Celebrate Independent Merchants Day on 4^th July!

In the USA, the Fourth of July is Independence Day, a day of celebration to commemorate the independence from Great Britain.  In Great Britain, the Fourth of July is “Independents Day”, a day to celebrate our nation’s independent merchants and the unique products and services they offer.

When it comes to finding products for the home, shoppers are increasingly opting for independent merchants over the larger chain stores known for generic products and lack of personal service.   

The benefits of buying from an independent merchant are numerous:

1. Genuine specialists of particular products, with extensive product knowledge and expertise, helping you make the right choice for your particular situation and needs;
2. Such specialist independents, have the ability to offer bespoke and/or unique products that you won’t see anywhere else in the country;
3. The encouragement of diversity on our high streets;
4. No annoying automated phone service or call centres; phones are answered by human beings and you can usually speak to the same person saving you time;
5. No intermediaries; meaning you can speak directly to the relevant person, saving time and potential confusion;
6. No rigid rules and standardised systems; independents can often tailor their service to suit your individual needs.

When it comes to specialised niche products, such as larger interior products for the home, the relevant showroom will often be a destination in its own right.  Put simply, it’s worth travelling to see a comprehensive range of a particular type of product “in the flesh” and under one roof, particularly if there is also expert advice on offer.  The savings of time and cost can be phenomenal, and the end products are more likely to right for your particular needs and design ideals. Such specialist showrooms will rarely be located in the city centre because they don’t need to be.  Such specialist independents don’t generally rely on passing trade, and need relatively substantial square footage to display their product range.  

A perfect example of this is Feature Radiators, the UK’s leading radiator retailer and an independent merchant that operates successfully from the small West Yorkshire town of Bingley. 

Based in Bingley’s Old Victorian Post Office, Feature Radiators is a one-stop port of call for anyone wanting stylish, high performance heating at competitive prices.  This award winning company offers a selection of the best contemporary, designer, traditional cast iron and electric radiators and heated towel rails on the market in terms of quality, design and value for money. They have over 250 styles on display in their showroom from where they offer expert advice, unrivalled customer service and nationwide delivery. 

So on the 4^th July, if you have shopping to do, whether it be an organic chicken, a picture frame or a household radiator, take the time to consider buying from an independent and do your bit to mark the day.

For more information on Feature Radiators specifically, then visit their showroom at The Old Post Office, 134-140 Main Street, Bingley, BD16 2HL, call their expert team on 01274 567789 or browse their website http://www.featureradiators.co.uk

Heating a garden building, outdoor office, summerhouse or posh shed

The garden building business is blooming booming!

Thanks to technological advances aiding mobile communications and the ever-increasing costs of commuting, many of us are opting to work from home. A self-contained office in the garden provides the perfect environment to do just that.

The downturn in the economy has also played its part in the garden building boom. Financial uncertainty has resulted in a reluctance to move house, with homeowners choosing to stay put and improve and/or extend properties. In some cases this has lead to the introduction of a garden building, whether used as a garden room, summerhouse or kids’ den.

To get the maximum use from a garden building, heating (along with light and power) is a must. If the building isn’t warm and cosy, then it won’t be used, particularly in the colder winter months. This article looks at factors to consider when it comes to heating your garden building.

Insulation is key
Is there adequate insulation? Some, but not all purpose-built garden rooms, are adequately insulated. If you have converted a shed or outbuilding, or opted for a lower cost garden building, then you will probably need to add insulation. Without this, the cost of heating could be prohibitively expensive.

Add Heating
In order for any garden building to be comfortable and useable (for more than just storage), all year round, it will need to be heated.

So what factors should you consider when choosing heating for a garden building?

Heat output – when choosing any form of heating it is critical that the option you select has the capacity to adequately heat the space. If in doubt, oversize the heater, as you can always turn it down.

Thermostatic control – choosing a heating option with a thermostat will ensure that your garden building is heated optimally at a constant and comfortable temperature. Thermostatic controls provide efficient and cost effective use of power; for instance, they can turn off a heater when the room has reached its optimum temperature; perfect on a sunny day for taking advantage of any “free heat” from the sun. By maintaining the temperature above a certain minimum level, you protect the contents of the building, including computers and soft furnishings, from cold or damp related damage.

Timer – by opting for a product with a timer, you can ensure that the heating is on when it needs to be. A timer allows you to set the heating to come on just before you start your day, ensuring a toasty office in time for when you arrive.

