Professional Builders Merchant June 2019 by Hamerville Media Group

E F NC E BMER IEW F N EV O R C P

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

JUNE 2019

TIMBER & JOINERY A closer look at hardwoods

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION Raising the roof

PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS Innovative solutions

Plus: News, market information, sales support, merchandising & display solutions and more. www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Fantasy Football Top of the league!

CONTENTS TIMBER & JOINERY 27

HARD TO RESIST? Outlining the sales opportunities with hardwood timber.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Snows Timber outlines its plans for growth following its recent MBO.

MOVING WITH THE TIMES Discussing the impact of off-site manufacture and system solutions on the merchant sector.

TIMBER & JOINERY BITE SIZE

June 2019, Volume 29 No. 6

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION 37

STANDARD BEARER A closer look at the BS 8612 ‘Dry Fix Solutions’ standard.

PEP TALK Quinn Building Products showcases the ‘added reassurance’ it can now offer under its Quinn Therm insulation brand.

GO LARGE The increasing popularity of large format concrete tiles.

LEADING EDGE Dry fix accessories.

P R O D U C T S & S E RV I C E S

SPECIAL REPORTS 9

TAKING STOCK PBM launches a monthly merchant sector ‘trends survey’ in association with MRA Research.

19 NMBS BUSINESS SERVICES 20 NBG BUYING BETTER

PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS 47

DEALING WITH DAMP Problem-solving alternatives to traditional plasters.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS Innovative board solutions from Magply.

P R O D U C T S & S E RV I C E S

REGULARS 3 4 6 10 12 14 16 54 56 58 60 62 64

VIEWPOINT NEWS MARKET MONITOR MERCHANT FOCUS PEOPLE NEWS TRAINING FOCUS BMF TRAINING ZONE COUNTER TALK — PB CAMPAIGN NEWS COUNTER TALK — PHPI POINT OF SALE PRODUCTS & SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT INDEX

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

22 CONFERENCE IS COMING The merchant sector heads to Dubrovnik for this year’s BMF Conference.

COMPETITIONS 5

RFL CHALLENGE CUP FINAL TICKETS UP FOR GRABS WITH RONSEAL!

65 EVO-STIK FANTASY FOOTBALL Top of the pile.

PBM JUNE 2019 1

VIEWPOINT

Mind, body and soul

ack in 2013, the theme of the BMF Conference was ‘Fit for the Future’ as the event placed its focus on an industry looking to emerge from the torment of recession. Its most literal manifestation, however, was a session delivered by leading expert in cardiovascular health, Dr Dorian Dugmore. Discussing corporate wellness and its impact on company performance, Dr Dugmore left a lasting impression on delegates and the messages from his presentation will doubtless still resonate with all those who saw him speak. Indeed, a number of conference attendees enlisted his services to work with their own businesses, whilst the relationship with the BMF has also continued as Dr Dugmore once again addressed a merchant sector audience at last year’s BMF Members’ Day Conference. At this year’s BMF Conference in Dubrovnik (13-16 June), it is the issue of mental health that takes centre stage. The subject is one we have discussed a number of times before and the industry is to be congratulated on the many steps a great number of organisations in the sector have taken over recent years to raise awareness, reduce stigma and offer much-needed support to both their employees and their customers. As evidenced by the response to the BBC’s recent documentary, A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health, which featured conversation between Prince William and a host of well-known (and indeed, unknown…)

“Simply raising the profile of the issue of mental health is one of the single most important factors in breaking down the barriers that remain in place.” names from the world of football, simply raising the profile of the issue is one of the single most important factors in breaking down the barriers that remain in place. Frankly, open discussion without fear is an imperative. In Dubrovnik, the BMF will welcome award-winning mental health campaigners Neil Laybourn and Jonny Benjamin MBE to the main platform to share their story and offer practical advice on how to work with — and overcome mental health issues — in the workplace. Neil and Jonny will also lead one of the break-out sessions on the second day of the

event, outlining their potentially life-saving campaigning work. Isover Saint-Gobain is sponsoring the session and its MD, David Travill, said: “We are extremely pleased to support this important discussion. A generation ago no one spoke about cancer, but bringing it out in the open increased funding for research and vastly increased survival rates. “Today we are in a similar position with mental health. Talking about it begins the process of putting mental health on an equal footing to physical health, which will ultimately benefit every one of us, and our businesses.”

■ Starting this month, PBM has replaced its traditional paper ‘Readerlink’ enquiry card with a brand new service designed to provide readers with a much faster way of finding out additional information on the topics, articles and new products featured in the magazine. Much of our editorial content will now feature a bespoke, shortcode URL — www.rdr.link followed by a unique five-digit code. Entering the URL into your browser will now take you directly to relevant, supplementary information on the item or issue you have been reading about — for example, videos, downloadable reports, technical guides, brochures, ‘bonus’ content on the PBM website and much, much more. We hope you find this new service useful.

rdr.link

E F NC E BMER IEW F N EV O PR

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

JUNE 2019

TIMBER & JOINERY A closer look at hardwoods

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION Raising the roof

PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS Innovative solutions

Plus: News, market information, sales support, merchandising & display solutions and more.

Fantasy Football

Editor Paul Davies Assistant Editor Kelly Newstead Group Advertisement Manager Craig Jowsey craig@hamerville.co.uk Tel: 07900 248102 Advertisement Manager Sam Shannon-Tinsley Tel: 07554 013302 Design Adeel Qadri

Group Production Manager Carol Padgett Production Assistant Kerri Smith Circulation Manager Kirstie Day Consultant Branch Design Editor Ashley Evans M.A B.A MIMgt Managing Editor Terry Smith Publisher Bryan Shannon

Subscriptions to PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS MERCHANT are available at the following rates: UK – 1 year (11 issues) – £30 post paid EUROPE and OVERSEAS 1 year (11 issues) – £50 post paid AIRMAIL – 1 year (11 issues) – £65 post paid Printed by Walstead Peterborough

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Top of the league!

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Cover story: The merchant sector heads to Dubrovnik for this year’s BMF Conference.

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PBM JUNE 2019 3

NEWS UPDATE Brand building

BRADFORDS BUILDING SUPPLIES OUTLINES PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Core strengths

Ibstock plc has launched a new brand identity to ensure the breadth of the company’s extensive product and service offering is more clearly recognised. The new logo and corporate strapline — ‘At the heart of building’ — has been introduced following extensive research with customers and employees. Joe Hudson, CEO of Ibstock plc, said: “We have made a significant investment over recent years to develop and evolve the Ibstock group of companies, with a clear strategy on delivering customer value and service excellence. “While some customers recognise the full breadth of what the Group can offer, there is a huge opportunity to improve understanding and increase brand awareness further. We need an identity that is fit for the future and reflects our innovation and energy, but also presents a consistent and co-ordinated Ibstock brand across our complete range of products. We think this new brand identity and strapline gives us that.” The new branding and corporate strapline are being phased in over the coming months and this will include new websites, marketing and sales collateral and site signage.

Bradfords Building Supplies has unveiled its focus on building what is reputedly the country’s oldest builders’ merchant into “the favorite building materials partner in the South West”. David Young, newly promoted to CEO of the group, is leading the reinvestment in the core business following the sale of Snows Timber in March and Crendon last spring. The group will now focus on the builders’ merchant and is due to report the highest profits in its core business for the last six years. Furthermore, the board’s investment in Bradfords will focus on the long-term plan of increasing its branch operation in the South West from 43 branches to 60. The company has recently acquired Penzance based Solo Building Supplies and is currently re-locating its Sherborne Branch in Dorset to a purpose-built site that will create a ‘branch of the future’. Bradfords will also be kicking off its 250th year with a new branch in Helston, Cornwall which is due to open in January 2020 whilst continuing to invest in updating its existing branch network and renewing the vehicle fleet. The merchant says it is also diversifying its customer base by developing links with larger regional housebuilders and housing

associations, whilst continuing to build on “excellent relationships with local trades”. In addition, the business affirms its commitment to innovation and has “invested heavily” in new technology to improve the branch experience for its customers. This includes a new trade website, allowing customers to access its services and products 24/7. The company is also embarking on its first ever TV advertising campaign as part of a multichannel campaign supported by radio, digital and external advertising. David, who has been MD for the last five years and has over 20 years’ experience in the merchant sector, is driving the strategy with Bradfords’ new chairman, George Adams. George has a wealth of experience with the Kingfisher Group and was Chairman of Screwfix when it opened its first branches in 2005-8. David commented: “We are committed to ensuring Bradfords as the most trusted partner of choice in building materials in the South West. We are expanding our network, refurbishing our branches and renewing our fleet. With our experienced team we will take Bradfords into its next phase of development.”

Drainage centre The Alumasc WMS Drainage Centre of Excellence will add Gatic Slotdrain to its portfolio from July 2019. The strategic move will mean the physical relocation of Gatic’s Slotdrain operations from its current Dover site to the modern facility in Halstead, Essex (Dover will continue to be the hub for Gatic Covers). The Centre will now facilitate two market leading businesses in Wade and Gatic Slotdrain as the company increases its focus toward offering a single source drainage

solution for the entire building envelope. Simon Hipgrave, MD of the Alumasc Drainage Businesses, said: “This strategic decision has been made with our customers’ at the very centre of our thinking. In fact, we’ve made a significant investment of £750,000 in new and existing machinery to improve capacity and efficiency of both Wade and Gatic operations.”

TEL: 01923 237799

EMAIL: PBM@HAMERVILLE.CO.UK

WIN RUGBY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL TICKETS COURTESEY OF RONSEAL

a @PBMmagazine

Scottish focus

Win with Ronseal Ronseal is offering PBM readers the chance to win two tickets to the Coral Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 24 August. The Challenge Cup is Rugby League’s showpiece occasion and, for over 120 years, has served up some of the most memorable Rugby League moments by the biggest stars in the game. This year, following the Coral Challenge Cup final, the two finalists from the 1895 Cup — a competition made up of teams from the Championship & League — will also go toe-totoe at Wembley. As evidenced at the recent NMBS Exhibition, Ronseal is undertaking a significant amount of promotional activity as a proud sponsor of the Rugby Football League — and the brand is giving away hundreds of great rugby prizes in a massive trade competition to celebrate Great Britain Rugby League’s tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

One of the best-known brands in the UK, Ronseal now ensures that builders’ merchants can offer a range of trade-grade products for internal and external woodcare specially created with professional tradesmen in mind. To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to this year’s Coral Challenge Cup Final, simply enter the prize draw by emailing pbm@hamerville.co.uk with your name, job title and contact details. For more information enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf001

Acoustic roadshow The JCW Acoustic Supplies Roadshow is touring a host of national and independent merchant branches throughout the summer, giving local trades a chance to access expert advice. With the tour covering 40 locations, the acoustic supplies specialist’s Commercial Director, Laura Keegan said: “Throughout the roadshow, we’ll be working to show how easy it is to find the specialist acoustic products our customers need. We'll be helping our builders’ merchants identify the right questions to help their customers find the right product. And we'll be answering

any questions from local trades — on anything from materials to Building Regs — and giving them free advice to create better acoustic performance.”

John Cameron (left) with Marley Alutec’s ASM for Scotland, Drummond Mckenzie

Marley Alutec has extended its presence in Scotland by recently securing John Cameron (Plumbers and Builders Merchants) as a new stockist and also signing up to become an associate member of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF), adding to its existing associate membership of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA). John Cameron, the Glasgow-based merchant’s Managing Director, said: “We receive a lot of interest in the Marley Alutec Evolve system due to its simple bolt free, clip together installation. We believe that stocking the Evolve system will add value to our product offering and we are looking forward to working with Alutec to promote the range in the future.”

Visualiser tool Planning a new kitchen is an exciting project for consumers, but it can be a little overwhelming. Accordingly, Symphony has launched a brand-new online kitchen visualiser tool which is designed to make some of the decisions a little easier.

Featuring the Gallery and Linear kitchen brands from Symphony, it offers a wide choice of styles allowing consumers to pick a modern, traditional or a European handleless style before visiting their nearest stockist to discuss their choices with a kitchen design specialist.

The visualiser can be viewed by using the shortcode www.rdr.link.co.uk/mf002

MARKET MONITOR in association with

Need for improvement

Barbour ABI and the Federation of Master Builders comment on the current state of the extensions and general RMI sector.

ome improvement figures across Great Britain decreased throughout 2018 with the number of planning applications dropping by 2.8% compared with 2017. This is according to the ‘Home Improvers of Great Britain 2019’ report, compiled by construction industry analysts Barbour ABI, which shows that across the country there were 2.8% fewer applications for home improvement in 2018 than in 2017. Despite a fall in applications, London held onto the top spot, even though it saw a reduction in the number of planning applications in 29 of its 32 boroughs, whilst the biggest growth in applications came from North West England, with an increase of 5.0%. Home Improvement applications in the capital hit a peak in 2015 and 2016, with one application for home improvement made in each year for every 26 private homes. However, over the past two years London has seen the number of applications drop by almost 10%. Looking across the rest of Great Britain, the North West was highlighted last year as an area of growth and has been the stand out region over the past three years. The local authority of Manchester, for example, has seen a near doubling of applications being submitted over the past three years, albeit from a low base. The rise in home improvement

applications in the North West fits with the vibrancy of the housing market and prices. While the North West appears to have been the most buoyant, London, the East of England and the South East still account for 52% of all home improvement applications, slightly down from 54% in 2015 and 2016. Barbour ABI notes that the general picture it sees in the changing regional pattern of home improvement planning applications is a “continuation of the wave of house price rises that has crept out of London and the South East in recent years”. The company adds: “With a strong proven correlation between the economy and home improvement, the Home Improvers of Great Britain 2019 report surmises that the impact of Brexit and any shift in GDP is likely to reduce activity further. The uncertainty it has caused and will continue to cause, as the effects of any settlement begin to emerge, will likely inhibit households’ confidence”. Picking up on some of the themes, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is calling for the Government to cut the VAT on home improvement work following recent official data from the ONS. It states that while there has been a rise in output over the first quarter of the year, construction output decreased month-on-month by 1.9% and the

repair and maintenance series fell to its lowest level since December 2018 — experiencing a fall of 3.1% compared to the previous month. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “It’s not at all surprising that construction output has dropped at the end of the first quarter of this year, given the unprecedented political uncertainty we’ve been facing. To get us through these turbulent times, the Government must be bold in its thinking when it comes to bucking any downward turn. “One course of action would be to cut VAT on work in the home improvement and private domestic sectors from 20% to 5%. A cut in VAT would help stimulate demand from homeowners resulting in more work for the thousands of small to mediumsized construction companies. Brian continued: “This is all the more important given that the FMB’s own State of Trade Survey for Q1 2019 saw the first dip in workloads for small builders in six years. Cutting VAT would also be an important step to help encourage more retrofits of our existing buildings to make them more energy efficient and deliver a cut in carbon emissions.” ■ To download the full Barbour ABI ‘Home Improvers of Great Britain 2019’ report, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf003

TRENDS MONITOR

Taking stock T

he merchant sector is constantly changing — influenced by the wider construction industry, trading conditions, the state of the economy, regulations and performance standards, international trade and of course market and product trends, which may be driven by product and technological developments as well as fashion! And we still don’t know how Brexit might affect the overall construction market, or how it will affect merchants… Market changes often happen gradually, but it’s important to be ahead of the game and track these as they start to emerge. That is why MRA Research, the specialist research division of MRA Marketing, will be monitoring critical trends in the sector each month, assessing how the key influencing factors on the merchants’ marketplace, as well as attitudes and sentiments, are developing. The survey will track builders’ merchants’ activity, views and expectations of trends and issues affecting their business, including sales expectations, problems, stocks, manufacturer promotions and support, prices and margins. Currently, the builders’ and plumbers’ merchants’ markets are affected by price increases and concerns over supply, especially for imported products, because of the uncertainty over the conditions attached to Brexit at the time of writing. There are also reports of stockpiling in the supply chain, leading to increased

PBM has teamed up with MRA Research to present a new, regular ‘trends survey’ on the builders’ merchant marketplace. pressure on space, as well as changes to demand, though this is expected to be short-term. But whether these will continue to be important issues in the medium term remains to be seen, and MRA will aim to gather merchants’ views and expectations on all these issues and more. The tracker survey will examine overall expectations and confidence among merchants, but will also take a look at specific product sectors. To give context to the findings, the results will also be analysed against an economic and specific market background. MRA Research will ensure the research is representative, and will use StockistBase — its

“The survey will track builders’ merchants’ activity, views and expectations of trends and issues affecting their business, including sales expectations, problems, stocks, manufacturer promotions and support, prices and margins.” www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

in-house database of national and independent merchants — for interviewing. MRA has developed and maintained this for over 20 years for the purposes of research work and direct marketing campaigns. Individual responses will not be attributed to individual persons or companies. Previously known as Rigby Research, MRA Research is one of the UK’s longest standing research and insight companies solely serving construction, building materials and home improvement markets. MRA also set up and manages the award-winning monthly Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report since 2015 in partnership with GfK and the Builders Merchants Federation.

■ Look out for the first report in the July/August edition of PBM. The full monthly and quarterly reports will be available from www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk as well as on MRA Research’s website at www.mra-research.co.uk

PBM JUNE 2019 9

MERCHANT FOCUS Driving improvement

sing virtual reality has enabled Travis Perkins to facilitate learning in a quicker and more accessible way, and the method enabled the company to use its own Driver of the Year Richard Ellson in the simulations, taking drivers through his journey and showing them his view of the road from behind the wheel, and showcasing in practical and visible terms how he handles obstacles along local roads. The virtual reality method has been further used to help improve learning as part of the Group’s Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) compliance training, which is recognised by the FORS scheme. Travis Perkins delivered the training through group workshops, where each driver who took part was provided with a set of virtual reality goggles and workbooks that were signed off after each exercise by the facilitator. The three businesses which took part have already seen significant benefits — saving more than 466,000 litres in fuel in 2018 as a result of improved Miles Per Gallon.

