Building regulations are so often leading the way with a building renovation or extension. With so many rules and specifications to work to choosing the right products can become a real headache.  Roof Windows are commonly specified to be of conservation style in traditional style buildings.  However these are often limiting to the sizes and functions you can choose.  Thankfully Fakro have designed a full range of conservation roof windows that far surpassed other leading brands.  The Fakro Conservation Roof Window range comes in all twelve popular sizes in both centre pivot and dual opening.  Also unique to Fakro is the side hung conservation window.  Having a side hung opening is very rare for a roof window but is a fantastic way to open up a room to the outside and let in plenty of air and light.  These can also be used as a means of escape window as there is plenty of room to get out in a hurry.

A Fakro conservation roof window will have the same internal appearance as a standard Fakro centre pivot, the only difference being the sash bar down the middle of the window.  There is also an option for recessed flashings that will bring the window to sit flush with the roof for a more integrated look.  As with any Fakro roof window, topSafe technology is used to make the roof fully secure from intruders attempting to get into the home via the roof.  What more could you ask for?

Here at Ken's Yard we are excited to announce that, after a lot of time and effort, JELD-WEN Patio Doors are now available to order online from the website.

The ranges of patio doors now trading online are:

• JELD-WEN Smoothfold
• JELD-WEN Oak Canberra Duo
• JELD-WEN Clifton Double and Clifton Single Patio Doors
• JELD-WEN Flockton
• JELD-WEN Rio

Ordering a set of JELD-WEN Patio Doors couldn't be any simpler.

You choose the style of patio doors you want, you pick the size that will fit in the space you have and then all you have to do is to choose the configuration.

If that's not easy enough you can even call us on 0844 335 6122 and we will help you with the ordering process.

There is even a JELD-WEN brand information page if you want to know more about JELD-WEN as a company and what else they manufacture.

One important piece of information to know about JELD-WEN patio doors is that they have a 10 year manufacturer's guarantee and a 30 year guarantee against rot and fungal attack, giving you that extra piece of mind.

If you want to extend your living space but feel like an extension is just too much of a big spend just now, then a Finnlife Log Cabin for the garden could just be the answer.  Garden Log Cabins are set to be big sellers this year as more people opt out of traditional extensions in this challenging economy.  Finnlife garden log cabins are made entirely from Nordic softwood from well managed and sustainable sources, designed to be solid and durable.  This new Finnlife range of log cabins comes in over 30 different designs and sizes making them a suitable addition to all garden shapes, sizes and budgets.

Garden log cabins are growing in popularity as a novel alternative to the traditional home extension.  With so many different uses they can prove to be a very cost effective way of creating more space and living areas in the home.  Finnforest garden log cabins can be used in many ways from guest rooms, offices, hobby rooms; games room, entertainment areas or just a garden getaway from a hectic household, there are accessories which are suitable to enhance how the customer intends to use their cabin.  For instance if you want a log cabin to use for a guest room then an under floor heating kit for that cabin would be a great addition to make the cabin warm enough to use for a guest room.

Want the full Scandinavian experience?  Don't worry Finnforest have not forgotten about us freezing Brits, and designed a sauna that will either fit inside some log cabins or even be built in the home.   No more summers spent shivering  on the porch, just build your own finnlife garden log cabin, a garden getaway.

Another bank holiday weekend is upon us!  How will you be spending your weekend?  If you're a self build fanatic then chances are you will be heading to the Grand Designs Live expo that's on in London for beginning this weekend.  The expo never fails to attract the masses, holding the crown as consumer show of the year; it's a must for budding self builders and renovators, particularly if you have a soft spot for all things environmentally friendly or just hope to bump into Kevin McCloud whist learning about the many ways to be self sufficient in your home.

This year Ken's Yard will be featuring at Grand Designs Live, offering all customers 10% there first order when they register.  With over 30,000 products online and many more coming soon or available over the phone we are looking forward to helping out with Grand Design inspired builds all over the country.  What's your Grand Design?  Share your own grand design ideas, sucesses, failures (more tragic the better please) here.

The time has come!  Get Britain Building needs you.  It's no secret that as direct result of the current economy the building industry is in trouble.  Factories are closing, skilled workers are leaving the industry and companies are going out of business.  This situation has provoked major construction organisations to come together and campaign to "Get Britain Building".  Lead by British Precast, the Builders Merchants Federation, the Federation of Master Builders and the Modern Masonry Alliance, the Get Britain Building campaign wants to get the UK construction industry prospering in difficult times.

Get Britain Building predicts 450,000 job losses by the end of the year for the construction industry, if definitive action is not taken to improve the situation.  That's a huge amount of livelihoods on the line, for what cause?  Every problem has a solution, and this is no exception.  The campaigners have a 10 point plan to improve the situation, which focuses on minimizing excessive control, regulation, and taxation.  What do you think of a 5% VAT cut for all building repair and maintaince work? It's proven to have positive results on the continent.

