Latest news with #builders
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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
This On-Sale Shed With Tons of Functional Windows Doubles as a Mini Backyard Getaway
Believe it or not, you don't have to pack luggage and hop on a plane to get away. Shoppers are investing in tiny homes that feel like an escape and won't break the bank, which leads us to the Handy Home Windemere Shed. People have transformed the contemporary construction into various types of spaces, including a camping getaway site, an extra office space, an art studio, and a tiny waterfront house. So, if a backyard retreat piques your interest, consider bringing this charming shed home while it's on sale for just under $3,100 at Wayfair. Measuring 10 feet wide, 12 feet deep, and 10 feet tall, and offering 120 square feet of floor space, this small space-friendly hut is whatever you make of it. For instance, one shopper, who loves being outdoors, turned it into a camping getaway site. Whereas another buyer transformed it into a work office and 'added a bathroom with a beautiful shower, toilet, and sink.' While several reviewers reported that it took them days to build the outdoor storage shed, many noted that the instructions were easy to follow, including one who mentioned that it 'came with everything that was needed and was exactly what I was looking for.' Plus, for security reasons, it has a rust- and corrosion-resistant handle with a lock and two keys. If you want to turn this shed into an art or yoga studio, you'll be happy to hear that it has a lot of windows (11, to be exact), which, as one reviewer said, gives it an 'open feeling.' The 6-foot-high double doors, which come pre-hung with integrated transom windows that help keep it ventilated, also don't go unnoticed. A shopper who was looking for something more elevated than a basic shed to store their patio furniture during the winter said, 'This sealed the deal' for them, adding that they were able to adjust the windows to fit their needs. Long story short, this woodshed provides a place to escape to year-round, and now is the time to invest while it's marked down at Wayfair. Below, we've rounded up a few more highly rated options that are worth the splurge, including a Handy Home Tribeca Shed that you can have installed for an additional fee (because why lift a finger if you don't have to?).
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I'm 100% guilty of the ‘selfish train trend' everyone's moaning about – call me a nightmare commuter, I'll never change
MOANS about 'selfish' train habits have been doing the round on social media, and while I'm sure they're meant to embarrass me into changing, it's not going to happen. I've lived in London for 10 years, and before that grew up just outside the city, so I'm well aware of the courtesy rules we have here and across many other parts of the UK. 4 4 4 But there are many that I refuse to follow, and I don't feel bad about it one bit. Commuting has never been the most comfortable way to get around, but with TfL prices going up each year, I do my best to make sure I am comfortable. I'm not opposed to pushing my way to a seat on a crowded train and I'm not that fussed if it was 'your turn' to sit down. We're in the city, you gotta be quick or someone will take it (like me). And I won't just take up one seat, my bag will need one too. I know it's infuriating for some, but I'm just not about to put my heavy work bag on my lap for the next 30 minutes. Plus, I really don't want you to sit next to me. Not only is the bag meant to dissuade you from invading my personal space, but I make sure to avoid eye contact when the doors open and fresh passengers scurry on, so people know I'm not inviting you to sit down. And guess what? I don't have any regrets. While my bag might annoy the finance boys and builders getting the early bus with me, your manspreading drives me up the wall. There has never been a time I've sat next to a strange man and he hasn't immediately squashed me into a corner. And if I can provide some sort of barrier from it, I will. 4 The Selfish Travel Trend Annoying Public Transport Users Everywhere Once I get on that seat and make myself comfortable, you best believe I'm grabbing food out of my bag and eating it. Recently, while rushing to get to a friend's party, I grabbed a delicious, yet messy, sausage roll from Greggs to keep me from passing out in the 30 degrees heat. As always, I was running too late to eat in, so I got a takeaway then pulled it out once I'd got myself the best seat on the Tube (the one next to the clear screen so you don't have to fight for arm rests, if you must know). But as I looked up from taking a large bite I made eye contact with the woman opposite, who rolled her eyes in disgust. At first, I thought it must have been the bite size she was sickened by, but as I looked around the packed carriage I realised everyone was giving me