CourtHomes

Specifications

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All our homes are traditionally built and reflect our passion for using traditional building methods and the best quality materials to create highly desirable homes that stand out from the rest. Read about solid floors, underfloor heating, pre-wired integrated entertainment system,
Robin Hayhurst, Director, Court Homes

Solid Floors
In today's market, home buyers are far more discerning about the quality and internal flexibility of their new homes than ever before. There is an increase in awareness of the benefits of precast concrete floors particularly in reducing sound transmission and improving thermal efficiency within the home. Consequently we have incorporated into our houses, precast concrete floors at both upper and lower levels. ADVANTAGES: SOUND TRANSMISSION With noise nuisance the single most common complaint as regards housing, it is no surprise that the use of precast concrete floors both at ground level and upper level is becoming increasingly popular. The greater mass of concrete absorbs noise dramatically, giving huge reductions in impact sound. In addition , other disadvantages of timber floors, such as creaking boards and noisy pipes is avoided.
THERMAL CAPACITY In a modern highly insulated house, the introduction of large heat absorbing mass in the core of the structure, reduces temperature fluctuations by acting as a heat store, therefore the house tends to be more comfortable and with some heating systems more efficient.
FLEXIBILITY OF ROOM LAYOUT ON FIRST FLOOR For the homeowner, there is the advantage that because the floor is uniformly strong, the internal room layout can be changed at any time to suit their needs, without structural problems.
IMPROVED FIRE RESISTANCE BETWEEN FLOORS A concrete floor is intrinsically fire-resistant and will contain both fire and smoke, the latter being the cause of most fatalities in fires.
SOLIDNESS OF CONSTRUCTION A heavy duty first floor ties the masonry structure together, making the total framework and the house much more solid.
MOISTURE MOVEMENT Masonry does not shrink to the same extent as timber drying out. A standard 10" of joist can shrink anything up to half an inch, with the resultant gap under skirtings, cracks to block walls, movement around the ceiling level, door openings out of square, etc. This type of movement is almost eliminated.
LONG TERM DURABILITY Concrete is inert and so can never be susceptible to attacks from fungus or insects, therefore no wet or dry rot and no woodworm.
DISADVANTAGES: COST It costs more than timber floors.

Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is the discerning choice for environmental control within buildings. Warm friendly floors combine space-saving invisibility and low running costs. This type of heating brings a new level of comfort to our lives - the best that modern technology can devise.
ADVANTAGES: COMFORT Heating systems warm people in two ways - with radiated and with convected heat. Experience shows that radiated heat always feels more comfortable. Unlike panel radiators, underfloor heating emits more heat by radiation than by convection. Since the floor radiates heat over its entire surface, there are no hot or cold areas - instead a constantly comfortable indoor climate is produced throughout. As underfloor heating warms through the floor, the air temperature is always at floor level, decreasing at head height. This ensures occupants feel more comfortable and alert, with cooler heads and warmer feet. Radiator heating creates the opposite effect.
INVISIBLE HEAT SOURCE No need for hot, sharp edged radiators that utilise valuable space - no grilles, concealed convectors, or trailing cables. Provides maximum freedom for interior design.
CLEANER & SAFER Not only do you avoid the build up of dust and dirt in and around radiators, but also tiled floors in kitchens or downstairs shower rooms, dry far quicker when cleaned or when wet and therefore reduces slip hazard. There is the additional tamper and touch proof safety for the young and infirm.
LOW RUNNING COSTS Only low temperature hot water is required, making the best possible use of modern condensing boilers for low running costs. Keeps the maximum heating effect in the lower part of the room space, rather than at the ceiling, and since the air does not have to be so warm for comfort, it is better for breathing, all this helps to reduce running costs.
SOUND INTRUSION No creaks, groans or noisy pipes - underfloor heating provides high efficiency heating with none of the background noise of a metal based system.
LONG TERM DURABILITY The system we use is based on cross-linked polyethene pipe that is long lasting. It is therefore maintenance free. INDIVIDUAL ROOM CONTROL Individual room or zone control is an option that can easily be achieved.
DISADVANTAGES: COST It costs more than other types of heating.

