Professional Builder June 2019

FRE E TO THE TRA DE

Professional BUILDING ■ FLOORING ■ PLUMBING ■ ROOFING ■ CARPENTRY ■ PAINTING AND DECORATING ■ THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

JUNE 2019

BUILDING BOARDS, PLASTERS & SUNDRIES All options covered and filled

EXTENSIONS & HOME IMPROVEMENTS Adding value to properties!

Emmerson Critchley is spreading the word on the benefits of Anglia Lime’s Thermalime

contents

Total Average Net Distribution 119,884 1 January 2018 – 31 June 2018

JUNE 2019 VOL. 41 NO.5 @PB_mag

pb@hamerville.co.uk

www.youtube.com/protrademags

Professional Builder, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF.

REGULARS 7 9 12 16 34 92

94 95 95 97

Editor’s Viewpoint News Letters Fighting Tool Theft Free-for-All Digital Digest: A Look at Professional Builder’s Online Offering The Doctor’s Advice Win with Vauxhall Wise Howell Makita Mindbenders

FREE FOR ALL! In it to win it...

see page 34

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63 EXTENSIONS & HOME IMPROVEMENTS 37 Restoring Van Gogh’s House 41 The Instant Kitchen Company 43 Eurocell: Competent Person Scheme 47 Master Builder of the Year 48 Tarmac: The Potential for Concrete 51 Nu-Heat: Underfloor Heating 54 Yale: Planning for Security 56 NDC Garage Doors: Step-by-Step 58 NEW PRODUCTS

80 TOOLS, EQUIPMENT & WORKWEAR

76 HiKOKI Hack: Make Your Own Hovercraft 78 Roger Bisby Stretches Out in Snickers Shorts 80 Roger Bisby Walks Out in Sievi 81 Ollie Allen Works with Triton 82 Tibby Reviews GMC Power Tools

BUILDING BOARDS, PLASTERS & SUNDRIES 61 Anglia Lime: Using Thermalime 63 Meet the Man Keeping Pargetting Alive 66 Site Hoarding with Medite PRODUCTS & BUILDING MATERIALS SmartPly 68 Roger Bisby’s Plasterboard 74 General Building Products Round-Up 75 Tools, Equipment 69 In the Boardroom with Norbord & Workwear 70 NEW PRODUCTS 87 Redland: Lead Theft

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SPECIAL REPORTS 15 Tradestalk: Online Meeting Place for Trades 19 Meet the Fisherman’s Friend From the Hit Movie 22 For Old Times’ Sake: Traditional Brickwork 25 Worcester-Bosch’s New Boiler 28 Made Great in Britain: Barrettine

HEALTH & SAFETY 31 Swarfega: Safety in the Sun 33 Fighting Dust with Festool

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88 Marley: Gable Staining 90 Safeguard: Protecting External Wood 91 Quickslide: Surveying the Site

BUILDERS’ VEHICLES 83 Honest John 84 Iveco Daily

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 1

viewpoint

MANAGING EDITOR TERRY SMITH EMAIL: tsmith@hamerville.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR LEE JONES EMAIL: ljones@hamerville.co.uk PRODUCTS EDITOR ROGER BISBY EMAIL: roger@skill-builder.co.uk ASSISTANT EDITOR KIERAN NEE EMAIL: pb@hamerville.co.uk GROUP ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER CRAIG JOWSEY TEL: 07900 248102 EMAIL: craig@hamerville.co.uk NORTHERN ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER IAN DUFF MOBILE: 07810 353525 EMAIL: ian@hamerville.co.uk REGIONAL ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER SAM SHANNON TINSLEY MOBILE: 07554 013302 EMAIL: stinsleys@hamerville.co.uk GRAPHIC DESIGNER DONNA BOOTH GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER CAROL PADGETT PRODUCTION ASSISTANT CLAIRE SWENDELL DIGITAL MANAGER LUCY DIXON DIGITAL ASSISTANT JASMINE SMITH DISTRIBUTION MANAGER KARL CLARK PUBLISHER BRYAN SHANNON PRINTED BY WALSTEAD PETERBOROUGH PUBLISHED BY HAMERVILLE MEDIA GROUP Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4YF Tel: (01923) 237799 Fax: (01923) 246901 Email: pb@hamerville.co.uk

Professional Builder is a business magazine for firms and individuals involved in all aspects of the building industry. It is available nationally – free to the trade through leading builders’ merchant outlets. © 2019 To be removed from this magazine’s circulation, please call 01923 237799 or email circulation@hamerville.co.uk.

Subscriptions to Professional Builder are available at the following rates: UK: 1 year (11 issues) – £30.00 post paid Europe & Overseas: 1 year (11 issues) – £50.00 post paid Airmail: 1 year (11 issues) – £65.00 post paid

another link to the modern world!

As with many other aspects of modern life, you won’t be surprised to learn that the world of publishing is not immune to the winds of change, and this month it has come knocking resoundingly at our own door. Once the most important benchmark of everything we did as a magazine, the number is quite literally up for the ubiquitous Readerlink, or bingo, card. Whilst its passing will undoubtedly be mourned by many of our more mature readers, who for years have used it religiously to request technical information and price lists from featured manufacturers, there will be a growing number of younger tradespeople who will be wondering what all the fuss is about. And therein lies the real crux of the matter.

Today, we all inhabit a universe of instant gratification where information is at the click of a mouse or swish of a smartphone. Waiting days for the postal system to do its job is alien to most people under thirty, and the old Readerlink system has been a story of diminishing returns in recent years. They may not be filling in the cards in the same vast numbers as yesteryear, but that quite categorically doesn’t mean that loyal readers have given up entirely on wanting to glean more “The means of obtaining more information on the very latest products and information on the very latest materials featured in the journal, which hopefully continue to capture the imagination. products and services featured So, starting this month, we have a totally each month in Professional new, much more responsive, digital system of Builder is changing this month using the magazine to your advantage. You will but fear not loyal readers, we notice in the place of the old Readerlink number at the end of each article, competition still have your number!” and advertisement there is a unique web address which starts with www.rdr.link. When typed into your web browser, the coded address will redirect you to a specific page on the internet with more information. It’s a simple, direct route to the information you require online, and an easy alternative to trying to find out more via a search engine.

But don’t just take our word for it. Try it for yourself now!

ROGER AND OUT! And continuing our winds of change theme this month, it would be remiss of us not to mention the imminent retirement, after more than thirty five years, from these pages, of Products Editor, Roger Bisby. As comfortable with a trowel or pipe wrench as he is with a pen, Roger began his association with the magazine as a monthly columnist, and then had the somewhat daunting task of replacing the legendary Charles Godfrey as the industry’s go to man on the very latest tools and materials developed for the trade.

That ultimately seamless succession was never in doubt, however, as his down to earth, but highly well informed, and universally respected, opinion quickly became essential reading for both manufacturers and builders alike, and played a key role in establishing Professional Builder as the most widely read publication within the construction industry year in year out. Whilst we wish Roger well as he pursues other interests, you can be sure that his and Charles’ legacy will continue, with a number of other young hopefuls currently being put to their own test. Watch this space!

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 7

News Professional Builder

email your news to us at pb@hamerville.co.uk Tel 01923 237799

Penalty Call NFB: suspensions are good but the Prompt Payment Code needs financial penalties to be meaningful.

© Seksan94/Adobe Stock

The NFB has welcomed the decision to remove or suspend seven major construction firms from the Institute of Credit Management’s Prompt Payment Code for failing to pay suppliers on time.

The announcement to suspend or remove some of the worst offenders follows chief executive of the NFB Richard Beresford’s call to action for the Government to show the industry its teeth in enforcing existing payment legislation and policy to promote greater fairness across the supply chain and increase confidence in the construction industry.

The prompt payment initiative coming into force in the autumn is

being promoted as a commitment from government that they will only do business with companies who pay their suppliers on time.

Currently the Prompt Payment Code, in which firms pledge to pay 95 per cent of all supplier invoices within 60 days, is voluntary.

Commenting further, Richard Beresford said: “A few days of negative publicity, whilst good, won’t hit these late payment offenders where it hurts. A financial consequence, such as denying access to public contracts, is the only way to make them sit up and listen.

We await autumn’s initiative to see if the government can really put its money where its mouth is.” www.builders.org.uk

Licence to build New Construction Minister must make licensing his mission, says FMB. The new Construction Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP, should make it his mission to raise quality and standards in the construction industry through mandatory licensing, according to the Federation of Master Builders. Brian Berry, FMB said: “I warmly welcome Andrew Stephenson into his new role and I look forward to working with him to raise standards, quality and professionalism in the construction industry. The time is right to look at a meaningful way in which we can purge the sector of rogue firms and unprofessional outfits once and for all.” www.fmb.org.uk

A clear mind Mind launches toolkit to promote better wellbeing in the workplace.

A fifth increased

their alcohol and

43% of women had experienced reduced productivity, compared with 38% of men.

helpline.

relieve stress.

of respondents felt their employers did not recognise the early signs of mental health problems.

workers were

their own lives.

two thirds of workers said there are not sufficient outlets to discuss their the construction trade has the mental heath. highest number of suicides of any profession.

the construction those working industry exhibits many in building and common risk factors construction that are associated trade is 1.6 with feelings of times ONE helplessness. higher IN SEVEN than the

workers have known

Why do merchants have the edge over online?

Research by Van Vault, the originators of in-vehicle secure storage, has highlighted that tradespeople still prefer more traditional methods of buying equipment In recent years the overall value of internet retail sales has steadily increased. Despite this, the study commissioned

by Van Vault, revealed that merchants are going against the current retail grain, with stores being the first choice for tradespeople,

rather than online.

Deborah Hunt, Marketing Manager at Van Vault, adds: “Merchants have a vital role to play when it comes to providing customers with advice. Our report found that 38 per cent of tradespeople rely on merchants/stores for recommendations and information and 1 in 4 seek expert advice from a member of staff. Of course, its also where you can pick up your latest copy of the nation’s favourite building magazine. www.vanvault.co.uk

tion of construc workers said they were considering exiting the

more likely to take

a colleague who

in store benefits

43% of workers want an anonymous

tobacco intake to

In construction male 23% A new online toolkit, found at 73% 35% RISK OF SUICIDE FOR www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk, allows employers and employees to access free tools, advice and 55% information – all in one place. The construction toolkit includes tips on how to start the conversation on mental health, mental health first aid training and five steps to building a positive and supportive culture in construction. Mind invited colleagues from Building Mental Health to put together this toolkit of resources. www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/construction has taken their own life.

industry within the next year due to high levels of stress and challenges in striking work/life balance.

a

83%

national average.

of construction workers had experienced mental health issues.

workers do not turn to their employer due to

“Fear and stigma”.

of workers say there is not enough industry awareness surrounding mental health.

many within the industry

suffer in

silence to

due cultural expectations.

Together let’s hammer home the message in 2019 that more must be done to address the shocking impact mental health issues are having on the construction industry. image reproduced with the kind permission by Cat Goldsmith at Evolved Search and Rubberbond EPDm roofing products

After the fall New campaign highlights the real impact of falls on loved ones.

A new hard-hitting campaign highlighting the long-term, life-changing impact that falls can have on family and friends has been launched by The Ladder Association. The Get a Grip safety campaign features Abbi Taylor, whose father Jason Anker was paralysed after a fall from height when she was aged just three, and who talks openly about how her life with him has been profoundly affected.

To hear Abbi’s story visit www.ladderassociation.org.uk/get-a-grip

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 9

Professional Builder

News Pump it up

Positive start to 2019 for new home-building industry, reports NHBC.

Builders hit the gym more than anyone else.

The number of new homes registered by the UK’s housebuilders and developers in the first three months of the year reached more than 37,500 – a 3 per cent increase on the same period in 2018. 37,672 new homes were registered to be built compared to 36,508 last year. The private sector was down by 6 per cent with the affordable and rental sector up 36 per cent. According to AMA Research, total residential output increased by 5 per cent in 2018 to £74.2bn www.nhbc.co.uk www.amaresearch.co.uk

Master in waiting CIPHE backs calls to adopt ‘Master Craftsman’ title.

A Social Market Foundation report suggests that those who complete apprenticeships should be allowed to call themselves ‘Craftsman’ or ‘Craftswoman’, raising the status of apprenticeships on a par with university degrees.

The report goes on to suggest those holding the most prestigious apprenticeships might be addressed as ‘Master Craftsman’ or ‘Master Craftswoman,’ in the same way that people who complete a PhD are entitled to be called ‘Doctor.’ www.ciphe.org.uk

BACKS TO THE WALL Cost to economy of van-related back pain revealed.

70 per cent of van drivers have taken time off work due to back pain – costing the UK economy on average £21 billion per year – according to Volkswagen.

Drivers suffering from ‘Builder’s Back’ take an average of three weeks off work and the resulting downtime costs companies an estimated £500 a day per van. Poor seat adjustment could be to blame for triggering back issues, especially as many drivers spend up to seven hours a day in their vans. www.volkswagen.co.uk

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10 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

Construction workers like to spend over 15 hours a week in the gym in order to stay in shape and meet the demands of their job. www.wmblogistics.co.uk conducted the research, asking more than 3,000 UK-based adults in full-time employment. The research found that 71 per cent of those in construction and 50 per cent of all tradesmen regularly attend the gym. www.wmblogistics.co.uk

PAy RISE Construction wages on the rise.

Weekly earnings for freelance tradespeople in the construction sector continued to grow in March, according to latest figures released by Hudson Contract. Analysis of March payroll data for more than 2,200 construction companies in England and Wales reveals a 1 per cent increase in average pay to £899 per week. The South West grew 3.0 per cent per week. www.hudsoncontract.co.uk

On Target Urgent upskilling required to meet 2050 net zero target.

Mark Wilkins, Vaillant, has said that whilst many of the recommendations put forward by the Committee on Climate Change should be actioned, special emphasis must be given to upskilling the UK workforce to meet the 2050 target. He argues it is essential to upskill the workforce now, across the supply chain, to have any chance of hitting the net zero target. The report advises the introduction of a nationwide training programme for designers, specifiers and installers. www.vaillant.co.uk

Worth a try!

Win the chance to be at the heart of the rugby action.

Sponsor of the Rugby Football League, Ronseal is giving away hundreds of rugby prizes to celebrate Great Britain Rugby League’s tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The top prize is a oncein-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand to see the Great Britain Rugby League Lions square up to the New Zealand Kiwis with flights, accommodation and airport transfers all courtesy of Ronseal.

Enter the competition at www.ronseal.com/competition

© Rido/Adobe Stock

Home Starters

Tool Order Tool manufacturer celebrates 80th anniversary.

Having grown from humble beginnings as a small family firm into a world-leading manufacturer for professional hand tool solutions with locations around the globe, Wiha is this year, celebrating an important anniversary. The German, Black Forest-based company was founded by Willi Hahn 80 years ago. Today, thousands of screwdrivers leave the Schonach production workshops on a daily basis and state-of-the-art robots and high-tech systems work in a three-shift operation to keep up production. www.wiha.com

A warm glow Heating manufacturer revives its famous mystery trip.

Glow-worm is bringing back its legendary Mystery Trip, offering 80 lucky heating engineers the adventure of a lifetime to a top secret location. Installers can secure their place on the plane by hitting their personalised target of Glow-worm installations via Club Energy. The destination of the trip will be announced later this year and could be any of the following ten exotic locations: Barbados, Dubai, Egypt, India, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney or Vietnam. www.mysterytrip.glow-worm.co.uk

9 out of 10 new-build homes have defects 65 per cent of new-build homebuyers are satisfied with the condition of the property, although 91 per cent of homebuyers said that they had experienced snags or ANNUAL REPORT defects, according to New Home Review’s second annual report.

The independent survey, conducted between 1 November 2017 and 31 October 2018, took responses from 687 property owners of new build properties.

The NHR survey’s key findings also showed that 75 per cent of snags and defects were resolved in a timely manner and 58 per cent of people were satisfied with the service provided by their builder throughout the process. The survey indicated that 63 per cent of the properties were completed on time and 69 per cent of homeowners were satisfied with their new home.

Kate Hughes at New Homes Review said: “The NHR report shows that there are improvements since 2017, but there is still more to be done, in particular around snags and defects.” www.newhomesreview.com 2018

builders turn to mobile apps It appears many SMEs are turning to mobile apps to comply with the Government’s new Making Tax Digital initiative. As small businesses come to terms with changes, Countingup has raced past the 10,000 customer accounts milestone less than 12 months after launch.

Countingup’s momentum is being assisted by MTD, a disruptive transformation of tax, which is driving SMEs’ need for simpler banking and accounting solutions. Although HMRC’s Making Tax Digital for VAT launched on April 1, 2019, a recent Research Report commissioned by HMRC revealed that 30 per cent of the VAT mandated businesses surveyed didn’t recognise the name “Making Tax Digital”. Yet from April 2019, business owners need to be filing VAT returns using a Making Tax Digital solution. www.countingup.com

YOUR LETTERS...

Through our extensive manufacturer network, Professional Builder has access to some of the best technical brains in the industry. If we don’t know the answer to a building-related problem ourselves, we almost certainly know someone who does.

If something is troubling you, or if you have any other comments on the world of building, let’s hear it.

CRACKING TIME Dear Professional Builder I had some plastering done back in the hot summer, and since then it has all started cracking up. It was a papered wall and we stripped the paper and got the guys to give it all a skim coat.

We called the builder back and he said it is nothing to worry about and just get some filler on it. He said shrinkage cracks are not covered because they always happen. ● Peter Braithwaite, Barnstaple, Devon PB: If they are just shrinkage cracks there are a lot of them. The scrim seems to be pulling at the top. The first thing to do is tap the plaster with your knuckles to see if there are hollow sounding areas. This would suggest the plaster has lost contact with the substrate and, if it has, then it needs to be chipped off. If it was very hot then it is likely the plaster dried out too quickly. It would have been an idea to prime the wall with blue grit before skimming it to reduce the suction rather than just throwing water on it. I am also wondering if the wallpaper paste was scrubbed off.

In their defence it was a tough summer for plasterers. Often the day was too hot to work past lunchtime and many made a crack of dawn start to get the work in.

SKIP TO IT Dear Professional Builder I had a skip lorry the other day and, when it lowered the skip, it tore off a branch of the customer’s magnolia tree. She reckons the tree is irreplaceable, and she is looking for compensation. I thought she might take £50 but she laughed in my face. She is talking about £2,000.

The skip company said that it is not their problem. They put the skip where we asked them to and we should have protected the tree if it was a problem. ● Justin Hardcastle, Windsor, Berkshire PB: The skip driver could have foreseen the problem – they must come up against all kinds of things that need avoiding, but equally you could also have pointed out the danger. It is one of those things that will happen and that is what all risks insurance policies are for. Do not attempt to compensate the customer, tell them that it will have to go through your insurance company. The one thing you need to avoid is the customer holding back a payment to you because of a problem that was not of your making.