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Karl Wilshaw, Head of Fleet for Travis Perkins, said: “It’s been great to be part of this milestone training, and inspiring to see the ability that virtual reality has to reach our drivers and bring scenarios to life. This type of training has completely transformed the way we can show how drivers should conduct walkaround checks, drive more fuel efficiently, manoeuvre vehicles and handle road risk challenges.” The initial idea was shaped by The Resources Group. Katie Robinson, its Head of Strategic Relationships, said: “We specialise in material handling and safety training to raise standards of workplace training, and have worked closely with Karl and his team to integrate the virtual technology training. “It’s been good to see how this training has enabled drivers to immerse themselves in their own environment, and how we have been able to use Travis Perkins’ own people to share knowledge and achieve some excellent results. We feel that integrating this innovative approach to learning offers an array of pathways and prospects for future training opportunities, and we very much look forward to pursuing these further.” Travis Perkins adds that it will continue its commitment to improving safety and fuel economy on the roads with the development of technology, such as the introduction of electric vehicles, and by engaging and rewarding colleagues who successfully reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Travis Perkins has used innovative virtual reality technology to train over 1,000 drivers across the Group’s CCF, BSS and Keyline businesses to deliver significant environmental benefits. PBM reveals more.

OTHER NEWS: ■ H&B members continue to innovate and expand, reporting strong trading conditions. For example, M&J Builders Merchants has recently unveiled the latest step in its strategic growth plan, receiving planning permission for a new three acre (130,000 sq ft) storage and distribution hub near its head office branch in Greenock. Part of H&B since 2013, the family owned independent firm was established in 1999 and operates a successful timber and mixed light- and heavyside business that caters for both public and trade customers from its two branches in Greenock and Largs. Mark Rodger, M&J’s Managing Director, said: “The new facility will allow us to hold a bigger variety of landscaping and construction materials on the ground, introduce a larger aggregate bagging production, run a more efficient transport service and offer a better experience to new and existing customers. “The additional site will enable us to create a more customerfocussed collection branch at our existing Greenock site. The extra space allows us to concentrate surplus stock and the high volume traffic of goods in and out at an independent location away from trade and public customers.”

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PEOPLE NEWS

AVS Fencing & Landscaping has set itself up for a year of growth and change, as it welcomes new Managing Director Stewart Pierce. Stewart will oversee the brand’s strategic development plans and rebrand, joining the firm with more than 30 years’ of industry experience. Previously the Financial and Commercial Director of Parker Building Supplies, Stewart commented: “I’m looking forward to this challenge and working with the AVS team to promote growth plans and introduce the new look branches.” The IBC Buying Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Dave Robertson as its new Commercial Director, where he will work closely with fellow Commercial Director Paul Read. Dave has more than 35 years’ experience in the construction industry, including time spent as Commercial Director of Buildbase. More recently, he played a fundamental role in the strategic growth of supplier Fakro GB.

HB42 has welcomed Gary Weston as its New Area Sales Manager for the North & Midlands. In his role, he will be working with builders’, decorators’, plumbing and roofing merchants to increase awareness of the highperformance sealant range through regular visits to stores and head offices. HB42 has reported substantial growth in the last year in part due to product development and its recent membership to the BMF and NMBS.

Charles Ledigo, Chairman of Reisser, has been re-elected to the Board of the Builders Merchants Federation to serve as the Elected Director of Suppliers for the period of 2019-2022. Charles said: “I am delighted with the news of this vote. It’s an honour to serve a further three years of office in this prestigious role and I would like to personally thank the members for this opportunity.” The BMF has also announced that James Hipkins, MD of Emerys Builders Merchants, is the new Chair of its West Midlands Region, taking over from Neil Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer Jewson & Managing Director Local Merchant Group.

Katie Hodgson has been appointed as Marketing Manager for Kudos Shower Products. Based at its Head Office in Cumbria, she will report to Sales & Marketing Director, Nick Graville. Nick said: “Following recent investment in new facilities and products, Katie will be busy launching lots of new innovations with full marketing support over the next 12 months.”

As YBS Insulation approaches its 25th anniversary, it continues to breathe new life into its business with a celebratory rebrand and the appointment of a dynamic new marketing team. Daniel McKane joined in October as Sales & Marketing Director, bringing with him knowledge gained from brands including Gripit and Centurion Europe. Dan has already formed a new and highly motivated external sales team of five to cover the whole of the UK, whilst Catherine Hadwick has also recently joined as Marketing Manager.

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TRAINING FOCUS

Turning knowledge into sales PBM considers the merchant training provision offered by Everbuild. nowledgeable staff are the backbone of a successful builders’ merchant, offering the end user invaluable product information and advice they know they can trust on a daily basis, ensuring their customer journey is a positive experience. This knowledge can only be gained through years of experience — and with the help of suppliers who are committed to supporting their customers through quality training programmes and in store demonstrations. Significant investment has recently been made by Everbuild to develop the training provision available to its merchant customers, with a dedicated team on hand to provide in-store training, product demonstrations and trade day support. Andrew Scanlon, the supplier’s Applications Manager, says of the new initiative: “The new training schemes have had a hugely positive reaction

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within the builders’ merchant sector, with staff welcoming the chance to improve their knowledge on a variety of products. From everyday silicone sealants to more complex, complete product systems, we are able to provide staff with the information required to confidently sell these products on to their customers.” Whilst still a relatively new programme, the response is said to have been “outstanding” with the company stating that new requests for training days are “being received on an almost daily basis”. Whether taking place at larger stockists with multiple stores or a smaller merchant consisting of a single branch, the firm says that the training received is “always carried out to an incredibly high standard”, with each session being created to meet the specific requirements of the customer. Indeed, no two training sessions are the same and the Everbuild team prides itself

on being able to adapt to the needs of the merchant and cater to the knowledge and experience of the staff taking part. The sessions can be carried out in various ways — for example, they can be purely classroom based to give a wide overview of a product range or technology, or can alternatively be more hands on with staff encouraged to take part in applications to get a feel for the product. With all of this in mind, the team is already looking to expand with additional resources required to meet the growing demand. One merchant to recently receive training from Andrew was MKM Building Supplies, the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchant with over 60 branches across England and Scotland. Paul Day, Building Sales at MKM Louth, said of the day: “The training we received from Andrew was extremely helpful and insightful. Learning about how the Everbuild products performed and what they could be used for really helped our branch understand how we could sell to the customers. I would wholeheartedly recommend that every merchant has Andy come and give them some training as we have seen a big increase in sales — which is down to our knowledge of the products.” Whilst educating merchant staff is vital to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge to confidently sell the

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■ The Everflex range of Professional Sealants from Sika Everbuild has recently had a make-over with a fresh new design that “looks great on the shelf”. With tradequality products to suit a variety of applications, including sanitary, glazing, roofline and interior finishing, the new-look range is reinforced by an array of merchant support and point of sale that includes a promotional animated video for in store display. The supplier’s range also includes Geo-Fix paving jointing compound. Available in two grades, both Geo-Fix Original and All-Weather are supplied ready to use with no mixing required and are simply brushed into joints with minimal effort before being compacted with a pointing tool to a neat finish. Once cured, a solid joint is formed that won’t wash out and resists weed and plant growth whilst remaining water permeable. products, it is equally important to create the demand within the market. Accordingly, and as part of the flexible nature of the company’s offer, the training provided isn’t solely aimed at merchant staff and can also be tailored towards the

end user for in-store trade days. Here, product demonstrations are a great way to quickly highlight the features and benefits to the trade — and this is especially key when introducing new products, as it can be notoriously difficult

to convince users to switch from a tried, tested and trusted product to one which is newly launched. This year marks Everbuild’s 25th anniversary and to mark the occasion the company has launched what it describes as its “best ever sealant and adhesive” — EB25. To promote the new product, a roadshow aimed at the end user is set to tour builders’ merchants around the UK to provide expert advice, live demonstrations and product information directly to their customers. With the trade often in a rush when visiting their local builders’ merchant, bringing the roadshow to them in a convenient location is viewed as the ideal way to promote new products by allowing customers to discover the features and benefits whilst sampling the new addition to the range themselves. ■ To see the latest product videos from the Everbuild range, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf004

TRAINING ZONE

Local heroes The BMF outlines the importance of facilitating conveniently-located training programmes, explaining how its ‘Regional Centres of Excellence’ initiative is making a difference.

he BMF’s 2018 membership survey found that Training was one of the Federation’s ‘top five’ most valued services, with 87% listing it amongst their reasons for being a member. The same survey found that members would appreciate training days closer to home, rather than having to travel to the BMF’s national centre in Coventry on every occasion, as this would enable a wider cross-section of staff to attend. Working with its members the BMF identifed appropriate facilities for regional hubs where local groups could come together for regional training courses as well as other meetings. Thanks to a fantastic response from companies around the country, the BMF has created a network of superb local training and conference facilities — selected for their ease of access and ample car-parking as well as their high-quality meeting rooms. Branded as BMF Regional Centres of Excellence, they provide an excellent resource to ensure that local training needs are fully met. There are currently 27 BMF Regional Centres of Excellence around the country, with a minimum target of 30 by the end of the year to

give every BMF member a choice of three such centres in their region and providing maximum accessibility for all. One of the most important features of the new training centres is that they enable small group courses to take place. Previously it had not been financially viable to run courses for fewer than 10 people. While this is an undoubted benefit, the main advantage is that our Regional Centres of Excellence means getting to the training courses is far less time consuming and delegates no longer have to factor in the cost of a long journey or overnight accommodation alongside the cost of the course. Over the past 12 months, the BMF has run courses for a wide variety of merchant staff at these regional centres. Some offer specific merchant skills — such as the Yard Forman’s Toolkit, Maximising Margins and How a House is Built — while others focus on general business skills, but still tailored to the merchant industry. This latter group includes Data Protection, Employment Law, Finance for Non-Finance Managers and Leadership Skills for Supervisors.

Adey’s Training and Conference Centre in Cheltenham has become one of the latest BMF Regional Centres of Excellence. Pictured are Mark Bradley (Plumbase MD and BMF P&H Forum Chairman), Adey CEO John Vaughan, BMF Regional Manager Alex Clifford and BMF CEO John Newcomb

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BMF Regional Centres of Excellence have also proved a huge success with BMF Diploma in Merchanting students, providing a regular meeting point for regional groups to get together for discussion groups and tutorials at the start of each module. Visit www.bmf.org.uk to find details of all BMF Training including dates and locations. If you can’t see the course you want in your area, speak to your BMF Regional Manager and ask for one to be arranged.

■ While most BMF training is now available at a centre near you, some specialist courses — such as Driver CPC — have to be run at a central location. The BMF has three such courses running at Old Coventrians Rugby Club this summer, on 8 June, 22 June and 13 July. Most goods vehicle drivers must do 35 hours of periodic training every five years to keep their Driver CPC. The one-day Driver CPC Course is designed to be taken year-onyear, covering bite size pieces of the whole syllabus — much less pressured than cramming a week’s training once every five years. Nonetheless it covers all relevant areas of a driver’s daily duties and, running on an annual basis, is possibly a better way to keep up to date with ever changing legislation, thus helping to protect both driving and operator licences. The course also aims to reinforce good customer relations and encourages drivers to follow best practice as well as compliance standards. All in all, a great way to consolidate knowledge through discussion, interactive learning and practical applied exercises. For more information, visit www.bmf.org.uk or contact paige.godsell@bmf.org.uk or call her on 02476 854989.

■ BMF training ranges from formal Apprenticeships and sector-specific Diplomas and a Foundation Degree in Merchant Management, to online product knowledge and other specialist skills training.

NMBS BUSINESS SERVICES

Legal action Dean Hayward, Sales and Marketing Manager at NMBS, explains why access to prompt, accurate legal advice can be vital for a builders’ merchant business.

o matter how successful your business may be, there will always be times when you will need access to legal advice. However, independent business owners want to be able to invest their time in ensuring their companies are as successful as possible — not on investigating complex legal issues. For smaller businesses in particular, who may not be able to justify having an inhouse legal team, having a contract with a specialist solicitors is a sensible precaution to cover any issue they may face. But finding the right legal representation can be a challenge in itself. Some solicitors practice law exclusively for the commercial sector, while others may focus on employment law or debt recovery, but business owners are more likely to want to find one firm that can act as a single point of contact for every legal issue they may face. Some of the common legal issues affecting merchant businesses include: Purchase and sale of commercial premises and businesses: As independent merchants expand they often need to move to larger sites, buy additional premises, or even have the opportunity to expand through acquisition. Any such sale or purchase requires the drawing up of legal contracts, due diligence and many other documents, such as non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements. All of these must be completely accurate and thoroughly researched to ensure the transaction goes smoothly. Debt recovery: Non-payment of accounts is one of the main risks that independent merchants face. However carefully customers’ businesses are checked before being allowed to buy goods on account, cashflow issues can creep up on even the most successful

construction businesses, leaving merchants potentially thousands of pounds out of pocket. Attempting to recover these debts can take up many hours of time for merchants, but legal firms can pursue these debts on the company’s behalf. Personal injury/third-party liability claims: However strong a merchant’s health and safety record, accidents can happen, and the nature of the merchant business means any accident could be potentially serious. Whether from an employee or customer, any merchant facing a claim for personal injury or compensation will need specialist legal advice to ensure their business is protected, and the issue resolved quickly. Employment disputes: Every business will, at some point, need to deal with an employee dispute. This could be as part of a general redundancy period, an employee being dismissed for gross misconduct, or to deal with general employee rights issues. The regulations surrounding this area can be incredibly complex, and merchants must

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tread carefully to ensure they are always on the right side of the law. NMBS members can access legal advice through Smith Partnership Solicitors, which offers commercial legal services for businesses of all sizes. Alison Neate, Partner at the firm, said: “NMBS members can access expert legal advice with Smith Partnership at preferential rates. Legal issues are inevitable in any size of business, from acquiring premises to resolving trading disputes, recovering outstanding sales ledgers and optimising cashflow, to dealing with staff employment issues. “Commercially astute, practical advice delivered promptly in a modern way is a vital tool for business owners, preventing their valuable time from being taken up with distracting issues.” ■ For more information visit www.smithpartnership.co.uk ■ To find out how to become an NMBS member visit www.nmbs.co.uk

PBM JUNE 2019 19

NBG BUYING BETTER

Raising the roof The roofing and insulation sector continues to flourish and the National Buying Group (NBG) is working hard to meet demand, recently adding two new independent roofing specialists to its growing network of partners.

he demand for quality roofing and insulation products has increased over the last seven years due to the growth in UK housebuilding and an increase in domestic and commercial refurbishments. For example, the Office of National Statistics reported that annual new build dwelling starts totalled 166,400 in the year to September 2018, up by 1% compared with the year to September 2017. In the first half of 2019, NBG has welcomed Alltype Roofing Supplies and About Roofing Supplies as new partners. Both roofing specialists, the new partners bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in an expanding sector. About Roofing Supplies, founded in 1998, operates four branches across Surrey and West Sussex and is a popular choice for local contractors. Managing Director Jason Rivolta explained that joining NBG would allow the firm to access better deals, whilst maintaining its position as a trusted, local independent merchant. Jason said: “We want to be able to deliver our personal approach with the professionalism expected of a much larger business. NBG came highly recommended by other merchants in the area. We thought it was the right time for us to join a support network of industry professionals, start building relationships and getting the right products at competitive prices.” The second new partner, Alltype Roofing Supplies, opened its doors in 1979 in south east London and the independent merchant is one of the region’s leading specialists in roofing supplies.

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Managing Director Vince Bick said: “We are pleased to have joined National Buying Group. We feel the group strengthens the industry and the independents that are so crucial to it. The long-standing relationships that NBG has with its members is a testament to value it brings. We are very much looking forward to being part of it and building a long-term partnership with the group.” Nick Oates, Managing Director at NBG, said: “We’ve had a strong start to the year and are incredibly pleased to be welcoming two new specialist partners to NBG. It is clear that the roofing and insulation sector is continuing to grow, so having two more independent partners with skills and expertise in the category will be fantastic for partners looking to widen their knowledge, as well as the wider group. “We’re very much looking forward to working closely with Alltype Roofing and About Roofing and are excited to see what else is in store for NBG this year.”

NBG NEWS ■ NBG announces another new partner, Peterhead Hardware and DIY. Specialising in timber, building and plumbing supplies, as well as having a kitchen and bathroom showroom, Peterhead is based north of Aberdeen. ■ NBG announces a change to the Executive Board as Glynis Catterson is re-elected, Keith Olver is elected for the first time and Jim Parlato replaces John Dibble. ■ Plans for the NBG Conference 2019 are well underway — partners, suppliers and guests will be heading to Glasgow on 19th and 20th November.

