Category Archives: Uncategorised

Sep 2022

3 Top Tips for a Successful CIF Application: Overcoming the hurdles

Looking for tips on how to build a successful CIF application? Like with all Government schemes, there are a lot of hoops to jump through with writing this kind of bid. This being said, with the right guidance, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be successful in receiving this type of financial support. Here at Munday + Cramer, we have helped hundreds of schools build comprehensive and successful applications through the years. As experts in procurement, architecture, surveying, and project management, we have an added level of knowledge when it comes to the level of work that is required and how […]

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Sep 2022

School Maintenance Checklist: Preparing your school for autumn

With the autumn months drawing in and winter just around the corner, it’s time to get out your school maintenance checklist. Having worked with many learning facilities throughout the years, we know that it isn’t always easy to get funding for large repairs. Taking care of your site now will help you avoid running into more serious issues that require applying for schemes such as CIF. Should you need to do this, however, our team here at Munday + Cramer are experts when it comes to bid writing. Having helped hundreds of schools achieve this kind of funding, it’s safe […]

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Aug 2022

Home improvements: How insulation will help you combat rising energy prices

With the colder months beginning to draw in, you’re probably starting to consider simple home improvements to help you combat the rising energy prices. Autumn is just around the corner and it’s only a matter of time before the heating gets switched on and the kettle is back on a constant boil. Insulation is something that many homeowners overlook. Many think that just because they’ve purchased a new build or a house that already has insulation, it’s not something they ever need to worry about. In actual fact, insulation starts degrading from around the 15-20 year mark and comes in […]

Insulation as a part of home improvements

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Aug 2022

The Importance of CIF Project Costing 

As part of a CIF project application, educational institutions must provide detailed costs to secure funding. It is incredibly important to give this section due consideration, as CIF project costing contributes to 25% of the overall score given to the full application. Below, we will detail the different criteria that CIF judges will be looking out for within your application when it comes to costing. Overall CIF Project Costs Clear scopes with overall cost below industry expectations should be present in your application. This will help you to achieve a maximum score. Each cost element should be reasonable and explained […]

Two people looking at CIF project costing

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Jul 2022

Homeowner Building Terms

If you’re buying your first home or are moving house, there can be a lot of jargon within the industry and it isn’t your job to be the property experts. You shouldn’t be expected to understand all the building terms that surveyors, architects and builders use on a day-to-day basis. With that in mind, we’ve provided a list of common homeowner building terms you need to know to help you navigate your purchase and understand your building surveys. Asbestos A naturally occurring mineral which was previously used in building work, but was found to be dangerous to humans if exposed […]

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Jul 2022

What To Do If You Discover Asbestos In Your Home

Asbestos is a mineral that is naturally occurring. Historically, it has been used for insulation and fire-proofing within buildings, as well as in construction materials and many consumer products too. Unfortunately, it is also highly dangerous material that can lead to several different lung conditions. Despite the health risks being known since the 19th century and the term ‘asbestosis’ being coined in the 1920s, the material was still used regularly up until it was prohibited in the 1980s and wasn’t fully banned until 1999. Given this, it is feasible that if your property was built before the year 2000, it […]

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Jun 2022

How Architecture Can Help to Save Water in the Home

Following in the footsteps of climate change and reducing our carbon footprint, saving water is slowly making its way into the public consciousness as a serious topic. Potable water (water that is safe to ingest) makes up just 3% of the total volume of water on Earth and is a finite resource. To ensure there is safe water for future generations, we need to start looking at ways to save water now, before it’s too late. Whilst the issue needs to be tackled on a global scale, we can all start by looking closer to home. As an architectural firm […]

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Jun 2022

How to Maintain Stained Glass Windows

Stained glass windows have been an important feature of churches for hundreds of years, from the Middle Ages onwards. Styles and methods may have changed over the years, but they are still used heavily today. Contrary to what many think, stained glass windows tend not to be any more fragile than regular windows. That said, some of these works are hundreds of years old and, as with all glasswork, are prone to receiving damage over time. Read on to discover more about the historical and religious significance of stained glass windows and how to maintain them to avoid irreparable damage. […]

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May 2022

Why it is important to maintain your gutters

Maintaining your gutters may not be the most fun job in the world and, being high up, is unlikely to be at the front of your mind. At least it won’t be at the front of your mind until you start to have issues with them. The biggest issue with gutters being blocked is that when the water can’t drain properly, you could suffer structural damage. Water damage can affect both the exterior and the interior, including walls, windows and doors. In extreme cases, this could also affect your foundations or cause flooding around your property and in basements. A […]

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May 2022

Everything you need to know about subsidence

Subsidence can cost homeowners thousands to rectify. For large, older buildings, this number could even reach hundreds of thousands. With such a large cost to fix this issue, it’s definitely best if you learn to spot the signs early and get it fixed before it becomes a major problem. What is Subsidence? Subsidence is when the ground underneath your property moves, dropping down and taking your house with it. This is often caused by the weather affecting the ground beneath your property. For example, prolonged dry periods makes earth shrink as it loses moisture. Likewise, plants (most likely trees) can […]

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