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12 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

...problems solved

PAYING THE PRICE Dear Professional Builder I have a customer who is looking to have the whole of the back of the house taken down so they can extend out on two floors. The problem for us is that it is a terraced house in Fulham and there is no parking and nowhere for a skip – unless we pay a £100 per day to put it on the road. We put in a fairly high price, and we were surprised to get it, but now we are not sure it is going to go well.

Nobody wants to turn work away but some jobs are just aggro all day long. ● Trevor Williams, Putney, SW15 PB: You are right to be a bit apprehensive. You have to ask what kind of price other builders put in and whether you missed something they saw. I think it is time to sit down and look at your quote long and hard. At the moment you don’t have a contract, so there is no cost to you, but as soon as you start you will not be in such a good position to pull out. As hard as it is the customer is better served by your honesty. If you think you need some provisional costings in there for the unknown then so be it. The one thing you don’t want to do is gamble on your good fortune. It is better to assume the worst and price accordingly.

FIRST CONTACT Dear Professional Builder I have been a fan of your magazine for years and it definitely has made me some money. Just a few bits of information I have got from reading it have got me some good jobs. I now do a lot of basement conversions, and some of the tanking systems I use came from adverts, so that is good.

But I have one complaint. It is a small thing, but it does my head in. When I contact some of the companies to get information they don’t even send me an email back.

When I ask the merchant they don’t always want to know if it isn’t something they stock. I just think these companies shoot themselves in the foot. ● Ralph Evershott, Brighouse, West Yorkshire PB: To be honest this is an age old problem. Some companies are too busy fire-fighting to worry about new leads and, no matter how easy we make it for them, there are one or two who fail to pick up the new leads and run with them. It is a great shame because they are the very ones who complain when the sales are down, but they are not doing the basic things that would help them. If you furnish us with the names of the companies it may be that we can alert them to a problem they might not even know exists.

Professional Builder, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF.

pb@hamerville.co.uk

www.youtube.com/protrademags

@PB_mag

‘SCRIM’ AND BEAR IT Dear Professional Builder I don’t want to give my name because it makes me sound bad, but over the last few years we have had lots of problems with cracked ceilings on extensions and loft conversions. I know we are not the only ones, but I am sure things have got worse lately. Do you know if anything has changed? We scrim the boards, and put them up tight so we can’t see anything else we can do. ● Anonymous PB: Back in the days of hessian scrim it was always the thing to have a gap created by a couple of nails for spacers, but once we went over to glass fibre and self adhesive scrim tape the spec

changed to butting the boards up tight.

If you ever take ceilings down which have been scrimmed with hessian you will know what a good joint it makes.

Nowadays the plaster goes on thinner, and there is never any time for a house to dry out, so the shrinkage of timbers is a major factor. Pressure treated timbers also have a higher moisture content, but eventually they dry out.

It doesn’t really matter how much scrim you put on you won’t stop shrinking timber pulling the joint and tearing the scrim. Surprisingly paper tape bedded on joint adhesive is stronger than fibreglass scrim so, if the timber can’t be left to dry before the boards are skimmed, perhaps the answer is taping and jointing rather than skimming.

THE WORM THAT TURNED

LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR

Dear Professional Builder

Dear Professional Builder

I am renovating a house I bought last year, and have stripped it out completely to rewire it and upgrade the heating and plumbing systems, as all were old.

In the process, several of the floorboards on the ground floor appear to have been affected by woodworm. Most seem okay, but in the bathroom, particularly, they seem very brittle and I have gone through three of them. Upon investigating them they feel like there is very little wood left!

Am I best off just ripping the bathroom lot out and replacing?

The ones around the rest of the house, as they’re not so bad, could I get away with treating them? Our joists are over 400mm centres so I believe I won’t be able to use chipboard? ● James Frampton, Dundee, Scotland

I have a few tools, a cement mixer, a pickup truck and a couple of band stands. I keep these around the back of my house in a lock-up. My neighbour, who is a complete idiot, has complained to the council that I am running a business from my house. The council sent a woman round to have a look. She was very nice and thought it was not an unacceptable amount of disturbance because I don't produce anything there but she said, strictly speaking, I am breaking the rules of my tenancy and it would be best if I didn't make it too obvious.

The funny thing is that I could be building an extension and have all that stuff out on show for years and nobody could say a word. If you are trying to earn an honest living they penalise you. ● George Hatton, Southend, Essex

PB: People often get very alarmed about woodworm. You can treat it with fluid, but it is a bit hit and miss because you can’t get to a lot of it. They prefer higher moisture levels, and if they are active you can help by drying the wood out. You don’t get so much of it in a house that is well heated and ventilated. There is also a pheromone trap you can buy to lure them in as they fly off to breed. A bit of a shame for them but there you go.

Good news is that you can use chipboard flooring on 400 centres, so if that is what you have got, the 18mm thick stuff will do. If the joists are further apart use the 22mm board. You may find that the 22mm suits the existing floor better if you are joining.

PB: It seems the problem is not the council but your neighbour. Whatever you do you won't win with that one so the lady is right, you just have to be discreet.

You can understand why they don't want domestic gardens turned into industrial units, but when you look at what is going on these days with beds in sheds etc. it would seem to be a lost battle.

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 13

SPECIAL REPORT ONLINE COMMUNITY

#TradesTalk

Talk the talk Professional Builder introduces TradesTalk, an online community for builders.

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f you ever spend any time on social media, you might have come across TradesTalk, which is a hub for all trades in the UK to talk about everything from power tools to paperwork. The TradesTalk community is friendly and helpful, always ready to answer questions and share knowledge with fellow trades.

TradesTalk started life as a weekly Twitter chat for the trades back in 2017 and is now a thriving social media community. The Twitter chat, which takes place every Tuesday from 8-9pm, looks at all topics relevant to the trades. Topics previously discussed have included marketing for the trades, women in construction, mental health support, the future of power tools and tool theft. The

#TradesTalk hashtag is regularly trending in the UK on Tuesday evenings.

The chat regularly welcomes guest hosts and holds special events, such as a game of video charades at Christmas, a virtual Easter egg hunt and a virtual pub quiz. One of the highlights of 2018 was a 24-hour tweetathon held to raise money for Band of Builders, which saw the TradesTalk account taken over by other industry accounts including Ideal Boiler Man, Wera Tools and PB Plumber. The account tweeted non-stop for 24 hours, with a mix of serious and light-hearted topics and plenty of giveaways and auctions to help boost the fundraising.

TradesTalk has recently added the TradesTalking podcast to its portfolio, featuring interviews with tradespeople, construction industry innovation and Perspectives, a dedicated section on mental health. The monthly TradesTalking podcast is FREE to download on iTunes and Podbean and is the perfect thing to listen to in your van.

Last year, TradesTalk branched out into live events and held a panel discussion at Toolfair Coventry, which was livestreamed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with a line-up of tradespeople discussing their work and taking questions from the audience – both in the room and online.

The TradesTalk team will again be at Toolfair Coventry this September, and then at our Alexandra Palace show in January 2020.

To find out more follow @TradesTalk on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 15

SPECIAL REPORT

FIGHTING

TOOL THEF T

TOGETHER

HiKOKI Power Tools has teamed up with the industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust to provide support for tradespeople who have had their tools stolen.

Nick Chan, Marketing Manager, explains why.

Sponsored by...

The Armorgard

guide to preventing tool theft from vans

For your free copy visit www.armorgard.co.uk/guides @PB_mag

Professional

Campaign

T

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16 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

help alleviate some of the suffering caused by tool theft, and in a way that makes a difference.

Hopefully our recent partnership with industry charity The Rainy Day Trust can go some way help to right the wrongs experienced by some of those in the trade most in need.

The Rainy Day Trust provides grants to pay for toolkits or safety equipment, and HiKOKI Power Tools has been working with the charity to supply these at a beneficial rate. Those who work in the home improvement sector and have had their tools stolen, or are an apprentice © von Lieres/Adobe Stock

ool theft has reached epidemic levels. Sadly, too many tradespeople are falling victim to it, which puts their livelihood at risk. According to the findings of a Freedom of Information request, obtained from various police constabularies by Trade Direct Insurance, stolen equipment cost UK tradespeople £94,521,600 in 2016 alone.

Business insurance specialists, Simply Business recently released its own findings of the tool theft hotspots in the UK. A number of big cities feature in the 10 worst hit areas – including London, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, and Nottingham – but more surprisingly, Chelmsford and Tunbridge Wells also make the list. More than one in 10 Simply Business tradespeople customers in Tunbridge Wells were targeted last year and the company now handles three tool theft claims every day.

These are distressing statistics from just one of the major insurance providers, and the industry is attempting to fight back. In 2018, 150 tradespeople took part in an Anti-Tool Theft Van Rally in Plymouth, and on social media there have been campaigns and petitions to raise awareness of the issue.

Practical help, however, apart from precautionary measures, is hard to come by, especially if the theft has already taken place. We have heard of companies going out of business because of a theft.

HiKOKI wanted to positively contribute to

www.facebook.com/probuilderonline

who is struggling to make ends meet, can apply for help directly from the charity.

After setting up the working partnership with HiKOKI Power Tools, the Rainy Day Trust received its seventh application in just two weeks from an apprentice who needed power tools to progress with his course.

If your company employs apprentices, they can apply to the Rainy Day Trust for help with a whole range of things, from direct financial support to power tools or a new laptop so that they can finish their studies. We know that when we intervene, pass rates improve and we can make a significant impact on the lives of those we help.

Tool theft is a blight on our society and has the potential to wreck a business. If you are unlucky enough to be a victim of this crime and it has the potential to put you out of business, The Rainy Day Trust could be your first port of call.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF001 For more details on the Rainy Day Trust online, go to www.rdr.link/BF002

Have your say at probuildermag.co.uk

#fightingtooltheft

Together, we can do our bit to fight tool theft!

SPECIAL REPORT READERS’ LIVES

From sea shanties in a Cornish pub to a recording contract and big screen stardom – tradesman, John McDonnell has found fame with Fisherman’s Friends.

Lee Jones reports.

J

ust as the music he now sings is part of a shared folk past, John McDonnell spent many of his formative years in the traditional role of itinerant tradesmen. It was the rugged and poetic north Cornwall coast that would entice the now 68-year-old roofer to put down roots, and he is now inextricably linked to its unique culture.

“When you’re an outsider and a pub spontaneously breaks into song it can be slightly surreal at first, but it’s a great experience and makes you feel part of a living community,” he explains. “I’ve always sung at work, and I gradually got more and more involved, until a few of us decided to form a group to raise money for the RNLI.” That was as far back as the 1990s, when John and the fellow members of Fisherman’s Friends would sing on the beach every Friday evening, passing a bucket around their audience for donations, whilst the group would go on to perform their traditional sea shanties in concerts locally.

“The music we play has existed with the people here for generations and is a part of Cornwall’s heritage, especially in a fishing village like Port Isaac, and four of our original members were fishermen, but it was another of the county’s seafaring traditions that helped us develop. The Cornish pilot gig is a six-oared rowing boat with clubs up and down the coast that compete against each other. Racing weekends generate a real festival atmosphere, with everyone in the pubs singing, and it would be these events that convinced us to come together and properly learn some numbers.”

“We’ve been touring ever since we signed the recording contract, and the film will no doubt fill a few more seats.

Although there’s always a certain amount of artistic licence, it’s a strange

Singing from the rooftops

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SPECIAL REPORT READERS’ LIVES

experience seeing your own story told on a big screen, but I guess it’s no more unexpected than the journey we’ve all been on together. I was 60 when we were first signed up and there was always a certain amount of disbelief that it happened to us at all.” That journey would take John and his fellow Fisherman’s Friends from singing in the relative safety and intimacy of a fishing village to performances in front of some considerable crowds, including four appearances at the acoustic stage at Glastonbury, but it was one fateful encounter with sound engineer and producer, Rupert Christie, that would dramatically change the tune of their lives forever.

“It’s a story that the movie tells a version of but everyone seems to have their own recollection of exactly how it transpired,” admits John. “Rupert would come to Cornwall quite regularly to surf and, after hearing us perform in Port Isaac, asked if he could record a couple of tracks and shoot a little video. About a week later he came back to us with offers of a contract from three different labels.

Shortly after that, the DJ, Johnny Walker was staying in the village on his way back from St Ives music festival. When he heard that we’d been offered a record deal he put us in touch with our manager, and we’ve never looked back.”

Since then, in fact, the debut album,

Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, went gold and enjoys the distinction of being the first work by a traditional folk act to achieve a top ten chart place. An ITV documentary would follow and, with the release of three further albums, their fan base now extends far beyond their Cornish homeland. The group have since been widely credited with inspiring a revival of interest in choral singing and would receive the considerable accolade of a Good Tradition Award at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2011.

Crowd Pleasers “Ultimately it’s just been a huge amount of fun, but at the same time it’s certainly been a difficult transition at times. It wasn’t just the increase in the size of the crowds, but the fact that people were actually now paying good money to see us that added considerable pressure.

When you’re singing in front of 50,000 people at Proms in the Park, or the half time interval of an international rugby fixture at Twickenham – where there’s over 80,000 in attendance – then it’s a long way from a pub in Port Isaac, but it’s an incredible buzz.” The group would also find royal seal of approval with a gig at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012,

whilst they also sang in front of Charles and Camilla on their 2016 tour of this most Celtic of English counties.

Despite their new-found fame, however, Fisherman’s Friends still find time to provide free renditions of their musical repertoire in the venue where it all began, and on the Port Isaac beach, and have become one of the village’s tourist attractions in their own right.

Remarkably, John is also still active as a roofer, but at 68 years of age, and after nearly two decades of musical adventures, he and his fellow band members show no sign of making their swan song, either behind the microphone or on a building site. “Our fans, many of whom we’ve come to know personally, have been paying to see us perform for years, and that’s what drives us to carry on – because people enjoy it. We get a good reception wherever we go, and if we can support a good cause in the process then that will be enough for us.”

The soundtrack from the Fisherman’s Friends film is available on the recently released album ‘Keep Hauling – Music from the Movie’ on March 15th. For further information on Fisherman’s Friends, including tour dates, go to www.rdr.link/BF003

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SPECIAL REPORT

NEWS FOR TODAY

VOL.1 NO.1

NEW SERIES

BY GEORGIAN!

IN A BRAND NEW SERIES, PROFESSIONAL BUILDER IS CELEBRATING THE TRADESPEOPLE WHO ARE KEEPING TRADITIONAL CRAFT SKILLS ALIVE. THIS MONTH, LEE JONES VISITS BRICK MASONRY EXPERT CHARLES REILLY OF GEORGIAN BRICKWORK. The county known as the ‘Garden of England’ has some of the highest concentrations of listed buildings in the UK, and it is here that we found Charles Reilly practising the art of brickwork conservation. The Queen Anne property on which the proprietor of Georgian Brickwork is applying his well-honed skills is a prime example. In order to replicate the aesthetic of the original mortar, for instance, Charles is using a number of additives, and employing all his experience to judge the satisfactory match. “The previous generation of builders would have made their own hot lime mix on site but, probably because they didn’t have enough aggregate, they’ve added ash from the kiln. It’s not the easiest thing to replicate, but I’ve managed to get some good results from adding coal, anthracite and chalk to an NHL2 lime, together with a coarse sharp sand and then a restoration sand.”

CHARLES MODIFIES HIS TOOLS FOR THE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS OF HIS WORK

Lime mortar is experiencing an on-site resurgence at present, but it does represent a different experience for the builder, as Charles explains: “Lime will dry out quite quickly in contact with clay so it’s often necessary to soak the bricks, and we’ll use sharp sand, rather than building sand, as you would with sand and cement. It’s also quite sensitive to atmospherics, and we’ll spray the walls in warm weather to keep it wet so it won’t go off too quickly. On old houses like these it’s really the only option. It will allow the walls to breathe, and is far more flexible than its modern counterpart, which means it is less susceptible to cracking.”

Wherever possible, Charles will repair old bricks, again applying materials, mixes and colour matches that he has refined over his many years of practising

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22 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

brickwork conservation, whilst he will make careful use of his Arbortech Allsaw AS170 to cut out any masonry that can’t be saved. When it comes to brick matching, the experts at Bulmer Brick and Tile, are amongst his preferred suppliers, whilst H G Matthews are equally a reliable source. “On this job I am using Sussex Handmade bricks. The original bricks were almost certainly produced in a wood fired clamp kiln and although slightly longer, they are pretty close in terms of size to any modern metric example. For the gauged arches, we’re making use of Bulmer’s red rubbers, which are supplied over-sized and then cut down to the dimensions we require in our workshop in Ramsgate.”

Gauged archwork is amongst the most highly skilled pursuits of a conservator like Charles, but the 61-year-old is well versed in the practice. With lime putty joints of just 2mm, it is an unforgiving task which requires considerable precision, and craftsmanship.

“We operate a policy of minimum intervention, so we’ll try and save as much as we can, but some of the arches here have dropped down quite considerably, so they’ll need to be taken out and rebuilt, and it’s here we’ll use the red rubbers.”

Charles is also one of the few modern practitioners of tuckpointing, a traditional technique that makes use of two different colours of mortar. The first matches the bricks and the second is a fine ribbon of lime putty,

MORE INFO Just type in www.rdr.link/ followed by the unique code shown to get st raight to more info.

similar to gauged work, which gives the impression of very thin joints. Not only that, but in practising these arts, the Kent-based tradesman will go so far as to fashion his own tools, using customised Marshalltown trowels and Speedex trowels for tuckpointing Charles is evangelical on the subject of building conservation and is keen to pass on his own knowledge to the next generation.

“There are many skills that we’re in danger of losing and it will then become much harder to preserve our old housing stock effectively,” declares the 61-year-old bricklayer. “That’s why I teach courses for experienced heritage

WITHOUT THE NECESSARY SKILLS THIS IS THE KIND OF WORKMANSHIPS CHARLES OFTEN ENCOUNTERS ON PERIOD PROPERTIES.

THE SAME JOB AFTER CHARLES EXPERT TOUCH.

ONE OF THE GAUGED ARCHES THAT CHARLES WILL BE REPAIRING ON THIS SUBSTANTIAL EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY PROPERTY.

bricklayers on the likes of gauged work and tuckpointing at my workshop, and I’d like to see it on college curriculums. Hopefully, I can help to preserve a link with the builders of the past that will secure a future for our listed buildings and period properties.”

For further information on Georgian Brickwork online, go to www.rdr.link/BF004

SPECIAL REPORT NEW BOILER LAUNCH

Boxing clever!

Worcester Bosch are about to re‘white’ the rule book with a new range of design led boilers.