■ For more information, visit nationalbuyinggroup.com, find them on Twitter at @NBGLLP or on LinkedIn at National Buying Group

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BMF CONFERENCE

Conference is Coming This year’s All Industry Conference, hosted by the BMF, heads to the stunning city of Dubrovnik — a key filming location for the epic television show, Game of Thrones. PBM gives the lowdown on the merchant industry’s very own showpiece event.

aking its theme as ‘Building Excellence’, this year’s BMF Conference will welcome delegates to the Adriatic coast with the promise of a packed business programme and a stellar line-up of speakers ready to tackle the key issues confronting the merchant sector and the wider UK economy, in addition to providing insight and inspiration to the industry’s business leaders. Broadcaster and TV personality Gethin Jones returns to host the event, warmly welcomed back following outstanding feedback from his stint as compere in Budapest in 2017. And whilst this was scheduled to be the first such industry gathering to follow the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the ongoing inertia that is Brexit will

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doubtless frame the event in a somewhat different manner to the original intent. Accordingly, delegates will certainly be keen to hear the Westminster wisdom of keynote speaker Lord John Prescott. Representing the constituency of Hull East for 40 years in an influential parliamentary career, the former Labour MP — famous for his plain speaking — served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007 and follows in the footsteps of political heavyweights Michael Portillo, Alistair Campbell and the late Paddy Ashdown to address the BMF Conference. The central platform of the business sessions is to provide an opportunity for delegates to get to the heart of the major trends and underlying patterns of the merchant sector itself. The Industry Forum,

for instance, is one of the most popular sessions at the BMF’s biennial event, bringing together delegates from every corner of the industry to debate the key business issues of the day. The scene is set with initial, individual presentations from an experienced quartet of industry leaders, before the debate is opened to the floor. This year, Tony France, Sales Director of Ibstock Brick will give a supplier’s view whilst David Young, Managing Director of Bradfords Building Supplies, and Neil Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer of Jewson, will offer a merchant standpoint from the independent and national sectors of the market, respectively. Joining them for the discussion is Mark Vandecruys, Chairman of Fedrus

“The central platform of the business sessions is to provide an opportunity for delegates to get to the heart of the major trends and underlying patterns of the merchant sector itself.”

International — an independent Belgian distributor that specialises in roofing and façade materials. Bringing a European dimension to the debate, Mark is the co-owner and Chairman of the firm and, over the last 10 years, he has overseen its growth from a small entity to a multinational business using a ‘buy-and-build’ strategy. It now comprises five operational units with total revenues of €650m and over 1,550 employees. The business programme continues with a series of four interactive industry workshops, each offering a thought-provoking platform for more in-depth group discussions. The format takes its foundation from the specialist BMF Industry Forums which run throughout the year and are growing in both number and popularity. There are now more than 15 such forums meeting on a regular basis, serving various sector and functional interest groups. In Dubrovnik, delegates will be able to attend two of the following: Marketing Forum Mark Mallinder, Marketing Director of EH Smith, will lead the workshop, setting the scene before a Q&A session that is certain to consider the impact of Brexit on business development and marketing strategies. The session is chaired by Lucia Di Stazio, MD of MRA Marketing. Plumbing & Heating Forum The longest standing of the BMF Forums and one of the most well-supported, speakers in Dubrovnik include Andrew Harrison, CEO of Travis Perkins’ Plumbing

Division, Jonathan Collier, MD of Monument Tools, and session chair Mark Bradley, MD of Plumbase. HR/Mental Health Forum Award-winning mental health campaigners, Neil Laybourn and Jonny Benjamin MBE, will follow up their presentation on the main stage on Day One of the Conference by starting proceedings at this important workshop. They will be joined by Brian Dow, MD of Mental Health UK and Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness. Young Merchants Forum The BMF Young Merchant Group supports and encourages those progressing in their careers. Setting an inspirational tone for this session is Oli France, an adventurer and professional expedition leader who has led teams through some of the world’s most dangerous and least visited countries. This forum is jointly chaired by MKM’s Glenn Paddison, the current chair of BMF Young Merchant Group, and John Ryszkowski, Divisional MD of ACO. Industry discussion and the all-important relationship building will be further fuelled with the Merchant/Supplier Exchange segment of rolling, short-form meetings. Further opportunities for more ‘informal’ networking will be facilitated by a wide-ranging social programme. A diverse and engaging line-up of speakers completes the programme, with the discussions moving from an industry centre

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following an address from DIY SOS presenter, Nick Knowles to broader-based presentations on business and leadership from the likes of Edwin Morgan, Interim Director General for External Affairs at the Institute of Directors and leading sports psychologist Michael Caulfield Msc. Legendary Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE will share the story of her achievements both on the track and in the planning, execution and legacy of London 2012. Lastly, Richard Walton, the former Commander at New Scotland Yard who led London’s Counter Terrorism Command both during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, will explore the event’s ‘Excellence’ angle from a different field, outlining the need to adapt to emerging threats and challenges in a changing world. ■ The BMF All-Industry Conference 2019 takes place at the Sun Gardens Dubrovnik from 13 to 16 June. For more information visit www.bmfconference.co.uk ■ For additional coverage of the event, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf005 to access bonus content from the PBM website.

BMF 2019 Conference Sponsors Headline Sponsor Crystal Clear Group Key Sponsors Alumasc Water Management Solutions, Bradstone, Keystone Group, Marsh Industries, Ibstock Brick, Rockwool, Encon Insulation, Polypipe, Kerridge Commercial Systems, The Build Show More than 50 additional suppliers are supporting the event as Platinum, Gold or Silver sponsors and will be represented at the 2019 BMF Conference in Dubrovnik.

PBM JUNE 2019 23

TIMBER & JOINERY

Walnut from James Latham used in doors and joinery

Hard to resist? Timber is already a profitable category, but could high value hardwoods offer merchants an option to expand into new areas of business? PBM reports.

imes have certainly changed from the days when tropical hardwoods represented reputational risk, says Andy Duffin, Director at James Latham Timber and Chairman of the Timber Trade Federation’s National Hardwood Division: “If you buy hardwoods today from a Timber Trade Federation member, you will be buying from a company that has undertaken rigorous research into its supply chains and has subjected its due diligence practices to regular third-party audits under the Federation’s Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP). Utilising the RPP is how companies like James Latham mitigate risk in our supply chains.” Andy continued: “Rarer tropical species often have better supply chain controls and

checks than more popular temperate species. As part of our assessment, we look in detail at the many different schemes now covering legality of harvesting and log traceability: the two main certification schemes, FSC and PEFC cover sustainability of both products and supply. The secondary schemes mainly cover the legality of the harvesting in the country concerned. Our interaction with all such schemes is then independently audited as part of the Timber Trade Federation’s RPP process.” Hardwood merchant Gilmour & Aitken assist many general builders' merchants in achieving hardwood sales, as Marketing Manager Nicola Aitken, explains: “If you are at all nervous about taking on tropical hardwoods, be aware that many species are

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Gilmour & Aitken's Operations Director Rod Aitken in South America enacting due diligence by checking the location of a harvested tree stump.

now available with either FSC or PEFC certification, or have passed the relevant hurdles to be acceptable under EUTR. “Hardwoods are the opposite of a merchant’s normal fayre — they’re low volume but high value,” she continues. “On the joinery side, Meranti and Sapele are

PBM JUNE 2019 27

TIMBER & JOINERY

good entry species. Utile and Iroko are also worth investigating for joinery customers: both are stable and durable and excellent for use externally. “Another way of entering the hardwood market is through decking,” Nicola adds. “The service life of hardwood decking can be at least 20-30 years. We sell Balau decking and machine our own Opepe decking, neither of which need timber treatment. If you recommend a hardwood deck you also need to recommend hardwood under-deck joists as softwood joists would deteriorate far faster than the hardwood deck sitting on the top. Similarly, hardwood fence posts also last longer in ground contact than softwood ones.” Paul Holstead, Commercial Director at Timbmet, is also aware of merchants’ need for advice to make the most of hardwood sales potential. He said: “Hardwoods are not the easiest things to sell: each piece is different, unlike the standard-sized products in, say, sheet materials or softwoods. Merchants can therefore be hesitant to get involved, as hardwoods require a level of knowledge of the different materials and their uses. “However, we’ve recognised this need for knowledge and we’re doing something about it. We’re converting our Oxford headquarters showroom into a training room. The different hardwood displays are separated geographically, so you can see where they come from alongside the features and benefits of each of the 21 different hardwood species we stock. We also have a 300,000 sq ft operation which customers can visit to see everything from the selection process onwards.” James Latham’s Andy Duffin agrees with the need for greater customer education, explaining: “As an industry, we’re not as good as we should be in training our merchant customer base

Walnut from James Latham used in doors and joinery

in hardwoods. That’s a conversation we really should be having with you.” Yet Andy clearly feels there are a variety of business opportunities for merchants who have the right knowledge in place, from standard to bespoke products. He continued: “Meranti is coming in already-processed from Indonesia and Malaysia. This has attracted consumer interest via a range of standard products, but as ever, consumers are now looking for the possibility of more bespoke mouldings.” Merchants also need products which are ‘fairly hardy’. Andy says: “The nature of merchanting means things will inevitably get moved around in the timber yard. European Oak sleepers are pretty hardy and have a relatively high value. Hardwood flooring in a box is also easy to move when necessary. Ash is a useful species as it can be stained to look like Oak or easily painted in fashionable colours. It’s also hard-wearing and durable. Walnut is another popular choice.” Meanwhile, Paul Holstead notes: “European and American Oak are by far the biggest sellers, but Ash, Walnut, Poplar and red hardwoods are also seeing strong demand.” Timbmet’s hardwood Red Grandis range

So, what are some of the other challenges and advantages of marketing hardwoods? According to Nicola, “one of the key challenges is getting across the message that sustainable hardwoods are not ‘bad for the planet’. Well-managed forestry keeps the tree canopy intact, providing an income in fragile forest economies and thus a sustainable economic future.” She adds: “In fact, the single biggest marketing advantage of tropical hardwoods is their carbon storage potential, which is becoming more important in work for local and national authorities. As a rule of thumb, the more dense the timber, the greater its carbon storage potential — locking up CO2 in the wood fibre for its lifetime in use.” Summing up the prospects, Timbmet’s Paul Holstead says: “There is a distinct margin opportunity with hardwoods. Those merchants who are investing in training specific hardwood timber champions are seeing a business benefit. It’s also a field which has less competitors than the general run of timber products, so honing your hardwood knowledge and service offering can certainly improve your sales potential — along with enhancing your reputation.” ■ For more information on Timber Trade Federation members, use the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf006

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TIMBER & JOINERY

Snows Timber’s Mansfield Distribution Centre

Under new management PBM visited Snows Timber’s National Sales Office in Towcester to discuss the company’s recent management buyout with its new owners, Ian Church, Craig Willoughby and Adam Cray.

commitment to “offering a service that is second to none in the sector” is the key message presented by the three new owners of Snows Timber. Respectful of a heritage that stretches back to the company’s foundation in the late 1800s, the successful management buyout from the Bradfords Group brings Snows Timber back into independent ownership and marks the next phase of a period of modernisation and transformation that has been taking place over the last two years. Following a strategic review to focus on its core merchanting operations, Badfords had made the decision to divest its interest in the Snows Timber distribution business. Snows’ Managing Director Ian Church — alongside Craig Willoughby, Supply Chain Director, and Finance Director Adam Cray — had their MBO bid approved by Bradfords in January, with the deal finally completed in March. The new leadership team say that the deal puts the business on “a very strong financial footing” with its new-found independence from such a well-known merchant organisation enabling it to reach out further to the market as a whole. Ian said: “This is great news for us and for Snows’ customers. It enables us to create a truly agile business and to continue investing in the areas that really need it. In our customer service proposition, we aim to be the very best in our sector. What excites us the most is the fact we are now truly independent.

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“We could all see that there was value in the business and we are confident in underlying strength of market and that we can increase market share. Independence has been very well received by the customers.” Leading up to the MBO, the company’s former head office and distribution centre in Glastonbury was sold to Sydenhams, however under its new independent ownership, the leadership team plan to build on the work that had already taken place following Ian’s arrival in April 2017. For example, in May last year the firm moved its regional sales offices to a central location in Towcester, Northamptonshire to implement a more “streamlined and consistent service” to customers. Supporting a team of five business development managers on the road, this facility now acts as its new head office. A major £500,000 refurbishment of Snows’ facility in Mansfield was completed late last year which saw the installation of a new high-speed line in the mill to increase processing capacity and the site reconfigured to accommodate more warehousing space and hard standing ground. In addition, a new ERP system has been introduced within the last two years, whilst the implementation of routing and scheduling software from Routyn quickly improved transport planning, resulting in “more accurate deliveries, a reduction in human error, and increased ability to meet customers’ bespoke needs.” In turn, this enabled the business to refocus resources in its distribution centres (a second DC is located in Andover), enabling it to concentrate on even more activities to benefit the customer including the “increased capacity to pick and mill product” and allowing the firm to develop better and more integrated sales and operations planning processes.

The changes allowed Snows to deliver the same volume of products with 25% fewer vehicles covering 10% fewer miles. As a result, the company has been able to review its fleet and introduce seven new curtain side lorries to complement its already extensive range of vehicles whilst it also earned recognition by winning the award for Innovation at the Logistics Leadership Awards. In addition to the focus over the last two years on the ‘behind the scenes’ work to

Meet the team Ian Church, Mana ging Director Ian joined Snows in April 2017 having previously held the position of Operations Director with Bradfords Building Supplies. Ian’s earlier career saw him working within the Travis Perkins Group where his roles included MD of TP Midlands, MD PTS & MD Group Trade Parks & Managed Services. Adam Cray, Finance Director Adam has extensive knowledge of the commercial and operational aspects of the business, having been with Snows Timber for five years. He is an ACCA qualified accountant and prior to joining Snows, he spent seven years in accounting practice with PwC. Craig Willoughby, Supply Chain & Logistics Director Craig joined Snows as Supply Chain and Logistics Director in 2017 from Bis Henderson Consulting where he was Operations Director for five years. Prior to that he held senior positions in Supply Chain Operations & Planning for Wincanton and J Sainsbury.

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improve the service proposition to merchants, Snows has also taken a close look at its product provision. Whilst it has looked to streamline its range — in essence, eliminating the ‘near duplication’ of certain profiles — and to simplify choice for its customers, the company imports, processes and distributes over 1,000 timber lines including PSE, skirting & architrave, interior mouldings, panel products, carcassing, cladding, flooring and fencing & landscaping products. It has pledged to “continue working towards a more sustainable environment and build on (and improve) its existing sustainable business practice” which sees it already offer certification on 99% of its timber products. Similarly, a commitment to innovation will also see it take on new ranges such as the hardwood ‘Provincial Plank’ premium interior cladding introduced last year. Looking ahead, the company is striving to become even more responsive to the

needs of its merchant customers. Ian explained: “I’m not sure it has totally sunken in that we own the business, because it really is different to working for someone else. The fact that we are now totally independent is the biggest thing for all of us, however we recognise that we’ve got a long way to go yet. “Customer expectations have changed. Fulfilment and speed of delivery are part of the world we’re living in. We’re part way along the journey, but we have a clear vision

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and a clear strategy — and we are genuinely excited about the opportunity that’s ahead.” Craig concludes: “We’re really proud of the work over the last 18 months, as there’s already been a massive amount of change. We’ve got to take our customers on the journey with us, but we’ve got a really strong footing to get our service to be the best in the industry, and that’s what we’ll do.” ■ For more information on Snow’s Timber, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf049

JANUARY 2016 PBM 35

TIMBER & JOINERY

Moving with the times Simon Fleet, Group Commercial Director at W.Howard Group, discusses why product safety standards are becoming increasingly important as the industry moves towards off-site manufacture and system solutions, whilst also considering the impact for the merchant sector. Furthermore, off-site homes can be built up to 30% more quickly than those built using traditional building methods, according to research by the Government, which has pledged to use part of the £3 billion Home Builders’ Fund to stimulate growth of this sector.

he UK construction industry is continuing to suffer the effects of the skills shortage — a problem that shows no sign of going away. Despite widespread acknowledgement that the UK needs to build many more houses, the government’s pledge to deliver 300,000 homes each year remains a pipe dream, in part because of a lack of skilled tradespeople. Indeed, the construction labour market is predicted to shrink up to a further 25% over the next 10 years, as skilled tradespeople retire and fewer young people choose a career in construction. In an attempt to tackle this problem, the industry is increasingly looking towards off-site manufacturing and the provision of ‘solutions’ rather than just products — where a whole system solution is designed and manufactured by a single company, before being delivered to site as a finished unit. This leaves housebuilders safe in the knowledge that the entire system will work together seamlessly. It also saves tradespeople time on site, as the systems can be installed more quickly without the delays that can occur if they are built on site.