Space – by their very nature, many outbuildings are small in size. Therefore space is often a critical factor in choosing your heating option. These days, radiators are available in unusually narrow or low sizes, so there is likely to be something to accommodate even the most awkward of wall spaces. There are also floor-standing heaters, which are portable and take up no wall space.

Budget – it may seem obvious, but costs vary immensely on heating options for garden buildings. For instance, the price of an electric heater can range from £20 for a basic fan heater to £2000 for the ultimate in designer model. Take account of installation costs as well, for example if you opt for electric underfloor heating, bear in mind that installation costs may be considerable, especially if the floor needs to be taken up to allow the electric foil mat to be fitted underneath.

Aesthetics – Whether your new space is for living or working, as well as being a comfortable and functional environment, you may also want to add style with an attractive looking heater; the many designs now available mean you can choose minimalism to aide focus, bright colours for inspiration or soft curves to give a relaxed feel.


So what are the different heating options available for garden buildings?
ELECTRIC RADIATORS

Water and oil filled electric radiators
The water inside a water-filled electric radiator is heated by an electric element and is used as a heat reservoir. Oil-filled electric radiators are heated electrically; the oil is not burnt but again is used as a heat reservoir. Both types of electric radiators work on the same principle and have similar running costs.

ProsWall mounted and floor standing models available;
Many floor mounted versions can be plugged into a socket, so there are no installation costs and the radiators are often portable;
Wide range of contemporary and traditional styles available. From minimalist sleek designs like the Electric Royce (which is made of lightweight aluminium), to classic column style cast iron radiators like the Electric Etonian;
Many are available with timers and thermostats; and
Some styles heat up quickly (particularly those made of lightweight aluminium); others cool down slowly (such as those made of cast iron).

ConsThe wall-mounted versions don’t sit as close to the wall as some of the electric radiant panel radiators currently on the market.

Electric radiant panel radiators
Electric panel radiators radiate heat (rather than convecting it) and don’t contain any liquid. These radiators have become extremely popular in recent times, due to their efficient, environmental and practical qualities. One of the best electric panel radiators around is the iRad from Feature Radiators, which is beautifully designed, slim, flat and sits close to the wall.

ProsLightweight;
Sits close to the wall;
Many sizes, finishes and colours available;
Heats up quickly;
Radiates warmth without “blowing”;
Warms both objects and the surrounding air;
Available with thermostats and timers; and
Precise, focused, highly efficient heating.

ConsAlmost always wall-mounted, so there will need to be at least some wall space available.


Wood burners
A wood-burning stove burns wood fuel and wood-derived biomass fuel whilst creating heat.

ProsLovely cosy feel with attractive real fire flame;
Carbon neutral, if fuel comes from sustainable sources;
Warms both objects and the surrounding air; and
Relatively low running costs.

Cons
Lack of controllability, which can lead to high temperatures;
Sourcing and moving around fuel can be difficult and messy;
Demands time and effort on a daily basis to keep it running;
Ash created needs to be cleaned up;
Requires reasonable amount of space, taking up both wall and floor space; and
Significant installation costs.


Fan heaters
A fan heater works by passing air over a heating element, this heats up the air, which then leaves the heater, warming up the surrounding room.

ProsHeats up a room quickly;
Warms both objects and the surrounding air;
Relatively small so doesn’t take up much floor space; and
No installation costs.

Cons
As soon as its switched off, the room will cool down quickly;
Fan creates noise;
Often unattractive;
Uses a lot of energy resulting in high running costs; and
Heat is blown out rather than convected or radiated, which can create a stuffy and snoozy environment.


Infrared heating panels
Infrared heating panels are a relatively new idea in the UK but have been widely available in Europe for more than ten years. Infrared heaters heat through the use of infrared waves.

ProsFocused heating, infrared waves only heat what they hit;
Provide heat rapidly;
Reasonably efficient to run;
Can be fitted onto the ceiling to keep them out of the way; and
Thermostats and timers available.

ConsOnly heat the objects that the infrared waves hit. If you sit facing an infrared heater, then the back of your body and head and any part below the heater will remain cold.
The surrounding air is not heated at all.
Potential fire hazard – As heating is focused and direct, there may be a risk of fire if the heater is placed too close to an object. For example, if an infrared heater fell onto a wood floor.



Electric underfloor heating
Electric underfloor heating consists of a foil heat mat containing heating wires, which warm the floor surface which in turn heats the air above it. The foil mat must be laid under the laminate or wooden flooring intended for the garden building.

Pros
No wall space required;
Nice feeling under foot;
When working to an optimum, whole room is evenly heated with an ambient background temperature;
Many are available with thermostats and timers; and
Relatively low running costs.

