Eco Tiffin

Based in Hertfordshire, Eco Tiffin provides services to London and the Home-counties. We are WHICH Trusted Trader approved Members in partnership with Hertfordshire Trading Standards and active members of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and, therefore, Trust Mark approved. Our years of experience have been passed down through the generations giving us a wealth of knowledge, allowing us to assist our clients best. Over the decades, we have carried out hundreds of surveys and projects on all types of properties.

When people talk about damp proofing, they are quick to think of damp proofing a property against rising damp. However, when we talk about it, we are talking about protecting your home from damp issues generally. Rising damp is less common than you may think; moisture, in general, is the big problem. Misdiagnosis of rising damp is common. It is not as frequent now due to the installation of the damp proof course brought in by an act of Parliament in circa 1875. Properties are far better equipped at dealing with the issue of rising damp that is caused by water in the ground being drawn up through a wall.

Moving house in the UK has become a costly business with many deciding to stay put and instead renovate, refurbish, upgrade insulation, ventilation and improve the home they live in. However, if you are thinking of selling or renting then a beautifully refurbished and modernised property is always going to be considerably more attractive for prospective buyers or tenants especially with lower running costs. We believe house renovations go hand in hand with owning a property, you can't expect to live in the same home for 5, 10 or even 30 years and your home to look as fresh as the day you moved in.

Home improvements are a broad subject as countless improvements and alterations can take place to make your home more suitable to your requirements. Of course, sometimes home improvements aren't always visible aesthetically, such as improving the thermal efficiency of a building; however, we cover more about this in our retrofitting of buildings services. Robert and the team replaced my old garage (with an asbestos roof) with a very nice larger garage. Everything was done when they said it would be.

When it comes to property maintenance, there could not be a more apt saying than 'Prevention is better than cure'. Regular maintenance is simply the most cost-effective way to look after your property. By resolving small issues at an early stage, before they become big problems, can and will save you thousands of pounds on major repair works later on, as well as achieving the best value when selling your property. If you own an older property, it a good idea to have your property inspected by a professional about every five years and any potential issues remedied immediately.

A new house extension is the perfect fit for modern times. Moving home is an expensive task, with many hidden and rising costs like stamp duty, which can soon make the whole process unaffordable. As a result, many families choose to extend their current home to fit in with their new requirements and potentially growing family. When deciding to extend your house, it is essential to know what is possible legally and when planning permission is or isn't required. We work closely with our sister company Progress Planning & Land Consultants Ltd, who can advise you on the legal aspects that need to be considered for a house extension.

A healthy building should never experience dry rot in its lifetime. Dry rot is a fungus, also known as Serpula lacrymans and requires specific environmental effects to flourish. Over the years, we have seen some alarming cases of dry rot in properties. Repairs have cost 100,000 or more in some cases, but thankfully your insurance company should cover you in the event of a dry rot outbreak. Given the seriousness of dry rot, if you think your property might be at risk, you get a professional to assess the damage immediately and carry out a thorough survey of the property.

There is a lot to be considered when choosing a colour scheme and many people still tend to play it safe rather than try something new. However, you don't have to go too far out of your comfort zone to embrace the latest styles. Nowadays, the internet is awash with fabulous ideas, and the mobile app Pinterest gives you hundreds of ideas at the tip of your fingers. So many colours are available, and the colour cards and tester pots allow you to experiment before making the final decision. Decorating your home will always come down to personal taste, but we are here to help when asked.