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Safety first Merchants are not immune to this push towards off-site and system solution manufacturing. Many are looking to streamline the number of product suppliers they work with, both to simplify the administration and back office work involved in the buying and delivery process, and ensure the products they sell can be more easily combined into complete systems that will work together. Accordingly, it is vital that the products merchants choose to stock are fit for purpose and specified correctly, so they can be sold safe in the knowledge they will do exactly what the tradesperson needs. It is, therefore, the responsibility of every part of the supply chain — from manufacturer through to merchant and installer — to ensure they understand the regulations and standards relating to each product and type of installation, and that they only specify and install fully compliant products. This is especially true when it comes to timber, which must adhere to a number of different standards and regulations depending on its intended use. Safety and compliance is an issue that must always come first, for example, when it comes to fire doors. Most people understand the importance of specifying and installing fire doors correctly, but the door itself is not the only part of that safety system that must adhere to strict fire regulations. Door linings and casings are also strictly regulated, to ensure

occupants safety in the event of a fire. After all, an FD-60 rated fire door in a property won’t provide adequate protection if the door lining and casing that surrounds it is not also adequately tested against fire ingress. According to the British Woodworking Federation, door frames and lining sets for 60 minute fire doors should be made of hardwood, with a density greater than 650 kg/m3. For 30-minute fire doors, the frames or linings can be made of softwood, with a minimum density of 450 kg/m3 (or to match the density and frame dimensions given in the manufacturers’ installation instructions). W.Howard understands the importance of correct certification on all its products, which is why all its MDF door linings and casing sets are CERTIFIRE-approved for use with specified fire doors. CERTIFIRE is an independent certification scheme that tests and assures the performance, quality, and traceability of products intended for use in fire safety situations. The CERTIFIRE brand is recognised as an international mark of fire safety across a wide range of products, including door casings and linings. W.Howard Group obtains its CERTIFIRE rating from Warringtonfire, an inspection, certification and consulting service facility that thoroughly tests third-party products to ensure compliance with all the relevant fire regulations. The company’s primed FD30 casings and linings are half-hour fire rated, and comply with the requirements of BS476: part 22. A moisture-resistant MDF core ensures the linings are dimensionally stable, with no knots, warps or defects. Don’t forget the finish Once safety standards have been checked and adhered to, it’s important not to forget the final finishing touches — which can often be rushed

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in the final days of a project, when time on site is short and deadlines are approaching. Creating recesses and hinge pockets in door frames once they have been fitted can be awkward and time consuming, and builders looking for those off-site solutions are, again, turning to manufacturers who can provide these products pre-drilled, with all the necessary recesses cut out and ready to be fitted with the chosen door hardware and ironmongery. W. Howard has a self-contained CNC facility at its factory, with a reciprocal loading facility to maximise machining time efficiencies. This means it can machine hinge pockets and recesses to precise engineering tolerances, providing accuracy and consistency that saves the tradesperson considerable time on site. Door casings and lining sets can then be delivered to site with recesses, pilot-holed hinge pockets, or with

the hinges, latches, and strike plates already installed, to save even more time. As builders look for solutions that help them work smarter, reducing time on site and simplifying what can be a complex workload, merchants must also keep up with new technologies and ways of working, so they will always offer exactly what their customers want. Aligning themselves closely with manufacturers who have the flexibility to deliver complete, finished solutions is a sure-fire way to stay at the front of the industry.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As builders look for solutions that help them work smarter, reducing time on site and simplifying what can be a complex workload, merchants must also keep up with new technologies and ways of working.â&#x20AC;? â&#x2013; For product videos and downloads from the W. Howard website, use the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf007

TIMBER & JOINERY NORBORD MDF PRODUCTS Norbord’s CaberWood range of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) is described as being both the longest-standing portfolio on the market and one of the most versatile. The resulting board is tough, easily worked and suitable for a range of building applications — from skirting boards, architraves and mouldings to furniture and fittings. With key features and benefits of the board including finish, routing capability and screwholding, five grades are available from the basic lightweight, general purpose grade CaberWood MDF Trade, to the top-ofthe-range CaberWood MDF Industrial — a “hardworking, deep routing, moisture-resistant product with uniform density all the way through”. Completing the range are CaberWood MDF Pro, CaberWood MDF Pro MR and CaberWood MDF Trade MR which are each designed for a specific range of projects.

www.rdr.link/mf008

DURA COMPOSITES CLASS B FIRE RATED COMPOSITE TIMBER CLADDING Described as the UK’s first coextruded composite timber cladding with a Class B fire rating that is tested in accordance with ‘genuine install methodology’ from a UKAS approved laboratory, Dura Cladding Resist is also said to offer superior performance over traditional residential cladding materials. Easy to install and available in six wood-look colours to suit every style of home, the product features a unique ‘armoured layer’ to help protect the core of the plank from the elements to ensure the cladding always looks like new. Furthermore, the company’s FSC 100% chain of custody certification means that the wood content comes from wellmanaged forests, and up to 78% of the materials used are recycled hardwood and plastic too.

www.rdr.link/mf009

NYTIMBER NYTROOF Indicative of the ways in which merchants can position themselves to take advantage of the growth in off-site solutions, NYTimber has recently supplied its 4,000th NYTRoof following a series of contract wins from some of the UK’s largest housebuilders. Comprising gable and party spandrels and preinsulated cassettes which replace attic trusses, the panelised ‘room in the roof’ system is NHBC approved and has Robust Detail Accreditation. The system is said to dramatically increase the speed of build whilst also reducing risk exposure to construction workers who are now required to spend much less time working at a height. Established in 1979, NYTimber is now part of the National Timber Group following investment from Cairngorm Capital Partners. It introduced the NYTRoof system in 2013, joining its range of off-site manufactured timber products such as spandrel panels and trussed rafters. Nick Kershaw, NYTimber MD, said: “The housebuilding industry is embracing off-site solutions to realise efficiency gains. Many companies are leaving behind supply and fit models that no longer make economic sense when the product can be delivered in kitform and fitted by local tradespeople.”

XL JOINERY LIGHTHOUSE CLUB PARTNERSHIP

Created with zero-added formaldehyde, as is standard across the range, Smartply Ultima is described as being the strongest, most moisture resistant OSB4 panel produced by the company and is said to be suitable for use in the most demanding structural applications. The manufacturer asserts that at a time where modern methods of construction demand ever stronger, more efficient, sustainable products, new panel technologies have a big part to play. Having been designed to meet the “scale and structural demands” required by off-site construction, the panel is made using precision strand orientation and continuous pressing technology to result in a smooth, consistent finish. The product is available in large panel formats up to 2.8m wide by 7.5m long and to a maximum thickness of 40mm.

XL Joinery has teamed up with construction industry charity the Lighthouse Club. The company has pledged to donate 25p from each sale of its Suffolk Essential doors to support the charity’s vital work in striving to improve the safety and emotional wellbeing of construction workers. The Suffolk Range is a ‘best-seller’ from XL Joinery and comprises three internal oak doors with each one boasting a solid core, superior heat retention and sound insulation. The range offers three options suited to different budgets — Essential, Original and Statement. Of the partnership, Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, said: “We’re extremely grateful for the donation from XL Joinery. We receive no public funding so rely on the generosity of those within the industry to help carry out our work.”

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MEDITE SMARTPLY SMARTPLY ULTIMA

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SÖDRA WOOD SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERSHIPS

VICAIMA FIRE DOORS Vicaima is highlighting the “realities of the changing world” in relation to fire doors and related risk-critical products, arguing that all in the sector should be aware of the urgent need to specify truly compliant products that play a significant role in the process of safety. Following the tragic events of the Grenfell disaster in 2017, a greater understanding has emerged of the evident shortcomings of custom and practice in relation to fire safety, where the cheapest solution took precedence over properly certified and tested fire safe product solutions, such as fire doors and fire door assemblies. The recently published document ‘Building a Safer Future’ commits the government to a programme of reform which includes: • • • •

The implementation of the Hackitt recommendations Create a more effective regulatory and accountability framework The introduction of clearer standards and guidance A vision to create a culture change

The result of these actions will mean tougher sanctions for those who disregard residents’ safety, and more rigorous standards. Moreover, the government has also committed to carrying out a full technical review of Approved Document B. In the meantime, Vicaima says that its fire performance products offer a “benchmark to the industry with exceptional test evidence… incorporating key elements of Hackitt’s recommendations”. The manufacturer says that third party accreditation is assured, with adherence to two nationally recognised and highly reputable bodies — BWF-Certifire and BM TRADA Q-Mark — to verify the performance of its products. The company also stresses the importance of looking beyond the fire door in isolation and considering components including the correct frame and ironmongery. Alongside fire doors, Vicaima manufactures an extensive range of doorset and kit solutions to create a complete, fully tested assembly via its Easi-Fit and Portaro brands.

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With ongoing uncertainty around Brexit and an everincreasing demand for high quality, sustainable timber, Södra Wood’s Nigel Buckley-Ryan asserts that it has never been so important for merchants to “get to know your timber supplier and what they can do for you”. The manufacturer’s UK Sales Director for Merchants explains open and honest conversations with a dependable longterm partner will ensure “the very best timber solutions for merchants and their customers”. Nigel says: “It is mutually beneficial for merchants to let their suppliers know what their plans are as early as possible. Suppliers need to understand their customers’ plans and ambitions for growth. What stock do you have? What stock do you need? Which products do you anticipate needing more of? Armed with this knowledge, suppliers can tailor their offering to help merchants achieve their goals.” He adds: “More practically, suppliers can help merchants get the most out of the products they’re selling. This could include, for example, advice on how best to store and care for timber, manage temperature and humidity, protect timber from the weather, be savvy with storage, and properly rotate stock. “Good suppliers can also help merchants recommend, sell or market products with staff training, various marketing materials, high-quality product imagery or support with exhibitions, trade shows and conferences.

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ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION

Standard bearer Keith Plummer, Technical Manager at Ubbink, asks whether the new BS 8612 ‘Dry Fix Solutions’ will lead to a better future for all with a focus on the components and accessories essential to ensure a quality system is put in place.

ritish Standards has recently launched BS 8612: Dry-Fixed Ridge, Hip and Verge Systems to raise and control manufacturing quality levels. This implementation has already seen some products being redeveloped and improved by manufacturers to comply with the new standards and tests. The industry must carry the responsibility to ensure all manufacturers produce quality products — in return, specifiers select these quality products, merchants supply quality products, contractors fit quality products and house

owners can be assured their roof complies and will function correctly. The time is well overdue where legislation and performance stand up and be counted! British Standard BS 5250: Control of Condensation in Building and BS 5534: Slating and Tiling have been in place for years to ensure professional and consistent building conditions are adhered to. BS 5534 was last reviewed and updated five years ago after the industry and experts deemed mortar bedding for ridge and hip less trustworthy, with a shorter lifespan than newer technologies. In turn, BS 5534 was

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revised stating that all ridge and hip tiles had to be mechanically fixed — even when mortar had been used to improve the fix. BS 5250 and BS 5534:2014 were very clear on how and where the products needed to be installed to meet the requirements, however, what wasn’t available was a British Standard to test the products and their durability. With more harsh and adverse weather conditions hitting the UK each year, some systems were failing which resulted in delays on sites and returns to builds to fix systems that had become loose or totally disengaged due to the high winds and snow loads.

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ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION

Over the last few years in particular, Dry Verge systems have become increasingly popular as it allows not only additional securing points for the roof tiles, but replaces the need for mortar, meeting current regulations. But with the increase of products in the market, it has become more and more difficult to specify/stock a durable system — often, the products look alike with similar features but have hidden compromises to reduce cost. Early examples of Dry Verge Systems had inherited well known and common issues such as poor quality raw material being used, resulting in units warping and just not being resilient enough. Similarly, units were being secured either to the end of an extended cut

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tile batten or directly to the barge board, resulting in a less secure fix. The introduction of the Ubbink face fixing batten bracket is a key point and improves the fix immensely. If there was no barge board for the starter unit to be installed to, the contractor was forced to come up with other ways of securing the eaves unit — one way was with the use of some wire threaded through the unit and secured to a nail or screw to the fascia board, with this method deemed unacceptable under the new standards. To overcome this problem, the Ubbink batten bracket can be used in conjunction with the starter unit to give the necessary permanent fixing. Once the system was installed these issues were not clearly visible, so ‘out of sight out of mind’ until the bad weather hits and failings became more obvious — causing problems for all involved in the supply chain. The most common visible issue that did stand out was the allowance of rain water to either drip or run down the gable wall of the property, leaving an unsightly staining. Industry experts soon realised that the increase in verge products on the market without any standard was proving difficult for specifiers and housebuilders to know they were selecting a trustworthy quality system with longevity. This is where the start of BS 8612 came into fruition, with all the common factors of Dry-Fix installs being discussed and

how these should — and could — be overcome to improve current builds. This gives all parties involved in the selection process, from stockists to end users, the confidence that what is being used on a project is up to a level of expectation and not a weak solution. The new British Standard BS 8612 has been introduced to ensure that Dry Fix roofing products pass the physical demands like vertical load for wind uplift, rain drainage as well as an accelerated colour fast test, for aesthetics. The full independent range of tests are carried out by the experts at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in Watford and are calibrated to indicate which of the products can be installed within the correct wind zones, if the full system has been used and installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Ubbink’s Dry Fix Systems — Universal Dry Verge and Ventilated Dry Ridge Kits — are fully tested and compliant with BS8612 as tested at BRE. Many of the product features overcome the common industry issues mentioned previously, enabling a quick, easy and reliable install. Hopefully the new testing procedures will give a greater confidence in the products, irrespective of whoever made them, for stockists, specifiers, installers and developers alike. By ensuring the reassurance that if the standards are met and the manufacturer’s instructions are followed, then there should be no need for a return to make a repair. ■ For more information on Ubbink’s Dry Fix Systems from the company’s website, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf014

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ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION

PEP talk PBM speaks with Quinn Building Products to discover more about the ‘added reassurance’ now on offer from its Quinn Therm insulation brand.

he insulation industry has been no doubt affected by events in recent years, with a growing demand for reassurance that insulation products meet the highest standards. Builders’ merchants are certainly in need of some surety to give them the confidence in recommending insulation products to their customers. The British Board of Agrément (BBA) has taken steps to address this need for greater certainty with the rollout of its Product Excellence Programme, which puts products through more frequent and stringent testing to ensure the certification criteria is being met on an ongoing basis. Quinn Therm fully supports this move to a more tightly controlled certification system, immediately enrolling in the Product Excellence Programme, and the brand has just been through the bi-annual audit process with the BBA to verify the integrity of Quinn’s insulation products. BBA Auditors visited the Quinn Therm manufacturing facilities in May 2019 to conduct the audit (main picture). Speaking of the new Programme and Quinn Therm’s involvement, the company’s General Manager, Peadar Maguire, said: “We’re fully committed to any measures which give our customers greater confidence in the quality of our products. It’s essential that we as an industry put in place the most

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robust quality assurance measures and BBA certification has always been acknowledged as the best standard to meet. “This new Product Excellence Programme comes at a time when there is greater concern among builders’ merchants, specifiers and end users and it is a priority for us to demonstrate the integrity of our products and processes so the industry can trust in the products we’re supplying.” Peadar continued: “The beauty of the new system is that it verifies that we continue to meet the highest standards on a continual basis, and not just at a single point in time. This transparency certainly gives a greater degree of comfort and trust.” PEP Audit Process As part of the Product Excellence Programme Audit Process, BBA Management System Auditors visit the manufacturing facilities to ensure the certified products are being manufactured in line with the agreed quality plan. Whilst on site, the Auditors select a number of product samples at random to undergo physical testing at the BBA Test Centre of Excellence in Watford. The selection of products and the frequency of testing is dependent on two criteria: • Complexity 1 Products are products which possess fire or structural type

characteristics. These products will be tested annually. • Complexity 2 Products are products which DO NOT possess fire or structural type characteristics. These will be tested triennially. Once the product samples have been selected, they are securely packed by the manufacturer to safeguard against damage in transit, ensuring identifying labels or markings remain intact and shipped to the BBA Test Centre of Excellence in Watford. The product samples then undergo testing to the rigorous BBA standards by an independent and UKAS-approved testing authority. Once passed, the manufacturer is issued with a new BBA product certification which verifies that the tested products have successfully been verified as part of the Product Excellence Programme. In outlining the BBA’s new Product Excellence Programme and the benefits to the industry, Claire Curtis Thomas, the BBA’s CEO, commented: “Prior to the introduction of this programme, the BBA already had an excellent method of verifying the quality of products. We go out to factories and manufacturing installations twice a year and we have a very thorough audit of both processes and the elements that

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lead to the final product being produced. So, we were pretty confident that our systems were robust — but the market and the consumer want more than that now. “They don’t want to just know that the product has been subject to twice a year visits. They want to know that the product itself has actually been physically tested — and this is the purpose of the Product Excellence Programme. We will be physically testing things so that we can say, ‘the product you are purchasing is the one that is being made in this factory now, so you can have confidence in that fact and you can use that product with the confidence of that knowledge’.” Meeting BBA Certification Standards Quinn Therm products are required to meet or exceed performance targets in relation to thermal conductivity, core water vapour resistivity and compressive strength in order to achieve and maintain their BBA Certification. These standards are: • Thermal conductivity: 0.022W/mK • Core water vapour resistivity: 300 MNs/gm • Compressive strength: >150kPa. In addition to the product performance requirements, Quinn Therm has agreed quality control procedures with the BBA which are assessed during the audit process. These documented controls cover every area of the manufacturing process, from the quality control operated over batches of incoming materials, the production process, the management of non-conformities and the checking of equipment to ensure it has been properly tested and calibrated. Quinn Therm gained its first BBA Certificates in 2005 and has since achieved certification for its full product range with the list of its BBA Certified Products including: • • • • • • • • • •

Quinn Therm QF Quinn Therm QR Quinn Therm QL-Kraft Quinn Therm QL-Foil Quinn Therm QRFR-FFR Quinn Therm QRFR-GFR Quinn Therm QRFR-DPFR Quinn Therm QW Quinn Therm QW Partial Fill Cavity Wall Quinn Therm Isoshield Full Fill. ■ For more information on the BBA Certified Quinn Therm range, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf015

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION

Go large With a growing number of challenges confronting the market, cost-effectiveness and a focus on protecting margins and profits can become even more important factors than usual. Rachel Appleyard, Concrete & Lead Product Manager at BMI UK & Ireland, puts the argument into a roofing context.

n uncertain times such as these, fashion, style and material are less trend drivers than cost-effectiveness and a focus on protecting margins and profits. Trends in roofing are no different and with there seeming to be a slight slowing of projects at the moment — for example, some indicators for the housing market not at their most optimistic — we continue to see a shift, by developers at least, towards large format concrete tiles. Volume housebuilders now prefer large format interlocking concrete tiles for ease and rate of laying — not least because there are fewer tiles per m². With the speed of build increasing dramatically over recent decades, it’s obvious why a tile that is faster to lay and requiring fewer per roof, would appeal. Large-format concrete tiles are highly cost-effective because of these installation benefits and give developers, contractors, specifiers and local authorities the opportunity to roof and re-roof relatively inexpensively.

