Back when those HIPS (or “Home information packs”) suddenly exploded onto the Home Buyers’ Market, (for reasons we won’t go into) there was quite an outcry.  They have been removed now, but they leave in their wake the necessity to have an “Energy Performance Certificate” (or EPC) for your home, within twenty eight days of putting it on the market.  It’s at that point you may wish that you had braved those double glazing prices and had a complete installation.  

The EPC is an independent survey of your home’s energy efficiency.  After the HIPS packs disappeared in 2007, the new legislation of October 2008 meant that no home could be sold without an EPC.  The home’s EPC is based on the energy use per metre squared of floor area.  The energy efficiency is based on current fuel costs and the environmental impact is based on carbon dioxide emissions. 

There’s no doubt that good quality double glazing can earn you EPC points.  If the owners of your potential new home have braved the double glazing prices and installed,  you will obviously purchase a property that has many advantages. If the home you are interested in has a high EPC rating it will indicate you will receive lower energy bills, if you buy.  More good news, the EPC is valid for ten years, so you will hopefully inherit a healthy certificate which grades the property’s energy efficiency from A to G – A being the high point.  If you’re about to purchase a brand new home, you’re in for a treat!  Your EPC is likely to be high – or near the top of the class!

property ladder

Getting yourself on the property market is now harder than it has ever been, saving for your deposit and breaking through all the red tape around mortages can be very daunting and in some cases feel like a complete impossibility. 

The CML found just about eighty percent of first time house owners under thirty were borrowing from their mum and dad. This shows how relying youngsters are becoming on their elders to get on the property ladder. If you find it tough to approach your mum and dad for some help with a deposit, try to consider writing up a practical plan which gives them an advantage from lending. This can make it less complicated.

Move to Less expensive Parts of the Country / Your City . Home prices change fantastically between different parts of the country or inside a town. Setting your sites on a different district / area could mean housing becomes more pragmatic.

Part Rent / Part Buy This is an administration scheme which could help you to buy a place. It involves getting a mortgage for part of the price tag and renting on the remainder.

If getting a deposit is hard, you might consider asking your folks to act as a guarantor or get a mortgage in their name. This isn’t ideal however it might be the sole way to get on the property ladder.

Mortgages

How it is possible to get the best mortgage deal?  

Follow our pointers to find the best mortgage deal finding the proper mortgage can be dismaying at the very best of times nevertheless it has got even harder since the liquidity crisis.

One hundred percent mortgages are not available and most banks demand at least a 10% deposit before they’re going to consider you. To get the best deals you want a forty percent deposit.

Our 5 tips for getting the best mortgage will help you to get started :

go searching : There are huge differences between mortgage deals, so it pays to compare costs. Use a comparison tool to find the best mortgage for your situation.

Total costs : do not just glance at the strap-line interest rate take into consideration all of the costs you must pay.

 Early repayment charges : Avoid mortgages with early repayment charges after the opening rate has stopped so you can switch to a superior deal without charge at this point.

Avoid additional interest : be cautious about adding extras like mortgage costs to your mortgage, as you may finish up them. If you can, pay these out of your savings up front.

Excellent advice : If you decide you need guidance, ensure you consult an independent mortgage advisor or broker. But some of the finest deals are available only right from the bank so always do your own research using a mortgage comparison tool before chatting with an advisor and compare these results with the suggestions your advisor gives you.

You will find an independent mortgage advisor using the Equitable site. Also visit  mortgage calculator tools to discover what your payments would be at different rates, see how much you might borrow and work out how much you are able to afford to spend on a mortgage.

building construction

In short Building construction are the techniques and industry involved in assembling and erecting structures to provide shelter.

Building construction is a human activity which began with the need for a controlled environment enabling humans to regulate the effects of the climate. Shelters which had been constructed allowed humans to adjust to a variety of climates.

Building construction adds structure to properties most building construction projects are small scale such as a renovation or addition of a room. Usually the owner of the property will take on a variety of roles whilst working on the project. Building constructions has some common elements, including design, financial and legal implications.

Building construction is procured privately or publicly utilizing various delivery methodologies, including hard bid, negotiated price, traditional, management contracting, construction management-at-risk –

Design-bid-build – a common method in procuring construction, project co-ordinate by the architect and engineer they design and prepare the specification of the work and are required to produce the drawings for the construction, the work is then put out to tender and the entire process is managed from when it is started until completion

 Design & build – a completed package of fixtures and fittings and equipment which helps to produce a functioning building some design and build packages will also include arranging the funding and finding the building site.

