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Summer Heatwaves & Keeping Your Home Cool

Summer heatwaves and keeping your home cool! We’ve been wondering when Summer would show its face in the UK! Britain is expected to see its hottest day of the year so far this weekend. Hopefully, Summertime has begun! So, what better time to explain why we should keep our homes cool this, Summer?

Before we go into cooling our homes. How do ‘warm’ temperatures affect our houses? Warm for the UK at least! Realistically, t’s probably not hot enough to do significant damage to our properties. However, there are things we can still protect! Take our flooring for example. If you have carpet, sustained sunlight can bleach its fibres. You might expect this to brighten the colour, but it actually has the opposite, fading effect! What about a hardwood floor? This relates to heat. With temperatures fluctuating during Summer in the UK, the wood expands and contracts. This can lead to your floor warping and becoming uneven. While less likely to occur, it’s still worth looking out for as the last thing we need to pay for at the moment is avoidable repairs. This brings us to our next point!

We are all aware of the rising cost of living here in the UK. Rising energy prices in the home are starting to become quite significant and we should be thinking of ways to reduce this. Luckily, Summertime means we can keep lights off for longer. On hot days like this weekend though, we can try to keep our homes cool naturally, rather than through A/C, which we will talk about later.

It’s simple and we all know the answer really. It’s air movement! Shall we get a bit scientific? Faster moving air displaces the warm air, and this then cools our skin. Fans are obviously great for this, but we want to reduce energy costs. So, just open your windows!

Windows available for Summer
Windows available for Summer
Windows available for Summer
Windows available for Summer

Sticking to this topic, we wanted to compare A/C and Window systems. So, here are some benefits and negatives of each when it comes to cooling our homes!

Windows in Summer:

Benefits –

  • Save on energy costs
  • Allow fresh air to filter through your home
  • Reduce your carbon footprint

Negatives –

  • Pollen can trigger Hay Fever
  • Can increase humidity

Air Conditioning in Summer:

Benefits –

  • Fewer insects flying into your home
  • Better home security
  • Cooler temperatures (obviously)

Negatives –

  • Sick building syndrome symptoms such as a scratchy throat
  • Build of moisture and fungus or mould

It’s a bit of a myth that opening your windows while it’s hot, actually cools your home. However, this doesn’t mean Windows aren’t the solution! Having Window units with effective insulation means your home will stay at the perfect temperature even in Summer. It will also certainly help you to save on energy cost in the long-term.

We want everyone to be comfortable during the weekend’s heatwave! Maybe you don’t have A/C or well-insulated window systems? Luckily Summer hasn’t officially begun yet! You can get your new units from Verdi, check out the range here.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!




    Recent Posts

    Home Improvements to help you celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday

    Home Improvements to help you celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday. The bank holiday to celebrate 70 years of her majesty’s service is in a couple of weeks! Whether you’re patriotic or not, we all have reason to be excited! After all, we get that day off to relax!

    The Queen’s Jubilee also gives us a great excuse to get together and celebrate with friends! Is your property party-ready though? Well, we’re going to give you a few tips on how to get your home ready, in time for the June Bank Holiday!

    All being well, we will see some Sunshine for the Queen’s Jubilee here in the UK! Knowing us British, that can only mean one thing… A BBQ! With everyone enjoying the weather, we need to set ourselves up with a comfortable outdoor space. So, get the outdoor seating out with plenty of cushions, the grass freshly cut and the ‘barby’ lit. This all sounds perfect! But here at Verdi, we can’t help but point out that British Summertime doesn’t always play out as we’d hoped.  

    The Verdi Canopy

    We don’t want to jinx it. However, if the showers do begin to pour, have you got somewhere to shelter underneath? One great home improvement we supply here can help you with this problem. Our Canopy is a great option for not only Summer but all year round! With this product, your party can continue and not spoil the fun of the Queen’s Jubilee!

