Homeowner Queries
Got questions about your new home?
Discover essential tips for routine homeowner maintenance and smoothly “settling in” to your new space. Our guide covers everything from annual upkeep and addressing shrinkage to managing your appliances and heating systems effectively. Explore our collection of handy tips and how-to guides designed to help you use and maintain your home’s appliances and systems with confidence.
Discover essential tips for routine homeowner maintenance and smoothly “settling in” to your new space. Our guide covers everything from annual upkeep and addressing shrinkage to managing your appliances and heating systems effectively. Explore our collection of handy tips and how-to guides designed to help you use and maintain your home’s appliances and systems with confidence.
During the initial 12 months, allowing your home to ‘settle’ properly is crucial. This phase includes a gradual drying out process. You might observe minor hairline cracks in walls, gaps in joinery, and potential mold in less ventilated areas as part of this natural settling.
The minor issues observed, such as hairline cracks or signs of mold, often arise naturally during your new home’s drying out process and aren’t typically cause for concern. Such occurrences can happen even with precautions, particularly if your property was built under adverse weather conditions. However, implementing certain measures can indeed minimize the likelihood of these issues.
Try to keep an even temperature throughout your home and try to avoid putting your heating on maximum.
Leaving your windows or window vents open will allow moisture to evaporate more naturally.
Avoid drying clothes indoors when possible.
Always use extractor fans when cooking or showering or bathing.
Try and avoid putting furniture too close to walls to let the walls breathe.
All about your bathroom, en suite and utility extractor fans
Extractor fans remove smells and play an essential role in removing excess moisture.
It is essential to use bathroom extractor fans when you take a bath or shower to avoid problems with damp and mould.
We cannot accept responsibility for any damage caused by damp where extractor fans have not been used properly.
In all of our homes, we fit extractor fans that are designed to continuously run silently, when the bathroom or shower is in use.
To attain optimum performance of your bi-fold doors, the hinges will require periodical maintenance and lubrication. The hinges and tracks should be kept free from dirt, debris and obstruction at all times.
Cleaning frames – To remove grime, clean regularly with soap and water. Check drain holes are free from obstruction. If blocked, remove obstruction and wash thoroughly to ensure correct drainage.
Lock lubrication – Clean and lightly grease external moving parts and frame keeps annually.
Hinge lubrication – Clean and lightly oil hinge pins annually. If open out, lubricate every six months.
Standard handles – Clean and lightly oil external moving parts annually.
Aluminium roller track – Free any debris or dirt from drainage or track.
D-Handle – Clean and lightly oil external moving parts annually.
Cylinder – Do not attempt to lubricate locking cylinder.
Expansion – During spells of warm weather bi fold doors can expand which may cause difficulty closing. To help you may wish to aid the cooling down by washing the bi-fold door frame with a cloth and cold water.
All our new homes have provision for Air Conditioning to ease the process of installation.
– At the time of purchase, if you wish for TLG Living Group to provide Air Conditioning units, please speak to your sales representative.
Do not leave water on the surface for long periods of time. The most susceptible areas are those that are close to sinks.
Do not use sharp objects to cut directly on the worktop surface. Instead, use other protective materials such as chopping boards.
Do not place the surface outside or anywhere that may be exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation.
Do not place any objects that give off heat, or that have been recently removed from the cooker, onto the surface. Use a trivet or tablemat.
Do not use water-repellents, sealants, polishes or similar products.
Do not polish the surface.
Do not place heavy objects that are unsuitable for worktop use on the surface.
Do not use paint strippers, caustic soda or any products with a pH greater than 10. If you use bleach or solvents, you should rinse the surface with plenty of water. Never leave such products in permanent contact with the surface, as they may affect it after 12 hours. Avoid the use of any chlorine-based products and any contact with hydrofluoric acid.
Do not use grease removers with a high mineral content, or very strong products containing 50% solutions of hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide.
Do not use any cleaning products that have a mineral content or that include microparticles in their composition.
