Getting the most from extensions

The increasing costs of moving due to stamp duty and mortgages, combined with the unrelenting hassle of dealing with broadband and utility companies, mean more of us are realising that extensions are the best solution to our housing conundrums. The... View Article

A quality double act; roof windows and blinds

Daylight is one of the holy grails of modern living. Bright, well-lit spaces have clear health and well-being benefits. In short they make us feel good and unsurprisingly this is something we want from our homes. In this quest for... View Article

Bringing light home

Chris Chaney of Sunsquare explains how rooflights can improve daylighting, boost wellbeing and minimise a building’s energy consumption. Spiralling property prices plus a lack of appropriate accommodation to move into have led to many homeowners preferring to carry out significant... View Article

Realistic rainwater storage

Ian Crickmore of Polypipe Terrain explains how adopting rainwater harvesting systems can provide sustainable drainage solutions in space-constrained urban areas. Obsessing over rain is something of a national pastime, but capturing rainwater could help meet sites’ increased drainage demands, particularly... View Article

Get smart, get control

Edward Lees of Feilo Sylvania shines the light on how sophisticated smart lighting control systems can offer efficiency benefits as well as design flexibility. The industry is now well versed in the benefits of LED technology and the energy savings... View Article

Combining dry screed with underfloor heating in retrofits

Incorporating screedboard and underfloor heating in your home can provide acoustic and thermal benefits. Janeeth Devgun of CCF, offers expert insight. Landlords and facility managers are increasingly looking to install flooring solutions that are not just easy to install and maintain,... View Article

Don’t save it for a rainy day

Marley Alutec’s Tony Wereszczynski explains why landlords shouldn’t waste time when choosing rainwater and eaves systems and discusses the new industry standard relevant to the sector and the most recent technical advancements and trends in rainwater products. Specifying rainwater and... View Article

Guarantee your rent

Collecting rent on time is essential for a successful landlord. On behalf of Just Landlords, Rose Jinks explains the benefits of rent guarantee insurance. It’s no secret that a standard home insurance doesn’t offer loss or damage protection to properties... View Article

Getting smart with solar energy storage

Peter Thiele, president of Sharp Energy Solutions Europe, demonstrates how solar batteries can store power for use when the sun isn’t shining. With the right infrastructure in place in your rented property, a solar system can supply up to 80... View Article

Adapting for the future: bathroom refurbishment

Antony Newton of refurbishment specialist J Tomlinson addresses the implications a rising elderly population has on bathroom refurbishments and adaptations in the rental sector. Projections show that society will age significantly over the upcoming decades. The number of people aged... View Article

View Point – Rory Bergin of HTA Design

In his second article on the subject for ADF, Rory Bergin looks deeper at the facets within ‘the ethics of development’ that architects should consider. Since ethics are primarily about how we deal with each other, architects might be forgiven... View Article

Ask the Architect – Glenn Swann of LK2

Glenn Swann, associate at sports & leisure specialists LK2, tells ADF about the firm’s aspirations and how technology is helping to shape the profession today. WHY DID YOU BECOME AN ARCHITECT? I’ve always been creative, so the idea of using... View Article

Editor’s Comment – July

James Parker of ADF releases his Editor’s Comment, which focuses on the need for stricter regulations for cladding, following the Grenfell tragedy. This will long be remembered as the year when regeneration became devastation. Beyond the appalling human tragedy which... View Article