One popular example of a large-format concrete tile is the BMI Redland DuoPlain range. This combines the classic proportions and good looks of traditional plain tiles with all the time and cost-saving features of a modern, large-format interlocking tile. Another often overlooked benefit of large-format concrete tiles — common to DuoPlain and comparable tiles — and something that increases their appeal to some specifiers and public authorities, is their sustainability in the context of embodied carbon. Engineering consultants Arup — commissioned by BMI UK & Ireland — analysed the carbon dioxide emissions of the company’s operations. The figures in the Arup report show that the embodied energy of concrete tiles at 91-146MJ/m2 is half that of equivalent clay tiles. These results can be significant for builders needing to describe the sustainability of their buildings to local

planning authorities and so add to their appeal as being — alongside format and price — a stock item for merchants. Given the understandable premium of alternative pitched roof coverings in both material and installation costs, it is also reassuring that large-format concrete tiles still offer good aesthetics when specified for volume housing that demand a high degree of kerb appeal. In uncertain times such as these, a further point is that it is not just about the materials but also security of supply. So it is important to identify suppliers — such as BMI UK & Ireland — for whom quality is inherent; who are robust and able to weather any market storm; who offer a secure supply chain; and who provide warranted solutions for fewer issues and increased customer satisfaction. ■ BMI UK & Ireland produces and supplies a comprehensive range of concrete, clay, metal and reconstituted slate tiles, reinforced bitumen membranes, single-ply systems and liquid waterproofing solutions as well as an extensive collection of fittings, components and building membranes. Its key brands include Redland, Icopal, Cambrian and Decra. ■ For more information on the BMI Redland DuoPlain range, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf016

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PBM JUNE 2019 43

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION

Leading edge Ariel Plastics argues that merchants can edge ahead of the competition with its new Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system — a re-engineered dry fix roofing solution that is said to be fast, easy-to-fit and fully compatible with an expansive range of roof tiles.

eveloped, re-engineered and designed for ease of installation and to provide a neat mortarless finish at roof verges on new build and retrofit projects, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system is a 100% mortar-free, dry fix solution, offering a hard-wearing, durable and attractive finish to the roofline without the inconvenience of using mortar bedding. Manufactured from lightweight, modern plastic materials that are easy-to-install and weather resistant, the system protects the roof verge from wind uplift, pest infestation and weather degradation. Available in Brown, Anthracite Grey and Terracotta, this all-weather system includes Starter Piece, Verge Section, Batten Clip, and, Angled and Half-Round Ridge Caps options to suit the ridge style. Fully adjustable for installation with tiles of between 260-350mm gauges, it is designed to be quick and easy to install, and offers “a wealth of features to make life easier for the installer, giving a more superior dry verge solution for both new build and renovation projects”.

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For example, the temporary ‘True-Line’ guide in the Starter Piece ensures it is correctly lined up with the tiles, guaranteeing perfect alignment on the roof, whilst a handy cut out area provides the flexibility to work around existing gutters. Attention to detail and consideration of the installers needs are said to have played a crucial part in developing this product. For instance, the Verge Sections are not handed to fit both the left hand and right hand sides of the roof verge for ease of installation. Similarly, the ‘True-Connect’ locators fit the ‘True Mount’ allowing adjustable positioning of the Verge Sections to suit various tile gauges. An in-built ‘drip strip’, meanwhile, allows rainwater to run off the Verge, avoiding wall staining and potential damp. Furthermore, there are flex points on the Ridge Caps which allow for differing roof angles and a choice of angled and half round options to suit the ridge style. Commenting on the launch, Paul Goddard, Sales Director of Ariel Plastics, said: “With the construction industry reaping the benefits of dry fix products, we

have re-engineered the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge System so that it is fast and simple to install, and fully compatible with a wide range of tiles. It’s set to become the go-to, hassle-free dry verge system for merchant customers, offering a clean, attractive and maintenance-free finish.” Laying claim to “offering the widest choice of roofing sheet, rooflights and roofing accessories available in the UK”, Ariel Plastics states that it has built a reputation for providing specialist roofing and glazing solutions “for any application”. Selling predominantly through independent and national merchants, the company says that the new Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system complements its extensive Corodrain roof drainage and Corovent roof ventilation portfolios. ■ To access video content on the new system, including an interview with Marketing Manager Hayley Lowry at the recent NMBS Exhibition, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf 17 to visit Ariel Plastics’ YouTube channel.

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ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION BRETT MARTIN ARIEL PLASTICS COROVERGE UNIVERSAL DRY VERGE SYSTEM

KLOBER PERMO EXTREME RS SK2

Developed, re-engineered and designed to provide a neat mortarless finish at roof verges on new build and retrofit projects alike, the Ariel Plastics Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system from Brett Martin is a 100% mortar-free, dry fix solution. Manufactured from lightweight, modern plastic materials that are easy-to-install and weather resistant, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system protects the roof verge from wind uplift, pest infestation and weather degradation. Available in Brown, Anthracite Grey and Terracotta, this all-weather system includes Starter Piece, Verge Section, Batten Clip, and, Angled and Half-Round Ridge Caps options to suit the ridge style.

Designed for use on low pitched roofs, Permo extreme RS SK2 from Klober is a waterproof, tear-resistant underlay. It is suitable for profile tiles pitched at 12.5° or more, 15° for slates and 22.5° for plain tiles. It is manufactured from a bondable two-layered underlay with a shrink-resistant TPU coating on a PES (polyethersulphone) fleece which allows vapour to escape, while keeping rain water out. Double self-adhesive edge strips provide a permanent seal and immediate weatherproofing against wind, rain and snow; while the PES fleece also incorporates a capillary stop to control the formation of condensation. Another benefit of Permo extreme is that it dispenses with the need for plywood or OSB support boards and counter battens.

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MARLEY ANTHRACITE Following increase in demand for cost-effective alternatives to natural slate, Marley has added a fourth colour option to its Edgemere range. The new Anthracite colour choice has been developed to provide a closer aesthetic match to natural slate and can be used to a low minimum pitch of 17.5°, with the Riven providing a surface texture similar to a more natural slate appearance. The Edgemere range also delivers environmental benefits, with an A+ rating in the BRE’s ‘Green Guide to Specification’ and BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification, whilst extra credits are available for the use of Edgemere on projects being built to the Home Quality Mark or BREEAM.

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NORBORD CABERSHIELDPLUS Based on Norbord’s moisture-resistant CaberFloor P5 panel, CaberShieldPlus is designed to withstand exposure to wet conditions and features protection on both sides. The top surface has a permanent non-slip coating that prevents damage to the board and ensures a safe working platform, while the underside is protected with a smooth coating that protects against damage and makes the board easy to slide into position. For added durability, the coating applied to CaberShieldPlus is not designed to be peeled off after completion, but is bonded permanently on both sides of the panel. The 2,400 by 600mm tongue-and-grooved panels are available in 18 and 22mm thicknesses and are colour-coded for easy identification of the top surface.

WOODPECKER FLOORING CATALOGUE The 2019 Woodpecker Flooring catalogue features a range of new products, imagery and a refreshed design. Two new chevron designs have joined the Goodrich collection, with Cashmere and Manor Oak bolstering the choice of patterned looks from the range. Woodpecker’s new distressed herringbone floors also feature, recreating the look of antique timber. The Brecon range has been updated with two new natural shades as well, which are moisture resistant throughout and feature a built-in underlay.

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WELSH SLATE CWT Y BUGAILS Welsh Slate’s products have been used for a development in Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross, which has been refurbished by developer Argent. The new roofs of the ornate cast-iron and brick structures have been slated with 92,000 new versions of the original Welsh Slates — 500 by 250mm Cwt Y Bugails from the manufacturer’s Llan Ffestiniog quarry in North Wales — by Banbury-based specialist sub-contractor Attleys Roofing. Attleys also used 6,400 500 by 300mm Heather Blues from Welsh Slate’s main Penrhyn quarry for the re-roof of the nearby German Gymnasium — said to be the first purpose-built gym in England — which is now a designer restaurant.

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PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS

Dealing with damp Hudson Lambert, Director of Safeguard Europe, looks at the alternatives to traditional plasters when seeking to re-cover damp walls, considering the possibilities of impervious coverings along with hybrid and insulated plasterboards.

raditional plasters have been used on internal walls for thousands of years to create smooth, decorative surfaces. Lime-based plasters, for instance, were being used in Jordan as long ago as 7500 BC while clay and gypsum plasters were used in ancient China and India. In the UK, lime plaster — either applied directly to walls or onto timber laths — was used until the middle of the 19th century, until ceding a dominant position to gypsum plasters and then, since WW2, gypsum plasterboards. These are all quality systems and quite durable when applied to dry walls. However, in the face of rising or penetrating damp, gypsum boards and lime or gypsum plasters can start to fail. This is especially the case where the dampness introduces salts into the plasterwork. Consequently, there is a need for internal plastering systems that are impervious to this sort of damp damage. Previously, the solution would have been sand: cement plasters, based on strong mixes (typically 3:1) of sharp sand and cement, and often with a waterproofing additive incorporated. There is no doubt that these are very effective at holding back damp and salts, however they have their own downsides such as condensation risk, poor insulation qualities and a ‘cold feel’ that is unpopular with building occupants. Also slow and expensive to apply, they are not suitable for traditional buildings (because they can’t

flex), don’t breathe and can damage underlying brickwork. Alternatives were seen in the first generation of refurbishment plasters, typically composed of cement, lime, perlite, and calcium stearate; yet their resistance against damp and salts was relatively poor compared with sand: cement versions. More recently, new ‘second generation’ plastering systems were introduced that are more resilient to dampness and salts than traditional plastering methods. These are intended to replace existing plaster that has already deteriorated (having already also tackled the cause of the damp); or for use in new-build and conversion projects to limit potential damage caused by minor ingress of dampness during the lifetime of the building. These modern replastering systems are capable of being applied to walls while they are still damp and can resist high levels of moisture and salt ingress. The suitability of these for a given project will depend on several factors such as the age of the building, the required speed of application, and whether it is possible to fully deal with the underlying cause of dampness. The make up of these plasters means they have large pores and a high pore volume. This allows salts to form within the plaster rather than on the surface whilst the high pore volume results in higher thermal resistance, reducing the risk of condensation.

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Other properties include a low compressive strength, ensuring that the plaster can easily be removed later without damaging underlying brickwork; high water vapour diffusion (breathable) and conformity for the EN998-1 CE Standard as ‘Renovation Mortars’. Impervious coverings come in a few varieties, yet easily the most popular are meshed cavity drainage membranes. These are attached to walls using special fixing plugs, and then can be plastered over using traditional gypsum, lime or other plasters. Effective as they are, it should be remembered that — despite a notional air gap behind the membrane — these systems are not breathable and will drive rising damp further up the wall unless controlled at source using a high specification remedial damp-proofing cream or rod. Fleeced DPMs have more recently become a natural development from meshed cavity drainage membranes. First, a flexible waterproof adhesive is applied to wall, then the fleeced DPM applied over adhesive and, finally,

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PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS

traditional plasters can be applied on top. These have the same disadvantages as meshed cavity drainage membranes; yet are faster to apply and their lower profile makes it easier to blend them in with existing plaster finishes. Beyond these two types of membrane are new systems based around ‘hybrid’ plasterboard. The design intention of these is to utilise the convenience of plasterboard, yet enhance it to reliably allow its use on walls susceptible to damp. This is especially useful in situations where speed is important (e.g. tenanted properties where decanting may be

inconvenient) and decoration can take place as soon as the system is installed (when using dry joints rather than a plaster skim). Although they are not suitable where wall surfaces are particularly uneven, they are breathable (except where foil-backed or insulated plasterboard is used) and BBA approved types are available — which acts as reassurance to clients such as local authorities. Installation is relatively straightforward: water-repellent/salt-disrupting silane cream is applied to wall and plasterboard applied in the traditional way (although water/salt resistant MS-polymer adhesive is used instead

of traditional gypsum-based plasterboard adhesive). ‘Synergistic’ chemistry ensures a high strength chemical bond between the silane cream and the MS-polymer adhesive (due to covalent bonding between the silane components of both materials). While a plaster skim is usually applied over the plasterboard, using a ‘dry jointing’ method allows the fastest results — and means walls can be re-plastered and redecorated in less than 24 hours. If required, the system can be used in conjunction with insulated plasterboard. However, as is always the case when using internal wall insulation, certain precautions are required to minimise condensation risk and it will hinder drying out of the wall compared with when standard (porous) plasterboard is used. ■ To view product videos on the Safeguard Europe YouTube channel, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf024

PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS

Alternative options The market for magnesium oxide boards is experiencing ‘significant growth’ across the world as an alternative to gypsum-based drywall, cementitious boards and plywood. PBM speaks with Magply’s Gordon Pirret to discuss how merchants can capitalise.

agnesium oxide, commonly known as magnesia, has a long history as a construction material. Indeed, magnesia cement has been identified in the Great Wall of China along with many other ancient landmarks. Its use has continued throughout the centuries, with the base of New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge and the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty made from locally-mined ‘Rosendale Natural Cement’ — a mixture of calcium oxide and magnesia cement. For a number of reasons, the market for magnesium oxide boards is now enjoying a resurgence. As detailed in the report, ‘Magnesium Oxide Board Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2018 – 2026’ from Transparency Market Research, the boards are described as being environmentally-friendly and produced without large amounts of fossil fuels or releasing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Proponents suggest that they offer a number of additional advantages over traditional alternatives, with the mineral composition of the boards ensuring strength, durability and — perhaps most significantly

— greater fire resistance. Manufactured from naturally occurring materials which are combined with alkaline-resistant glass fibres for strength and integrity, the Magply boards are non-combustible and have a fire classification of EN-13501 Euroclass A1 which means they can be used as a passive fire protection panel for timber frame, steel frame, rainscreen cladding, SIP panels, spandrel panels and modular build. The production process ensures a low chloride content, enhancing both stability and durability, whilst the products are also said to boast superior resistance to frost, moisture and mould, along with some sound insulation. Available in 9 and 12mm, the boards are described as easy to cut and fix for use as a high performance dry lining panel, and have also been tested for use with a variety of render systems to form the external façades of domestic and commercial properties which utilise hybrid frame structures. Magply is a brand of IPP Building Products, a firm which describes itself as offering a range of “innovative, sustainable and environmentally-friendly products for the construction industry” such as

Alumaflex thermal multi-foil insulation and Black Mountain Natural Insulation. The company’s Director, Gordon Pirret, boasts a long track record in the industry and asserts that Magply plugs a gap in the market for a high-performance, multi-purpose product that performs “better than gypsum plasterboard.” Fire performance, explains Gordon, has become especially important. He said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy has really caused a shift in thinking — people are ultra-cautious and almost want accreditation for every application. And it’s not just architects and specifiers — contractors are also asking the same questions. Fire testing is an ongoing process, and whilst other types of fire protection board are available, they are more expensive.” The Magply boards are manufactured in China — home of some of the largest deposits of magnesium oxide in the world — and undergo a rigorous quality control process before shipping. Once imported, the company holds “significant stocks” on the ground in the UK and works with leading distributors such as Meyers and Tekfloor to service the market.

An exclusive development by Hawksmoor Homes used Magply boards supplied by Elliotts.

A delivery of Magply boards to CCF

50 PBM JUNE 2019

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Having focused on the timber frame industry in its earlier years, Gordon explains that the merchant sector is Magply’s key focus for growth. “Ours is a true multi-purpose board that offers a breadth of solutions — for dry lining, roofing, as a tilebacker, a substrate for render — in a host of applications from caravans to major projects. The boards are available in different thicknesses, and we do offer a cutting service so they can be sold to precise order specifications, but the beauty is it is really only ‘one board’. It keeps things simple, and this helps stockists too.” Gordon says that Magply has a “big force” out on the road to support merchants, actively undertaking demonstration days in branches whilst a range of marketing materials are available including brochures, technical literature and product samples. The company works with a number of

national chains and is a supplier to Fortis — members such as Haldane Fisher, MP Moran, Norman Piette and Elliotts (see panel) all list details of projects or demo days on social media. The brand is actively looking to develop additional relationships within the sector, taking on new stockists, and does partner with independents outside of the groups. Magply still works within the ‘off-site’ sector, but Gordon argues this is very much an area of opportunity for proactive merchants. He said: “Modular is a real area of evolution, especially when you factor in some of the speed and efficiency advantages of things like light grade steel frame construction. Merchants were being asked to supply ‘bits’ for such projects — and the smart ones ask the questions and enquire as to what else they could be doing…”

■ For more information on Magply, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf025

PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS

CROMAR ALPHACHEM PLASTERERS GRIT COAT

K REND SILICONE THIN COAT (TC) Whether your customers are looking to weatherproof a building or simply freshen up exterior walls, K Rend’s range of Silicone Thin Coat renders are designed to protect and improve the appearance of any project. For more than 28 years, K Rend has offered a huge range of external silicone renders and finishes designed to protect from the elements and add “a touch of style”. As well as adding kerb appeal, K Rend Silicone Thin Coat can create a healthier residential or commercial property as, thanks to the product’s permeable surface, damp is said to be a thing of the past — the render’s breathability means that water vapour passes through the building, instead of getting trapped in the walls and creating those dreaded damp patches. The render is also described as a great way to make a project more energy efficient. Contrary to popular belief, Silicone TC render is weatherproof, not waterproof — it allows water vapour to permeate through whilst protecting the building from the elements by allowing the water to run off. The manufacturer states that a breathable building is very important as it controls the humidity of the property, in turn limiting damp and erosion problems.

www.rdr.link/mf026

As plasterers are wellaware, preparation is key to ensuring that plaster will adhere to non-porous surfaces such as smooth or painted surfaces, tiles, plaster and concrete. This is done with a bonding agent, preferably one that contains added aggregate, thereby, providing a rougher texture and offering better adhesion. This is where the AlphaChem Plasterers Grit Coat comes in. A one coat bonding agent with added fine aggregate, designed exactly for this application, it is also said to be easy to apply by roller or brush and ensures full coverage of surfaces.

www.rdr.link/mf027

NORBORD STERLINGOSB ZERO STRONGFIX Designed to be used in drylining applications, the Norbord SterlingOSB Zero StrongFix is an OSB panel which is said to be simple to fit, highly versatile and ideal for fixing cabinets, radiators, wash basins, railings and other heavy fixtures to stud walls. It is cut to size to fit within c-stud sections, has a pre-groove already cut and has zero knots meaning the strength of the board is maintained throughout. mf The product uses the same fixings as normal OSB – l-shaped steel frame and c-stud self-tapping dry-wall screws. StrongFix is available in 2400 by 597mm panels and can hold up to 400kg due to the inherent strength of the board.

www.rdr.link/mf028

SAFEGUARD EUROPE DRYZONE 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 repair of treated damp walls owing to its setting time of only two hours. The plaster is used as part of the Dryzone System for replastering after Dryzone DampProofing Cream or Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods have been used to create a remedial damp proof course. Safeguard’s renovation plasters — of which Fast-Set is the latest — can be applied to walls while they are still damp and has a porous structure which controls salt migration, allows walls to dry out by evaporation and results in higher thermal resistance. Dryzone Fast-Set Plaster is available in 20kg bags, with a coverage rate of 1m2 per bag at 20mm thickness.

www.rdr.link/mf029

52 PBM JUNE 2019

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Counter talk - Professional Builder

Professional Builder is the leading magazine for the building sector, bringing its readers a wide variety of news, products, opinions and services from the entire scope of the industry. We probe its pages to bring to light the key topics for merchants.

elving into the pages of Professional Builder this month and we take a look at the Carpentry & Joinery feature. Kicking us off is the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), whose campaign on ‘Trusted Timber’ is focused on making people aware that decking joists should have a Use Class 4 timber treatment, meaning they can be used or come in contact with the ground. TTF also pointed out that merchants sell joist materials with a ‘green treatment’ which may well be timber treated for Use Class 2. This means it is suitable for interior use only and won’t last in ground contact with decking. This is the same for external timber which is Use Class 3 for above ground use only and again not suitable for in ground. It is worth pointing these differences out to customers when buying timber to ensure the differences are made clear and the right product is selected.