Do not use any scouring pads that may scratch the surface. Use a cleaning sponge.
Examples of products that you must not use on Silestone and ECO Line Colour Series surfaces: paint strippers, oven-cleaning products, cleaning products containing methylene chloride, acids for unblocking plugholes or nail-polish removers containing acetone. If any of these products are spilled onto the surface, remove them as quickly as possible using plenty of water and neutral soap. The use of these types of products may result in the loss of the product warranty
Is your leak a major leak or a minor leak?
This guide will help you minimise the impact of a leak, and get it repaired as soon as possible. How serious is the leak? Major leaks – A damaged pipe is currently leaking water, posing a risk of flooding or causing damage to your home. The leak is continuous and beyond containment. Immediate action is required. – Water is pooling on the floor or coming through the ceiling Any of the above would be classed as a major leak. Minor leaks – Water leakage can be controlled or contained by shutting off the water to that outlet. – Dripping taps, running toilet cisterns and overflows, or weeping radiator valves.
All the above are types of minor leaks.
TLG Living Group does not install TV aerials as a standard feature, recognizing that today’s homebuyers often prefer cable or satellite television options.
Employ a qualified tradesman or aerial specialist to fit and connect an aerial.
The consumer unit (fuse box) where the electricity for your entire home is controlled.
During your home demonstration, we’ll ensure you know the location of your electricity consumer unit. This modern unit utilizes circuit breakers instead of traditional fuses for enhanced safety and convenience.
It is worth taking time to ensure that you’re familiar with the unit. The trip switches will have been labelled so you can reset them when necessary (possibly in the dark, so have a torch handy). If the system continues to trip, please use a qualified electrician to source the cause.
In an apartment the electricity meter may be in a service cupboard outside your door, but your consumer unit will be inside your home, normally near the front door.
Under the hinged front cover there’s a row of switches, each controlling a different aspect of the electricity in your home.
These are known as miniature circuit breakers, or MCBs. You can use them to cut power to a particular appliance or part of your home.
It’s good practice to turn off power to your lighting circuit when changing a bulb.
The large ‘main switch’ on the far right can be used to completely isolate the electricity to your home.
The row of switches is split into two groups, each ending with a slightly different looking switch and a small button. These are RCDs, devices that immediately cut off the electricity supply if a person comes into contact with a live electrical connection.
Knowing what these different switches are for will help you to know what to do in the event of an electrical fault.
During the construction of your home, materials such as bricks, timber, and concrete absorb moisture. As you begin living in your home, these materials start to ‘dry out,’ releasing moisture at varying rates. This differential drying can cause timber and plastic to shift, leading to the appearance of small cracks and gaps, a process known as ‘shrinkage.’ Shrinkage is a normal part of a new home settling and can be easily addressed during redecoration. We recommend waiting a year before undertaking any redecoration to allow the house to fully acclimate. The water-based emulsion paint we have applied aids in the moisture evaporation process.
If you’re hanging pictures or mirrors from your walls, make sure your wall fixings are suitable – heavy items may damage your walls and will need additional support.
You may notice minor cracks or small round marks on your walls or ceilings. Don’t worry, this is not a defect and is no cause for concern.
You may find yourself in disagreement with your neighbours, through no fault of your own.
Talk to your neighbours first. Try to reach an agreement before taking the matter further.
If there is a management company that looks after the development, you may be able to contact them for advice and support.
You can also contact your local authority, who may be able to offer advice and assistance in cases such as excessive noise or antisocial behaviour.
The term “asphalt” is broadly used to describe a mixture that combines aggregate and a binder, typically bitumen. This category encompasses various specific types, including tarmac, macadam, and stone mastic asphalt.
Asphalt is specifically designed for various applications, including footpaths, residential driveways, motorways, and airfield runways. Its key requirement is to withstand traffic loads without deformation or cracking. This resilience partly comes from the asphalt’s flexibility, which is achieved through the use of bitumen as a binder.