T

he Editor of our sister publication, Professional Heating & Plumbing Installer might be the exception to the rule, but generally speaking it’s pretty hard to get excited about another bland white box on the wall, whatever sophisticated electronics may be located inside. They may have got more compact over the years but in the quest for ever greater efficiency the technical boffins always win hands down over their more design conscious colleagues. Well, not any more its seems, following what Worcester claims is its most important launch in more than 55 years.

As Martyn Bridges, Director for Technical Communications and Product Management at Worcester explains: “Design has become front-and-centre of most homes. To keep up with this trend, sleek, stylish and modern designs have become the norm for products across many industries – think cars, phones, fridges and even vacuum cleaners. Now it’s time for the boiler, and after years of development and direct feedback from hundreds of installers, we are proud to reveal the Greenstar 8000 Lifestyle range.

The 8000 Lifestyle range is made up of two products, replacing the one million selling Greenstar CDi Classic – a big move for the company but one that we haven’t taken lightly. We would only replace one of the UK’s most popular boilers with something we believe takes it to the next level, and we were confident we had the research and installer input to back that up.

Greenstar 8000 Life The future direct replacement of the Greenstar CDi Classic, the 8000 Life, keeps all of the tried, tested and much-

Greenstar Intelligent Filling System loved features, while improving on all the key installer touchpoints for easier installation, servicing and maintenance.

Greenstar 8000 Style Our new top-of-the-range boiler. Our most powerful, modern and stylish to date, the model comes in the industry-standard white, but also in a stylish black – perfect for those who are design-conscious. But for the installer, there are many impressive features to look out for. The Greenstar 8000 Style intuitive full colour and text boiler control display makes installing, maintaining and commissioning effortless.

Benefits to the installer Power Available in combi, system and regular, the Greenstar 8000 Lifestyle range features outputs between 30kW and 50kW. It also has an improved flow rate at the hot water tap. For example, with the 50kW at 35°C, the flow rate is at an impressive 20.3 litres a minute.

The Greenstar 8000 Lifestyle is also compatible with Worcester’s new Greenstar Intelligent Filling System – designed to reduce the number of system pressure-related call-outs engineers receive.

The system is said to ensure the Lifestyle range always maintains optimum boiler pressure. After the initial manual filling, the Filling System can be switched on within the appliance’s display menus.

From then on, if the system pressure becomes low, the internal filling valve automatically fills the heating system.

Once optimum pressure has been reached, this function will automatically stop and close the integrated filling valve. It also prevents the boiler from over-filling and will alert the homeowner if the heating system is losing too much pressure.

Improved installation, commissioning and servicing The Lifestyle has a reinforced steel front cover, which can be removed and replaced with just one screw. It also has screw-less and removable top and side

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SPECIAL REPORT NEW BOILER LAUNCH

simple switch

panels to improve the access and lifting of the appliance.

We’ve also highlighted key installer touch points to ensure these components can be accessed quickly and easily. For example, the control fascia can be quickly dropped for comfortable service access, the wiring connection can be accessed without any screws and are laid out similarly to the Greenstar I, while the PRV now sits at the front, meaning it can be replaced in less than 10 minutes.

Bosch EasyControl Thanks to a wireless receiver, called ‘the Key’, which slots in underneath the boiler, the Bosch EasyControl can now be installed on the wall or placed on our new table stand. It can be powered from a 3-pin plug or installed via a 2-core wire connection between the control and the boiler.

● To complement our black Greenstar

8000 Style variant, there is a choice of our 100mm diameter silver flue options ● Maximum flue lengths up to 17m when run horizontally (60/100 for our 30kW variant)

Why the Greenstar 8000 Style?

Other features include: ● ‘RF Key’ receiver links controls and boiler, enabling engineers to fit our Greenstar Comfort+ II RF and wireless Bosch EasyControl ● Designed so the pipe connections, as well as flue and drill wall mounting screw holes, are in the same position as the Greenstar CDi Classic for a

The Greenstar 8000 Style has been designed not to be hidden away. Its high gloss, premium finish means the appliance can take pride of place anywhere in the home.

The full colour text display allows customers to understand what the boiler is doing at all times, and if required which action they need to take. In addition, it is compatible with the wireless smart Bosch EasyControl, meaning users can monitor and control their heating and hot water from their smart device.

Find out more on the Greenstar 8000 Lifestyle at www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/beautifulbeast, or go to www.rdr.link/BF005

Made Great in ALL THE RIGHT CHEMISTRY Professional Builder’s Lee Jones visits the west country production facility of chemicals specialists, Barrettine.

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t was once a gateway to Britain’s imperial riches and was where, 140 years ago, the Barrettine Group would embark on its long journey.

In the heart of Bristol’s docks, 1879 would see the firm begin importing and trading in a variety of raw materials, including whale oil, shellac, tallow and bitumens. Fast forward to the present day and the subsequent years have seen the company build a prodigious and diverse level of expertise in the chemicals business, and it is builders who can benefit from what is now an extensive product range, appealing to a number of the trades.

“Over the years the business would evolve to focus on the home and garden market, but there is still a comforting continuity with our past,” explains MD, Steve Bailey.

“Materials like Shellac are used in some of our woodcare products, for instance, but at the same time we’re always looking to enhance and expand what we

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offer.” It is in the realm of woodcare, in fact that Barrettine has welcomed the latest addition to what is now a family of over 250 products, with the ArmourFlex Wood Lacquer range embracing the latest technology for natural wood flooring protection.

“Our Nourish & Protect woodcare range is a significant part of our business, and is probably what end users know us for primarily,” continues Steve.

“It is in that sector that our R&D teams have been very active recently, and we have some very exciting products coming through in 2019 and beyond.

That includes a UV Cladding Oil, wood reviver and cladding preservative. Cedar cladding is perennially popular, but it will weather to a silver-grey over time. Whilst some people quite like that, if you do want to maintain the original finish then

our new UV Cladding Oil will do just that.

There seems to be a trend for different colours in exterior woodcare at the amount with sage green, slate grey and pale blues coming to the fore and we supply a full range, as well as products that offer a more natural finish, or the more conventional dark brown in fencing, for instance.”

ArmourFlex might be the new name in woodcare amongst an already broad stable of brands, but many builders will be familiar with the Barrettine paint stripping solutions, Paint Panther and Peelaway – the latter of which has been with us since the early 1970s. Over the long lifetime of a period property, multiple layers of paint would be applied to the likes of coving and decorative mouldings, often to the detriment of some of the intricate lines and detail of

Britain these features. Peelaway is designed to remove up to 32 individual layers but, if applied correctly, will not damage the valuable substrate. It is a unique and patented process, where the paste is applied, then covered with a specially designed blanket, and left to do its work.

Where old lead paint may be present it is the cover that prevents any of the lead-based particles from entering the atmosphere and, compared to manual removal, or the use of heat guns, it represents a far safer option for both building occupants and tradespeople.

Peelaway 1 is suitable for older, traditional paints including lead-based, whilst Peelaway 7 is designed for more modern water- and oil-based paints. It was, however, changes to European regulations on what chemicals could be used that would help both products to tear a strip off the competition. With the demise of the potentially carcinogenic methylene chloride as an ingredient, the entire paint stripping market experienced a seismic shift in 2010, with some brands then forced to radically alter their formulations. In some cases, performance suffered, and that would open a space for the reformulated Peelaway and its sister product, Paint Panther.

Launched by Barrettine in that very year, Paint Panther is the more aggressive, and highly effective, solventbased solution that will quickly remove almost any of the typical paints builders will encounter. Barrettine’s Phil Gibbins tells us more: “To a professional, time is

always money and its speed is certainly one of its best attributes. We actually do a very popular demonstration at trade shows where we’ll remove six layers from a substrate in just five minutes.”

All chemicals come under the REACH registration process and biocides/preservers come under a similar approval process known as the Biocidal Product Review (BPR).

Barrettine’s wood preserver range continues to navigate through this ongoing, difficult regulatory process. The manufacturer’s traditional wood preservatives contain biocides, such as insecticides and fungicides, all of which are strictly monitored for safety, and are only used in products where they would be deemed necessary. The solutions in the protective category contain a high level of resins, oils and binders, which enrich the wood, and prevent water ingress, but Barrettine also produces a high quality Wood Preserver that fulfils both those functions. It will ward off wood destroying fungi (wet rot), wood discolouring fungi and wood boring

insects, but also provides a semitransparent matt/satin finish that enhances the natural wood texture.

It’s not just about woodcare and paint strippers, of course, because professionals can trust in a portfolio of products that also includes solvents, thinners and cleaners, decorating sundries, tile and stone care and much more besides. Not only that but there’s also a separate pest control and pesticides division. With a heritage of nearly a century and a half, and a tradition of innovation along all of those long years, this is one chemical company that builders will continue to have a positive reaction.

For more information on Barrettine online, go to www.rdr.link/BF006

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HEALTH & SAFETY SUN SAFETY MORE INFO Just type in www.rdr.link/ followed by the unique code shown to get straight to more info.

A moment under the sun SWARFEGA’S SUN PROTECTION TIPS

With 44 per cent of occupational melanoma deaths attributed to construction workers, a Swarfega survey on attitudes to sun safety proves very revealing.

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,575 hours of sunshine, high average temperatures and low rainfall: last summer was the joint hottest since records began in 1910.

Sales of sun cream increased – with some brands seeing a 38 per cent rise – but this trend didn’t apply to everyone. For the professional trades warmer, sunny days can often be seen as a perk of the job – but when does UV exposure become a health risk?

Up to 80 per cent of dangerous UV rays can pass through cloud, and UV rays can cause premature ageing and wrinkles. But that’s not all.

A painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of the most deadly form of skin cancer – malignant melanoma. 1,700 people are diagnosed with skin cancer caused by occupational sun exposure in Britain every year – and around 60 people die.

Shockingly, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. For construction workers, the risk is obvious, with the vast majority working outdoors.

The statistics speak for themselves; a huge 44 per cent of occupational melanoma deaths can be attributed to construction workers.

But are these statistics filtering down to employees, and did the hottest summer on record change attitudes to skin care? To investigate further, Swarfega surveyed outdoor workers – with some significant results.

Regular use The skin care expert found that just 1 in 4 outdoor workers used sun cream regularly last summer. Those who wore sun cream did wear more due to the hot weather, but the majority of those who didn’t use sun protection claimed that it was too much effort. So do attitudes need to be changed, with more awareness raised?

Most respondents knew that UV rays could still pass through cloud, but only 16 per cent would wear sun cream on these cloudy days, and 13 per cent of respondents stated that they would go without whilst on holiday.

When it comes to effective protection against UV exposure, particularly for those working outdoors, Swarfega recommends using the 5 S Approach to sun safety: SLIP on sun protective clothing – Encourage workers to keep covered up. Clothing can be one of the most effective barriers.

SLOP on sun cream – apply a broad spectrum, high SPF sun cream 20 minutes before initial exposure and reapply every two hours or more frequently if sweating heavily. Water resistant creams like TOUGH by Swarfega SPF30 Sun Cream are ideal.

SLAP on a hat and neck protection – Where possible choose a hat with ear and neck protection.

SLIDE on some sunglasses – Slide on a pair of high quality wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eyes.

SHADE from sun where possible – Encourage workers to take breaks or work in a shaded area wherever possible, especially from 11am-3pm.

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HEALTH & SAFETY SUN SAFETY

When it comes to employer provision, 83 per cent of those who said they didn’t wear sun cream were not provided with any at work. UK employers are legally required to ensure that workers do not suffer harm or injury at work – which then also extends to taking precautions against the dangers of skin cancer.

With the weather only set to get brighter and hotter over the next few months, it is evident that both employers and employees need to make a change.

Perhaps most shockingly of all, 72 per cent of Swarfega’s respondents were unaware that one death and five new cancers per week can be attributed to occupational exposure to UV radiation.

The good news? Skin cancer is one of the easiest cancers to prevent – it’s estimated by IOSH that 90 per cent of skin cancer deaths could be prevented.

GET TOUGH! IT’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 1 OF 24 TUBES OF TOUGH BY SWARFEGA SUN PROTECTION CREAM! Head into the summer season prepared with Swarfega. Their TOUGH by Swarfega Sun Protection Cream is a no-nonsense, SPF30 high performance formula that won’t let you down. Working as hard as you, the water-resistant formula is fast-absorbing.

Outdoor workers are at the highest risk of skin damage from UV radiation – make sure you’re covered up with Swarfega.

For your chance to win go to www.rdr.link/BF007 and enter on the Professional Builder website.

For more information and advice from Swarfega online go to www.rdr.link/BF008

HEALTH & SAFETY NEW SERIES

DUST MORE INFO Just type in followed www.rdr.link/ code ue iq un e th by aight str shown to get . fo in e to mor

A breath of Fresh air The health of tradespeople is becoming an increasing priority for regulators, employees and employers. That is why Professional Builder has teamed up with Festool to discuss ways to ensure compliance and minimise long-term health damage. In this first instalment, Steve Johnson, Territory Manager, End User Team at Festool discusses the importance of dust extraction.

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s all tradespeople know, working with any material produces dust that is often harmful. Construction work produces dust that can be incredibly dangerous for those working on a site, and can potentially lead to major health issues, including lung cancer, silicosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). According to a 2017 Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report, an estimated 13,000 deaths per year are the result of exposure to dust and chemicals at work. It is, therefore, vital that those onsite are protected to maintain their health and well-being.

Construction dusts include silica dust (from materials such as concrete, sandstone and mortar), wood dust (from wood-based products) and lower toxicity dust (from materials that contain minimal levels of silica such as marble or limestone). When carrying out tasks such

as sanding, sawing or dry sweeping, these dust materials are produced. The dust generated can be divided into three categories, which indicate the suitability of the extractors for any given dust. It is essential to select the dust category for the mobile dust extractor according to the material they are working with. For example, when working with concrete it is best to use a dust extractor in an M class or higher.

Today, minimising the amount of harmful dust in the work environment is

simple. Dust extractors can be directly connected to power tools, removing the majority of dust produced at the source.

This significantly reduces the amount of dust within the air and safeguards the health of those on the construction site.

New, innovative dust extractors, such as the Festool CTM MIDI, have integrated Bluetooth technology that enables the dust extractor to be started automatically when a cordless power tool is switched on. A number of Festool’s dust extractors have Autoclean (AC) function which cleans the filter at intervals to ensure consistently high suction power.

For building sites, where high levels of dust are often produced, a high-class dust extractor is often required. Choosing the right dust extractor for the materials being worked with – and one with features such as integrated Bluetooth – make compliancy simple and work easier.

To find out more about Festool online go to www.rdr.link/BF009

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Professional

BUILDER’S

We give our verdict on new products in our unique site tests, but now we want to give you the chance to try them – AND KEEP THEM – for yourself! All you have to do to enter the free draws is simply just type in www.rdr.link followed by the unique code.

!

L L A R O F E FRE 5

PACKS OF 10 SOCKET EXTENSION BOXES

VEXBOX VARIABLE EXTENSION BOX Vexbox is designed for use with both single and twin electrical accessory boxes which have been set too far back into the wall. For use on dry lining projects and refurbishments, varying from 5 to 35mm of extension, single or twin, Vexbox extends the front of the box flush with the finished wall, giving the plasterer an edge to work to.

Think outside of the box this month! We’ve changed our entry method for competitions, making it easier than ever before to get your hands on some goodies. Simply type in the URL below on your computer or smartphone and enter your details on our online competition page.

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF010

50

BRANDED MUGS

FORTERRA FORTERRA LONDON BRICK MUGS To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Kings Dyke facility, the official home of London Brick, Forterra is offering 50 ceramic mugs that reflect the masonry they’re modelled on. With their distinctive “frog” design, authentic LONDON BRICK imprint and attractive brick-red colour, these iconic mugs will fit in anywhere from the office to the construction site.

Measuring 13.5cm by 8cm, the mugs are dishwasher and microwave safe, making them the ideal choice for a builder’s tea.

Fancy a true builder’s brew? If cold drinks aren’t your cup of tea, make a splash at work or home with a London Brick mug.

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF012

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JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

10

WRECKING BARS

HULTAFORS HULTAFORS ADJUSTABLE WRECKING BAR This 660mm multi-purpose adjustable Wrecking Bar is made from hardened, high-alloy boron steel. It’s got an articulated claw, adjustable to nine different positions and, with a special gear ring, the bar can handle the same stresses as a standard wrecking bar. The claw is optimised for pulling out nails and can be set in nine different positions for increased accessibility and better work posture.

We’re setting a high bar this month, but you too can achieve glory — all you have to do is enter the URLs into your web browser, fill out your details and wait for the postman to deliver the goods!

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF011

5

TUBS OF DECKING SCREWS

TIMCO TIMCO C2 ADVANCED DECKING SCREW The C2 Advanced Decking Screw — part of the established C2 range from TIMco, is a premium decking screw with C2 twin cut technology for rapid pick up and reduced risk of timber splitting. It’s also coated with a patented multi-layer corrosion resistant planting to withstand up to 1,000 hours in a salt spray cabinet. The innovative design of the screw enables it to rapidly penetrate the timber with its impact resistant head, preventing sheering when installed with an impact tool. The ribs under head improves countersinking and securely clamps the decking board to the joist.

Win these great screws and much more by visiting the URLs — it couldn’t be simpler!

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF013

4

PAIRS OF PLIERS

KNIPEX KNIPEX COBRA PLIERS The Knipex Cobra range of water pump pliers are lighter than comparable pipe wrenches and, with a push button adjustment on the handle, the tools are perfect for working in cramped areas. The anti-pinch mechanism on the handle prevents injury, making them safer and more enjoyable to work with. Just like the snake they’re named after, the Cobra pliers have enormous gripping capacity; the teeth on all Cobra models have a specialist design and grab right where needed.

Grab onto this exclusive opportunity to win some great tools while you can, just enter the URL below in your web browser!

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF014

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3

STEP LADDERS

DRAPER DRAPER FIBREGLASS FIVE STEP LADDER Draper’s new Fibreglass five step ladder is the perfect tool for any hands-on tradesman. Fitted with deep ridged aluminium treads, you know you will be in safe hands providing extra grip for each step. As part of the Draper Expert range, this ladder was designed for the professional in mind, the high strength lightweight frame with a maximum load of 150kg. At only 8.7kg, you can transport it effortlessly making it easier than ever to work on the go.

Step up your game this month with our great giveaways.

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF015

BUNDLE OF RENDER

JOHNSTONE’S JOHNSTONE’S RENDER The full range of Johnstone’s render includes systems to suit all applications, so that whatever the job demands, there’s a system that’s been specifically designed to perform — whether it’s for use on new brick, brickwork and concrete, or rendering carrier boards. You have the chance to win a bundle of rendering products, including Silicone Enhanced Render Primer, High Performance Render Basecoat and Silicone Enhanced Render (all available in either Brilliant White or up to 200 tinted colours) Cover all your bases with Professional Builder this month, enter all the competitions and you could be a winner.

