The extremely windy weather during December and the early months of 2012 has caused a 300% increase in static caravan insurance claims for storm damage when compared to the same period a year ago.

The majority of claims have been for roof lights or ceiling vents which have been ripped off or severly damaged in high winds, but damage has also been caused by objects being hurled in to static caravans, with large outdoor structures such as sheds being the main culprit. This highlights the necessity to properly secure any outdoor furniture, equipment, or other objects which could damage your static in high winds.

Sheds can be secured using caravan storm straps with heavy duty screw-in ground pegs. If you have room then consider bringing smaller items inside your holiday caravan or securely tie them to the underneath of your unit. Also consider nearby trees and speak to your park owner should you have a worry about branches which look like they could cause you trouble.

Teresa Eastwood, Claims Liaison manager at Leisuredays, had this to say,

“Whilst the risk of static caravans being blown over in high winds is small the results can be devastating, as part of our standard policy we require all static caravans to be anchored at the corners or fitted with skirting to stop this happening. It’s for this reason that the vast majority of claims we handle are for objects flying in to the static caravan in high winds and damaging the side panels, sometimes causing severe damage.”

It’s easy to see how something like a large metal garden table could cause some serious damage to your static caravan, but even smaller items such as chairs, bird feeders, or rubbish bins need to be secured to avoid damage too.

Teresa also warned about roof lights and other external features being prone to damage,

“Any features that are exposed to the elements on the outside of your static caravan are at risk of damage in very high winds, but items with larger surface areas such as satellite dishes, sky lights or roof lights are particularly susceptible. Always ensure that sky lights, particularly the plastic variety often found on older units, are tightly closed in high winds, and consider removing satellite dishes which could be snapped off and damage your static caravan or someone else’s nearby.”

Leisuredays provide insurance for static caravans and park homes, both of which include cover for damage during storms. Cover from other insurance companies may be different though, so be sure to check your policy carefully before taking out insurance. If you have any questions, or would like a quick insurance quote, then you can contact us over the phone or via our email form.

Pemberton has been a major manufacturer of holiday homes for over 60 years, so they must be doing something right. The company’s latest range includes the two bedroom Brompton, a 42ft x 13ft single unit static caravan built on a pre-galvanised, twin axle chassis. Customers have a choice of external cladding in Canexel, vinyl, aluminium and timber, all with a pitched roof clad in pantile-effect Plastisol coated galvanised steel. Other standard features include PVC-U double glazing, gas combi central heating with thermostatic radiator valves, and low energy lighting.

There are three entrances into the home: via the front door which leads into a hallway; via French doors in the end wall of the lounge; or via a sliding patio door in the dining area. On entering the hallway via the front door you turn left through a doorway into the kitchen and dining area.

Beyond them, and separated from them by a pair of sliding doors, is the lounge. This comes complete with a sofa bed and two armchairs, plus a number of attractive display cabinets. The fireplace with a remote controlled flame effect electric fire is situated on the home’s front wall. Above the fireplace is a TV point.

We felt that the fact that the lounge was separated from the kitchen and dining area by the pair of sliding doors helped create a real feeling of cosiness whilst at the same time the room is bright and airy thanks to the vaulted ceiling, French doors and window units in the end, front and rear walls.

The kitchen is L shaped with the sink unit running along the home’s back wall. In the base of the sink unit, customers have the option of a compact dishwasher, washer dryer or a washing machine in preference to cupboard storage.

Turning through 90 degrees brings you to more base units and a built-in oven and four burner hob, above which is a curved glass fume extractor. Somewhat disappointingly in our opinion, the wall between the hob and extractor has not been tiled, there being only a low height splashback. What concerned us was the textured wall paper which we felt could be affected by the cooking fumes and steam.

We were impressed however, by the inclusion of an under counter fridge, an integrated microwave, and a large Velux style rooflight in the ceiling, all as standard features. Adjacent to the kitchen area is the dining area which has a glass topped table with cross timber legs and four padded back chairs.

