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Ah, the front door – not just a barrier between you and the elements, but the first hello and the last goodbye. It’s where warm hugs are given, tearful farewells are said, and where Amazon parcels mysteriously disappear from. Installing a new front door is more than just a home improvement project; it’s setting the tone for every entrance and exit. So, what should you consider to ensure your new front door is not just a door, but a grand entrance? Let’s unlock the secrets.

Style and Personality

Your front door is the smile of your home. It should reflect not just the architecture of your house but your personality as well. Whether you prefer the classic charm of a wooden door, the sleek modernity of steel, or the durable practicality of uPVC, the style you choose will speak volumes. Consider the colour, design, and features like glass panels or intricate woodwork. Remember, this door is the opening sentence to the story of your home.

Security: More Than Just a Lock

In today’s world, a front door needs to be more than just pretty; it needs to be tough. High-quality locks (think multi-point locking systems) and robust materials can turn your door into a veritable fortress. Security features like peepholes, security cameras, and smart locks not only add layers of protection but also peace of mind.

Energy Efficiency: Keeping the Warmth In (and the Cold Out)

An energy-efficient front door is like a snug hat for your home: it keeps the warmth in and the cold out. Look for doors with good insulation properties, such as those with a solid core, weather stripping, and proper sealing. Energy efficiency doesn’t stop at keeping you cozy; it extends to your wallet, too, by helping to reduce heating bills.

Durability: Weathering the Storm

The British weather can be as unpredictable as a soap opera plotline. Your front door needs to withstand rain, wind, sun, and the occasional snowstorm. Materials like fibreglass, steel, and certain types of wood, treated for outdoor use, can stand up to Mother Nature’s mood swings. Consider the direction your door faces and the local climate when making your choice.

Installation: A Firm Foundation

Even the mightiest door can falter if not installed correctly. A professional installation ensures that your door not only fits perfectly but functions smoothly and efficiently. Poor installation can lead to drafts, leaks, and security vulnerabilities. It’s worth investing in skilled craftsmanship to ensure your door stands firm and proud.

Budget: Balancing Cost and Quality

New doors Glasgow are an investment in your home’s value, security, and aesthetic appeal. While it’s tempting to cut costs, remember that a cheaper door might not withstand the test of time (or burglars).

Choosing a new front door is a journey of balancing style, security, efficiency, durability, and budget. It’s the first step in welcoming guests, protecting your loved ones, and expressing your personal style.

Nothing ruins the new year quite as quickly as a pest infestation in your home.

Pest proofing your home is one of the best possible new year’s resolutions that you can possibly commit to and luckily it is also a lot easier to achieve than sticking to that workout routine you have been considering.

Many pest issues, especially those involving insect species such as flies, wasps, and ants, arise more regularly when temperatures rise slightly going into the spring or summer months.

This makes the start of the new year the perfect chance to get one step ahead of the game and ensure that accessing your property is no easy feat for these pesky troublemakers.

Harvey Environmental are one of the top pest experts liverpool are not only help our domestic and commercial customers to eliminate pest issues that already exist but also give them the benefit of our training and years of experience in the form of helpful pest proofing advice.

We have used some of this knowledge to put together a list of the top ways we recommend that you can make your property a safer place and prevent the health issues and extensive property damage that often arise as a result of pest activity.

How to pest proof your home for 2024

Seal any unwanted gaps

Any gap linking your home with the outside world is a potential entry point for pest species and a potential vulnerability that you need to handle.

Any larger gaps in the exterior of the property may require a builder to be called in, but smaller cracks can be sealed with caulking or steel wool to prevent rodents such as mice and rats from making their way indoors.

You should also install sweeps on the bottom of your front and back exterior doors to prevent pests from squeezing underneath. You would be amazed at just how small a gap pest can make their way through!

Avoid storing wood too close to the property

If you have an open fireplace, or use wood for heating purposes, you will need to store firewood reasonably close to the property.

Not too close though! Firewood is the perfect home for a variety of different pests, and it is one short step from a pile of logs stored next to your property to pests inside your property itself.

Keep all wood at least 5 metres away from the home and check each piece for signs of insect activity before bringing them inside.

Spring Clean your garden

Leaves and mulch not only clutter up your yard and make pathways slippery and unsafe, but they are also a good hideout for pests.

When you are conducting your annual spring clean, make sure to include the outdoor areas of your property as well as the inside ones and remove any debris that has started to accumulate.

For any more advice or tips, don’t hesitate to get in touch with out team today.

In business today, keeping liability to a minimum is absolutely key if you want to see sustained continual success over many years.

Liability risks can take a number of different forms including security threats, health and safety breaches, and a failure to prepare properly for emergency situations.

When creating a comprehensive risk management strategy it is vital that you take the time to address the possible liabilities that you face. In this article we are going to help prepare you to do just that by walking through some of the most proactive ways that any business owner can use to reduce liability a prepare for long-term sustainable growth.

We will be particular attention to a service offered by professional security companies that is known as keyholding and alarm response.

Without further ado, here is your guide to reducing liability as a business owner.

Step 1 – Identifying risks

If you don’t know what liability risks you are facing, it is impossible to effectively guard against them. The very first thing that you should do to reduce liability is to conduct a risk assessment to identify potential liability areas you need to be aware of.

If you don’t really know where to start with this, consult with a professional security company who will be more than used to carrying our risk assessments on all sorts of different properties across the nation.

Some of the things that should be covered in a standard risk assessment include general security in and around the site that makes sure all employees and customers are safe, cybersecurity protecting your company data, and that of your clients, and anything that could compromise health and safety on the premises.

When you choose to consult with a security company that has a working knowledge of the local area, they will also ensure that you fulfil all your contractual obligations in terms of liability management and avoid any potentially nasty legal disputes further down the line.

Step 2 – Putting security measures in place

It is now time to act upon the research that you just carried out and deploy security measures that will help to avoid any of the risks noted from coming to fruition.

Just some of the common security measures that it is recommended most companies put in place include CCTV to monitor ongoing site activity and identify any intruders at the earliest possible stage and alarm systems that keep you protected when you can’t be on the site yourself.

For larger properties, manned guarding may be recommended, where trained security officers monitor the property all day and night, or attend the site to perform mobile patrols at pre-agreed times.

Besides security to deal with external threats, you should also consider everyday health and safety and develop a comprehensive guide for your staff on best practice when looking to avoid any nasty accidents during the working day. This guide should be reinforced by a educational strategy for

Step 3 – Consider Keyholding

Although this technically falls under the category of a security measure, the services that keyholding companies provide are pretty underrated and deserve their own special mention.

Keyholding involves a set of keys being given to a security firm, who will use them to response to alarm activations, reduce the threat of unauthorised access, and take on some of the liability that comes from a possible security breach.

Given the effectiveness of keyholding services provided by expert security firms in reducing the risk of theft, vandalism, and more, many insurance companies will only offer policies to companies with keyholding services in place, or at least offer a discounted policy to those that do.

Your keyholding company will not only respond to alarm activations themselves but will also help you to optimise your own alarm response protocols by giving you the benefit of their extensive experience. They will have close relationships with the emergency services and will often offer training programmes for your staff and drills that will ensure everyone on site is aware of the exit plans and their responsibilities in the event of an emergency. They will also be able to manage and maintain your security systems, including CCTV, alarms, and more.