21 minute read
Industry News
THE POWER OF COPPER: AN ESSENTIAL MATERIAL FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Copper is one of the most versatile materials on the planet and has played a key part in bringing about change, inventions, and new opportunities across society.
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It has long been praised for its natural beauty and inherent material properties, yet most of its uses, remain hidden throughout our homes, hospitals, public transport, offices, and in renewable energy sources..
So just how essential is copper to everyday life?
Homes and transport
In your home, you’ll find copper running through your walls, supplying water from your boiler to your bathroom and kitchen, powering your shower and providing hot water to your taps and radiators.
It’s also found in the wiring of household electronics and appliances such as your kettle, microwave, oven, and television. Copper is also a key material for heating homes, not just in traditional central heating systems but in sustainable heating alternatives such as solar panels, solar thermal systems and air source heat pumps. These systems rely on copper to improve efficiency, as it is a superior conductor of heat.
When choosing which pipes to use with heat pumps flow rate and pressure drops must also be considered. As well as having serious environmental problems, plastic pipes have a considerably smaller bore size and internal area than copper, which has a dramatic effect on flow characteristics. If installers select plastic pipe instead of copper without checking the size correctly, this could negatively impact the heat pump’s performance. Outside of the home, copper is essential in both cars and public transport. It can be found in the wiring and batteries of electric car and their chargers, as well as a car’s and other motor vehicles’ brake lines. Copper is also vital in keeping public transport running by powering our train and tram lines and their brakes.
Office spaces
Copper piping is as essential in our office spaces too, as it has the capability to effectively heat or cool large spaces. When supplying hot water to busy offices, copper is chosen because of its durability, reducing the risk of leaks and other plumbing problems.
In fact, copper is so durable that it is used in Sweden’s nuclear waste handling technology, where copper canisters encapsulate the radioactive waste for long-term storage. The canisters are required to keep their integrity for at least 100,000 years but are thought to last five times as long with copper ensuring the safety and longevity of the solution.
As well as being found in the pipework in the ceiling above your office, copper is used in the wiring of computers, printers, and other devices that are vital in offices. Put simply, we wouldn’t be able to work without it!
Hospitals
In addition to our homes and office spaces, copper is an essential in hospitals too. It’s one of the only materials trusted to supply medical grade gases, such as oxygen, to patients’ bedsides with no leaks or contamination. Additionally, it has anti-microbial properties which help to protect the health of patients, with studies showing that it can reduce infection rates by 58%.
Our hospitals use medical grade copper to prevent contamination and bacterial growth and, at a time when hospitals are facing unprecedented demand to ensure patient safety, its use is vital to limit transmission of diseases and keeping patients safe in our places of care.
What makes copper an everyday essential?
Copper’s widespread usage across the home, office, and medical environments, as well as within innovations, is thanks to its ability to be infinitely recycled, without any loss of performance or properties. This ability ensures it will continue to be an everyday essential for generations to come.
Copper has been recycled and reused for as long as we have depended on it, with a fully developed scrap collecting infrastructure which has existed for centuries.
When copper pipes come to the end of their life, they simply go into the furnace and are melted down and made into brand new copper items, such as pipes. This process does not affect the performance or properties of the new items, copper used once will be identical to that used 100 or 1,000,000 times.
As a result, almost half of Europe’s copper demand is being met by recycled materials and at least 65% of all copper ever produced is still in circulation today.
From homes and hospitals, to transport and offices, copper is the material of the future. Thanks to its superior quality, safety, and ability to be infinitely recycled, it is playing a vital part in our everyday lives, creating a more sustainable future for everyone.
To find out more about the benefits of copper, visit www.cuspuk.com.
number of industry talks, events and networking opportunities to build on our relationships with the A&D community.” Thor-Anders Lundh Håkestad, CEO, Lundhs
EDGE Eco Showroom
London’s first interior design and construction showroom dedicated to sustainable products and materials; Lundhs is delighted to have been welcomed into the EDGE Eco Showroom. A welcome space for architects, interior designers and construction professionals, Lundhs proudly displays a selection of their stones as wall cladding and countertop installations for visitors to see. A central hub that brings forward-thinking, sustainability-led brands together, Lundhs will be participating and hosting a number of CPD and industry talks as part of its collaboration with this innovative eco-driven space.