a dirty look - all because I ate a humble sausage roll with them nearby. I could sense the anger, the twitching eyes and the sniffs of disdain, but I didn't stop, it's my train too. I agree it's not the easiest food to chomp down without making a mess but I'd already committed to it. When I got up for my station, I let the flaky pastry crumbs fall beside me like a bride walking through confetti (although my wedding guests weren't as happy.) I'm sure you'll be shocked to know it's not the only etiquette rule I like to break on public transport either. While I'm not quite vulgar enough to listen to my phone aloud, I have on more than one occasion been told to turn my volume down - even with headphones on. Listening to your phone aloud, also known as bare beating, is so annoying to London commuters that 34% support fines for doing it on transport, according to a YouGov poll. The thing is, I'm sure the people moaning are just jealous I'm able to tune out the screaming children. While you're listening to them whine and shout, I've got Taylor Swift blasting in my ears. And I'm also not about queuing to get on, whether its the Tube or the bus. I have taken the time over many years to know exactly where the doors open and hold my spot accordingly, you should have done the same. So yes, you can call me selfish, you can call me rude, and you can title me the worst commuter, but I still won't change.
BreakingNews.ie
18-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Only 6,000 housing commencement notices issued so far in 2025
Over 6,000 housing commencement notices were issued by builders in the first six months of the year. That is less than half of the notices issued in the last comparable year, 2023. Based on the figures it is unlikely the government will reach its housing target of building 41,000 homes this year. It comes as the Department of Housing published its monthly data on the number of Commencement Notices received (residential construction starts) for June 2025. The data shows that 1,356 commencement notices for new homes were lodged in June 2025. Advertisement On a rolling 12-month basis (July 2024 to June 2025) 40,804 commencement notices were received. Of the 1,356 commencement notices lodged in June, 34.5 per cent are scheme dwellings, 37.5 per cent are apartments and 28 per cent are for one-off homes. Of all the 6,235 commencement notices the first six months of 2025 (Jan- June), 31.5 per cent were in the four Dublin local authorities. By Local authority, the most homes commenced were in Dublin City (1,433) followed by Cork County (515) and Donegal (365).
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Building boom helps P.E.I. lead in growth, but labour shortages persist
P.E.I.'s GDP grew by 3.6 per cent in 2024 thanks to development and construction. But builders are still struggling to keep up thanks to labour shortages.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Building industry hopes its hit the bottom and there will be an eventual upturn
The building environment is challenging, new building research has shown. (File photo) Photo: 123RF The building industry is pinning hopes it has hit the bottom and will weather weak demand and a looming skills shortage to benefit from an eventual upturn. Building research firm EBOSS's latest sentiment report shows a net 33 percent of firms reported slower demand compared to 55 percent a year ago, with just under a quarter reporting an improvement, nearly double the number in 2024. EBOSS managing director Matthew Duder said the current environment was challenging, and for many had got worse over the year, but it was showing signs of improvement. "Builders do seem to be predicting improvements in the future - it may be that we are at, or nearing, the very bottom of the cycle now." He said the big difficulties had been maintaining profit margins and keeping the pipeline of work full. However, building industry group, the Certified Builders Association, said firms, particularly small and medium sized ones, had adapted to survive. "As new home build projects dried up, our members have shifted into doing more alterations and additions, the one area of the market where demand held firm.," said chief executive Malcolm Fleming. "They also took on light commercial work, school projects, and flood and cyclone remediation work. It was driven by needs-must." Duder said the next 12 months were expected to remain tough going for many. Close to half of those surveyed expected conditions to get worse, forward workloads declined, and nearly two-thirds were saying they were struggling to fill their order books. "Cost pressures, economic uncertainty, and competition for skilled staff remain top concerns for the sector," Duder said. The survey also showed a looming skills shortage as the number of apprentices being trained at this stage would not cover the numbers lost during the downturn. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
