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Maintenance Free Concrete Garages

January 29, 2010
Posted in Garages — Written by Neil

Concrete garages are built to last and can be virtually maintenance free.  The latest maintenance free concrete garages such as the Superior range from Compton Buildings feature plastisol coated steel doors, PVCu or plastisol coated steel fascias, PVCu windows, guttering and a whole host of other features that prevent water entering the garage.  The result is a brand new garage that will stand the test of time and look good for years!

Many retailers of concrete garages have been selling the product for over 25 years and explain that some of the very first garages they sold are still going strong and look like they will be for many years to come.  The old post and panel construction may be a thing of the past, but maintenance free garages certainly aren’t.

Unlike traditional timber garages, concrete garages won’t rot or warp and don’t require constant maintenance or retreating.  Maintanence free concrete garages should see garages lasting longer than ever before and when you divide the price of a garage over its lifetime it really shows what a fantastic investment a new concrete garage is.

The latest range of garages to hit the market are fully fire tested timber framed garages benefiting from modern building technology.  Ultimate Garages are lined and insulated, taller than most concrete garages, feature a steel tile roof  and a choice of 8 different finishes.  Again these are maintenence free and are ideal for the increasing number of people who want to use their garage for more than simply storing the car.

Where to buy concrete garages

January 27, 2010
Posted in Concrete Garages — Written by Neil

The concrete garages industry like every other industry has been affected by the growing popularity of the internet.  As well as providing more information online there is now more choice for potential customers of where to buy new concrete sectional garages.  Beware - not all concrete garage manufacturers are the same!

Our advice is to choose a well established company - one that is large enough for you to trust with your money and to have access to your property, who will put things right if anything goes wrong.  Such a company will put your mind at ease.  Together with this we suggest you See Before Your Buy at a local concrete garage display site where you can see exactly what you will be paying for!  Choose a concrete garage supplier that provides  access to a local representative who can help and advise you by taking you through the wide ranges on offer.  A local agent can offer the complete package of a free site survey, old garage removal, base preparation, help with local authority planning issues - they will take all the hassle away from the concrete garage purchase and help you avoid any costly mistakes.

Most importantly check what is included with your chosen garage - it’s easy to be misled, some companies even supply windows without glass in them - only the frame!  Many will charge extra for essential items that prevent water getting into your garage such as a  sand and cement fillet.  Security is more important than ever so a four point locking garage door is vital - is this included?  Wider garage doors are especially important if you plan to park your car in your garage as vehicles are getting bigger - most companies charge extra £££s for this. 

Once you’ve checked the physical details check if the garage is guaranteed, and see if there are any extra benefits to choosing a certain manufacturer such as a recommend a friend scheme that can earn you £££s in vouchers.

Then evaluate what’s on offer - Don’t be fooled by internet prices they often are not cheaper, visit your local concrete garages agent, see before you buy and get good advice FREE!

How to replace an old prefab garage

January 26, 2010
Posted in Garages — Written by Neil

Thousands of householders throughout the UK have an old prefab garage next to their house or down the bottom of the garden that is past its best and now needs replacing.  These may look past their best and potentially be unsafe - so what’s the solution?  Well, it’s often cheaper to replace than repair an old garage as prices of new concrete garages are probably lower than you think and typically start from around £1500.

If you’re in this situation then your local Compton garages agent can come to the rescue as they will typically be able to call on years of experience within the concrete garages industry and be able to coordinate the whole process from dismantling and safely disposing your old prefab garage, through to laying or repairing a concrete garage base before arranging the delivery and installation of a new concrete sectional garage that will not only look great but will add thousands of pounds to the value of your home.

As you will see on Compton’s garages website there is a lot of choice and there is sure to be something to suit the needs of anyone looking for a secure home for their car or other valuable possessions.  Local Compton garages agents will typically have a display of garages to view and will be on hand to offer help and advice enabling potential customers to choose the garage that is right for them. 

So if you have an old prefab garage that needs replacing, our advice is talk to your local Compton Garages agent.

Garage condensation and Compton’s GrafoTherm anti-condensation treatment

January 21, 2010
Posted in Garages — Written by Kirsten

About 20 gallons of water (about 2 bath-fulls!) are used to make the average building, and even more water goes into the concrete in your base. It can take 2/3 months to dry, especially in winter. This is exactly the same as a new house.

