French Doors Extend Living Space

French Doors can Extend Living Space

A smart and efficient way of expanding your living space into the outdoor areas of your garden is to install French Doors. French doors not only protect your home from the weather elements, they also look very stylish and are a fantastic way of connecting you home with your garden. 

The Perfect Room Connector

French Doors can be selected to open in or open out (usually chosen to open out from the home to not only save valuable space but to also create a more natural passage into the outdoor areas). French doors are very similar to Bi-Fold doors in a way that they give the feeling of being more spacious than your traditional sliding door. French doors are also a less expensive option than Bi-Fold doors. 

Design and Security

As we manufacture all of our uPVC products, our French doors are custom made to fit perfectly into the area you wish to have them installed. As with all of our uPVC products, there is a fantastic range of profile colours available so you can be sure to choose the colour you love. (Colours range from White, Cream, Rosewood, Light Oak, Black, Green, Anthracite Grey and many more.) 
Glass designs are a great option to choose if you want your French doors to make a sleek statement. (All of our Glass units are A-Rated, Argon Filled and use toughened glass to ensure the highest quality of energy efficiency). 
Regarding our security, the locking system we use is a highly secure German engineered multiple claw and shoot-bolt locking system. 
If you are looking for your French doors to be suitable for elderly people and disabled people, we recommend choosing the low aluminium threshold option instead of the standard 57mm PVC threshold. 
Hinges and Handles designs and colours are also left to your choosing. 

The Social Aspect.

As we have mentioned above, French doors are a fantastic way of combining two areas. This is why you really feel the benefits come summer time. By having so much natural light passing through your doors, you'll see the full benefits of your investment when the sunshine adds a fresh and vibrant feel to the room, instantly making the room feel bigger. Then when you decide to have the doors open, you can enjoy the effortless moving from room to room to mix and mingle with friends and family. 

With this minor home adjustment, you have extended the feel of your home without any major changes happening to the structure of your home. 

If you would like a quotation or a free consultation with one of our surveyors, call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie

If you would like more information on how we manufacture our A-Rated Glass Units, click here

If you wish to see a gallery of testimonials and French doors we have supplied and fit, 
click here

Internal Vs External Insulation

Internal Insulation vs External Insulation

If you live in a home where damp spots are a issue and constant heating is required to make the living conditions habitable, it might be time to consider making a couple of home improvements. A cold home is not only uncomfortable to live in but it can also lead to health issues and structural damages to the home if the problem becomes persistent throughout the year. 

Options to help improve your homes levels of heat retention range from installing new double glazed units to converting attic space. While cavity wall insulation may be a  viable option for some homeowners, there are plenty of homes across the country where it isn't practical to install. This is why this blog is solely directed at the benefits of internal and external insulation and which advantages out weigh the advantages of the other for you. 

Internal Insulation

Why Choose Internal?
Insulating your solid and cavity walls can cut your heating bills considerably, because you are losing a substantial amount of heat through your walls. The good news is that they can be insulated from the inside of your home. Correctly installed insulation can reduce heat loss through the fabric of the building, increasing the level of comfort for the homeowner. Internal wall insulation involves fixing a layer of rigid insulation to the inside of external walls, usually with a plasterboard finish. This is also referred to as dry-lining. An ideal opportunity to install internal insulation is when other work is already require. Some electrical/plumbing fittings may need to be removed temporarily for the walls to be insulated but they are re-fitted instantaneously when the insulation works are completed by the Harvest Energy Crew.

Advantages of Internal Insulation

• Dry Lining is quick and easy to install.
• Dry lining is a more cost efficient alternative to external insulation. 
• Internally dry lining walls will save you money in the long term due to up to 30% increase in home heating efficiency. 
• The carbon footprint of your home will be reduced due to the decrease of Co2 emissions being released from the house.
• Eliminates draughts. 
• Prevents frozen pipes.
• Improved B.E.R Rating.
• Reduces noise levels
• Increase in the value of the property. 

