Do you lie awake at night longing for a flawless floor that’s free of gaps and spaces? Does the thought of a seamless surface leave you salivating like a hungry dog in a butcher’s window?

Well, wipe up that drool and dream no more! Those aspirations can become a reality with the perfect porcelain finish of rectified tiles.

What are Rectified Tiles?

In a nutshell, rectified tiles are essentially machine-finished tiles that have been refined to achieve faultless edges for a perfectly precise right-angle (also known as a “sharp edge” finish).

While regular tiles may have edges that are somewhat irregular and ununiformed, rectified tiles are specifically designed to feature a near identical finish in terms of dimensions.

Benefits of Rectified Tiles

The primary advantage of rectified tiles over standard tiles is that they offer a virtually seamless aesthetic appearance once laid.

The consistent design and exact proportions of each tile allow them to be laid tightly together with as little as 1.5mm grout width.

The result is an unwavering design that appears virtually uninterrupted from tile to tile, providing an overall pattern consistency that’s second to none.

Laying Rectified Tiles

While the uninterrupted design of the wafer-thin joins boasts a truly stunning finish, there are a few things that are worth bearing in mind to achieve the best results.

Perhaps most importantly of all, rectified tiles will still need to be laid upon a smooth and level substrate in order to offer that elusive “perfect finish”.

Placement of rectified tiles on an undulating surface that’s anything but level can result in an uneven lay and cause varying gaps as a result.

What’s more, laying rectified tiles on an uneven surface can cause lips and drops between tiles, effectively negating the “shoulder-to-shoulder” aspect of rectified tiling.

When laying rectified tiles externally, our Easy-Frame system and Pedestal Supports are ideal for providing a level surface outside with minimal effort and an option that’s well worth exploring.

Why Choose Rectified Tiles?

All of the tiles and pavers available at AlfrescoPlus are not only rectified but also vitrified for unparalleled durability, unrivalled water resistance and unfathomable design consistency.

With a showroom finish that’s impossibly uniform, backed by a material that’s strong enough to last, the range of hard-wearing rectified tiles at AlfrescoPlus is sure to tick all the boxes.

For more information on the rectified tiles available at AlfrescoPlus, why not get in touch today? Call our customer service team today on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line via email using the button below.

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When it comes to time-saving solutions to your outdoor flooring needs, few can compare to the awesome efficiency-boosting properties of the Easy-Frame.

Providing your flooring with a supportive sub-frame, the Easy-Frame is the supreme structural shortcut you’ve been waiting for, designed to ensure your best-laid plans achieve the best-laid results.

What is Easy-Frame?

Made from galvanised steel, Easy-Frame is a strong and reliable underfloor support that won’t let you down.

Designed to support a variety of surfaces, the versatile structure allows you to lay your decking or porcelain paving with ease, achieving a level finish without a spirit level in sight.

Featuring a unique modular system for layout customisation, the supportive frames simply lock together for a solid base that makes outdoor flooring jobs a doddle.

Benefits of Easy-Frame

A truly innovative addition to outdoor flooring application, Easy-Frame boasts a laundry list of benefits that go far beyond what you would expect from a simple framework.

Durability

The steel composition of the frame provides the highest weight-to-strength ratio of any building product on the market. Unlike traditional timber decking frames, Easy-Frame can support the load effortlessly without risk of cracks, bows or bends.

Better yet, every inch of steel is zinc-coated, providing fully-enhanced elemental protection. Not only does this make it immune to temperature changes, but also leaves it unaffected by moisture and capable of withstanding the effects of the frost thaw cycle.

Versatility

Whether you opt for composite decking or porcelain paving, Easy-Frame is uniquely equipped to adapt to either flooring option.

In terms of positioning and design, the frame can be installed flush against your property, should you wish to create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces.

Meanwhile, it can just as easily be installed as a free-standing structure elsewhere in your garden if you’re looking to create a featured presentation, like a hot tub area or outdoor lounge.

Exclusive

Bespoke and made-to-order, each Easy-Frame is meticulously assembled off-site to fit the exact requirements of your space, ensuring your Easy-Frame is the perfect fit.

Despite being extremely sturdy and hard-wearing, each frame is surprisingly manoeuvrable allowing them to be easily transported in their assembled form right to your property.

Appearance

From an aesthetic perspective, the “made-to-measure” aspect of the frame provides dimensional accuracy that allows it to fit perfectly in your outdoor space, achieving a clean, level finish with minimal impact to the ground below.

