Template - Front page: Planning a solid conservatory roof replacement

Does your Swansea home have a conservatory that you barely use?

Is it because the chilling wind across Swansea bay makes it too cold to enjoy in the winter months?

Or do those hot summer days when the sun shines bright on Mumbles beach make it unbearably hot to sit inside for too long?

At Securahome we understand the problems many traditional conservatory owners face.  This is why we’ve seen such an increase in installations of solid roof sunrooms on homes across South Wales.

Benefits of full conservatory roof replacements

Without doubt our range of full conservatory roof replacements are transforming properties right across the region, from Baglan to Llanelli.

The great thing with full conservatory roof replacements is you can add them to the frame of an existing conservatory. Combine this with the installation of new A+ rated windows it  creates a bright and flexible extra living space for use all year round.

Recognised as the modern equivalent to a traditional extension, the solid roof replacement also includes plenty of glazing to allow the natural light flood your home.

If you want to be the talk of Swansea then you could choose a vaulted, fully-tiled roof. On those gloomy Swansea days, you can have more light by installing rooflights.  On the other hand if you love the outdoors,  why not add bi-folding doors.  These modern doots create a seamless link from your favourite new room to the garden.

The popular tiled takes its design from the traditional materials found on most South Wales homes.  This means it easily blends into your surroundings.

The alternative is the unashamedly modern Living Roof .  This offers a versatile combination of glass and shade.

The thermally efficient, hybrid solid and glass roof allows you to choose where to have shaded areas or add more light.

The results are breathtaking! But why not visit our Swansea showroom today and see it for yourself?

Template - Front page: Securahome customer review survey results are in

Securahome has scored a 97 percent satisfaction rating in an independent survey of its customers.

The survey was conducted by the Independent Warranty Association, which guarantees Securahome’s installations.

Securahome managing director Jason Jenkins thanked his staff for the quality of their work.

“The survey reflects all of the hard work carried out by staff, from the designers and estimators through to those carrying out the installations, and I want to thank them for that,” he said.

“I also need to thank the customers who gave their time to respond to this survey. We are delighted that they are so pleased with the work carried out.”

Securahome, which was established in 1994, installs windows, doors, conservatories, orangeries and UPVC roofline across South Wales.

Based in Gorseinon, Swansea, Securahome’s work comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Template - Front page: Add value with a Securahome solid roof extension

If you want to add value to your home? overall, creating more floor-space is your best bet.

The trend for more open-plan living means that creating a larger kitchen-come-family room, flooded with light, is high on the list with today’s house-hunters.

If you have a garden, a room with bi-folding doors it creates a sense of flow between outdoors and in. This also creates that all-important wow factor, while adding value to your home.

Once upon a time these types of extensions would involve months of upheaval, visits to architects and builders, plus scheduling several different tradespeople.  However thanks to modern materials and design, Securahome has streamlined the process to make it as fuss-free as possible.

The first step to creating your new room is to meet with our designer.  This is to find out more about how you will use the space. This ultimately allows us to develop a 3D CAD drawing.

Each design is completely bespoke, from the type of roof through to the glazing and flooring.  This means your new room will be built to absolutely fit your requirements

The finished room will also be far more thermally efficient than an old-style conservatory. With insulated flooring, solid roof and walls, Securahome garden rooms do the job.  They are designed to hold a comfortable ambient temperature all year round.

This level of insulation means that your new extension can be directly added to your kitchen.  Therefore there is no need for connecting double doors, creating a sociable, family space with high levels of natural light.

To find out more about how Securahome could transform your home, speak to one of our design team on 0800 808 3224.

Template - Front page: Aluminium – the architect’s choice

Advantages of aluminium window and doors

To create contemporary kerb appeal, aluminium windows and doors are now the architect’s choice for modern homes.

It’s also easy to see why. The strength of aluminium makes for slim frames where as the greater expanses of glass, in turn brings more light into your home.

It’s this trend for light-filled homes which make architects sway towards choosing aluminium.  Aluminium window and doors is now the premium choice for contemporary houses and extensions.

Securahome sales manager Nigel Hocking said: “Aluminium really is the architect’s choice for contemporary building.  Its modern appearance makes it ideal for all new homes or extensions.”

Why is aluminium an architect’s choice

“The new aluminium range is a great way of bringing that high-end, sleek styling to your home. Its signature colours of grey, black and white make it look very modern and timeless.”

Additionally due to its strength, an aluminium frame can be up to 50 per cent slimmer than a traditional UPVC frame. This makes it a popular choice especially for bi-folding doors. The strength of the frame means that the glass panes in aluminium bi-folding doors can be up to 1200mm wide.  This makes the glass panes two thirds wider compared to a maximum of 800mm width for UPVC.

These larger panes help to create the ‘glass wall’ appearance which is the USP of bi-folding doors.

As an alternative to bi-folding doors, aluminium replacement patio doors can be a great way to introduce this trend to your home. Once again the slim, strong frame means you can choose larger pane of glass to give uninterrupted views of your garden.

The window range offers a choice of a contemporary square or a more classic frame with softened, sculptured lines.

