down the line. If, for example, you want to sell your house a few years down the line and the buyer asks to see the building plans, any unmarked changes could get you into trouble. It certainly seems unreasonable to have to ask for permission to move your front door, but in this case rules are not meant to be broken.