Staying in the Carpentry & Joinery feature now and regular contributor Tibby Singh Chodha returns to put the CAMO Hidden Edge Fastening System under the spotlight. The key to this product is that it hides the screws under the woodwork, ensuring a neat finish which doesn’t detract from the appearance of the project. The fastening system only needs to be clamped to the decking board, with the screws loaded into the angle guided hole and then screwed into place front and back. The range includes the standard Marksman, designed with a single guide hole, to the Marksman PRO that has dual screw guides to fasten both sides with a single tool replacement.

Medite Smartply Rounding off this feature is Medite Smartply with the introduction of its Smartply Siteprotect. Specifically designed to save time and money in the most demanding hoarding applications, it is a moisture resistant, pre-primed OSB3 panel.

CAMO FREE

The manufacturer says that it sells huge numbers via the merchant channel, and the board will now be available in a thickness of 16mm as well as 18mm and is manufactured using only FSC certified timber from sustainably managed Irish forests. The panels are suitable for maintaining sustainability throughout a site and can even contribute towards credits for environmental building standards — a key point to raise with your customers. Moving on to the Painting & Decorating feature and Ronseal’s Trade Range is put to the test for BBA Certification. The woodcare range includes 10 Year Woodstain, Ultra Tough Floor Varnish, and Crystal Clear Varnish, which was all sent to the BBA test centre to be put through its paces. The test from BBA included UV ageing to asses fading and colour changes, fungal resistance, abrasion, tensile strength, impact resistance, water vapour permeability, gloss, hardness and slip resistance. The test proved that the range did ‘exactly what it said on the tin’ with each gaining BBA Certification, making the range the first to achieve this recognition. Milwaukee enters the fold now, and PB’s Products Editor Roger Bisby steps up to test out its BOS 125.0 Orbital sander. Billed as lightweight, the sander’s real benefit comes from its 18V battery, which allows it to be moved around a building untethered.

TO TH E TRAD E

Professional

SPECIAL REPORT ONLINE COMMUNIT Y

extensions & home improvements

Plus points

#TradesTalk

“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.”

NDC Garage Doors explains how to fit its Retractable Plus.

NG ■ ROOFING ORI NG ■ PLUMBI ORATING ■ BUILDING ■ FLO TING AND DEC PEN TRY ■ PAIN

■ CAR INDUSTRY THE BUILDING MAGAZINE FOR THE BUSINESS

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:

JUNE 2019

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

W DS, BUILDING BOAR & SUNDRIESd PLASTERScov ered and fille All options

EXTENSIONS & EMENTS HOME IMPReOV to properties! Adding valu

lime Lime’s Therma benefits of Anglia the word on the y is spreading Emmerson Critchle

54 PBM JUNE 2019

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.

56 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

Talk the talk

Unpack door and assemble locking bars/mechanism

Measure and cut the fascia panels, then fix in position

Check garage opening for size and that the opening is square

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

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

TradesTalk has recently added the TradesTalking podcast to its portfolio, featuring interview s with tradespeople, construction industry innovation and Perspectives, a dedicate f you ever spend d section on any time on social mental health. The #TradesTalk hashtag media, you might monthly is regularly trending have come across TradesTa in the UK on Tuesday lking podcast is FREE TradesTalk, which evenings. is a hub for all to download on iTunes The chat regularly trades in the UK and Podbean and welcomes guest to talk about is the perfect thing everything from hosts and holds to listen to in your power tools to special events, such van. as a paperwork. The game of video charade TradesTalk commun s at Christmas, a ity is friendly and helpful, virtual Easter egg Last year, TradesT hunt and a virtual always ready to alk branched out pub answer question quiz. One of the into live events and held s and share knowled highlights of 2018 a panel discussion was a ge with fellow trades. 24-hour tweetath at Toolfair Coventr on held to raise y, which was money for Band TradesTalk started livestreamed on of Builders, which life as a weekly Facebook, Twitter chat for the saw the TradesT Twitter and Instagra alk account taken trades back in 2017 m, with a and is now a thriving over by other industry line-up of tradespe social media accounts ople community. The including Ideal Boiler discussing their work Twitter chat, which Man, Wera and taking takes place every Tuesday Tools and PB Plumber questions from the from 8-9pm, looks audience – . The account at tweeted non-stop all topics relevant both in the room to the trades. Topics and online. for 24 hours, with The TradesTalk team previously discusse a mix of serious and light-hearted d have included will again be at Toolfair Coventr marketing for the topics and plenty trades, women in of giveaways and y this September, and construction, mental auctions to help then at our Alexand boost the fundrais health support, the ra Palace show in January ing. future of power tools 2020. and tool theft. The To find

Professional Builde r introduces Trade an online comm sTalk, unity for builders.

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

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

out more follow

@TradesTalk on

Twitter, Facebook PROFESSIONAL

and Instagram.

BUILDER JUNE 2019 15

It is said to be ideal for any decorator who wants to quickly rub down fascias and works well on fillers as well as with the removal of coarser paper. It features six preset constant speeds, with the top speed giving 24,000 sanding strokes per minute. It also comes complete with the choice of two cordless dust extraction units — a perfect addon for any merchant. Tesa Closing off the Paining & Decorating feature is Tesa with its 4440 Precision Mask Outdoor tape. Described by the company as a high-grade paper masking tape for precise and flat paint edges, it consists of an extra thin and strong washi paper backing which has been coated with acrylic adhesive. It is specifically designed to suit a variety of outdoor applications on a range of different surfaces including protecting PVC windows and masking lights in preparation of painting concrete surfaces — another great add-on product to boost sales. A brief stop at Tools & Equipment brings us to Solid Gear’s Ocean safety shoe which

has been designed to look more like a trainer than a traditional safety shoe. Workwear more and more is straying from the traditional styles and instead taking on a look that can be worn both on and off site. Said to be built for workers constantly on the move, the shoe’s midsole is made of a poured PU rather than a traditional injected PU, in a bid to provide a more cushioned feel underfoot. The thick rubber outsole, on the other hand, provides anti-slip protection as well as durability, marrying style and function into one shoe. Concluding things this month is HiKOKI Power Tools with the launch of its 12V Peak Slide cordless tool series, which features a new range of slimline batteries. The range is said to be ideal for those who need to work in confined spaces as well as over long periods of time. The compact batteries are said to also make the tool leightweight, perfect for longer use, as well as easy to handle, specifically, as none weigh any more than 1.2kg.

For more on the products and services featured here, use the appropriate shortcode to access ‘bonus content’ including videos, full articles from Professional Builder and additional information from supplier websites: Timber Trade Federation Timber treatment www.rdr.link/mf030 CAMO Hidden Edge Fastening System www.rdr.link/mf031 Medite Smartply Smartply Siteprotect www.rdr.link/mf032 Ronseal BBA Certification www.rdr.link/mf033 Milwaukee BOS 125.0 Orbital sander www.rdr.link/mf034

HiKOKI Power Tools SPECIAL REPORT

Solid Gear Ocean safety shoe www.rdr.link/mf036

READERS’ LIVES

Made Great in Britain ALL THE RIGHT CHEMISTRY

he now sings is part ust as the music John McDonnell of a shared folk past, formative years in spent many of his

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

28 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

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

es in a From sea shanti recording Cornish pub to a screen contract and big man, John stardom – trades fame McDonnell has found s. Friend with Fisherman’s s. Lee Jones report

Professional Builder’s Lee Jones visits the west country production facility of chemicals specialists, Barrettine.

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

of itinerant the traditional role the rugged and poetic tradesmen. It was the that would entice north Cornwall coast roofer to put down now 68-year-old inextricably now is he and roots, culture. linked to its unique outsider and a “When you’re an breaks into ously spontane pub surreal at song it can be slightly experience and first, but it’s a great of a living makes you feel part . “I’ve community,” he explains insects, but also provides a semiand I gradually always sung at work, transparent matt/satin finish that , until a involved more and more got enhances the natural wood texture. a group to decided to form few of It’s not just about woodcare anduspaint RNLI.” strippers, of course, because raise money for the as the 1990s, back far as professionals can trust in a portfolio of was That of fellow members products that also includes solvents, when John and the sing on the thinners and cleaners, decorating n’s Friends would Fisherma sundries, tile and stone care and much passing a every Friday evening, more besides. Not only thatbeach but there’s for around their audience also a separate pest controlbucket and would go on pesticides division. With a heritage of s, whilst the group donation al sea shanties in tradition nearly a century and a half, andperform a their to tradition of innovation along all of thoselocally. concerts existed with long years, this is one chemical music we play has “The is a company that builders will continue to for generations and the people here have a positive reaction. ly in a heritage, especial part of Cornwall’s of Port Isaac, and four fishing village like fishermen, but were s our original member the county’s seafaring it was another of us develop. The traditions that helped rowing six-oared a is Cornish pilot gig and down the coast boat with clubs up each other. Racing that compete against a real festival weekends generate everyone in the pubs atmosphere, with that be these events singing, and it would For more information on Barrettine online, go to www.rdr.link/BF006 come together and convinced us to numbers.” properly learn some since we been touring ever “We’ve PROFESSIONAL BUILDER JUNE 2019 I 29 g contract, and the signed the recordin fill a few more seats. film will no doubt amount always a certain Although there’s it’s a strange of artistic licence,

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

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Tesa 4440 Precision Mask Outdoor tape www.rdr.link/mf035

HiKOKI Power Tools 12V Peak Slide cordless tool series www.rdr.link/mf037

Singing from the rooftops

PROFESSIONAL

2019 19 BUILDER JUNE

PBM JUNE 2019 55

FRE E TO THE

TRA DE

Professional

Campaign news

BUILDING ■ FLOOR ING ■ PLUMBING ■ ROOFING ■ CARPE NTRY ■ PAINTI NG AND DECOR ATING ■

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

Kelly Newstead takes a look at some of the latest ad campaigns being seen by the 120,000+ readers of Professional Builder this month…

JUNE 2019

BUILDING BOARDS, PLASTERS & SUNDRIES All options covered and filled

EXTENSIONS & HOME IMPROVEMENTS Addin

Insulation

g value to properties!

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

THE THE U ULTIMATE SEALANT SEAL & ADHESIVE Using Using kknowledge nowledg and experience gained over tthe he llast ast 2255 years, year Everbuild brings you their most advanced advanced sealant seala and adhesive ever; EB25.

SSOME OME THINGS THINGS A ARE RE JUST JUST MADE MADE FOR FOR EACH EACH O OTHER THER

Incorporating flexibility with incredible Incorporating superior su bond bond strength, strength, EB25 works on virtually anything any thing iin n aallll conditions, even underwater! For For a proper proper job, job grab a tube of EB25 – a product you you know know you you can c rely on.

2 in in 1 insulated insulated dry dry lining board board ffor or fix fix lining and dab dab applications: application and • Fibre free rigid polyisocyanurate isocyanura (PIR) insulation core bonded to 1 12.5mm 2.5mm tapered edge edg gypsum plasterboard using proprietar proprietary y gypsum ypsum adhesive adh

Find Find out out more mo 0 0113 113 24 240 0 3456

• Suitable for both new w build and refurbishments in walls, pitched roofs, cold flat roofs and room in the roof applications

eeverbuild.co.uk/eb25 verbuild.co.uk/eb25 • 2in1 • er

Eco-Line

r•

For more information and fuss-free technical al support visit ecotherm.co.uk/bettertogether er

Eco-Lin

• Insulation thermal conductivity of 0.022W/mK

2in1 •

Ecotherm Insulation BetterTogether A rather appetising advert from Ecotherm Insulation cleverly demonstrates how well things are made for each other with the example of the classic egg and bacon. The advert showcased to PB readers is for the firm’s 2 in 1 insulated dry lining board for fix and dab applications, keeping on the theme of working better together. The striking colours on the advert make a bold statement, as does the product itself which combines a fibre free rigid PIR insulation core bonded to 12.5mm tapered edge gypsum plasterboard using proprietary gypsum adhesive. www.ecotherm.co.uk/bettertogether

The The Builders’ Build Brand

Everbuild EB25 Celebrating the fact that it has been providing expertise for the last 25 years, Everbuild proudly showcases its new and ‘most advanced sealant and adhesive ever’ — EB25. Championing the versatility of a product said to boast superior flexibility with incredible bond strength, the advert builds on the black and yellow cartridge design to create a strong look — just as the product itself promises to deliver. www.everbuild.co.uk/eb25

Metabo SDS-max Hammers This ad from Metabo is all about power and the image used here clearly demonstrates the force that can be delivered from the new SDS-max line-up. Packing a punch, it bursts out of the page in full confidence and delivers the message that the tools are a force to be reckoned with. With a range of chipping hammers and combination hammers, the Metabo SDS-max collection is said to deliver the highest drill performance due to its brushless technology. Your customers will also be interested to note that the advert details how a full service worth £99 is included, meaning no repair costs for 36 months. www.metabo.co.uk

56 PBM JUNE 2019

Powerful Robust R T The he M Metabo etabo S SDS-max DS-max H Hammers. ammers. 3 ne w SDS-max combination hammer new hammers s and 2 new new SDS-max chipping chipping hammer s fr om Metabo in the 5, 8 and d1 1 kilo classes hammers from 11 classes.. Extr eme ser i life and highest drill performance thanks k Extreme service to th the brushless technology

Combination Hammers – SDS max KHEV 5-40 BL 5 kg

MHEV 5 BL 5 kg

KHEV 8-45 BL 8 kg

MHEV 11 BL 11 kg

KHEV 11-52 BL 11 kg

Full service worth £ 99 - included

Chipping Hammers – SDS max

Rockwool Thermal & Sound Insulation In its signature red colour, the Rockwool ad delivers a call for attention by posing the question ‘Perfect Renovation?’ The company confidently thinks this can be achieved by using insulation from its Thermal & Sound Insulation range which is all about saving money, time and energy. The image depicts a typical installation and allows its audience to see the ‘quick to fit’ product at work, meaning that your customers can rapidly move on to the next job and leave homeowners with a renovation that delivers ‘comfortable, quiet spaces that save on energy bills’. www.rockwool.co.uk

Extraction set ESA max egistering until 31 .12.2019 when rregistering 31.12.2019 at www .metabo-service.com www.metabo-service.com

www.metabo.co.uk

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Campaign news JUNE 2019

…and she also turns her attention to a few of the campaigns in PHPI, catching the eye of over 70,000 plumbing and heating installers.

FRESH LOOK

HAS THE BOILER OF THE FUTURE ARRIVED?

Ferroli Bluehelix

TECH TIPS

ADVICE ON FILTRATION, CYLINDERS AND MORE!

Ferroli’s advert focuses on quality and how this is embedded into its ErP A new Bluehelix Tech RRT ErP A Condensing combi & system boilers. The clue is in the name with the reference to helix, showing how The NEW Bluehelix Tech RRT its structure ‘has quality in its DNA’. Qualit y in its DNA It is available in a variety of outputs and can operate on natural gas and LPG without the need for a conversion kit, whilst the ad also details the range’s 10 year warranty, again showing the company’s confidence that it is a quality boiler. An ERP A rating cements the claim further. www.ferroli.co.uk

HORROR SHOW

YEAR

WARRANTY

THE BEST OF THE WORST FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY VISIT PHPIONLINE.CO.UK FOR REGULAR UPDATES

AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

RATING R ANGE

A**– G

RATING R ANGE

Our domestic boilers have evolved into one of most innovative, intelligent models on the market.

www.ferroli.co.uk

A –G

Bluehelix Tech RRT

Condensing combi & system boilers 24C / 28C / 34C 18S / 24S / 30S

The latest Bluehelix models from the award-winning Bluehelix family of boilers. • Exceptionally quiet • 10 year warranty as standard • Clever design for easy maintenance • Superior build with recognised quality components • ThermobalanceTM heat exchanger for very high efficiency and longer life • Can operate on natural gas and LPG without the need for conversion kits • Class 6 NOx emissions • Exhaustive manufacturing quality control process

Ferroli Limited Lichfield Road Branston Industrial Estate Burton-upon-Trent Staffordshire DE14 3HD T 0330 205 0002

Resideo ST9000 and Sundial RF2

Control at all times.