    Image of a recent Canopy installed by Verdi, relevant to the preceding text
    Recent Verdi Canopy Installation

    The Verdi Conservatory & Patio Doors

    Image of recent installation of Patio doors from Verdi

    Maybe a Canopy isn’t for you though! Well, how else can Verdi help you to enjoy your Bank Holiday? We understand that these Jubilee parties can get busy. A Conservatory can be a great space to host people in the summer months. Effective at regulating temperature and filled with light, you can ensure that you don’t miss the live coverage of the Queen’s Jubilee! An alternative to this is the Patio Door. Bridge the gap between your living space and garden with these wide, glass doors and let that scrumptious barbeque smell filter through your home.

    It’s Time to Decorate for the Queen’s Jubilee!

    Right, so now we’ve given you some ideas for your home. It’s time to decorate! With it being the Queen’s Jubilee, we should get into the spirit. We hope all our wonderful customers will be giving their homes a ‘royal’ makeover! We can picture it now. Flags, bunting, and crockery. All in the Union Jack’s Red, White and Blue!

    Verdi doors that are in the Union Jack colours for the Queen's Jubilee

    We hope everyone has a fantastic Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday, from everyone here at Verdi Home Improvements!

    If you would like to enquire about any of the products we have mentioned, you can get in touch with Verdi by filling out the form below!




      Recent Posts

      First Home Improvements to Make a as a New Homeowner

      First Home Improvements to Make a as a New Homeowner. At Verdi, we believe there has never been a better time to become a new homeowner! The Government Mortgage Scheme allows for new buyers to only pay a 5% deposit. This makes for a less stressful decision. However, the scheme only runs until December of this year, so be quick! For those who have made the big step on to the financial ladder (and anyone else reading of course), we want to delve into the first home improvements you should make when making purchasing a property.

      “More than half (58.7%) of burglars gain entry through the front door”

      (NimbleFins)

      Whether you’re looking to buy or let, we always stress here at Verdi, that home security trumps everything else. Feeling safe within your home should be the bare minimum and that’s why it should be one of the first home improvements you make. So, what can you do to ensure this is the case? Well, home security can come in different forms. For example, take the range of doors we supply here at Verdi. It may come as a surprise, but “more than half (58.7%) of burglars gain entry through the front door,” as stated by NimbleFins. We mention this stat because it even shocked us! The doors we supply at Verdi are designed to prevent this, with features such as a 6-point locking system, so that you know you’re safe!

      example of door installation from verdi

      The next home improvements you should make are things you can do yourself, throughout the tenure of owning your home. Making your home aesthetically pleasing doesn’t really have any downsides. It can make us happy, your tenants happy and will obviously raise the value of the property. These 3 things are a landscaping, curb appeal and a simple lick of paint.

      Landscaping

      Not something we do here at Verdi, but having a garden space and more importantly, one that is cared for can raise the value of your home!

      Curb Appeal

      You may wonder what this is. But curb appeal is basically what it says on the tin. Making ‘your curb space’ and the area around your home look appealing will encourage prospective buyers if you ever were to sell.

      Fresh Paint

      This one is simple. We all know the state older builds can be in. We believe that this is the bare minimum for freshening your home and making it your own!

      Another one the first home improvements you should make is improving its energy efficiency. Many new builds are designed to meet much higher standards. However, we’re realistic at Verdi. Many first-time buyers are more likely to purchase an older build, more as a project if you will. These types of properties may be poor is this area and so changes should be made to properly modernise your home as a long-term investment (which we’ll get to later). Some examples of changes you could make could be insulation, or draught proofing through new double-glazed windows, which you can get here at Verdi!

      The final option for your first home improvements comes down to health and safety. This one is important. We need to always check different aspects of a property and make sure that everything is check. These areas include:

      • Electrical appliances
      • Heating appliances
      • Smoke & Carbon Monoxide detectors
      • Fire safety & escape routes

      If you don’t feel confident doing this yourself, it could be worth calling in a professional to help. This is particularly important for landlords who carry a duty of care for their tenants.

