Guttering Blog

February 17, 2011

Choosing your Plastic Fabrication Company

The external guttering and plastic cladding of your house may not initially seem like it has much importance, but it can in fact make a huge difference to the appearance and overall efficiency of your home. It’s essential that you choose the right products for the job, but if you really want the best you need to find the supplier to suit. Just how can you go about doing that?

Your first consideration should be the range of products your potential company can provide, such as uPVC fascia boards. You need to make sure that they can meet your demands so always check their product catalogue thoroughly, ideally by heading online to avoid any unnecessary trips to the store.

Then, of course, you need to think about quality. Quality should always come first if you want to be totally happy with the result, but price will unfortunately be a major deciding factor as well. This means that you need to find a supplier of plastic fabrication that can offer the perfect combination of price and quality, complete with all the products you could need.

So, choosing your plastic fabrication company simply comes down to taking a careful look at what each one can provide along with their prices and the level of quality they’re able to offer. This could take some research, but if you want to save yourself the hassle just come to us instead.

Here at Bliby Plastics we’re confident that we’ll be able to give you exactly what you need at a price to suit, so come and see for yourself and you won’t be disappointed.

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February 14, 2011

Seasonal Guttering Check Advice

Filed under: Guttering — Tags: buy guttering online, cast iron guttering, Guttering, Tips and Advice — admin @ 12:37 pm

Gutters are part of our daily grind here at Bliby Plastics, but how often can you say you’ve honestly thought with any great level of interest about the guttering on your home? Properly maintained gutters can last an incredibly long time, making the importance of a little seasonal DIY checking certainly worth some attention.

WARNING: Accessing your gutters may be dangerous or physically difficult for you. HSA statistics suggest roughly 30% of DIY accidents involve a fall from a ladder, so never push yourself if you feel unsafe or take unnecessary risks. Never clean or check guttering alone, always have a partner on hand to steady the ladder and offer assistance.

Plastic guttering is often easier to maintain as there’s no concern surrounding possible repainting etc, however, many folks prefer the durability and aesthetic quality of painted cast iron guttering.

Cleaning Tips

• Begin at the downspout end of the gutter. If the downspout is blocked, nothing can run off as you clean. Take a bucket and garden hose up the ladder (have your partner turn on the hose when you need it to eliminate the danger of climbing with the water running) Empty as much detritus into the bucket by hand as you can (you may need to take a few trips up and down the ladder)

• Clogs inside the downspout are harder to shift, but a blast with the high pressure attachment of your garden hose should move non-professionally fixable blockages.

• Clean the gutter from the downspout end to the farthest end using the bucket and hose (moving the ladder to avoid dangerous overreaching.

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February 11, 2011

Easy External Home Improvements

Filed under: Tips and Advice — Tags: drainage pipes, fascias, Guttering, Plastics Suppliers, Tips and Advice — admin @ 12:31 pm

Under 2010 revised Permitted Development (PD) rights, the clarity concerning lawful external home improvements is allowing more home owners than ever to invest in the appearance of their property without going through the rigmarole of seeking approved planning permission. Here are our top thrifty PD home improvements.

New Guttering

Unsightly or inefficient guttering affects more than just the cosmetic appeal of your home. Clogged or broken guttering can lead to issues with damp, grime build-up, flooding and structural weakness. It’s certainly worth weighing-up the benefits of new cast iron guttering or plastic drainage pipes.

Fascias or Cladding

Aside from covering a multitude of sins (badly applied pebble-dashing etc), UPVC fascia boards and plastic wall cladding help keep your home thermally protected and damp-free. Our fascias and cladding systems require very little maintenance, are easy to install and light on the budget.

Refurbished Window Frames

UPVC window frames tend to outlive their timber counterparts, meaning a decent scrub to remove the last few years’ grime should have them looking new in no time. Treating and repainting tired timber window frames is arguably the best way to cheaply give them a much-needed facelift.

