Fixing up your house by yourself can seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case since it largely depends on your experience.

In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing the pros and cons of doing home renovation by yourself.

Pros

Unfortunately, there aren’t many pros besides potentially saving money. Since doing so requires you have the right experience and knowledge to completing the job correctly.

For certain jobs such as painting, flooring and perhaps backsplash tiling, you can get away as a beginner, but that’s about it. And even these jobs can go wrong and end up costing you more money in the long run.

Cons:

We highly recommend that the typical homeowner do not try and do the vast majority of home renovation jobs themselves. Here are some of the reasons as to why.

1. Many jobs are illegal to do without a license!

As well as being illegal, unlicensed DIY on projects such as electrical work or plumbing are dangerous for everyone involved.

When doing anything that alters the footprint of your home, a permit­­­ is required. If you carry out such jobs without one, then wave goodbye to the easy sale of your home. It becomes much more difficult for the sale to go through if the permits are not identified.

In many cases, you may need to redo the job, thus costing you even more money. Hiring a certified contractor means the difficult jobs can get done, and the process of acquiring a permit can be made much easier.

2. Many jobs require specialist tools

If you’re the typical homeowner, it doesn’t make sense for you to have expensive specialised tools in your house. Unfortunately, you need these specialised tools for many technical jobs.

If you were to do the home renovation or remodelling yourself, you’d have to buy these tools, which hardly makes sense if you’re planning on using them only once. Furthermore, if you do go ahead and purchase, it wouldn’t make sense for you to buy the best one since it will usually cost significantly more. Even though it’s more expensive, it’s the best one for a reason. So it’s likely that your project will take longer and won’t be as good as it would be if you were using the best tools for the job!

For contractors, the opposite is true. Since we use these tools all the time, it makes sense to own them and own the best ones. And because we use the tools all the time, we develop mastery of them. This allows us to do the best job in the least amount of time possible, thus saving you money and giving you peace of mind.

3. Doing the home renovations or remodelling yourself is risky

Since you’ll typically lack the experience of a pro, you’ll likely make costly mistakes. Furthermore, if you opted for Cransten, our work comes with a 90-day warranty, which ensures all the negatives of something going wrong are mitigated as swiftly as possible. If, however, you the job yourself, there is no such cover. You’ll have to incur the costs of doing the job incorrectly. And the probability of that is higher since you’re not familiar with the tools you’re using and the job you’re using them for. This also means you cannot guarantee the quality or even if the job will be done. Which you totally can when you use Cransten.

4. Doing home renovations or remodelling yourself will probably take longer

Again, this will apply to the typical homeowner. It’s no surprise that someone who’s done the job perhaps thousands of times will be able to do it much faster than someone who’s doing it for their first time.

5. Doing home renovations or remodelling yourself will probably cost you more!

At the start of this blog, we mentioned that doing the job yourself can save you money. However, that was only true if you were fairly experienced doing that job.

Otherwise, research has shown it can be 200-300% more expensive to DIY! Why? Because people who don’t know what they’re doing tend to make mistakes that someone who’s been there before can effortlessly avoid. To correct those mistakes, that experienced person will need to come in and repair them, which costs even more money than it would if they’d just done it the first time round!

In that case, not only will you incur the costs of having done it yourself, but you’ll also have to incur the costs of hiring a professional to redo it! And this figure doesn’t even include opportunity cost, which is the lost value of your next best alternative. In this case, working on your career or business would probably yield you way more money; therefore, doing anything other than that would lose you that money you would have made!

Ultimately, whether it’s a pro or a con to do home renovations or remodelling yourself depends on the project and your experience level with it.

If you need any help with any home renovation project, we’d be happy to help. Give us a call for a FREE consultation.

Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist:

Performing these tasks will save you a lot of money in the future by preventing problems from escalating. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The best part is, many of these tasks are DIY and cost-friendly to perform. 

So, here’s what you should be doing each month to keep your home as pristine as it can be.

HVAC system filters check:  This will depend on whether yours are reusable or disposable. In either case, you’ll want to clean or replace them after around a month, ideally no later than 3 months. 

Check for Toilets and sink leaks. If you see water where it shouldn’t be, that’s your signal to check further.  Even a tiny leak can cost you hundreds of dollars per year! 

