How to Find a Reliable Bathroom Fitter

Renovating any room in your home can be a challenge. The bathroom, however, is particularly challenging, and there are a number of reasons for this. First, there is both water and electricity in the room, which makes it relatively dangerous to go messing around with fixtures and fittings. Secondly, you spend a lot of time in the bathroom, so it’s important that you choose a style that you like. Finally, there are issues of damp, so a high-quality damp course is essential.

Many people choose to undertake bathroom design themselves, but we would recommend against this given the volume of problems that you might encounter. Instead, you should use a qualified bathroom fitter. This has its own problems: namely, finding a fitter that will do the job well. Here, we will help you to understand how to find a reliable bathroom fitter.

Trading Standards

The first thing that you need to establish is whether the fitter is registered with the Trading Standards register in that particular area.  For example, if you are looking for a bathroom fitter Preston, then you will check the Trading Standards register for the Preston area. It may be that your local area does not run a Builder’s Register, in which case you may have to research several other registers, such as the Local Authority Assured Trader Scheme Network.

If you cannot find details on either of those registers – because, as mentioned above, these schemes do not operate throughout the country – then you will need to rely on other methods of checking. Here are a few companies that will be able to offer you a decent evaluation of bathroom fitters in your area:

1.       Which? This company has become increasingly popular in recent years. Bathroom fitters (and other types of trader) sign up and pay a monthly subscription fee. Customers are able to comment on the reliability of the tradesperson. You may worry that the tradesmen place their own recommendations and skew results, but Which? takes extra care to eliminate false recommendations.
2. 2    TrustMark: this is another highly relevant database of tradesmen on the UK. It is backed and supported by a number of government initiatives. They currently hold details of more than 300000 tradespeople. If you’re looking for bathroom fitter Preston, London, or all four corners of the country, then you’re likely to find a reliable one by using this directory.

What To Do Once You Shortlist a Number of Reputable Bathroom Fitters

You need to contact each company with a number of different issues:

1.     Give them a clear and concise brief of the job that you want when you ask for a quote. It is better to have the builder come in and look at the job so that they can quote more accurately.
2.      Ask for the quote in writing, with a breakdown of costs, as well as an estimation of completion.
3.      Check out a number of different references (look at the directories above, and then look online for reviews from customers)
4.   Use an established business.
5. Only go for a quote if it comes with a written contract.

We hope that you now have a better understanding of how to choose a reliable bathroom fitter.If you’re looking for a bathroom fitter Preston or Lancashire, then please visit crostonplumbing 

How to Cost for a New Bathroom Suite

Bathrooms are relatively cheap in terms of renovation. Many people assume that renovating a new bathroom would be expensive, but in comparison to much of the rest of the house, including the living room and kitchen, it can be extremely cost efficient. This is because there is a lot of completion within the sector, and consequently, this brings down prices. For instance, a relatively decent 3-piece suite (bath, shower, and sink) will set you back an average of £250-£400. Clearly, the lower end will have a more budget feel, but they work equally well. It can be hard to work out the cost of a bathroom renovation. Here, we’re going to help you to work out your new bathroom estimate.

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What Do You Want?

Before you can start to estimate a price, you need to establish exactly what you want from your bathroom. You have many options, the commonest of which are:

1. Standard bathroom suite with bath, shower, toilet and sink.
2. Shower suite, which consists simply of a shower, toilet, and a sink.
3. Bath suite, bath, toilet, and sink.
4. Wet room with shower, toilet and sink
5. Wet room with bath, shower, toilet and sink
6. Other combinations of wet room 

Once you have established they type of suite that you require, you can then begin to cost for the job.

Costing

You need to work out the cubed footage/meterage of the bathroom in order to establish the size of the accessories that can comfortably fit in the bathroom. For instance, in a 3m³ room, you would not be able to fit a 2mx.5 bath and a 2mx2 shower.

Once you know the correct size of the bathroom, you can then start to look at the various suites on sale that will fit within both your budget and your room.