Crafted directly from nature’s landscape, Lundhs Real Stone offers architects, designers and specifiers the ultimate versatility when it comes to surface choice. A 100% natural stone, each of the materials in the Lundhs Real Stone portfolio is available in six finishes, each unique in their own way, providing the opportunity to create truly impressive design schemes.
Specified by architects and interior designers the world over, Lundhs is dedicated to providing the A&D community with a first-class service. Beautifully constructed surface sample boxes displaying each of the six finishes of every stone can be ordered from Ben Ayling, Lundhs Business Dev. Manager in the UK, in addition to further technical information, material and support regarding projects. Durable, distinctive and completely natural, Lundhs Real Stone surfaces all boast high heat, scratch, water, UV and stain resistance as well as minimum maintenance, making it one of the most versatile surface choices in the world. Thanks to its low porosity and natural resistance to the elements (both heat and frost) the surfaces are often specified for building façades and outdoor paving in addition to its most popular and frequent use – as kitchen or bathroom countertops.
As a RIBA CPD provider, Lundhs also supports its network of architects and designers by carrying out seminars on a regular basis.
www.lundhsrealstone.com/uk
EDGE Eco Showroom, 146 Marylebone Road, NW1 5PH, London
For a Chapter Living refurbishment project in King’s Cross, London, Powdertech developed two shades of blue gloss powder coating to match original blue glass that was being replaced as part of the building refurbishment.
The project
Chapter Living student accommodation in King’s Cross has undergone an extensive overhaul inside and out. The previous building had made a colourful statement with windows in two shades of blue glass. Although this would have to be replaced by clear non-combustible glass the designers were keen to retain the shiny blue shades which would reflect the vibrant character of the King’s Cross area.
A major part of the refurbishment was recladding the two sixteen-storey blocks. Century Facades was appointed to carry out this work. It was imperative that all materials used should be non-combustible conforming to EN 13501-1, rating of A1 or A2-s1, d0
Colour matching advice and powder development
The blue shades, formally in the glass, could be replicated within areas of the rainscreen façade and spandrel panels across the accommodation blocks by high gloss polyester powder coating in those shades.
Powdertech was sent shards of blue glass from the old windows, to match with a powder coating both in shade and gloss level. Working in close contact with the client Powdertech directed one of its powder manufacturers to make two unique shades of blue to match the old glass in both colour and gloss. The spandrel panel systems for the facade were manufactured and supplied by Metalline Architectural Fabrications. Powdertech coated 4500 sq m of metal, made up of aluminium spandrel panels of sizes ranging from 350mm by 2.5 m to a larger size of 900mm by 4.5mm.
The non-combustible cladding panels are designed to help prevent fire damage quickly and easily spreading as part of the system. They perform to technical criteria, sound insulation and thermal performance and reduce environmental issues. Powdertech’s powder coatings and application techniques all conform to reaction to fire rating A2-s1,d0, thus contributing to the fire safety of the panels.
The Benefits of Powdertech powder coating
• Striking finish achieved through using polyester resins system. • Expertise in colour matching and selecting the most suitable powder manufacturer for bespoke shades. • High performance corrosion protection and weather resistance
• High level of colour and gloss retention • Conform to A2-s1,d0
• Fast and efficient lead times
• All powders are Qualicoat class 1 or class 2 approved • Conform to BS EN12206-1
www.powdertechcorby.co.uk
We used AI to analyse over 10,000 reviews about tradespeople
See what customers say & which trades win
We analysed over 10,000 reviews that customers wrote about tradespeople they’d hired. We used advanced text analysis to gauge and measure the sentiment of phrases for twelve different trades.
The traits customers talk about most when they leave a review are professionalism (42%),
quality of work (34%), and punctuality (13%).
• Tree surgeons are perceived as the tidiest. • Plumbers are the best at returning calls or messages. • Tilers are the most likely to be recommended.
See the full results below for more insights.
WHICH TRAITS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO CUSTOMERS?
