Do you provide free quotes?

Yes, if you want we can give you an estimate or a quote if we have enough detail, just email us at info@empatlka.com some rough dimensions and a sketch and ideally some pictures of the area you have in mind and you will get a quote very quickly by email. If you are happy with the estimate then we can come and visit you when it suits you and talk in detail.

How reliable are your carpenters?

We are very reliable, stick to start times and days agreed, we do what we say we will do, we turn up on time every day in order not disrupt your schedule. And we are there throughout the job, not disappearing for one day to do something else.

Do you provide drawings?

Yes once we receive your deposit, we provide you with a hand drawn from scratch 3D computer scale drawing precise to the millimetre for you to check how it looks and to see if you are happy with the dimensions. If you like you can make any changes until the drawing is perfect.

How do I know you will do a good job?

Before I buy anything I read reviews so I suggest you do the same, we have over 100 independent testimonials on the internet. Please have a look at our testimonial page to see what our clients say about us

You call or email us, we asses your needs and give you an estimate or quote, then we arrange a time to come round and visit you, ask you more questions in detail to find out exactly what you would like, listen very carefully to your ideas and offer design ideas and solutions to best use your space and needs. We go away, email you a final quote. Once you decide to go ahead, we take a small deposit, then send you the drawings, once you have agreed the drawing we can book your place in the diary and we agree a start date. We then turn up with the materials and tools and build your units, then once built we paint them or oil them. Then once we are totally finished and you are delighted, only then do you pay us the balance, lastly if you feel testimonials have helped you choose us, please help us keep them fresh and leave us a testimonial here: https://plus.google.com/101927655300158702077/about?hl=en&review=1

Are you going to make a big mess in our house?

We understand that your home is precious and we do everything we can to make sure we leave it in the state we found it. All our materials are cut to size by a specialist cutting company before being delivered to your home, so minimal cutting is required onsite, even then we cover and protect the floors, cover your furniture with plastic sheets, use dust extractors connected directly to power tools, we even use a fine dust and chemical extractor for really sensitive areas, this is well over the top but we like to do the very best we can and offer the best service, and when the work is all finished we take all our rubbish away and give your place a clean.

What materials and finishes do you offer?

Our units are built of quality Medite FSC certified MDF wood then painted, or made of wood veneer we can oil or use matt water based clear varnish, and also melamine coated wood as typically found in kitchen units. We are also pioneering research in alternative healthier eco friendlier materials, we are the first UK fitted furniture company to use UK sourced strawboard which is totally natural and bound with no glues at all to make our bespoke furniture, we can build your units out of formaldehyde free MDF too, we also use recycled plastic sheeting for decorative purposes with lighting behind and recycled glass as well as many other sustainable materials and finishes to find out more please see our eco page.

Do you paint the units and what colours do you offer?

Yes, we use the best quality professional waterbased DULUX and Farrow and Ball eggshell semi matt white paint . If you would like the eco option using more natural paints please see our environment page. We mostly use white but can paint any colour you like (If you would like to paint your fitted furniture we can offer you free advice).

Do you spray the units and do high gloss?

We can arrange to spray the doors and outside visible parts and make the internal carcass of a white or other colour melamine coated laminate.

Are your charges transparent?

All charges are stated in advance in the final quote, you know what you will pay from the start, everything is listed in the quote. Only handles are optional and to be supplied by you or us, also parking is extra, so they are priced separately. All of which is clearly stated in your quote.

Does your service represent value?

For the quality of service we offer from beginning to end we offer outstanding value, we take great pride in producing only the best bespoke furniture that you will be proud to own for years to come, we offer a 2 year guarantee on our work, we are endorsed by various independent certification bodies, we take customer service very seriously, we understand that there is more to producing furniture than wood and screws, your total satisfaction is our number one priority, but don’t take our word for us see what our clients say.

How flexible are you once the work has started if something needs changing?

