The Decorator – December 2019-January 2020

THE

DECORATOR

The official journal of the Painting and Decorating Association • December 2019-January 2020

Douglas Gillie Waren Mill, Budle Bay, Northumberland See The Gallery for more!

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Dear Members, Despite the recent flooding and the increasingly dark winter nights, we were pleased to meet quite a few Members during our National Networking Event at Oulton Hall, Leeds in early November. It was great to see so many of you at the Masquerade Ball and with such a variety of different masks, we have received excellent feedback about the weekend. Congratulations go to the four winners of the Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year competition who received their awards during the evening. I would like to thank Brewers Decorator Centres for being the sole competition sponsor along with thanks to our Associate Partners who sponsored the Networking Event.

For those of you who attended the National Painting & Decorating Show, at which we held our AGM, it was a pleasure to catch up with Members who attended the meeting and who visited our stand. Congratulations to Stephen Bagnall who won the Graco sprayer prize draw following the AGM, and Thomas Webster of TW Services who was the lucky winner of the Mirka Deros during the show. Particular mention and thanks go to two of our loyal sponsors, Graco and Mirka for donating their products.

After the trade show, I travelled with two apprentices, Lewis Boyle and Abi Johnson to Slovenia to take part in a humanitarian charity repaint project. Both of them work for the Bagnalls Group and were first and second place in this year’s Trophy Awards. This initiative is organised by the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (incorporating the Slovenian Painters’ Association) to help to give a fresh new look to either a school, hospice, or hospital. Around 100 painters supported by 50 apprentices from across Europe gave their time to help with this worthwhile cause. I wish to thank Igor Pipan, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for the invitation to attend. After almost ten years since coming off the tools myself, I donned the bib and brace overalls once more and took part in repainting an elementary school in the town of Ormoz. A more detailed report of this event will appear in the next magazine.

Since the beginning of October, we have changed our external marketing company. This now being carried out jointly by our PR Agency, Shepherd PR and Catherine Saint Publicity, along with the team from Empathic Visions who do such a great job on this publication. Our new marketing and communications strategies are now underway.

The application forms for both our Trophy Awards & Apprentice Competitions are now available to download from our website’s homepage. The closing date for the Trophy Awards is 10 January 2020 and the Apprentice Competition, 21 February 2020. Get your entries in now and let’s hope to see you on stage in London next July to receive an award!

2019 has seen us celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the National Association. How things have changed during this time, and yet we have adapted to meet the needs of our sector and of course of our Members. We will be asking for your support in the New Year with a survey going out to ask for your help in continuing to shape the Association so that it remains relevant to you.

Remember, it is your Association, so please do continue to work with us.

On behalf of myself and everyone at head office, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous, healthy and safe 2020.

Best wishes

Neil Ogilvie Chief Executive

@TheDecoratorMag

/DecoratorMag /TheDecoratorMag

elsewhere in this issue...

4 Association News 28 Members News 20 Training and education 24 The Gallery 26 #NINE4NORAH 30 FAQ with Charlie Budd 32 Sector News 34 Trends 36 Case studies 42 Tooltalk with Wayne de Wet 44 Products and services

THE

DECORATOR

Painting & Decorating Association 32 Coton Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5TW Telephone: 024 7635 3776 e-mail: info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk web: www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk Chief Executive Officer Neil Ogilvie neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

December 2019 –January 2020 — Volume 88 No 6 The Decorator is published by Catherine Saint Publicity on behalf of the Painting & Decorating Association PDA Editorial Neil Ogilvie Telephone: 07796 942474 e-mail: neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

Advertising and Editorial Catherine Saint Publicity Telephone: 07941 590183 e-mail: catherine.saint@yahoo.co.uk Artworking and Design empathicVisions Telephone: 07789 725074 e-mail: info@empathicvisions.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those held by the Association. Editorial items in this publication and the statements and opinions expressed thereon are published on the understanding that the author of the contribution is solely responsible for the opinions so expressed. Although every care is taken with advertising, no responsibility can be accepted by the published for their products, services and other matters advertised. The publisher will not be liable for any loss or damage consequential or otherwise occasioned by error, late publication or the failure of an advertisement to appear in any cause whatsoever.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

takeNOTICE

@thePDA facebook.com/thePDA

The latest news and updates about the PDA and wider issues across our industry.

If you have something to contrubite email info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

HAPPY FESTIVE BREAK! The PDA Head Office will be closed from 3.30pm on 23 December 2019 and will re-open for business as usual on 2 January 2019. We would like to wish everyone a great holiday and a happy and healthy 2019.

Neil and the Head Office Team

Winter holiday and Associated Public/Bank holidays - England & Wales

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The Working Rule Agreement states that there shall be seven working days taken in conjunction with Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to give a winter holiday of two calendar weeks.

The Winter Break in 2019 will be from normal finishing time on Friday 20 December 2019 to normal starting time on Monday 6 January 2020 in accordance with WR.18.1.

Construction activity indicators

IT’S ELEMENTARY As The Decorator went to print, PDA CEO Neil Ogilvie along with Lewis Boyle and Abi Johnson, both of Bagnalls’ and Leeds College of Building, had joined other painters from across Europe for an annual charity painting campaign.

The event, organised each year by the Slovenian Painting Federation, will take on the challenge of painting an Elementary School in Ormoz, Slovenia.

In the last few years over 80 painters and apprentices have taken part. Everyone will have to work as a team to complete the challenge in the two days.

We know that Lewis and Abi will have the stamina, as they are both winners in the PDA Apprentice Competition – but will Neil be able to keep up?