Next, you need to consider tiling and damp proofing. It is important that you ensure that the room is watertight; otherwise, problems of damp can permeate the entire house. Look at the cubed footage again, and make sure that you buy the correct level of damp proofing materials for that size room. For instance, you need to consider the purchase of paint for the ceiling. You will need specialist damp proof paint that will help to protect against the accumulation of mould.

Finally, you will need to price for the cost of fitting the bathroom. Some people undertake the project themselves, and this is fine if they have the skills and the time to do so, but for most people, it makes more sense to hire the services of a contractor. When choosing such a person, you need to consider their location. For example, a bathroom design service Preston will cost far less than the equivalent in London. In fact, some Londoners will purposefully hire a bathroom design service Preston, simply because the difference in cost is so pronounced. We recommend using a design service because they are able to offer you a much more comprehensive package, and will take out all of the legwork, including the costing.

If you would like further information about bathroom design service Preston, then please visit  crostonplumbing

New central heating? You have to trust Crostons!

Whether you are looking to purchase or just have a new central heating system installed Crostons is going to be the company for you. Crostons in Preston have been doing professional jobs, building a reputation and portfolio since 2007, they are trust worthy and honest with the work they deliver to you.

Central heating installation is a delicate process, not for the engineer but for you choosing the right team to work on your home, you have to make sure that the people you choose are trust worthy, qualified and certified in fitting and installing a new system. The thing with Crostons is that you ca have your own tea working for you, you will have dedicated fitters at your beck and call, not only are they professional but they also have respect for your home and the work that they are carrying out. They offer reassurance as well as quality and professionalism.

When it comes to having a heating system installed you need to be sure that you have got a reputable company doing the work. Crostons offer an initial consultation of the work that they are planning to carry out, a thorough beak down will be given to you as well as reassurance that you have chosen the right company to carry out the work. Crostons have nothing but certified plumbers and gas safe engineers to see the whole job through, only the best will do.

If you are looking at purchasing a new central heating system from Crostons then you will be in for a nice surprise, they only have the best and most energy efficient systems available for you. Not only will the new systems save you money in the long run but they also come with a standard 10 years guarantee.

All off the work men at Crostons are reliable, friendly and trustworthy, they respect our home and leave it as clean as they found it, there are no trails and mess left behind, once the men have left, they know they will not need to return. They thrive on being the best, not only in person, and the work that they deliver but as a team and a company.

New boiler? Get a team you can trust!

Boiler installation can be a very disruptive and stressful time for the whole house, it is a time in any house hold that no one looks forward to and no one wants to have the work done, at the same time a working boiler is essential in any home!

When you are looking at having a boiler installed you should always make sure that you have a fully certified team working for you, choosing a company who has a good reputation is essential and this is what you can expect from Croston Plumbers. Croston have everything under control so you do not have to worry about anything, they are efficient and professional within their work and have fully certified and Gas Safe engineers available every step of the way.

Once you have made the first phone call the process is simple, you can expect a visit at any time that is convenient for you, this initial consultation will allow for you to discuss the design and products they have available, each and every boiler that is installed is commissioned by a gas safe engineer and you home will be left clean and tidy when they leave.

Crostons get it right the first time round, and it’s all about first impressions, so be prepared to be impressed. There is no room for miss lead information or mistakes, Crostons are honest from the very beginning, you will only receive professionalism.

we have available, we will flush out the system to make sure that there are no cold spots in the new radiators, every boiler that we install is, as we only have the best plumbers available, you will only have to get the job done once, we get it right the first time round, as they say it’s all about the first impressions well ours are faultless. We don’t have any room for mistakes or miss sold information, were honest from the beginning, you will only get professionalism from us.

 

If only perfection will do for your new bathroom then you should choose Croston!

When anyone get s a new bathroom, kitchen, or anything else within their home, it is important that it is completed to the best possible standard, especially when it cost so much money and the work being carried out can be very disruptive. High end finishes are important. A good bathroom fitter Preston can be difficult to come by, choose a company you can trust.

