Category: Property Maintenance

A vital feature of any building’s safety system is emergency lighting. It is a particular type of battery-backed lighting used as the primary light source during a power outage. It also functions when the electricity has been cut off for emergency purposes such as a fire. Emergency lighting is a necessity for any public building, office, or industrial space. It ensures that people will be guided to a safe location clearly when all other lights are out. This is different from standby lighting, which is used to maintain work during a power outage.

The two main kinds of emergency lighting are maintained and non-maintained.

Maintained lighting is wired to the mains electricity so is continuously on. This makes it clear to see at all times, so perfect for buildings where people may be unfamiliar with the surroundings. It then relies on the battery as its primary power source when the electricity is off. This battery is rechargeable and can typically last up to three hours.

Non-maintained emergency lighting only runs on battery power and is activated only during emergencies. These are ideal for offices or buildings where the occupants know the designated exit routes and fire doors. This lighting will only work for the minimum three-hour emergency time frame.

Where Is Emergency Lighting a Requirement?

Any non-domestic property is legally required to provide emergency lighting. This is per government building safety regulations. Those responsible for a building are also responsible for the safety of everyone inside at any given time. It is crucial that a building remains safe to navigate during an emergency or electrical outage, so people can safely evacuate. The Fire Safety Advice Centre stresses that the legal guidelines regarding emergency light installation are the minimum standard requirements for a building. You can choose to go the extra mile by putting an entire lighting system in place.

Which Type Should I Install?

There aren’t any laws stating which buildings must have a particular type of emergency lighting system. However, they are designed with different functions in mind, so some are better suited than others. If you are looking for emergency lighting for a residential environment or hospital setting, you are best opting for a maintained system. There will be times where the main lights may be dimmed or turned off entirely overnight. This makes it beneficial to have constant emergency lighting to be in use at all times, not just during an emergency. In these environments, in particular, occupants can be unfamiliar with the building or become easily disoriented.

A general rule is the more extensive your building, the more lighting you will require. If there are multiple fire exits, all will need to be illuminated in an emergency. It is sufficient to use borrowed lighting if you are in a much smaller building, such as a small retail space. This involves using the light from the street, daylight or streetlamps, to illuminate your property via the windows. In this case, it is vital to have at least one emergency escape light next to the exit of the building.

If you are considering emergency lighting for a school, then the case of whether it is essential or not is a grey area. Due to schools only being occupied during the day and having many windows, they can rely on daylight during power outages. However, the sunlight may not be sufficient during the winter months, and we advise additional emergency lighting. Likewise, if any facilities do not have access to borrowed light, these would most certainly require emergency lighting.

You must ensure that your emergency lighting is installed by a certified electrician specialising in the field. If you are planning for your own building’s emergency lighting, then you can give us a call. Here at Kiasu, we are passionate about your building’s fire safety measures. We have a team of fully trained expert engineers who can design, fit and test any type of emergency lighting system to meet all regulations. No task is too big for us, and we will ensure that all of your fire safety needs are met.

Your kitchen is the most important room in your house. It gets used multiple times a day, making general wear and tear more likely. A complete kitchen renovation is one of the most expensive projects you can undertake in your home. They can cost between £5000 and £14000, so before you take the plunge, it is worth considering some smaller updates you can make instead.

These ideas will help to save you time and money but give you that much-needed refresh.

1. Face-Lift

There are many different ways you can update and upgrade your kitchen without opting for a complete remodel. Take a look at your kitchen and think about what parts are looking tired and need a refresh. By choosing a couple of features to focus on, you can massively limit the cost and time it will take to complete. You will be surprised by the difference a fresh lick of paint or a few new furniture additions can make to the overall look of your kitchen.

2. Colour Scheme

If you have had the same kitchen for many years, it can begin to look dull and fade over time. However, if it functions well for you and your appliances are in good working order, you may just require a bold new paint choice to update the look of your kitchen.