So what do customers talk about most when they write a review? Well, it’s professionalism and the quality of work that take the lion’s share.
Most common tradespeople traits
Perceived value 4%
Tidiness 7% Professionalism 42%
Punctuality 13%
TOP TRAITS – WHICH TRADES CAME OUT BEST?
We dug deeper into the five traits that people really care about; professionalism, quality of work, punctuality, tidiness and perceived value.
Professionalism
# Trade Net Sentiment Score
1 Painters
Quality of work
# Trade Net Sentiment Score
1 Builders
1,567 2 Painters 1,410 3 Carpenters 1,395 4 Tilers 1,285 5 Plasterers 1,082
* Net Sentiment Score is the number of positive instances of a phrase relating to a trait minus the number of negative instances. For example if a trade has 100 positive instances of a trait and 10 negative instances, their Net Sentiment Score is 90.
# Trade Net Sentiment Score
1 Heating engineers 654 2 Handymen 590 3 Painters 488 4 Plumbers 458 5 Electricians 478
Tidiness
# Trade Net Sentiment Score
1 Tree surgeons 414 2 Plasterers 336 3 Painters 252 4 Heating engineers 229 5 Gardeners 211
WHICH TRADE IS BEST AT RETURNING CALLS AND MESSAGES?
A common grumble amongst customers or potential customers is ‘they never got back to me’. So which trades are the best at getting back to customers?
Best at returning messages
# Trade Net Sentiment Score
1 Plumbers 122 2 Heating engineers 106 3 Electricians 57 4 Tree surgeons 56 5 Builders 39
Perceived value
# Trade Net Sentiment Score
WHICH WORDS DO CUSTOMERS USE MOST?
1 Electricians 178 2 Plasterers 151 3 Plumbers 143 4 Roofers 107 5 Heating engineers 126 To help visualise the kind of language customers use when they write a review we’ve created this word cloud with the most popular phrases used.
my local toolbox tradesperson review analysis word cloud
TRADES MOST LIKELY TO BE RECOMMENDED
All experienced tradespeople know that the best way to keep a steady stream of customers queuing is to get recommended by previous customers.
So how likely is each trade to be recommended? Here are the top five…
Most likely to be recommended
# Trade % of customers who’d recommend their trade
Watch this space for more insights from our analysis of 10,000 reviews.
1 Tilers 57%
2 Painters
SEALING THE ENERGY CRISIS THIS WINTER
As winter’s icy grip bites harder, the effective insulation and sealing of windows and doors is a priority, says Andy Swift, sales and operations manager for foam sealants specialist, ISO Chemie.
He says it’s not just the frames themselves that need attention when it comes to keeping out the cold this winter - it’s the entire installation which has to be addressed.
Most property owners probably don’t realise that they are among the majority with energy inefficient windows until they feel a cold draught from somewhere, or see their electric and gas bills rapidly escalate as they struggle to keep their properties warm.
“With 25% of the heat leaking from around windows it’s now even more important to effectively seal around the window to wall gap,” Andy Swift says. “Even before the current energy crisis, it was always an area requiring urgent attention but now it has become paramount because millions of people are struggling to heat their homes and stay warm this coming winter.”
“However, by using modern foam sealants to create a thermal and airtight seal around the window, the amount of heat loss around frames •12•
is significantly reduced. Indeed, after only a few years against a leaky joint, investment in new sealing tapes will have paid for itself.
“Retrofitting properties with products like Winframer, Vario SD and BLOCO ONE has become a direct focus for property developers and housing associations and is a cost-effective way to insulate existing properties very quickly. As they say the greenest home is one already built. It just needs proper retrofit insulation.”
A pre-compressed tape, ISO BLOCO ONE, which has been independently tested and is both BBA and Passivhaus certified, can be used on joints up to 42 mm, providing a high-performance weather tightness and thermal/ acoustic insulation seal for fenestration applications as the weather gets cold.
Quickly applied by hand around the frame during fitting, ISO BLOCO ONE are energy rated weather tight thermal and acoustic tapes which reduce heat loss and noise ingress to a U value better or equal to the frame. This assures property and homeowners that a comprehensive ‘A’ rated installation can been completed rather than just an ‘A’ rated window supplied.