Disadvantages of Dry Lining

• Disruption to living arrangements for customers
• Room size reduction

Click here to read about the Dry Lining Process.

External Wall Insulation

Why Choose External?

External wall insulation provides exterior walls with insulation, finished surface and waterproofing in an integrated composite system. Because walls are areas where the house heat loss is one of the greatest reaching up to 35% of the overall, if they are not properly insulated, this is one of the most effective measures getting your home warmer and greener. External Wall Insulation (EWI) is a composite cladding system comprised of suitable insulation and waterproof coating which is applied to all the external walls of a building. The External Insulation uses the building like a reflector. Due to the heat no longer being able to escape through the outer layer of insulation, it is reflected back into the living areas, creating a constant warm home.

Click here to read about the External Insulation  Process

Advantages of External 

• No additional internal space taken up by insulation.
• Inside of the home not disturbed.
• The carbon footprint of your home will be reduced due to the decrease of Co2 emissions being released from the house.
• Eliminates draughts. 
• Prevents frozen pipes.
• Improved B.E.R Rating.
• Increase in the value of the property. 

Disadvantages of External:

• More Expensive than Internal dry lining.
• Generally takes longer to complete than the dry lining process. 

To see how else to make energy saving changes to your home, click this link!

Or if you're looking a surveyor to call out to you, contact us on info@harvestenergy.ie or (01) 8021800 

Extending Your Home

Extending your Home

When you make the decision to extend your home, it's not always easy to cover all your bases. We're here to help you get an idea of what you want before you bring your plan to the building contractor/ architect.

The first thing you'll need to cover before deciding whether or not you want to extend your home is, do you need planning permission? If you click the link here you'll be re-directed to the Citizens Information page that tells you everything you need to know

Why are you Extending

Consider firstly the purpose you want your extension to be built for. Of course, it sounds like an obvious question to be asking but there is a genuine reason behind it. You will need to take into consideration the effect the extension will have on the existing property.

 

What type of Extension?

If you decide to extend onto the side of your home or even convert the garage into part of the home, there won't be any real difficulties in allowing natural light to flow through the rooms. However, if you make the decision to extend onto the back of the house you will need to be careful of creating dark spaces between where the old room ends and the extension begins. To counteract this issue, we recommend inserting a velux window nearby or even turning your extension into a sunroom. With these two options there will be no limit on the light that can enter your home and certainly no dead spaces. Along with the help of your architect or building surveyor, you can design and create openings specifically for your home. If you decide to discuss the sunroom idea with your surveyor, choose a combination of windows and doors that you feel will be practical but also fit into the feel of your home.

Trends:

In the current market, open plan living is very popular. Requests to knock down internal walls and open up two rooms into one are a standard renovation when it comes to home remodelling and if you take a look at the picture to the right, you can see why! However, if you don't like the idea of spaciousness and would prefer each room to do its own thing, there is an option of introducing internal french doors or a sliding door to keep the divide. By introducing this concept to your home, you have the option of open plan for entertaining guests but also you can close the doors over and close a room off from the whole house when you're in search of a little "me" time.

Before asking for a consultation with your surveyor or architect, ensure you have a solid idea of what you're looking for. The meeting with the surveyor can be used to enhance ideas and provide a wider range of possibilities for you. A well constructed and engineered extension will add value to your property and will provide for all your needs that you were in the beginning of the process.

If you're thinking about extending or renovating your home, why not contact us on (01) 8021800 or email us as info@harvestenergy.ie to arrange a meeting

Energy Saving Tips for Homeowners

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

If you've read some of our past blogs, you'll know just how important energy saving and saving on bills are to us. If you have the necessary products installed in your home and are looking for a few quick tips to help you further reduce bills, continue reading this insightful blog. We cover everything from the little tips that show results over time to the tips that show instantaneous results. 