Get Britain Building need all the support they can get with this campaign, so if you want to take action visit the campaign site at www.getbritainbuilding.org/whatcanido.asp and sign the petition or get information about lobbying to your MP directly.

According to Churchill Home Insurance 1 in 4 of us will be getting stuck into some home DIY this Easter weekend.  But is that such a good idea?  Halifax insurance conducted research with top psychologist Dr Glenn Wilson, who warned that the ability to do DIY is linked to our gene's - some people have the DIY gene and some of the less fortunate don't !  This is no April fool perhaps the reason for all your DIY woes it that it's just not in your genes.  The DIY gene is related to your sensory perception and ability to work with different shapes, which are vital skills for doing home improvements.

So if this Easter weekend you're planning on putting up those shelves or clearing out gutters, be careful on that ladder as you may not be genetically predispositioned to climb it safely!

What does 2010 hold for you?

Theo Paphitis of Dragon's Den Fame thinks that this year is the best year to start a new business for many years.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article7069794.ece

Today in the budget, the Chancellor, Alastair Darling, has been telling us that the country is not in quite as much debt as he forecast and gave good news to some of those who would like to buy a house and not pay any stamp duty.

Scottish Chartered Accountant Bruce Cartwright welcomes a return to "boring, steady, organic growth". But then accountants and boring go together don't they?

http://www.camagonline.co.uk/Videos/146.aspx

So what does it hold for you? A new business like Theo, a new house (to please Alastair) or, like Bruce, are you happy with boring steady organic growth?

By Big Ben, our man with an interest in the City.

VELUX will be featuring at Grand Design's Live 2010 1^st - 9^th May at London Excel.  Grand Designs Live has been a hugely popular exhibition attracting 100,000 visitors in previous years.  Grand Designs has been a hugely popular show with the ambitious self builders and aspirating renovators since 1999.  Since then Grand Designs concept has become a brand itself with a monthly magazine release and even its own architectural modeling software.  The show often feature eco builds and celebrates new builds which showcase economical and ecological building materials and techniques.  The focus on energy saving, position VELUX as an extremely relevant official sponsor of the Grand Build, as there roof window range are specially designed for energy efficient home insulation.  The VELUX team will be based at the largest stand at the event, offering bookable free consultation sessions with daylight & design experts.  They will also be offering advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint and how to incorporatesolar energy in your home.

With energy saving at home becoming ever more important to consumers, VELUX Solar Hot Water systems are becoming an increasing popular and practical solution for people wanting to know how to reduce electricity bills.  On average a solar hot water system can provide a home with 70% of its hot water requirements.  The VELUX solar collectors are sold to match the roof window range so they can be easily integrated on most roofs.  The full VELUX range has been launched on Ken's Yard, with an easy to use automated checkout procedure to guide shoppers to choose the right size flashing and blinds, making the process quick and simple.

Down at Ken's Yard we are all fans of Grand Designs, and can't help watch the show and fantasize over our own dream build.  It would be interesting to know if the Channel 4 show has really had an impact on the amount of people undertaking their own self build and renovation projects, or whether the show's dramatic portraits of building site trials and tribulations are enough to put off even the most optimistic aspiring self builder.

Kährs Flooring is proud to be the world's oldest wood floor manufacturer still in business and going strong. Rightly so, as the market has become so competitive with cheap low quality and non ecological flooring making it tough for quality flooring with strong ethical and ecological policy, to remind Europe's favourite engineered wood floor manufacture. Since Kährs Flooring began in 1857, in the heart of Swedish forests, there business has thrived showing great commitment to tradition, passion for craftsmanship, whist embracing new technologies. One of the most innovative features of flooring that Kährs has brought to the market was in 2000 when the Kährs Woodloc joints where launched. This is a unique technique of glueless floor joint, making flooring easy to lay and withstand climatic changes. All of Kährs 15mm naturals flooring collection are manufactured with this same Woodloc technology. The Naturals Collection also comes in a wide range of wood species and finishes, like the original oak, luxurious Jarrah or warm Beech.

Ken's Yard has just revamped their complete Kährs Flooring range to make it easier to shop for and choose the best flooring choice. There is also a new complete section called "Ken's How" which is full of handy advice on topics like how to lay a Kährs floor and how to lay floor on under floor heating.

FloPlast Rainwater Systems are one of the most trusted and widely used guttering solutions available.   For help with working out your guttering requirements for a job a really useful tool is FloPlast's own Flow rate calculator.  All you have to do is select you roof type, enter the roof dimensions and the calculator will tell you the flow rates.  Once you know a roof's flow rates you can tell what guttering system is required.  See FloPlast's own really useful guide on guttering carrying capacities.

Ken's Yard is now stocking the full FloPlast guttering range.  The range is offered at new "Big Boy Packs" special rates so you can get all you need for the job and have some left for your next job!