Building construction is marked by a number of trends, the durability of materials which are used, another trend is the pursuit of the highest or the biggest building another trend involves the control of the interior environment in buildings air temperature, heat light and sound can now be regulated. At present building construction is complicated the design process for buildings is well organised extensive research is carried out on materials to ensure safety standards, the construction process is also very organised and includes manufacturers of building products craftsmen consultants and construction managers

jobs in Construction

Construction is the process of assembling an infrastructure, on large scale construction projects, rather than being a single activity, a number of things are happening at the same time. Construction jobs are usually managed by a project manager who is then supervised by the construction manager or construction engineer.

Within the construction industry there is an array of work from the more traditional type of installation and fitting to creating structures like the Stadium for the 2012 Olympics. The sector brings a number of skilled craftsmen and technicians together usually managed by civil engineers and surveyors. From the professional level people are involved in the planning, design and project management; from then on the various skills come into play, scaffolding, plastering and roofing. Within the construction industry different jobs require a range of different skills, operatives and craftspeople need to have the relevant skills for handling machinery, they need to be able to communicate well work well in a team and problem solve.

 Some of the work will involve the construction of new buildings or some buildings might need renovation maintenance or repair. People working in construction can expect to work up to 40 hours a week and there is usually the opportunity to work overtime. The construction industry, on average, employs around 2 million people and in the UK it is one of the largest industries, employers may range from international construction groups to small companies who only employ a few people. However the current economic downturn has had an effect on the construction industry, but a number of construction projects are still be planned for the next few years, and this should encourage people industry to enter the profession in order to support the work. Entry into the construction industry is via a range of construction related courses available at colleges and a Diploma in construction can provide entry into the sector. Many people enter a professional career by completing a relevant degree before joining a company.

Some people enter a career in construction by completing degree study, training varies, on the job training can lead to an NVQ qualification, there are some jobs that offer the opportunity to study part time at college. There is usually scope for promotion, and as people become more experienced in the construction field gaining more qualifications they are able to take on more senior positions, those who are self-employed can build a good reputation and there are normally opportunities to work abroad.

Construction is usually implemented by a specialised construction team they are usually separate from the designers however some larger organisations will combine both teams the construction team is led by a general contractor who takes responsibility for completing and signs a contract to that effect. The general contractor will do some work on the building and the remainder of the work is carried out by subcontractors who have a contract with the general contractor.

Contractors will receive construction specification detailing what they need to do at the construction site, they can be reviewed before a contractor puts in a bid on a project and are used in order to get a quote for the work needing to be done, the construction specification does not always cover all the issues that might occur but the main aim is to outline what needs to be done should the unexpected happen, this could involve changing the order or discussing the issue  with the architect or developer.

 Construction specifications specify the timeframe in which a project needs to be completed and finish by the allocated deadline, this is the determining factor as to whether or not a contractor will bid on a project, as those who do not have the manpower or who have restrictions on their time as well as other projects to complete, may find it difficult to complete the job.

Along with this is the scale of the work involved will be set out in the construction specifications, this will detail if any demolition, or excavation work needs to be done, or if any electrical or plumbing work is required, there may be separate documents which contractors can sometimes bid for separately but in some cases the general contractor hires sub-contractors to do this type of work.

Industrial construction is a small part of the construction industry but is also a key element, projects like these are generally run by major industrial corporations in industries such as medicine chemicals and manufacturing, the processes in this industry requires specialist engineers and as with some other types of construction needs a team of people working together for a successful outcome.

Financial issues can cause major problems with not enough money made available to complete a construction project, there are also times  when funding is not available to cover costs for labour and materials once a project has already  started. It is important to plan finances in the early stages of a construction project, as well as have a contingency plan to provide for the unexpected.

building plans

Building plans are detailed plan in graph format of what a building will look like once it is constructed it is  generally used by builders and contractors to assemble all types of buildings. Building plans are a useful tool for estimating the cost of a project. A building plan is created when an owner or developer contacts an architect with their idea for a building, the architect will write a proposal detailing the cost for his services this will largely depend on the scale of the project, building plans can cost up to 5% of the total project cost, once the design phase begins once the owner has signed the contract.

