How to Save Heat Without Spending A Fortune on Glazing

If you’re looking for a quick fix for a cold room without having to spend a ton of money then one thing you could consider is the use of radiator panels. A lot of houses lose heat out from the walls and ceilings (as well as the windows) simply because the flow of heat from the radiators is badly thought out. Simply by fixing this small problem most houses and larger properties could save more than 20% of their heating costs every year.

This can be done by reflecting heat from radiators back into the room rather than wasting it. The new Heatkeeper raditator panels, which promise a 20% reduction in heating costs, have been accredited via the energy regulator Ofgem and are a worthwhile investment for any home. The Heatkeeper panels are cost-effective, east to install PVC metallised sheets that you insert inserted behind radiators and then secure through the use of strong self-adhesive tape. Their patented tooth-saw design causes special convection currents, which will improve the circulation of warm air in the room and will help to prevent heat loss through the walls and the ceilings. In turn, infrared heat will also be reflected back to the radiator so that water then returns to the boiler even hotter, leading to a more efficient boiler usage and significantly lower fuel costs. A pack of five will cost you £24.50.

Alex is a journalist and occasional design writer. He loves writing about interior design and home renovation. He also writes a blog for mega.co.uk .

How to Transform Old Beams

If you want to restore old painted beams back to their former glory it is now possible to do it without stripping back the wood or damaging the environment, thanks to a new solution based process that has been developed by UK company Renaissance Beams.

Thanks to the new process old homes, including listed buildings, can be given their own eco-friendly makeover thanks to this new and innovative process that will transform black timber (as well as other kinds of timber) beams back to their natural wood colour. Chemical stripping or sandblasting – which causes damage to timber and is not allowed in listed buildings and homes – has previously been the only available technique for stripping back painted beams.

However now the ‘back from black’ process which was developed by Renaissance Beams is able to use a water-based solution to give the appearance of old and natural timber. The solution, which the company are keeping as a ‘well kept secret’ can be applied both to matt or glossy painted beams. As well as this it can be applied to stained or varnished surfaces and can be used to give darker wood a lighter finish.

Alex is a financial journalist and occasional design writer. He loves writing about home renovation and interior design but spends most of his days writing about mortgages, credit cards and payday loans .