Get Nature in Check

Unsightly, overgrown shrubs and bushes make your property look uncared for and messy. Put a little effort into trimming bushes, pulling down ivy, tidying-up the trellis and overhauling flowerbeds.

Pave the Way

Broken or shoddy paving is both dangerous and ugly. A full re-pave may not be in order, but when the time comes to sell-up and move on, you’ll be glad you repaired damaged spots.

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February 8, 2011

Domestic Extension Interiors and Plastic Cladding

Filed under: Plastic Cladding — Tags: Plastic Cladding, plastic sheets, Plastics Suppliers, wall cladding — admin @ 12:21 pm

The likes of raw brick internal wall finishes were rather en vogue during the 1980’s DIY boom, and fair enough, that was the trend in those days, but the modern home owner is concerned about more than just the cosmetics of their house. How thermally efficient is the property? What sale value can be added with a few home improvements?

Whilst a huge number of our clients buy plastic wall cladding for external use, growing numbers are looking for internal insulation and cosmetic improvement at a low cost. The advantages of external cladding are well documented – weather protection, damp protection, high thermal performance etc. But what are the key benefits of internal plastic cladding?

• Heat, damp and draught protection

• Easy to clean and maintain

• Safe – Hygienic cladding is used in many hospitals and care facilities. In the home, every room, from the bathroom to the kitchen, can be made safer by plastic cladding.

• Durable – External cladding enjoys an average lifespan of around 35+ years; internally, this figure is greatly increased.

• Low labour cost – Wall cladding can be fitted and repaired by an expert or the average DIY enthusiast, and involves almost no complicated installation.

• Recyclable (contact your local council for initiatives)

• Interior domestic wall cladding falls under Permitted Development Rights

• Versatile – Internal claddings is available in a massive range of colours and finishes, making it easier than ever to insulate a draughty dwelling, cover a raw brick finish wall or cheaply and reliable cover an unsightly interior feature.

As a leading plastic fabrication company, we can supply various types of wall cladding.

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February 5, 2011

UPVC and the Environment

Filed under: Plastics Suppliers — Tags: fascias, Tips and Advice, types of cladding, UPVC fascia boards — admin @ 12:17 pm

With increasing levels of focus falling upon future sustainable housing guidelines, renewable energy, and low carbon production processes, questions have understandably risen from homeowners concerning the environmental impact of UPVC. For us, this affects just about all of our products – from fascias to cladding.

Here are a few points to consider about the eco-friendly aspects of UPVC as a domestic-use material.

• Eco-friendly doesn’t always mean natural raw materials. Setting aside the impact of deforestation etc (timber products being the main competitor of UPVC), UPVC production is very low in terms of environmental degradation. UPVC’s components – chlorine and ethylene – can both be produced without the use of fossil fuels, making UPVC one of the only materials on the market than can be made using only renewable energy.

• Conservation of raw materials and environmental damage is aided by domestic UPVC use. Our cladding and fascia products require no annual maintenance in the form of re-painting, chemical cleaning etc.

• Installing UPVC fascias or plastic wall cladding tends, for the most part, to be a decision based around heat efficiency, weatherproofing and durability. UPVC is proven to be the most cost effective, market accessible form of additional thermal protection available for the domestic buyer.

• UPVC home products (e.g. UPVC fascia boards) are 100% safe, making UPVC the perfect material for everything from hygienic cladding to home First Aid kits.

• The compounds of UPVC are near 100% recyclable. When disposing of your old UPVC products, be sure to contact your local council for advice regarding the most suitable recycling centre in your area.

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February 2, 2011

Your Revised Domestic Permitted Development Rights

Filed under: Tips and Advice — Tags: buy guttering online, Guttering, Plastics Suppliers, Tips and Advice — admin @ 12:11 pm

Permitted Development (PD) has often been cited as the bane of home improvement legal issues. Often unclear and sometimes in contrary to planning permission application outcomes and advice, 2010 saw a timely overhaul of UK domestic PD guidelines. So, what can you legally do the exterior of your property according to revised PD?

