West London's 'mega basements'

There may be a crack down on the amount of 'mega basements' being built in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea boroughs. There are more restrictions being put in place to limit the size of basement extensions and secure the housing foundations. Full article here. 

Inflation on the rise, again

Unfortunately energy prices are on the rise again this winter. Prices in September are recorded to be 2.7% higher than one year ago. The main pressure on prices has come from air fares, petrol and diesel prices falling. Overall inflation remained above the Bank of England's target of 2% for a 46th straight month. More news here

Fears for London housing bubble

If house prices continue to rise, fewer than one in five london families will be able to own their own property by the age of 65. Read full article here 

Trellick Tower's new tenants

The Trellick Tower, built in 1972 and designed by Hungarian architect Ernö Goldfinger’s is a 31 story council block in the Nottinghill area of West London. A quarter of it is privately owned and recently, film makers, designers and foodies have used or are moving into the lower spaces to help the community thrive and support the building. Read more here. 

Ikea now selling solar installation packages

Ikea are now selling solar installation packages from £5,700. The installation is completed by the company Hanergy who will survey your home and install the panels. Recently, the solar energy market has decreased and several companies have had to quit their work. The packages offered by Ikea are a little cheaper than others on the market but the awareness and open publicity from a brand we all know and trust is a good thing. 

Air Pollution in East London exceeds safety limit

Local 'citizen scientists' have announced that the air pollution in East London is dangerously high. 36 diffusion monitoring tubes were placed around bus stops, parks and busy roads to measure emissions in over 30 streets. The area recorded over the annual safety limit of the toxic exhaust pipe gas nitrogen dioxide in just over four weeks. 
The Air pollution produced by traffic in east London is considered to be some of the worst in Britain, effecting young and old people subject to respiratory and heart diseases.  Read full article here. 

Fast growth for housing output

Employment numbers in construction have risen over four consecutive months with an increasing rate of job creation. Read the report here. 

New installation for Margate

Artist Alex Chinneck has created a sliding house in Margate. Titled "From the knees of my nose to the belly of my toes" this installation took just under two months to complete and will be in place for a year. See video here 

Crystal Palace plans to return to former glory

Plans have been bought forward to restore the exhibition centre at Crystal Palace, South East London. Chinese developers want to create a replica of the structure, which was once the largest glass structure in the world. Full article here 

New plans for Bow Street Magistrates Court

Bow Street Magistrates Court in London is having a £20m make over into a boutique hotel, restaurant and museum. The plans are grand and fully approved by Westminster Council. See images here. 

New homes for Croydon

A seven story 1970's office building in Croydon will be converted into 73 new homes using materials including green oak and zinc. Around 40 homes will be built in the abutting buildings to the existing structure.

Westminster Council funding their homeless

Westminster council have been paying for homeless families in London to stay in Bed and Breakfast accommodation for longer than the legal period of six weeks. Read full article here. Surely this is a huge realisation that a faster approach needs to be taken to secure affordable housing in London before there is no money left to support anyone. 

Planning permissions for London businesses

Applying for planning permission for your business premises will take a little bit of time, but with effort and perseverance it will definitely be worthwhile. Follow a detailed Planning Permission guide for businesses and take into consideration the following points: 

Design statement 

Environmental performance statement 

Transport assessment

Travel plan 

Air quality assessment 

Noise assessment 

Archaeological evaluation 

Subsidised housing for scientific researchers

The Mayor of London plans to provide funding for housing scientific researchers in a development around Euston Road in order to boost the capital’s position as a leading life sciences and technology centre. Read full article via the London Evening Standard. 

Crossrail sites open to public

Six sites across the Crossrail infrastructure will be open to the public for a chance to view the sites and take part in a tour. On 21 and 22 september tours will be conducted around Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf station sites, conducted by the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy, Ilford. 

Paddington, Tottenham Court Road and Pudding Mill Lane construction sites will also be open on the last weekend of September, only a few spaces remain so best to book! More info can be read here.

New £5m fire station in West Norwood

There is a new fire station being build in West Norwood. Willmott Dixon has won the £5m construction project based in South London. The building is estimated to be finished in Autumn 2014. The old fire station which is a grade II listed building has been deemed uneconomic and in much need of being modernised to support the service. 

Electrical courses in london

Interested in becoming an electrician in london? Check out the following courses at Ableskills.

Private landlords in London

Private landlords in london are not carrying out necessary health and safety obligations. Tenants are being put at risk by their landlords when they do not respond to electrical faults. Minor Electrical faults can become bigger problems and cause serious fires and injuries. Landlords need to address these important matters before its too late, they will also be at a financial loss should anything serious happen to their property. 