Best of all, the framework can also be used to hide unsightly housing necessities like electrical wiring and plumbing pipes.

Accessibility

On the subject of pipes and wiring, another perk of the Easy-Frame is that it can be installed without disturbing utilities. All electric and plumbing requirements can be safely housed within the framework.

Meanwhile, the suspended nature of the platform allows such requirements to still be easily accessible, while also providing access to any on-site maintenance features, such as manholes and drains.

All Easy-Frame systems are bespoke and made-to-order based on the dimensions of your chosen space. If you’re interested in installing your flooring using the Easy-Frame option, get in touch today on 0800 028 8756 or click the button below to send us an enquiry online.

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If you’re in the market for new garden decking, chances are you’ve already been faced with a cornucopia of options from our good friends at Google & Sons Plc.

A simple online search can fire back enough options to leave you feeling like a kid in a candy store; however, before you appease that sweet tooth and put your money where your mouth is, it’s worth knowing what’s what.

So, cash in that golden ticket and join us as we take an unrestricted tour of the decking landscape and put hollow vs solid decking head-to-head.

Solid Decking

Unlike hollow decking, solid composite decking is commonly split into two distinct categories: capped decking and uncapped decking.

While both look visually stunning and provide ample protection against a number of environmental demands, there are distinct differences between the two.

Uncapped Composite Decking

Comprised of a “composite” material consisting of recycled wood and synthetic materials, uncapped composite decking offer aesthetic beauty in a wide variety of authentically stylish designs.

Better still, these blended boards also offer impressive low-maintenance durability that is robust enough to maintain that look for literally decades to come, a fact proven by a 25-30 year warranty.

Slip, fade and abrasion-resistant, these boards are extremely resistant to the elements and will never warp or bow, nor will they ever split, splinter or crack.

Also known as non-capped composite, uncapped decking has sat atop the outdoor flooring landscape as the king of decking since its invention in the late ‘90s.

That is until the arrival of the next decking innovation…

Capped Composite Decking

Capped composite decking is, from a durability point of view, the daddy of the decking world.

Thanks to the protective polymer sleeve that covers each and every board, capped decking boasts unrivalled durability, resistant to even more elemental demands than its predecessor.

Capped composite decking offers everything uncapped offers and more, notably benefitting from enhanced moisture protection.

The polymer sleeve gives each board an extremely long-lasting aesthetic, providing you with the lowest maintenance decking available.

Spills and splashes can simply be wiped clean without leaving a single trace that anything was there. Even red wine and food grease wipes clean instantly!

Meanwhile, the virtually impermeable surface also makes it highly resistant to algae, mould and mildew, providing you with a blemish-free deck that lasts.

Hollow Decking

Outside of solid composite decking, the alternative option is hollow composite decking. A fairly new innovation in its own right, hollow composite decking provides an economical solution to outdoor flooring, while still maintaining a high standard in terms of aesthetics and practicality.

In addition to the impressive natural-looking design, hollow composite decking provides the low-maintenance benefits of solid composite decking at a fraction of the price, due primarily to its hollow structure.

Due to the hollow channels featured through each board, hollow composite decking uses considerably less material. While this conservational approach contributes to the lower cost, it also makes them more environmentally friendly.

The hollow nature may lead you to naturally think that it would impact the structural integrity of the boards; however, this isn’t the case. Each board is still reliably robust and resistant to stains, fades and abrasions.

Hollow vs Solid Decking

While hollow and solid decking have their own perks, from elemental resistance to eco-friendly properties, the choice ultimately comes down to one major difference and that’s pricing.

Hollow decking is considerably less expensive than both its solid counterparts, in some cases boasting a price tag that’s an incredible 75% cheaper. That being said, solid composite decking is a safe investment, with a warranty that guarantees it quite literally lasts a generation.

Perhaps the most important factor that could influence your decision is how long you intend to stay at your property. All varieties of composite decking are built to last; however, the length of the warranties is indicative of just how long that is.

Hollow composite decking typically has a guarantee of 5 to 10 years, while solid composite decking has a considerably longer lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Naturally, the price correlates with this increase, so it pays to be smart when choosing which deck is right for you and your future plans.

If you view your property as a permanent residence you see as your “forever home”, a long-term investment like the capped composite may be well worth it; however, if you plan on moving elsewhere within the next decade, hollow may be the most logical choice.

