Although we appear to be still having some warm and sunny weather, it is likely that towards the end of the month this will start to change and we will head in to the colder period. This colder weather is often likely to kill off any plants that still remain and we could see a lot of wet weather making it harder to keep the grass cut short.

You need to make the most of any nice weather we do have and get out in the garden to do some maintenance. Make sure that you don’t cut your grass too short if people are going to be walking ok it as this can expose too much of the soil and make it become very muddy.

Remove any dead heads and leaves off your plants and dig up any bulbs that you want to replant next year. Be sure to dry them out and wrap them in newspaper to store away. If you are thinking of planting bulbs for daffodils, then bows the time to do it. They will sit dormant over the winter and start to come through early next spring time. Pack away any garden furniture that is likely to get damaged throughout the winter months to try and prolong it.

Now that the Covid rules are starting to be a lot more relaxed, many companies are once again looking at how they can continue to grow their businesses. A recent survey that has been carried out by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), shows that employee numbers in the construction industry have risen and are expected to continue rising for at least the next 12 months. The number of skilled operatives and other operatives that have been employed has risen around 40% more than the previous year which is more than it has done for several years.

Although there is an increase in demand for construction workers, getting the materials and products is becoming a bit of a challenge. Without the materials, many jobs simply cannot be completed which then leaves the workers with anything to do.

Costs for construction firms have now hit an all time high. This could be because of the challenges that many companies are having at getting the materials through.

No one knows exactly what may happen over the next 12 months and a lot of it is dependant on Covid and whether we have to have any more restrictions imposed as if so, this may again have an effect on the construction industry and supply chain.

Over lockdown, when the pubs and bars were closed, lots of people decided to use the opportunity to do improvements to their house or garden. Some people even built their own bar in their garden to allow them to enjoy their outdoor space. When the rules were eased to allow more people in to private gardens, this meant that they could once again meet with friends and family in a beer garden setting.

You can choose to by a prebuilt bar that can be easily installed in your garden or you can try and make one yourself. Wooden pallets can prove really useful in DIY construction projects. They can be easily dismantled and put together to make bars, tables or planters. Some worksites or factories may let you have a few pallets for free, so it is always worth asking around before you buy any.

If you want to be able to have electrics in your garden then it is vital that you use an experienced electrician as they will need to install weather proof sockets etc. Don’t be tempted to try and run extension leads from inside on a permanent basis as this is not the best way to supply power to the new outbuilding.

When it comes to mowing the lawn, your lawn mower can make a big difference. Having the correct one will make mowing much less of a task. You first need to decide whether to opt for a petrol or electric mower. If you have a large garden, or areas that are hard to get power to then you may decide a petrol one is best. If you only have a small area just outside your house then you may opt for an electric one. Electric ones tend to be a little bit cheaper but often there is not a huge amount in the price difference.

You do need to look after your lawn motor to try and prolong its life. If you have a petrol mower then you will not only need to fill it with petrol but you will also need to ensure that it has oil in it too. The oil won’t need to be topped up very often but it is vital that it has an adequate amount in it to protect the engine.

If you want to be able to cut the grass when it is slightly damp then you should opt for a petrol mower, they won’t cut through completely wet grass but copy better than electric ones when it is damp.

Are you considering setting up your own construction business? If so then you may want to read through some of our top tips and hints to help the process go smoothly. The UK construction industry is booming and if you work within the industry you may want to take the plunge now to setting up on your own. Although setting up a construction business can be quite daunting, the rewards and pay can be amazing and well worth while. You don’t have to run a huge company that employees 100 plus people to make money. Many smaller businesses with less than 10 employees are doing well.

Before setting up any new business it is vital that you create a business plan. You business plan should detail the services you intend to offer, who your intended customers are and your charging structure. Without this you run the risk of trying to offer too many services and not focusing on your strengths. You also need to button down your pricing as this will have a huge impact on what profit you make.

When you first start, don’t be afraid to turn jobs down that are out of your remit. Although you may be tempted to do anything and everything, this could land you with a bad reputation or see you losing money if the jobs are not done correctly.

If you work in the building or construction industry, it is vital that you have the correct type of insurance and at the right level. There are so many different insurance providers and different types of policies out there, that it can be hard to know exactly what you need. If you give incorrect information when taking out an insurance policy, even if it is not intentional, you may find that your insurance isn’t valid and that you have no cover. The problem is you will often only find this out when a problem arises and you need to make a claim.