It's the little things that count:

• Turn the thermostat down by a couple °C, it's unlikely that you or family members will notice the difference, but your heating bills sure will.
• Turn the lights off when nobody's using a room.
• Recycle and Re-use. If you love how your home is "Green" and energy efficient, why not continue your green lifestyle by recycling plastics and other unwanted materials?
• Unplug appliances that aren't being used. If the appliance isn't in use there is no need for it to be adding onto your electric bill. If you want to really reduce the amount of unnecessary energy used, try switch plugs that are on "standby" off completely.
• Keep your curtains closed at night and over the radiator. Curtains are more than just another fabric to help accessorize your home. Curtains are highly effective at keeping the cold draughts out and the heat in! Don't smother the heat the radiator works so hard to provide, allow the heat to push itself away from the radiator and rise to fill the room.
• Turn off the heating overnight and when out and about during the day.

These things take time:

• Clean your windows. dirt can reduce your glass performance by 5-10%. The performance can be even further reduced if the dirt is on a roof light. 

• Don't obstruct the light. Furniture, curtains or any other object should not be obstructing daylight penetration. It will reduce the amount of natural light that can penetrate the room.

• Look for an energy saving logo when shopping for a new product. e.g. dishwasher, washing machine, windows.

• Choose a thermostat with a timer and controls. This means you don't have to simply decide between on and off but you can decide on the temperature and how long the heating will remain on.  

• When painting a room consider what the room will be used for. Lighter colours like white and cream are good reflectors of light and can help maximize the daylight that enters a room. Darker colours like navy and red are poor reflectors of light.

It'll be worth it in the long run:

• If you don't already have one, it's recommended that every home owner should have a lagging jacket placed around their hot water tank.

• Use a timer on immersion heaters, by using a timer you will be supplied with an adequate amount of hot water without using any additional utilities to heat an excess amount of water. 

• Energy saving light bulbs are now very popular and can be found in almost all hardware stores. You won't be able to tell difference in lighting but you'll be sure to see the difference in your bills.

Invest now and see instant changes:

• One of the most effective ways to keep the heat in your home and the cold out is by having energy efficient double glazed windows. Don't choose your supplier based on price but by the quality. Argon filled glass units combined with Low Emissivity glass create the perfect combination to combat those outside elements.

• Attic Insulation can save you up to 20% on your home heating bill. There are a variety of options to use when it comes to insulating your attic, e.g. rock-wool, rigid thermal insulation boards, polystyrene etc. 

• Boiler servicing. Don't neglect the opportunity to maximize efficiency on your heating products. The less work your boiler has to do to keep your home warm and cozy, the less the heating bill will be. depending on the condition your boiler is in, you can improve the overall efficiency of the boiler by 10%, that 10% can equate to up to €150.

• Internal/External Insulation. There are a variety of ways to insulate, make sure to do your research before committing to this method of energy saving. Take into account the price, the time it will take to see the return on your investment and also how much will the type of insulation disrupt your living arrangement?

If you would like a free consultation with one of our surveyors, you can call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie to arrange a date to suit you.

Also make sure to check out our other blogs to see what information is relevant to you! 

D.I.Y Window Replacement

D.I.Y Window Replacement

Consider yourself a dabbler in the fine art of D.I.Y? Of course it's possible to complete the window replacement for your home yourself. Pay close attention to the following tips to get you on your way to saving on having a tradesman doing the job for you. Before prepping yourself for the task ahead, don't have the mindset that it's going to be a "walk in the park". Unless you're proficient, highly competent and have all the necessary and correct tools, undertaking this job can turn out to be a disaster and overall cost more than the initial price you've been quoted by a tradesman. 

The Supplier

First thing on the list is to find a potential supplier who will come out to your site and take measurements and jot down all the specifics you are looking (e.g frame colour, glass design, handles and colour etc.) Many surveyors offer this as a free service these days and don't require any confirmation that you are going to choose them as the supplier. The surveyor is there to advise you on what will look appropriate in your property and also answer any questions you may have about the products you wish to purchase.  The surveyor should also direct your attention to the issue of safety glass in certain openings and also the issue of ventilation and fire escapes.