Showing off the versatility of its ST9000 and Sundial RF2 ranges of timeswitches and programmers, Resideo, maker of Honeywell Home heating controls, hopes to highlight how it can offer something for everyone. Keeping the ad stripped back, the focus remains on the products themselves which aim to ensure customers can remain in control of their heating system. It also includes the strapline ‘Proud to be Professionally Installed’ which shows Resideo’s dedication to the professional installer. www.heatingcontrols.honeywellhome.com Explore the ST9000 and Sundial RF2 ranges of timeswitches and programmers.

With Honeywell Home, one size doesn’t fit all. Our comprehensive product range means

there’s something to suit every application. Whether it’s a single channel timer, two zone

programmer, or one of our wireless enabled packs, the ST9000 and Sundial RF2 ranges

are designed to put you in control.

Discover more at heatingcontrols.honeywellhome.com

Nu-Heat FastDeck Reminiscent of your favourite retro racing computer games, Nu-Heat’s ad encourages people to ‘outrun the competition’ with its next-generation underfloor heating, FastDeck. Fast by name fast by nature, the ‘completely dry, combined UFH and floor deck’ system neutralises the need for long drying times and drawn-out installations. The green car wizzes through the ad leaving behind a scorching trail as it races to become the UFH champion. The imagery symbolises the fast nature of this product and manages to clearly embody the message behind this ad. www.fastdeckUFH.co.uk It’s game over for long drying times and drawn-out installations with Nu-Heat’s market-leading FastDeck® underfloor heating system. A completely dry, combined UFH and floor deck solution, trail-blazing FastDeck® leaves traditional screed systems for dust. Up your game with next-generation underfloor heating.

Visit fastdeckUFH.co.uk or call 01404 540705.

Wirquin Neo Two in one for this advert which not only depicts Wirquin’s Neo product — the new generation of basin and sink traps — but also highlights the company’s Win a Van promotion. Clearly identifying all that is key with the Neo — including a leak-free guarantee, quick installation and no noise or smells — the product image takes centre stage. Offering PHPI readers that little extra incentive, the supplier’s win a van promo is flagged up, with readers encouraged to follow the hashtag to discover how they could drive away with this fantastic prize. www.wirquin.co.uk

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Worcester Bosch Beautiful Beast Worcester Bosch delivers a bold statement with this ad which describes its new Greenstar 8000 Lifestyle range as both ‘beautiful’ and a ‘beast’. Combining these typically juxtaposing ideals into its new boiler range is achieved by matching sleek, good looks — units are available in a choice of white or black, along with the option of silver flues — with the promise to deliver power, with outputs up to 50kW for combi and regular models. Smart connectivity and an intelligent filling system add to an array of key features and benefits. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/beautifulbeast

PBM JUNE 2019 57

Counter talk - Professional Heating & Plumbing Installer

PHPI is the leading magazine for those working in the plumbing and heating industry. Each month it delivers news, reviews, products and services to keep the trade up to date with all the latest from the industry. Here, PBM takes a look at its May issue, outlining what has been the talk of your trade customers.

et’s get started with the Plumbing & Bathrooms feature first and this month we are joined by Wavin’s Hep20 brand to dispel some myths…not of the legend and folklore variety we might add. Although having risen in popularity, Hep20 states there are still some misconceptions surrounding push-fit systems. One such myth is that plastic is never as good as copper. While copper is an integral material for any plumber, plastic can actually be easier and more effective in spaces like lofts, where hot works can be dangerous. The company goes on to dispel other myths such as copper can’t be used with plastic and that all push-fit systems are the same. Next up in this section is AKW, who discuses when and where to use TMV2 and TMV3 valves. Staff should know the importance of selecting the correct valve for the correct application as they are vital for AKW

preventing scalding but, if used incorrectly, could cause risk of injury and even legal claims. AKW states that TMV2 valves should be used to control water temperatures in predominantly domestic/lower risk bathrooms on places such as baths and bidets. TMV3 offers a higher level of protection and installation is recommended by legislation or authoritative guidance in NHS and private nursing homes as well as private hospitals and schools. Closing off the Plumbing & Heating feature is Wilo with the introduction of its Stratos MAXO pump. It has been designed for use in large residential and light commercial projects and has been described as “the world’s Danfoss first true smart-pump”. In a world defined by smart technology these types of products are becoming increasingly popular — and ones merchants should be keeping an eye on. The pump is said to feature an intuitive user interface and claims to redefine system efficiency. It showcases the latest sensor technology and control functions as well as bi-directional connectivity using Bluetooth.

The future of gas is a much debated topic with in the heating and renewables industry and this is where we are headed next. Calor has picked up on the recent report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) which has warned that the UK is not on target to meet carbon emissions targets. But what does this mean for the future of UK heat? The report suggests that new homes should not be connected to the main gas grid — but it has raised concerns amongst installers who rely on gas installations. However, BioLPG could be the solution. A renewable fuel, it shares an identical chemical structure to LPG but is created from a mix of renewable and waste materials. Customers currently using LPG can make the switch by simply changing their tariff and it is said to be easy to also change from an oil-fired boiler to an LPG system. Keeping on the heating and renewables theme, we take a look at Worcester Bosch which has introduced a number of enhancements to its GB162 light Wilo

HEATING & RENE WABLES

BACK TO THE

IN PROFILE

FUTURE

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ahead

JUNE 2019

In April, Worce ster Bosch reveal ed a new boiler London, the Green range in star 8000 Lifesty company has taken le, and it’s safe to say the a vastly differe nt approach to Martyn Bridge s, Director of Techn the design. ical Communicat Product Manag ement at Worce ion and ster Bosch, explai change of style, ns the as well as all the features to look out for.

When it comes to financial advice, it’s important to be armed with the correct information to ensure you can run a successful business. Kelly Newstead speaks with ex-plumbing & heating engineer Darren Carter, Associate Partner at St. James’s Place Wealth Management, to find out about his move from the trades.

OK FRESH RLO ED? OF THE FUTURE ARRIV HAS THE BOILE

S TECH TIP ATION,

ADVICE ON FILTR ! CYLINDERS AND MORE

W HORROR SHO THE WORST

THE BEST OF TRY FROM ACROSS THE COUN

.UK FOR REGULAR UPDATES VISIT PHPIONLINE.CO

58 PBM JUNE 2019

AND EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

inding the right financial adviser to assist you with your business can prove paramount to its success. This can be even more crucial if you select someone who has previous experience in a trade role and someone who knows the ins and outs of the plumbing and heating industry. This is exactly where Darren Carter believes he can help. Now an Associate Partner at St. James's Place Wealth Management, his career originally began in the plumbing and heating industry working predominantly with domestic and commercial gas and renewable technologies (a few examples of his work can be seen here). He worked in the industry for around 13 years running his own company and working as a sub-contractor, where he was able to build a trusted reputation within the sector. While considering his options about a career change, it was by coincidence that he was completing a plumbing job for someone who worked at the Wealth Management company he is now part of. Because of family commitments, as well as a desire to take his career in another direction, Darren felt as if it was an opportunity not to be missed. He explained: “It was actually by coincidence that I was fixing a boiler for someone that works at St. James’s Place

“As an industry we don’t always take financial advice from a professional, we baulk at the plumbing DIY’ers but we then take a DIY approach with our finances – I want to change this.”

NAME:

Darren Carter

COMPANY NAME: St.

St. James’s Place Wealth Management Wealth Management. We are good friends and he messaged me and asked if I was still thinking about doing something different. I said yes and he suggested taking a look at the St. James’s Place Wealth Management Academy.” The academy is focused on individuals who are looking to start a second career and

14 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL HEATING & PLUMBING INSTALLER

takes them through a training process to become a qualified financial adviser. “I had a look and it just seemed perfect. Everything was based on me, my knowledge and my ability to do the job – the flexibility and control in managing my diary fit perfectly with having children. I would be self-employed but working under the umbrella of a big company, but it’s all about my personal relationships with people which is what I seemed to be good at.” After completing the necessary qualifications, Darren is now practicing and looking at ways in which he can help tradespeople run their businesses more efficiently, as well as support his clients in all areas of finance. Darren understands that the busy nature of working in the trade means the business side of things can sometimes get pushed back on the list of priorities. However, he wants to raise awareness surrounding the importance of good financial planning, but also make sure tradespeople take care of their families.

He continued: “I know the nature of the beast, as plumbing is what I have done for the last 13 years; I know the problems and the way we generally work, in terms of how we are good at our trade but the business side isn’t always our strength. “My core job is to look at how tax efficient people are and what tools we can use to help achieve a client’s financial goals. My aim is to get people thinking about putting money towards their future – understanding the tax benefits from it and developing a plan to give them the option, to retire when they want.”

The Partner is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives. As well as providing financial advice, Darren and the company run a number of initiatives to encourage people to use their services. These include events on different areas of running a business specific to tradespeople, as well as working on initiatives such as negotiating discounts on products, including vans and tool insurance. Darren also commends the trade on the

great charity work that they participate in, giving up their valuable time to help communities and to give back to their customers. This is an area he is keen to expand on and hopes in the future he can assist in these types of projects. Darren concludes by saying: “As an industry we don’t always take financial advice from a professional, we baulk at the plumbing DIY’ers but we then take a DIY approach with our finances – I want to change this. I strongly believe that tradespeople are undervalued and underserved in this country. “I want to be the person giving quality advice to tradesmen and women – why shouldn’t we get the same service! I hope that looking beyond the scope of my job with certain initiatives will help reinforce that and will give me trust from within industry.”

esign 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, even vacuum cleaners . Now it’s time for the boiler, and after years of development and direct feedback from hundreds of installers , I’m proud to reveal the Greenstar 8000 Lifestyle range. The 8000 Lifestyle range is made up of two products, replacing the Greenstar CDi Classic – a big move for us, 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 were confiden t we had the research and installer input to back that up.

Greenstar 8000

Greenstar 8000 For more information about the financial services Darren can offer, email: Darren.carter@sjpp.co.uk or GO TO

www.rdr.link/PF102

PROFESSIONAL HEATING & PLUMBING INSTALLER JUNE 2019 15

28 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL HEATING & PLUMBING INSTALLER

Life

The future direct replacement of the Greenstar CDi Classic, the 8000 Life keeps all of the tried, tested and much-loved features, while improvin g on all the key installer touchpo ints for easier installatio n, servicing and maintena nce.

Style

Our new top-of-th e-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-c onscious. 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 .

technology provide greater comfort and mobility for those who are working on site. A lot of working clothes now use the same fabrics found in sportswear and leisurewear such as lightweight 37.5 technology and four-way stretch fabrics. Snickers’ range features these types of materials and provides greater comfort and mobility when working on site and anticipate the wearer’s natural working environments. Closing us this month is news from Van Vault which has developed eight new products in a bid to tackle tool theft crime. Something people working in the trades know all too well, products which deter and prevent these types of crimes are proving popular. The products have been tested following 18 months of development and are also said to be the first vehicle storage product range accredited by Secured by Design — the UK’s police approved standard. The range includes a new locking system as well as an anti-theft fixing kit and traditional box style containers.

commercial gas boiler. With manufacturers constantly issuing updates to their products, merchants must keep on top of these updates — not least in the light commercial sector, where opportunities are opening up for merchants. For the first time the GB162 will be available in an 85kW model and it has also seen the introduction of overpressure flues, which result in reduced installation height and increased flexibility. It will also be compatible with the Control 800 which allows for medium and large commercial heating systems to be monitored and controlled remotely via a computer or tablet. Rounding off this section is Danfoss and its extended range of electronic room thermostats. Introducing the RET2000-OT, it provides modulating control of OpenTherm equipped condensing boilers, as well as complying with Boiler Plus. Due to its OpenTherm compatibility it exchanges data with the boiler it controls, as opposed to basic On/Off commands. The backlit display is also said to be ideal for those with poorer eyesight, or in locations which are dimly lit — important information to impart to your customers when they are specifying thermostats which need to meet specific requirement like this. A brief look at the Tools & Workwear feature, and Snickers returns to discuss how the latest innovations in workwear fabric

Van Vault

Proud to suppor t the profess

#InstallOfFame

Education, education, education

warded institute status by the Secretary of State only a year after its inception and British status in 2016, the team at BiKBBI have made ample strides in a relatively short period. Operating as a government sanctioned, not-for-profit organisation, the Institute is dedicated to improving standards in the industry, working with installers, retailers and manufacturers to raise the bar in kitchen, bedroom and bathroom fittings. Damian Walters, founder and Chief Executive, first set up the initiative after becoming concerned about the standards in the industry. “Having worked in the sector for a number of years, I began to realise that installations weren’t always up to scratch – affecting everyone in the supply chain and the industry’s reputation. There simply

weren’t enough reliable accreditation schemes for installers, and education was poor, which inevitably affected the consumer and the industry’s reputation as a whole. “We launched with an objective to improve standards, represent professional installers and to bridge the gap between the industry and those specialists who operate on the front line.”

Installer perks For those installers looking to join the Institute, membership criteria includes a minimum of 3 years’ experience installing kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms, registration or the ability to sub-contract work to a compliant electrician or Gas Safe Registered engineer, and crucially an agreement to undertake annual CPD training.

44 JUNE 2019 PROFESSIONAL HEATING & PLUMBING INSTALLER

Damian assures us that membership is highly beneficial to installers: “For starters, becoming BiKBBI registered will help you stand out from the competition, and demonstrates high levels of professionalism. We’re working with manufacturers, merchants and retailers to ensure consumers understand who we are and the standards our members represent, while you’ll also be listed on our find-a-member online consumer directory. Our links to manufacturers also allows members

Keep protected Not satisfied with just working to raise installation standards, the Institute has also recently put together an innovative new solution that is set to “change the way in which domestic KBB installations are operated in the UK,” according to Damian. BiKBBI Protected is a new service driven by technology that connects installers with

Wilo Stratos MAXO pump www.rdr.link/mf040

Danfoss RET2000-OT www.rdr.link/mf043

PLUMBING & BATHROOMS

RAISING THE BAR

AKW TMv2 and TMV3 Valves www.rdr.link/mf039

Worcester Bosch GB162 www.rdr.link/mf042

access to a wide range of discounted products and services. “Most importantly, we can offer support for installers that they may not previously have had access to. Compliance support, legal guidance and tailored training and development opportunities for members, including access to CPD courses and apprenticeship links, are all vital to installers and ultimately, it’s why we decided to form in the first place!” The Institute is also working with a number of organisations, including military charities, to provide retraining opportunities for those skilled tradespeople looking to enter the industry.

Launched in 2006, the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI), has achieved rapid growth and now works with tradespeople, retailers and manufacturers to better installation standards. PHPI spoke to Damian Walters, founder and Chief Executive, to find out more.

Wavin Hep20 Push-fit systems www.rdr.link/mf038

Calor BioLPG www.rdr.link/mf041

PLUMBING & BATHROOMS

A key to improving standards, particularly for the future, is an investment in apprenticeships and the next generation of installers. The BiKBBI has clearly focused a lot of attention to this, and is now working with a number of strategic partners in the development and delivery of a Level 2 Apprenticeship for Fitted Interiors, in line with the government approved Trailblazer standards – with the aim of introducing a Level 3 scheme in the near future. Currently, the two year course – 20% college based and 80% employer based – is being delivered at Basildon College, near the Institute’s base in Tilbury, Essex. However, the organisation is looking to run the course out nationally, in an effort to improve standards and encourage the uptake of apprenticeships in the sector nationwide. In addition to this, the iAcademy e-learning course directory is designed to encourage BiKBBI members to invest in CPD and ensure they continue to uphold the high standards expected. Run alongside the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, courses include everything from work skills, health and safety, and business skills.

For more on the products and services featured here, type the appropriate shortcode into your browser to access ‘bonus content’ including videos, full articles from PHPI magazine and additional information from supplier websites:

d out by great work carrie ase some of the is designed to showc heating engineers. ons… plumbers and off their finest installati the chance to show in print.

Instagram to give installers

and website and Of course, as many installers will know, feature on Twitter submissions on our #InstallOfFame will PHPI’s ing some of the best ‘satisfactory completion’ isn’t always as easy thermostat each and we’ll be highlight as it sounds with some customers. In the case a T6 Programmable m. If and will be giving away Twitter or Instagra of disputes – which must be raised within professional installer #InstallOfFame on proud to support the s to the galleries, follow your photos to phpi@hamerville.co.uk seven days of the finished job – the moneyell Honeyw is Home is out the latest addition , please email securely held in the Escrow account while one lucky entrant! To check included be to nity month to would like the opportu one of the Institute’s approved inspectors is on social media and you’re not sent to assess any ‘breaches in contract’. The BiKBBI will then be able to offer advice and support throughout the process, which would otherwise be left to the installer, ensuring an agreeable outcome for all parties. Damian adds: “We truly believe this platform will be beneficial to all those involved in kitchen, bedroom and bathroom installations. The whole process is online, and though protecting the installer, merchant and consumer is the priority, there’s so much more to the initiative. For example, estimated costs can be produced automatically once customers have specified their chosen @parrandevans15 products, while the general public will be able to easily access vetted and registered @nample BiKBBI members.” rbs The Protected scheme was announced at @2starki the BiKBBI’s Annual Conference at the Houses of Parliament in January and has received a promising response from the industry so far, having received interest from over 250 merchants and retailers, including three nationals.