We look forward to the before and after pictures in the next magazine and the full details from the team!

Abi (left) and Lewis (right) whilst at the PDA Apprentice Decorator competition earlier this year.

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GDP t Construction Output t Markit/CIPS Construction PMI Index s Housing starts, England t Repair & maintenance activity t

• The latest full quarter of ONS data shows that UK GDP contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2019. This resulted in a sharp slowdown in annual growth to 1.3% in Q2 2019, from 2.1% in the previous quarter.

• Revised construction output data declined by 1.2% in the second quarter of the year after growing by 1.6% in the first.

• The Markit/CIPS construction PMI edged up to 44.2 in October, from 43.3 in the previous month. However, the latest index is still close to the ten-year low of 43.1 seen in June.

• Total R&M activity dropped by 2.4% in the second quarter of the year, after growth of 2.8% in the first.

OBITUARY

CECIL UNDERWOOD It is with sadness that we announce the death of Cecil Underwood who passed away on 2 November 2019, his funeral took place on 26 November and we send our condolences to his family.

Cecil was a stalwart of the Association and an active Member of the North East Region. Cecil was the longest-serving Secretary of the Heavy Woollen and Spen Valley Branch, and also served on the North East Regional Council, before becoming the North East Regional President. Cecil also served on National Council, and was accorded National Honorary Life Membership. He was on the Board of Directors at the YDM & Co and served for many years as its Chairman.

Cecil was well known throughout the area of Dewsbury and was a partner in a very well known and respected firm of Porritt and Underwood. He was tall in stature and in the community.

Living to the age of 99, many who knew him have passed, but for those of us who are still here we will never forget him.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

2019

YEAR IN REVIEW This report aims to gives an overview of the year’s activities within the Association and some of the joint initiatives carried out by our other partner organisations.

Some highlights are: • Hosting two events at PDA Head Office for the International Association of Painting Contractors (UNIEP) • Enhanced online presence through a series of Member podcasts • A new design for The Decorator magazine • A record number of entries for our three apprentice competitions • Celebrating 125 years since the formation of the National Association back in 1894 Importantly, as we have just heard from our National Treasurer, the finances of the Association remain robust despite the challenging environment.

Safety, Health and Environment Committee Our Health and Safety committee acquired a new chair during 2019 – Richard Wilks. The new Chair is the Director of Health, Safety and Environment with Bell Group. He brings a dynamic range of specific skills in both health and safety training which will add gravitas to this committee.

They are looking at addressing the key areas affecting our sector and to expand on some initiatives that we have worked on during the past year.

We continue to place mental health as one of our top priority items as we all need to understand the steps that must be taken at work and in training to support our health and wellbeing. The construction industry has made great strides in safety over the past 30 years but managing mental health at work is still an area where more can be done.

A large proportion of our membership is made up of sole traders and SME’s. It can, at times, be a lonely job for these workers should they suffer some form of mental health issue and they may worry about in whom they can confide. In the past few months alone, I have taken quite a few confidential calls from individuals who have seen some of our health-related posts on social media and have contacted me to have a chat about issues affecting them.

It is encouraging that Members see membership of the PDA a way of seeking assistance with the problems they are experiencing. Following these calls, we can then point them in the right direction should they require further specific assistance.

I’m pleased to report that our relationship with the HSE, (Health & Safety Executive) has also continued to develop. We now have three sector specific individuals from this organisation who regularly attend our meeting with updates and also contribute to our bi-monthly magazine publication.

A selection of the initiatives we have worked on this year include: • Updating the information on PPE, both in the correct equipment for specific areas and the actual fitting and usage criteria.

• Working alongside the Ladder Association and all areas of risks of safety guidance surrounding access, scaffold and lifting equipment is on the agenda for next year.

• The need to raise awareness about the growing issue of skin cancer-related illness.

Planned work for 2020 will be an update of our hard copy of the Association’s Health & Safety Handbook and development of a progressive mobile web app. This format works well for such a publication as it means easier and quicker updating.

Training & Education Committee Our Training and Education committee also acquired a new chair during 2019. Julie Lawrenson also works for Bell Group, a national contractor who specialises in training and apprenticeships.

CITB Assessor Project Both of our PDA Funding Initiatives, the CITB NVQ Assessor Project and the UNIEP InPaint Project are coming to fruition after two years of development.

The PDA was awarded a contract to achieve new NVQ Level 2 and 3 painters & decorators, and newly qualified NVQ Assessors, to work alongside the current network of existing qualified Assessors to whom the PDA could refer future candidates requiring assessment.

The project has been successful in recruiting four people who are currently working towards their Assessor qualification, with eight of the NVQ candidates being assessed by them.

UNIEP Work Based Learning Project Over the past 18 months you may have seen articles in The Decorator informing you of the activities and progress of this European project for a ‘Work Based Learning Website’, of which the PDA is a partner. The completed one-stop shop website, due to be launched in early January will be interactive platform focusing on the main topics of career advice; information, resources and training.

This two-year project along with five other partner countries, was aimed at improving the professionalism, skills and image of the Painting & Decorating Sector – The project called InPaint aims to attract more young people to become decorators and improve the effectiveness of work based learning.

The project is also developing a job description, personality profile and qualification units for a new role that will be available for the Painting & Decorating sector in each country.

The proposed ‘Work Based Learning Developer’ will be the effective link between Painting & Decorating Contractors, Apprentices/Trainees, Training Providers and Trade Associations.