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF016

CANS OF BOARDFIXING ADHESIVE

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GEOCEL GEOCEL INSTA-STIK Geocel’s speedy board fixing adhesive, INSTA-STIK, is quick and easy to use for loads more than just fixing plasterboard or insulation board. It’s also perfect for other jobs such as coving and skirting, and it takes the hassle, mess, waste and time out of fixing boards to any substrate. INSTA-STIK cures in 3-5 minutes and, unlike traditional dry wall adhesive, it can be plastered in just one hour. Say goodbye to heavy bags of dry wall adhesive as INSTA-STIK will go further than a 25kg bag of adhesive with no mixing, no prep, and no heavy lifting.

‘Stik’ to Professional Builder and you can’t go wrong!

Win online, go to www.rdr.link/BF017

OUGH THERE’S R-ALL’ WAS NOT EN FO ERE ‘F S R’ DE IL BU TIONS ON IF PROFESSIONAL AYS AND COMPETI AW VE GI E IV US CL ST OF EX ALSO A WHOLE HO O.UK FOR YOUR ROBUILDERMAG.C .P W W W T OU K EC YWHERE OUR WEBSITE – CH ON’T FIND THEM AN W U YO R BE EM M AND RE CHANCE TO WIN – WEBSITE. ELSE BUT ON OUR

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extensions & home improvements

Artist in residence Conor Meehan of Triskele Conservation

It might be a typical nineteenth century London house, but like so many old homes it tells a fascinating tale. Professional Builder’s Lee Jones visits the renovation of a Georgian property that once played host to Vincent van Gogh.

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hen you think of Van Gogh, a peaceful existence in a leafy London borough would not be the picture that first comes to mind, but for a time at least this tortured soul would find contentment in our capital.

Thanks to the present owners of the property, and the extensive renovation work undertaken by the experts at Triskele Conservation, a new generation of artists will now be sharing the former space of this impressionist genius.

Van Gogh spent a year in Stockwell from 1873, but the now blue-plaqued semi-detached building actually dates from the 1820s, and is an example of the many thousands of relatively quickly erected homes of the period. It was arguably the first great age of speculative urban residential development but, as exercises in maximising profit, the build quality of many Georgian homes was often lacking. What has saved them for posterity is the forgiving nature of the

building materials then available. In the absence of more synthetic alternatives, timber frame, lime plaster and mortar, and linseed oil paints were all much in evidence, all of which are inherently durable and more elastic. In using as many of these traditional materials as possible, Triskele Conservation’s Conor Meehan is dedicated to the principles of the kind of honest repair that is destined to last, and in Livia Wang he has a client who is fully supportive of his approach.

“We started the project in June of 2018,” Livia explains, “and the house has since been completely renovated, with the addition of a single storey extension to the rear and a studio space at the end of the garden. There’s huge public interest in Van Gogh, so we’ll be conducting tours, but the building’s main function will be as a residency for artists.

There’s also been a host of great finds under floorboards and in roof spaces that reveal the personal narratives of the inhabitants. We’ve been so pleased with

what Conor and his team have done in also revealing just how the property was constructed and has been repaired over the years. Their approach is to maintain as much of what’s already in place as possible, and not to try and confuse what is new with what is old, and hopefully that will help demonstrate its entire history.”

In bringing an old property back to life, builders themselves will equally find more than they bargained for and that was certainly the case at Hackford Road. This was originally a terraced house, but two of the adjoining buildings were destroyed by wartime bombing. As a result, what was originally a party wall became a wholly unfit-for-purpose gable end, as Conor explains: “The exterior wall was only single skin thick, and was not properly connected to the floors or roof.

Before we could affect any structural repairs, we had to remove the sand and cement render, reconnect the wall to the rest of the building, and then apply a stainless-steel mesh, which was then re-

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extensions & home improvements For more information on this Van Gogh House, go to Vangoghhouse.co.uk

rendered with a lime solution. The roof had completely collapsed and the chimney stacks needed to be reinforced with helical stitching. The front elevation had also suffered from the application of a wholly inappropriate sand and cement render, creating terrible damp problems, and this also had to be replaced with more breathable lime, and then finished with an exterior lime wash supplied by Rose of Jericho.”

Buildings move and breathe, and Triskele are dedicated to using materials that allow them to do just that, and that includes making their own lime plaster and mortar on site. Employing a hot lime mix method, limestone is burnt at up to 900ºC to produce quicklime. Adding water generates a vigorous exothermic reaction and a great deal of heat – hence the term hot mix. In the presence of sand and water these elements will fuse together to produce a very sticky and malleable material that can be used as mortar. The result is a far more breathable and flexible material than any modern alternative. It prevents damp by allowing walls to release moisture and its greater tolerance of movement means it won’t crack like sand and cement. It was that lime mix that was used to repoint the exterior walls to the rear, whilst inside the ancient art of plastering is revived.

In walls of this vintage, timber laths, attached to stud walls, provide a key for a base coat of lime plaster mixed with animal hair – the latter increasing the structure’s tensile strength. A float coat is added to achieve a level surface, followed by a top coat, and it is a process that Triskele have replicated in their repairs.

The client and project manager, Livia Wang in the room in which Van Gogh stayed in 1873

Many historical artefacts have been found hidden in the house

On this job, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint provides the finish to the repaired lime plaster walls. This microporous product has the two-coat ease of application of an emulsion, but has breathable qualities close to lime wash. It won’t trap moisture in walls and is available in a range of natural colours.

Similarly, all the interior and exterior timbers benefit from two coats of Oricalcum Linseed Oil Paint. “This is a centuries old solution for protecting timber but its extended drying times meant it fell out of favour,” continues Conor. “Many modern coatings include acrylics or plastics, however, and these can fracture over time. A product based on linseed oil simply won’t do that, which

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makes it a much more long-lasting solution. Not only that, the use of a nonbreathable paint on sills or sashes will accelerate decay, but linseed oil paint will not build up any moisture within the wood, whilst it also gives the timber a beautiful character in the final finish.”

Continuing that principle of only removing what couldn’t possibly be retained all the timber sash windows are original, except for the top floor, where the compromised roof space had left them damaged beyond repair, whilst the 1920s light switches have been preserved by the electrician. Triskele’s highly skilled lime plasterer, Phil Bailey has fashioned ceiling roses in lime plaster by hand, and staircases and skirting have been enhanced with a beeswax solution. “This is still a traditional Georgian build, with load bearing masonry sidewalls and timber infill construction, and we’ve maintained that original brick, plaster and timber palette of materials,” concludes Livia. “Moreover, because it will ultimately be a creative space, we wanted it to be a testament to the skills of craftspeople of years gone by and today, and that’s what Triskele Conservation have delivered.”

For further information online, Triskele Conservation, go to triskeleconservation.com Edward Bulmer Paints, go to www.rdr.link/BF018 Oricalcum, go to www.rdr.link/BF019 Rose of Jericho, go to www.rdr.link/BF020

extensions & home improvements INFO MORE e in ty Just p d / followe k n li r. d .r w w e w d nique co by the u aight tr s t e g shown to info. to more

Instant success Imagine being able to offer your customers a temporary kitchen they can use while you’re installing their new one. Well, now you can thanks to a new business – The Instant Kitchen Company created by kitchen fitter Matthew Harper.

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atthew explains the concept: “It is a bespoke trailer that is used on a temporary basis, transported to the required site by us, and containing all the facilities you would expect in a family kitchen – including a dishwasher and washing machine. There is also plenty of space for storage, so that when a client’s old kitchen is removed, they have somewhere safe and clean to put all their crockery and it won’t get broken or covered in dust. It’s a convenience for them and also for the trades working on site.”

The trailer is suitable for any kitchen refurb job – domestic or commercial –

and is simply hooked up outside the property you are working in – the only requirements are that the trailer must be placed on a privately owned driveway (or piece of land) and it will need power and a water supply. Matthew is looking into the possibility of licenses – similar to those used for skip hire – to allow his kitchen trailer to be parked on the road, but at the moment it isn’t possible.

The advantages to the customers are obvious – somewhere to cook and do laundry as normal for the duration of the building work – but the advantages for the trades go beyond purely keeping the customer happy. “For builders and tradespeople, the trailer is something they

can offer to their customers that will help make life easier for them during the work, but we also have an affiliate scheme so that the trades can earn a little cash if they refer the Instant Kitchen service to their clients,” says Matthew.

The Instant Kitchen Company is based in Hampshire but operates throughout the UK. Matthew was interviewed on the first episode of the #TradesTalking podcast about this new business, and the podcast can be downloaded on iTunes, Podbean and Spotify.

For more information on The Instant Kitchen Company online, go to www.rdr.link/BF021

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For more information or to obtain a free quotation call Pete on 01788 570550 email: peter@sprayfoamsolutions.co.uk www.sprayfoamsolutions.co.uk

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extensions & home improvements

Grand scheme Competent person schemes are changing the face of the industry, according to Eurocell.

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he construction industry has an unfair reputation when it comes to public perception.

Despite research showing that more than 80 per cent of tradesmen frequently work for free for those in need, and 38 per cent have reduced their final bill for cash strapped customers, tradespeople now have to take extra steps to reassure customers that they are the real deal. One way to do this is via joining a competent person scheme.

Whether you’re an electrician or plumber, general builder or window fitter, there will be a competent person scheme to meet your needs. Proving your skill in your chosen trade, competent person schemes also reassure your customers that you can complete high quality work, reinforced by a trade body or manufacturer, which could well result in more work for you.

We hear the term ‘competent person scheme’ bandied about regularly in the construction industry. With the industry having an unfair reputation of being rife with cowboys, quality tradespeople often need to take steps to reassure customers that they are qualified and, potentially more importantly, that they can be trusted. First of all, we need to look at

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what a competent person scheme actually is.

A competent person scheme is certification that a tradesperson has been deemed competent to carry out work in line with Building Regulations. From plumbing to roofing, they exist across the entire construction industry and highlight a tradesperson’s skill and proficiency in a particular discipline. So, why should you join one?

Customer reassurance Knowing that an independent body has approved your work will offer reassurance to potential customers and could result in additional work as a result. Often, you will receive a logo as part of the scheme. This logo should be used on all of your marketing collateral, including your van, flyers and website, so potential customers are aware of your additional accreditations. More often than not, your scheme provider will be able to provide

additional marketing support, such as brochure design and website building, to further assist in your marketing plans.

Lead generation As well as the projects that will come your way organically through the extra certification, being part of a scheme often means you qualify for lead generation opportunities, something we offer through our scheme, Eurocell Select. This means that we pass any jobs that come through to us as a business to our registered installers, which could provide a great source of income for your business.

Free training Free training is a great opportunity for those that are part of a scheme. Within construction, installing outdated products or using incorrect methods of installation can have life threatening effects.

Products used, and the ways we install them, are continually adapted and

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upgraded so it is important to invest your time in ongoing training.

Training is also a great way to add to your skillset and consequently, improve your offering to customers. Understanding that education does not stop after college not only helps you to stay at the top of your game but if you want to, specialise in a particular area/application. By expanding your skillset, you will also be able to upsell to your customers, offer an improved service and increase your profitability.

What’s more, making sure you are up to speed in all areas of your job will limit the chances of having to turn work down due to a lack of knowledge or training.

Alongside improving your product knowledge, training can be a valuable tool in learning about any changes to industry regulations and how these will impact your working practices.

Eurocell Select installers have access to training held at various locations across the UK that includes both practical installation training to industry quality standards and classroom sessions –

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covering health and safety, use of PPE, and window and door removal/installation.

Eurocell provides free product and installation training for all products covered within the scheme, plus top tips to overcome common issues.

Dispute support Even the best installers can find themselves in disputes with customers.

Whether it’s an unwarranted claim from a customer, or refusal of payment, competent person schemes can offer Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) support, which could save you significant amounts of money in a small claims court.

From mediation to conciliation, disputes can take a significant toll on tradespeople’s time and bank accounts.

Not only will you have to foot the bill for any time in court, but additional time spent resolving a problem will be time that you aren’t on the tools. ADR can remove the stress of this and do the heavy lifting for you.

We recently launched our Eurocell

Select approved installer scheme for windows and doors, which aims to develop a trusted network of installers across the UK. Our new initiative – which is backed by CERTASS and FENSA – will allow installers of Eurocell windows and doors to gain certification following a training course and aims to help tradespeople overcome what is often deemed a ‘cowboy image’ within the industry.

For more information on Eurocell Select online, go to www.rdr.link/BF022

extensions & home improvements

New Series

Masters at work T he Master Builder Awards celebrate the incredible achievements of Master Builders, showcasing examples from across the UK of highquality craftsmanship, exceptional customer service and building excellence.

Now in their 14th year, the awards help to recognise the significant contribution that small and medium-sized (SME) building firms make to the construction industry.

Tricklebank has a saying in its company: “There is only one way and that’s the right way”, and their renovation and refurbishment of a Cheshire barn captures that perfectly. This project successfully preserves the property’s character but adds a twist of contemporary country chic for a stunning finish. The team worked closely with the client to understand their dream and held weekly on-site meetings to this end.

When it comes to building work, there are always unexpected challenges, and as

In this series of articles by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), we will showcase some of the highly commended entries in the Master Builder of the Year Awards, and this month we’re looking at those firms which were recognised for the ‘medium renovation project’ (projects costing between £50,000 and £150,000).

part of this conversion, the team had to resolve a 65mm sag in the joints for the entire first floor.

The Master Builder Awards are all about rewarding quality craftsmanship, and Tricklebank excelled here by setting up an on-site workshop to produce bespoke built-in cupboards, wardrobes and bathroom units. Managing Director Martin Silcock said: “In all honesty, although this project would not be considered groundbreaking, I feel it shows the true nature of what the FMB stands for”.

Meanwhile, Surrey builders Adobe Building Services received special

recognition for its kitchen/diner extension.

Speaking of the project’s success, Adobe Building owner Ryan Meager, said: “It’s been one of our favourite projects to date and we look forward to keeping in touch with the clients”. Indeed, key to this success was understanding the customer’s vision and delivering a contemporary exterior for the extension blended with the existing older property.

The unexpected challenge, which became a theme among all highlycommended entries, was that the drawings didn’t show the true height of the exterior once the crank steel had been installed. The team responded to this by increasing the height of the external and internal doors for a slim and elegant aesthetic. Additional features that made this an excellent extension were the maximisation of light, the bespoke timber internal doors and, finally, the underfloor heating.

For further information on the Federaion of Master Builders online, go to www.rdr.link/BF023

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extensions & home improvements

Surveying the landscape Sandra Higginson, Technical Advisor at Tarmac Cement, discusses the positive implications for using concrete in landscaping projects.

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odern and visually appealing, with qualities of strength, durability and affordability, concrete is seeing a new wave of usage and innovation in outdoor spaces. In fact, a recent 2018 report by WGSN highlighted that concrete is trending across trade shows and particularly with emerging designers.

Innovations in moulding and setting techniques have boosted its versatility, with many using the material in unexpected and unusual ways, especially for landscaping projects. The hardwearing material blends well with surrounding nature while many different types of concrete can be applied in a variety of finishes to suit an array of shapes, styles and designs.

The concrete craze Updating or re-designing the garden for summer can be an exciting prospect for your customers, and incorporating concrete into the landscape could be the answer to creating a modern, attractive

and practical space.

From brick barbeques and patios, to board-formed concrete walls and worktops, concrete can transform garden areas into an outdoor oasis, while also offering excellent functional benefits.

Importantly, concrete is relatively inexpensive, and it can endure extreme weather without cracking and scratching, as well as provide strong resistance against moisture, mould or pests.

Board marked concrete Using poured high strength concrete for exterior walls can give your customers one of the most enduring, fire-resistant, thermally retentive and maintenance-free solutions. A concrete wall can last without decay for many years, protecting both the reputation and standards of your work.

Importantly for design, concrete takes on the shape and texture of the forms into which it is poured, making it possible to enrich its surface character by using textured forms. Often, timber is used in combination with concrete walls to add

Outdoor kitchens are now a popular home improvement feature

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warmth to the overall composition. For example, if the concrete has been formed with horizontal, rough-board forms, the concrete’s surface is imprinted with wooden texture and the two materials work well to create a stylish looking wall for any outdoor area.

Outdoor kitchens As the trend for outdoor kitchens and entertaining at home gains traction, landscapers and builders are beginning to explore the different ways they can add value to their customers’ alfresco aspirations.

Installing a concrete worktop is a surefire way to infuse a stylish aesthetic into your client’s garden. The worktop doesn’t need to appear cold or industrial, concrete can complement almost any style of garden, the key is to suggest adding other warmer, natural textures like fabric or wood to keep it from feeling too austere.

Adding inserts or inlays is a great way to personalise a concrete workstation.

Whether its small stones, pieces of glass or other materials that are mixed

throughout the concrete, these can all contribute to a stylish and liveable outdoor landscape.

However, as concrete worktops are generally long, slender, thin beams, it’s critical to use a product with adequate workability and flexural strength such as Tarmac Blue Circle High Strength concrete (40N) to prevent cracking, chipping and shrinkage.

The brick barbeque The classic brick barbeque is a firm favourite in the summertime, yet it doesn’t need to come with a hefty price tag.

Simple to build and use, a brick barbeque can be an attractive addition to any patio area, without the added worry of rusting or breakage to metals.

Simply build a solid foundation, mark out the brickwork area and prepare a mortar to lay the bricks. Using a pre-bagged, ready-to-use mortar mix, such as Tarmac Blue Circle Quality Assured Mortar, simplifies the task even further, requiring only the addition of clean water.

Additional jobs Of course, not all landscaping projects are determined by the bigger jobs. Something as simple as checking for unstable fence posts or empty joints between paving slabs can keep a garden in shape during summer.

For unbalanced fence posts, use a quick setting, no mix concrete product, such as Tarmac Blue Circle Postcrete. Bury the post below the ground, then simply fill the hole one third with clean water and pour in the Postcrete evenly around the post until dry powder is visible on the surface. The Postcrete will set in as little as 10 minutes.

Pointing between patio slabs should also be checked and repaired where necessary. A pre-mixed bagged mortar is suitable as it possesses strong weather resistance and durability.

Highly workable and cohesive, with a long board life, mortar can enhance the appearance and longevity of paving areas.

Clearly, the creative possibilities of concrete are expanding, and builders have the opportunity to use concrete in original and inventive ways. Yet, whether it’s a glamourous alfresco job or routine garden maintenance, using the right cement and concrete products can be crucial to maintaining a functional outdoor space.

For further information on Tarmac Blue Circle online, go to www.rdr.link/BF024

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extensions & home improvements

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE Time is of the essence with any build project, and, of course, we all know that time means money! Nu-Heat believes it has responded to this cry for help with its screed alternative for underfloor heating, FastDeck. Professional Builder reveals more.

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raditionally, most ground floor underfloor heating (UFH) systems have been installed within the fabric of the floor itself, where the UFH tube is held within the screed using specialist fixings.

