Having protected your home from the worst of our Welsh weather, it’s often at this time of year rooflines show signs of needing attention.

To avoid the prospect of having to brave the elements with a paintbrush year after year, PVC–U roofline products such as fascia boards and soffits can be a cost and time–effective solution. Once fitted, these products need no maintenance, giving them a huge advantage over timber.

At Securahome, a common and costly mistake we see homeowners make is to leave it too late to install PVC fascias and soffits.

If your timber roofline is basically in good shape, you can save money by opting for an over–cap. This involves fitting a 9mm fascia board on top of the original timbers.

Once the PVC overlays the wood, the existing timbers are shielded from the elements. As the board is only over capped on the front and bottom, any damp can still escape through the top and back.

However, if you’ve left it a little longer and the timbers are rotten, then the only option is a full replacement. This involves removing all of the old fascia boards and soffits and replacing them with PVC–U ones that are usually 16–25mm thick.

Replacement is also likely to mean taking the bottom few layers of tiles or slates off in order to fit the boards, as the fascia boards butt the roof under the eaves.

As you can imagine replacement is more time consuming and, as a consequence, the costs

of labour and materials are higher than an over–cap. The advantage of a full installation is that it is thorough. The simple act of lifting the tiles, for example, can help uncover rotten batons or roofing felt.

Before carrying out any installation, a Securahome estimator will carry out a full inspection of the existing timbers and assess the best option to offer lasting value and protection for you and your home.

All of our roofline installations come with long guarantees, in fact as Kestrel Registered Installers, we can offer extended warranties of up to 35 years on some of white roofline products. We can also install woodgrain products that give the appearance of timber without the upkeep, offering the best of both worlds.

When is the best time to replace fascia boards and soffits?

Kestrel Way, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea, UK, SA4 9WN t | +44 (0500) 212224 f | +44 (01792) 224099 e | info@securahome.co.uk w | securahome.co.uk

February — April 2015 /securahome@securahome/securahome

Ffordd o FywThe Securahome Newsletter

According to a recent survey, orangeries are one of the most desired home improvements. It’s easy to see why: These are single storey extensions with the kind of design flexibility that allows them to work well with conversions, modern and period properties.

If you are thinking of an orangery extension this spring or summer, there really is no time to waste. Go to page 3 of the newsletter for information on the planning process and timescale to expect when creating a new orangery extension.

A good part of that planning is about understanding how the orangery will be used and the design features that will

make it work for your lifestyle. We’ve asked award–winning architect Adrian Gracia to share his expert tips for creating the perfect orangery.

As before with Ffordd o Fyw, we have a delicious recipe. If you’ve ever cooked a steak that takes longer to chew than the meal took to prepare, then you will want to turn to page 2. We have tried the perfect steak recipe from award–winning Welsh chef Jimmy Williams and can testify that it really works!

And to blow away the cobwebs after your blow–out meal, how about a bracing walk along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast?

Offering a combination of sea air and historical attractions (see page 2) and just a short drive away, it’s ideal for a Sunday jaunt.

Ffordd o Fyw also has details of some of the home improvements that we offer at Securahome. Along with information on orangeries, on this page you will find details of our latest roofline products — some of which come with a 35–year guarantee — and (on page 4) energy efficient glazing.

If you are planning to make an enquiry about any of our products, please do remember our iPads for Schools initiative (see page 4 for more information).

Schools in Swansea, the Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf have already benefitted from this initiative and we would love your local school to be next!

Hwyl,

Jason Jenkins

Jason Jenkins

Welcome to the latest Securahome newsletter

Jason Jenkins: MD of Securahome.

Guarantees: We offer guarantees of up to 35 years on our installations.

There can’t be many meals easier to cook, but so often done incorrectly, as steak. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer your steak rare or well done, it should be tender and full of flavour, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

The start of any great steak is the meat itself. I’m very choosy when it comes to meat and so for this recipe I’m using a 28–day mature, thick cut, rib–eye steak.