On bigger projects there are several phases to the design process the architect will encapsulate basic information about the project and create simple floor plan, once the owner is happy with the drawings the architect can proceed with more detailed designs this is called the design development phase. The process continues through different phases until a final construction set is designed. After each set of building plans is created, the owner is given a review period, and his comments are incorporated into the next phase.

Once a building plan has been confirmed they are put out for tender, this process involves contractors and subcontractors looking at the building plan and submitting their costs for completion of the work, Usually the person that submits the lowest bid is awarded the work, however some owners will look at other factors such as the experience a contractor has or if they have built up a good relationship with the contractor.

civil-engineer

A civil engineer is usually involved in each stage of the process from an original idea onto design then construction until the project is complete and they are responsible for the on-going maintenance. Civil engineers are likely to find themselves working alongside professionals from a variety of disciplines such as construction managers, architects surveyors and engineers.

Civil engineers are involved in the design process of a variety of things which can be roads, buildings, airports as well as water supply and sewage systems, part of their job involves weighing up a number of factors when designing including cost, and ensuring that the structure cab remain undamaged in bad weather

Getting into engineering requires a good knowledge of maths and science, as well as courses in English, social studies, and computers. Civil engineers need to possess a degree in civil engineering this usually takes three to five years to complete after which you receive a bachelor of engineering or bachelor of science the degree covers topics which cover physics, mathematics, project management and design as well as specific topics in civil engineering students can specialise in one of the sub disciplines.  Engineers need to be creative, curious, analytical, and detail-oriented.  The job involves working as part of a team, working alongside a wide range of people means that engineers need to possess people skills.

Those who graduate with a civil engineering degree will usually start with a low level of responsibility; new civil engineers will need to prove their aptitude before they are given more responsibility. Experienced engineers will undertake more multifaceted tasks involving the management of complex design or they would be managing other civil engineers.

Within each branch of civil engineering career options may vary, for some entry level civil engineers will mainly working in construction in the field supporting senior design engineers, whereas in other areas engineers may carry out routine tasks involving analysis and design.  The more complex the work the more experienced the engineer is likely to be, moving on to the management of projects or other engineers as well as taking on a consulting role in forensic engineering.

Civil engineers generally work in manufacturing and where there are businesses they can often be found working on construction sites. Civil engineers jobs are likely to increase as they will be needed to design and build more structures as the population increase

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents members of the civil engineering profession worldwide, members hold a bachelor’s degree and are professional engineers with five years’ experience, many civil engineers join in order to keep updated as well as pass on some of their expertise to up and coming civil engineers or those studying a civil engineering degree

building permit

The  building code are rules that state acceptable levels of safety for building construction or non-building structures  this is intended to protect the health and safety of the general public in relation to the in construction of the building and the way it is occupied,  the building code is  to be used by architects and engineers and are also used by safety inspectors, in the UK however building control Surveyors are appointed as verifiers. Within the code there are additional codes and sections which are more specific in their requirements and relate to dwellings and objects which have been specially constructed e.g. canopies, signage walkways etc…The building code becomes the law when it is acted out by a particular authority.

Building codes specify the details of the construction as well as the maintenance of a building or construction, including fire safety rule, safety exits in buildings, and the limits on how far a fire is allowed to spread and fire fighting equipment. There are rules about the structure buildings need to be able to endure internal as well as external force without collapsing. Health and safety stipulations are also included in building codes outlining ample air circulation and plumbing facilities.

Building codes ensure that limitations on noise are in place to prevent noise pollution through walls and windows, provisions must be made for disabled people so that they are able to access all areas of a property. Constructions which have been built and have not adhered to the building code could face serious penalties

 The way that building codes are developed and enforced tends to vary from one nation to another, there are countries where the building code is developed by a government agency and then imposed by a central government these are known as national building codes. Other countries adopt a system of model building codes where regulation of fire safety and construction rest with the local authority. Model building codes have no legal status unless it has been adopted by an authority which has jurisdiction

building regulations

Building regulations apply in England and Wales the majority of building projects must comply with the regulations which are provided in the building act 1984, the regulations have been put in place for as a health and safety measure for people in and around domestic commercial and industrial buildings. Building regulations promotes standards for building construction which includes energy efficiency and access and moving around buildings for those with disabilities. It is the responsibility of the person carrying out the building work to meet the requirements of the building regulations; the following type of works would need building regulation approval:

• Extending or erecting a building
• Altering a building which would temporarily affect the building complying to building regulations
• Installation of replacement windows without the use of a FENSA registered builder or Window Company.
• Insulation into a cavity wall
• Underpinning the foundations of a building
• A change in the primary  use of a building
• A change of the buildings energy status

There are however some buildings and building works which do not have to comply with building regulations these are:

• Buildings which are non- habitable
• Buildings where there is a low risk
• Where the building is controlled  by other legislation

 The majority of building work throughout the UK is controlled by regulations, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee advises the relevant secretary of state of their power to make Building Regulations.

Building regulations have not been created to suppress creativity or  innovation the main requirement is that people comply with the legislation; a website has been set up, with information and advice about building regulations www.planningportal.gov.uk 

The building regulations are split into 14 sections, and each section is supplemented with what is known as an Approved document these state what the legislation is and what needs to be done in order to satisfy the legislation.

civil engineering

Since the beginning of time engineering has been a major feature of life research suggests that civil engineering may have a started around 4000 and 2000BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia, it occurred as a result of humans moving on from a nomadic lifestyle, this created a need for shelter and the beginning of construction.

Civil engineering is essentially about how buildings are designed and maintained in the environment, many of the things that we take for granted have come about as a result of civil engineering.

Civil engineering takes place in both the public and private sector from homeowners to large companies. It was established in order to distinguish itself from military engineering civil engineering is seen as one of the oldest engineering disciplines and is e separated into a number of sub-disciplines.

General civil engineering focuses on creating fixed structures, engineers work alongside other professionals installing fixed structures. General civil engineers prepare construction plans and visit construction sites to review the work that is being done.

Construction engineering requires a lot  more planning and it is necessary to use  construction machinery, as a result  the risk are higher within these types of engineering firms so there is more of a business-like approach, contracts are drafted and reviewed regularly and costs have to be scrutinised.

Environmental engineering is about the treatment of chemical or biological waste it also is involved in purification of water and air and deals with sewage treatment, environmental engineering tends to assess the impact of proposals that are bought forward will have on the environment, this assists in the right decisions being made by policy makers.

 Fire Protection engineering is also known as fire safety engineering and applies science and engineering principles in order to protect people and the environments they live in from the damaging effects of fire. Fire protection engineers design equipment which helps in fighting fires, Fire protection engineers are often employed as fire investigators and provide expert advice on the right materials to use for structures, NASA also use Fire protection engineers on their space program.

Geotechnical engineering deals with the interaction between structures and earth materials and structures which have been constructed from earth materials. Geotechnical engineers will deal with a number of subject, these include soil properties and mechanics,  retaining walls, ground and rock anchors, soil-structure interaction and soil dynamics.

Structural engineering is all about the structural design and analysis of buildings and bridges, the stress that is put on a structure has to be calculated, and the structure has to be designed to withstand this.

Coastal engineering deals with the management of coastal areas, providing protection against flooding or erosion, coastal protection and sea defence is the term that is used in some authorities, but the field of coastal engineering has seen much expansion and is also known as coastal management.

Earthquake engineering deals with the capability of different structures being able to endure, exposure to earthquakes. Earthquake engineering is linked closely with the structural engineering category; the objectives are to understand how structures interact with shaky ground and to forecast the effects of earthquakes. Another feature of earthquake engineering is that it looks at ways to design and build structures so that they are able function even when exposed to earthquakes and comply with the requirements of the building code.

Water resources engineering is about the collection of water and how it is managed, it is a combination of the following disciplines: hydrology, environmental science, and  meteorology, geology, conservation and resource management. Water resource engineers examine large areas of earth in order to make predictions about the amount of water which is able to flow through a facility this area of civil engineering relates to pipelines  and water supply networks.

Structural engineering looks at structural design and analyses, the structure of buildings, and other structures.

Loads within a structure are identified as well as the stresses which occur in the structure as a result of the load, the structure can then be design to provide support and endure the load. Structural engineers have to create structures with the safety of its users in mind and so that it is able to perform its intended use.

Transportation engineering deals with movement of people and goods in an efficient manner and involves the design, construction and maintenance of a transport infrastructure covering streets, canals highways, rail networks and airports.