Here are a few more

consumers, via a merchant or retailer. The organisation says that it focuses protection on all key stakeholders, and is designed to safeguard installers against the threat of late payments and disputes. Organised by the BiKBBI, the customer will pay the cost of the installation into a secure, independent Escrow account (a financial arrangement in which a third party receives and disburses money for the transacting parties), which will then be released to the installer within 72 hours upon satisfactory completion of the work.

ional installe r

Snickers 37.5 technology www.rdr.link/mf044

examples:

Van Vault Secure vehicle storage www.rdr.link/mf045

To find out more about the BiKBBI and how you can become a registered member, GO TO www.rdr.link/PF117

PROFESSIONAL HEATING & PLUMBING INSTALLER JUNE 2019 45

_plumbing _reliable @professional

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

@stylesplumbing

@RushbroPlumbi

PBM JUNE 2019 59

POINT OF SALE

Sales support E

stablished in 1999, Stormspell supplies top quality roofing supplies and materials to its large customer base — a mixture of both the trade and the general public — from its branches in Southport and the Maghull area of Liverpool. An important part of Dakea’s strategy is to ensure that its merchant partners such as Stormspell are consistently kept updated with the most recent marketing and point of sale materials. Indeed, Branch Manager Gareth Hughes commented that the merchant has received plenty of attention not just from its client base but also from other manufacturers’ representatives, praising the Dakea merchandising and how it has been laid out in the branches. Gareth said: “Dakea has always provided us with quirky, eye-catching marketing materials, outside of the norm. For example, the team sent us branded signs that read ‘Took ages to hang this sign. Luckily Dakea windows are quick to install’ — things like that make our customers laugh and take notice of the product and the brand.” Keeping in regular contact with its

merchants is one of Dakea’s top priorities, to ensure that promotional material is constantly up to date and branches have everything they need to display Dakea merchandise. Gareth noted the regularity of the visits the branch receives from its local area sales manager and also added that the merchandise was always really easy to display with Dakea’s guidance — which is important for a busy merchant branch. For Stormspell, it is clear that the merchandising has led to more enquiries about the Dakea brand and products — and this, according to Gareth, regularly results in a sale. At Stormspell its best-selling window is the Better Safe window, which provides excellent energy conservation performance, safety and comfort making it popular amongst customers. Another element of the support provided by the supplier is its product training. Stormspell’s customers regularly ask for advice so making sure his team has extensive product knowledge is important to Gareth. He said: “Dakea has provided us with flexible online product training which allows our staff to fit it in around the normal

Providing a range of sales and technical support is key to developing an excellent relationship with suppliers. Mhairi McDougall, Country Magnager GBI at Dakea, looks at how working closely with Stormspell has helped drive sales and benefit both the merchant and the brand. operation of the branch. In addition, we were also able to receive hands-on training on the Dakea demonstration truck during its roadshow across the UK.” Gareth added that Dakea’s technical team is always available to help with customer queries, highlighting a past project where it was necessary for them to source a flashing kit for an unusual tile. He explained: “This level of support, the impressive merchandising and the quality of the Dakea products, has made a positive impact and we are happy to observe a continuous growth in sales.” Christopher Phillips, Stormspell’s local Dakea Area Sales Manager, commented: “We value our merchants, as they are the first point of contact for the majority of our client base. Stormspell is a reputable merchant and we supply a package of support and technical know-how to ensure the team there can confidently talk about the products. “Once the product is sold, our support does not end there — we offer comprehensive customer support throughout the supply chain, to give merchants and end users complete peace of mind.”

■ To view Dakea’s latest product catalogue enter the short code www.rdr.link/mf046

60 PBM JUNE 2019

HEATRAE SADIA MEGAFLO REWARDS Initially launched in 2017, Heatrae Sadia has added to its Megaflo Rewards installer loyalty scheme. It has been designed to provide ‘ultimate functionality’, with quick and easy warranty registration and instant access to Megaflo resources such as brochures, images and logos. Members receive priority next-day engineer call-outs from Baxi Customer Support and immediate connection to the technical helpline. As a further advantage, the scheme has the provision to provide free annual service alerts for two years on each cylinder registered.

FIBO BROCHURE To showcase its growing range of wall panels, Fibo UK has introduced a 36-page brochure which gives an overview of the firm’s full panel collection and the different choice of styles and finishes — including the new marble and tile-effect ranges. The photography shows how the panels can be used to renovate walls, whether that is with a contemporary monochrome look, or by using a combination of different panels to create a personal statement. Fibo panels can be used in new build and refurbishment projects, ranging from domestic home improvements through to luxury golf resorts, offices and social housing.

GROHE XXL TRUCK TOUR Previously welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors across the globe, the Grohe XXL Truck Tour will be returning to the UK for the third time with three visits planned for 2019 and a fourth scheduled for early 2020 at a variety of industry and consumer events. The Grohe vehicle will be present at the Homebuilding & Renovating show, making an appearance at both the London event in October 2019 and Birmingham early next year whilst it will also be debuting at the Bournemouth Air Festival, as well as making its first visit to UK Construction Week.

STUART TURNER BROCHURE The updated literature from Stuart Turner aims to inform and support the supply chain from specifiers to end users. Utilising colour coded index tabs for ease of reference, the brochure features icons to indicate which application each product is most suitable for to make it easier for installers and specifiers to find out what solution best suits their requirements — across small and large domestic and commercial projects, multiple-occupancy residential and industrial properties.

WAVIN OSMA PROMOTION Now in its third year, the 2019 edition of ‘Take Off with Osma’ offers exclusive prizes for both installers and merchants. This year, merchants can be in with a chance of winning £250 worth of Amazon vouchers every week until the end of June if that week’s winning installer purchased a product from their store. Installers can win up to £500 worth of holiday vouchers weekly, with one lucky jet-setter winning the grand prize of a £1,000 voucher. A host of ‘instant prizes’ are also available during the campaign along with ‘runner-up’ prizes up for grabs each week.

GLOW-WORM MYSTERY TRIP Offering 80 heating engineers a chance to win a trip to a top secret location, Glowworm has announced the return of its legendary Mystery Trip. To kick off the campaign, Glow-worm is embarking on a tour of UK plumbing and heating merchants, spreading the word on how installers can get involved and earn their ticket to the ultimate holiday. The tour will last a total of 30 weeks, consisting of 80 merchant stops. At each location, visitors will be able to preview the brand’s latest products, sign up to the Club Energy loyalty scheme and find out more about the Mystery Trip itself. For more examples of supplier support for merchants on the PBM website, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf047

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

PBM JUNE 2019 61

PRODUCTS & SERVICES ACO BUILDING + LANDSCAPE THRESHOLD DRAIN Exterior drainage can now be extended from thresholds to patio edges with ACO Building + Landscape’s portfolio of slimline doorway drainage systems, Threshold Drain. The range has been expanded and now includes system connection and corner unit pieces. The additional parts have been designed to allow easy application of the system around the edge of landscaped patios and pavements. One of the key attributes of the additional Threshold Drain extension pieces is its ability to prevent water ponding and the parts can also be connected to domestic soakaways and drainage systems. Pieces within the system also feature a removable aluminium ACO Heelguard grating, to prevent footwear from getting caught in the product.

BAXI 600 RANGE Expanding its 600 range, Baxi has launched three new models. The Baxi 600 System, Baxi 600 System LPG, and Baxi 600 Heat boilers enjoy the same features as other Baxi 600 Combi models, including brass fittings, light weight and compact cupboard fit. Fully modulating and available in 15, 18 and 24kW outputs, the Baxi 600 System intelligently uses the right amount of fuel to meet central heating temperatures. A dedicated 24kW Baxi 600 LPG model is also suitable for homes without mains gas. The Baxi 600 System also features a central top flue and is available with a range of flue options, allowing for greater siting flexibility and easier replacement.

BRISTAN RAPID 4-IN-1 Delivering hot, cold, boiling and filtered water from a single unit, Bristan has grown its boiling water tap portfolio with the addition of the Rapid 4-in-1. The boiling water tap is packaged with everything required for installation — tap, pressure reducing valve, flexi tails, filter cartridge and a 3L capacity tank with four temperature settings, delivering water up to 98°c. 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. It includes a number of clever features, including a safe touch-sensor control button that must be pressed whilst dispensing boiling water.

LAKES LAKES STONE With safety and hygiene a key feature, Lakes has introduced Lakes Stone to its range — a suite of stone resin shower trays. Lakes Stone is anti-slip and anti-bacterial as its non-porous surface prevents mould or bacteria forming in the joints or beneath the surface. The 30mm trays are said to be easy to fit and can be inset into the floor, making Lakes Stone suitable for a wide variety of project designs. Colours include White, Cotswold Grey and Anthracite with a stainless steel drain cover. The trays are available in four sizes to suit rectangular showering spaces across Lakes’ Island, Coastline and Classic Collections.

SANIFLO UK KINEDO KINEPSACE Designed to make fitting shower enclosures easy, Saniflo UK has introduced the Kinedo Kinepsace range of shower cubicles. Available in four sizes, chrome profiles feature across the range with some versions also available in black or copper. Numerous configurations are possible including quadrant, recessed and corner options with pivot, sliding doors or fixed panels to enable customisation. At two metres high with 6 or 8mm glass, some Kinespace enclosures feature an optional central frosted panel on the glass. Sizes range between 700 and 1200mm and, for larger showers, an additional fixed panel can also be used which has a 450mm pivot section and is available transparent or with a central frosted panel in sizes of 400 or 600mm.

62 PBM JUNE 201

MAIN MAIN ECO COMPACT HEAT BOILER Offering installers a lightweight, adaptable and easy-to-fit boiler solution, the Main Eco Compact range is now available for independent merchants to order. The boiler is said to be the lightest boiler on the market and the new heat-only models do not need a pump overrun or permanent live. With a 19.5kg lift weight and available in 15, 18, 24 and 30kW outputs, the new range is suitable for most property sizes and compact enough to fit into cupboards up to 290mm deep. The Main Eco Compact Heat range also contains an aluminium heat exchanger that has been designed with less thermal mass, allowing for quicker heat dissipation.

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

THOMPSON’S ADVANCED PATIO AND BLOCK PAVING CLEANER Designed to effectively remove dirt, mould and algae from patio and block paving, Thompson’s has launched its Advanced Patio and Block Paving Cleaner. A water-based treatment, it will also help to prevent moss and mould re-growth for six months on patio and paving slabs, block paving, flag stones, concrete, tarmac, red bricks, tiles and terracotta. For extra protection and to keep a patio looking as good as new, Thompson’s Patio and Block Paving Seal is specially formulated to seal, enhance and protect paving from the weather in just one hour. The formula will also resist algae growth and protect against oil and fuel spills.

PURDY ROLL-OFF BUCKET LID CLIPS Aimed at boosting productivity, Purdy’s new accessories have been designed to work with the Purdy Dual Roll-Off Bucket and function together to reduce waste. The Roll-Off Bucket Lid clips on top of the Dual Roll-Off Bucket, allowing decorators to store paint between coats or even overnight. The Purdy 18” Paint Tray has also been introduced and fits on top of Dual Roll-Off Bucket and can double as a lid. It accommodates longer roller sleeves and allows a second colour paint to be used at the same time. Finally the Purdy Dual Roll-Off Bucket Liners have been launched to make clean up and colour changes faster. They fit inside the Purdy Dual Roll-Off Bucket and are easy to fit and remove thanks to a specially designed easy remove tab.

ERA SAFETY LOCKING WINDOW RESTRICTOR Whilst a window restrictor is an essential safety device, especially for those with children, merchants may be surprised to learn that few products on the UK market comply with the strictest child safety standards. However, ERA’s Safety Locking Cable Restrictor passes all British Standards, including tests to Grade 3 impact resistance of BSEN13126-5. Suitable for both domestic and commercial use, the product has been designed for universal use on all windows and balcony doors including timber, aluminium and PVC-U. Ergonomically designed for easy operation, aesthetics are also important with ERA stating that the device has been developed to “appear as a stylish and integral part of the window furniture”.

For more details on these and other new products on the PBM website, enter the shortcode www.rdr.link/mf048

ADVERTISEMENT INDEX

Bathroom Manufacturers Association ..............page 18

Magply ................................................................page 53

BSW Timber Ltd ...................................................page 6

Marley Ltd ...........................................................page 36

Builders Merchants Federation ...........................page 8

Marley Ltd ...........................................................page 42

COMAP UK Ltd ..................................................page 15

Marsh Industries Ltd ...................................pages 24,25

Combilift Ltd .......................................................page 26

Merlin Business Software Ltd ............................page 51

Concept Distribution Ltd ....................................page 29

Premdor ..............................................................page 26

EcoTherm Insulation (UK) Ltd ............................page 11

Quinn Building Products ....................................page 39

EGGER (UK) Holdings Ltd .................................page 48

ROCKWOOL Ltd ......................................bound outsert

Everbuild Building Products Ltd .........inside front cover

Setcrete ...............................................................page 21

Flexseal Couplings Ltd ......................................page 63

Simpson Strong-Tie ...........................................page 31

Garador Ltd ........................................................page 13

Snows Timber Ltd ..............................................page 33

GROHE Ltd ......................................outside back cover

T. I. Midwood & Co Ltd ......................................page 35

Hexstone Ltd ......................................................page 17

Ubbink (UK) Ltd ..................................................page 45

Impact Handling ...................................................page 2

Vecta Sales Solution Ltd ....................................page 13

Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd ...................................page 49

VIP Polymers Ltd ..................................................page 4

Kingspan Insulation Ltd .......................................page 7

Woodscape Ltd ..................................................page 41

Long Rake Spar Co. Ltd ......................................page 5

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MARCH 2019

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APRIL 2019

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MAY 2019

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

JUNE 2019

TIMBER & JOINERY A closer look at hardwoods

TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES

TRAINING FOCUS

WORKWEAR & EQUIPMENT

Apprenticeships in action

On the level

Toolbag essentials for customers

DOORS, WINDOWS & SECURITY Secure storage sales

Plus: News, market information, training, merchandising & display solutions and more. www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Team harmony

An eye on outdoor living

Plus: News, market information, training, merchandising & display solutions and more. www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Raising the roof

PAINTS & WOODCARE

GARDENS & LANDSCAPING Fantasy Football

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION

A focus on design

UFH advances

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Making Tax Digital

BRICKS, BLOCKS & HARD LANDSCAPING

PLUMBING & HEATING

Fantasy Football Heading for victory

Raising the standards

Plus: News, market information, training, merchandising & display solutions and more. www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS Fantasy Football The final furlong

Innovative solutions

Plus: News, market information, sales support, merchandising & display solutions and more.

Fantasy Football Top of the league!

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Please contact Kirstie Day on 01923 237799 64 PBM JUNE 2019

NE W !

SH SH*T *T

With Paul Davies

OFF A

SHOVEL! SHOV EL! L CITY SLICKERS So in the end, Liverpool still haven’t won the league since 1990 as Manchester City maintained their domestic dominance by retaining the title on the final day by thumping Brighton 4-1. As if that wasn’t enough, Watford were utterly demolished the following week in the FA Cup Final with City becoming the first club to secure all three domestic trophies in a single season. As the Wembley showpiece game demonstrated, there really aren’t enough superlatives left to describe Pep Guardiola’s team. Even E de r s o n — in my opinion the best sweeper-keeper we’ve ever seen on these shores — looks as though he could comfortably play out on pitch and not let the side down, such is the belief in their high-tempo, precision-passing system and trust in each other’s ability to implement it. We touched on it last month, but R a h e e m St e r l i n g has progressed so much from the talented, raw teenager we first saw at Liverpool. There’s a great series of images from the end of the Cup Final where Sterling appears to be on the receiving end of a lecture from his manager — the team has just recorded the biggest FA Cup final win in history, yet still there’s room for improvement! With this attitude, who knows just how good he can ultimately become and how much further Guardiola can take the club? Of course, for all the brilliance of the last two seasons at home, the Champions League has to be their next goal but — whilst extending our best wishes to the unprecedented four English teams contesting this year’s European finals — we’re not quite ready to bring down the curtain on this year’s breathless title race! The run-in was actually like the end of a Rocky movie, with the two heavyweights trading blow after blow as the league leadership switched between them a record 32 times. City ended up winning their last 14 matches; Liverpool their last nine and only lost once all season. The Anfield side secured 97 points — enough to win the Premier League in every season other than this year and City’s spectacular 100 point haul last time around. Surely every PBM / Evo-Stik fantasy league manager will be looking to fill their quota of City and Liverpool players as the foundation of their teams next season. It’s way too early to be making any other real predictions ahead of the impending flurry of transfer activity this summer, but we always like to look at some of those coming up from the Championship as possible budget gems. It’s difficult to look beyond the remarkable season had by Norwich’s Te e m u Pu k k i , in which the Finn top-scored with 29 goals, made nine assists and was named as the EFL Championship Player of the Year. Worth a gamble…?

TTING E S T ASTES HESIVE F E H T AD Y

U B N A OU C

GRAB

HOLDS 300KG

The PBM / Evo-Stik league will return next season. Keep an eye out for news and updates at www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk and www.pbmfantasyfootball.co.uk or via @PBMmagazine on Twitter. More details will appear in the next issue of PBM.

IN 15 MIN MINUTES* UTES*

In the meantime, thanks for playing this year, enjoy your summer and we hope to see you again next season!

ALL WE WEATHER ATHE T R

HI-TECH

FFAST AST A SE SETTING TTING

9 9 9

*holds 300kg in 15 minutes per m2