Re-painting walls or kitchen cabinets is a job that is accessible for most people. You will need to set a few hours aside to do it well, but it will be the most cost-effective method. If you lack spare time, you can hire a professional painter-decorator for a small fee. Kiasu offers London-based expert painting and decorating services. Our workforce is efficient, friendly, and professional.

3. Re-Think Your Storage

After years of use, your kitchen has probably accumulated a lot of clutter to fill the cupboards. Holding on to too many things can make you feel as though you are limited on space when perhaps you just need to adjust your storage methods.

It is crucial a kitchen remains practical and having a few too many pots and pans or ingredients you have used once can quickly eat up your space. Think about what you can let go of to free up some extra storage. It is also worth considering what you use most and putting these items in the most accessible place.

4. Tiling

The wall around your kitchen counter can gather food debris, dust, and grease, and although even with regular cleaning, the grout can eventually become dingy. Re-tiling your kitchen walls is a relatively cheap update you can make. Styles change often, and re-tiling can be an effective way to modernise your kitchen.

Tiling is a task you can take on yourself to minimise the fee. However, if you do not fancy the DIY, a professional can tile for a reasonable price. Charged either by square-foot or by hourly rate, the fee for the job will remain relatively low. Kiasu offers a tiling and plastering service for your London property. We can fit any tiles so that they perfectly coordinate with your surrounding features.

5. Features & accessories

Feature walls can be a simple yet effective way of brightening up your kitchen. If you have a kitchen diner, adding a bold wallpaper or exposed brick wall can help separate the dining area from the kitchen. You can also add a bright coloured backsplash around your hob or sink.

Adding accessories to your walls, such as shelving or artwork, can also help liven up your space. Funky prints in bold frames can help create a busier effect and help to bring your kitchen to life. You can also upgrade an appliance, such as your fridge, to make it a stand-out central feature in the room.

6. Light Fittings

One of the simplest ways you can update any space is with alternative light fittings. There are many unique shades and effective filament bulbs that can add a cool feature to your kitchen.

Depending on your budget, you can find plenty of good quality light fixtures on the high street for various prices. Installation is straightforward and quick, meaning you can soon be on your way to a lighter and brighter kitchen.

7. Fix-Up Existing Appliances

Your appliances are the most subject to wear and tear than any other part of your kitchen. While they do have a certain lifespan, you don’t want to waste unnecessary money replacing them before you have to.

By correctly maintaining your kitchen appliances, you can ensure they stay as good as new, saving you a lot of money in the long term.

8. Up-Cycle

Up-cycling has become a massive trend in recent years. By utilising your existing items or finding some great pre-loved pieces, you can reduce your spending and carbon footprint. Updating furniture by sanding, painting, or varnishing can completely alter the effect and bring new life into your home.

Up-cycling projects are fun ways to spend downtime. However, if you are too busy, antique fairs and car boot sales can be an excellent way to find good quality furniture for a fraction of the price. One-of-a-kind vintage items are popular and will add history and character to the room.

We hope this has given you some helpful money-saving ideas to spruce up your kitchen space. By re-thinking the process and getting creative, you can cut costs and end up with a completely new design unique to you. If you have any questions or wish to inquire about your kitchen transformation, call us now on 0208 988 1662.

We all want to save money on our household bills, ensuring your electrics are adequately fitted and repaired can play a huge factor in energy bills.

The average household in the UK spends around £1,254 a year on energy bills, according to Ofgem. That makes energy one of the highest annual costs for UK families. It only makes sense that as we spend so much on energy bills, we should try and bring the cost down while still ensuring our properties are running to the expected standard. So, what can you do to get your energy bills down in residential and commercial properties?

Heating

Heating properties is the biggest culprit for causing our energy bills to skyrocket but is possibly the easiest way to make changes to bring the cost back down.