Heating system checks

Summer is drawing to a close and it will soon be time to turn the central heating back on. Before you do, make sure your heating system is checked by a gas safe registered engineer. Pukkajob plumbers in london offer highly skilled services to ensure your family and home stay safe this fall. 

Blaze in Yosemite National Park

The fire in Yosemite National Park, US is still ablaze. It started last week and is continuously getting bigger, currently at 234 square miles in size. The fire started days before a lightening storm. Because its been an extremely dry year, lacking in snow and rainfall smaller fires began and gradually increased. The fire has caused problems to California's hydroelectric generated power,  forcing $600,000 to be spent on buying power. 

A delay to small business loans

Lending plans for small businesses have been set back until 2016 because major lender, Nationwide building society have delayed their plans to help out. Nationwide is meant to act as the buffer against financial crisis. The government feel that lending to small businesses is crucial to speed up the recovery of our economy. Read full article here. 

Could London be back in a property bubble?

It is becoming increasingly harder for Londoners to get on the property ladder. Even with the aid of the help-to-buy scheme, to save up for the mortgage is taking a few years and having a shortage of homes definitely doesn't help. Read a case study about a young couple trying to save up to buy a house in london here. 

Herne Hill under water

Last week a water main burst in Herne Hill, South London affecting homes, businesses and roads. The burst main has affected Herne Hill Road, Dulwich Road and Half Moon Lane. With over 35 properties affected in the area, this has been tragic summer. Thousands of pounds of restorations need to be made to restaurants, estate agents and shops which have had to close. Read more here 

A london plumber voted the best in UK

Mr Richard who runs The Hampstead & Highgate Heating & Plumbing CO has been voted by Which? the best plumber in the UK. Its nice to see a family run business with over 20 years of experience be recognised for their hard work, honesty and professionalism. Full article here

Illegal mountain top penthouse

A doctor in China built a mountainous roof top penthouse worth 24 million dollars on top of a 26 storey block of flats. The authorities have ordered for the place to be demolished within 15 days to prove that it is a safe and stable development. Read more here

Green roof planning

10,800 new homes are being built in Barking along the Thames Gateway. A green infrastructure is being put in place, green roofs are being installed to bring back and support the ecosystem that urbanisation traditionally takes away. 

When undertaking a green roof for your property there are important factors to take in. Make sure you work with professionals and get the best advice possible and factor in the following:
- Understand the ecology of the site and its environs
- Look at the green roofs within this wider context
- Tailor the selection of planting to suit the area and species you wish to encourage

Foreign investors dominating developments in inner london

Property in london is becoming increasingly hard to afford. It appears that most of the inner London developments were bought by foreign investors, a staggering 75%  in 2012. This then leads to 1 bedroom flats being too expensive for the current leaseholders to live in, even with compensation offered to previous tenants, it is not doable. 
Read more here

Registered tradesmen london

Always ensure you hire a registered tradesman. A tradesman was jailed this month for illegally fitting a boiler to a home in Milton Keynes. After investigation it turned out that the tradesman was not gas safe registered. It is illegal to work on a residential or commercial property without being registered and could cause a great deal of damage. 

If a gas appliance hasn't been fitted properly and flues are not connected right they can leak carbon monoxide, cause fires and explosions. You must always check that the engineer is accredited and registered by asking for their ID. Find out more online via GasSafeRegister.co.uk. 

Housing construction boost

House building has increased at a super rate since June 2010. The Help to Buy scheme started earlier this year and has been a key reason in the rise and demand for new homes to be built. More info here. 

Fracking in West Sussex

Exploratory fracking may possibly start today in West Sussex. Protesters have been at the site for nine days now. Concerns are that if the site goes ahead in the search for shale gas there may be potential water contamination and environmental damage, as well as small-scale earthquakes. Read full article here. 

Test Drive Talent initiative

The Test Drive Talent initiative is developed by SummitSkills and aims to give work experience opportunities to plumbing and electrical students. Over Britain, 146 business's have signed up to a Youth Pledge to be apart of the scheme to help young people get the skills and experience needed for employment. The scheme is open to young adults aged 16 and over who are studying a full time industry related course. Already 54 young people have secured employment through the initiative, starting out with an apprenticeship. More information can be read here. 

Britain may not be out of trouble yet

The following article takes a look at the British Recession. It claims that the GDP is 4% below its peak and if we had followed an example of the US criteria, Britain would not have declared itself out of recession. 
Published by the Guardian, read the article here. 