      So there we have it! Whether your a first time buyer, or an experienced property-investor. These things could get your project started off to a winner! We know this type of purchase can a stressful but very fulfilling mission and we hope this can help you even just a little bit!

      We can help you make some of these home improvements here at Verdi, just check out our product range here!

      If you liked this blog, you can see more of our content here!




        Conservatory Care & Maintenance

        Conservatory care and maintenance by Verdi Home Improvements. Spring officially begins next week! We’re certainly happy to see the back of Winter and welcome the sunshine. A Conservatory is a great space for you to sit back and relax for the upcoming months. Whether you own, or are looking to get one for you home, we wanted to give you some tips on how to take care of your systems.

        Check out the Verdi Guide on Conservatory Care & Maintenance!

        In this guide, we take you through different tips and practices on how to maintain your Conservatory. Repair costs can be can be expensive! It’s essential that we undertake regular check ups to ensure we manage issues in the following areas:

        • Cleaning your Conservatories regularly
        • Keeping the space well ventilated
        • Considering the use of your system
        • How to decorate your space

        These are all actions that you can take yourself to ensure any unnecessary costs are avoided! We recommend you do these things. After all, a little Spring cleaning goes a long way! Please click below to download our free Care and Maintenance guide so that your home is ready for Spring and Summer!

        Conservatory Care Maintenance by Verdi Home Improvements

        Download Here!
        Recent Conservatory installation by Verdi

        From all of us here at Verdi Home Improvements we sincerely hope that you will enjoy your new conservatory and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for opting to use our Services!

        Interested in this product for Spring? Check out our range here!

        You can learn more about us at Verdi on our Social Media , click below!

        How Patio Doors can Brighten Your Spring

        How Patio doors can brighten your Spring. We’re back with our blogs at Verdi! February is almost over, and you know what that means, we’ve nearly reached Spring! So just before the nice weather shows up, how can you prepare your home? Well one way Verdi can help, is our Patio Doors.

        At Verdi, we supply different styles of Patio Doors. We thought we’d share why we think they’re a great choice for your home! The nature of a Patio door means they’re perfect for sunny weather. For example, we think after a long Winter it’s great to get lots of natural light into your home. It’s proven that during these months, we get a little more down in the dumps. With a Patio door, we can boost our mood and even improve our health as Vitamin D hits our skin, through the light from our Patio doors!

        “But how can a Patio door benefit the homes we live in? “

        But how can a Patio door benefit the homes we live in? Well, staying on topic of natural light. Patio doors take away the necessity for our light to constantly be switched on. Therefore, we can save energy, and more importantly, money just by having this style of door!

        Now, not to mention the obvious, but we are in a Pandemic. Patio doors can help us stay healthy! We’ve heard pretty much everything there is to hear about this, so I won’t focus too much on it. Ventilation is a great way to keep safe, so what better way to ventilate your home than a 2, 3 or 4 wide door to let the fresh air in? Much like natural light, fresh air helps to improve our mental state. This is why the Spring and Summer months are the best, so let’s embrace this with a Patio door!

        When the sun is out and the temperatures are rising, it’s natural for us to want to get out of the house. Like we always say here at Verdi, it’s vital that we know our homes are secure in this case. Patio doors can seem unsecure but, in reality, they have many features to keep your home safe. Take the doors we supply at Verdi. They are Steel reinforced, come with a 6-point locking system and are even Police approved features such as anti-bump cylinders and interlock bolts. These are just a few of many features for you to keep peace of mind with our Patio doors.

        And that takes us to a final reason as to why you should get a Patio door to brighten your Spring. Just think, it’s not long now before the temperatures are suitable to together with loved ones, say for perhaps a BBQ? Our doors allow easy access in and out of your home. So, whether your social distancing, or not. You can be sure that you are hosting a fantastic get together! 

        So that’s that! Spring is quickly approaching and we can’t wait here at Verdi (working in the cold isn’t always fun!) We think a this door could be ideal for any home. What do you think?

        Are you interested in our Patio doors from Verdi? Click below to learn more!