Competitions and Awards Trophy Premier Awards 2019 This year’s Trophy Awards Ceremony and luncheon took place on 4 July at the Plaisterers’ Livery Hall, in central London. It was a truly memorable day for those who attended.

Those of you who were in attendance will have seen me attempting to work for the first time on stage with the famous Dulux Dog. I wish to thank and congratulate everyone who entered this year and achieved a success on the day.

I urge more Members to enter the Trophy Awards Competition – entries open until 10 January 2020.

The two Apprentice Competitions held during 2019 saw 30 Apprentices showcasing their skills, once again showing tremendous talent.

The competitions took place at Bournemouth & Poole and Accrington & Rossendale Colleges. I would like to pay tribute to all of this year’s entrants as they are a credit not only to themselves, but to their employers, colleges and parents alike.

Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year The Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year Competition was held in June at Doncaster Hub College with a total of 17 entries. The winners received their prizes on 9 November as part of our 125th Anniversary Networking celebrations, held at Oulton Hall in West Yorkshire.

Associate Partnership and Sponsorship During the past year, the PDA has successfully secured new sources of sponsorship of our events and services.

The ongoing collaboration with our associates maintains excellent relationships with manufacturers who continue to support the Trophy Awards, Networking Event, and our three Apprentice competitions.

Don’t forget!

There’s still time for you to enter your project in the Premier Trophy Awards, it would be fantastic to see more of our Members putting forward their great work

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

This report gives an overview of the year’s activities within the Association and some of the initiatives carried out by our various partner organisations

Such relationships are key in helping to provide a range of advice, helplines, and other promotional material to PDA Members, as well as adding to the income stream to PDA. This year has seen further interest from manufacturers and suppliers to the trade who wish to have increased collaboration with the PDA. We now have over 48 Associate Partners working with us, offering support and discounts to our membership. This is a specific area that our new marketing consortium will be targeting in 2020 and beyond.

Examples of Members deals/services are: • Discounts on products and services • Continual professional development courses, whether they be free or at preferential discounted rates • Combined training and factory visit days through the year Substantial savings on their products and services range from Q1 Masking Tapes, GoSimpleTax, HMG paints, Hospital, Medical Care Association, Call Handling Solutions, to Markel Business Hub offering templates and downloads, saving £190 on their joining fee on that one item alone.

We are currently in talks with our preferred associate insurance provider to look at offering unique packaged insurance for our Members.

In addition, I am in conversation with a major wallpaper manufacturer to form a list of PDA wallpaper hangers whereby, upon purchasing their specific product, the customer can be informed of a professional wallpaper

hanger within their area who specialises in hanging that product, (permissions from Members to go on such a list will be sought in due course). We intend this to be rolled out across the UK in 2020.

Marketing and Public Relations We have recently acquired the services of a new marketing team to help promote awareness of the PDA to both its Members and the wider public.

Shepherd PR and Catherine Saint Publicity, along with Empathic Visions are working together with the management board and team at head office to develop a new strategic approach. This concentrates on key areas such as membership communication and consumer awareness. Additionally, we will be looking at closer liaison with Associate partners, manufacturers and business suppliers. Our strategic marketing plan will identify the needs of our membership in order to enhance our benefits and services.

The Decorator Magazine The magazine continues to go from strength to strength, both as hard copy and as an online presence. When I speak to CEO’s of other trade bodies, they are often envious that we have such a well-established publication hitting our Members’ doorsteps every eight weeks. Our publisher always welcomes your feedback and ideas for new features. The magazine is for you, the Members, so please continue to send news, projects and images to feature in each issue.

Legal Services During 2019 we have seen a substantial rise in PDA Members using both the claims section and the 24-hour advice call centre of our partners, Markel Law. One of the specific areas of concern in the growing number of ‘professional non-payers’ now becoming more evident. As a quick reminder, please be vigilant in checking over completed works prior to leaving the job and ask the client to sign a customer satisfaction form.

It is concerning to find that so many Members do not have an audit trail of quotations, estimates or correctly produced invoices. As well as the original ones before the job, this practice should also extend to when the Member is on site and the client asks, “Oh can you just fit me in this extra room to decorate while you’re here”.

It is incumbent on the Member to ensure that this is costed out with appropriate paperwork and agreed by the client. This all prevents difficult issues at the end of the job.

Website We have recently been informed that the platform on which our current website is based upon will no longer be supported from early 2020. Therefore, we are in the process of obtaining quotations to create a brand-new site.

In the interim, we have the chance to strip back the contents of the current site, and we are will be working with a specialist website consultant who will evaluate the material with a view to giving optimum performance.

Once this work is completed, we will then instigate the rebuild and hope to have the site completed by late spring or early summer.

Conclusion This year has seen us celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the National Association. This Association will continue, as it has done since 1894, to promote the continuous improvement of the painting and decorating industry as a whole and to advance the wellbeing, productivity, growth and status of all who are connected with our very special trade.

The promotion of our sector skills to the future generation of up and coming apprentices is paramount, both for the trade as a whole and for the continued growth and development of our Association’s future.

On this note of continual development, we will be asking for your support in the New Year with a series of surveys coming out to you asking for your help in continuing to shape the Association so that it remains relevant to you.

Remember, it is your Association, so please do continue to work with us. Don’t be strangers, give us a call at head office to discuss any matter in further detail at any time.

And finally, I would like to thank our Head Office team: Denice Harper Membership Services Manager Yvonne Dominey-Tay

Administration and Events Manager

Samantha Cooke

Administration Assistant

Paul Whitehead

Recruitment Advisor

I also wish to thank our Management Board, along with our Associate Partners and also you the Members, for the loyalty, support and confidence shown throughout the year, particularly to those Members who play an active role within the Association.

