Real Home ImprovementThe Home Improvement Blog with real advice

Over the last 10 years, kitchen work surfaces have changed a lot. Gone now are the marble, granite and quartz effect synthetic worktops and in their place have come granite and quartz stone worktops, two very robust and hard stones perfect for any kitchen within the home.

Between the two, though, which is best? Well although they may appear similar to the eye, there are certain aspects of both which are better than the other.

Granite

Granite worktops are incredibly fashionable within both the US and UK home right now. This is down to a few reasons, however the combination of them looking fantastic under all light and being extremely easy to clean is a major buying factor. The problem with granite worktops though is that they are incredibly delicate, and granite as a stone whilst hard isn’t the most durable surface in the world. Typical scenarios where granite is susceptible to damage include placing a hot pan on the surface, dropping a large weight on a corner and scratching the surface under extreme stress. Unlike wood, which can be sanded down, granite can not be refurbished easily.

Quartz

Quartz worktops and quartz isn’t an earth-grown organic stone, and is in fact artificial, however you wouldn’t think that from looking at it. Due to this, quartz is available in a wide amount of designs and sometimes can even be custom built. A key advantage to quartz over granite is that is a much more durable material due to quartz having an even amount of iron content across one slab, and granite worktops are also a non-porous material – making it ideal for cleanliness and maintenance.

Like granite, quartz is an incredibly desirable work surface within the home.

Conclusion

Granite is a natural stone whilst quartz is an engineered stone. For the purists, granite is going to be the clear choice just for status reasons, however the smart person would pick quartz due to it being a non-porous stone and it also being more durable than granite thanks to it having an equal amount of iron content throughout the board. Price wise, granite can be expensive, whilst quartz can be too. Essentially, you should make the best decision for you based on whether you want to risk a broken worktop just because you want the more fashionable surface.

Overall fashion tends to change over time, so whilst granite may seem fashionable right now it may not be next year. If it were me choosing a worktop right now, I would opt for a quartz worktop based on its shelf life alone.

So you have some stuff you need to send or you’re working in London and need to send some important documents nationwide huh? Well you could use Royal Mail, or you could use a specialist dedicated courier service to tranport your goods for you to another workplace or even home in quick time.

Dedicated couriers are professionals in their industry and use different forms of transport which best suit your transit route best, meaning that 99.9% of the time they can make a delivery on time.

Over the past decade, conservatories have been increasing in popularity rapidly, with now 1 in 4 homes in the UK boasting this type of extension. However recently, the conservatory has been taken over in popularity by its older sister, the orangery.

Orangeries originally became popular in the Victorian times, as a way for the rich and affluent to grow exotic fruits in their own home. (Hence the term, orangery). Their large glass panels means that they provide excellent insulation throughout the year, making them an excellent growing place for tropical plants and an even better way of enjoying the British summer for longer.

Not only this, but orangeries have now become a perfect choice for those looking to add light and space to their home with a quintessentially English style. They are ornate in design and still retain much of their Victorian charm.

Typically, an orangery is more expensive than a conservatory and it is certainly more difficult to embark on a DIY job. However, given that they are typically constructed from stone or timber, they offer a more permanent extension to your home, improving the overall aesthetic and adding value and class to your property long term.

If you’ve decided to finally get started on that project to do up your spare room, a call to your home contents cover provider is unlikely to be high on your list of priorities. With exciting things like colour schemes, new furniture and the ambience of the room to think about, the comparatively dull world of insurance could seriously dent your creative mojo. However, avoid making that call to your contents insurer at your peril; if you’re spending a quid or two on the job, you’ll want to make sure everything is covered, especially considering the number of accidents us Brits have when carrying out a spot of DIY. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, a staggering 600 people go to hospital every day after suffering a DIY mishap. Every year 20,000 Brits are injured while using scalpels and knives during their home improvement projects, while an eye-watering 15,000 suffer an injury while using a saw. More painful still, 2,000 end up in A&E after a sticky situation with an axe, plane or wielding equipment.

Scary statistics, but there’s a real message behind the numbers: accidents can and do happen and it’s best to be prepared. Before you start a project, this could include making sure that you have adequate home insurance, including accidental damage cover. Although it’s nice to think of a project going as smoothly as possible, it’s not hard to imagine the things that can go wrong, whether it’s spilled paint pots, broken furniture or collapsed ceilings. Smash into the wrong wall or pull up the wrong floorboard and you could even be looking at structural damage.

So you’ve completed the project and everything’s gone smoothy, you’re out of the woods, right? Sadly not. Once you’ve finished creating your exciting new space, you may also need to put a call in to your insurance provider again – this time to let them know of your changes. The cost of new furniture can mount up, especially if you’ve let your imagination run away with you and invested in some opulent pieces to complete your new room. The easiest way to get the best value out of your home contents insurance is to regularly review exactly what’s in your home, how much it would cost to replace and get it covered. Pay for too much cover and you’re wasting money, cover too little and the results could be disastrous – find the right balance and you’ll be well on the road to a harmonious home.

The humble green garden storage is a national icon, gracing the back yards of everyone from the super rich to the working classes, it’s been the tools friends for as long as they’ve been popular. Those with garages often find theirs cluttered up with useless things like cars and kids bikes leaving little to no room for your precious power tools, or bits and pieces you promised you were going to make something with but haven’t quite gotten around to yet. All these things need protecting, right?

Well that’s where metal garden storage comes in, simultaneously familiar and safe they provide the ultimate protection for whatever you feel the need to put inside them, protecting from the weather, vandals and whatever else you might throw at them in the most versatile and secure storage from your garden. The traditional thin house shaped garden storage is just one of many design options that companies provide flexible storage for any and all of your needs.

And that’s the real advantage of metal garden sheds, it’s the sheer amount of flexibility not only a single design can provide you but across an entire range of sizes and designs.