Walking though the door from the kitchen back into the hallway brings you to the home’s night time accommodation. The first door on the left is the second bedroom which has two divan beds – a sofa bed is an option – each with a padded headboard. Below the window between the beds is a bedside cabinet whilst above each bed is a wall cupboard with a reading light in its base.

Opposite the foot of the bed on the left-hand side of the doorway is a wardrobe unit comprising two single wardrobes separated by three drawers and three shelves, whilst on the other side of the doorway is a dressing table and padded seats. On the wall above the dressing table is a large framed mirror and above that, a cupboard unit with two downlights mounted on its underside. It isn’t often that we consider the second bedroom in a home as a main feature but the Brompton is the exception which proves the rule.

The main bedroom is next to the second bedroom further down the hallway. It has a 5ft divan bed with a huge padded headboard. Either side of the bed is a bedside cabinet and a very attractive reading light. On the left, opposite the foot of the bed, is a double wardrobe unit with four framed mirror doors. Next is the door to the en suite, and then a dressing table and chair. In the dressing table are two drawers, and above it, a large mirror, whilst above the mirror is a unit comprising two cupboards and shelves with two downlights mounted on its underside.

In the en suite is a large rectangular shower cubicle, a circular washbasin on top of an open vanity unit and a low level toilet. Above the washbasin is a cabinet and mirror. Basically, the en suite configuration is repeated in the home’s shower room which is situated next to the main bedroom at the end of the hallway, the exception being that the vanity unit here has doors.

The Brompton comes with Pemberton’s three year warranty as standard – subject of course, to certain terms and conditions. But it is a holiday home which we believe will give its owners many years of comfortable living.

Ex works price: £53,993

Please note: Additional charges will be made by Park Operators and/or Distributors for transportation, commissioning, siting and annual maintenance. These charges will vary dependent on a number of factors including geographical location of your chosen park. Please confirm total costs with your chosen park before completing your order.

For further information:

Pemberton Leisure Homes, Woodhouse Lane, Wigan, Lancs., WN6 7NF.
Tel: 01942 321221. Fax: 01942 234150.
Email: info@pembertonlh.co.uk  
Website: http://www.pembertonlh.co.uk/

ABI has added three new models to its  range for 2012. Called Beachcomber, and slotting into ABI’s mid-price range, the new static caravans comes in three sizes, 32ft x 12ft, 36ft x 12ft and 38ft x 12ft, this latter one being a three bedroom version. The static caravan reviewed here is the two bedroom 36ft x 12ft model.

Externally the static caravan has a painted chassis with a pre-galvanised one as an option, aluminium cladding, steel pantile pitched roof, and domestic type gutters and downpipes. Other options include extra insulation, uPVC double glazing, central heating and a French patio door in the end wall of the lounge.

The main entrance to the static caravan is about halfway along the main elevation and leads directly into the main daytime area. As you enter you are in the kitchen/dining area. Immediately to the right of the doorway is a large built-in fridge/freezer whilst to the left is the dining table and four chairs. Next to the fridge/freezer is a tall cupboard followed by the doorway to the static caravan’s bedrooms.

The kitchen faces the entrance with the sink unit containing a stainless steel sink on the static caravan’s back wall. To the right as you walk into the kitchen is a base unit followed by a twin gas oven with electronic ignition. Above the oven is a stainless steel extractor fan either side of which are wall cupboards whilst opposite is a long base unit with a cantilevered unit of three cupboards and shelves projecting from the back wall and supported at the outer end by a circular column done onto the top of the base unit.

Adjoining the kitchen and dining areas is the lounge area. This has L shaped seating fitted at the rear of the kitchen base unit and down the static caravan’s back wall. An occasional pull-out sofa bed forms part of the seating. Facing the seating, on the opposite wall, is a display unit in which an electric fire has been built. There is a TV point and storage for DVDs etc. The lighting throughout the areas mainly consists of downlights with one pendant above the dining table.