Neil Ogilvie PDA Chief Executive Officer

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Masquerade Dinner & N E 125t h A nniversar y

ET WORKING

VENT

We had a great time at Oulton Hall for the PDA Networking Event. Due to adverse weather conditions, the outdoor activities came indoors, but that did not dampen the spirits. Several teams competed against each other with a series of activities from brain teasers to agility challenges. It was hats off to the winning team, which included Scott Oliver, from Bournemouth and Poole College who are now the proud owners of a Graco 190 Spray machine which Scott is taking back for use at the college.

The evening saw the attendees don their eyewear for the highly anticipated Masquerade Ball. There was a lovely champagne reception with everyone enjoying the fun of seeing who was hidden underneath the fantastic eye masks and Venetian faces!

After dinner, the Paperhanger Competition Winners were revealed (see page 22) and then it was on with the live music and the even livelier dancing.

Thank you to all attendees and sponsors for this celebratory 125-year event, and we hope to see you all again next year!

View and purchase photos by Yorkshire Events Photography taken during the event at www.tinyurl.com/PDABall Password: PDAOULTON 8

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

REDUCING THE RISK OF NON-PAYMENT THE FIRST, AND most crucial step to avoid being left out of pocket is to make sure you have a written contract that has been accepted by the customer/contractor, preferably signed by them. That should not only set out what you are going to provide, when and for what price, but should (where possible) also incorporate sufficient terms and conditions to protect your position.

But before you agree to that contract, make sure you understand its terms and conditions where you will be contracting on the other party’s terms (so usually this will be a subcontractor scenario), particularly regarding payment. For those members working for contractors, it is not uncommon for larger contractors to have quite strict terms concerning the timing of applications for payment, and when changes (variations) and claims for delay have to be notified to them. In some cases, such terms will state that if a claim for, say, delay, is not notified within a specified period, you lose the right to claim an extension of time and/or more money.

It is worth checking your own contract terms – When were they last reviewed? Do they comply with current legislation? Even more importantly, do they adequately protect your position?

Make sure you comply with the terms of the contract. If a date has to be changed, get that agreed with the customer, and confirm it in writing. If there are changes to your works/goods to be provided, these should be confirmed in writing, together with the agreed cost of the changes on an item by item basis where possible.

Consider getting payment by instalments, and/or payment of a lump sum up front. This reduces the impact of any later non-payment. However, realistically an upfront payment from a main contractor is likely to be difficult to get.

If you are delayed or disrupted by the customer or contractor, inform them of this in writing at the time.

Explain any delay that has been caused to the project, and any increased costs. Monitor any non-payment and take action sooner rather than later. Do not let a large debt build up.

If non-payment continues, consider serving a notice of intention to suspend your work/services, provided this right forms part of your contract. This can be a powerful tool to obtain payment. However, you need to be sure that you are owed the money. If you wrongly suspend your works/services this is a serious breach of contract, exposing you to a claim for damages.

The right to suspend can either be an express term of your contract, or it may be implied into the contract as a matter of law. Under the Construction Act (as it is commonly called), where your contract is with a contractor, then generally you will have the right to suspend, though there are some exceptions. But if your contract is directly with a residential homeowner for work to their home, then you would only have the right to suspend if that is an express term of your contract.

Stuart Thwaites, Legal Director

Advice from our Associates DON’T MAKE CHRISTMAS TAXING IT’S THAT TIME of year again. Mariah Carey has been crooning since October, you’re already sick of mince pies but most of all, everyone is eagerly anticipating the office Christmas party. Whether your staff spend most of the party trying to avoid cuddles from Colin in Accounts or dancing on the tables, as an employer, make sure you aren’t on the naughty list by making sure you know the tax implications of throwing your staff an annual bash.

You could be mistaken for thinking there are no tax implications, but strictly speaking, if you are providing your staff with free turkey, paper hats from a Christmas cracker and a couple of glasses of something fizzy, those staff members are obtaining the benefit of free Christmas trimmings by reason of their employment. For humbug tax inspectors, this could be construed as a benefit in kind which ought to be included on employees’ P11D forms, and upon which they ought to pay income tax.

Fortunately, however, there is some seasonal goodwill. Where the cost, to the employer, of providing a staff function falls below the de minimis limit of £150 per head (not per staff member), HMRC accept there is no benefit in kind and everyone can simply enjoy their Christmas tipple free of the fear of repercussions. Other than those deriving directly as a result of too much Christmas tipple, of course.

A point to note: The £150 is a limit on annual events open to all employees, so if you take your staff out for free more than once a year, such as a summer barbecue, make sure you don’t overspend the limit in any given tax year.

Finally, if you are the kind of generous employer who also likes to give your employees Christmas gifts, the good news is that you can do so tax-free provided they are classed as a ‘trivial benefit’. This has nothing to do with board games containing pie-shaped pieces, but so long as the gift isn’t cash or a cash voucher (gift vouchers are fine), cost you less than £50 to provide and isn’t either contractual or a performance reward, you are good to gift.

Claire Purbhoo ACA, Partner

5 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR SELF-EMPLOYED DECORATORS ASIDE FROM DIET plans and the January gym membership, New Year’s resolutions can also extend to our finances. Taxes though, don’t have to be a sore spot if we change how they’re tackled. As you draft up those resolutions, be sure to include some of the following advice...