Turn Down Your Thermostat

We often have our heating on higher than what it needs to be. Try knocking it back 10 degrees, especially when you’re asleep. Doing this for 8 hours could bring your annual bill down by 10%. A smart meter does this for you…

Install a Smart Meter

Smart thermostats enable you to control your heating when you’re away from home via your smartphone. They can make your heating more efficient by only warming the rooms you’re actually using. This is great for landlords of multiple properties. You won’t be paying to heat buildings that aren’t occupied.

They also learn what it takes to heat your home, ensuring the heating is only on at the correct time for the right period. 

Install a New Boiler

You could save a large amount of money in the long run by installing a new boiler. This may seem expensive, but you will save a considerable amount of money over the years on your energy bills. It’s also a great idea to get a boiler service; this ensures your boiler is working efficiently and all of the parts are in good working order.

Check Seals on Windows and Doors

Look at the seals on your fridge and freezer and make sure they are keeping the cold air inside. Do the same for the seals on your windows and doors. You want to ensure that the cold air is staying outside and not passing through your window frames. If seals don’t appear to be working, get them sorted, or your bills will be flying high. 

Water

Hot water is the ‘second-largest energy expense in your home’ studies have shown. Cutting back on your hot water usage can cut a big chunk out of your energy bills.

Don’t Leave Taps Running

Do the dishes in a bowl rather than under a running tap. Cut down the amount of time you spend in the shower and limit the number of baths your household has.

Replace Your Shower

Look for a showerhead with a WaterSense label, which means it is certified to meet efficiency criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Products with this sticker are 20% more efficient than the average product of the same type.

Buy Efficient Appliances

When purchasing a new appliance such as a washer or dryer, go for products with the Energy Star label. Prioritise the appliances you use most and ensure these have the label. A dishwasher with the label can save gallons of water per cycle. Ensuring your appliances are energy efficient is a considerable investment.

Enquire About Discounted Rates

Shop around for your energy supplier. Also, keep in mind that some suppliers offer cheaper rates at certain times of the day, so give them a call and find out if yours do! Using your washing machine in the morning rather than the evening could end up saving you some money.

Power

Lights and electronics make up for the rest of our energy bills – how can we bring that down too?

Turn Off Standby Appliances

You can get plug sockets that can be switched on and off via your mobile phone. This means you can ensure plugs are off when not in use. You can also get timer plugs; these are a cheaper way to schedule appliances to turn off.

There is also an option to install smart power trips, you can plug sockets into this system, and the power will cut off when none of the items is in use. This is an excellent option for business owners, for example, in offices that are often empty for many hours at a time.

Change your lightbulbs

Swap out your light bulbs for those with the Energy Star label. Compact fluorescent or LED bulbs are best for energy saving. These bulbs can be more expensive, so maybe focus on changing the bulbs used most, such as in your business’ reception or your living room.

Install dimmer switches

Dimmers let you decide how strong the lighting is in a room; this is a great way to save money as you won’t be wasting electricity lighting a room fully when it’s not needed.

If you would like some further advice on getting your energy bills down or have any questions, please contact us at Kiasu Workforce. We pride ourselves on delivering 100% of your project requirements 100% of the time.

For the odd repair, calling out a tiler can feel like overkill. If you’re confident that you can handle kitchen and bathroom plastering and tiling for yourself, you may as well replace any dodgy tiles independently. You’ll never have the experience or the prowess of a professional tiler, but with these 5 DIY tiling tips and tricks, you’ll be better equipped to avoid all the biggest headaches that come with handling your own work.

At Kiasu Workforce, we’ve got advice for every single stage of your tiling process. So whether you’re mixing up your grout or you’re adding your final touches and refining the finish, here are 5 DIY tiling tips and tricks to make your life easier.

