Guides
Home improvement guides for Shropshire
Costs, grants, planning rules and how to choose an installer, written for Shropshire homes and checked against official sources.
Heat pumps
All heat pumps guides Heat pumps: 2026 price guide Typical prices in Shropshire, what changes them, and the grants and VAT that apply. Read the guide Choosing an MCS heat pump installer: checks, quotes and red flags What MCS certification means, how to check a heat pump installer, what a proper quote must include, questions to ask, warranties and the red flags to walk away from. Read the guide Heat pump planning permission and noise rules in England (2026) When a heat pump needs planning permission in England, the 2025 rule changes, the 37 dB MCS 020(a) noise limit, and the listed building and conservation area rules. Read the guide Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2026: the £7,500 and £9,000 grants Who can get the £7,500 or £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026, how your MCS installer applies, the timescales, and what it means for Shropshire homes on oil. Read the guide Heat pump vs oil boiler running costs in 2026 What a heat pump costs to run against oil, LPG and mains gas at the October to December 2026 price cap, with every assumption shown, and when it does not save money. Read the guide Do heat pumps work in old houses? Stone, solid wall and period homes Whether a heat pump will heat an old stone, solid wall or listed home, what a heat loss survey shows, radiators, insulation first, and the consents you may need. Read the guide
Windows and doors
All windows and doors guides Windows and doors: 2026 price guide Typical prices in Shropshire, what changes them, and the grants and VAT that apply. Read the guide FENSA certificates explained: what they are and why you need one What FENSA and CERTASS certificates are, the Building Regulations for new windows, what happens without one, getting a £30 copy and what buyers ask for. Read the guide Double vs triple glazing: cost, U-values and when it pays Double vs triple glazing compared: 2026 costs, U-values, the Building Regulations minimum, noise and condensation, and when triple glazing is worth the extra money. Read the guide Sash windows: repair, secondary glazing or replace? Repair or replace sash windows? 2026 costs for refurbishment, draught-proofing, secondary glazing, slim double glazed timber and uPVC sashes, and heritage rules. Read the guide uPVC vs timber vs aluminium windows: cost, lifespan and looks uPVC, timber and aluminium windows compared on 2026 prices, lifespan, upkeep and energy rules, with advice for conservation areas and listed homes in Shropshire. Read the guide Replacing windows in a Shropshire conservation area When new windows in a Shropshire conservation area need planning permission or listed building consent, where Article 4 applies, fees and what the council accepts. Read the guide
Solar panels and batteries
All solar panels and batteries guides Are solar batteries worth it? Costs, savings and payback What a home battery costs in 2026, how it saves money through self-use and time-of-use tariffs, honest payback sums with stated assumptions, and 0% VAT rules. Read the guide How many solar panels do I need? Sizing a system for your home How many solar panels a UK home needs, sized from Ofgem's typical electricity use, panel wattage, roof space and orientation, with Shropshire output from PVGIS. Read the guide Smart Export Guarantee rates 2026: how SEG works, who pays most How the Smart Export Guarantee works, why you need an MCS certificate, and export rates from six big suppliers checked on 17 October 2026, with tips on comparing. Read the guide Solar panel cost 2026: what a home system costs by size What a home solar PV system typically costs in 2026 by size, using government MCS data, plus 0% VAT to March 2027, what moves the price and battery add-on costs. Read the guide Do solar panels need planning permission? England rules 2026 When home solar panels are permitted development in England after the August 2026 changes, plus conservation areas, listed homes, Article 4 in Shropshire and roofs. Read the guide
Driveways
All driveways guides Driveway planning permission and dropped kerbs in Shropshire The 5 square metre front garden rule, when a driveway needs planning permission, Article 4 areas, and how to apply for a dropped kerb in Shropshire or Telford. Read the guide Resin vs block paving vs tarmac: which driveway is best? Resin, block paving and tarmac compared on 2026 cost per square metre, lifespan, looks, drainage and planning, and upkeep, so you can pick the right drive. Read the guide Resin bound vs resin bonded: the difference for your driveway Resin bound vs resin bonded driveways compared: how each is laid, which drains, UV-stable resin, lifespan, 2026 costs, and why the choice matters for planning. Read the guide How long does a resin driveway last? Lifespan and maintenance How long resin, block paving, tarmac and gravel drives last, how to clean them, weeds and repairs, what shortens their life, guarantees and choosing an installer. Read the guide Driveway cost 2026: prices per m² and for one and two cars Typical 2026 driveway prices per square metre for gravel, tarmac, resin and block paving, worked costs for one and two cars, plus groundworks and dropped kerbs. Read the guide
Roofing
All roofing guides Fascias, soffits and guttering: 2026 replacement costs What fascias, soffits and guttering do, uPVC versus timber, typical 2026 replacement costs by house type, the warning signs of trouble and scaffolding costs. Read the guide Flat roof options: EPDM vs GRP vs torch-on felt compared EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass and torch-on felt flat roofs compared on 2026 cost, lifespan and guarantees, plus the Building Regulations insulation rules. Read the guide New roof rules: planning, Building Regulations and bats When a re-roof needs Building Regulations approval or planning permission, the insulation rules, Shropshire conservation areas and Article 4, listed homes and bats. Read the guide Roof repair or replace? Signs, lifespans and typical costs How to tell whether your roof needs a repair or a full replacement: warning signs, how long tiles and slate last, typical 2026 repair costs and getting a survey. Read the guide Roof replacement cost 2026: tiles, slate and scaffolding What a full re-roof typically costs in 2026 by house type and material (concrete tile, clay tile, natural slate), plus scaffolding, VAT and what moves the price. Read the guide