        Click Here!

        Want to learn more about Verdi? Visit our Social platforms below!

        Varney’s Christmas Toy Appeal & Verdi Home Improvements

        Varney’s Christmas Toy Appeal & Verdi Home Improvements. Christmas is right around the corner! It’s such a magical time for most, as people spend quality time, giving presents to their loved ones. However, at Verdi, we understand that this, unfortunately, isn’t the case for some. This bringing us on to our involvement in Varney’s Christmas Toy Appeal.

        Before talking about our own involvement, we thought we’d let you know what the Christmas Toy Appeal is. The Appeal was started by Varney’s, as they look to help those less fortunate, within their community. In Leicestershire alone, there are 5000 children of whom are living in poverty, through no fault of their own. Like Varney’s, we think this is an absolute travesty! Christmas should be a wonderful time for everyone! The Toy Appeal aims to achieve this by helping these 5000 children. Toy help these children in disadvantaged situations, we, along with everyone involved in the Appeal, support the cause and provide the children with a present to wake up to on Christmas Day!

        Varney’s Christmas Toy Appeal and others like it, really bring the local community together. If everyone chips in just a small amount, we together can make a true difference to many of the disadvantaged children in Leicestershire, this Christmas. The appeal works with a variety of local charities, these being:

        Be sure to check all of these charities out by clicking the links above!

        As well as charities, this appeal bring other local businesses together, every year! And this is where Verdi gets involved. This Christmas, us and other local suppliers have banded together to buy these children brand new presents for the 25th. After purchasing, we all then deliver the toys to the aforementioned charities for them to wrap and deliver to the families, ready to put a smile on the children’s faces! This isn’t the first year that we’ve been a part of the Appeal at Verdi. Last year we managed to raise a total of £1700! This year though, we wanted to do even better. So far, we have managed to collect over £2200! While we’ve already smashed last year’s amount, there is still plenty of time to raise much more. To get this appeal moving, we supply a large contribution at the very beginning, and so now we need your help!

        So far, we have managed to collect over £2200!

        So, what can you do?  Well, the simple is answer is to donate! We urge everyone from Leicestershire to support their local community and support this cause. There are 2 ways that you can donate this Christmas:

        1. You can donate via their Amazon Wish List, just click here.
        2. You can bring something into Varney’s, South Wigston the next time you go shopping.

        The deadline for the Christmas Toy Appeal is the 19th of December, so be sure to make any donations before this date! We hope you can find a little to help a lot.

        If you would like to learn more about Varney’s then click here.

        Interested in Verdi Home Improvements? Check us out here.

        Choosing the Best Home Improvements this Winter with Verdi

        Choosing the best home improvements this Winter with Verdi. We love the Winter months! With the falling snow (hopefully) and festivities, it can be a really magical time! As we wrap up warm for the cold though, we should also take into consideration the harm this season can have on our homes.

        Unfortunately, cold weather can degrade our homes. And this can lead to issues both financially, but also to your quality of living! You can prevent this from happening, but we first need to know what to look for. One of the obvious causes of damage, is cold and fluctuating weather. These rapidly changing temperatures can cause fractures in both, your windows, and doors. Damage to the structure of your home can lead to a build-up in moisture as both rain and snow falls at a higher rate. Leading to issues such as, Mould, Draught and Rotting. These issues can even follow through to Spring, as termites thrive in these environments. Finally, more ‘blusterous’ weather can damage the exterior of your home. Your roof for example!

        So, how do we prevent these issues from occurring in Winter?

        Well, based on what we have already mentioned thus far, how can we protect the most vulnerable areas of our property? These different characteristics of Winter can heavily impact Gutters, Doors, Windows and our home’s Roofs. Let’s look at them in some more detail…

        Gutters:

        Gutters are an essential part of our homes. They collect the run-off water from your roof, protecting your property’s foundations. Unfortunately for us, Winter is usually very… wet. So, any damages can be heightened as more snow and rain falls. To protect our gutters, we can use Fascias!