If you are looking for someone to fit your bathroom and you are unsure of who to choose, let’s make it easy for you; Croston Plumbers in Preston. If you choose Croston you will not be disappointed, they are a hard-working and reliable team of fitters who will always give you the best possible finish. They are a team of dedicated work men who will put you first. Not only are you able to trust that they will do the job to a high standard but also everyone who works at Croston Plumbing is certified and experienced in what they are doing.

You will often find that many plumbers will have experienced but are not always certified, especially if you are choosing to go with an independent and unknown work man, today you have to be careful who you choose to come and work on your house, and the choosing of a company who have been working and serving in and around Preston since 2007 is probably your best option. Not only is the team at Croston hardworking but they are reliable and trust-worthy, they are professional at what they do and are competitive when it comes to pricing, this is why they are so established in Preston and why they already have an ever growing client base.

Anyone who has chosen Croston-Plumbers in the past will always recommend to a friend or family member, and should they need any other work being carried out they will always return to the reliable team! If you are looking for a bathroom fitter, for someone who will take care of your home and who you can trust to do the job professionally and to a high standard then you should get Crostons team over to give you a competitive quote.
 

Reliable, trusting and honest, it can only be Croston plumbers!

A plumbing emergency is everyone’s worse night mare, and usually it is the ones who can get out to you the quickest that tend to get the job, this might be convenient for you in a state of emergency but you have to make sure that the work men that you have chosen are certified and qualified to carry out the work in hand. Not all plumbers can be trusted and not all plumbers are experienced. You need to know that you can trust the work men you have hired, especially when it comes to plumbing as any job done wrong can escalate into an even bigger inconvenience in the future. Croston plumbers are the best team and have the best plumbers in Preston, the entire team is fully certified for all work that is taken out, and we have specialist workers for all different jobs.

Croston have been working in and around Preston since 2007 and have built up a good and strong client base, they are professional in what they do and only have the best of the best to work on the job in hand. They are a reliable and trustworthy team, honest and fair, they are competitive when it comes to pricing up any given job and they are consistent with their pricing, Croston plumbers are highly recommended.

If you are looking for a tradesman that you can trust and who will respect your home, for someone who is friendly and reliable then you have to check out this team. They are strong and each of the plumbers is dedicated in perfecting their work. You will only have to use the team once and you will never go to another company within Preston and the surrounding areas, they only care about you and the job they are completing at your property, perfecting a job is just as important to them as it is to you, they want to get it right and always do.
 

Why It Makes Sense to Change Your Boiler

If you have a boiler that’s older than 10 years, then it may be time to consider replacing that boiler for a newer model. There are many advantages in changing a boiler, and although the initial cost of boiler installation may appear high, in the end, you are likely to save yourself a fair amount of money. Here, we’re going to consider the various reasons why you might choose to replace your existing boiler. Clearly, this will not be true for everyone, and very high quality boilers can last for decades, but in the majority of cases, a new boiler will help in several different ways.

Improving the Efficiency of the Heating System

Modern technology moves very quickly, and the central heating technologies are not exempt from this forward march. Today’s boilers are exponentially better than the boilers from as little as ten years ago. Some estimations show that a poorly functioning boiler can add 60% to the cost of your energy bills. Clearly, the older the boiler, and the lower the quality, the more inefficient it tends to be.

New boilers have a rating scale that is there to inform you concerning their efficiency. A boiler that has an efficiency rating of A is at least 90% efficient, where as those on the lowest scale; G may be much less efficient, with some of the poorest boilers struggling to hit an efficiency rating of at least 50%.

You may think that efficiency matters little to you, and that it’s just the difference between having to wear an extra jumper in winter, but it actually has much greater impact. An efficient boiler can save you as much as £350 per year on your household bills. That is a saving that many of us cannot afford to miss.

Superior Control

Again, because today’s boilers are more technologically advanced than those boilers of a decade ago, today’s models offer much better control over the central heating system. They will have more sophisticated timers – for instance, you could tell it to turn on at 6am, switch off at 8am, come back on at 5pm and switch off again at 9.30pm. In the past, you’d be lucky to be able to programme the boiler to a single timer, and often they were controlled using those weird clicking disks that nobody really understood!