The fat in the middle of the rib–eye makes for great flavour, but if you want a leaner cut, opt for a thick cut sirloin or beef fillet instead.

The next most important thing for a great steak is, of course, the cooking, so follow my recipe below and you won’t be disappointed!

Recipe:

Ingredients Rib–eye steak — thick cut and mature, oil, knobs of unsalted butter, rock salt and ground pepper.

Method

1. Take the steak out of the fridge and let it sit for half an hour to get to room temperature. It’s important that the steak isn’t chilled so that the meat can cook through to the middle. If you cook a rare steak, the centre won’t even be warm if it’s taken from the fridge straight before cooking.

2. When the steak is ready to cook, put a dry pan on the hob to heat up.

3. Brush the steak with oil on one side, and season it generously with rock salt and ground pepper. Do not oil the pan.

4. Put the steak immediately into the hot pan, oiled and seasoned side down (it should sizzle nicely) and leave to seal.

5. While it’s cooking, brush the top of the steak with oil and season with rock salt and pepper as before.

6. When the bottom of the steak looks nice and brown, turn it over. It’s important not to turn the steak too often as this will make some of the juices leave the steak, in turn this can make it tough.

7. Add some knobs of unsalted butter to the pan. Make sure the butter is unsalted or it will burn in the pan. The butter will help to caramelise and flavour the meat.

8. Turn the steak again and baste it with the juices from the pan.

9. If using a rib–eye steak, cook to medium or the fat will not melt down.

10. Turn the steak one more time.

11. When the steak is cooked, take a large square of tin foil and place the steak on to it.

12. Make a ‘tent’ out of the foil around the steak and rest the meat for seven minutes. This allows the juices from the steak to be absorbed into the meat. If you serve and cut the steak too soon, the juices will escape and you will end up with a dry steak.

13. Once the steak is rested, serve with fat cut chips, tomato, mushroom and side salad.

Enjoy!

As the weather becomes milder, there’s little better than a weekend walk along some of the spectacular coastline of South Wales to blow away the cobwebs. For a gentle stroll, with some historic points of interest and bracing sea air, the Glamorgan Heritage Coast makes a great day out.

This 14–mile stretch of coastline, extending from Aberthaw to Porthcawl, was awarded Heritage Coast status in 1972. Ideal for a leisurely stroll, the Glamorgan Heritage Coast features dramatic cliffs, amazing rock formations and is rich in wildlife with some fascinating, manmade landmarks along the way.

Points of interest:

St Illtud’s Church An excellent start or end point for a walk, St lltud’s Church in Llantwit

Major is one of the oldest Christian sites in the UK. Built in the 13th century, the site has been a place of Christian worship since 500 AD when Celtic saint, St Illtud, established a monastery, mission centre and school there.

Today the interior of this church stands testimony to its history, with medieval wall paintings depicting St Mary Magdalene and St Christopher, being of particular note. Meanwhile, the Llanilltud Visitor Centre is home to the church’s famous collection of Celtic Stones and is open from 10am–4pm every day with free entry.

Nash Point Lighthouse This whitewashed, grade II listed building was Wales’ last manned lighthouse, (having been de–manned in August 1998). Completed in 1832 the lighthouse,

which is still operational today, was built in in response to an accident in 1831 that claimed 78 souls aboard the ‘Frolic’ passenger ship.

To find out more about the history of this iconic building, tours are available every Saturday and Sunday from 2 March until the end of October. Telephone 07850 047721 for more information.

St Donat’s Castle Twelfth century St Donat’s Castle was once famously owned by newspaper magnate Randolph Hurst, who bought it in 1925 after viewing the building in Country Life magazine. He used it to entertain high profile guests, such as Charlie Chaplin and J.F Kennedy. With stunning views of the Bristol Channel and the North Devon coastline, one such

guest, George Bernard Shaw, said of the castle: “This is what God would have built if he had had the money.”