1. Buy More Tiles

Ideally, it would be best if you aimed for ten percent more tiles than you’ve calculated that you need. Any inexperienced tiler may buy a couple of extra tiles with the possibility of mistakes in mind, but sticking to the ten percent rule is a top tip. If you’ve miscalculated how many tiles you needed initially, which is easily done as a novice, your extra tiles cover your back! You can’t always rely on the opportunity of going back and buying more tiles if the need arises because new tiles can be from a different batch with a slight colour difference. Mismatched tiles aren’t attractive!

2. Patience Pays Off

A general rule of thumb for successful DIY and property maintenance is that you’ll see more success when you take your time. The same goes for your tiling; it’s more likely to be successful if you’re patient. When you’re mixing your grout or any tile adhesive, let it stand for ten minutes once you’re done stirring, and all dry chunks will have had time to absorb water before you begin. Equally, if you don’t allow your mortar to set before you grout your tile, it can crack and crumble, meaning that your work can come loose. There’s nothing less amusing than spending hours fitting your tiles to perfection, only for them to slip away.

3. Focus On A Flat Foundation

Any tiling work needs to be completed on a flat foundation, or you’ll have to confront lippage – a gap where tiles protrude over their neighbours. Protruding tiles are more likely to become loose, and they ruin the uniform of your tiling pattern. If your floor or your wall has gaps that you suppose will be detrimental to the finish of your tiling, you ought to plaster or screed over the surface for the flattest foundation to begin work. The less complex your base is, the higher quality your finished work will appear since you won’t need buckets of skill in working around problems to finish the job!

4. Start In The Middle

You may be wondering in what universe you’d ever start your work right in the centre, over moving in from a corner or an edge. With wall and floor tiling, starting from the centre is the most sensible move! Our top tip with wall tiling is to start tiling your grid in the centre of the wall since it’s easier to guarantee your pattern stays symmetrical. While it’s natural to want to follow the traditional route and begin in the corner, that approach is likely to leave you with wonkiness and an imperfect finish by the time your tiles have set. A centre-focused system, even for your floor, also means any half-tiles you may need can go at the end of each row, and they’re going to be of matching size.

5. Get Help When Necessary

This last point may seem counterproductive in a list of tiling DIY tips and tricks, but sometimes the most sensible thing you can do is seek professional help. Know your limits, and contact local tradespeople when you aren’t confident you can finish a job for yourself. Hiring a property maintenance business such as ours at Kiasu Workforce works out cheaper than you ruining and trying to repair a poor DIY job.

Keeping your home in excellent condition means that the process of selling your property should run smoothly. Buyers are often searching for buildings that require few repairs and little attention, so you’re going to receive more interest if you ensure specific property maintenance tasks are completed before viewings. Something as simple as refreshed painting and decorating around your property could spare you the pain of a buyer choosing another house.

If you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help. Here are 4 property maintenance jobs to do before you sell your home.

Repair and Rejuvenate Flooring

A clear insight into the health of your building is your flooring. Whether it be carpet, vinyl or hardwood, your floors need to look clean and well-maintained. Deep clean your carpets before house viewings, mop your hardwood floors and make sure your vinyl isn’t scuffed or damaged! Replacing poor flooring, or having to perform a deep clean before moving in is a task that buyers will want to avoid. Try to make their lives as easy as possible!

If you need to spend a little extra time or money on the repair and rejuvenation of your flooring, it is still a worthwhile investment. You’re likely to find a buyer much quicker with a pristine property, and they won’t be able to drive your price down based on poor maintenance.

Perform Electrical Checks

A sensible step to take before putting your house on the market is checking your electricals! Sockets need to be fully functional and safe, and you’ll benefit from being confident in the safety of your light fittings too. Electrical works should be a priority for you when you’re preparing your property for sale since sockets and lights are so heavily relied on for the functioning of your house. Any glitchy lighting is a red flag for viewers of your property, and unreliable plug sockets are a safety hazard that no buyer would want to volunteer to handle.

The price of an electrician is well worth the peace of mind you’ll feel knowing that your property is electrically sound, and you won’t lose out on buyers over minor faults.