• Check for grout and caulking. Make sure any voids or cracks in tubs or showers are sorted out.
• Check outside. Inspect for any issues with foundation, vents, gutters or drainpipes and arrange to get it sorted if need be.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test every month and replace batteries every 6 months.
• Check the kitchen vent hood filter. Make sure it’s clean and replace it if necessary. If you have a chef in the house, you may want to check this more often. 

Each new season brings new challenges; therefore, your home will have differing needs depending on the season. Here’s what to do during each:

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist:

While many of us would rather hunker down during the cold months and await springs return, here are a few home maintenance chores that need attending:

• Check for drafts. These cause cold air to slip through your doors and windows, thus skyrocketing your heating bills each month. Here’s a quick and easy method to check for drafts: light an incense stick and see if the smoke doesn’t rise but instead blows around; you’ve got a draft. 
• Cover outdoor air-conditioning units. If they aren’t protected, ice and snow will do a number on them.
• Check your sump pump. If you have a sump pump in your basement, be sure that it’s on by pouring a little water in the crock to make sure it starts. Many basement leaks occur during spring thaws, so it’s best to check now and be safe. Be sure to check the back-up battery too. 
• Check that foundation vents are closed. While these are good in spring, summer and fall, closing them during winter will mean more money in your pocket by shrinking your heating costs. 
• Check for ice dams. These are ridges of ice that build-up at the bottom of your roof. They trap snow and melting water behind them, which can cause the water to infiltrate your roof. We can help to ensure this doesn’t become an expensive cost for you in the future.

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist:

Winters are notoriously tough on homes. However, the job isn’t done just because winter’s over! Here are your springtime chores. 

• Check HVAC. This is to ensure it’s nicely tuned up, ready to provide refreshing and rejuvenating air when it’s needed, which will be around the corner at this stage. This job is best left to professionals as it can easily go wrong and end up costing you a fortune. As always, we can help you out here. 
• Check seals around doors and windows.  Again, check for drafts. Touch up any cracked caulking to prevent loss of cooled air during summer.
• Check gutters. Thanks to the ice built up during the cold winter months, gutters will now be loose and saggy. When this happens, they don’t drain properly and will create drainage issues. When this is left for a few seasons, it may cause an unstable gutter that will spill enough water to destroy your foundation’s structural integrity!
• Check sidewalks and driveways. You’ll want these repaired before they become a major issue.
• Check your Roof. Winter snow and ice will often damage your shingles, resulting in leaks. The safest way to inspect your roof is with binoculars, don’t go up there unless you’re experienced! You don’t want to be part of the 500,000 group of people injured in ladder-related accidents each year. Roof repairs are best left to qualified contractors like us!

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist:

Since it’s now most people’s favourite time of the year, you’ll be tempted to indulge in vacationing and lounging by the pool. But the work isn’t done yet! Here are a few of your summer chores before you can chill by the pool guilt-free.

• Test the lawn irrigation system. While these are super handy, leaks in the pipes or connections will cause your water bills to skyrocket. This is a job for a professional, and we’d be glad to help!
• Inspect your decks. Summer is a great time to reapply a new coat of sealant if the wood is starting to show its age. Be sure to flatten any protruding nails and smooth any rough areas to ensure safety throughout the seasons.
• Check siding. The best time for pressure washing vinyl or fibre cementing is when it’s warm. Pay extra attention to each piece of siding as you clean it, looking for cracks, soft spots and any other signs of trouble.
• Trim around outdoor HVAC units. Grass and weeds growing around your units may reduce their efficiency and even cause expensive damage.
• Inspect foundation and crawlspace. Be sure to schedule a repair from a professional if you see any cracks. Also, after heavy rain, check the crawlspace to make sure there’s no water getting in there.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Before carving up some pumpkins or sticking the football on, reserve a few weekend hours to take care of these autumn tasks:

• Check the HVAC system. Winter is around the corner; the last thing you need is your safe haven being unable to keep you and your loved ones warm during winter. Hire a qualified HVAC inspector to ensure it’s ready to keep you cosy all winter.
• Clean gutters and check the roof. Remove all snow and water trapping debris during the winter. If you live in a single-story home, you can easily do this with a partner.
• Check exterior grade. Make sure any depressions that can trap any water or snow are filled in. Otherwise, they could lead to damp basements, settling or damage to your foundation.
• Turn off outside hose bibs. Assuming you’re not fortunate enough to own frost-free exterior faucets, you’ll want to shut them off then drain the lines during the winter to prevent freezing.
• Check the fireplace. Before enjoying your first cosy night around the fire, it’s safest to have a professional inspect the wood stove and chimneys first. After all, 22,300 unsuspecting people each year experience a rude awakening when something goes awry and causes a dangerous fire!