Streamline your finances – We can’t avoid tax entirely, but we can look to reduce our taxable income, you need to consider topping up your pension pot to reduce your tax bill; there are so many ways to streamline your earnings while staying on the right side of HMRC. It’s simply a case of knowing where to save.

Understand what expenses you’re entitled to – Anyone who completes a Self-Assessment has the potential to reduce their tax bill by getting savvy on what is eligible for relief with HMRC. There are countless costs that you can claim, depending on the nature of your earnings. The GoSimpleTax App can help ensure you don’t miss out.

Keep personal expenses separate – There are harsh penalties for anyone who mixes up eligible tax breaks with those outside of the boundaries. For this reason, it’s wise to keep your non-PAYE earnings and outgoings in a separate account to prevent confusion. That way, you won’t have to waste time sifting through bank statements to distinguish between personal and professional finances.

Say ‘goodbye’ to paper receipts – Don’t let scattered, laboriously compiled receipts cause headaches over the next 12 months. Going digital can help you track what you’re spending, store the evidence, and log this on your Self-Assessment. The best tools are powered by the Cloud – this means you can use your smartphone or tablet to upload receipts from your camera.

Go Online to Make your Tax Return – In the past, an accountant was crucial to making your funds watertight.

It’s now easy to do this yourself by keying in your information to GoSimpleTax. The New Year brings taxpayers across the UK a chance to take a fresh look at their finances. By exploring the latest digital tricks, and growing your knowledge of where money can be saved, you can ensure that 2020 is your best year yet.

The GoSimpleTax App gives you an accurate picture of your income and expenditure, while guiding you on how your Self-Assessment should be composed.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

CALLING ALL DECORATING FIRMS! MEMBERS CAN NOW register their sites for Open Doors 2020. Next year’s event, which is taking place from 16–21 March, is an opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of careers available in the industry.

Help us to inspire the next generation by registering construction sites, factories, offices and training centres via the Open Doors website.

Open Doors Week aims to inspire more people into the construction industry by letting them go ‘behind the scenes’ to discover the diverse and rewarding range of career paths the industry has to offer, as well as changing people’s perceptions of construction.

The current skills shortage is one of the most pressing issues within the industry. Open Doors provides a fantastic opportunity to inspire and recruit the next generation and career changers to choose a career in construction.

Open Doors is delivered by Build UK in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), supported by industry partners the Considerate Constructors Scheme and the Home Builders Federation, community partners the Careers & Enterprise Company and the Department for Work and Pensions, and media partner Construction News.

Key Dates 6 January 2020 Visitor Bookings Open 16-21 March 2020 Open Doors Week

NEW PROJECT LAUNCHED UNIEP OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED a new project on 1 November, financed with the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. Upskilled New Painters – UPS Paint – is following the UNIEP strategy for improving the image of the profession adapted from the previous projects In Paint and Paint Up. UPS Paint was created to address the main challenges of the Painting/Decorating sector, that UNIEP has identified, for young people entering the profession – quality in education/training and of knowledge of market innovation by contractors and training institutes.

The necessity is therefore to improve the image of the sector for young people but, at the same time also for adults. The main needs the project is trying to face can be sum up in few principal aspects: 1. Need to update skills and competences taking into consideration new techniques, environmentally friendly and safe products 2. Necessity in the requalification of adults 3. Validation of formal and informal learning giving value to the life experiences and what people have learnt The UPS Paint project’s objective is to recognise the previous education of adults, to give to the painting trade the people with the right competences to fulfil the labour market needs. The goal is to develop a structured validation system, including methodology, processes, tools, and guidelines for trainers to be tested with professionals working in the field.

The consortium is composed of eight complementary partners of Painting Contractors Associations, VET institutes and companies from Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Sweden.

The launch meeting took place on 12 and 13 November 2019 in Brussels, and the enthusiasm between the partners for this new project shows a positive attitude, starting in the best way for this two year adventure until 2021.

Stay tuned for discovering all the activities they will carry out!

PRICE ADJUSTMENT FORMULAE FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS * Provisional Series 2 - Decorations: 2/44 June 1976 = 100

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Series 3 - Finishes: Painting & Decorating: 3/48 June 1990 = 100 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Jan

910

939

941

961

992

1018

1047

1085

Jan

275

283

284

290

299

307

316

327

Feb

911

940

941

961

993

1019

1048

1085

Feb

275

284

284

290

299

307

316

327

Mar

913

942

942

961

992

1020

1049

1086

Mar

276

284

284

290

299

307

316

327

Apr

912

942

941

969

992

1019

1048

1094

Apr

275

284

284

292

299

307

316

329

May

910

941

941

969

992

1020

1048

1093

May

274

284

284

292

299

307

316

329

June

912

937

941

969

992

1020

1048

1092

June

275

283

284

292

299

307

316

329*

July

915

937

961

993

992

1046

1083

1120

July

276

283

290

299

299

316

326

337

Aug

915

937

961

993

1016

1047

1083

1120

Aug

276

283

290

299

307

316

326

337

Sep

915

937

961

993

1015

1047

1083 1120*

Sep

276

283

290

299

307

316

326

337*

Oct

915

937

960

993

1013

1047

1085 1120*

Oct

276

283

289

299

306

316

327

337*

Nov

924

937

960

993

1015

1047

1085 1120*

Nov

279

283

289

299

306

316

327

337*

Dec

924

937

961

992

1015

1047

1084

Dec

279

283

290

299

306

316

327

The Price Adjustment Formulae Indices are monthly indices used in conjunction with formula methods for adjusting construction contracts which are not fixed priced. They are sometimes known as the NEDO, Baxter or Osborne Indices. The formulae calculate the increase or decrease in contractors' costs over any period, to the nearest month. This method of reimbursement helps speed up payment to contractors and reduces administrative costs. The indices published above are for decorating work and are compiled from labour and materials costs. Series 3 is the latest series and recommended for use on all new contracts. Series 2 continues to be published for contracts which still require their use.