From 1962 onwards it has been the home of Atlantic College, a renowned international sixth form college. The castle also hosts St Donat’s Arts Centre, which holds a range of live events throughout the year.

How to cook the perfect steak by Jimmy Williams

Weekend living: History, heritage and bracing sea air

Kestrel Way, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea, UK, SA4 9WN t | +44 (0500) 212224 f | +44 (01792) 224099 e | info@securahome.co.uk w | securahome.co.uk

It’s all about the sizzle: Follow Jimmy’s simple tips for the perfect juicy and flavoursome steak.

Jimmy Williams: Executive chef at Signatures Restaurant, Aberconwy Resort & Spa.

Weekend walk: The Glamorgan Heritage Coast, gentle terrain, natural beauty and history.

When is the best time to start planning for a new conservatory or orangery?

It’s a question we are asked frequently at Securahome, and the answer is, as soon as you can.

With many conservatories, the process from consultation to build is quick and straightforward. However if, for example, your house has previously been extended,

if you want an orangery extension or if drainage needs to be moved it can take months rather than weeks to get any necessary approvals.

At Securahome, we act as project manager on every new conservatory or orangery build and frequently deal with extensions that require permissions. In our experience it pays to allow at least 10 weeks for authority planning permission, with sewer agreements often involving a similar timescale.

When it comes to design, there are plenty of options to consider. Once you’ve spoken to a conservatory or orangery specialist, allow time to consider the layout and how you will use your new room as well as those all–important design features, before formal plans are drawn up and submitted.

Plan ahead for the perfect conservatory or orangery extension

When it comes to creating a home with the wow factor in South Wales, architect Adrian Gracia is an expert. Having won a clutch of awards for his work on client properties, Adrian earned further recognition for the conversion of his own Penarth home, achieving a national Daily Telegraph Homebuilding and Renovating Award.

Securahome asked Adrian, as an expert in conversions and extensions, to share his tips on creating the perfect orangery.

Tip 1 First see the big picture: For an extension to work well and really have that wow factor, it’s important to plan the orangery around how you will use it. If it’s a kitchen that may well mean having your architect or designer plan and manage the kitchen installation.

Tip 2 Decide how you want to use the extra space: One of the advantages of an orangery is the fact that it can extend an existing room without the same restrictions as a conservatory. For example, if you want to increase the living or dining space of your kitchen, with an orangery, you can open up the whole room into one, but with a conservatory you would need to separate it off with double doors.

Tip 3 Think about the design: Consider all of the details you want for your orangery, for example do you want a lantern roof, would bi–folding doors work for you? Once it’s finished the little details like where the lighting is placed, the handles on doors

and windows and style of glazing can have a big impact on the feel of the room.

Tip 4 Don’t be afraid to think modern: Even if you have a Victorian house or character conversion, consider adding a contemporary orangery extension. Orangeries can blend with most properties, and so there is no real need to hark back to a bygone era, even if you do have a period home. A well–designed orangery can be both modern and sympathetic to the original style of your home.

Tip 5 Budget: If you are working to a budget (and let’s face it most of us are!) prioritise what’s most important to you about the orangery and make sure you deliver on those things first.

Tip 6 Consider the value you are adding: Like most extensions, an orangery will add value to your home because you are increasing the amount of year-round living space. I honestly see this kind of extension as a great investment. Not only do you increase the value of your asset, you get to enjoy that investment everyday.

Tip 7 Maximise the value: Kitchens and bathrooms have become much more important to people when it comes to buying a home. If you want to maximise the added value an orangery will bring to your house, think of a kitchen extension. Large, multi–purpose kitchen/family rooms have become very popular and, particularly if the current space is too small to fit a dining table,

can be a good way to make your home more saleable.

Tip 8 Check your planning rules: You may be surprised to learn that as long as it is under a certain size, and isn’t too close to a boundary, you may not need planning permission for your orangery. If your home has already been extended, it is likely you will need permission so you must check with the planning department of your local authority to be sure.