Reduce the heat in your home

It is super hot at the minute and we love it! However, it is a bit uncomfortable at night. Generally, we are not a country that needs air conditioning in our homes, so here are a few simple tips to help try and keep your home cool in the evenings. 

- Open the attic or loft door/hatch. Because heat rises, it lingers upstairs and makes it harder to sleep in the evenings. By opening the attic up, the heat has further to rise, letting lower levels of the house cool down.

- Try and block the sunlight from outside of the window glass if possible. If you have external shutters, use them. 

- White window shades or mini blinds can help reduce solar heat. 

- Don't have a fan on in a room that is being unused. 

- Try not to use heat generating items like a dishwasher in the day, save it until the evening if possible. 

- To help spread the air, place a large bowl of ice safely underneath a fan (not directly underneath – remember water does not go hand in hand with electrics)

UK needs to make room for recycling improvements

Recycling bins.co.uk have conducted a new report into how other countries recycle. Research shows that Austria recycle 63% of municipal solid waste compared to the 39% recorded from the UK. Germany came second with a rate of 62%, Belgium and Switzerland are joint at 50% and Sweeden and US acheive a 49% recycling rate. This demonstrates that there is room for improvement for the UK to follow in order to achieve a higher level of recycling. 

Contemporary mining in UK

One of the UK's largest street cleaning operators, Veolia Environmental Services are planning to mine valuable metals from the sweepings they clear up. The idea is that by extracting metals from these sweepings, valuable and rare metals like palladium, rhodium and platinum could be recovered. Read full article here. 

Is living in London possible on a low income?

Events, news and all things London online site Londonist have published a report in which they created an imaginative family to see if it is possible to live in London on a low income without benefits. The results were interesting and as true as possible taking into consideration multiple situations. The results prove that it is possible to live in London within a tight budget, but in true reality, would it be a happy lifestyle. Check out the final figures here

Negative responses for British Trade Industry

Rogue traders are giving our British trade industry a bad name. The public are becoming increasingly untrustworthy about asking for tradesmen services unless they have been recommended by a friend. According to a poll conducted by TrustMark, over 50% of people said they are not confident about the level of consumer protection available. Read full article here

Elephant and Castle Regeneration

The mayor of London has given £780,000 to the redevelopment of the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle. The developers London & Quadrant have been selected to build 54 affordable homes on the site that support a variety of people on a range of income. The site called Trafalgar Place will provide 235 new homes in total, spread over 7 buildings which will be 10 stories tall. The redevelopement aims to be completed by 2015. 

Islington council consider room for improvements

There are many overdue cases in repairs and rather complex jobs for council tenants living in the london borough of Islington. The council are deciding whether to break their current housing repairs contract and bring all the work in house. The service really needs improving and this change would hopefully lead to work being completed on time. Read more here

Electric Sports Cars

Check out this sports edition electric car. Retailing in America, this electric car is increasing in popularity. See video here via BBC. 

4G Technology

Two mobile phone companies have switched to 4G technology since the start of the summer. By switching on 4G masts, it is expected that digital TV frequencies will be disrupted. It could affect more than 2.4 million homes in the UK. Electrical wholesaler Newey & Eyre have made a range of 4G filter devices which can be used indoor or outdoor to allow people to make full use of their digital TV boxes without disruption. 

Extra funding for London apprenticeship schemes

Public funding doubles for apprenticeship schemes in London, £1,500 extra has been  announced by the Greater London Authority and the London Enterprise Panel. There are two rules to the new scheme: Businesses and employers must be based in the greater london area to qualify, only applies to the first 1,000 applicants who meet the age criteria and the grant will apply to apprentices where the start date of the young person is between 10th June to 31st December 2013. It is important that these funded schemes help grow the building and engineering services within London. 

Handymen in London

Pukkajob handymen services in london range from putting up flat pack furniture to garden maintenance and the disposal of rubbish. Now that the weather is picking up and summer is hopefully just around the corner, its a good time to get out the garden furniture. Before you use it, inspect chairs and tables for rust, mold or damages. Ensure bits of chairs are not frayed, or broke and rinse any cushions or fabrics to get rid of dirt or debris. 

If you require help with assembling furniture, a shed or greenhouse, Pukkajob handymen services in London will be more than happy to help. Our handymen speciliase in anything that requires a screwdriver, no job is too small. Give us a call on 0790 667 3169 or fill in a quick form via our estimate page.