        As rotted wood is replaced with fascia boards, we can use them to support our gutters, as a much more durable solution, so that you don’t have to worry about this in the future.

        Windows & Doors:

        It goes without saying, keeping your home secure is so important. However, Winter can sometimes have other ideas. Ever-changing temperatures cause wood to freeze, and warm. This, overtime, leads to cracks in your Door Frames and the Caulk around your Windows. As well as creating a draught which can lead to mould and more. A weakened structure to these areas can reduce security in your home.

        Being attentive to these issues is key, but if you miss anything. There are home improvements that can help! Whether it’s highly secure, Tilt & Turn Windows or Patio Doors with 4-point locking systems. Verdi products can help you to prepare your home for the Wintertime.

        Roofs:

        We all hope for a white Christmas, yet forget to protect our homes from the snow! Snow and more importantly, ice, can again, lead to cracks in your property’s Roof. And no one wants a leaky Roof, do they? A leak in your roof can lead to mould, and even ice damming. This is where ice forms at the edge of your Roof, causing ice to melt behind and seep into your walls.

        Luckily for you, Verdi has its own roof maintenance service! We want to help our customers have a healthy Roof, and we provide a full cleaning and maintenance service!

        So, now we know some key areas that we can protect from the harsh Winter weathers. This is great! But now it’s time to be proactive, rather than reactive. Now is the perfect time to make these home improvements. We’ve already see frosty mornings as we approach December, so don’t leave it, until it’s too late!

        Think you need any of the home improvements mentioned in this blog? Click here!

        Want to keep up tp date with us at Verdi Home Improvements? Like us on Facebook here!

        Halloween, Bonfire Night & Autumn Preparations with Verdi

        Halloween, Bonfire night and Autumn preparations with Verdi! As we approach the end of October, it’s time we got serious about prepping for the Autumn season. It’s going to be a typical busy next few month. With Halloween, Bonfire night, and dare we mention the ‘C’ word. We can all do a bit to get our homes ready for the season, as the temperatures begin to fall.

        We’ll start with getting our homes ready for Autumn in general. As the temperatures drop, and the night draw in. There are a few ways you, and we can help to ensure you’re cosy this Autumn. To battle the cold weather, we luckily have access to heating in our homes. However, we all know how costly this can become during these Autumnal months. So, to battle this, we can use insulation! Maybe you’ve noticed a draft in your house somewhere? Well with Double Glazed windows, and their vacuum between two panes. Heat can’t escape, and the cold can’t enter, to put it simply. We have a wide selection of window choices here at Verdi, if this is an issue you are experiencing.

        But this blog isn’t all about the chores we have got! Let’s get into the ‘spirit’ of Halloween and Bonfire night! With the Trick or Treaters soon to be knocking on our doors, we can give them a little fright with the decorations on our windows and doors. Whether it’s Pumpkins, paper silhouettes, spooky wreaths and banners, or just simply some fake Spider’s web, we can have a fantastic spooky season! However, Halloween is only 1 night of the year, and we don’t want to leave lasting damage on our homes, do we? To prevent this, Verdi advises to avoid putting up decorations with Nails, or even some types of tape for that matter. This can be a nightmare to remove.

        And just as we think the FRIGHT-ivities are over. We then have Bonfire night, after Halloween!

        A lot of people like to go out on the 5th of November to see their community’s firework display. Unfortunately, though, this presents an opportunity for burglars to make their move. Bonfire night is actually the worst day of the year for burglaries! It’s up to us to keep our homes secure. Well luckily, you can also rely on Verdi! All of the doors we can supply have a variety of locking features. But even our windows are secure! For example, our Sac Shootbolt System has the following features…

        • 8 Point locking system with unique corner drive design on all windows regardless of size.
        • Unique full depth eurogroove lock-out design to maximize security performance.
        • 400% more shootbolt contact area with keep when compared to traditional flat shootbolts.
        • Unique anti-slip and lock detail to shootbolt head.
        • Supaglide gearbox action, tested to 100,000 cycles (equivalent to 30 years of heavy use).