However, screeds require a long drying time, which can delay the job at hand – drying frequently takes up to 60 days: 1mm of screed depth per day of drying time – and sometimes this just isn’t feasible to keep the deadlines on track.

To combat this issue, Nu-Heat’s newly launched FastDeck is a structural solution offering a completely dry, combined UFH and floor deck product. This whole-house

UFH system is said to be easy to install and will slash the screed drying time with a finished installation that can be walked on straight away, boosting access for other trades and meaning floor coverings can be fitted immediately.

To find out more, we asked installers to put a few common questions to the NuHeat team.

I have limited height in the areas I want underfloor heating, is this product right for me?

Another benefit of FastDeck is a superbly trim height build-up of only 34mm, as opposed to average traditional screed depths of 55-60mm.

In-screed UFH can have sluggish reaction times, and is something I’d like to avoid. How does FastDeck compare?

A speedy response time, which is easily twice as fast as equivalent screed UFH systems, is one of the benefits of FastDeck, thanks to its highly-conductive, aluminium laminated gypsum board deck.

This composition also quickly and evenly transfers heat across the whole floor, eradicating cold-spots.

I’ve been asked to fit UFH in a property extension which doesn’t have a screed base, will FastDeck work for us?

FastDeck can be installed not only over a concrete or beam and block slab, but also directly over timber floors too, either at first or second fix stages. The castellated deck is attached with staples to insulation laid on top of the DPM (damp proof membrane) and optional sand binding layer, or with screws if laying on top of a timber deck.

Nu-Heat’s installation tips ● Wear gloves – handling the castellated decking and larger gypsum top decking boards is much easier if wearing gloves. ● When placing the castellated decking against a wall, place the female edges flush with the vertical surface. ● Install the tongue and groove top deck in a brick bond layout. This will involve cutting some of the boards, so make sure you wear a facemask to protect against dust and particles – the board is gypsum based so perfectly safe health-wise. ● Cut the tongue off any top deck boards if they are to be placed against

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FastDeck features ● The system is designed to be an all-in-one, whole-house UFH and floor deck

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● ● ●

a vertical surface. ● When bonding the top deck boards

together, apply glue to the bottom groove before sliding in the opposing tongue. Remove any excess glue. As the glue sets it will bubble up through the join – this is what you want to see as it means enough glue was used for a full and solid join. ● Avoid walking on the deck for one hour, after which you should revisit the joins and scrape off the bubbled glue using a flat blade, such as a wallpaper scraper.

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solution, which includes everything you need to complete the job. There is no need for additional parts or components, everything is included.

The product is a completely dry alternative to screed UFH. It cuts out the mess and slashes up to 60 days of drying time off the installation, according to the manufacturer.

Designed as a low-profile product, it is ideal for properties with limited ceiling height.

High-speed heating thanks to the conductive floor deck.

Super-speedy and easy to install, assures Nu-heat. The interlocking castellated panels are laid, CAD layout drawings bespoke to your specific project are supplied to aid the fit of the FastFlo UFH tubes, which are secured via an anchor clip.

Connect the pipework to the manifold, pressure-test the system, then simply fit the deck over the top of the tube.

Nu-Heat also designs and supplies fully integrated ground source and air source heat pump systems, as well as solar thermal, and has delivered over 70,000 fully designed underfloor systems to self-builders, installers and developers nationwide.

For further information on Nu-Heat online, go to www.rdr.link/BF025

extensions & home improvements

Lock smart Stephen Roberts, Marketing Manager for Yale UK, explains the importance of planning security into your build project, as well as the variety of products currently available on the market, including smart tech.

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hen it comes to home improvements, extensions and renovation projects, there are many elements of the build which need to be taken into consideration throughout the planning process, one key component is security and protection of the home.

When homeowners choose to extend their home, make improvements or renovate, the changes to the security of the property can often be overlooked. In recent years there have been changes to the tactics burglars are using to attack homes, with methods becoming much more sophisticated, and so it’s essential to ensure preventative measures are in place and security fixtures have been installed.

For home improvements, such as conservatories, it’s essential to consider the material which is being used.

Normally, conservatory structures are assembled from timber, aluminium or PVCu. It’s important to assess the quality of the product, looking at the security features of the doors and windows, as this can make a significant difference to the overall security of the build.

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Lock it Up For most burglars, the first line of defence they are usually faced with is the front door. However, it’s important to ensure any new entrance to the home, including a new door – or windows at the back of the house – are securely protected. High quality locks for both doors and windows, will help to ensure a more secure and safer living space.

The main standards which need to be considered include: BS3621, PAS24:2016 and TS007:2014. BS3621 is one of the

most well-known standards in the industry, and is the minimum performance required on locks and cylinders on external doors acceptable to home insurers. To achieve this standard, the lock must be able to be dead-locked and still remain secure.

When planning the security of a new home improvement project, using products which are British Kitemarked can ensure compliant security levels for the property and ensure industry standards are met. Depending on the type of home

improvement project, and how it could affect the access to the house, different lock standards need to be considered.

PAS24:2016 is the minimum standard specifically for doors and windows security; the test is independently carried out on a whole door-set or window.

Technical standard TS007:2014 is designed to protect against all common cylinder attack methods. Products are required to undergo rigorous testing to achieve the 3-star accreditation.

Consider a Smart Home For consumers who require a new door as part of their home improvement project, the type of locking system they require will need to fit and suit not only the style of the property, but also the homeowner’s lifestyle. Since 2017 there has been a 27 per cent increase in the number of consumers introducing smart technology into their homes.

Smart locks currently available in the Yale Smart Living range include the Yale Keyless and Yale Conexis L1. The Yale

Raise the Alarm

Keyless smart lock has been designed to fit 60mm night-latches and is the ideal product to offer customers who are renovating, and are interested in incorporating smart technology into their traditional locks.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has recognised the changing trends and the shift consumers are making towards smart security and, as a result, the BSI has adopted a locking standard known as the TS621:2018. The Conexis L1 Smart Lock has become the first ever smart lock to meet TS621:2018 and be British Kitemark approved, making it an unrivalled product within the current smart lock market.

For any building project where the home is being extended, or an outbuilding is being constructed, it’s important to ensure a current house alarm can be extended to cover the additional space. That’s why products in the Smart Living range are designed to protect all sizes and types of properties.

The products include an advanced smart alarm system that is controlled with Yale’s home app, and even a smart CCTV system that livestreams to a mobile device. These devices are great additions to traditional security devices. Products such as the Yale sync alarm and Intruder alarm, offer up to a 200m range of cover, and are perfect for protecting a home which has had an extension or additional space added to the property, such as summer houses, outbuildings or sheds.

For more information about the range of security products available from Yale, or the Smart Living security range online, go to www.rdr.link/BF026

extensions & home improvements

Plus points NDC Garage Doors explains how to fit its Retractable Plus.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to fitting the Garador Retractable Plus system, which is available for door widths up to 7ft. 6in. wide:

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ith a wide range of garage door solutions on the market, homeowner David Symonds was finding it difficult to choose the most appropriate for his new twostorey extension and garage in Egham, Surrey. With only a narrow garage opening, he needed a compact system that would provide the most space possible for access. Advised by project builder, R. Hillier, he turned to family-run, local business NDC Garage Doors, which has been providing expert installation and repairs of garage doors for over 30 years.

The firm’s Installations Manager, Mike Dray advised him and now talks us through the benefits and installation process for his recommended solution – a Retractable Plus garage door.

David has created a fantastic twostorey extension with a garage on his detached home. However, he was restricted with the size of the garage opening, which led to us recommending a Garador Georgian-styled up-and-over door with a Retractable Plus operating gear.

The Retractable Plus solution results in a substantially wider drive-through opening than a standard retractable gear thanks to specially designed lifting arms and non-protruding bottom spring brackets. It’s perfect for providing that little bit of extra space that can make all the difference in tight spots.

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Unpack door and assemble locking bars/mechanism

Check garage opening for size and that the opening is square

Move the door into position Position and secure door fixing brackets on each side in the top, middle and bottom

Extend and position the retractable track rails

Screw the door to the timber frame and check the alignment

Fix the retractable track rails to the garage wall and check the door motion

“Working with Mike and NDC Garage Doors has been a fantastic experience,” said David Symonds. “He knew exactly the right solution to help utilise every last inch of space, which has been really important in this restricted garage width. I’m hugely impressed with the process, the advice, the customer service and the finished product.”

Affix handle (in this case, a chrome handle was chosen), spring covers and security pins

Measure and cut the fascia panels, then fix in position

Hand over to the customer, demonstrating the door operation and locking procedure

For further information on NDC Garage Doors online, go to www.rdr.link/BF027

extensions & home improvements product round-up

UNDERFLOOR HEATING CONTROL Specifically designed to make both heating and cooling easier to manage, Warmafloor’s Sentio control underfloor heating control system features a minimalist thermostat interface and built-in app control software. This allows users to manage the system whether they’re at home or on the go. Also included are humidity sensing and dewpoint detection, stopping condensation from forming.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF028

GALVANISED STEEL RAINWATER RANGE A new colour has been added to Rainclear Systems’ Infinity Galvanised Steel rainwater system. The system is designed to be as easy to install as the usual materials used in the UK without the need to solder or rivet. Lengths are easy to handle and to cut to size without any specialist tools or equipment. The new white option offers a longer-lasting, more sustainable, ocean/eco-friendly alternative to buying more plastic.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF029

CATALOGUE A new catalogue, from Cromar, combines all of the roofing range with the new AlphaChem range to create the company’s biggest catalogue yet. It is filled with key information on the products and delivered with a fresh and clean design, celebrating a brand new era for the company.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF032

SITE HOARDING Smartply Siteprotect is the engineered, moisture resistant, pre-primed OSB3 panel specifically designed for the most demanding hoarding applications. The board is now being manufactured in a thickness of 16mm as well as 18mm, increasing its versatility. The panels come pre-primed with a heavy-duty, cross-linked polymer primer and can be manufactured in sizes of up to three metres high, ensuring maximum security.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF030

DRY VERGE SYSTEM Fully compatible with a range of roof tiles, the new Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system from Ariel Plastics has been designed for ease of installation and to provide a neat mortarless finish at roof verges on roofing projects. Manufactured from lightweight, modern plastic materials, the system is available in brown, anthracite grey and terracotta.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF031

SCREED A screeding additive for site batched screeds, RonaScreed 8 Day Overlay Fast Drying Screed is used to quickly reduce the level of retained moisture within the screed – allowing floor coverings to be laid over the screed much sooner than with conventional screeds. The solution gains strength quickly, permitting access faster.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF033

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building boards, plasters & sundries

IN THE LIME LIGHT It’s high time that builders switched to lime plasters and mortars. Professional Builder’s Lee Jones visits an Emmerson Critchley Ltd new build that’s seeing all of the advantages of an Anglia Lime solution.

“

T

he industry is definitely moving away from sand and cement as an external render – and with good reason,” declares Emmerson Critchley. He and the East Anglian building company that bears his name are well versed in the repair and renovation of period properties, but also specialise in bespoke luxury new builds with historical features and character evident throughout, That’s why this property and all other high-end projects will have all the benefits of a product supplied by Anglia Lime Company.

“The UK’s housing stock is constructed on wet earth that will inevitably move, especially in timber frame construction,” continues Emmerson, “but the greater elasticity of lime plaster will accommodate far more movement than sand and cement. With freeze/thaw cycles over the course of the seasons, even relatively small cracks, and the subsequent water penetration, can become problematic. Not only that, but bricks are made of clay and need to breathe, and lime will allow a healthy transport of moisture through the material. Using a sand and cement product on a timber frame property effectively means you are suffocating the walls, and that will inevitably cause damp problems.”

The use of lime plaster is typical of the approach adopted by Emmerson, and one that is exemplified in the seven-bedroom property where we caught up with him and his team. “We’re effectively taking a three-pronged approach, with

Emmerson Critchley’s firm specialise in the repair or period properties and new builds with period character. www.emmersoncritchley.co.uk

sustainability, a low carbon footprint, and inherent character all working together to ultimately deliver better environments for our clients to live in. On this project no expense has been spared on any of those factors. A glulam timber frame construction with 300mm thick cavity walls filled with Rockwool already provides very high U-values, but add Anglia Lime’s Thermalime as the scratch

coat and that takes it well in excess of Building Regulations.”

It is the combination of chalk, St Astier lime binder, fibres and an insulating component that provides that additional level of thermal performance, robustness and a beautiful finish. This bagged, dry ready-mix product can be used indoors as plaster and on the exterior of a building as a render. Zero shrinkage means no

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building boards, plasters & sundries

cracking, and it is far more durable than sand and cement, or other soft MORE INFO lime plasters that do not contain Just type in the fibrous element, a factor which ed www.rdr.link/ follow also increases its flexibility. Mixing de co e iqu un by the animal hair or fibre into lime shown to get straight plaster can also be a challenge for to more info. the uninitiated, but Thermalime comes ready mixed, which means it’s simply a question of adding water.

Applied by hand, or with a spray gun – if the same atmospherics are in your favour – it can be applied one day and then a top coat added the next.

The perfect partner to Anglia Lime’s gypsum, but for many builders that can Thermalime as a skimcoat is the actually be an advantage. Emmerson manufacturer’s FineLime, a blend of nonexplains: “Experience will tell you what hydraulic lime, chalk and fibres, that’s the optimum conditions for applying lime smooth and easy to apply. FineLime also plaster are, but within those parameters makes an excellent patch repair product it’s actually easier to apply, and a far more to tidy up old existing lime plasters and forgiving material than sand and cement can be used internally or externally. or gypsum. A longer open time gives you One of the reasons that lime plaster more room to manoeuvre and it’s easier originally fell out of favour was the longer to repair.” On this property traditional drying times compared to modern

wood laths were providing the key for the Thermalime coat but the same manufacturer also supplies alternative substrates, including its Savolit Plus. This wood wool board can be used as a carrier for renders and cladding or as internal lining for timber frame walls.

“This property will be a showcase of what our approach can achieve as a company,” concludes Emmerson, “and we’re very proud of the level of detail.

The window reveals are complemented by panels designed and hand-crafted by ourselves, the roof features five different kinds of handmade clay tile, the pentice boards are all lead dressed and a tumbled multi-stock farmhouse brick provides an aged appearance with a modern material. The lime plaster offers a beautiful aesthetic of its own and, importantly, it’s one that will last.”

For further information on Anglia Lime online, go to www.rdr.link/BF034

building boards, plasters & sundries

A LEGEND IN LIME Professional Builder’s Kieran Nee visits Bill Sargent, stalwart exponent of the traditional art of pargetting.

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e can thank Henry VIII for the introduction of pargetting to England – indeed, it was his desire to go one better than his French counterpart’s newly built palace in Chambord that led to his importing the team of Italian craftsmen who would provide the elaborate plasterwork for his newly built Nonsuch Palace.

Unlike the palace itself, which succumbed to the Duchess of Cleveland’s gambling habits a little over a hundred years after, the newly introduced art of pargetting thankfully flourished.

Pargetting, for the uninitiated, consists of decorative relief work carried out in lime plaster which, when set and washed with lime, is indistinguishable from carved stone. Spreading out from London, where courtly circles were quick to adopt the style for their properties in a display of continental sophistication, pargetting found a natural home in East Anglia, where a lack of stone for building material meant lime plaster was the most convenient way of keeping out the cold.

These days, the flag for pargetting is being waved mostly by one man, Bill Sargent, whose Pargetting Company carries on a family tradition established in 1926.

It’s with some surprise, in fact, that he notes the number of companies working with lime plaster in the area has increased over the past 50 years from about three to about 50, and the number of pargetters has

increased to an admittedly still low total of four. It’s certainly not a need for the latest technology that is scaring the competition away, as Bill reveals it’s all a fairly lowtech affair: “I use teaspoons quite a lot to make the designs… For cornices we cut the design out of a plastic chopping board and use that. We make a lot of our tools ourselves, and any stamps we use we carve ourselves.”

Besides the plastic chopping board and the mixers, Bill makes it a point to only use materials and tools that were available hundreds of years ago, and sticks mostly to Jacobean designs to provide an authentic look to his work. Using hot lime, which creates an exothermic reaction with water reaching in excess of 250°, Bill starts out with a plaster mix that is faithful to the originals, as he tells me: “This is the same mix they used in Pompeii, in fact. For years and years, they basically had no other option. We

mix hot lime, sharp sand and water. We use sharp sand because we want a bit of aggregate in there, to strengthen the lime.

We mix that together in a large mixer – we have a 5ft. wide roller pan mixer back in the stores, but we’re using a smaller SoRoTo mixer on this job – you need a large one as the lime increases in volume by a half and will bubble up to the edge of the mixer. Any smaller and the lime will clog the mixer up. We also add a bundle of goat hair, cut down to 15mm pieces, to each mix to bind it, and that’s it.”

Lime plaster and pargetting are popular in East Anglia because of the prevalence of timber framed buildings. Bill nails up slats between the timber posts –

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building boards, plasters & sundries

riven slats, from a forest in Dorset – and applies the plaster in two coats. The ultrasmooth, flat surfaces that plasterers usually strive for are an anathema to Bill, who works free hand and allows the plaster to follow the shape of the building he’s working with. Even when it comes to the pargetting, his designs are free hand and a product of his own artistic ability.

He explains: “Everything you see here is free hand, we try and never use a mould, unless that’s how it was done originally.

We put ammonites into this design because the owner of the house collects them, and the cat we’re working on

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started out this morning as a squirrel.” A flexible form of decoration, the designs can be easily matched to suit the personalities of the homeowner. Indeed, the plaster Bill and his men were working on was applied the day before, and with lime plaster taking up to three days to fully set, there is ample opportunity for applying the ornate designs Bill specialises in.

From small cottages, such as the one I found them on in rural Suffolk, to large country estates, and even Westminster

Abbey, wherever there is pargetting you can find the handiwork of Bill and his team. Indeed, as the building industry slowly rediscovers the merits of lime plaster – breathable, flexible, durable – you may well see a lot more of the vines, songbirds and demonic figures that characterise pargetting popping up too.

For more information on The Pargetting Company online, go to www.pargettingcompany.com

building boards, plasters & sundries

GOOD HOARD! What are the key requirements for site hoardings on a building site?

CW (Colin Wheatley) The primary responsibility of site hoarding should always be to keep those inside and outside of the building site safe. In order to do that the material used must be strong enough to withstand natural forces, such as wind and rain, as well as put off people that are trying to illegally access the site for their own safety.

Q

©Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock

With the school holidays just around the corner and the additional temptations that traditionally creates, Professional Builder puts the questions to Colin Wheatley, Product Manager at Medite Smartply, about the requirements for site hoarding and the company’s latest solution.