Oil refinery exceeding expectations

The second biggest oil refinery in Britian has beaten its expectations by earning £843 million over the year. Read full article here

Private Rented Sector London

The Private rented sector in London makes up for about 25% of housing. This equates to over 800,000 homes in London. Landlords have responsibilities to ensure their rented property complies with safety regulations and manage any repairs, leaks or damages to the property. For more details visit the Private Renting Guide by our UK Government. 

Public consultations to revoke 12 older legislation's

The Health and Safety Executive have proposed to remove 12 legislative measures. The measures in questions were made between 1937 - 1983 and are said to be now redundant or changed/amended to suit more current procedures. The consultation will finish next month. 

Construction Industry Facts

- The construction industry offers around 22,000 jobs each year

- The building of the Olympic Stadium which was completed in 2012 created an additional 33,500

- More than 35% of people working in the construction industry are their own boss and run their own companies

- Nearly 200,000 women work in the industry

- Over a quarter of employers have hired a school leaver in the last 3 years and roughly 50% of employers in the building services take part in the modern apprenticeship scheme

- 1 in 14 of the UK workforce is employed in construction 

Blacklists in the Construction Industry

In 2009 the discovery of a secret black list within the construction industry was revealed. 3,200 men and women were put on this list and since then, the individuals have struggled to find work and keep up a living. Read full article 

Intense competition for apprenticeship placements

Between February and April this year, 370,000 people submitted online applications to the National Apprenticeship Service. The competition to become an apprenticeship is now so high, figures show that 41 young people are applying for every plumbing apprenticeship position. Read full article here

Unsure about energy efficient heating systems?

A report came out in March 2013 examining the UK's public willingness to take up more efficient heating systems. It appears there is a lack of awareness when it comes to switching to more renewable energy appliances and resources. It reported that most households would only switch appliances once they needed a new one. Read full article

Smoke Alarm Safety

Smoke alarms should be fitted on each floor of your home. They are essential to the safety of your home and will give a warning once any smoke has been detected, whether its a fire, or from cooking. When buying a smoke alarm, get one that is mains powered, it is safer than a battery alarm. If you are unsure about what smoke alarm to buy or how to fit one, call in a professional electrician. 

When fitting a smoke alarm ensure the following steps:

- Place the smoke alarm where it is easy to clean and be tested – not over a stairway

- Don’t place the device in really hot or cold rooms – the air currents move quickly in these conditions and smoke could move away before its detected 

- Ideally, smoke alarms should be fitted in the centre of the ceiling and at least 30cm away from wall or light fittings

- A smoke alarm cannot be installed directly above heaters or an open fire, in bathrooms, by the shower, above a cooker, or in a garage where steam or condensation can cause a false alarm 

Pukkajob electricians in london offer highly skilled services for commercial or residential properties. Call us on 07906673169 or visit pukkajob.com. 

UK's reserve of shale gas

The gas firm IGas has believes that the UK has a bigger reserve of shale gas than first expected. There could be up to 4,810 cubic km of gas available in an area of North England. 
Shale gas is extracted by fracking. Water and sand is pumped into rocks at a high pressure to release gas. It has been successful in the USA, and the UK hopes for similar success. Read full article

Gas Safety

If you live in a rented home in london, your landlord should by law ensure gas safety checks are carried out every 12 months. Cookers, boilers, gas fires and gas heaters should all be checked by a gas safe registered engineer. 
If you think that the gas appliance you are using is faulty at any time, stop using it immediately and call in a gas safe registered engineer. A gas safe registered engineer will complete an inspection and record any faults found, giving a certificate to your landlord. Make sure you receive a copy of this certificate from your landlord. 

Check for the following warning signs if you think there is a gas leak in your home. 
- The flame is a lazy yellow colour instead of a blue one
- The pilot light keeps going out
- There are black marks or soot stains on the appliance
- More condensation is on the walls, windows or ceiling than usual

Support for World Energy Bill

The governments new energy bill is going through its third reading today and tomorrow. The change is meant to increase investment in and to the UK and allow to cut the economy emissions by 50% for 2030. The energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey says the bill "will make our energy market fairer for consumers, helping millions to be moved on to cheaper tariffs, and making companies provide clearer information on bills so that people can more easily switch at a swipe of their smartphone.” 

Electrical Safety: Smoke Alarms

Ensure electrical safety in your london home and keep yourself and your family safe. You should have at least two decent smoke alarms fitted, one upstairs and one downstairs. All new homes and extensions, and changes such as loft conversions must always comply with Part B of Building regulations. It requires mains, interconnected smoke alarms, not just battery only. If you need an electrician in london or require a smoke alarm inspection get in touch with Pukkajob.com today on 07906673169 or fill out a simple estimate form. 