The Little Things
A very necessary part of window fitting is the use of trims, packers, drips, sealants, filler, expanding foam, pvc cleaner etc. The supplier of your windows should have an abundance of these products stored in their warehouse and when purchasing the windows, it doesn't hurt to ask for a price on everything inclusive. Your supplier buys these products in at trade price and should save you marginally on each additional product you purchase from the supplier rather than a hardware store. When agreeing on all these extras, make no mistake in agreeing your price and ensure both parties understand what was agreed to.
*it helps to have the purchased products on a signed document.*

Things to consider when choosing a supplier:

• Don't buy from a supplier solely based on the price.
• Ensure a product guarantee/ after-sales service is an option before purchasing.
• Check if suppliers deliver to the address.
• Research into whether or not telephone support/ on-line support is available for if/when you encounter a problem.

Other points to consider when installing D.I.Y double glazing:

• Bay windows are tricky and should only be attempted by someone who has had previous experience fitting such a product. 
• Start your D.I.Y replacement by fitting a small window first, have confidence in what you're doing and ensure the window is level to the base. 
• When de-glazing glass units, never rest them on their edge or on a hard surface as they can crack easily
• If you do however crack a glass unit, don't make the decision to go ahead and glaze the window. Once a seal is broken on a glass unit, the energy efficiency of the glass unit is dramatically reduced and condensation will occur. 
• If you are fitting a window from the outside and need the use of a ladder, ensure it's secured firmly or even get someone to hold it for you.
• Always assess the work required in fitting each window before commencing work, analyse each decision you are about to make before doing anything. This will ensure no unnecessary work is involved and also minimizes the risk of damaging the window.

DIY does save you money, but if you do no have the confidence or skill set required to replace and install new windows, it's advised that you get help from the professionals.

To get a free consultation you can call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie.

Is Triple Glazing Worth It?

Triple Glazing – What are the advantages and disadvantages?

As you would assume, of course triple glazing should offer all the benefits that double glazing does and more. However, as we have come to realize with many products in this ever changing construction and home improvement market, that isn't necessarily the case. If you are basing your decision to purchase double or triple glazed windows on energy efficiency alone, then the payback on your initial payment does take some time to show the benefits, and with triple glazing costing that much extra that double glazing, is it really worth it?.

The benefits of double glazing aren't limited to simply reducing energy bills but also the reduction in noise pollution, draught prevention, aesthetics and the amount of maintenance that will be required in time also need to be taken into account. These are advantages to both double and triple glazing, of course the results vary but do the differences really make that much of a difference on your home?

In countries such as Norway, Finland and Sweden triple glazed glass units are the most common form of glazing and I'm sure they feel that the triple glazed units benefits are far superior when compared to the double glazed glass unit option. Take what you will from triple glazed units being the standard choice in that area of the world, but keep in mind the dramatic change in climate the Scandinavian countries have compared to the cool temperate oceanic climate of Ireland.
The point that is being made here is that, although the U-Values and G-Values may be lower in the triple glazed units when compared to the double glazed units, is it really necessary to have triple glazed windows in Ireland? The Lower the U and G Value the better. U-Value is the measurement of heat loss through your glass and is expressed in watts per kelvin meter square Or W/Km2. G-Value measures the heat gained from the sun. 
Solar Gain passes through your glass in two ways:

1. Directly through the glass having Low Emissivity (aka Low E)/ Extra Clear glass allows easier passage for the natural light.
2. Heat is also absorbed by the glass which is subsequently radiated inwards.

As we can see from the above graph, triple glazing is evidently more energy efficient than double glazing, and although the cost of installing triple glazed units is higher, the savings on heating bills % should also be higher than the double glazed units. The main noticeable benefit of triple glazing is the reduction of cold spots beside windows in your home; improved wall insulation means that windows are a weak point and triple glazing cuts down on the cool patches in an otherwise warm room.  Triple glazing is also much better at reducing outside noise, and so particularly good for homes in busy or excessively noisy locations.