Not only do you have better control of the entire system, new technology enables you to have better control of individual radiators. This means that you can control the temperature in a given room at a given time of day. For instance, you want the bathroom to be warm for 7.30am, because that’s when the family starts to shower, but none of you uses that bathroom after 9am, except for the occasional toilet break. You can programme the heating to come on for that room at that time, and the rest of the central heating system would be unaffected.

They’re Quieter

Today’s boilers run far more quietly than they used to. If you hear a lot of whizzing, popping and clicking, then it may be time for a new boiler installation. Even the cheaper boilers today are quieter than the high quality boilers of yesterday.

In conclusion, a new boiler will save you money on household energy bills, will provide you with greater control over the heating system, and will run more quietly.

How to Find a Reliable Bathroom Fitter

Do you need a job doing in the bathroom? Do you need to hire a bathroom fitter? Are you worried about potentially employing a cowboy-builder? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’re going to explain the things that you need to know, and do, in order to choose a reliable bathroom fitter.

Trading Standards

There are a few things that you need to do to make sure that the fitter is bona fide. Firstly, there are several different governing bodies with relation to tradesperson of all types. Once you find the name of a potential tradesperson, you need to ensure that they belong to one of the governing bodies. For example, your local council/government office will have a list of builders and fitters that adhere to Trading Standards legislation. The first thing that you need to do is ensure that they are registered with trading standards. To do this, visit the Local Authority Assured Trader Scheme Network. If the tradesperson is not listed with the LAATSN, then find someone else to do the work.

What Does Your Insurance Company Say?

Oftentimes, you will not be protected against losses, and you may invalidate any house insurance that you have. For instance, if the bathroom fitter breaks a pipe and it floods the second floor of your home, you may not be able to claim back damages on insurance if your insurance company stipulates that you used only authorised tradesmen. Our second piece of advice it to therefore to check with your insurance company who they expect you to use for any bathroom repairs.

What Do The Locals Say?

The best way to know how good a bathroom fitter is, is to speak to someone who has used them for their own bathroom. Ask around the people you know for any reputable fitters. Going local also means that it will be easier to deal with any problems. For example, if you choose a bathroom fitter Preston, and you live in Preston, then if something goes wrong a complaint will usually ensure that they come back around and fix the problem. If they lived further afield then they may not have as much as a stake in insuring that you’re happy with your bathroom. It won’t matter to them because you are unlikely to damage their reputation by criticising them to people that probably won’t use their service. However, if you live in Preston, and you use a bathroom fitter Preston, and they do a bad job then you will make other people in the area aware of their shoddy workmanship and they, in turn, would find it difficult to find new customers. Therefore, our third piece of advice is to find out how other people rate the bathroom fitter that you want to use. Various websites allow people to rate local tradesmen, visit a number of different sites to see what others think of their work.

Bathroom Design 2014: What’s Hot and What’s Not?

If you're planning to redecorate your bathroom, then you probably want a contemporary design. A design that is clean, tight and well thought through. If this is the case, then you need to read this article, because here, we’re going to look at some of the biggest trends in bathroom fashions for 2014. If you want your space to be contemporary, modern, and up-to-date, then read on.

Lighting
If you know anything about design, then you know that lighting makes the difference between good design and great design. The right lighting can make an incredible difference to your bathroom, creating a luxurious ambiance.

However, you need to get it right. For example, if you want to create a relaxing atmosphere, then you should avoid fluorescent lighting – fluorescent lighting is generally a bad idea anyway, because it looks cheap and tacky. Instead, a style that is modern and creates a great atmosphere is spotlighting. Spot lighting is subtle and understated, it doesn’t distract from other features in your bathroom.

However, some people like to make an impact with their lighting schemes, and if this is something that you want to do, then a chandelier, or other glass-type light will work wonders. Glass lights look clean, which is the entire theme that you want to create in a bathroom.

If you would like further information about bathroom design service Preston – especially concerning lighting fashions, then please follow the link below.