Your building needs to be well ventilated, at least initially, to ensure that it dries out properly. If the drying process is not complete, you may have a condensation problem. A by-product of inadequate ventilation is mould

growth on the inside of the roof sheets, another reason to make sure your building is dry and continues to be well ventilated. Some areas of the country are still prone to condensation, even with high levels of ventilation and reasonable drying time.

 

Our Flat Spar buildings feature a galvanised steel, one piece front to rear roof sheet coated with a GrafoTherm anti condensation treatment.  To demonstrate how GrafoTherm works, let’s look at the condensation cycle in an uninsulated building with a roof that is made of partly GrafoTherm-treated & partly untreated steel sheets. The example shows a normal early spring or late autumn day.

 

evening 

Phase 1 - Evening
When the sun has set, the outdoor temperature falls rapidly. The temperature of the roof will soon reach dew-point and condensation starts to appear on the untreated part of the roof.  The GrafoTherm coat insulates and reduces the temperature difference between the steel sheet and the air. No condensation appears on the treated part of the roof.

 

night 

Phase 2 - Night
During cold nights with a clear sky, the temperature of a steel roof can be considerably lower than that of the outdoor air. This is due to long-wave heat radiation from the roof towards the sky. Heavy condensation now appears on the untreated surface and starts dripping.
Condensation now also occurs on the steel surface under the GrafoTherm coat. However, condensation cannot take place on the surface of the GrafoTherm coating.
The micropores of the GrafoTherm coating adsorb the moisture and distribute it over the whole surface, where it is temporarily stored and even evaporates if the conditions are right, so no dripping!

 

morning

Phase 3 - Morning
The sun rises and the outdoor air is warmed up. The temperature of the steel roof will soon exceed the dew-point. The untreated steel surface gradually stops dripping and becomes dry.  The GrafoTherm coating will become dry very rapidly and will very soon have regained its capacity to meet the next condensation period. Due to the size of the micropores, the surface tension of the water is broken and the moisture evaporates two to three times faster than it would on the untreated steel surface.

Preparing your concrete garage base - do’s and don’t

January 18, 2010
Posted in Concrete Garages — Written by Kirsten

Compton Buildings build concrete garages for the long term. Therefore, it is wise to ensure that your concrete garage foundations are also designed for the long term, too.  If in doubt, talk to your local Compton agent who will be able to give straightforward advice. In the meantime, here are a few tips to consider.

  • Do use a local agent recommended service or a competent local builder.
  • Do make sure your base is flat, square and level
  • Do build your base 152mm (6”) wider and longer than the external dimensions of your building.
  • Do ensure that the base stands proud of the surrounding ground so that water will not run on to the base.
  • Do consider the type of soil (clay needs a different base design to sandy loam soil), and look at the proximity of trees, hedges and roots.
  • Do consider putting in a damp course if you want to store anything inside your concrete garage.
  • Do look up when marking out your base – remember that roof sheets and gutters overhang the wall, particularly important on a boundary.
  • Don’t construct your concrete garage base from tarmac, paving slabs, paving blocks or any other material other than concrete.
  • Don’t build your base at a level lower than surrounding ground as water may seep in garage.
  • Don’t build your base with a fall to the front – a hardwood timber weather bar helps prevent water and leaves blowing under your up-and-over door.

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Design your own Compton building in 4 simple steps

January 15, 2010
Posted in Concrete Garages — Written by Kirsten

No-one can second guess your individual needs. So we don’t. Instead, we allow you to select the right combination from the most comprehensive range of options.
Together with your local agent, who can give you the benefit of expert advice and experience, we can ensure you get the high quality finished article that you desire.

The first thing to do is put a little thought into the kind of usage you have in mind for your Compton garage. Both now and into the future as your needs evolve. How much storage do you want? Will it be a workplace long-term? Could you find room for a small gym? Once you have an idea of what you want, you will need to consider the following four areas:

Step 1. Shape
Select from our three product ranges. The Flat range, which has a roof that falls
front to back. The Apex range with a pitched roof at 12.5°. Or the Banbury range with a pitched roof at 25° for the look of a more traditional building.

