Opening the doors to the full potential of colour
Colouring and doors are two of the major areas for growth in 2018. When combined, you really cannot help but feel enthused by the opportunities that lie ahead. All the talk in the home improvement market at the moment is centring on improving the aesthetics of the home as we turn the corner on the doom and gloom of winter and enter the joys of spring. With house sales down, there are two schools of thought: firstly it’s time to dress the house up with added kerb appeal in order to tempt buyers, and secondly, it’s to make the home a place to be proud of. Taking the first line of thought, estate agents always roll out the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Clearly the front door is the main contributing factor here, and along with making the house a place to be proud of, a striking entrance door is the obvious solution. The big question is, what colours are set to get pulses racing amongst homeowners and encourage them to ditch the old door for a new composite, aluminium or even panel door? Firstly, coloured frames to match the door are now a must according to a property expert, as they ‘make the door look bigger and more handsome’. Colours that are set to be popular in 2018 are shades of grey/green, dark grey in cities and blue-greys in rural areas. The big trend has seen the rise in the popularity of anthracite, with its chalky grey/nearly black colour now considered by many as the ‘new black’.
As we head into spring it is not just the private residential sector that is expected to jump into action. The pending Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) that came into force on the 1st of April had many landlords desperately scrambling to ensure their properties comply. It become illegal for landlords to sign a new lease for properties with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of F and G from next month. Those caught breaking the rules risk a £4,000 fine. Estimates have revealed that over 300,000 privately rented properties still have an EPC rating of lower than F or G. This means over 6% of landlords could face prosecution and is another key area to target as the UK ramps up its efforts to ensure our housing stock is energy efficient. This is an issue that won’t be brushed under the carpet by the Government. No doubt all domestic properties in the UK with be targeted, and that is a real positive for the fenestration market as we can help insulate homes at the same time as making them look pretty!