For more information on hollow vs solid decking, why not drop us a line today? Call 0800 028 8756 now or get in touch online using the button below.

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When it comes to advances in patio paving technology, revolutionary breakthroughs are few and far between.

However, when something ground-breaking does come along, it usually more than makes up for the wait (take porcelain paving as proof of that).

Pedestal supports are one such innovation, providing the archaic processes of the paving business with a quantum leap into the 21^st century.

Intrigued? You should be! Read on for the complete lowdown on these awesome innovations.

What is a Pedestal Support System?

An ingenious alternative to cement slab laying, pedestal supports provide you with a uniquely simple way of attaining a level paving surface with little effort at all.

Each pedestal essentially acts as a supportive stump, providing a sturdy pillar for each corner of the pavers to rest securely on.

The process of dry-installation also means your new paving slabs won’t require any time to set, meaning your new patio surface will be good walk on straight away.

Additional Benefits of Pedestal Installation

With no need for cement or adhesive, the pavers are also inherently easy to lift, should you require access to the substrate or want/need to replace any tiles.

The supports even leave room for pipes and underfloor wiring, should any of your outdoor plans involve water provision or electrical hook-ups; e.g. water features, outdoor lighting, etc.

Meanwhile, the void between the paving slab and the ground surface beneath also increases thermal and acoustic insulation.

Adjustable Pedestal Supports Height

With a simple switch mechanism that provides adjustable height, allowing you to achieve a surface height of 28mm to 58mm.

Additionally, there’s even the option to boost the height of your supports with a pedestal extension collar, adding an additional 30mm to the pedestal’s maximum height.

Better still, you can use up to seven collars per support, adding a whopping 210mm to your overall pedestal height.

Pedestal Supports at AlfrescoPlus

The pedestal supports offered by AlfrescoPlus are extremely user-friendly and ideal for DIY installation.

No prior flooring experience is necessary and you don’t need to be a professional paver or top-notch tiler to achieve fantastic level results.

Best of all, the lack of adhesive means the whole process is infinitely cleaner than the old-school cement route. No mortar means mess no más!

For more information on our pedestals and the pedestal installation, why not drop us a line? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online using the link below.

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Sunrooms are becoming an increasingly popular addition to houses across the UK, gracing gardens nationwide as the perfect addition to detached and semi-detached homes.

However, if you are the proud owner of a bungalow, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the outdoor fun. A sunroom can be just as effective on a bungalow plot as it is with a detached or a semi.

In fact, with bungalows typically housing less interior space than a two-storey property, adding an extra room can make a big difference, making a bungalow sunroom an even more valuable addition.

Benefits of Sunrooms for Bungalows

As we touched upon in the intro, one of the main drawbacks of a bungalow property is their limiting living restrictions. Naturally removing a floor is going to effectively cut your living space in half.

A huge advantage of adding a sunroom to your property is that it effectively adds an extra room on to your house. In the case of a bungalow, this can make a notable difference and really contribute to a more enjoyable home-life.

The additional space can be utilised for a variety of purposes you may have otherwise not been able to house, be it an office, play room or home gym.

What’s more, the addition of a sunroom can also add financial value to a property, often providing added value that exceeds the initial expense.

In the case of a bungalow – particularly smaller-scale builds – a sunroom could account for a significant portion of a property, providing a notable expansion of available living space.

Good to Know

If you’re considering adding a sunroom to your bungalow, there are a few handy facts that are good to know before you jump in to your property-expanding project.

Permission to Land

As a general rule of thumb, adding a sunroom to your property doesn’t require any planning permission, provided it isn’t built on a border. As a result, the addition of a sunroom effectively allows you to really make the most of your land by expanding your indoor living area.

DIY-able

If you’re working to a budget and are either an experienced tradesman or confident DIY aficionado, you may consider taking on the task yourself. Our range of sunrooms are designed with a streamlined, modular design for easy installation, allowing you to step up to the plate if you wish to take on the challenge.

Cash-Conserving

Sunrooms can be considerably less expensive than traditional conservatories. If you’re looking to expand your space while conserving your cash, a sunroom is the perfect solution. Better still, sunrooms are better equipped for year-round use, while conservatories are typically more seasonal.

If you’re thinking of adding a sunroom to your bungalow, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online using the link below.

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Visit our sister site www.sunspaces.co.uk to browse our full range of sunrooms!