When analyzing your options, it's worth taking into consideration the Energy Rating of your home and also if you think the triple glazed unit choice is really worth the additional cost you will have to pay. If at present your home doesn't suffer from damp areas beside windows or needs an excessive amount heating during the colder seasons to keep the house warm, perhaps triple glazed units may not be necessary for you and a suitable option would be an A-Rated Glass Unit replacement.

Check out the link to see how our Double Glazed Units are made

You can call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie to get your free consultation and quotation 

7 Ways to Help Increase your Home Value

Increasing your Home Value

Whether you're looking to sell or are looking to increase the value of your home, these 7 key home improvements are guaranteed to increase the value of your home. 

1) Remodeling the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the rooms that is at the top of the list when someone is looking to buy a home, and in most instances, it's the room that needs the most updating and maintenance because it is frequently in use. Many people see the kitchen as the heart of the home and as I'm sure it's no surprise, kitchen remodeling can be expected to hold the largest share of the remodeling budget allocations. 

For many families, the kitchen is where family and house guests gather for a chat, have a relaxing cup of tea and entertain guests. For this reason, you can expect your investment to be returned ten-fold in the amount of use that will be gotten from it. 

2) Adding a Bathroom

If you have the extra space in your home, there is no way you can go wrong with adding a second/third bathroom to your home. This is why you can expect to recoup 80%-130% of investments from adding another bathroom. Most home buyers will use any room with underutilized space or take an extra room to upgrade it into a master bathroom. With a home costing quite a decent sum, potential buyers love to see more "bang for their buck". There is no need to fear the investment as if you do decide this is the value adding idea you'd like to add to your home, rest easy knowing the investment will pay off.

3) Re-Inventing a Room

This home improvement can be the most expensive option when looking to add value to your home. Adding more square footage to your home can easily accumulate costs but it can also bring you a 50%-83% return on investment. Re-Inventing a room can be anything from adding an extension at the rear of your home, or even converting a conservatory into a sunroom. As we have mentioned above, potential buyers love to see space being utilized to its fullest. If your struggling for re-inventing ideas or don't have the additional space for building on another room, why not get a consultation from a contractor about converting your attic space into another bedroom or a walk in wardrobe?

4) Adding Energy-Efficient Windows

Energy efficient home improvements not only recoups 60%-90% of investment costs, but it can also help with reducing your heating bills as well! A sure-fire way to increase your homes value is to have a great energy rating. All of the windows and doors Harvest Energy manufacture and supply are energy efficient and A-Rated ensuring you of maximum quality. If this option seems like one you are likely to take, check out a select couple of blogs that may interest you as well

• Making an A-Rated Unit
• uPVC vs Aluclad vs Timber
• What Energy Rating Do Our Windows Hold?

5) Adding a Deck/ Porch

Outdoor living spaces, can significantly increase the value of your home.  As more homeowners are adding decks and patios to their backyards, it instantly becomes more appealing to prospective buyers when the house is for sale. Similarly, you can add to the front of your home. Why not introduce a storm porch for additional benefits. Storm porches not only add a unique edge to your home but they also prevent those viscous weather elements that Ireland is so used to, targeting your front door. 

6) Energy-Efficient Insulation

As people are becoming more and more aware of the Building Energy Rating. (BER for short) Potential buyers and valuers also base the monetary value of your home off this rating along with a couple other factors. For anyone that doesn't know, "a BER Rating is a rating on the overall energy efficiency of a building, it measures from A-G with A being the most energy efficient rating and G being the least energy efficient rating" With the range of products and services available for improving the BER rating of your home, there should be no excuses for a poorly insulated home. With an improved energy efficiency rating for your home, the possibility of a warm and damp free home during the colder months is substantially reduced. Most potential buyers make sure to include this home improvement into their reports.

7) Basic Maintenance

Making those niggling home improvements and general maintenance changes to your home is a necessary evil that must be tackled to ensure your home is being valued to it's full potential. Making small improvements such as fixing a leaking roof, varnishing solid flooring and keeping paint fresh will always add the most value to your home. A home with no major changes or restorations to be made always entices a potential buyer into buying.

