Category: Advice

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5 common problems you should check in your loft during snagging

Soil stack pipe venting to loft leaves disgusting mark on loft wall

If your new home is covered by an NHBC warranty then you will be familiar with the two-year snagging period which begins when you move in. We’re all pretty good at reporting the issues we see in our living areas and gardens – but how many of us are looking in the loft with the same critical eye?

Here’s a handy list of the things you really need to look out for. It doesn’t take much effort but could save you from serious problems in years to come. Once your two years is up then most of these issues are no longer covered. For the complete legal documentation of what is covered by your NHBC Warranty and what is not, see your relevant NHBC Buildmark policy booklet here.

So borrow or buy a step ladder, grab a torch and take 5 minutes to spot these usual suspects:

Continue reading 5 common problems you should check in your loft during snagging

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Loft flooring to access solar PV inverters

The rise of renewables

Government targets are causing developers to incorporate renewables such as solar PV in their developments on an increasing scale. However, in the new-build homes we survey we almost never see adequate access platforms installed by developers to access this maintainable equipment. More often than not, developers are not providing any platform at all.

This can present a big problem for the homeowner. When a tradesman visits to access the equipment they may refuse to enter the loft on the grounds of health and safety. We have experienced this first hand, and have installed access platforms for customers after they have had a Gas or Solar technician visit them and refuse to enter the loft.

According to Which? magazine, nearly a quarter (23%) of solar panel owners have had a problem with their system, and problems with the inverter are the most common (40%).

Solar panels on roof
Source: Which.co.uk

Continue reading Loft flooring to access solar PV inverters

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Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 4 – The BBA and LoftZone

This is the 4th and final article in a series about the factors related to your warranty when flooring your loft. Read the other articles here:

As you might know already, LoftZone is the only raised storage floor system which has certification from the BBA. You may not know much about the BBA or why their certification is important, so read on.

BBA Logo

The BBA (British Board of Agrément)

The British Board of Agrément is an independent non-profit distributing organisation whose aim is to help businesses and organisations supply the construction industry with products, systems and installers of the highest quality. Their technical teams are highly experienced, and their certification and inspection services are recognised by building control, local authorities, industry insurers and the key construction trade associations in the UK.  Continue reading Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 4 – The BBA and LoftZone

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Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 3 – Building Regulations

This is the 3rd article in a series about the factors related to your warranty when flooring your loft. Read the other articles here:

Building Regulations and Loft Flooring

In Scotland, Building Regulations are different from England and Wales, and are administered by the Scottish Building Standards Agency. They publish building regulations in the form of two ‘Technical Handbooks’ – one for domestic and one for commercial applications.

Wait, why do I need to know about building regulations?

Surely it is the builder’s responsibility to comply with the regulations and the habitation certificate already proves that the house does? This is true – but there is a good reason you should be aware of the regulations:  Continue reading Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 3 – Building Regulations

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Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 2 – NHBC Requirements

This is the second article in a series considering whether flooring your loft can affect your warranty. Read the other articles here:

NHBC Standards and Loft Flooring

The NHBC requirements are defined in the NHBC Standards they publish.

NHBC Standards 2017
NHBC Standards 2017

The current 2017 document applies to every new home registered with NHBC where foundations were begun on or after 1 January 2017. The 2018 standards are already available and will apply where foundations are begun on or after 1 January 2018.  Continue reading Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 2 – NHBC Requirements

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Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 1 – Your Warranty

So you’re getting the keys to your brand new home and starting to think about the task of moving all your things. You don’t have as much storage space as you used to so where will everything go? Perhaps all your grand plans for the garage gym/study/man-cave/Swedish sauna will need to go on hold while you move things there ‘temporarily for sorting later’. (We’ve all been there.) Your warranty might be the last thing on your mind.

Walker Homes New Home
Walker Homes New Build

“What about flooring the loft?” you innocently ask the salesman, gazing at the 900sqft of beautiful, open space. He rolls his eyes and tells you that using your loft for anything at all apart from fresh air will absolutely, definitely, completely invalidate your 10 year warranty. Don’t even go up there, don’t even look at it, I’m not sure why we even gave you an access hatch…  Continue reading Does loft flooring affect my new home warranty? Part 1 – Your Warranty

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Will loft flooring void my new home warranty?

How many people have been told this by their builder? I’m afraid it’s not quite true. The purpose of the NHBC Buildmark warranty is to hold the builder to account in case their work does not meet the NHBC requirements – a strict set of standards which are based on building regulations.  Continue reading Will loft flooring void my new home warranty?