User guide
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Welcome
We spend a lot of time at home, especially those who work from home, so making the place we live in comfortable, cost-efficient and enjoyable to be in is key.
The cost-of-living crisis has meant that big projects such as loft conversions or installing a new kitchen are seeing prices rise between 10 and 20% year on year as the increasing costs of materials, fuel and workforce shortages all hit home. Maybe a new extension or a bathroom refit is still on your agenda, but if your aims are more modest, this supplement is packed with low-cost ways to give your home a refresh.
We start with little jobs that have a big impact. Whether it’s adding a fresh coat of paint or getting the bathroom sparkling again, putting down new carpet or giving your garden a little TLC, small tweaks can make a real difference.
Next you'll find practical pointers on how to save energy in the home. We look at techniques for heating your home efficiently, whatever your setup, as well as preventing that precious heat escaping by plugging draughts and adding insulation.
Large-scale renovations such as fitting a new bathroom or kitchen, installing double glazing and investing in solar panels, are the focus of the third section. We also check out how to accomplish on-trend ‘part updates’ for a fraction of the cost. Making smaller, less expensive alterations to our properties can tie in with being kinder to our larger home – the planet that we all share.
Reliable local traders are highly sought after by homeowners everywhere. The final section gives tips on the all-important task of finding a team that will do quality home improvement work on budget, on time and with as little stress as possible.
Throughout, we signpost where to go for more information – including detailed advice guides on our website, as well as videos, podcasts and other Which? services. We hope you find this supplement useful, and do please feel free to share it.
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For further help using this digital supplement, you can refer to our user guide. If you're on a desktop or laptop, you can find this by clicking the question mark icon at the top of every page. For mobile users, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and then tap the question mark icon at the top of the list.
In this guide
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1 – Little jobs with big impact
You don’t always need to pay for expert improvements to enhance your home – there's plenty you can do with a little time, determination and elbow grease.
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Spring cleaning
Getting rid of bathroom mould or deep-cleaning a hardworking oven will make your home feel fresher in no time.
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Decorating 101
Adding a new coat of paint can bring new life to any room in your home.
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Fabulous furnishings
Carpets feel soft underfoot, but wooden floors can be more hard-wearing – find out which will suit you best. Plus, how to increase comfort and decrease clutter in your bedroom.
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Tooling up
Without the right tools, simple DIY tasks can be difficult, time consuming and dangerous. Tick off the tool-box essentials without spending a fortune.
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Keeping your home secure
High-tech possibilities to protect our homes have burgeoned in recent years. So, is it worth investing in smart security, and how much will a decent setup cost?
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Caring for your garden
Make the most of your outside space, and keep it looking fresh through all seasons – and all renovations.
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2 – Practical pointers for saving energy
An efficient central heating system and excellent insulation will help to keep your home warm and dry.
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Keeping warm
Draught-proofing can cut heating costs and keep you toasty. Find out how to plug those gaps and promote good air quality.
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Insulating your home
Insulation is relatively cheap to install and can make a big impact on your bills, so you can quickly recoup your costs.
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Efficient heating
The combination of efficient central heating and excellent insulation is the gold standard for a warm home.
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Dealing with damp
Damp can become an expensive problem if it’s given time to set in. We explore budget options for nipping it in the bud.
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3 – Rip it out and start again
Planning an ambitious upgrade to your home, such as a new extension or solar panels? We explore eco-friendly options – and their costs.
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Planning and budgeting
If you have big ambitions for your home – such as a new kitchen or extension – careful planning and budgeting are your route to success.
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Improving your kitchen
What could a trendy and inexpensive ‘part update’ do for your kitchen? Find out which improvements have the biggest impact with the least outlay.
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A brilliant bathroom
The ideal bathroom strikes a balance between practical and serene. We consider options for achieving the gold standard.
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Making extra space
An extension or renovated loft gives you a brand-new room that provides extra space, looks great and adds value to your property.
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Replacing windows
Exchanging draughty, single-glazed windows for good-quality double glazing can make a room cosier and lower your heating bills.
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The perfect home office
Sitting comfortably with reliable tech to hand can boost productivity. Find more ways to make working at home less of a chore.
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Making your home more sustainable
Solar panels and heat pumps can make your home more sustainable, but these long-term investments come with high set-up costs.
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Don’t just bin it
We look at eco-friendly options for selling, giving away and recycling possessions you no longer want.
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4 - Hiring the right team for you
Whether builder, electrician or painter, the right tradesperson can help to get your home-improvement project done well, on time and to budget.
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How Trusted Traders can help you
We look at how you can make the most of reliable local tradespeople and explore techniques for ensuring the relationship survives any challenges.
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Your consumer rights if your big project stalls
In the home improvements market, problems with traders can be difficult to put right, and dispute resolution services are hard to come by.
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Trusted Traders Q&A
Six burning questions from Which? members – on insulation, boilers, decorating and more – are answered by our expert Trusted Traders.
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Getting more from Which?
Which? has been working alongside consumers since 1957. We now have more services than ever to help you navigate the maze that is modern life.
© Which? Ltd April 2023 This guide may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or otherwise made available to third parties without the written permission of Which? Ltd. Commercial use of the supplement is not permitted. To enquire about using Which? content, email corporatequeries@which.co.uk.
This guide is not a Which? magazine or website. It does not constitute advice of any form. It has been produced for general information and interest only. You should take appropriate advice in relation to your circumstances. While every care has been taken in researching the information included in this supplement, no responsibility can be accepted for any inaccuracy or omission, or for any of the information being out of date. The information is subject to change without notification.
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