From a contractor or installer point of view there are many additional benefits that separate good products from the bad. When designing this product, we

took note of the Temporary Works Forum’s (TWF) Guide to Good Practice on hoarding. This led us to consider: weight, length, width, ease of install and so on.

The ultimate goal is to contribute toward making site hoarding safer and more efficient for all involved.

Is there any official guidance that should be followed?

CW While there is no official guide, we’ve taken note of the TWF’s Guide to Good Practice on hoarding. We are also members of the Association of Fencing Industries (AFI) who also drive for safer, more efficient fencing of all shapes and sizes, including site hoarding.

We recently attended an AFI meeting and were surprised at just how concerned contractors and installers were of the safety and potential risks imposed by poor practice and poor products when it comes to site hoarding.

Concerns, such as the delamination of plywood for example, can lead to

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hoarding taking flight in a breeze and injuring passers-by.

There are also the environmental credentials to think of. With many of the larger contractors and housebuilders looking to achieve credentials such as BREEAM all materials brought onto site during and post construction need to be of a certain standard. It’s therefore important to know where your site hoarding comes from, and what kind of timber it’s made from.

Q

How does SiteProtect differ from standard OSB?

CW This new product is a highly engineered, moisture resistant, pre-primed OSB3 panel specifically designed to save time and money in the most demanding hoarding applications.

The panels come pre-primed with a heavy-duty, cross-linked polymer primer, is structurally sound and can be manufactured in sizes of up to three metres high, ensuring maximum security.

With only the top coat to apply, this not only saves contractors hours in time and energy, but makes it ideal for use in a wide range of hoarding applications.

All of our OSB product range is FSC certified timber from our own sustainably managed Irish forests.

Why has it recently been made available in a thickness of 16mm?

CW By popular demand, and in line with the Temporary Works Forum’s (TWF) Guide to Good Practice, Siteprotect is now being manufactured in a thickness of 16mm, making it lighter and easier to handle, without compromising on structural integrity.

Q

Site hoardings provide a great canvas onto which a builder can add strong marketing statements. Does your solution need priming or painting?

CW In a nutshell, no. It comes pre-primed meaning you can simply erect it, paint it on the face and edges and get on with the rest of your day. We are looking to save contractors time and, ultimately, money with this product, while providing a safe and secure barrier to your site.

With only the top coat to apply, this not only saves contractors hours in time and energy, but makes it ideal for use in a wide range of hoarding applications.

Q

For more information on Medite Smartply online, go to www.rdr.link/BF036

building boards, plasters & sundries

PLASTER MASTER Roger Bisby takes a look at plasterboard and wonders how it got so complicated.

W

hen I started in the building industry there was only one type of plasterboard, which made it fairly easy to select the right one.

Now we have square edged and tapered boards up to 10 feet long, moisture resistant board, fire resistant board, vapour check and acoustic board. You can also get GRP reinforced board for impact resistance, Glasroc sheathing board for up to six months’ weather protection and Habito board, which takes a screw directly without plugs or anchors.

There are also now specialist tilebacker boards based on gypsum, cement and foam core.

The problem for the jobbing builder is that, once you get your head around what is available, you’ll find that a great many of these boards are special order only and if you order them you need to order a pallet load. So, even though the theoretical choice is wider than ever, the practical choice in most merchants is between white, pink, blue and green, foil backed vapour resistant and thermal laminates. That is still a lot to choose from and a lot for the merchant to stock and, for the most part, it is enough for the jobbing builder to complete an extension or a loft conversion while complying with the Building Regs.

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Back in the day we had another way around the problem of no choice which was simply to upgrade the standard board. For example, if you need a kitchen wall to take fixings for cabinets, sheath out with OSB first and then clad it with 9mm plasterboard. This also works very well if you need impact resistance.

If you want vapour check you can use

a polythene vapour barrier before you put the boards on. If you want fire resistance you can double tack with staggered joints and a skim coat. If you want moisture resistant board you can apply a paint-on membrane or tanking kit. All these options comply with the Building Regs under the catch all phrase “or by other means no less effective”.

The other problem that appeared

seemingly out of nowhere is getting rid of plasterboard. Although gypsum on its own is harmless, when you mix it with methane from organic waste it sets off a reaction that produces hydrogen sulphide gas, which is poisonous, corrosive and flammable. As a gas you don’t want in landfill, this ticks all the boxes and it means that all plasterboard sent to landfill needs to be segregated from the organic waste. If you dump it in your skip then the skip company will charge you extra. If you try to get rid of it yourself you will find very few waste transfer stations that will take it. At my local tip they charge £7.00 for a small polythene sack. One trick I see done a lot these days is to dump the off-cuts inside the stud walls, but this is only good for small amounts. On larger sites the plasterboard manufacturers provide skips to recycle the board. The good news is that plasterboard is 100 per cent recyclable – all we need to do is work out an economic way of getting it from site to factory. In the end, as with so many things in life, it is really just a question of who pays.

For more information on Plasterboard online, go to www.rdr.link/BF037

building boards, plasters & sundries

NO. 2 K

A ir k l a n p at ri c k

v ch id er

Da a n Con

drew Daniel An unt Key Acco Manager

Mark e Mana ting ger

ical Techn er g Mana

n Jillia o Tint

s ces Pro er ine g n E

THE BOARD

All a board Norbord’s expert panel explains the proper storage, handling and care of OSB, particleboard and MDF. Storage On delivery, boards should be stacked on equi-distantly spaced bearers in a dry, covered area with outside storage adopted only as a last resort. If storage outside is unavoidable, stack on dry level ground and protect the boards by covering with a polythene or waterproof sheet. Ensure that the board edges are covered and secured to avoid lifting by the wind.

An HSE information sheet on the ‘safe stacking of sawn material and board materials’ is available in the document library at www.norbord.co.uk

Handling Like all panel products, Norbord OSB, particleboard and MDF should be handled carefully to prevent the risk of boards slipping or toppling and potential injury. As a duty of care to customers, Norbord has

undertaken extensive testing of packaging and strapping to ensure products arrive safely. End users are responsible to ensure that appropriate risk assessments are undertaken and safe procedures are in place.

Conditioning Wood particleboards expand on taking moisture from surrounding air (plus effects of wet trades, site conditions etc.) and shrink on losing it. As a guide, a small increase in moisture of 1 per cent increases length and width by 0.25mm per metre. A decrease in moisture of 1 per cent will have a corresponding shrinkage effect. It is clearly desirable to minimise these changes, which can be applied prorata, by taking a few simple precautions.

Boards should be allowed to reach equilibrium by storing them under the atmospheric conditions in which they are to be used, for a minimum of 48 hours prior to laying. It is recommended that boards are loose stacked, on a minimum of three equi-spaced bearers, with spacers between each board to allow free air movement.

Moisture content All wood is hygroscopic. Its moisture content, therefore, depends on its environment. The moisture content which wood and wood-based products will

For more information online, go to www.rdr.link/BF038

attain in service (equilibrium moisture content) depends primarily on the atmospheric humidity.

Floors should be laid at a moisture content within the range likely to be encountered in service. They should also be laid after the initial drying out period is complete. It should be noted that sometimes extreme site conditions can lead to shrinkage when the building is finally occupied/heating commissioned etc. CaberBoard products are made at relatively high ex-works moisture contents compared to industry norms.

Whilst no product containing around 80 per cent wood in its composition can be unaffected by moisture – CaberFloor P5 at ex-works (around 5-8 per cent moisture content) is close to the natural equilibrium moisture content of particleboards and is, consequently, an excellent choice.

Note: Care should be taken to ensure any joists treated with a waterborne preservative have thoroughly dried out before installation.

Joist moisture content should not exceed 20 per cent. High moisture content in the timber could lead to distortion as they dry out leading to ‘creaks’, particularly if the boards are not glued. Some contractors prefer to additionally bond the underside of the board to the top of the joist (using PVA adhesive).

Any access traps for underfloor services should be pre-planned and support provided for all sides of the traps.

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building boards, plasters & sundries product round-up

OSB PANEL High loadbearing applications, such as floors, are set to benefit from a new high strength OSB4 panel from Medite Smartply.

Suitable for use in humid conditions, the 30mm Strongdeck boards are made entirely from timber from the company’s own sustainably managed forests and contain zero-added formaldehyde.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF039

FLOOR LEVELLING COMPOUND Due to its moisture tolerant properties, Setcrete Exterior can be used internally over damp, uneven concrete and sand/cement screeds, as well as outdoor areas such as balconies, patios, garages and walkways. It is suitable for use in light to medium duty applications and is ‘walk on hard’ from two hours after application.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF040

INSULATION A. Proctor Group has launched a new vapour permeable insulation, which offers thermal performance and fire protection behind cladding. Spacetherm Slentex A2 is described as an ultra-thin A2 aerogel insulation suitable for use in exterior and interior applications. The product optimises the thermal performance and fire properties of façade systems, and is also useful in minimising thermal bridges around windows in areas such as window reveals.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF041

FAST-SET PLASTER For small masonry patches, or the dubbing out of uneven walls, Safeguard Europe has introduced Dryzone Fast-Set Plaster, a renovation plaster that facilitates the rapid repair of treated damp walls owing to its setting time of only two hours. The plaster can be applied to walls while they are still damp and has a porous structure which controls salt migration, allowing walls to dry out by evaporation and results in higher thermal resistance, reducing the risk of condensation.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF042

PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

TOOLFAIR 2019

POWER TOOLS

•

HAND TOOLS

•

BUILDING EQUIPMENT

THE TRADESHOW FOR TRADESPEOPLE 2019 SHOWS: Ricoh Arena, Coventry: Thursday 19th & Friday 20th September Sandown Park, Surrey: Thursday 7th & Friday 8th November Featuring:

Register for free at: www.toolfair.info GET HANDS ON WITH ALL THE LATEST TOOLS G NEW PRODUCTS

All the best new tools on the market.

G LIVE DEMOS

Back-to-back power tool displays.

G SHOW SPECIALS

Great deals to be had on the day.

G FREE GIVEAWAYS

Free T-shirts, bacon rolls and more.

GENERAL BUILDING ROOFLIGHT The new rooflight from Roof Maker, the Conservation Luxlite, has been designed to help builders maintain the heritage character of their clients’ homes, particularly with regard to listed buildings and barn conversions. The conservation area-friendly rooflight has been designed to replicate the original Victorian cast iron skylight featured in many traditional properties.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF043

MORE INFO Just type in www.rdr.link/ followed by the unique code shown to get str aight to more info.

JOINTING COMPOUND A new self-setting paving jointing compound, Sika FastFix All Weather provides a solution to pointing on paving, paths and patios. With a unique formula containing Active Resin Technology for advanced durability, it is supplied ready to use with no mixing required and is easy to apply in all weather conditions. Suitable for use on all joints from just 20mm deep, the solution can be used for a range of applications.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF044

FLOOR PROTECTORS

PRECISION TAPE Consisting of an extra-thin and strong Japanese rice paper backing, tesa Precision Mask tape can be used to support geometric painting indoors or outdoors and on a range of surfaces, including glass, aluminium, PVC and wood. The combination of a highly equipped backing material and special adhesive formulation allows removability and a translucent backing allows for easy positioning.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF046

BOILING WATER TAP Packaged with everything required for installation, the Rapid 4-in-1 boiling water tap from Bristan delivers hot, cold, boiling and filtered water from a single unit. The tap will replace any existing tap hole and the accompanying tank is compact enough to fit underneath most kitchen worktops, removing the need to make any alterations to the existing pipework.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF048

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BUILDERS’ MARKERS The new EKPR series of marker pens from Artline has been designed with all manner of tradespeople in mind, including builders and plumbers.

Individual markers in the collection are crafted to work on tough surfaces including fencing, piping, metalwork, stone and concrete. Each of the seven markers in the EKPR series also features a colour-coded barrel to make selection from the tool box simple.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF045

Alpha Chem has launched Floor Defence, a range of self-adhesive floor protectors designed to defend your floor coverings from potentially expensive spills, damage and dirt that can occur during building and decorating work. This new range is easy to apply and remove, with the rolls reverse wound so no applicators are required.

The self-adhesive coating also means Floor Defence is a much safer alternative to dust sheets, which can be a trip hazard.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF047

EGGSHELL PAINT

MOULD KILLER

Designed to deliver a durable, midsheen finish on interior surfaces, Leyland Trade’s latest addition – Acrylic Eggshell – is formulated with tough acrylic resin. This increases its stain and moisture resistance, while also offering a washable and easy-to-clean finish once dry. The paint is suitable for use on walls and ceilings, as well as primed wood and metal.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF049

Designed to eradicate mould from damp and poorly ventilated properties, Dryzone100 Mould Killer, from Safeguard, provides a convenient, water-based, non-abrasive means of tackling this unsightly and unhealthy problem.

The solution is a biodegradable biocide available in 500ml bottles which will remove mould from kitchen, bathroom and other surfaces – such as window cills – with long lasting effect. One litre of product will treat up to 5m2.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF050

74 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT SUMMER WORKWEAR Lightweight fabrics in the new Topwear range have been brought together to complement Snickers Workwear Stretch Garments this summer. The range uses 37.5 fabric technology, which wicks moisture away from the body, keeping you dry. New shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts are light and quick-drying with advanced ventilation to keep you cool in the heat.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF051

COMPACT BOLT CUTTER Suitable for cutting nails, bolts and rivets in tight areas, Knipex’s CoBolt S Compact Bolt Cutter features a lever action mechanism which provides a cutting performance 30 times higher than the hand force applied. The pliers feature a heavy duty, induction hardened cutting edge for thin, hard wire, screws and springs with no slipping of the material to be cut due to its lasered cutting edge.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF052

CORDLESS RECIPROCATING SAW With a 32mm stroke length and several redesigned features, the new Hilti SR 6-A22 Cordless Reciprocating Saw is capable of cutting all types of materials, such as steel, plastic, aerated concrete and timber. The new patented chuck has been designed to avoid breaks, in addition to which a keyless blade clamp with a new external lever makes it much easier to remove used blades.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF053

TOOL STORAGE Armorgard has rolled out a secondgeneration TuffBank, adding new safety, strength and security features, and optional PowerShelf and lifting eyes. The latest model adds a new slam stop lid stay that enhances user safety, as well as anti-jemmy features and hardened steel plates that claim to make locks almost impenetrable. A cable passing point allows for charging without compromising security.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF054

ANGLE GRINDERS Billed as a tool-less alternative to traditional accessory change methods, the new X-Lock system from Bosch allows the changing of accessories on six new angle grinders to be performed quickly and safely, with a simple switch of a lever.

The system indicates the right accessory mounting direction and won’t allow direction-specific accessories, such as diamond cutting discs, to be mounted incorrectly.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BF055

NO.4 IN THE SERIES

OFF YOUR TROLLEY! Fed up of lugging stuff around on site? How about building your own hover trolley to take the load off?

Nick Chan at HiKOKI Power Tools shows you how.

MATERIALS: 1 SHEET OF ¾-IN. PLYWOOD (GET THE CHEAPEST YOU CAN FIND; QUALITY IS NOT AN ISSUE) 1 LEAF BLOWER (GAS OR ELECTRIC) 1 HEAVY-DUTY SHOWER CURTAIN 2 ROLLS OF DUCT TAPE A DOWEL AND A SELECTION OF YOUR FAVOURITE TOOLS AND FASTENERS

쑿 Cut a 4 x 3ft rectangle from the plywood. Position the extendible pan connector centrally at the back of the rectangle, trace around the nozzle and cut a hole to match so it will fit tightly.

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쑿 Next make the skirt. Lay your shower curtain down flat and place the plywood rectangle on top. Fold the shower curtain up and around the edges of the plywood and use a staple gun to secure it all along the perimeter of the circle. Cut off the excess curtain and seal the edge, all the way around, with duct tape. Make it airtight. Don’t skimp.

쑿 On the underside of the plywood rectangle, screw a rectangle of spare wood in the centre to hold down the shower curtain. Cut a ring of six 2in. holes in the curtain, all a couple of inches from the wood. The air escaping from the shower curtain “pillow” will be the cushion that puts the hover in your craft.

쑿 Next, we need to build the structure for the handle for the trolley. I used what I had available, some leftover pallet wood from a deck chair build and some OSB. By screwing these together it gave me the familiar look of a heavy duty trolley. I then measured the dowel, cut it to length and screwed it between the two uprights.

I made sure that the dowel could rotate as this will come in handy later.

쑿 We now need to secure the leaf blower and connect its nozzle to the extendible pan connector. With securing the leaf blower, again I used what I had at hand, so some wrist straps from old drills and some marker board brackets to apply some downward force to the blower. But you can use whatever you have available, including wildly wrapping duct tape round the blower. 씱 Now you’re ready to fire it up. When loading, try to keep the weight evenly distributed, so stack items (or people) centrally. We gave this a test in our warehouse and managed to push over 200kg of nails with relative ease.

쑿 Next you’ll need to create a throttle.

You could always mount the blower higher so you pull the trigger and push it at the same time, but where’s the fun in that! Using a eyelet and some string, I tied a simple slip knot around the trigger, then fed it through the eyelet which is secured into one of the uprights. I then drilled a hole through the dowel handle, passed the string through it and secured the string with a few knots. Now if you twist the dowel it should pull the trigger. It might be worth securing one side of the string with a strip of tape so it stays in the optimum position on the trigger.

Remember, this is just a fun project and you should always follow manual handling regulations on your building site.

For more details on HiKOKI online, go to www.rdr.link/BF056

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 77

WORKWEAR

The short answer Roger Bisby gives his legs an airing as he tries out Snickers’ latest AllRound Workwear stretch shorts.

I love a pair of work shorts. In another life I could have been a postman and kept my legs out all through winter. I have a few pairs of work shorts but these are the lightest and most comfortable by far. The four-way stretch in the crotch gusset is made from Elastane and makes them really good for bending down and moving around. I have said before that a lot of manufacturers get this bit wrong in their

stretch workwear because they use Elastane for the whole garment, which makes them far too clingy and sweaty.

These shorts have front panels with a high cotton content, which really helps them feel comfortable in the heat.

I am glad to see that this pair comes minus the holster pockets so the whole look and feel is lightweight and slimmed down. Quite honestly, I like them so much that I might well buy a second pair for when these are in the wash. They come in four colours and I really like the true blue ones with the black panels.

The pocket allocation is enough for your phone, wallet and keys and a few tools, such as a rule and pencil, and there is

also a holder for your ID badge in case you forget who you are.

The other item of workwear I want to tell you about is the new work shoes from Solid Gear. The Evolution shoe in black is very lightweight but conforms to all the usual requirements for safety footwear on site. The unique dual density EVA midsole absorbs impact and takes comfort to a new level. The nano toe cap is said to be 40 per cent stronger than fibreglass but I decided not to test it.

The upper is made of a highly breathable fabric, with super wicking capability to move out the moisture. The anti-bacterial coating also kicks in to stop them becoming like smelly trainers.