Macpherson Trade Paints celebrates 135 years Ask decorators ‘which paint do you always keep in your van?’ and you’ll most likely hear Macpherson.

But what’s helped the brand become a favourite among decorators since it was first launched in 1884?

A strong history In 2019, Macpherson is celebrating its 135 year anniversary, having been founded by Donald Macpherson in 1884. His paint, varnish and Chinese lacquer manufacturing business was launched in Manchester, and relocated to Bury in Lancashire in the 1940s due to rapid expansion.

By the 1980s the brand was recognised as the fourth largest coatings company in the UK, and its reputation for quality has continued to grow since then, with it remaining one of the best known names in the decorating industry.

And in 1991, Macpherson joined the Crown Paints family, staying true to its northern roots with Crown being headquartered in Darwen, Lancashire.

Keeping the decorator at heart Since becoming part of the Crown Paints family, Macpherson products have continued to grow in popularity, with the Eclipse Emulsion proving to be a top choice for decorators wanting a reliable interior paint.

Macpherson Eclipse Emulsion has become the brand’s bestselling product, with the waterbased product offering excellent opacity and a smooth matt finish. As well as being better for

the environment, the product being waterbased means it doesn’t have the lingering odour found with solvent-based equivalents.

Macpherson Eclipse’s popularity in the decorating trade is in part thanks to its high moisture permeability, allowing it to be applied to new plaster and render before the drying process is even complete.

Because time is money, Macpherson Eclipse has been developed to save both, without having to compromise on quality. With a spreading rate of up to 16 square metres per litre and a touch dry time of two hours, the product can be recoated after four hours under normal conditions. This means that, under permitting conditions, it’s possible to get two coats on the walls in one day.

And its ease of application – the paint can be applied with a roller, brush or spray as required – provides yet another bonus for decorators.

Always developing Macpherson Trade Paints’ 135 year history has seen it become one of the most trusted brands among decorators, and Crown Paints is committed to its continued development, both through established products like Eclipse and Vinyl Silk, or the addition of new products.

The latest product added to the Macpherson range is hardwearing emulsion Durable Acrylic Matt, which has been specially formulated to ensure any scuffs and stains can easily be washed off without any damage to the paint’s finish thanks to its built-in stain and moisture resistance, which help keep walls looking cleaner for longer.

What’s more, Durable Acrylic Matt is available in trade favourites Brilliant White and Magnolia, but it doesn’t stop there – there’s a choice of more than 7,000 tintable colours, so it’s no surprise that Durable Acrylic Matt is quickly becoming another firm favourite for decorators.

For more information on Macpherson Trade Paints and to find your nearest stockist, visit www.crowndecoratingcentres.co.uk and you can follow Crown Decorating Centres on Twitter @CrownDecorators and Facebook.com/crowndecoratingcentres.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

S R E F F O E EXCLUSIV S R E B M E M A FOR PD

As part of the PDA’s ongoing pursuit of providing useful benefits to our Members, we’ve teamed up with our Associate Partners to bring you some exclusive offers!

Macpherson Trade Paints celebrate their 135 year anniversary this year, and to celebrate they’re giving away 10 litres of Eclipse interior matt paint to five lucky PDA Members!

Macpherson Eclipse has become the brand’s bestselling product, with the water-based paint offering excellent opacity and a smooth matt finish.

As well as being better for the environment, being

water-based means it doesn’t have the lingering odour found with solvent-based equivalents.

Macpherson Eclipse’s popularity in the trade is in part thanks to its high moisture permeability, allowing it to be applied to new plaster and render before the drying process is even complete.

Because time is money, Macpherson Eclipse has been developed to save both, without having to compromise on quality. With a spreading rate of up to 16 square metres per litre and a touch dry time of two hours, the product can be recoated after four hours under

normal conditions. This means that, under permitting conditions, it’s possible to get two coats on the walls in one day.

And its ease of application – the paint can be applied with a roller, brush or spray as required – provides yet another bonus for decorators.

YOU CAN WIN! For your chance to win one of five 10 litre buckets of Macpherson Eclipse, send your details to eclipse10@the-decorator.co.uk by 31 December 2019

Since 2004 Go!Paint have launched numerous inventive products to the painting market. A Go!Paint tool can be recognised by its innovative nature and a product that will become an indispensable part of a decorators’ toolkit.

Their mission is accomplished when they have developed a good product for a specific painting problem and one which is also environmentally friendly.

Paint buckets with lids and liners – Roll & Go 18 and 25 Their latest innovation is no exception to this, made from 100% recycled plastic Roll & Go buckets are sturdy paint trays suitable for all types of paint, with the characteristic sloped rolling surface meaning no more splashes or dried-on paint particles, as can happen with a separate paint rolling grid.

Ultra-thin disposable liners made from recycled plastic keep the tray clean and makes starting and cleaning up can be done in a matter of seconds. Throwing away a liner with dry paint residue is also less harmful to the environment than cleaning it down a drain.

A transparent cover means the paint and roller can be stored in the tray for short periods or overnight.

We have five Roll & Go buckets to give away to PDA Members!