Yearly Home Maintenance Checklist:

Although your house is not getting any younger, there are many things you can do to make sure it ages gracefully. Here they are:

• Check for signs of termites. The earlier your spot these, the better. Otherwise, if you let a swarm of termites build-up, you’ll be staring at huge expenses. You can use a terminate primer from the EPA if you need help spotting them. 
• Lubricate garage door springs. Greasing your garage door springs will make it much easier to operate and help it to last longer. It will also get rid of that screeching noise that causes the neighbour’s dog to start barking. 
• Drain the hot water heater. Throughout its use, sediment will be collecting in the bottom of the heater, causing its longevity to decrease. 
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust. Over 15,000 house fires are caused by lint build-up! If it doesn’t cause a fire, it will certainly decrease the efficiency, so make sure it’s clean!

Home Maintenance Checklist For Every 2 – 5 Years

Around your houses’ fifth birthday, several issues will pop up. Thankfully, most of these are pretty straightforward and inexpensive to handle. 

• Replace caulking around windows and doors. Just like everything, unless it’s renewed, it will eventually get too old to do its job effectively. Doing this will also help to keep your home more energy-efficient. 
• Clean heating ducts. Leaving dust and dirt to accumulate will eventually obstruct airflow and might even cause a health hazard. Call a professional to clean the ducts, repair or upgrade them if needed. We would be glad to help you with this.
• Get a termite inspection. You should always be looking for any signs of termite damage, ideally every year. But now and again, you want a professional job, so nothing gets missed and instead gets spotted early before becoming major costs.
• Seal grout. To help prevent water infiltration, be sure to add a fresh coat of sealant to your bath and kitchen tile grout. 

Home Maintenance Checklist For Every 5 – 10 Years

As your home starts to reach its first decade, here are a few items you’ll want to pay extra attention to.

• Paint the exterior. Unless you’re a well-versed painter, it’s usually best to leave this to a professional.
• Install a new dishwasher and washing machine. These will tend to last around 10 years. So now will be the best time to replace them. Look out for energy-efficient models as they will save both water and energy, which means more money left in your pocket.
• Replace the microwave. Microwaves will usually wear out after about nine years. They will need replacing unless you want your food to come out like pieces of cardboard. 
• Replace the kitchen sink. After around 5 years, steel sinks will start to show their age. Before 10 years, you’ll definitely want to replace them. This job is best left to pro’s as it requires specialised tools and working in tight places. 

Home Maintenance Checklist  For Every 10 – 15 Years

Here are more of the long haulers that will need replacing every 10 to 15 years.

• Replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Even if these seem to be just fine, we recommend erring on the side of caution since these are the last things you want to fail on you when you need them the most!
• Replace hot water heater. Gas and electric water heaters typically last around 10 years. We highly recommend a professional for this job.
• Replace garage door. Depending on the frequency of use, most garage doors will last around 10 to 15 years. This, again, is a job typically best left to the pros.
• Install a new refrigerator and range. Refrigerators and ovens typically last 13 to 15 years before things hit the fan. Ovens should be installed by a professional; however, you should be OK with a refrigerator, although we’ll be happy to help you out if you insist.

Home Maintenance Checklist For 15 Years And Beyond:

Even after the 15-year mark, there is still more work that needs doing! Since these are the tasks that only need doing a handful of times in one’s lifetime, they tend to cost a lot more and are definitely best left to pros!

• Check the roofing material. Although the life expectancy of roofs tends to be around 20 to 30 years, it’s always best to ensure they’re still as efficient as they need to be in order to do their job correctly.
• Replace exterior decks. How often this needs doing will largely depend on your local weather and how often you applied a protective sealant.
• Install new HVAC units. As always, the life expectancy of your HVAC system will depend on how well they were maintained. Unfortunately, even if you ticked all the boxes in terms of care, they will start to look worse for wear at around 15 to 20 years old, often even sooner. 
• Replace kitchen and bathroom faucets. After about 15 years, your kitchen and bathroom faucets should have had enough. If you’re a handy homeowner, you should be able to handle this project, assuming you have the right tools. Otherwise, we’d be more than happy to help.