Will our high street become deceased?

Internet shopping is fast becoming to blame for the closing of high street shops. It is estimated that in 2008, the total number of shops on the high street will fall to 220,000, taking 316,000 jobs in a report by Professor Joshua Bamfield. 41% of UK towns could see a rapid decline of closing stores and less visitors. London and the South East are expected 10% of closures, less than the rest of the UK. 

Stamp duty inflation

The increase in stamp duty is being blamed to have a downward affect on the housing market. The average home buyer pays stamp duty of £5,957, 3.7% of their house price. Read full article  

Electrical courses in the UK

Interested in becoming a qualified electrician or need an extra step up to reach your professional goals? Trade Skills 4 U offer a range of electrical courses from PAT Testing courses to Electrical Design. All City and Guilds and NICEIC registered. Find out more here. 

Highest % of mortgage lending since 2009

Mortgage lending in Britain is at its top level of 4% since April this year and £12.1 billion worth was taken out over March 2013. Houses in London and the South East of England are the most expensive in Britain, and if this area was taken out of the stats, the lending figure would only be up by 0.6% or so every year. Read full article here. 

HSE: Important for the UK

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is an independent regulator that monitors and acts in the public interest to cut down on work related injuries, illness and maintain safety. Read this blog post by Chris Kirk to see just how important the work led and done by the HSE is. 

Independent Inspections

A concultancy service is being provided by OFTEC to check consumers heating systems and installations. An on site inspection will look at building regulations and ensure the installtion complies and overseas all standards. Visit OFTEC.org for more details.

The Shard - An economical transition

The Shard opened this year based at London Bridge after three years of construction and development. It is Western Europes largest building towering at 310 meters tall, has 11,000 glass panels and is home to restaurants, a hotel, offices and private accomodation.
The building has mutiple technical innovations including an underground parking space, energy saving lifts, a heat filtering system and its very own small scale power plant. According to top architects, efficieny is the most imnportant element in a new development. Things change quickly when it comes to design, and efficient, energy saving aspects are always taken into account. Read original article from BBC.

Opposed plans to a new bridge in East London

There is a current proposal for a new bridge to be created over the Thames which links Beckton to Thamesmead in East London. There has been some opposition from London Assembly Members. In 2008 the Mayor of London was against these plans, since then there has been new consultations for the plans and a large amount of support from the public, prompting a different way of thinking from the Mayor. Alot of money has already been spent on proposals and preparation work, over £43 million. Read original article.

 

 

 

 

A dip in the construction industry

There is still an ongoing decline in the construction industry. Housing activity is increasing slightly but there have been drops in commercial activity and civil engineering. The current period of declining new business is the longest since that recorded in 2008/09. There are stable employment numbers in the UK construction sector and optimism is high on looking forward to the future. Survey respondents anticipate a rise in their output over the next twelve months. 

Safer lorries in london

HGV lorries have been working on a project set by Crossrail to ensure the safety of road users in London. Security cameras and sensors have been fitted to a number of lorries contracted by Crossrail. More than 4,700 drivers have completed Crossrail’s lorry driver training course to maintain a high level of safety on the roads. 

The offshore wind industry

Plans have been submitted to make the Port of Ardersier in Scotland a site for the offshore wind industry. The purpose built yard with 340 acres of vacant land is considered to take a share of the £70 billion made by the UK offshore construction market. Read full article here. 

Prevent Scalding Hazards

More than 2,000 children are taken to hospital because of bathwater scalds every year. These injuries can sometimes be life changing. A scald over more than 20% of the body can have the same damage as being hit by a bus. 

Present building regulations require new homes to have a device fitted on the bath to limit the temperature of the water. It allows hot water to be used, but not get so hot that it can scald and cause serious injuries. This device, a Thermostatic Mixing Valve can easily be fitted to an existing water system. 

There is no regulation in laws that homes should be fitted with a Thermostatic Mixing Valve, but if there was, it would help prevent many common injuries in the UK. 

If you require a plumber in london get in touch with us via our estimate form at www.pukkajob.com. We will be more than happy to help. 

London Luxury property prices on the increase

Prices for luxury houses in London have increased by 8%. This growth in demand for properties in london has helped prices rise accross england and wales by 0.3%. Despiste our financial situation, property prices have increased by just over £100,00. Read full report by Knight Frank here.

As energy bills rocket, is it actually cheaper to go green?

We might be paying a bit more for green energy than imagined, read the following article from the guardian which breaks down some statistics of average bill prices. 