As you walk down the corridor from the kitchen, the first door on the right is the shower room. The shower is rectangular in shape and has sliding doors. To the left, is a pedestal washbasin with a mirror above it, followed by the low level toilet. There is a small cupboard for toiletry storage. However, we were disappointed to note that an extractor fan in the outside wall of the static caravan is an optional extra.

The second bedroom is opposite the shower room and has two divan beds with a single bedside cabinet between them. Behind the beds, the padded headboards run up the wall to two pairs of cupboards separated by a shelf, whilst at the bottom of the bed on the outside wall is a small wardrobe with two drawers in its base. Adjacent to the wardrobe and entry door is a small shelf with a mirror mounted on a panel above it.

The main bedroom spans the full width at the end of the static caravan. It has a double bed with lift-up storage. The padded headboard theme is continued here terminating in a row of eight cupboards spanning the width above the bed. Either side of the bed is a wall panel with a mirror mounted on it and a bedside cabinet below. To the left of the bed, on the party wall with the second bedroom, is a dressing table and circular stool. The dressing table has a shelf to the right of the kneehole and a drawer and a cupboard to the left, whilst on the wall above, is a mirror mounted on a panel similar to the one in the second bedroom.

Opposite the foot of the bed are two large wardrobes with framed mirror doors separated by a two door base unit. There is further clothes storage two drawers in the base of each wardrobe. A TV point has been installed on the wall above the cupboard between the wardrobes.

To the right of the wardrobe unit is the en suite toilet. Although small, we were impressed by the fact that it had a pedestal washbasin and a cupboard for toiletry storage in addition to the low level toilet, making it one of the best features in the Beachcomber.

Ex works price: £28,151.38

Please note: Additional charges will be made by Park Operators and/or Distributors for transportation, commissioning, siting and annual maintenance. These charges will vary dependent on a number of factors including geographical location of your chosen park. Please confirm total costs with your chosen park before completing your order.

For further information:

ABI (UK) Ltd.,
Swinemoor Lane, Beverley,
E. Yorks.,
HU17 0LJ.

Tel: 01482 678000.
Fax: 01482 887009.

Email: info@abiuk.co.uk
Website: www.abiuk.co.uk

The Homeseeker Park and Leisure Homes Olympia Silver Single unit is well named for 2012 and is one of the company’s Signature range of models.

The side entrance door leads into a hallway with the open plan living area to the left and the two bedrooms to the right. We liked the size of the open plan kitchen/living area; it looks bigger than 14 ft wide but the horizontally striped feature wallpaper obviously helped create that illusion and the corner sofa created a big floor space and large feature French doors and glazing to the front aspect allowed the light to flow in. The décor scheme was lovely yellow, buttermilk cream, charcoal and black and it harmonised well. We liked the breakfast bar, perfect for just the two of you, but the black glass table with four faux leather chairs would suit the bill for more formal dining.

The light reflected off the gloss finish kitchen cupboards fitted with black base units and cream eye level cupboards but most of the storage space is below the worktops. If I had a criticism I would say that I think the kitchen is short on mains electric sockets in the right place; I saw only two double sockets. A dishwasher, oven, four burner gas hob, extractor fan and fridge freezer are standard equipment.

Both the bedrooms feature sliding mirror door wardrobes and capacious is how I’d describe the wardrobe in the master bedroom. The feature wall highlights the luxury padded headboard in the master bedroom and complements the plush looking stripy black and cream curtains.

Jack and Jill doors lead to the spacious bathroom with an over bath shower with a fixed shower screen. The huge mirror might be overkill for some people and I would have preferred to see more storage space and a shaver socket.

The second bedroom has room for decent sized twin beds, each with a padded headboard. A hall cupboard houses the hot water and heating boiler.

Included throughout is a luxury furniture pack, designer light fittings, upgraded kitchen units, integrated Electrolux kitchen appliances and luxury designer curtain fabric. Potential owners can stamp their individuality on it with for example a couple of Velux roof lights, or a wall tile upgrade.