Sinks and Basins
For the past few years, all-in-one vanity sinks have been all the rage. However, this year, they are going out of fashion, so we would advise you to avoid this style of sink if you're looking to create a contemporary bathroom. Instead, we’ll be going back to a minimalist fashion for the remainder of the year. This means choosing sinks based on their functionality, rather than on their merits as a point of decoration. Keep colours neutral. Neutral colours always go well in bathrooms because it creates a clean look, which is what you want from your bathroom.

Shower

There are a number of key trends in showers this year. Firstly, walk-in showers are much more popular than over-the-bath showers. If you have the space, create a walk-in shower. We would even go as far as to recommend changing the bath for such a shower. A nice set of marble stones for the floors and walls, and a glass front, will work wonders. It will certainly improve the value of your home.

In terms of the shower itself, then choose a wide head if you want to create a contemporary space. There are plenty of different styles from which to choose, but those that tend to mimic natural waterfalls seem to be particularly popular today. If you live in Preston, then our bathroom design service Preston can provide you with further information about this type of showerhead.

The Bath

Although showers are preferred, there’s still a place for baths. This year’s trend appears to be the freestanding tubs that you might have expected to see in the Victorian houses of the last century.

If You Have A Boiler Emergency

It is really strange, but most people who experience a boiler malfunction often do not know who to call to fix the problem.  It is always better to choose emergency plumbers Preston before you experience the inconvenience of a breakdown.  You should always have a number handy near the telephone for such emergencies.

Choosing a professional early, either through recommendation or via the yellow pages, you can thoroughly research their proficiency in boiler repair.  All heating contractors should be a member of the Gas Safe council.  If they are not you should ignore them, even if they are cheaper than anyone else.

A cheap repair job can cost you much money later on as you will often have no come back if you are in a cash job situation.  You need to have been talking to someone who is a professional central heating engineer.  You will soon find out whether the firm you are going to choose is proficient. 

You also need to know that you can count on them on a twenty four hour basis, as boilers do not always break down at a convenient time.  If you find your room under water in the middle of the night, it will be essential that you call the emergency number, but not before you have turned off the water inlet to your home.  It is much easier to dial your trusted engineer if you are still half asleep if you have the number handy.

There is much you can find out about competent plumbers if you go on line.  Social media is very useful in such situations.  It will also keep heating companies on their toes as they cannot afford to get bad press.

If your boiler breaks down or you have a blocked toilet, it is always best when you ring the emergency line to be as precise as you can as to what you think the problem is.  Good heating firms will then always send you the person who has much experience with your particular problem.

Why You Should Not Attempt Diy

Winter is never a good time for your boiler to break down.  Before you call out emergency boiler repair Preston there are several things you can do to prevent your boiler from giving up on you.

Of course, the best thing that you can do is to enter into a yearly maintenance contract so that problems can be spotted early by your service engineer and parts either cleaned or replaced.  This will prevent you from incurring expensive call out charges, apart from freezing in your own home.

Condensing boilers can freeze up sooner than any other and it is therefore important to keep them running on low during the night when it is really cold outside.  This will prevent the pipe from freezing up.  It is also better to use your system regularly as they will work better when they are.

Burst pipes are also a common cause for the heating to pack up.  By preventing this from happening in the first place, it will save you a lot of hassle and mess.  Pipes often burst when the water within them freezes up.

You can prevent this by insulating the pipes that are most at risk from freezing up.  A little lagging left over from your loft insulation will be enough to prevent this problem.  If you tend to go away over the winter period, you should always leave your heating on low and ask a friendly neighbour to check up on your home regularly.

When you have done all you can, but your boiler has nevertheless stopped working, it is time to call in the professionals.  You should never attempt to tinker with the system yourself, especially if you have a gas boiler.  Gas is an extremely dangerous fuel and any leaks you may cause by doing some DIY could have serious consequences.

If your boiler is turning itself on and off at regular intervals, it may be that your thermostat needs replacing and that there is nothing wrong with your actual boiler.

How You Should Choose Boiler Efficiency

If for one reason or another you have to replace your boiler it will pay you to look at boiler installation Preston.  Especially where gas is involved it is better to have your new appliance fitted by a competent and qualified gas engineer.