If you plan to live in your home for a very long time or even sell it in the future, this homeowner’s maintenance checklist will help ensure your home is safe and secure or collects the biggest cheque it can should you sell it. 

Traditional Style:

Traditional style bathrooms typically emphasize comfort, antique style and practicality.

They usually feature polished wood, complementary colors, and the usage of glass, tile, or marble as integral components. Usually, simple colors dominate this design, putting extra emphasis on a neutral tone. The final effect is one of familiarity, relaxation, and invitation.

Modern Style:

Modern style bathrooms have the juxtaposing effect of being bold yet simultaneously simple. They typically feature robust, clean and straight lines and they favour a minimalist approach. Straight lines are the defining feature of modern styling bathrooms and are usually front and centre. Only the best quality materials will do for this type of design, such as stone, porcelain, teak, and marble. To complete the set, modern styles usually have small pops of color, either from art or fresh greenery, to add some modern zazz.

Eclectic Style:

Eclectic styling is for the eccentric souls. It’s for the child within all of us that likes everything good. So, it selects all of them at once! Blending them together to form either a giant mess or a new masterpiece, depending on your philosophical perspective. The favourite adage of the eclectic is to expect the unexpected. It’s the opposite of the traditional style, and for the eclectic souls, that’s precisely why it will never go out of style.

Beach Style:

Who doesn’t love the beach?

Some love it so much they decided to build a house right next to it. On the other hand, others love it so much they decided to make a bathroom just like it! (well, only as far as it remains a bathroom).

These bathrooms take their inspiration from the sand, ocean and its surrounding beauty. Cool shades of watery blue and aqua are used to create a soothing and relaxing effect. Decorative ornamentation can include jute fabrics, seashells, sand, ocean-themed art, and various complementary colors. Crisp and almost jarring white accents lend a fresh burst of vitality to the bathroom and highlights the cool and subdued blue and sandy hues.

Contemporary:

Clean lines, clutter-free expanses of open space, and minimalist adornment are all hallmarks of contemporary style bathrooms. Expect to see plenty of polished hardwood, metal accents, elegant glass and a clean and simple color palette.

Light and dark elements are often used together to create a striking visual contrast. Simplicity is at the heart of contemporary styling, but don’t be fooled. Underneath the understated design is superb engineering and attention to detail of the highest order. Pay particular attention to the high-quality door pulls and knobs made from muted brushed metals in addition to countertops and flooring constructed from durable stone, wood, or tile.

Why DIY can end up costing you way more in the long run!

The answer to whether it’s cheaper to do your home repair and home maintenance yourself or hire a handyman services rest mainly on two factors:

1. The type and complexity of the project
2. Your level of skill and the time you have available to work on the project

Like most homeowners, you got to be one by virtue of your effort and skill in your area of expertise. That expertise is probably not as a handyman service provider – that title is how WE got to own our homes!

So, while it may be tempting to save costs and do it yourself; instead, research has shown it can be 200-300% more expensive to DIY!.

That means if a project costs you $1,000 to ‘complete’, later down the road you may be forced to cough up to $3,000!

(This doesn’t apply to all jobs though, later in this article, we’ll share with you the job we do recommend you do yourself!)

Why? Because people who don’t know what they’re doing tend to make mistakes that someone who’s been there before can effortlessly avoid. To correct those mistakes, that experienced person will need to come in and repair them, which cost even more money than it would have if they’d just done it the first time round!

And that’s not even including the time and opportunity cost of trying to do it yourself!

While you were spending those hours attempting to repair or renovate your home, you could have been focused on your speciality, the thing the world pays you to do! Doing so would have gotten you way further ahead.

The hours you spent could have been spent studying to improve your skills, or even just to relax and rest, allowing you to rejuvenate yourself and perform at higher levels and feel better doing so!

So leave the dirty work to the handymen while you rest your feet after a hard day at work!

“But I’ll have video instructions to show me how.”

Although a YouTube instructional video can be tempting, promising to save you a fortune. What it doesn’t teach you are the tricks that come with experience based on differing situations.

Another big reason to hire a professional Cransten handyman for your home repairs is the support we provide regarding permits.

Making any significant changes that alter the footprint of your home requires a permit. These include additions, decks, certain fences, certain plumbing and electrical work, and siding projects.