Simply send your details to gopaintgiveaway@the-decorator.co.uk before 31 January 2020 14

ROLL AND GO TRAY 12 and 25 PAINT TOOLS 2.0

Tray 12 for rollers up to 5”/12 5” cm Integrated Integr sloped rolling rol ing surface Comp Compartment for roller, brush, wipes Use w with disposable liners

made from 1 0 0 % re cylce d

Tray 25 for rollers up to 10”/25 cm

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Celebrating the diver sity of

skill and craft ,

ser vice to clients ,

promoting high standards of for the

excellence

painting and decorating

sector

Choose from seven different categories!

Download your application form now from www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk or contact PDA Head Office on 02476 353 776 Entries must be received by 10 January 2020

we Ne ng ra

A simpler, faster way to a great finish Dulux Decorator Centre brings you the latest in spray equipment, designed to make spraying simple, from great trusted brands such as Graco, Tritech and Q-Tech.

Visit your local to store for help on choosing the sprayer for the right job, plus tips on spray techniques and details of spray courses available at the Dulux Academy.

New range now available in-store, or online 24/7 at: duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk

Up to

5x faster than using a traditional roller

IN-STORE

ONLINE

MOBILE

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

TOOLSdown A QUICK Q&A WITH PDA MEMBER

Chris Thwaites

What would you say to encourage young people to become a painter and decorator?

The benefits of becoming a decorator are you can get good money and never be out of work. You get to work in some lovely houses and get satisfaction from seeing the great results on finishing a job.

Are you currently training any apprentices?

No, not at the moment. I have just been asked by Workington College, but still thinking about it.

What are the most annoying problems you come across in your work?

How long have you been a painter and decorator?

I have been a painter for 32 years.

What do you most like about your job?

Do you have a specialist area?

I don’t really, six months of the year I am outside painting and then inside the rest.

My main work is painting private houses and holiday homes.

The best thing I like about my job is transforming a house - taking a property from being in a bad condition to looking totally different and putting extra value on the house when finished is really satisfying

What new products would you recommend to others?

How long have you been a Member of the PDA?

I would recommend Benjamin Moore Advance Primer Undercoat and Satin, Tikkurila Paint and Whitson’s Primer are all top products.

I have been a Member of the PDA for 5 to 6 years.

How has membership of the PDA benefitted you?

The membership of the PDA shows you’re professional to customers

How do you market your business?

Are you on social media?

I have a Facebook page and a basic webpage.

Do you have any tips on maintaining a successful business?

Be nice to customers, turn up to the job clean and tidy. Also, having a tidy van – signed up with your name on it, so you stand out.

s

ChrisTHWAITES Chris Thwaites is a Member of the PDA, visit his website www.christhwaites.com or call 07835 478388

18

My customers making a mess of painting their homes and I have to go in later and to fix their mess! Also, working in the Lake District – it’s the weather!

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

DEDICATED DES SELECTED AS THE BEST! THE DULUX SELECT Decorators Awards 2019 were held during the National Painting and Decorating Show, where PDA Member Des Cass was revealed as the Grand Winner in recognition of his professional expertise and commitment to continuously exceeding customer expectations with the quality of his work.

Decorators packed the venue for drinks, dinner and live entertainment, before the winners were announced on stage.

Des said, “After more than 40 years in the trade, it’s wonderful to be named as this year's grand winner. It was a complete surprise as all the Dulux Select Decorators are incredibly talented, to have my work recognised after decades of dedication and commitment to doing this job to the best of my abilities is the cherry on the cake after a great year for my business.

Vickie Mather, Dulux Select Decorator Lead (pictured with Des below) said, “I was honoured to award our Grand Winner Des, who has been a Dulux Select Decorator for many years. His professional skills combined with his eagerness to get involved with the scheme make him a brilliant ambassador for Dulux Select Decorators.

“We decided this year to celebrate the Dulux Select Decorators with a new-look gala awards evening so we could really show our appreciation for all of our decorators, who continually prove that there is an exceptional amount of expertise in the decorating trade.

“It was fantastic to just take a moment to reflect on the hard work and dedication these people give the painting and decorating trade as well as recognising those that go above and beyond in providing exceptional craftsmanship. ‘’It was also great to share the evening with our trusted suppliers, who’s generosity allowed us to raise over £1,000 for charity.”

GARY ALSO TAKES A TOP TITLE Congratulations to PDA Member Gary Marsh from Tyne and Wear for scooping Painter/Decorator of the Year at the On the Tools Awards in November. Gary was shortlisted as a finalist for the awards with fellow PDA Member Les Copestake.

Gary came through as the winner after online voting, he said, “After 32 years in the trade, it’s an honour to win this award and be recognised for doing the job I still love. I have always strived to please my customers from the first meeting through to completion, and I will continue to do so."

Well done to runner up Les Copestake of LPC Painting and Decorating based in Cheltenham.

Another quality PDA Member firm!

On The Tools is the largest Online Construction Community in the UK – www.onthetools.tv

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

ZOE EVANS NAMED CITB APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

NORTH WEST CONTRACTORS TRAINING GROUP

JOIN UP TO ACCESS SUPPORT AND TRAINING AS ONE OF many CITB funded Training Groups, the North West Contractors Training Group (NWCTG) represents a number of PDA Member employers working across the North West region.

In 2019 the group secured over £200,000 in CITB funding to support a fully trained and qualified workforce for member companies.

Their local meetings provide a great environment to network and share best practice, as well as bringing in external expertise to support with knowledge and understanding of industry related HR matters, H&S and legislative requirements as well as updated information on apprenticeships, qualifications, CSCS and other industry related competency schemes.