*Adrian Gracia is the owner of Adrian Gracia Limited Architects based in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. He was the 2012 winner of the Daily Telegraph Homebuilding and Renovating Award for the best remodel/extension. Prior to training as an architect, Adrian was as a structural steelwork engineer, and this experience has proved invaluable when planning extensions and conversions.

Kestrel Way, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea, UK, SA4 9WN t | +44 (0500) 212224 f | +44 (01792) 224099 e | info@securahome.co.uk w | securahome.co.uk

Adrian Gracia RIBA: Award winning architect.

Design an orangery with the wow factor

Be inspired: Take a look at our wide selection of conservatories and orangeries, visit securahome.co.uk/gallery

Over recent years, the increasing cost of fuel bills has served a timely reminder about how important it is to consider your home’s energy efficiency.

When looking at replacement windows and doors, as tempting as it is to focus purely on the aesthetic design, technology is vitally important.

Up to 30 per cent of your home’s heat loss can be through the windows, so style must be backed up with substance. To shop smart, it’s important to get to grips with Window Energy Ratings (WER).

Similar to the ratings found on home appliances, WER ranges from ‘A’ (meaning most energy efficient) down to ‘G’. UK building regulations stipulate a ‘C’ rating as the standard window rating expected in modern homes.

With windows and doors, as in many areas of life,

technology moves on quickly. Just five years ago doors and windows were installed that today would not achieve a ‘C’ rating. In fact, a window or door installed five years ago could be around 30 per cent less efficient than one installed today.

Opting for ‘A’ rated windows helps to minimise your carbon footprint and reduce your energy bills meaning a better return on your home improvement investment. And for the ultimate future proofing, the Ambient Window can achieve an ‘A+’ rating.

At Securahome, we always aim to back style up with substance. This means that all of our window and door styles are energy efficient. It also means that you can get the look you want for your home, without compromising on energy efficiency.

Staff and pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg became the latest to benefit from Securahome’s iPads for Schools initiative.

The tablet computer was presented to head teacher of the Church Village school, Mrs Williams, who explained that it would be used as a fundraiser.

Mrs Williams said: “We were delighted to be able to use the iPad as the star prize in the Christmas raffle. All proceeds will go towards the school’s recent very successful production of ‘Hairspray’.”

Under the scheme, Securahome customers who are making an enquiry or referral can nominate a school to receive an iPad.

Securahome MD Jason Jenkins said: “This is the first iPad for Schools donation we’ve made in RCT, and have to thank our customer Sara Thomas for making it possible.

“We were pleased to be able to help Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg and even more delighted that they managed to successfully turn the donation into a fundraising event and multiply its value.”

The Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg nomination came from Securahome customer Sara Thomas of Church Village.

Mrs Thomas said: “We were really pleased to find out that Securahome offered this scheme. It really is an excellent way of giving something back to the community and their customers.”

Shop smart to future–proof your home improvement investment

iPad gift helps Garth Olwg gear up for fundraiser

The benefits of energy–efficient windows and doors.

• Smaller energy bills

• A smaller carbon footprint

• A more comfortable home: Energy–efficient glazing reduces heat loss through windows and means fewer draughts and cold spots

• Peace and quiet: As well as keeping the heat in, energy efficient–windows and doors insulate your home against outside noise

• Reduced condensation: Energy–efficient glazing reduces condensation build–up on the inside of windows

Kestrel Way, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea, UK, SA4 9WN t | +44 (0500) 212224 f | +44 (01792) 224099 e | info@securahome.co.uk w | securahome.co.uk

February — April 2015 /securahome@securahome/securahome

Modern or traditional? At Securahome all of our ranges are created with energy efficiency in mind.

Fundraising boost: Tony Crutcher for Securahome presenting an iPad to Ysgol Garth Olwg.

You can find full details on how to take part in the iPads for Schools scheme, including an online nomination form, on the Securahome website. Simply go to: securahome.co.uk/contact–us/1