•   Build a porch of less than 3m₂ using the material of your choice
•   Install green energy devices e.g. solar panels (wind turbines often require planning permission)
•   Renew guttering using the material of your choice
•   Erect a satellite dish or aerial
•   Install new or refurbished fascias and plastic wall cladding

Extensions & Outbuildings

• Extend the back of your home by 4m (single storey) or 3m (two storeys). This includes verandas made from corrugated roofing sheets and conservatories.

• Extend the side of your home by 4m in height (no more than half the width of the original property, single storey only)

• As long as they don’t cover more than 50% of the original garden, erecting numerous single storey outbuildings (e.g. sheds, home offices etc) tends to fall within PD.

• Outbuildings cannot be forward of the original dwelling line (e.g. no home studios on the front lawn)

Remember, today’s PD doesn’t outrank planning permission, so avoid costly mistakes via a casual chat with your local planning office if in doubt. Extensions and outbuildings erected without thorough research into planning permission needs may be torn down by Council order.

As a leading plastic fabrication company, we can offer a vast range of supplies for home renovation.

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January 30, 2011

Broken window pane? Could it be replaced using plastic sheets?

Filed under: plastic sheets — Tags: plastic sheets, Plastics Suppliers, PVC sheets, Tips and Advice — admin @ 2:59 pm

Window panes can become window pains when they are accidentally cracked or broken. There is the hassle of calling out (and waiting in for) a glazier, not to mention the expense. Alternatively, for those DIY enthusiasts who feel up to tackling the replacement job themselves, the need to order and collect a pre-cut piece of glass from a specialist glazing company can still prove to be an inconvenience.

Many householders however have discovered that clear plastic sheets cut to size can act as a viable – and in many instances superior – alternative to glass when it comes to replacing window panes.

The first advantage of clear plastic sheets is that they are reasonably inexpensive. This is because they are usually mass-produced in standard sizes. It is also easy to order them online for speedy delivery.

Once they have been delivered it is then very easy for the householder to cut them to size using only a standard cutting knife.

Another advantage of clear plastic sheets is that they are tough, shatter-proof and almost impervious to scratching. This not only removes the risk of the pane shattering again, but also increases safety.

Most purchasers also usually report that clear plastic sheets actually offer a much cleaner view than standard glass.

There are different types of clear plastic sheets so it is worth seeking advice beforehand. It may also occasionally be less economical replacing very large panes with plastic sheets.

At Bliby Plastics, as a leading plastic fabrication company, we can help you decide on options for replacing that broken pane using plastic sheets.

We also stock PVC sheets as part of our vast range.

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January 27, 2011

Weatherproofing your home

Filed under: Tips and Advice — Tags: plastic wall cladding, types of wall cladding, UPVC fascia boards, wall cladding — admin @ 2:55 pm

Wherever one lives today, the only characteristic that can be guaranteed about the weather is that it is unpredictable, with the potential to take a devastating toll on any property. Fortunately, there are several ways of preparing our properties for the worst.

External wall cladding, for example, can be installed so as to protect the wood, brickwork, or cement underneath, saving on potentially expensive future repair bills, or even possible claims on building insurance policies.

Likewise, ensuring that guttering is working efficiently in catching and carrying away rainwater from the roof and into the downpipe can also help in preventing damage to the structure of the property as well as to its foundations down below.

Finally, it is also important to check that the fascias to which the guttering is attached – as well as the soffit boards that sometimes box in the roof eaves from underneath – are all still strong and firm (if the wood grain sinks when pressured with the end of a screwdriver it may well need replacing). The wood should also be repainted every year or so.

Whether installing wall cladding or replacing guttering or fascias, UPVC plastic is recommended as one of the most weatherproof materials available, such as UPVC fascia boards, without the need for painting or any other further treatments. Unlike wood, it is even resistant to the heat of the sun, and is also impervious to the effects of UV rays.