In some industries, insurance is more important than others and construction is one of those industries. Many jobs within the construction industry can be quite dangerous and require a lot of knowledge. If you make a mistake it may not only be your life that you are putting at risk, but you could be potentially risking the people you work with and people that may use the property after you have finished the construction work.

When looking to take out insurance cover, make sure you get a few different quotes. If parts of your business are quite complex then you may need to go to specialist company or at least talk to them on the phone to ensure they can offer you the level of cover that it needed. Always ensure that you are completely honest and that never try and skimp on a policy to save a few quid each month. Often lots of people get insurance cover as they have to have it and therefore just take the cheapest, but in the construction industry it is so important that you are covered for the correct thing. You may need to take out a number of different policies such as public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance. These will cover you should you do something wrong which results in someone else getting injured or if you give bad advice which causes financial loss to another party. You may also need to take out insurance to protect your tools and equipment and also personal injury insurance should you get injured whilst working. These premiums can all add up but it is simply not worth the risk not to have them. Also some companies will not work with you if you do not have the adequate level of insurance.

Within the construction industry, there are a number of different types of jobs. Some of these jobs require formal qualifications or licenses and other don’t. Some of the lower skilled jobs can be started with no previous experience, just a willingness to learn. Often jobs such as roofing an building are learnt whilst on the job rather than by attending college. If, however you want to go into a job such as being an architect or surveyor, then you will often need to obtain a degree or further qualification.

It is common for people within the construction industry to progress up the ladder relatively quickly. You may start out as a labourer on a work site but within a few years, become a foreman in charge of a team of people. This can make the job very attractive to those that do not want to attend college or uni but do want to progress up the ladder in to more highly skilled and higher paid jobs.

Experience is key, so you may have to be willing to work for a low wage to start with until you have built up the experience and skills you need. Once you have this, you can then look to progressing in to other fields.

If you are thinking of having an extension built on your home then you may automatically assume that you will need an architect, but this is not always the case. Although architects are very skilled and will easily be able to create you a plan for your extension, you may not actually need one and may be able to cut down on costs if this is a concern.

Architects can cost around five to ten percent of the total build cost so it is a huge saving to be made if you can do without one. If your extension is going to be very complex and you want something like what you would see on Grand Designs then yes, you should use an architect, but if you just want a second store on top of a garage or an extension added on to your kitchen then it may be a little overkill.

Lots of the elements of an extension are already built such as Windows and doors, so you will easily be able to find out the dimensions of them. Anyone with some design skills will be able to create a plan for you whether it be computerised or on paper. It is important to have a plan of the room laid out so when you have different trades people in they are able to see what needs to go where.  

If you are considering having new windows installed in your home it is important that you think about what style you want. It may be that you have decided to have a bay window installed or that you are just upgrading from wooden frames to UPVC. The style of the window you chose will alter the price so if you are ok a tight budget it may be worth asking for quotes for a few different types.

Often people replace double glazed windows because the seals have gone and therefore condensation is getting between the panes. This can look unsightly and does means that you will be losing heat out of the room as the seal is no longer air tight. Despite what you may think it even have been told, you don’t have to replace the whole window and frame you can just replace the glass and seals. This often works out a fair bit cheaper and is perfect if only one of the panes is not dealing and the others are fine.

Be sure to get quotes from a few different window companies to make sure you are getting the best price and check what warranty they give you for the windows in case they should fail again 12 months down the line.

You may have decided that you want to replace some carpets in your home or if you have just purchased a new build, it may very well not have even got carpets in. When it comes to choosing the flooring for your home you need to think carefully about the purpose and use of the room. If for example it is a bathroom or kitchen, then carpet is not the best choice. The carpet will easily get wet which will make it smell damp and eventually go mouldy.

Hallways are another place that carpet may not be the best option. They often get a lot of traffic and unless you are going to ensure that everyone removes their shoes before they come in, they can quickly become dirty.

A lounge or a bedroom is a great choice for carpet. Carpet gives a room a cosy feeling and makes it warmer which is just what you want. It should be fitted by a professional as it needs to be stretched otherwise overtime the carpet will expand and won’t fit properly in the room. Some fitters will allow you to buy the carpet yourself and they will fit it for you.