So just a reminder! If you plan on making adjustments to your home, remember that even the smallest changes can make a big difference to your homes value. Focus on energy efficiency and safety and see your values rise.


If you would like a free consultation on the possibilities of home improvements, contact us at info@harvestenergy.ie or (01) 8021800

Harvest Energy Construction

Construction

At Harvest Energy we have worked hard to build a reputation for high quality work, a reliable work force and utmost professionalism, and as you can see from our testimonials, we don't disappoint. 

Harvest Energy are highly skilled experts in all aspects of construction and building maintenance. Our expertise include:

• Complete New Builds
• Extensions
• Sun rooms
• Commercial and Domestic Renovations
• Demolition and Removal of Existing Buildings 
• Porches
• Conservatories

With our vast range of experience and talent across all areas of our construction team, we can make your dream home a reality

New Builds

Donaghmede

New buildings, especially those aspiring to achieve an A+ or a passive house energy rating require careful planning and meticulous implementation.

Harvest Energy offer complete project and site management on all our construction projects. This means that we have the capabilities to take care of the entire project from ground works and foundations to final coat of paint. The advantages of this is that you won't have to manage and schedule several different sub-contractors to work on your development but only with ourselves and an architect of your choice.

DP Gymnastics

We take on the responsibilities of managing all the sub-contractors and material suppliers providing you with full project management and peace of mind. We only work with reliable and qualified tradespeople, people who have proven themselves over the years, so you can be assured that your new home will be completed on time, within budget and according to your specifications.

We are fully insured and bonded and our qualifications have been certified by SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland) and NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland). We only use NSAI approved materials, as our reputation for quality workmanship is worth far more to us than the minor gain in profit that is received by using materials that fail to meet our standards.

House Extensions
Types of Home Extensions

• Single Story House Extensions (side or rear extension)
• Two Story House Extensions
• Garage Conversions and Garage Extensions
• Attic Conversions (loft conversions)
• Basement Conversions
• Sunrooms and Conservatories

Sun Rooms

Bettystown

Sunrooms have steadily grown in popularity in recent years, as more and more home owners have decided to extend their homes rather than sell and buy a larger property. 

Skerries

Extending your home rather than moving saves you money as you don't have to be concerned with paying solicitor fees, stamp duties, removal costs, deposits on new services and perhaps most importantly there is no major changes to your family routine. Constructing an extension also gives you the opportunity to add extra elements to the room you are building an extension from e.g. a fireplace, a decorative element or new flooring.

Whether you are adding one small room or doubling the size of your home, we offer a comprehensive and professional service with competitive pricing for all types of house extensions. Larger house extensions require approval under the Building Regulations. Smaller extensions (under 40m2) don't require planning permission, providing you build within certain guidelines. These extensions can be built quickly, efficiently and are relatively inexpensively.

A Sunroom is a room that has glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a Conservatories.

Conservatories work well in sunny areas, but can get really cold in winter, especially if they don't get much exposure to the sun. To turn your conservatory into a comfortable living space, you may need to insulate it.

We are home insulation specialists so you can rest assured that a conservatory build by us will be warm and snug.

Porches

Porches have many benefits, from increasing the security in your home, adding protection from the elements and creating a new look to your home.

Creating a porch by fitting a new door in front of your existing door you will gain more space immediately, with many porch door styles from sliding door, french doors or a single door with a side screen, all are available in a variety of colours and sizes, leaving you with the option of choosing your very own design to create the A-Rated porch that is perfect for you.

We can provide the porch to suit your home no matter how modest or extravagant. To build a new porch or entrance lobby we can offer the complete package from digging out foundations to completion of walls, floor, roof etc. Making a beautiful new entrance to your home.

Many of our porches are bespoke and can combine block work, materials used, glass design and roof choice to create the perfect porch for the customer. 

If you're looking work done, why not contact us on (01) 8021800 or info@harvestenergy.ie for a free consultation

You can find a full gallery of all our works at Harvest Energy Gallery