ConsMay not have sufficient capacity to provide adequate heat for building – depending on level of insulation, ceiling height, and amount of glass;
Relatively high installation costs;
Insulated floor required;
Must be installed under the floor, so may not be a desirable option where the flooring is already down;
Slow to respond, can take up to 3 hours to get up to temperature, so forward planning needed and can take a long time to cool down;
Limits choice of floor-coverings; and
If it fails, the cost and inconvenience of repair will be significant, as flooring may need to be removed or replaced.


Portable gas heaters
Historically, a popular option for heating rooms or outbuildings particularly where there was no power source. Power is provided to these heaters via gas bottles that sit at the bottom of the heater.

ProsHigh heat output;
Self contained heaters, requiring no external power source;
No installation charges; and
Portable.

ConsSafety - you must not place items on top or directly in front of gas heaters. This may be a challenge if you are working in a small space;
Unpleasant gas odour;
Adequate ventilation is vital to prevent a build up of dangerous fumes;
Risk of carbon monoxide leak; and
Large bulky items taking up valuable space, both when in use and in storage.


Conclusion
Whatever type of garden room heating you choose, you must ensure that it has the capacity to heat the relevant space. It is important to maximize the power used to efficiently provide heat whilst minimizing energy wastage through the use of good insulation, timers and thermostats.

Bear in mind that these days having a comfortable warm outbuilding doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style with ugly, bulky and/or ineffective heating options. There is now a wide range of stylish, safe yet efficient electric heating solutions available.
For more information on finding the most suitable heating product for your garden building, speak to a heating expert such as Feature Radiators. Visit their showroom where they have over 250 radiators on display and expert advice on hand, call their expert team directly on 01274 567789 or browse their electric radiator range at: http://www.featureradiators.co.uk/Electric.htm

The History of Radiators

When it comes to renovations, choosing the right radiators is now often considered along with the wallpaper and floor coverings. Many consumers are keen to select radiators from the right era, to bring stylish authenticity to a period property, or to opt for a funky radiator design, to add the wow-factor to a contemporary interior.

Research makes it clear that many changes have taken place in heating products over the years.

As many history buffs will be aware, the Romans were the one of the first to use “central heating” to warm their villas using a system called a hypocaust that used a furnace to heat air and conduct it through voids under floors. Similar systems were also used in ancient Korea, possibly even dating back to the Bronze Age. By 1700, Russian engineers had started designing water based systems for central heating.

Steam-heating systems were then developed and installed in the 1830s. The first was installed in the home of Governor of the Bank of England, John Horley Palmer, so that he could grow grapes in England's cold climate.

However, there are various people who are claimed to have invented the radiator as we would recognise it today. All evidence points to their development occurring sometime around the mid 19th Century.

Franz San Galli, a Polish-born Russian businessman, invented an early form of radiator between 1855-1857, and two distinguished inventors known as Joseph Nason and Robert Brigss also designed and produced a radiator using vertical wrought iron tubes screwed into a cast iron base in 1863. In 1872, Nelson H Bundy came up with the “Bundy Loop”, a popular cast iron radiator design that is still reflected in products we see today.

The Victorian period is greatly associated with the introduction of cast iron radiators that we are all familiar with and it was in this period that heating became not only a practical installation but also a decorative item.

However, it wasn’t until the 20th Century that radiators were popularised as even up to the 1970s comparatively few homes had central heating. Steel was then introduced as the most popular option for radiator manufacture in the UK, supporting the British steel industry. Consequently, pressed steel corrugated panels became commonplace, despite the prevalence of aluminium radiators elsewhere in Europe.

As interior fashions changed cast iron radiators were thought of being too big and obtrusive and steel radiators were consider ugly, so homeowners discarded them, boxed them in or simply painted them, but in the 21st Century we have seen the radiator market come full circle. Yet again radiators have become a desirable feature in our homes.

Cast iron remains a popular choice amongst today’s heating engineers and architects, particularly for older properties that could otherwise be prone to damp. Radiators made of cast iron stay warm long after the central heating has been turned off, providing a constant, gentle undulating heat, which retains the warmth in the fabric of the building, as well as heating the interior space. Today’s trend of restoring period properties back to their original splendour has re-launched the cast iron radiator that now claims pride of place in many homes.

Cast iron radiators available today are either “reclaimed”, meaning they have been salvaged from older buildings, or “reproduction”, meaning they are new but have been cast from original designs, with both options having a boom in popularity over the last decade. See our blog article “reclaimed vs. reproduction” for more information on this subject.