Sweeter feet you could not hope to meet.

Coupled with the four-way stretch shorts you are set for summer action.

For further information on Snickers online, go to www.rdr.link/BF057

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WORKWEAR

HAPPY FEET

Roger Bisby discovers if the shoe fits with Sievi.

Sievi is the largest footwear manufacturer in Northern Europe – yeah, it surprised me as well – and unlike some dedicated safety footwear companies these guys have a long history of making shoes and boots that pre-date PPE. That experience has taught them that not everyone has the same shape feet so, instead of just making footwear to suit the length of the foot, they make shoes and boots to suit the width, and by selecting different insoles they can cater for a high, medium or low arch.

How often do you hear someone say that their feet are killing them? I have heard it a thousand times, but until I started looking more closely at footwear I never really understood what was going on. If you are walking around in footwear that doesn’t give you the support and comfort you need for your particular shape of foot then it is no wonder you are feeling the strain.

Another great feature of the Sievi boots is the aluminium foil insole which keep the cold from the ground from travelling upwards into your feet. If you are standing on cold concrete all day

these are the ones for you. They also have boots with studs that grip on ice.

This is like having snow tyres, but when you are operating in an area where the snow and ice has cleared you can simply wind the dial and return the studs to the flush position with a dial that is set in the side of the heel and you can do this without having to take your boots off.

The boots I am wearing here are the

Star Hikers. They have steel midsoles, composite toes and spring rebound in the heal to absorb shock. This particular variation also has a fake fur lining for extreme cold weather, so it might be a bit late in the year to think about these, but Sievi has a huge range of other shoes and boots to chose from. You will not believe how unlike safety footwear some of them are.

For further information on Sievi online, go to www.rdr.link/BF058

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TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

HANDS ON Professional Builder’s Ollie Allen gets handy with Triton’s range of woodworking hand tools.

Triton Tools have shown they are a sharp bunch when it comes to their new range of hand tools. I tested a few items from the range on site, including Chisels, Fast Action Adjustable Clamps and the Pocket Hole Jig. These tools are pretty much a joiner and carpenter’s bread and butter when it comes to hand tools, especially on the type of projects I work on. I was fitting a job for a regular customer, a student landlord in the city, which involved modern plywood wall panelling, a cabinet to hide the boiler and some bespoke bath panelling.

The last crew of builders before our team’s renovation must have had a pasta chef on the job fitting the old boiler as the pipework looked like a bunch of spaghetti! I couldn’t wait to get the cladding on to disguise the unsightly

protection of painted and laminated surfaces, they allow fine adjustment whilst still clamping tight and are lightweight and reliable – everything you need of a clamp, really. Another bonus is, as they are Triton branded, they are bright orange, so stand out nicely in the back of the van, perfect when I’m working on a tight deadline and don’t want to spend time searching for the standard ‘black metal clamps’ which like to hide in the depths of the van!

I wrapped up the project on site and carefully stowed all my Triton tools in the back of the van for the next job, all sat in pride of place and easy to recognise with their sharp orange branding and colours. It’s just a shame that after a few hours of having my hazard lights on that I ended up with a flat battery and had to call another orange branded company to come and give me a jump start! Next time I head out on a job I won’t just be packing my trusty new Triton hand tools but also the new set of jump leads I’ve just invested in – if only I needed to review vehicle accessories too!

For more information about Triton Tools online, go to www.rdr.link/BF059

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 81

For more information about Ollie Allen visit www.ollieallen.co.uk

chaos going on below that boiler, all still accessible for the annual maintenance, with the turn of a few screws. It’s always the case of a trade-off between a complete replumb and rewire or the small cost to maintain a perfectly good boiler for a few more years and then invest when it finally gives up the ghost. Either way I had the chance to use my new Triton Pocket Hole Jig when building the plywood cabinetry, and using it makes the task of putting boxing and cabinets together so easy. The Jig is perfect for sheet materials in 9/12/18mm boards and has the relevant length screws for each thickness, so you don’t break through the surface.

Simple steps to get the hang of using the jig – you adjust the depths to suit the boards, clamp it to the surface and drill where you have marked, then add glue and the correct screw and you have a strong, hidden and square joint. It’s perfect for bespoke kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, MDF and plywood boxing in and lots more sheet material jobs that you come across on the job site during a property renovation.

Holding bespoke cabinets together are my now very trusty fast action adjustable clamps, in three sizes, a 400mm, 600mm and 800mm length. I have had plenty of time to make sure these guys do the job, and boy I can say they hold things tight.

The clamps have rubber end caps for

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Tirbhavan “Tibby” Singh Chodha – www.TibbySingh.com

Smooth Talkin’

Tibby Singh Chodha takes a couple of GMC power tools for a ride to see how they handle.

Global Machinery Company (GMC) is becoming more popular. If you’re wondering where in the globe it’s come from, it was the other side of the planet in Australia in 1997. Their Dual-Base Random Orbit Sander found itself in orbit from down under and into my hands.

Sanding is usually associated with noise, dust and vibration. Therefore I was keen to see if this GMC was a smooth talker. Visually I thought the design looked cool but, more importantly, I wanted to know if it performed just as well as it looks. The first thing that stood out was its magnesium base, which offers strength and durability. It also means its light in weight at the same time, making it comfortable to move around the work piece. In addition, carbon fibre has been used for the body, which also offers similar advantages.

Although it may be light in weight it does have speed thanks to the variable speed control ranging from 1 to 6 allowing

you to control it to your needs. It also controls the dust by throwing into a micro filtration dust canister. However, for longer usage, you have the versatility of using the hose attachment fitting to hook it to a vacuum.

The other thing that hooks up easily, is the sand paper, and thanks to a hook and loop system you can change the sand paper in seconds. Another surprising feature was having the option of either a 150mm base or a 125m base. This is useful as it allows you to use different size sand papers depending on the job at hand. The final handy feature is the ability to adjust the handle to various positions without any tools.

In all honesty, GMC wouldn’t have been a brand that I would usually have picked up. However, I admire how much has been thought through when it comes to its design features. This is especially appealing considering its price point, so may be particularly appetising to anyone with a lower budget.

GMC Sander Polisher Having now tested a couple of GMC Tools in the past, I’m surprised to see the varied range of products they produce. I took their Sander Polisher for a spin to see how it handled. As a carpenter/joiner I tend to use a sander more than a polisher, so I thought I’d take the polisher for a test drive on a van.

I recall my arm felt as though it was about to fall off the last time I used a polisher, so it was a pleasant surprise to handle something so light. Setting up is simply a matter of screwing the disc and tightening it with the press of a button locking system.

Although its body is small and light, it still packs a powerful 1,200W motor with a soft start and a speed control. This isn’t your usual speed control but a digital one with plus and minus controls. It’s geared up with a 5-step speed control that runs from 1,0003,000rpm. When running at top speed the vibration is minimal due to the soft grip handles. Another handy feature is having a dual position sanding auxiliary handle and a polishing ‘D’ handle.

It features a hook and loop backing pad making pit stops quick. It also includes a wool polishing bonnet that wraps around the disc, as opposed to just being a Velcro pad to the surface. This means you don’t have to worry about the disc flying away in the middle of using it or damaging the surface you’re supposed to be polishing or buffing.

For further information on GMC online, go to www.rdr.link/BF060

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builders’ vehicles 씱

buyer’s market A second-hand Citroen Dispatch can be a builder’s bargain. Dan Powell of Honest John Vans explains how to find a hidden gem.

C

heap to buy, inexpensive to fuel and hugely practical, the humble Citroen Dispatch has lots to offer builders who want a heavy duty van without the wallet sapping costs.

Introduced in 2007, alongside its Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Expert and Toyota ProAce relations, the Dispatch got off to an excellent start, winning the International Van of the Year in 2008.

Among its joint-venture siblings, the Dispatch is the more common sight on UK roads, Citroen’s aggressive pricing, low running costs and high levels of standard equipment proving attractive to buyers.

Pricing Around the £2,000 mark is a sensible starting point. Most will have mileages approaching, or having passed, the 200,000 mile mark, but if it’s been correctly maintained then don’t rule these out as useful, inexpensive workhorses.

From £4,000 and you’ll have loads of choice, with more 2.0 HDIs in the classifieds, among newer models with more comprehensive equipment. Venture to £5,000 and you’re in among the best available with vans comfortably under 100,000 miles.

Spend £7,000 and more and you’re in the realms of the newest, lowest mileage models, many coming from dealers and benefitting from warranties and a richer mix of body styles.

Engines At launch, the Dispatch was equipped with a choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre HDI turbodiesel engines. The 1.6-litre HDI was rated as having 90PS, while the 2.0-litre HDI engine was offered with either 120PS or 136PS outputs.

In 2009 Citroen added a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 140PS, 2011 saw Citroen revise the diesel engine line-up, the 1.6 HDI remaining at 90PS, though the 2.0 HDI gaining 5PS for a total 125PS. The range-topping 2.0 HDI saw its output increased to 160PS from 2012. On later, post-2012 models official combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions ranged from 44.1mpg to 37.2mpg, the best figure relating to the 2.0 HDI 125 manual, the worst being the 2.0 HDI 160 with the six-speed automatic. The 1.6 90 HDI typically had an official consumption figure in the 42mpg region.

Maintenance At an independent garage a major service costs around £200, so it’s inexpensive, a full service being about £155 and an interim service being in the region of £130.

If you’ve got an automatic gearbox, it’ll need its transmission fluid changing

periodically, this costing around £150.

Don’t rule out Citroen dealers for servicing, either, as they’re more competitive than you might think.

If it needs a new clutch you’ll pay around £580, while a timing belt change (including a new water pump) will cost in the region of £320. This should be done every 80,000 miles or every five years as a minimum. New discs and pads on the front axle will cost from £175 fitted for a pair, rear brake discs and pads (drums on the entry-level L1/H1 90 HDI) costing around £190 fitted.

What to watch One of the biggest issues with the Dispatch is the placement of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). It’s situated under the driver’s seat, which, should the drainage holes around the front of the cab get blocked, can lead to water getting under the seat and causing havoc with the electronics. Check for dampness, and clear the drain holes periodically to prevent this from happening.

The suspension can be prone to high wear, with the Dispatch known to break anti-roll bars. Check the bushes, too, any wandering or knocking from underneath will point to suspension elements needing replacing. It’s all relatively inexpensive, but still worth negotiating a discount, or a fix before purchasing.

For more independent van advice, visit www.vans.honestjohn.co.uk or search for Honest John Vans online I

PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 83

on a daily basis!

Professional Builder discovers what sort of Italian Job Iveco has made of its new Daily van.

L

ike its most iconic resident, there has always been a shroud of mystery and intrigue surrounding the Turin-based International Vehicle Corporation (IVECO).

For more than forty years the company has consistently pursued its own automotive agenda and, in a world of joint collaborations and amalgamations, they remain uniquely independent from any other brand. In fact, from inception, the Daily was, and remains, the only LCV offering where the chassis is separate from the body, just as in its significantly bigger brothers in the heavy truck world.

That makes for greater potential payloads, up to six tonnes and above, thereby providing an alternative to a seven tonne truck without any loss of payload.

The clever bit, of course, is combining all that extra carrying capacity with a vehicle that drives and performs like the more familiar 3.5 tonne panel or dropside vans, which are the backbone of so many small businesses. The range of Iveco’s flagship van is certainly extensive, but it clearly doesn’t try to be all things to all men. If, for instance, you are looking for

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84 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

the cheapest way to transport tools and materials to site then probably best to look away now because this is not the solution for you.

What you do get, however, is a level of technology and comfort that betrays that HGV heritage, and which has quite obviously now been taken to unprecedented levels with the launch of the 2019 version.

Profitability Outwardly little has changed since the major refresh in 2016, but in the ensuing three years Iveco has been doggedly canvasing its customer base on what they would like to see included to improve their ‘Daily’ experience in more ways than one. Not surprisingly this centres around three core elements – driver comfort, fuel economy and technology, both in the cab and in the safety and driver assistance departments.

The ‘Change your business perspective’ launch conference was all about megatrends and buzzwords, such as digitalisation, automation, electrification and servicilisation but, in simple layman’s

terms, the object here is to provide a vehicle which significantly increases the owner’s profitability, which has to be a good thing. Fundamental to this is the engine, which is the first in its segment to comply with Euro 6D/Temp emissions standards, and the only vehicle in class to offer two engine platforms. The new Daily is powered by a choice of large four cylinder diesel engines, the F1A 2.3 litre option with ratings from 116 to 156hp (our particular test vehicle) in both light and heavy duty homologation and the 3.0 litre heavy duty F1C engine with increased performance from 160 to 210 hp. All are available with a choice of eight speed Hi matic automatic or six speed manual gearboxes – more than enough power there to cope with load volumes that start at 7.3m3 and expand to a positively cavernous 19m3, with the claimed added bonus of up to 10 per cent fuel savings on previous models.

The ‘internet of things’ is another one of those great buzzwords of the modern age and it is driving an unprecedented interest in connectivity, and commercial vehicles of all shapes and sizes are by no

builders’ vehicles 씱

means exempt. Almost every manufacturer is promising some level of synergy between your smart phone or tablet and your faithful workhorse. At its very best it empowers business owners with the data to make optimum efficiency drives and the new Daily, thanks to a long standing relationship with Microsoft, is very much in on the act. Its Daily Business UP system can plan routes, provide in depth telematics, remote diagnosis and even over the air fixes for a range of potential issues. Some of the finer intricacies of the latest technology would trouble an Oxford Don, let alone a humble construction worker, or indeed trade journalist, but for those managing a fleet of vehicles then it is an option certainly worthy of consideration. Like most things, many of the innovations we may regard as cutting edge right now will almost certainly become standard practice in a matter of a few years.

A range of headline grabbing driver

rdr.link

assistance systems have also been added as part of the latest refresh, including advanced emergency braking and City Brake PRO, Adoptive cruise control with Queue Assist and Active Lane Assist and Crosswind Assist. An electric parking brake is another new feature, along with a host of other useful, but not universally essential, optional extras.

Steer in the Right Direction One of the areas which has received notable input from the Iveco boffins is the steering system, which has been completely redesigned to provide axial and angular adjustments to set up the perfect driving position. The smaller leather multifunctional steering wheel feels more car-like and puts a wide range of controls at your fingertips creating more legroom and adding to the overall comfort. The addition of electric power steering is also welcome, which is precise and more reactive to the driver’s inputs,

QUICK LINK FOR MORE INFO

rdr.link

Bookmark into your browser and simply enter the unique 5 digit code for even faster access to more information.

damps vibration and compensates for drift and wheel unbalances.

At its core, the Daily remains instantly recognisable, with a tweak to the front grille, which has been extended to increase ventilation while protecting the engine and radiator. New lightweight alloy wheels contribute to optimising payload whilst sharper beam LED lights will last the entire lifespan of the vehicle. A new bumper is divided in to three sections for the first time, so that, in a small accident, only one damaged piece needs to be replaced, reducing repair costs.

And talking of the folding stuff, whilst starting prices are TBC, this new Iveco is clearly a bit more dough than the average builders van, but then again, this is a vehicle which has a long and welldeserved reputation for delivering the bread on a daily basis!

For more information on the Iveco Daily online, go to www.rdr.link/BF061

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vibration free Pnu-Point pointing tool.

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 85

86 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

th ERIES) (13 IN THE S

G O O F S O N T H E R O O F

In the latest of our series, Mat Woodyatt, Technical Training Manager of BMI UK & Ireland, looks at the causes of, and problems arising from, lead theft.

SWINGING THE LEAD Lead theft is a common occurrence. It is an expensive material requiring a high level of skill to install and, what is more, once installed it forms an integral part of the roofing system. Lead flashing keeps the water out of our buildings and once it is removed the system will inevitably fail.

But the problem does not stop there. Most of the damage done when thieves remove lead from the roof is not to the lead itself – it is to the rest of the roof. First, they are walking on the tiles. From the moment the thief steps into the roof surface they are potentially cracking tiles, loosening fixings and crushing interlocks. The majority of this damage will be invisible until much later on.

If they break the tiles these days it is not as simple as a straight replacement. Many roofs are fully fixed, with every tile at least nailed once into the batten beneath. When you break a fixed tile in a fully fixed system, first, how do you then remove it and, second and even more awkward, how do you replace it without disturbing the tiles around it? The answer is with difficulty and expense. The thieves will have also certainly have displaced the tiles at the perimeters as well as potentially damaging underlay membranes and timbers.

Then, as in the example illustrated, the lead has been chased into the wall. That means the culprits will have also damaged the brickwork or

render. An utter nightmare.

And all this is only the initial realisation that the lead has gone. How do we find this out?

Most of the time we have no idea until the rain starts pouring in. So now, not only do we have all of those problems on the roof, but also sodden timbers, damp ceilings and ruined furniture and belongings. It kind of makes you wish there were some kind of alternative to lead doesn’t it? Some kind of weathering material that has no re-sale or scrap value so it would not get stolen and, while we are on the subject, make it perhaps friendlier to the environment and easier to install?

Benefits The good news is that such products have been around for years and come with all sorts of added benefits. Of course, you absolutely get what you pay for with lead replacement products and many have been put off by dabbling in the low cost end of the market and having to deal with poor quality materials. This is no reason to dismiss the concept and return to lead and all of the potential problems above. Think again, give the alternatives another try and, while the opportunity will be there to achieve a cost-saving, don’t go for the least expensive; this time treat it as a roofing solution.

In addition to its design and specification service, BMI UK & Ireland offers a range of training courses on all aspects of roof design, estimating and installation for both pitched and flat roofing, for more information call the BMI National Training Centre on 01285 863545.

For more information on BMI’s training courses, online, go to www.rdr.link/BF062

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TECHNICAL TEAM TIPS – NO 5

‘GABLE’ BODIED Tom Woodhouse, site services manager at Marley, provides his top tips to prevent gable end staining.

W

hen the new Dry Fix Standard, BS 8612, was introduced last year it included some strict tests for dry verge products. This means that a compliant system must not allow water to discharge in one or more concentrated, continuous or intermittent streams on the wall.

Therefore, staining to the gable end wall should really be a thing of the past.

Yet, recently, there have been occasional reports of incidences on new properties.

How can you make sure the dry verge you are using won’t cause gable end staining? Here are our technical team’s top tips.

1

Never use a dry verge system that is not BS 8612 compliant. This means that it hasn’t been tested to meet the minimum quality required by the British Standard.

2

Choose a dry verge system that has an integral design feature to drain water away from the wall. For example, both our Ashmore and Universal Dry Verges have been designed and tested to protect against gable end staining, with multiple drainage channels to direct water away from the wall.

3

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Even if you have fitted similar products before, check the instructions as failure to do so could lead to an inadequate fix or water shedding and invalidate any warranty.

All verge tiles should be mechanically

fixed in accordance with BS 5534 in addition to the use of the universal dry verge units, i.e. by nailing, clipping or screwing as appropriate.