There is so much that can go wrong if your boiler is not properly connected like gas leaks and a badly ventilated system can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if you are not careful.

Unfortunately, when it comes to choosing the best boiler for your home you are faced with an endless choice these days.  You may want to research the various options open to you, but if you need real advice you can do no better than getting your local central heating firm involved in the process.

They have much experience of what capacity you need when they come and visit you at home.  These initial visits are free of charge and it is up to you to take their advice or not.  It is really important not to buy more boiler BTU than you need as you will be wasting money. 

It is equally bad to buy a boiler that is too small as it will be doing overtime to heat your home to the required warmth.  There are boilers with different efficiency ratings and you should ensure that you get the best one for your budget.  Most modern appliance use less fuel to heat your radiators and warm water and you will save on your heating bills.

Of course, any new appliance will be expensive, but the modern boilers often have a long warranty period.  As long as you have your system serviced once per year you should have no problem with your new appliance for years to come.  Warranty periods are typically up to ten years.

If you have your boiler maintained regularly you will be able to prevent a sudden breakdown.  This would be very inconvenient in the midst of winter when you most need warm water and heat.

Your central heating contractors will have a maintenance system in place.

Keep Warm With Central Heating

There can be very few homes in the United Kingdom that do not have some form of central heating and for the majority of properties that means gas fired.

Yet it was only fifty years ago that the opposite statement could be said as there were very few properties with central heating. Only the very wealthy along with public buildings were centrally heated and it all kicked off in the very early seventies when door to door salesmen appeared with central heating system offers on very easy credit terms.

Easy credit was all part of the government’s attempt to kick-start a stagnant economy and it certainly worked because before the average householder knew it he or she not only had central heating but fitted carpets and double glazed windows all for the very first time.

Some of those old systems are still running but most could do with new boilers as the very latest are much more efficient and therefore cost cutters.

It is always best to deal with one local firm when it comes to all your plumbing needs as you can rely on a speedy response particularly if it is in an emergency and you require help with something like a burst pipe in the middle of the night.

For central heating installation Preston and surrounding areas that firm is Croston Plumbing and with only friendly and properly qualified gas safe engineers in their team you are assured of the best practical help and advice.

When they come to service the boiler they will be able to offer advice on the things like the latest ideas in insulation and whether you are likely to qualify for any grants or other assistance. It is possible they will advise a flush through of the pipes and radiators to increase efficiency and help prolong the life of the boiler.

It is also possible they may convince you without pushing the point, that a new boiler will save you money on running costs over your older less efficient boiler.

Qualified plumbers for your needs

If you live in the North West of England and are within an hour’s drive of the City of Preston then you should keep the name of Croston in your address book under the letter P in the book for plumbers.

As a local firm with a strong reputation for friendly and professional work this firm of plumbers only employs fully qualified gas safe engineers.

From fitting and maintaining boilers and complete central heating systems to designing and fitting whole new bathrooms and kitchens the company also offers a 24/7 every day of the year emergency call out system at very fair fixed hourly costs as explained on their website.

You never know when that time will come when a plumber is urgently needed to repair a cracked pipe or sudden leak of water through the bedroom ceiling. This is why your address book should have Croston Plumbing under the letter P for plumbing.

In that moment of panic as you watch the water cascading down the stairs your confused brain will automatically search the book for the word plumber and will not want to be further confused trying to remember the name of the bloody plumber!

So enter the details in the book under plumbers Preston and you can’t go wrong.

Don’t just wait for the emergency to get to know your local plumbers and do consider them for the annual central heating boiler checks. This should be arranged before the winter arrives so that when the day comes to fire up the system you can be certain it will run perfectly.

You may also consider this company to help plan a new look bathroom. This is one room that can look pretty tired after a number of years and it can be fun to look at various options with a Croston bathroom designer.

With years of wet, steam and varying temperatures a bathroom begins to look a little worn no matter how well you clean it. There is a growing preference for high quality walk-in showers and total wet rooms at the expense of chucking out the bath.