Contemporary radiators are now available in wide variety of wonderful shapes sizes and finishes, from sleek minimalist radiators that fit close to the wall to wow-factor feature radiators that make a unique and stunning statement.

Yet whatever style you opt for, be assured that there is no need to compromise on heat output, as good looks and performance are not mutually exclusive.

Radiators, be they Victorian in style or ultra-modern designs, no longer have a ‘humble’ status within a room; they are now an essential centrepiece that serves a functional purpose as well as being a stylish accessory to complement any interior.

For more information on radiators, be it reclaimed or reproduction cast iron, or the latest in designer models, then speak to an expert such as Feature Radiators. You can speak to their team in person and see over 250 models on display at their West Yorkshire showroom, call them on 01274 567789 or visit http://www.featureradiators.co.uk/

Hot Gossip! - Radiators of the stars

Hot off the press is the news that radiators are the latest topic on many celebs’ lips! No longer an ugly necessity in our homes, radiators have recently undergone a major make-over and regularly feature in the properties of well-known celebrities. Radiators are now also stars in their own right, appearing on many of our most popular British TV programmes.

A certain style icon has been seen eyeing up posh radiators recently, but this spicy lady isn’t the only celebrity to be upgrading the radiators in their home.

Rumour has it that ‘it’ girl, multi-millionairess and owner of net-a-porter.com, Natalie Massanet, has been renovating her luxurious London base with the inclusion of some Etonian cast iron radiators. Jamie and Jules Oliver have chosen the same radiators to add to the warm, family feel of their Primrose Hill property.

Colin and Justin, TV stylists and presenters of 60-minute makeover, admit to their love of fabulous, feature radiators. A premiership footballer opted for particularly “striking” radiators that curl around the walls of his contemporary home. And rock ‘n’ roller, Shakin’ Stevens loves Classic radiators in his Buckinghamshire palace.

A well-known hotelier has installed the latest in electric radiators, iRads, alongside stunning stainless steel towel rails from the Alpine range in their stunning country house hotel. Movie star and model, Saffron Burrows chose suitably stylish electric heating from the Bordo range in her London home.

Celebrities can be demanding; a certain engineering enthusiast requested radiators hanging from the ceiling when sourcing top gear for his home. Interiors expert, Naomi Cleaver, required an unusually shaped towel warmer in green for her latest, particularly personal, project, her new home:

'I located the rather amazing company, Feature Radiators, who are making me a "landscape" towel rail in a sprayed coloured finish at the excellent price of £300'

Cleaver, N. (2011), Naomi’s New Home [online] Available at: http://naomicleaver.typepad.com/naomis-new-home/ [Accessed 14 March 2011]

And its not just celebrity cribs that feature designer radiators, the latest in interior products also have a starring role in many popular TV series.

More than cast iron alibis have been needed in the Queen Vic recently, as cast iron radiators are now also appearing, tying in with the Victorian architecture of this world famous pub. Feature radiators regularly appear in popular interior design and renovation programmes such as DIY SOS, Grand Designs and Sarah Beeny’s Property Ladder. The infamous Big Brother houses regularly showcased the latest in contemporary heating such as a Bench radiator and even Harry Hill’s TV Burp, known for its classic comedy, has Classic radiators on set.

For more information on radiators that grace the homes of the stars, or heating that features on stage and screen, then contact Feature Radiators, www.featureradiators.co.uk, 01274 567789.

Radiator trends – Old meets new

In radiator-land, the latest trend is to combine contemporary radiators with traditional homes.

Mixing the old with the new, ask any interiors professional: It's one of the trickiest balancing acts in the business, but opting for a contemporary radiator in a traditional setting can be a simple way of achieving this look.

The XL radiator in chrome pictured in a hallway is a perfect example of the delicate old/new balance. While the floor is Yorkshire stone flags and the plaster is the original in plain white, the radiator is in highly polished chrome to completely contrast with its surroundings. The rough floor adds an organic contrast to the metallic shine and the rustic solidity of the floor works well with the chunky style and sharp edges of the radiator.

An ultra-modern radiator could immediately be assumed to out of place in a French chateau for instance, but by considering the finish of the radiator alongside the tones of any art or furniture in a room, you can create a highly sophisticated look.

By providing old nuances in rooms that are modern and new references in rooms biased towards the past, you can achieve a balance, rather than a divide, between the old and the new.

For more information contact Feature Radiators, http://www.featureradiators.co.uk/ or call 01274 567789 (10 lines)

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