The tapes can be used to seal joints providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Product can accommodate a temperature range of -30° to +90° and is impermeable to driving rain with a minimum of 600 Pa, making it one of the best performing tapes in its class. Once installed, a building will also be better protected from elemental factors like wind, dust and moisture ingress by accommodating the changes in structural movement caused by environmental, cyclical and settlement factors. Quick and easy-to-apply, with excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties, ISO BLOCO ONE can be used to provide effective gap seals to accommodate expansion and movement while remaining permeable to trapped water and water vapour in extreme weather conditions – in the same way as a flexible breathable style building façade material.
ISO-Chemie is one of Europe’s main producers of impregnated foam sealants, specialising in the manufacturer of foam products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques.
Photocaption: Foam sealant tapes from ISO Chemie improve property energy efficiency
More at www.iso-chemie.eu
CLASSIC GEM
A design team reimagines a 1930 Embassry Row residence while celebrating its traditional heritage
When gifted interior designers, architects and owners come together with a single vision for a home’s future, the results can seem like kismet. Especially when that home, rising among the stately residences of Embassy Row, imparts a distinguished architectural past. Completed in 1930 for a financier whose taste and fortune rose above the Great Depression, the elegant Georgian Revival house presents a gracefully balanced façade, as well as generous, gracious proportions within. •14•
To realize their ideas, the new owners gathered a present-day dream team including interior designers Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill, partners in Solis Betancourt & Sherrill, along with Ankie Barnes of BarnesVanze Architects. As Sherrill recalls, “The client respected the traditional architecture of the house and wanted to embrace and restore that.”
At the same time, the family with children wanted “something a little bit more contemporary and comfort-
able,” adds Solis Betancourt. “They entertain, so they needed large rooms and lots of seating areas. Everyone was interested in balancing traditional and modern design.”
To achieve that balance, Barnes introduced more natural light through new bays and larger glass doors and windows along the back. These changes were matched by the designers’ monochromatic palette of very light colors, from faux limestone walls in the entry to celadon in the dining room and buttery strié in the owners’ bedroom. “We were trying to keep it very subtle and peaceful, maintaining as much lightness as possible,” notes Sherrill. A foundation of contemporary, upholstered furnishings sporting clean, classic forms mingles nimbly with gilded antique chairs, restored marble fireplaces and artwork from the owners’ collection.
A hint of what’s to come welcomes the visitor. In the entrance vestibule, modern light sculptures in graceful swirls were commissioned by the interior designers to fit existing niches. The 30-foot-long entrance hall unfurls ahead—its promenade of spaces defined by paired columns and glistening marble floors detailed with dark borders. At its terminus, a small seating area nestles at the foot of a grand staircase.
“For that space, we designed a narrow perching bench,” says Sherrill, likening its carved wood base to fluting on a column, its gilding influenced by Art Deco. Throughout the home, the designers subtly referenced classical revival elements of that period, which, Sherrill points out, “would have been high style when the house was built.” Enfolded by the staircase curve, a life-sized marble figure echoes ancient Rome while opposite, the designers choreographed twin images of ballerinas by artist Umberto Ciceri. As in a hologram, the dancers are set in motion when family or visitors walk by. living room. Underpinning all three areas, glimmering carpets were custom-woven in tempered patterns to suit the expansive spaces, including the nearly 34-footlong living room. An archival-design Vladimir Kagan sofa was recreated for this room; its curves point the way toward a classical Crema Marfil marble fireplace.
Added onto the back of the living room, a new glass bay overlooks the verdant garden. This intimate seating area has become a favored spot for the owners to host small luncheons and teas. In addition to a thorough upgrade of the home’s infrastructure, architectural interventions ordered other spaces for modern living. One floor above, a similar glass bay extends the owners’ bedroom. Three additional bedrooms and a library-cum-family gathering space also grace that floor while on the fourth story, the architects created a sky-lit playroom.
