Home & Garden

One of the most common household issues during the winter months is a problem with our boiler. It can cost anywhere between £60 to £120 for a service check, up to £200 for boiler repair and as much as £400 for a power flush.

One area that is often overlooked ahead of winter is our brickwork. However, inadequate brickwork pointing can be a major issue and over time it allows water ingress, as well as increasing the chances of frost damage and damp - two issues that are far more prevalent during the winter months. It costs just £50 to £60 on average per square metre to repoint your brickwork.

Much like our brick work, problems with our roofing rarely materialise until the cold and rain starts to batter our homes on a regular basis. Missing or cracked tiles are a particularly frequent problem and can lead to further issues. While a roof inspection will set you back around £250, repairs that don’t require scaffolding can generally be done for around £170 for roughly five tiles - which is far more cost effective in the long run.

Blocked, burst or frozen pipes can be a nightmare and one that often becomes a reality during the winter months. Insulating your pipes or fitting pipe jackets can be done for as little as £50 and up which is a huge saving compared to the damage done from a burst pipe.

Even the most minor misalignment of a window or door can lead to a considerable amount of heat loss, or rainwater entering your home. While the latter will cause damage from damp, the ability to heat our homes efficiently has also never been more pressing due to the rising cost of energy bills. A general inspection will cost around £150, while replacing a double glazed window can cost between £70 to £150.

1. Keep mowing: The trick is to continue mowing your lawn as needed, never allowing it to become too long as this can significantly reduce the quality and potentially increase the severity of moss invasion. Ensure the mower blades are sharp, so as not to cause damage to the lawn itself. Never attempt to mow your lawn if it is saturated or covered in frost. 2. Watch for moss and mould: Both infestations can have devastating effects on your grass, so it is important you target them at source. To stop a moss invasion, target the moss using specially formulated treatments which are designed to desiccate the thatch and prevent it from developing further. On the other hand, snow mould is a fungal disease that appears on the lawn as yellowish/brown patches. To prevent this kind of fungal disease, I strongly recommend removing any leaves or debris by gently raking or using a leaf blower. 3. Keep composting: Not only does composting provide your soil with organic nutrients, but it also aids in the suppression of weed growth and insulates plant roots, with the added benefit of reducing soil erosion from rain damage. 4. Don’t forget to mulch: Mulching plays a key role in your lawn’s survival.

Usually made from materials such as straw, shredded leaves or wood chips, it creates a barrier between the soil and the air itself, shielding the grass beneath.

Day 1: Rescue your Christmas decorations from the attic and give them a well-needed dust. Day 2: De-clutter and deep clean room by room. Don’t forget those usually forgotten items such as doorknobs, handles, letterboxes and skirting boards. Day 3: Make your windows sparkle and freshen up the floors. Day 4: Tackle the dishwasher and washing machine. Day 5: De-clutter and clean your car ready for the holidays. Day 6: Give the toilets a deep clean! Day 7: Descale your kettle ready for the winter warming hot drinks. Day 8: Tackle the stairs! For stubborn stains try Dr. Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover. Day 9: Clean and empty your fridge ready for the festive food. Day 10: Spruce up your pet’s bed ready for the Christmas fun. Day 11: Give the oven a deep clean ready for Christmas dinner. Day 12: Pop all of the family’s Christmas jumpers in the wash ready for the big day!

Our local financial advisers based at our office in Bromley, specialise in providing financial advice in the following areas. • Financial planning • Trust and estate planning • Savings and investments • Retirement planning • Pension options at retirement • Mortgages • Protection • Small business solutions

Our advisers are friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable and our priority is to help our clients achieve their immediate financial planning needs and longer-term financial aspirations. For a fee free, no obligation initial meeting to discuss your immediate or long-term financial planning requirements, please: call John Winters or Sharon Cain on 01689 868 163 or 07767 818 665 or email john.winters@fosterdenovo.com or sharon.cain@fosterdenovo.com.

Foster Denovo Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Ruxley House, 2 Hamm Moor Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2SA. Telephone: 01932 870 720 Email: info@fosterdenovo.com Website: www.fosterdenovo.com

Based in Bromley and with over 30-years of experience, Easy Gardens are experts at undertaking garden clearances and ongoing maintenance. From small suburban gardens to country mansions, no job is too big or too small.

We always love to visit a customer's garden in the first instance to walk around and understand your exact requirements, after which we will provide a detailed written quotation of the work that has been agreed. Very often, we can arrange to complete the work within 2-3 days of your instruction. We pride ourselves on delivering a very professional and competitive service and look forward to your call!