        So, we have a busy month couple of months ahead! We hope that everyone has a great time on Halloween and Bonfire night! Most importantly though, we hope everyone stays safe. If you think you need some home improvements like the ones we have mentioned, then please, use Verdi!

        To view our secure Windows and Doors, click here.

        Check us out on social media! Click here.

        Going Green at Verdi Home Improvements

        Going Green at Verdi Home Improvements. Ever wonder where the name Verdi came from? Well, here’s your answer. Verdi means green in Italian.

        When Ryan and Damien first started talking about setting up the company ten years ago, they created a list of qualities that they wanted their brand to be known for.  At the top of their list was the company’s ability to be ‘green’. We prioritize recycling as much waste as possible, supporting the British manufacture industry and minimising waste where feasible. The name Verdi is a great fit! It draws on the brands identity of sustainability whilst nodding to the kind of quality that Ryan and Damien are keen to offer.

        It’s all well and good having a great name, but how do we deliver on this?

        1. All of the windows and doors Verdi supply are British made. This reduces the carbon footprint compared to having things shipped in from overseas; All of the windows and doors are manufactured to an A rating as standard. Meaning that they perform as well as look good.
        2. Our windows are also Double Glazed! This style of window traps Argon gas between two window panes. This gas is a poor conductor of mean, meaning it stays trapped in your home. As well as retaining heat, it reduces the amount energy usage in your home, as the necessity for heating is less. Due to this, CO2 emissions can be reduced also!
        3. We have regular visits from local scrap yards to collect and recycle our waste; Also, our Warehouse Manager, does a sterling job of separating what can be given a new lease of life from what can’t.
        4. Before undertaking service calls we ask for photographs of the issue as well as the product, this enables us to reduce the number of visits required and therefore minimises.
        5. You may have noticed our site boards left outside properties once we have completed an installation; we are proud to say our site boards are 100% recyclable under band 5, this means that although we do try and reuse them as many times as possible ourselves, once they have been well loved they can go on to become something new.

        At Verdi, we see the climate crisis as a major issue in today’s society. Whether it’s local, or on a global scale. We feel that it is our duty make this one of our priorities! By fulfilling the points above, we can confidently say that Verdi is contributing to the battle for a green future.

        To learn more about how we are ‘Going Green‘, check out our Verdi Guarantee here.

        Or maybe you want to learn more about our green products? Click here.

        Customer After Care at Verdi Home Improvements

        Customer after care at Verdi Home Improvements. Here at Verdi Home Improvements, we pride ourselves on our ability to listen. Taking on board our customers feedback and looking at ways in which our company can improve and develop is at the heart of our working ethos.

        With this in mind, we created our fabulous, dedicated After Care team. Made up of two key departments; our Service Team and Customer Care.

        “There are a plethora of reasons why a call back may be required…“

        Mitch is our Service Manager. He also heads up a small team of experts who specialise in returning to jobs. They will fix any number of issues that have arisen at the point of installation. There are a plethora of reasons why a call back may be required. Something as simple as our ever changing British weather can have an impact on a uPVC door in a South facing location.

        Whilst Mitch has not been part of the Verdi family for very long. His roots deeply plant within the Home Improvement sector. Mitch has a wealth of knowledge and experience as an installer as well as from working within manufacture. Mitch is a real asset to our team and along with our Service Engineers, is doing a fantastic job of offering a high quality after care service in the quickest turnaround time possible.

        In order to support and supplement the hard work of Mitch and his team. We also have a Customer Care Department, headed up by Catherine, our Customer Care Manager. Catherine joined our team just after Easter and has already proved herself to be an integral part of the Verdi workforce. Catherine is dedicated to working hard to ensure our Customer’s happiness and is available to speak to at any stage in the installation process.

        If you have had the benefit of the support of a member of our After Care team. We would love to hear your feedback, please do contact us at reception@verdihomeimprovements.co.uk.

        You can also visit our website, click here!