With it’s dormer over the side entrance and a feature gable to the roof, even the exterior has a degree of pizzazz.

Specification

• Size 40 x14 single unit
• Vaulted ceiling with plaster coving

Verdict

Certainly deserving of an Olympic silver medal, it’s a model that the company can put its signature to with pride. A bronze pack and a Gold upgrade are available.

For more information:

www.homeseekerhomes.co.uk

The Pathfinder Forest Lodge is a very contemporary 40ft x 20ft two bedroom home available with either log or as in this case, the company’s Vulcan cladding. There is a hip over the front door. The windows are uPVC wood-effect double glazes units, and include an unusual arrangement of three 1800mm horizontal ones in the end wall of the lounge. Also standard to the home are the uPVC soffits and fascias which like the window frames are wood-effect. Importantly too, the home carries the company’s energy savers logo which the company claims is at least 34 per cent more efficient than the average lodge built to BS 3632.

The entrance into the home leads into the hallway with a door on the right at the end leading into the daytime living areas comprising the combined lounge and dining room. The ceilings here are vaulted helping to create a feeling of space and airiness. An electric fire and surround have been hung on the front wall of the lodge. To the right of the fire is a tall window unit, balanced by another to the left of the fire. Adjacent to this window the wall has been angled and clad in vertical planking. On the wall is a flat screen TV, and next to that is a window unit incorporating a sliding door followed by the three horizontal windows mentioned above. Standard furniture comprises 2 three seat settees and a coffee table whilst the dining area has a rectangular table and four slatted back leather seat chairs.

The home has a separate kitchen off the lounge and is everything you would expect from a home of this quality. It has plenty of worktop space, plus base units and wall cupboards. There is a built-in four burner gas hob with an electric oven below it and a stainless steel extractor above it. The word ‘special’ in the name of the home is because a dishwasher, washer/dryer and a fridge/freezer are standard built-in appliances.

The other feature worth mentioning is the breakfast bar and two breakfast stools which again are standard to the lodge. Although the walls have not been completely tiled they have been where it is necessary – between the hob and the fume extractor and behind the worktops. The lodge’s gas combi boiler is situated in the corner of the kitchen at the left-hand end of the sink unit.

The first door on the left as you walk down the hallway from the kitchen leads into the bathroom. The walls along the length of the bath on the left as you enter, and at the end of the bath are tiled to the ceiling. There is also a shower head above the taps plus a shower curtain. The bath does not run the full depth of the room, so a towel radiator has been fitted on the wall opposite the end of the bath. Opposite the bath is pedestal washbasin with a row of tiles and a mirror door toiletry cupboard above it. The toilet has been sited on the wall adjacent to the head of the bath, below an obscure glazed window.

Opposite the bathroom is the main bedroom. This has a 6ft 6in x 5ft double bed, two bedside cabinets, a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite shower room. Unlike the lounge and dining room, and kitchen, the ceiling here and in the bathroom and second bedroom is flat.

The en suite shower room has a large rectangular shower cubicle in one corner with fully tiled walls. As in the bathroom there is pedestal washbasin with a mirror door toiletry cupboard above it but in this case, there is more tiling around the washbasin than in the bathroom. Again, as in the bathroom, the low level toilet has been mounted on the wall below an frosted window, whilst a chrome  towel ladder radiator has been fitted on the wall behind the door.

At the end of the hallway, is the second bedroom which has two 6ft 3in x 3ft divan beds with a bedside cabinet between them. Opposite the foot of the beds is a large built-in wardrobe with mirror sliding doors.
There is full central heating throughout the home and it is also worth mentioning that there is access to the loft space in the hallway. And like other Pathfinder lodges the Forest Lodge is covered by the 10 Gold Shield warranty scheme.

For further information:

Pathfinder Park Homes,
Cavalier Road,
Heathfield,
Newton Abbot,
Devon, TO12 6FJ.

Tel: 01626 833 799
Email: sales@pathfinderhomes.co.uk
Website: www.pathfinderhomes.co.uk