Step 2. Size
It’s easy to overlook something that seems obvious later. Like the fact that your car has wing mirrors. Or that kids might need generous space to open easy-to-damage car doors once you’re parked inside the garage. So ensure you have enough room for the opening swing of the doors and for the car to turn into when approaching your garage entrance. A wider or longer building will only cost a little more and might open up added usage possibilities (many customers wish they had chosen a larger garage once it is in use).

Step 3. Style
We give you plenty of options. So you can match your garage to your needs and your environment. There are many things to consider. Do you want a pebble dashfinish or a brick finish? Do you want maintenance-free options or a more natural cedar appearance? What about Compton Auto-lift to make access even easier? And you can opt for added security choices as well as numerous style and personal preference possibilities. In short, we can help design the garage that suits you best.

Step 4. Speak
Our local experts offer solutions you might not even realise exist. As well as showing
you examples of buildings, they can also help you steer clear of many possible problems- such as planning permission. Talk to your local Compton agent. Use their expertise and get essential help from people you can trust.

Prefab Garages look better than ever before

January 12, 2010
Posted in Prefabricated garages — Written by Joe

When you hear the phrase prefab garages you may well think of the timber framed asbestos buildings and garages that were so popular in the early 1960s. Well things have certainly moved on a bit since then!

A huge variety of shapes, sizes and styles of prefab garages are now available typically made using concrete panels. Compton Buildings are the UKs largest supplier of concrete garages and their range includes brick finish garages, textured finishes as well as the long established pebble dash (spar) finish garages.

The latest innovation is a range of timber framed garages called The Ultimate Collection. These are taller than most other prefabricated garages, they are lined and insulated and are fitted onto a concrete base in such a way that makes it difficult for any water to get inside.

So, if you’re looking for a new garage, make sure you consider the wide range of prefab garages that are available and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Concrete Garages Help Motorists Avoid Fines

January 11, 2010
Posted in Garages — Written by admin

The recent bad weather that has hit the whole of the UK could be costing motorists thousands of pounds. Concrete garages will help motorists avoid a £1000 fine for driving with restricted vision as snow will not fall on cars securley stored in garages. Compton concrete garages are available for little more than the fine that could be enforced.

As well as saving you money, putting your car in a Compton concrete garage can also save you the time it takes to scrape the ice off windows each morning - giving ou a few more precious minutes under the duvet!

Concrete Garages help motorists in the bad weather

January 8, 2010
Posted in Garages — Written by admin

Compton garages customers have been grateful for their concrete garage over the past few weeks as the current bad weather hitting the UK has led to many motorists wishing they protected their car in a garage.

Every morning has seen millions of motorists busy scraping snow and ice of their cars, something that could have been avoided by putting their car in a Compton concrete garage.

There is something to suit all tastes in Compton’s range including very affordable yet functional flat garages through to more upmarket tiled and brick finish garages.

For more information on Compton garages visit their website at www.comptonbuildings.co.uk

The advantages of owning a garage

January 6, 2010
Posted in Garages — Written by Henry

Garages are now a common feature on many properties. Usually, when people consider installing garage into their property, they do not consider their options fully. However, if you are planning to install one onto your property, you must consider all of the available options and do some research before purchasing one. Garages come in many different sizes and materials, and it is important to choose the one that suits your requirements.

Concrete and prefabricated garages are two of the most popular garage options, and are affordable storage solutions. With prefabricated garages, you can easily store your belongings. Prefabricated garages come in an extensive range of design and styles. Irrespective of your taste, budget and needs, you can select the one that fully suits your requirements.

There are many garage door options including roll-up or tilt-up garage doors. You can choose from an extensive range of construction materials such as treated timber, vinyl or exposed steel.

With the rise in use of personal vehicles for transport purposes, having a garage you can safeguard your vehicles from theft and poor weather conditions. Many garage door options are also available, that enable you to install the door of your choice. You can even install an automated garage door to simplify the opening and closing process.

With the numerous advantages that garages offer, they are great addition to any property.

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Compton Buildings is part of the Compton Group of companies, comprising of Compton Buildings, Compton Commercial, Alton Greenhouses, Robinsons Greenhouses & Alton Victorian Greenhouses. Compton Buildings is a Marshalls plc specialist company, part of the Marshalls Mono Limited group of companies. Marshalls Mono Limited is a company registered in England & Wales under registration number 509579. Registered office: Birkby Grange, Birkby Hall Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD2 2YA.