Gas Safety Tips

It is important to stay safe around gas and prevent any leaks or injuries. A gas leak in the home is a serious danger, follow these tips to ensure your home and family are safe when using gas and gas appliances. 

- Ensure you have your gas appliances serviced regularly by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer. This includes boilers, gas cookers and gas fires. 
- Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and get checked out by a doctor if you think you have it. These include nausea, dizziness, headaches.
- Check the warning signs on your gas appliances, if they are not working properly, get in a professional to check they are not faulty. 
- Only use your gas appliances for their purpose.
- Allow for enough ventilation when using your gas appliance so they can burn properly.    

Do you know what to do in an emergency gas leak?

In the case of an emergency, it is extremely important to act fast if you have a gas leak in your London home. Follow these steps and ensure safety at all times:

Open all doors and windows to immediately ventilate the room and get air in.

Switch off the appliance and do not use it again until it has been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Turn off the gas supply at the mains.

Call the National Gas Emergency number 0800 111 999.

What to look out for to prevent a carbon monoxide leak:

- The flame on your cooker should be crisp and blue. Lazy yellow or orange flames mean you need to get your cooker checked

- Dark staining around or on appliances 

- Pilot lights that frequently blow out 

- Increased condensation inside windows 

Visit your doctor if you think you might have Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Signs of C02 poisoning can include nausia, headaches and dizziness. 

London Housing Facts

London is in high demand for housing both private and social. Here are a few facts courtesy of London Councils that shed light upon London’s current housing situation. 

- Over the last 10 years there has been an increase of 540,000 households, but only 430,000 new homes built throughout London 

- One in eight homes in London are owned and managed by housing associations, with an average monthly rent of £361 

- Over one year there has been a 12% increase in the average monthly rent in private accommodation of £1202

- In 2010 it was recorded that 51.6% of Londoners lived in a home they own

- There are 79,971 empty homes in London - which represents 2.4 per cent of the total housing stock 

- Stamp Duty from five London boroughs contributed £723 million to the Treasury, compared with around £625 million for the rest of the UK (2009-10)

- House prices in London are 61% higher than the national average 

- London now accounts for 75% of all households in temporary accommodation in England

 

Redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road

Plans to redevelop an office building on the south end of Tottenham Court Road will be revealed today. The building where Time Out magazine currently works from is proposing to create new offices and retail spaces. If the development is approved, aims are to finish the work by 2016 to be ready for when the Crossrail opens. 

Shales Gas Fracking

Research has shown that fracking does cause earthquakes, but only little ones, that would not cause any serious damage and can hardly be felt. 
Fracking is a technique which blasts water into rocks to make cracks and free up the shale gas within the rocks. This way of releasing gas has been used to provide energy to Britain for 100 years 
Since 1929 there have been three earthquakes that people have actually felt and other actions can cause quakes up to 5.6. Read full article. 

Time for a spring clean

Spring: a time to de-clutter the house, replace and repair any faulty appliances, and mass clean. If you need help with the removal of rubbish, unwanted furniture, some garden maintenance or a helping hand who is good with a screw driver give our pukkajob london handymen services a call on 0790 667 3169 or complete an online form via pukkajob.com estimate page. 

JCB Digger Profits in Africa

Strong trade in Africa and the Middle East has allowed digger company JCB to record it's highest ever profit. In 2012, the companies earnings rose to £365m on turnover and the demand for machines rose by 150 items in 2011 in a global market. Read full article

Top Tradesmen for London

Looking for a reliable and highly skilled electrician, plumber or builder in London?
Our Pukkajob Tradesmen are available for services in central London and surrounding boroughs. Highly skilled, reliable and trustworthy, our tradesmen take care of the job in hand, whether its a domestic or commercial job. 

Services include: Electrician, Consumer Units, Networking, PAT Testing, Surveillance and CCTV,Total Rewire, Re positioning plug sockets, Electrical repairs,Extensions, Kitchen Extensions, Plumbing, Office Refurbishments, Roofing repairs, Replacing gutters,Carpentry, Studwork partitioning, Bespoke storage, Building, Loft Conversion, Painting and Decorating, Repainting internal woodwork, Handymen, Flatpack Asembly, Fitting new door locks, Moving heavy furniture, disposing of unwanted furniture and items, Plastering, skimming new partion walls and rendering services. Call us today on 0790 667 3169 for a free quote. 

London Pubs Saved as Community Assets

Boris Johnson has agreed to list our London pub's as 'community assets' to save them against being sold to developers. Often, these buildings are being turned into residential flats or retail spaces, thus completely changing the feel of the local high street and community. In the last 10 years 1,300 pubs in London have been sold on to developers. Lets keep our London Pub's alive! 