In the informal wing on the main floor, Barnes transformed darker spaces into a procession of lofty, lightfilled rooms that extend from the back of the house to the front. Replacing service stairs behind the elevator with a more compact spiral stairway gained seven feet for the new family room, formerly a 12-foot-wide office. The home’s architectural formality extends into this wing, from the family room facing east to the kitchen and delightful breakfast area on the west-facing front.
Carrara marble, first viewed on the entrance-hall floor, reappears on kitchen countertops, backsplash and deep window wells. “It’s beautiful to have this continuity and uniformity of materials,” muses Sherrill, adding that in traditional European homes it was standard practice to use local stone, with variations, throughout. That refined restraint corresponds to ideas embraced by both the architect and owners, who, Sherrill maintains, “wanted a peaceful and harmonious experience.”
Suffused with light, this area benefits from renovations made to the four-story, six-bedroom house by Barnes, collaborating with project manager Matthew Fiehn. On the staircase landing, enlarged glass doors, newly surrounded by sidelight and fanlight windows, lead out to a sweeping stone terrace. “The connection from the house to the garden on the back was not as strong as it could be,” Barnes explains. “And to my mind the principal rooms were not as well-connected and as generously lit as they should be.” The architect admires the home’s piano nobile plan, in which primary living spaces are placed one floor up. “It means you can organize public rooms in a very grand manner, not complicated by the need to enter,” he observes. “The house is wonderful in that regard—and many others.”
The central stair leads to the main floor’s commodious hall and formal dining room, its entrance framed by symmetrically arranged, sculptural console tables. Above, large paintings by Wolf Kahn bring luminous color to the gently modulated tones that flow through the hall, dining room and Solis Betancourt concurs: “It was a real, true collaboration.”
Renovation Architecture: Ankie Barnes, FAIA, LEEP AP, principal; Matthew Fiehn, AIA, LEED AP, project manager, BarnesVanze Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill, Solis Betancourt & Sherrill, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Zantzinger, Washington, DC.
MOVING INTO YOUR HOUSE LUXURY HOME: IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER
A luxurious home is the image of extravagance and allows you to live that lavish lifestyle you’ve always wanted. Yet, no matter what type of home you move into, there are certain things to consider before doing so. Many homeowners believe that simply unpacking is the only task necessary before settling in, however, it’s important to get acquainted with your new house so that you can begin to feel comfortable in it. Getting acquainted requires you to take the time to learn how your new home functions and how you can make it best work for you. Here are some tips on what to consider when moving into your new, luxury home.
1. Complete a walkthrough
Before moving in your belongings, do a complete walkthrough of your new house. Doing so allows you to get a better idea of floor space while also performing final checks on any repairs you requested from previous owners. While conducting a walkthrough, ensure that anything included in the sales price is present in the house. Inspect all items to ensure they’re functioning properly – extend your inspection to include light switches, outlets, doors, windows, and other fixtures. Although you’re likely to clean the home again before moving in furniture, use this initial examination to determine whether the home is free from all debris, dirt and mould.
If you find an issue with the home that violates the sale contract, be sure to get in touch with your realtor immediately. They can inform you of the recourse for the situation and advise you on issues not covered in the contract.
2. Set up internet and utilities
For those moving houses, Sky and other providers offer broadband deals that may work better for your new location. For instance, those moving into a larger home may opt for fibre broadband deals to benefit from faster internet speeds. Be sure to browse internet deals before determining whether sticking with your current plan is the better option. Take the time to arrange the transference of utilities before moving into your new home. Verify that your gas, electric, heating and cooling, and water are set up on the day of your move to avoid problems once you get there. You must give utility providers at least 48 hours notice before moving. Some may ask you to provide them with a metre reading before leaving your old home. For more advice on dealing with your energy supply when moving home, visit Citizens Advice here.
3. Determine floor plan
You’ll probably already have an idea of how you want to arrange furniture in your new home, but now is the time to think about the logistics of it. Making a furniture floor plan allows you to move quicker and more easily. At the very least, ensure you know what’s going on in what room.
4. Change locks
Changing the locks on your new home gives you peace of mind that it’s safe and secure. Schedule a locksmith to come by or perform a lock change yourself where knowledgeable. Make sure you re-key all doors and windows leading between the exterior and interior.