Failure to obtain these permits means waving goodbye to comfortably selling your home! It makes it a challenging proposition, and you may be forced to re-do the work (and pay for it yourself!).

If you decide to hire Cransten handyman service or home repairs, not only will we know whether the job needs a permit or not, but we can the acquisition process easier and faster for you.

As for the types of jobs which require a permit: Windows do not need one if they are being replaced, however, if you’re cutting a new hole, you’ll most likely require a permit. This also applies new doors and to skylights.

Plumbing and electrical work usually require permits. This is true if you’re installing new or removing existing plumbing.

Any job that includes installing a new electrical service to your home will require a permit, even if it’s something as simple as moving an outlet!

A permit is usually not required for fencing, but some municipalities often place height restrictions on non-permitted fences.

Many years have granted us the knowledge to little known tips and tricks to expedite this permit acquisition process a little faster. Therefore, we would be more than happy to assist you in the acquiring of your permit.

Specialised tools

Cransten Handyman service providers come with state-of-the-art equipment for the job. These are the tools which simply don’t make sense for you to buy, let alone buy the best in class if it’s just a one-off job around the house. In this case, DIYer’s buy or borrow acceptable tools for the job, but not the most efficient and effective for the role. Meaning the job takes even longer to complete and unlikely to be the best it can be.

Hiring a Cransten handyman ensures the best tools are used for the job, by the best person to use it, saving you from having to buy any sub-par tools and saving you the time and energy it requires not only to learn but also to use them well!

Now, as promised, not every job will require a permit of course, so here are the ones we recommend you do yourself to save yourself!

1. Painting
2. Maybe flooring, but it does depend on your experience.
3. Maybe backsplash tiling, depending on your knowledge.

Alternatively, suppose you have a handy relative like an electrician or plumber. In that case, they may be able to help you to accomplish the more complicated projects.

If you need help with any of these projects, Cransten can help you with all of them! And of course, any others we didn’t mention in this article. So, do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff for a free consultation, we’ll be more than happy to help

At Cransten Smart Security, we believe that every home should be a haven from the craziness of the world, which is why we do everything we can to add value to you, our beloved customer.

In this article, we’ll be helping you and your family to become confidently prepared in case of Fires or Carbon Monoxide hazards that may arise within your home.

Carbon Monoxide:

Starting with the latter, carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent but deadly killer, it kills over 400 unsuspecting Americans each year and sends a further 4,000 for an unscheduled visit to the hospital.

What’s most sinister about CO poisoning is its speed: it can kill an otherwise lively and buoyant human being within minutes.

Once this poison has got you by its grips, before its completely taken you over – the symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and breathlessness.

During this short window of opportunity, you need to let in as much air as possible by opening a window or a door so life can flood back in. However, this is way too late, and there are better ways we’ll discuss below in this article.

Common Signs You May Have a Carbon Monoxide Leak:

1. Symptoms only occur when you’re in your home and disappear or get better when you leave.
2. Others in your home are experiencing similar symptoms – including your pets.
3. You get symptoms when certain appliances are in use. For example, when the boiler is on.
4. The pilot light in your home frequently blows out.
5. Black, sooty marks on the front covers of gas fires.

6. Sooty or yellow/brown stains on or around boilers or stoves.

7. Yellow instead of blue flames coming from gas appliances or flames are not fully formed – for instance, if the flame isn’t all the way round on a gas hob burner.

8. Flames are not fully formed – for example, if the flame isn’t all the way round on the gas hob burner.

9. You notice increased condensation on the windows

To prevent things from getting too far gone, simply install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. These should be place at knee level since carbon blends in with the air around it, which is why you’ll want to place it lower.

As always, if you need any help with this, Cransten are always for you – whether you need our expertly engineered equipment, or installation help from our professional and friendly staff, we are here for you.

Cransten Tips for Fire Protection

Firstly, you need to have a plan in place. Large enterprises like Schools and companies all take this seriously and so should you.

is your life not worth the same whether you’re at work or at home/school?

So, have a solid plan in place and make sure everyone within your home knows their role and escape routes should a fire ever arise.

Also be prepared if a fire blocks your designated escape route by having an alternative one. And have an escape ladder to help you get down if a fire should ever start in each second story bedroom.

For example, if the fire rages in the room below, as shown in the picture below, so make sure to have an alternative route prepared.