PREWIRED INTERGRATED HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
MUSIC SYSTEM Without any mess and disruption to you, you will be able to enjoy your music as soon as you move into your new home. Whilst you are unpacking and settling in you will be able to listen to your iPod ® or listen to FM radio through ceiling speakers in the Lounge, Kitchen and Master Bedroom including the en-suite. An in-wall touch screen in each of these rooms will allow you to select and control the music from your iPod ® or the built in radio.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER ROOMS? Your forward thinking builder has pre-wired your whole home, including the garden, to allow music to be played in every main room of your home or garden. The necessary cabling has been buried into walls and ceilings. You simply select which extra rooms you want to be upgraded (additional costs applicable).
VIDEO SYSTEM Your home has also been pre-wired to allow for the distribution of standard or high-definition video sources such as Sky ®, Apple TV ®, etc from a central location. Depending on what video sources you have, a distribution system can be installed so you can watch the video source around your home without the need for video equipment in the room (additional costs applicable).
SATELLITE AND TV When you move in, you want to relax in front of the television. Your home already has a high quality satellite dish and aerials fitted so no need to wait for an engineer to visit. You will be able to, in any main room, connect your television (built-in digital tuner required) and watch Freeview (™). Alternatively, connect your satellite box in any room and watch satellite.
COMPUTERS AND PHONES Every main room has at least two computer points. The computer points are already connected together. All you need to do is choose your broadband provider. Once your broadband provider has connected your line, you simply connect your computer to a computer point and start surfing the Internet. Each computer point can also be used as a phone point.
INTELLIGENT LIGHTING Intelligent lighting has been installed into the Lounge. In this room you will be able to select a pre-programmed "scene", for example "Dining" from the in-wall touch screen. Selecting a scene will set the lights in that room to optimal levels for the chosen activity. Intelligent lighting control in your home can be extended around the whole home or other features can be added such as lights turning on/off based on sunset/sunrise times, or automatically coming on as you enter a room, or Holiday Mode which replays recorded scene activity, creating a truly occupied look to a property (additional costs applicable)

Brief Specification
SOLID GROUND & FIRST FLOORS The obvious benefit is the decrease in the sound transmission through the floor. This can make an immense difference to the enjoyment of the house as a whole and the way you are able to live in it. It also allows us to have under floor heating upstairs. The floor acts as a large heat sink in the summer and keeps the house cool
UNDERFLOOR HEATING THROUGHOUT The system we install is a low heat wet system. It is more economical to run than a conventional radiator system, and is controlled separately in each room by means of a thermostat. The benefits are reduced ongoing running costs, and the lack of radiators in the rooms taking up space and affecting layout. The average saving is 20 to 25%, but on larger properties savings can be higher.
DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS & SOLID DOORS Our windows are manufactured by a company called Bereco. They are constructed of defect free engineered timber which has no knots in it. They are all factory finished to a very high standard. This enables the manufacturer to give a 30 year guarantee on rot and fungal decay and a 10 year guarantee on the paint finish. Simply put, this means that the windows will not need painting for over 10 years compared to a traditional window which needs painting after about three years. The double glazed units are filled with argon gas increasing its thermal efficiency. All doors and windows are fitted with multi point locking and are therefore very secure. The internal doors have the real wood veneer finish and a solid composite core. They are heavy door and are good at cutting down sound transmission. The look of the door speaks for itself. There are less affected by moisture than a traditional solid timber door
FLOOR TILING TO KITCHEN AREAS, BATHROOMS, EN-SUITES AND CLOAKROOMS HALF HEIGHT WALL TILING IN CLOAKROOMS, BATHROOMS & SHOWER ROOMS, WITH FULL HEIGHT IN SHOWERS Latest design tiles by Porcelanosa make a real feature of these areas. STEAM FREE HEATED MIRROR IN MAIN EN-SUITE When turned on the mirrors are steam free when the shower or bath is in use.
PRESSURISED DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM FEATURE STAIRCASE
QUALITY KITCHEN WITH GRANITE WORKTOPS Fitted with appliances to include Neff Fridge Freezer &l Dishwasher, gas or electric hob, electric split level double oven and microwave. There is also a filter tap allowing you the choice of filtered or unfiltered water. The standard filter cartridge is located under the sink and can be changed easily about every six months.
HIGH SPECIFICATION SANITARYWARE FROM IDEAL STANDARD, ROMAN, & UTOPIA, WITH FITTED BATHROOM FURNITURE
HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM This allows music and video from a central source to be used and controlled around the house. Fitted as standard in four rooms we have wired additional rooms so that they can be added to the system if required. The system allows up to eight different sources i.e. Sky box, digital box, CD player, DVD player, iPod, etc.
LOW ENERGY RECESSED LIGHTS TO MOST ROOMS Most of the lighting in the house comprises of flush mounted spotlights. These are a combination of new fluorescent lamps and more traditional halogen lamps. The fluorescent type lamps are energy saving and make up most of the lighting in the house which gives a considerable saving on power consumption for the lighting in comparison to traditional lighting. In some rooms we have fitted a 5amp circuit enabling standing lamps to be controlled through the switches on the wall instead of individually
TV & BT POINTS TO MOST ROOMS LOFT LADDER & LIGHT and boarded out loft area where possible
REMOTE CONTROLLED GARAGE DOORS SOLID WALLS The advantage of having solid block partitions is a decrease in sound transmission through the walls, and there is less shrinkage in the house generally as masonry is less affected by moisture loss in the drying out process.
SMOOTH PLASTERED CEILINGS
10 YEAR NHBC WARRANTY

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