At Bliby plastics, we have a range of plastic wall cladding, plastic guttering and plastic fascias to help keep your home safe from the elements.

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January 23, 2011

Why plastic easily stands up to wood

Filed under: Plastics Suppliers — Tags: fascia boards, fascias, plastic sheets, Plastics Suppliers — admin @ 2:50 pm

When installing or replacing fascias, the relative merits of using wood or UPVC fascia boards can sometimes present a real dilemma for those householders who desire quality as well as economy. The fact is, however that, on all levels, modern plastic fascias give even the best wooden alternatives a serious run for their money.

For some commentators, nevertheless, the many advantages of UPVC plastic fascias are unfairly discounted in favour of the ‘superior’ qualities of wooden versions.

Thus the fact that UPVC fascias are much cheaper than wooden fascias immediately goes out of the window in the false belief that this means UPVC fascias will ‘look cheap’.

The advantages that UPVC fascias have in terms of being lightweight, and therefore easier to install (some wooden fascia boards may need as many as three people to lift and install properly) are also mistakenly cast aside as a ‘sacrifice worth making for robustness and longevity’.

Finally, the capacity of some plastic fascia boards to slip over old wooden fascias is misleadingly dismissed as a job being only ‘half done’.

The facts are: modern grain effect plastic fascias do look as convincing as wooden boards; plastic fascias are durable – unlike wood they do not rot, warp in the heat, or require any paintwork; and provided the original wood is in reasonable condition, fitting plastic fascias over them does provide full protection.

At Bliby Plastics, as experts in plastic fabrication, let us explain the many ways in which modern UPVC plastic fascias can save you money and deliver you quality.

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January 20, 2011

Promotional and marketing applications for foam PVC plastic sheets

Filed under: plastic sheets — Tags: cast iron guttering, Plastics Suppliers, PVC cladding, PVC sheets — admin @ 2:47 pm

In the competitive sphere of promotional activity, including business to business presentations and consumer marketing campaigns, the need for effective and durable display media which can also be easily handled and transported to different geographical locations, is an increasingly crucial one. Many businesses have found a cost-effective solution lies in creating their own custom display boards from foam PVC plastic sheets.

Foam PVC plastic sheets are lighter than conventional PVC plastic sheets because, like all foamed products, they contain air pockets or cells. They are therefore very easy to handle and move about. Many businesses also prefer them because cutting and shaping these plastic sheets does not require intensive training or specialist tools. Foam PVC sheets are also easy to fold and bend as required.

Foam PVC plastic also has the advantage of holding both black and coloured screen-printed inks extremely well with a print finish that is always clear and punchy. Alternatively, vinyl lettering is an equally suitable graphic material for use with this medium, whilst it is also acts as a reliable host for adhesive-bonded or mounted printed material and photographs.

Another major plus with foam PVC plastic is that it can also be used for exterior signage since it is highly water repellent. This is particularly the case with white foam PVC plastic where there is no danger of any background colours fading.

At Bliby Plastics we provide a wide range of plastic sheets, including those made from white foam PVC plastic, at highly competitive prices. We also stock cast iron guttering and wall cladding.

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We are Bliby Plastics

Products

Guttering Blog

February 17, 2011

Choosing your Plastic Fabrication Company

February 14, 2011

Seasonal Guttering Check Advice

February 11, 2011

Easy External Home Improvements

February 8, 2011

Domestic Extension Interiors and Plastic Cladding

February 5, 2011

UPVC and the Environment

February 2, 2011

Your Revised Domestic Permitted Development Rights

January 30, 2011

Broken window pane? Could it be replaced using plastic sheets?

January 27, 2011

Weatherproofing your home

January 23, 2011

Why plastic easily stands up to wood

January 20, 2011

Promotional and marketing applications for foam PVC plastic sheets