Since the smoke of a home fire is extremely dense and toxic

it is virtually impossible to see through – so if a downstairs room is on fire, a window will usually be the only way to escape out of a room upstairs.

Be sure to practice your drills a couple of times per year, since being prepared and having a plan of action is the best form of defence should a fire arise.

General Tips for Surviving or Preventing Fires:

1. Do not plug too many appliances into an electrical outlet.
2. Make sure that combustibles aren’t too close to fireplaces, stoves or heaters.
3. Never smoke on soft furniture or fabrics.
4. Do not use damaged or frayed electrical or extension cords.
5. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children and teach them about the dangers of playing with fire.
6. Never use extension cords with heating or air conditioning equipment.
7. Have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers for each floor in your home.
8. Make sure to close your downstairs doors at night before going to bed.
9. Make sure that screens or storm windows can be easily removed.
10. Ensure that you have tools available if windows must be broken.
11. If you live in a two-story home, you should have an escape ladder for each occupied bedroom

What to DO and NOT to Do in The Event of Fire:

1. Do not linger getting dressed or hang back to hoard your valuables or look for the family pet. In the event of a fire, there is only 1 valuable and that is your life. So, move it! Seconds count!
2. Stay low by going on your hands and knees when evacuating the building in order to avoid the smoke. The smoke is actually what causes more initial harm to your body. The toxic flames suffocate you way before the fire scorches you. Which is why seconds count!
3. Before you open any closed door during your exit, make sure to feel the door first. If it’s warm, be sure to open it slowly but close it quickly if heat or smokes rushes in.
4. Never go back into the house once you’re out, for ANY reason. Call the fire response once you’re out, not before or during your evacuation.

Smoke Alarms:

You need to have a smoke alarm!

You are 400% more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a smoke alarm that works.

Make sure to have one on every floor in your home and be sure to place it correctly as instructed by the manual.

As a rule of thumb, smoke alarms ought to be placed near bedrooms, either on the ceiling or six to twelve inches below the ceiling on the wall.

For maximum effectiveness, do not place the alarm near air vents or within 6 inches of where the wall and ceiling meet on either surface.

Make sure to regularly test your alarms to ensure they are working as they should, and if you have a battery powered alarm, be sure to change the battery every 6 months.

Also, note; not all alarms are the same. Some are best for the detection of fast flaming fires, others for the slow smouldering type. You want to be able to detect both types which is why it’s best to have both ionisation (best for fast flaming) and photoelectric (best for smouldering) smoke alarms.

Additionally, we recommend that you install linked alarms, particularly if you have a large house. These go off at the same time to avoid the risk of not hearing the alarms in a distant part of the house.

Furthermore, having 1 or more auto-dispatching sensors like we offer at Cransten, helps in case you ever get knocked out because of smoke or carbon monoxide poisoning!

Fire Extinguishers

Every home should be equipped with at least 1 first extinguisher on each floor. Additionally, the kitchen, garage and ground floor should also have their fire extinguishers.

This is because all fires start small at first and having an easy way to contain them while they’re small, can save lives.

Be sure to select the correct fire extinguisher because there are many different ones for different kind of fires. However, a new type of extinguisher: water mist, is now available, this provides cover for most types of fires including electrical fires.

Which is great because the last thing you need while a raging fire is soaring, is trying to figure out where the correct extinguisher is!

More Ways to Prevent Fires:

Anti-Arson Letterboxes

Arson is a serious problem, each year tens of thousands of arson attacks are committed, resulting in hundreds of people being injured and dozens dying.

The letterbox is a vulnerable area in your home, providing an arsonist direct and easy access. Which is why we recommend installation an anti-arson letterbox. These are designed to contain and eliminate the threat by holding onto any flammable liquid poured through the letterbox, which halts the fire is its track. The automatic extinguisher, triggered by a heat sensitive system, then finishes the job.

Fire Doors in Houses

Another extremely important means of protection in the home against fire is the often-overlooked fire door. Fires can easily and rapidly spread to engulf the entire room within minutes, destroying everything in its path.

A fire door is capable of containing this. These come with hardware including door hinges, frames and seals to make them fit for purpose.

And remember, If you need help with any of these projects, Cransten can help you with all of them!  And of course, any others we didn’t mention in this article.

So do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff for a free consultation, we’ll be more than happy to help!