Cooking Oil used for fuel

Restaurants and food companies in London are giving their used cooking oil to aid our fuel and energy consumption instead of blocking the drains and sewers of the city. The energy generated from the grease and oil will help "run a major sewage works and a desalination plant, as well as supplying the National Grid, under plans announced by Thames Water and utility company 2OC." Read more

London Transport

The Transport for London Commissioner is fighting to keep up government funding for the transport network. The current funding will run out in two years time and the commissioner believes that the network will be under increasing strain without the importance of government funding. Read full article. 

Earth Hour 2013

Last Saturday 23rd March at 8.30pm, cities around the globe supported Earth Hour by turning off their lights for an hour. Earth Hour aims to support renewable energies and raise awareness about climate change. See images published on the guardian here. 

Plumbing Problems

There are several common plumbing problems that we can easily maintain in the home to prevent any serious damages and repairs. 
- Inspect your boiler regularly in order to identify any signs of leakage or rusting at tank fittings. If you notice any problems or damages get in touch with a plumber straight away. 

- It shouldn’t really be needed to say, but don’t flush large, bulky items down the loo, it causes blockages. 

- Pumping the septic tank regularly prevents sediments settling on the bottom, which can cause a back up. This should be done every 5 years or so.

- Always check the pipes in cold weather, if they are frozen, you will need to thaw them out. You can thaw frozen pipes by using hot water bottles and hot water towels. It may take a while, never rush the process. 

- Valves that are not in constant use can fuse together. If you regularly clean the valves you can prevent them sticking in the long run. 

Never  try to solve a big plumbing problem yourself, you may end up making more damage! Always get in a professional plumber in London. Pukkajob.com plumbers are trustworthy, highly skilled and happy to fix any commercial or domestic plumbing problem. Call us on 0790 667 3169, no call out fee. 

Misuse of NICEIC logo

An electrical contractor has been wrongly advertising that he is NICEIC registered. The NICEIC logo was used falsely 8 times by the contractor, he has been fined £1200 and reported to trading standards.
Ensure the tradesmen you use for commercial or residential services are all registered and hold all relevant accreditation.

North London Gas Leak

The was a large gas leak in Enfield, North London this morning. About 120 people had to leave their homes and places of work, the town centre was closed. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas boilers, cookers and fires can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. If you think you have a gas leak, get some fresh air immediately, open windows and doors to let air into the room, switch off the appliance in use and turn off the gas supply at the mains.

Air Pollution in Beijing

The amount of Air Pollution in Beijing varies day after day. Below is a montage of Tiananmen Square taken over nine days. The results are slightly disturbing!

London Building Sites captured beautifully

Photographer Andy Spain has captured some stunning images of London's recent development sites. Spain states that "when a building is knocked down it reveals a view for a short period of time before the next building goes up to obscure it again." Check it out asvisual.photoshelter.com

Bitter cold returns

As the bitter and snowy weather has returned, keep an eye on your plumbing, There are a few things you need to check including your roof and heating system. Check our list. 

London host's Grand Prix electric car race

London has been picked as one of 8 cities around the world to host Grand Prix electric car race. Formula E races will only take place in city centres to push the message that the electric car will be a solution for mobility and demonstrate the benefits of electrical vehicles. Read full article

Faulty energy saving products

There are some energy saving products currently on the market that are faulty and do not comply to CE marking or UK safety laws. The Electrical Safety Council are currently testing products in an independent laboratory and are working with trading standards to take proper action against the manufacturers. A list of products has not been released, so keep an eye out for news and your own electrical's. Check out this short video clip where Andy Reynolds, the Electrical Safety Lead at the Chief Fire Officers Association speaks out about an easy way to check safety the of electrical products. 

The Big London Energy Switch

The Big London Energy Switch initiative aims to provide the residents of london to get cheaper energy and gas tariffs. Launched by local london authorities and 20 london boroughs, a sum of £686,655 was given to the scheme by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Londoncouncils.gov.uk state that "It is estimated that 325,000 homes in the 20 boroughs are in fuel poverty, which means more than 10 per cent of income is spent on electricity and gas. But up to 1.75 million households could be assisted by boroughs to get a better energy deal."

Socket Overload Calculator

The Electrical Safety Council have come up with a clever little online calculator so you can clearly see how to safely use an extension lead. Some electrical appliances we use on a day to day basis use more electricity than we imagine. Ensure you are using extension leads correctly and safely and try out the socket overload calculator.  