Like our UPVC windows and doors, the aluminium range is low maintenance. The frames are powder coated to create a very durable finish. It also provides a lengthy guarantee against corrosion and peeling, making them ideal for coastal areas.

As you would expect from Securahome, all products in the aluminium range are tested to the very latest British Standards. They carry the BS Kitemark and have multi-point locking mechanisms for security.

The aluminium range also exceeds building regulations requirements for thermal efficiency.  This can be further boosted with the use of high-performance glass.

Template - Front page: Announcement

It is with regret that we say goodbye to Nigel Williams, who is moving onto new pastures after 25 years at Securahome.

Nigel Williams co-founded the company in 1994 with Managing Director Jason Jenkins.

Jason said: “On behalf of everyone at Securahome, I would like to express my gratitude to Nigel for being an instrumental part of the team that built the company to what it is today. We all wish him the very best for the future.”

Jason added: “When Nigel and I founded Securahome all those years ago, we focused on fitting quality UPVC windows and doors.

“Since then we have diversified into timber and aluminium products and more recently into high-end bespoke orangeries, conservatories and home extensions. In doing so, we have built an experienced team of designers and fitters who have exceptional knowledge of home improvements.”

Looking ahead, he added that the company would continue to grow.

“Our experienced team of designers and fitters are working together to ensure that customers receive the best quality services and products,” he said. “At Securahome we have built a reputation for being at forefront of home improvements and we have some very exciting plans for the future.”

Template - Front page: A light, bright, bespoke sun lounge

When Gary and Sheila Rees from Swansea wanted to add more space to their modern home, they had a contemporary extension in mind.

Having spoken to a few conservatory companies, on visiting Securahome’s Gorseinon showroom, Mr and Mrs Rees explained they wanted to avoid anything too traditional.

“We were certain that we didn’t want dwarf walls and a glazed ceiling,” Mr Rees explained. “We wanted something modern to fit the style of our home, a room we could use all year round.”

Design expert Leighton Austin worked with Mr and Mrs Rees to create a modern, bespoke, sun-lounge with full-length loggia columns to bring plenty of light into the room.

While they didn’t want a fully glazed roof, the couple did want to maximise light and so opted for a part-solid, part-glass LivinRoof.

“We really liked the fact that we could place the glass panels in the roof wherever we wanted,” Mr Rees said.

“One priority was to make sure that in adding an extension, we still had natural light coming into the living room. Thanks to the glass panels in the ceiling, we managed that.”

The sun lounge includes a perimeter ceiling with down-lighters to add to the contemporary feel.

Work started on the sun lounge in spring 2016, and by June of the same year it was ready for the Rees’ to add their personal touch.

“The whole process was pretty pain-free,” Mr Rees said. “I couldn’t fault any of their work at all.”

One year on and Mr and Mrs Rees have been through every season in their sun lounge. It has quickly become their favourite room in the house.

“My wife loves the views of the garden in particular,” Mr Rees said. “In fact, whether it’s breakfast before work or relaxing in the evening, we spend most of our time in there.

“There’s a lot of insulation in the Loggia panels, the floor and ceiling, which means that in winter, we put the electric heater on for 10 minutes and it’s perfectly warm.

“During summer, the room gets warm, like any other one in the house, but nowhere near as hot as a traditional conservatory.

“Twelve months on and I can honestly say there is nothing I would change about this room.”

Template - Front page: Is your conservatory too hot to handle?

On those fabulous summer days when South Wales basks in the sun, older conservatories can bake in the heat.

Solar gain through polycarbonate roofs and older style glazing can mean that, even with every window and door open, your conservatory becomes a heat trap.

The good news is that these days, thanks to advances in construction design, you can create a room that doesn’t overheat with the arrival of the first swallow of summer and freeze in the depths of winter.

Bespoke design process
At Securahome it all begins with insulating the floor, then A+ grade energy-efficient windows, insulated columns or walls and, most importantly, a solid or part-solid-part-glazed, roof.

This makes not only for a more thermally efficient extension to your home, but a far more contemporary looking room. On page 3 of this newsletter, you will see an example of a bespoke sun-lounge created for Mr and Mrs Rees in Swansea.

Having completed the build in June 2016, a full year later Mr Rees explains that the sun-lounge is now their favourite room in the house – all year round.

If you are looking for a brand new conservatory or orangery, like Mr and Mrs Rees, then creating your dream room from scratch is now a truly bespoke process.

Our designers will consider how you will use the room, where you will have your furniture, external views and all of those finishing touches that make your house a home.

Renovate your conservatory
If you already have a conservatory, then the good news is that there is plenty you can do to transform it into your favourite room in the house.

For an existing conservatory, the best place to start is at the top – the roof.
This is where you’ll be losing – and gaining – most heat.

A solid or part-solid roof will make an enormous and immediate difference to your conservatory. Highly insulated, these roofs keep the sun out in summer, and the heat in during the cooler months.

There are a variety of styles to choose from, including traditional tiles and an ultra-modern grey, part-glazed roof.

With the part-glazed option you can choose exactly where the glass panels will be, maybe to bring natural light over a dining table, with shade over the TV screen or sofa? The choice is yours.