Our craftsmen all speak good English and have a great deal of skill and will do everything they can if you feel that something needs adapting, for example you change your mind about how many shelves you want, or the spacing between them, then if it is possible we will do what we can to please you, either free of charge or at extra cost depending on what it is.

Can you fix stuff in my home?

Yes if you need anything fixing in your home while we are there making your fitted furniture, if we can do it we will help you out. I like to offer a service that I would like to use myself so for such things as hanging pictures, fixing doors that don’t close and generally anything wood related tell us when we come to measure up for your fitted furniture.

Do you use real wood?

We use real wood veneers or plastic laminates that look like wood but not generally solid wood, we work with close associates who use solid wood, just ask us for contacts.

We don’t do bathrooms but if we are already working in your house doing other fitted furniture, we will consider any storage you would like for your bathroom.

I have sockets where I want my fitted furniture how will you deal with this?

If you have an electrical, phone or TV areal socket that is ok as we can cut a hole in the back so you can still access them, we can move electrical sockets around if they haven’t got far to go. Phone sockets we can more if there is enough spare wire.

Do you make kitchens?

No we don’t make kitchens but sometimes can make units that go in your kitchen such as a bookcase.

Top Low Maintenance Plants for Your Office

Home » Blog » Top Low Maintenance Plants for Your Office

You probably know the many benefits of placing greenery around the office – and if not, why not?! Research into office plants has proven that as well as purifying the air and improving wellbeing, indoor plants can also boost employee productivity by 15%. Some studies even show that introducing a lot of potted plants can even reduce the number of sick days taken off work.

With this in mind, you should be thinking about taking advantage of the air-cleaning and stress-reducing qualities of plants. However, if you don’t have the resources to tend to the plants regularly, you could soon end up with dreary, wilting plants dotted around the building – which won’t boost anybody’s mood. Look at which plants require minimum attention, and the temperature of the building may also have an effect on the life of the plant.

Here at Empatika we firmly believe in biophilic design and promote the use of indoor plants to purify the air inside homes and working environments. Even if you work from home, choosing a plant or two for the home office can improve your mood and productivity. We’ve done all the hard work for you, and found out which low maintenance plants are most suitable for offices – read on for the top five.

Spider Plant

The spider plant is an incredibly low maintenance plant, thriving indoors or outside, with very little light. It can even withstand very infrequent watering, so if you can’t afford a maintenance company to take care of the plants and employees are often too busy to take on the task, the spider plant should cope. It’s also a fantastic choice for its purifying properties – The University of Hawaii at Manoa cite the humble plant as one of the best varieties for improving indoor air and removing VOCs.

Cactus

The cactus is renowned for its longevity, as it is used to surviving for long periods of time without water. Boost employee morale by placing a cute mini cactus on each desk. While it is low maintenance, a cactus does need plenty of light so this might not be the best choice if you have a windowless office.

Jade Plant

This small succulent plant offers thick green leaves and small flowers, in return for very little tending to. Jade requires minimum watering, and in Japanese folklore it is said to lead to financial success. This means this plant is a great choice for two reasons – it can improve your health and wellbeing, while also boosting your wallet!

Peace Lily

If you’re looking for something a bit bigger, maybe to fill a reception space, then a Peace Lily is ideal. As a large plant, it is more effective at cleaning the air and doesn’t need lots of light, so it’s perfect for offices with low lighting. Also known as Spathiphyllum, this plant also offers aesthetic appeal as it is a beautiful and welcoming display.

Snake Plant

This hardy and forgiving plant is another one which is great at removing toxins from indoor air. The snake plant’s long leaves can survive in almost any environment – even if you forget to water it every now and again.

Investing in office landscaping can pay off, through an increase in quality of air and quality of life. Plants make employees feel happier which leads to increased productivity – it’s a win win for employers and employees. If you are new to office landscaping, try introducing these low maintenance plants and let us know how you get on. We’re positive you’ll notice an impact within a few months.

All images from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org