Assess Your Roof & Drainage

The exterior of your property is equally as important as the interior. If your roof is missing tiles, and your gutters are stuffed full of soggy leaves, you simply aren’t presenting your house in the best light possible. Repairing the tiling of your roof isn’t a job that potential buyers want to be tasked with, and it could make the difference between them choosing your property or another house. 

Consider what will shape the first impression of your building, and focus your property maintenance efforts on those areas. Your roof is one of the first parts of your building that prospective buyers will see before entering the house, so set high expectations with cleanliness.

Fix Drawers and Cabinets

In both your kitchen and bathroom, cabinets and drawers can be a prominent feature of the space and it can be off-putting when they’re in poor condition. A slanted cupboard door could easily make your bathroom look ropey, and squeaky kitchen drawers can be frustrating. Considering fixing them is a minor job, you don’t want to miss out on a sale for poor drawers and cabinets when a handyman could quickly repair them.

For further advice on property maintenance to complete before putting your house on the market, feel free to contact us at Kiasu Workforce.

The unpredictable weather that comes alongside winter can be detrimental to the health of your house unless you prepare properly. Darker nights could call for more outdoor lighting to maintain visibility in your garden, and cold weather requires that you closely monitor your exterior water pipes, or turn them off entirely. Blocked drains should be sorted before temperatures drop and the mushy leaves freeze over. un

Snow is beautiful to watch from the comfort of your home, but it becomes nothing but a nuisance if your house isn’t prepared for the change in weather.

With some simple preparation and mindfulness before and during the winter months, your property will thrive all year round. Here are 3 essential winter maintenance tips that should come in useful for your home this season!

Check The Seals

Use a slim tool, like a screwdriver or your finger, to assess the seals around your windows and doors for hidden openings. Any gap in the seal will let cold air pass into your house, which you don’t want. Your heating bills will be costly if you’re trying to warm a property that won’t retain heat properly, so fixing this error will save you money in the long run.

If you find a gap, fill it in with caulk to prevent heat escaping. Even if you have to hire a handyman to do this job for you, it’ll be less costly than overspending on your heating bills and spending winter cold in your home. Also don’t forget to check around the vents of your home for gaps, and keep an eye out where exterior pipes attach to your property. Inspect the exterior of your property to make a note of any potential access points for cold air, and double-check that everything possible is in place to prevent heat escaping.

Service Your Boiler Early

Effective boiler installation, repairs and servicing are all vital to keeping your home happy and healthy, and even more so during winter. Risking your boiler breaking down in winter would be foolish, so make sure to book an inspection and a service before cold weather properly kicks in. You might consider taking out boiler breakdown cover to ease your mind in the expensive build-up to Christmas. 

Though spending money on servicing, inspecting and insuring your boiler may seem daunting, having to arrange a last-minute boiler replacement is almost guaranteed to break the bank more. If the weather is cold enough, your house could be freezing if your boiler malfunctions, and then you’ll have to arrange alternative accommodation too. Pre-empt these issues, and save yourself the hassle.

Assess Your Roof

Winter storms can take a toll on even the smallest faults in your roof. A hidden gap can easily be exploited by freezing temperatures and harsh sleet, and escalate to require a significant and costly repair. The last thing that you’ll want to be burdened with over the winter period is a gigantic roof repair, and particularly since you’ll have to live somewhere else while work is done.

Look out for missing or cracked tiles on your own where possible, but leave any roof repairing or close inspection to professionals. As is a steady theme with all minor repairs before winter, it will be less costly to fix the small error than to wait for the problem to escalate! Replacing broken roof tiles and filling gaps where necessary is quicker, more straightforward and cheaper than a total roof renovation after an incident.

For further advice on how to winter-proof your home, including best practices regarding your heating and gas services, please contact us at Kiasu Workforce. We’d be more than happy to help.