A solid roof also gives a real ‘designer’ look to the inside of your conservatory. With a smooth plaster-boarded ceiling and downlighters on the perimeter, the inside of the roof makes your conservatory feel more like a traditional home extension.

A+ energy efficiency
If the windows in your conservatory are older, then upgrading to A+ energy efficient units will make a difference to the ambient temperature of the room. This is also a great opportunity to change the look as well as the feel of the room.

Today’s double and triple glazed windows come in a wide variety of styles and finishes. The painted timber effect UPVC range is particularly popular, you can even opt for a colour outside and white within.

When it comes to doors, whether it’s a new room or an upgrade, bi-folding doors bring a contemporary edge to your home. Providing uninterrupted views of the garden all year round, they come into their own when flung open on a warm summer day to create a seamless connection between outside and in.

If you are inspired to create a new, bespoke extension or want to upgrade an existing conservatory, this is really just a flavour of what you could create. Speak to our designers and we will be able to create a 3D CAD design of your new dream room.

Template - Front page: Swansea doors: Engineered timber doors are built to last

What’s an ideal door for your home?

For traditional charm, wooden doors are hard to beat.  They offer a period charm all of their own.

However, many Swansea homeowners have found that traditional exterior timber doors can be problematic.  Basically they are prone to warping, rot and can let in draughts.

When choosing a timber door, it’s a good idea to start to ensure it’s strong to the core. At Securahome, all of our wood doors are made of engineered timber.

Strong enough to build bridges, engineered timber is strong, won’t warp. Securahome’s timber doors are made using multi-layer European Redwood.  This has a coat of micro-porous paint or woodstain intop to ensure your Swansea door is properly protected from the elements.

Made to your exact requirements, Securahome’s timber entrance doors can be finished in a number of colours and woodstains.  These include the option to also have a different shade on the interior and exterior of the door.

Each of the 15 designs in this range is based on a popular period style. Additionally there is a variety of glazing options to choose.  These include obscure glass, etched glass, stained glass and Finally leaded light effects.

Furthermore, for that all-important finishing touch, these engineered timber doors come with a wide variety of classic door hardware options.  what about adding in spy holes, letter-plates, knockers and security chains?

Interested? Do you want to find out more about the range of colours available in our timber doors range? Give our design team a call on 0800 808 3224 or drop into our Swansea showroom, to see the range in full.

Template - Front page: Swansea doors: Choosing a robust composite door for your home

Swansea doors have to take a battering, from the warm sunny days through to wild, winter storms. Finding one that will stand up to the elements is crucial.

For style, security and draught-proofing on your Swansea property,choose Securahome’s composite doors. They are robust enough to cope with whatever the Welsh weather throws at it.

Offering a spectrum of colours and a variety of styles.  From classic through to modern, the specification of Securahome’s composite doors is unmatched.

Each composite door has a solid timber core construction and is 48mm deep. This is around 10 per cent thicker than our nearest competitors. This depth makes the doors more secure and energy efficient than thinner competitors.

Securahome’s composite doors have a strong locking mechanism, which carries the industry’s largest dead bolt.

For classic appeal you can also opt for a traditional key operated rim lock on your Swansea composite door that features high security multi-point locking.

Our composite doors can suit any Swansea property too – from a tradition cottage to a contemporary apartment. They also come in 18 colours so there’s no doubt that you’ll find one to match the style of your home.

To find out more about the range of colours available in our composite entrance doors range, give our design team a call on 0800 808 3224 or drop into our Swansea showroom, to see the composite door range in full.

Template - Front page: The view from the top: Pen y Fan

For a breath of fresh air that will blow the cobwebs away – and help you earn a hearty Sunday lunch – Pen y Fan is hard to beat.

At 886m, Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern Britain, followed by Corn Du at 873m and Cribyn at 795m, also in the Brecon Beacons.

According to the National Trust, which looks after the peaks to the tune of £100,000 annually, more than 250,000 pairs of feet make the trek each year to the summits.

The simplest route, and one that’s ideal for families with children in fine weather, is the four-mile circular walk from the Storey Arms Outdoor Centre or the Port ar Daf car park. Starting at around 440m, the climb to Pen y Fan’s peak is manageable, but none-the-less stunning.

Once you make it to the summit, Pen y Fan rewards you with views stretching across the Severn Estuary, south and mid Wales.

On a clear day you may see the Cambrian Mountains, Black Mountains, Gower, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset. If the conditions are in your favour, you may even spy the summit of Cadair Idris!

One thing you will almost definitely see, whatever the weather, is the cairn at the summit, which was a Bronze Age burial chamber.

In the Bronze Age, individual burials or cremations held inside inverted funerary pots, were inserted into stone lined pits, called cists, dug into cleared ground. Once interred the burials and cremations were then covered in a large mound of stone or earth, making the familiar circular shape of the cairn.

Grave goods such as pottery, weapons, beads and food offerings were also sometimes included.  Indeed, when the cairn at the summit of Pen y Fan it was excavated in 1991 a bronze brooch and spearhead were found inside the chamber.

The main access point on to the central Brecon Beacons is the Pont ar Daf car park, on the A470 a few miles south of Brecon.