Housing builds decrease as struggle to meet demand

It turns out the UK is only building half the homes estimated to support growing demand. In 2012 there was an 11% decline in the amount of new start up homes being built. The British Property Federation want all consumers to consider a range of housing options, including build to let.  Read more

Do you use a faulty phone charger?

Some Electrical appliances that are being sold on the market do not all follow UK safety regulations. Imported products can be faulty and cause serious electric shock, fire or injury. The Electrical Safety Council has developed a guide to check electrical chargers. Follow the steps and ensure the electrical's you and your family use are safe. 

World Plumbing Day

Monday 11th March 2013 is world plumbing day, a day to promote the role plumbers play to maintain our nations health and safety.   

Tradesmen for London

Pukkajob.com offers a range of services and have highly skilled tradesmen available for all your projects needs. 
Services include: 
Electrician, Consumer Units, Networking, PAT Testing, Surveillance and CCTV,Total Rewire, lighting fittings, Outdoor lighting, Re positioning plug sockets, Electrical repairs,Extensions, Kitchen Extensions, Garage Extensions, Bathroom Renovation, Plumbing, Drain blockages, Boiler Installation, Shower installation, Office Refurbishments, Gutting Office, Adding Stairs, Installing new desk space, Roofing repairs, Replacing gutters, Garage roofing, Roof installation,Carpentry, Stair removal and installation, restoration projects, Studwork partitioning, Bespoke storage,Building, Loft Conversion, Patio Extensions, Painting and Decorating, Home exterior decorating, Sash Windows, Stripping and Painting window sill, Stripped wallpaper and redecorating, Decorating Whole house or individual rooms, Skirting boards, Repainting internal woodwork, Handymen, Flatpack Asembly, Fitting new door locks, Moving heavy furniture, disposing of unwanted furniture and items, Garden maintenance, Plastering, skimming new partion walls and rendering services. 
If you require a tradesmen in london, get in touch with us today. Call 0790 667 3169

Cold weather essentials

During these cooler weeks, it is essential to keep on top of house maintenance and check appliances. Some appliances, pipes and boilers can become damaged or faulty at the most inconvenient of times and could end up costing more in the long run to fix. 

Boiler – Thermostats loose accuracy over time so check this is working, showing correct temperatures and turning on/off at correct times. The condensate pipe might freeze and cause a blockage. A warning light or fault code may come on. Always get a Gas Safety Engineer to look at your boiler. Our plumbers in London are all registered.     

Fridge/Freezer – This is a given, but the warmer the room temperature that the fridge/freezer is stored in, then more than likely there will not be a problem. If the appliance is placed in a garage below 8’C the refrigerant gas will not be able to extract heat from surrounding air. 

Gas flues – ensure that gas flues do not freeze over because this could cause a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide. Ensure you go to a professional; all our plumbers in London are accredited and registered. 

Roof – keep an eye on the roof tiles. High winds or storms can damage roof tiles and become loose. If you need a new roof or repairs get in touch with pukkajob roofing services in London. 

Heating – Keep your home well heated over winter. If it is too costly, try and keep at least one room heated for the whole time. Even on a low temp if necessary. 

Energy bills on the rise

Our energy bills are going to increase, according to watchdog Ofgem Chief. The UK is becoming more reliant on energy imports. Because of several older power station closures, there could be a 10% fall in April alone. The chief executive says the financial crisis is to blame. Read more at BBC

Tough year ahead for Construction

A Construction Trade Survey has been published today and suggests a difficult year ahead. 
During the end of 2012 the industry suffered because of "declining output and orders on the demand side, combined with rising costs on the supply side." Some of the key numbers from the survey are as follows:
- 23% of building contractors reported that, on balance, output fell in the private commercial sector, whilst in private new housing output flatlined
- 43% of large and medium sized building contractors, on balance, suggested that tender prices reduced in 2012 Q4
- 46% of contractors, on balance, reported falls in profit margins, down from 49% in Q3
More information available

SkillELECTRIC 2013

SkillELECTRIC is a competition for young electrical apprentices. To find the UK's number one young electrician, entrants must complete a series of practical tests to get through to the grand final. There are three stages to complete with a possible opportunity to be invited to the WorldSkills Selection. The competition improves skills, motivation and gives candidates the recognition they deserve for being young professionals in the Electrical Industry. Find out how to register.  

Targeted: Protected park in Peru

An energy company wants to use an area of a protected park in the amazon because it is ' more bio diverse than any other place on the planet.' Permission to use the site  was denied in 2012 but there may be a more developed strategy forming to gain permission in the future. Read full article