4

Having a continuous bargeboard can add further protection, by making sure the verge is positioned out from the brickwork. However, as part of BS 8612 requirements, our dry verge products are tested without a bargeboard present – so contractors can have peace of mind they will drain water effectively with or without a bargeboard.

5

Minimise the risk of incorrect fixing by choosing a system that is simple to install to British Standards.

For example, a dry verge system that includes a batten end clip makes the mechanical engagement required under BS 8612 much simpler. Our batten end clip has sharp teeth which grip into the batten, making it extremely secure, as well as being very quick to push or hammer into place. Unlike others on the market, it can be fitted after the roof has been tiled.

6

Take extra care with eaves closure units, or starter verges, and always follow manufacturer instructions.

Depending on the design, it can be particularly difficult to fix the

eaves closure unit adequately. This can lead to roofers having to improvise to gain a secure mechanical fix, using things like brick ties, to achieve a suitable fix into the fascia or roof substructure.

To prevent this, our Universal and Ashmore Dry Verges incorporate a quick starter verge fixing method that can be installed easily, regardless of any obstructions such as gutters. This provides an easy-toinstall, robust method of securing the first verge unit, even when there are no bargeboards.

7

For refurbishment work, you need to make sure there are no undulations where the dry verge will be installed. Any roof dipping at the edges can cause excessive water run-off, so you may need to adjust the battens underneath to make it flatter.

8

Compatibility is crucial.

Many dry verge products are sold as universal but they have different levels of compatibility so it is important to check this. Our Universal Dry Verge is compatible with all three main interlocking tile types; large standard, medium format and large format thin leading edge. Our Ashmore Dry Verge has been designed to complement the Ashmore double interlocking plain tile but it is also fully compatible with other interlocking plain tiles on the market.

For more information on dry verges and installation tips online, go to www.rdr.link/BF063

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No.13

T O P T R UM P S ‘WOOD’ VIBRATIONS In the latest of its building defects Top Trumps series, Safeguard Europe looks at the problems that lie in store when outdoor wood gets wet.

Wood is a very versatile and attractive building material. It has a wide range of uses, especially in an outdoor environment, such as for fencing, decking, cladding, sheds, cabins and patio furniture. There are many advantages to using wood over other types of material. It can be cheap to buy, quick to cut or assemble and has a natural beauty to it.

Compared to masonry and concrete, however, more thought often needs to be put into the maintenance of outdoor wooden structures.

Depending on the type of wood, moisture ingress can create big problems like mould/algae growth, warping, discolouration or rot. These problems are not just visual, over time they can cause physical damage that will shorten the useful lifetime of the wood. Brand new dense hardwood structures will be quite resistant to moisture ingress, but softwood

and weathered hardwood will need to be protected in some way.

Clean, not green Mould and algae growth on wood is unsightly, it can permanently stain structures and can be a slip hazard on horizontal surfaces. Cleaning mould and algae from wood is relatively simple. It is just important to use a biocidal but nondestructive cleaner, such as Roxil Wood & Patio Cleaner, to make sure that any biological growth is killed and removed.

Acidic cleaners will damage the surface of the wood and make re-growth more likely Moisture shall not pass To minimise mould regrowth and to help stop warping, absorbent wood needs to be weatherproofed and protected from moisture ingress. It is best to use a deeply penetrating and long-lasting silicone

emulsion cream that retains the wood’s natural appearance, such as Roxil Wood Protection Cream. When wood is exposed to the elements, surface moisture results in loss of tannins or colour pigment components. This causes uneven and unsightly discolouration.

The advantage of using a silicone cream emulsion over traditional liquid sealers on wood is that you can achieve a thicker and more even application in just a single coat. This means that a high-quality weatherproofing cream can give you 10+ years of effective lifetime compared to just 2 - 3 years with inferior sealers.

Stop the Rot Stopping moisture ingress on wooden structures will help to ensure that rot does not set in but if there is an existing rot infestation then the wood will either have to be removed and replaced or have an appropriate rot treatment applied. For full peace of mind, it is advised to use to use a pre-treatment, such as Roxil Wood Preserver, that can then be overcoated with an appropriate weatherproofer, such as Roxil Wood Protection Cream.

Y OU R C H A N C E T O WI N !

Safeguard is offering a pack of its new Building Defect cards to the first 50 readers to go online to www.rdr.link/BF064

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For further information on Safeguard online, go to www.rdr.link/BF065

ADE’S TOP WINDOW & DOOR TIPS

ADRIAN’S ‘CALL’!

No. 5

Adrian Barraclough runs Quickslide, one of Britain’s leading window & door manufacturers.

OUR SURVEY SAID

Ade’s Top Window & Door Tips continues with a look at surveying.

I have seen so many window and door installations that were ruined well before the frames were even made, because of poor surveying. ‘How hard can it be?!’ has been the attitude taken by so many who think that a window or door is just something that fills a hole. Well the simplest oversights can cause the severest problems, which then blight the whole job, sucking the profit out of it along the way.

So these are Ade’s Top Tips for surveying for windows and doors: ● Allow 10mm for expansion – any material, any window and any door. ● Measure three different points vertically (top middle and bottom) and two points horizontally.

Find the narrowest point and still deduct 10mm. ● If the window is set back behind the outer skin of the stone (‘in check’) add 20mm to the total width of the window. ● Be aware that if the internal window sill is less than 800mm apart from the finished floor. The glass must be toughened. If you have a window seat or perhaps even a bath (something that is fixed near to the window) you must measure from the height of that. ● On renovations, you must check on the heads of the stone or brickwork that there is a single leaf lintel in place to carry the bricks or stone

work. If there isn’t you must install one. ● On renovation projects you will

need to measure both internally and externally. If there is a large difference between the internal and external measurements (+30mm) you will have to use the smallest measurement and allow for an addon to be included onto either the top, bottom or even the sides, depending on whether the difference is caused by the internal window sill height, internal head height, tiled walls etc. The add-on will appear as an external window

● ● ● ● ●

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‘extension’ filling the gap caused by the differing internal and external measurements. You should only ever have about 10mm hidden in plaster or timber work internally.

Be aware of Building Regs.

New builds may need trickle vents.

Bedrooms must have escape hinges.

Laminated glass – Doc Q. When surveying, it’s important to explain the process to the homeowner – explain why they may need different extras so that nothing comes as surprise.

And always double check your measurements!

For further information on Quickslide online, go to www.rdr.link/BF066

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Professional Builder’s website and social media channels are a great place to see the latest news affecting the trades and take part in some exclusive online competitions

Professional Builder offers the best way for the budding tradesperson to find out the latest developments in the construction industry.

ProBuilderMag.co.uk features reviews on a wide range of hand tools, power tools, materials and vehicles – covering everything a modern builder will need.

What’s more, the website is the number one place to go for the latest product news. Bosch has launched a new circular saw? Estwing released a new hammer?

Professional Builder Online’s the place to go to find out!

One of the best parts about the website is the competitions page. Packed full of competitions every month, there’s every chance you go onto the website to find more information about plastering and end up coming away with an impact driver!

There is an e-newsletter to subscribe to, if you don’t fancy visiting the website every week. Updates are brought directly to your inbox weekly!

BUILDING BOA PLASTERS & SUN RDS, DRIES All options covered and filled

EXTENSIONS & HOME IMPROVEM ENTS Adding value to properties!

Emmerson Critchley is spreading the word on the benefits of Anglia Lime’s Thermalime

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The team keep you updated with everything builder related... www.facebook.com/ProfessionalBuilder/ Over on Facebook, everyone loves video demos. One of the most popular recent posts was a video of a Wera Tools demo that we shot at Toolfair in Exeter that, at the time of writing, has been watched almost 100k times. Other topics that the Professional Builder Facebook community enjoyed included a survey that said over 70 per cent of tradesmen consider themselves to be feminists.

@PB_mag TOP TWEETS The subject of tools is always popular for Professional Builder readers, and our regular Tuesday Tools slot on Twitter gets some great responses, with the trades keen to share their latest purchases, reviews and tips.

A discussion on LBC radio about air pollution in London and a suggestion,

by Caroline Russell, a Green Party politician, that tradespeople in the city should cycle between jobs rather than drive a van led to a very heated discussion on Twitter and Facebook.

Most of Professional Builder’s readers, and the TradesTalk followers, felt very strongly about this topic and clearly thought that Russell was wrong, which created two days of passionate debate.

ONLINE HITS On the Professional Builder website, one of the most-read stories last month was about a new business called the Instant Kitchen Company. You can read more about it on page 41. Other widely read stories recently included this Easter egg hunt competition, which gave our website readers the chance to win prizes from Jobman, Big Wipes and Wera Tools.

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 93

PRESCRIPTION ............

Patient Name............................ ..........

Date of Birth .............................. ............

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Date ..................NO. 3........................

“The skin is an important part of your body. Look after it this summer: sun cream is for every day not just a holiday. Next time in this column, we will look at sun damage and warning signs to be aware of.”

To find out more about skincare, visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk

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94 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

GOOD HEALTH SKIN HEALTH

IN A NEW REGULAR COLUMN PRACTICING GP ALICE FITZGIBBON TACKLES SOME OF THE EVERYDAY HEALTH ISSUES WHICH MAY BE IMPACTING ON YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES.

SUN...

Here comes the As we turn into the summer months, woolly jumpers and beanie hats may be forgotten. The sun will (hopefully) arrive and bring with it plenty of vitamin D. This month, I would like to focus on skin health and the sun, particularly when working outside. Outside workers are exposed to all the elements; the risks from sun exposure are likely to be the most dangerous to health in the long term. So firstly, the sun is good for us. We need sunlight on our bare skin to help our bodies produce vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones. Most of us will get adequate vitamin D during the summer by having hands, forearms or feet exposed to sunlight each day between April and October.

This might be achieved as easily as walking to work outside or waiting at a bus stop. You can also get vitamin D from foods such as eggs, cheese and cereals.

When we have too much sun exposure on unprotected skin, sunburn happens. Sunburn is a type of burn to the skin from the Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunburn can vary from mild to severe. However, it is important to try and prevent it whenever possible due to the damage it can cause to the skin over time.

Damage The radiation from the sun, UVA and UVB rays, both affect the skin in different ways – UVA causes deeper damage and ageing, UVB causes superficial sunburn. The radiation from these rays can cause changes in our skin, and if skin cells are damaged they may change and develop into skin cancers (more about that next time).Over the years, sunburn might have happened to you many times. Each time it happens, the skin becomes more and more damaged. It makes you look older and more wrinkly too! Having a tan isn’t a healthy look – it just means your skin has recognised the damage from UVA radiation and it is trying to protect itself by becoming darker to block the

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rays from getting through and causing more damage.So how can you look after your skin this summer? The best way to do this is to limit sun exposure to the skin, either by spending time in the shade if you can, especially between the hours of 11:00 and 15:00, wear light pieces of clothing that cover the skin and protect it from radiation, and to use sunscreen.

As a minimum, you should look for sun screen that is at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 (I would advise using at least SPF 30 for extra protection) and has a four star UVA rating.

Here are the top tips for sun safety: 씰 Make sure you apply sun screen early enough. It takes time to work on the skin as

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it sinks in, so putting it on around 30 minutes before going outside is recommended Make sure you put on enough! You need at least two teaspoons worth to cover your arms, head and neck properly All uncovered sites need sun screen: ears often get forgotten about (or wear a hat to cover them) If you sweat or get wet, reapply sun screen.

Make sure your bottle is in date – after two years you need a new one Keep and eye on your mates and remind them to apply sun screen regularly throughout the day.

wise howell

We’ve got an American staying in the house. Smashing bloke. Likes beer. Does a bit of DIY. And loves soccer. What could possibly go wrong?

SHROPSHIRE TRADESMAN, LEE HARRISON IS THE FIRST TO THE CHEQUERED FLAG IN THE RACE FOR BRITISH SUPERBIKE TICKETS COURTESY OF VAUXHALL If you want to get ‘on your bike’ on site then a Metabo 18V cordless circular saw is the perfect choice for fast, accurate and mobile cutting. “Using a saw like this one with a rail guide is a real game changer, in just how quickly and precisely you can work,” explains Lee Harrison of H&M Carpentry & Maintenance, and it’s not just in power tools that the Shrewsbury-based tradesmen appreciates speed and control. “I did quite a bit of motocross when I was young and my dad would take me to British Superbikes from a very early age,” he continues.

Now, thanks to Vauxhall, and the prize of two tickets to a Bennetts British Superbikes event, Lee is back in the race. The manufacturer’s Vauxhall Combo received its very own podium finish with the International Van of the Year accolade at the IAA show last year and, with a 3 payload of up to 1,000kg, load volume of 4.4m and length of 3,440mm, it will continue to carry all before it.

Get involved in our Vauxhall feature and you could win a pair of tickets to a Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) event!

All you need to do is tell us about the tool or material that’s helped you reach top speed on site, and get your job done just that bit quicker. Drop us a line at pb@hamerville.co.uk and you’re in the race for a visit from the PB team and our brand new Vauxhall Combo van. We’ll have a chat about you and your work, take some pics of you and your time saving tool in action, and those high octane tickets are yours!

Peter really does love – and play – the European version of football. And he knows that it’s not polite to call it soccer, or to refer to the national American sport as football, not least because there’s hardly any actual kicking of a ball involved.

Where he catches me out, though, is in his use of building terms. Timber is lumber – I can cope with that – just have to visualise the Monty Python Lumberjack song.

And everyone knows that the American word for a cupboard is a closet, and that a tap is a faucet. But did you know that they don’t have cisterns?

Peter refers to the WC cistern as the toilet tank. I checked online to see if he was just being ignorant, but no, that is apparently the correct US term.

For Peter, repairing or refurbishing a house – or even a spot of DIY – is remodelling.

I’ve explained to him that we made Airfix models as kids, and that we have model villages in amusement parks, where everything is in miniature, but it hasn’t stopped him saying it.

I had recently got used to the idea that Americans don’t have queues – instead they have lines, which they, er, line up in when they’re all waiting for the same thing. But I hadn’t realised that lines are also what we call pipes. As in the gas line that

feeds natural gas to your boiler – or, rather, to your furnace.

I was relieved to find that Peter calls a switch a switch.

But surprised that he calls a power socket a receptacle. And that a power cut is called an outage (an expression which I am dismayed has started to be used in the British media, too).

Oh, and by the way, what we call a two-way switch – turning the landing light on and off at either the top or bottom of the staircase – the Americans call a three-way switch. Peter and I had a vigorous discussion about this one, with him explaining patiently that of course it’s called a three-way switch, because it’s got three terminals in it!

And don’t get me started on draughts, which the Americans call drafts. So what do they call the first version of a drawing, then? Er, well it seems that that’s a draft, too.

Civil engineering terms can get even more confusing. In the USA the road surface is called the pavement, so Americans drive on the pavement, and walk on the sidewalk.

Oh well, as George Bernard Shaw once said – two great nations divided by a common language.

Jeff Howell

E-mail Jeff via his website www.askjeff.co.uk

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 95

Advertisement index Aanco UK Ltd ................................................................(page 21) Aanco UK Ltd ................................................................(page 23) Akzo Nobel (ICI Paints) .................................................(page 13) Apex UK Construction Solutions ..................................(page 77) Barrettine Group ..........................................................(page 75) Blakes Building Profiles Ltd ..........................................(page 79) Bluebird Fixings Ltd ......................................................(page 50) Buckler Boots Ltd.......................................................... (page 60) Build Aviator ...................................................................(page 4) Dallmer Ltd ...................................................................(page 59) Doorstop International .................................................(page 71) Eclisse UK...................................................................... (page 57) Ecotherm Insulation Ltd ...............................................(page 27) Elfin Kitchens ................................................................(page 50) ERA Home Security Ltd .................................................(page 42) Everbuild Building Products Ltd ...................................(page 30) F Ball & Co. Ltd ............................................................. (page 40) Federation of Master Builders ..................................... (page 18) Festool UK Ltd ...............................................................(page 65) Ford Motor Co Ltd ........................................................ (page 14) Garador......................................................................... (page 49) Glazing Vision Ltd .........................................................(page 71) Gorilla ...........................................................................(page 55) JBS Products Ltd ...........................................................(page 77) Kohler Mira Ltd ...............................................................(page 2) Long Rake Spar Co Ltd ..................................................(page 58) Makita (UK) Ltd............................................................. (page 79) Marley Ltd .....................................................................(page 39) Marmox UK Ltd .............................................................(page 59) Measure­Quip Ltd ........................................................(page 60) Mercedes Canter ............................................................(page 8) Metabo (UK) Ltd ...........................................................(page 24)

CLASSIFIEDS

Muck Truck ...................................................................(page 79) National Domelight Company ......................................(page 50) Packexe .........................................................................(page 46) Permaroof (UK) Ltd .......................................................(page 59) Plasti­Kote .....................................................................(page 86) Plumb Partners Group Ltd ............................................(page 11) Pnu­Point Ltd ................................................................(page 85) Quickslide .......................................................................(page 5) Rockwool Ltd ................................................(inside front cover) Royd UK/Acer ............................................................... (page 32) Royd UK/Optimaxx .......................................................(page 70) RSS Tilemaster ..............................................................(page 38) Safeguard Europe Ltd/Dryrod ......................................(page 26) Safeguard Europe Ltd/Drybase ....................................(page 62) Safeguard Europe Ltd/Stormdry ..................................(page 89) Saniflo Ltd ..................................................................... (page 36) Simpson Strong Tie .......................................................(page 52) Snickers Workwear Ltd ...................................................(page 6) Spray Foam Solutions ...................................................(page 41) Stelrad Radiators ..........................................................(page 45) Swedish Wood ..............................................................(page 64) Telebeam Ltd ................................................................(page 38) Toolfair Exhibition ..................................................(pages 72,73) Toolstream Ltd/Fixman ................................................(page 60) Toolstream Ltd/Triton ..................................................(page 89) Trades Talk ....................................................................(page 86) TuffX Processed Glass Ltd ............................................(page 53) Ubbink UK Ltd............................................................... (page 44) UK Underfloor Heating Ltd........................................... (page 86) Wavin Hep20 .................................................................. (page 3) Zarges UK Ltd ................................................................(page 67)

To advertise here please telephone Sam Shannon-Tinsley on 01923 237799

Ricoh Arena, Coventry: Thursday 19th & Friday 20th Sept 2019 Sandown Park, Surrey: Thursday 7th & Friday 8th Nov 2019 96 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

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This month’s Star Prize is a Makita 100-piece accessory set that comes in a sturdy carry case. The prize goes to the first correct answer out of the hat for this month’s Spot the Difference competition. Tell us the five differences you have spotted by entering online at makitauk.com/mb.html

ANSWERS: Wordsearch: Demolition, Drill, Easystart, Makblade, Recipsaw, Torch

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