Whilst the majority of members have less than 100 employees, the industry specific training funded through the group is more often than not critical in supporting these businesses to thrive and survive.

In 2018 the group were the first to be awarded funding to support a mental health strategy and have trained in excess of 100 Mental Health First Aiders to date.

If you are a P&D company located in the North West of England and wish to find out more about becoming a member of the group and accessing funding to support training please contact Gill Steele, Group Training Officer at mgtpsteele@hotmail.co.uk

PDA MEMBER FIRM Ian Williams is delighted to announce that its apprentice Zoe Evans came away victorious with not one, but three awards at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Apprenticeship Awards 2019. 21-year old painter and decorator Zoe won Regional Apprentice of the Year Wales West, Apprentice of the Year Wales, and exceptionally, Apprentice of the Year, Great Britain.

Celebrating the achievements of apprentices and employers across the UK for their commitment and dedication to construction skills, the awards are the highlight of the apprentice year. The winners were presented with their awards at a ceremony hosted by broadcaster and property entrepreneur, Sarah Beeny at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London.

Zoe completed a level 2 apprenticeship in painting and decorating and went on to achieve her Advanced level 3 with the support of the award-winning Ian Williams’ Academy.

Zoe commented, “I’ve loved every single part of my apprentice journey, from the classroom learning to the practical application and the more creative aspects of the job. I want to thank my mentor, Ken MacKay and my employer Ian Williams Ltd. It’s a really good feeling to know that I’ve been recognised in this way. I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone willing to work hard, have goals and go full out to achieve them.”

For more information about the Ian Williams Academy and the company’s award-winning apprentice schemes, visit www.ianwilliams.co.uk/our-academy

20

Jon Davies, CITB Apprenticeship Officer said, “When Zoe started her apprenticeship we saw her potential so we fast tracked her from level 1 to level 2. It was important for me to make sure she had the right support to reach the heights she is capable of, and with the support of Ian Williams and The Academy team, she did just that.

“Zoe makes work a brighter place for everyone around her. Her positive attitude and ability makes her a perfect ambassador for women in construction, and I am really pleased this has been recognised with her award on this national platform.”

CITB board member Kevin Mcloughlin added, “Zoe is a clearly dedicated apprentice, it’s great to recognise her hard work. Apprenticeships provide a fast track route into the construction industry. With so many rewarding career opportunities there is something out there for everyone. I wish Zoe all the best.”

Jo Down, Ian Williams’ Academy Officer sums up, “I’m over the moon on behalf of the team, and of course, Zoe who has emphasised how much The Academy has supported her apprentice journey. What a fantastic endorsement of the hard work we carry out every day, helping to keep our 59 trade apprentices, 30 Trainee Surveyors and 4 staff apprentices on track to achieve their potential. Well done again Zoe, we’re so proud of you.”

Painting and Decorating Apprentices!

Do you have what it takes?

PAPERHANGER 2 0 2 0

APPRENTICE

If you think that your paper hanging skills are up there with the best,

this is your chance to shine!

Tuesday 9 June 2020 Doncaster College DN1 2RF

Enter the PDA 2020 Apprentice Paperhanger competition and show off all your best paper hanging skills.

It’s free to enter for all UK registered apprentices, great prizes are on offer from our sponsors Brewers Decorator Centres, and an invitation to the national networking event incorporating the Apprentice Awards.

Your accommodation and evening meal the night prior to the competition will be provided by the PDA, so get your completed entry form to us by 17 April 2020 and put yourself in with a chance to be crowned PDA 2020 Apprentice Paperhanger champion.

✃

Entrant’s Details

Company’s Details

Name of Apprentice ...................................................................

Nominating Company .................................................................

Postal Address ............................................................................

Company Contact .......................................................................

.....................................................................................................

Company Address ......................................................................

.....................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................

........................................................ Postcode ..........................

.....................................................................................................

Telephone Number .....................................................................

........................................................ Postcode ..........................

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

Company Telephone ...................................................................

College Attended ........................................................................

Company E-mail ..........................................................................

Which NVQ Level are you working towards? (tick one) o Level 1&2

o Level 3

Please circle YES or NO to allow the use of any images and text for promotional purposes only by our public relations, marketing and publication companies. o YES o NO

Complete the form and email yvonne@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk or post to Painting & Decorating Association, 32 Coton Road, Nuneaton CV11 5TW

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

APPRENTICE

PAPERHANGER 2019

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

22

REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS the sector came together at the Painting and Decorating Association’s prestigious Masquerade Ball on 9 November to see four apprentices named as the nation’s best.

The annual Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year competition saw apprentices battle it out in an ultimate test of skill, nerve and precision.

Sponsored by Brewers, the contest is open to apprentices from across the UK and was held in June at The Hub in Doncaster.

The Senior Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year title was given to Alex Stonehouse, 20, an apprentice with Hargreaves and Stocks Ltd, who studies at Doncaster College. She said, “I’d like to thank my employers and my tutors at college for all their help and support.

“As a competitor in the senior category I had to tackle some tricky wallpapering techniques, but I enjoyed the challenge of it and I’m delighted my efforts have been rewarded by the PDA.” Emma Louise Mackenzie, 25, from Inverness came in a close second in the senior category.

Emma said, “I took the course at the University of Highlands and Islands because I discovered an enjoyment of painting and decorating while doing up my home after the birth of my daughter Lana.

“There are many people who have helped me along the way, but I’d particularly like to thank my college lecturers and employers, A MacNeil Painting and Taping.”

Aston Gooding, 21, from Dorchester was named Junior Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year after being the first student at Bournemouth and Poole College to be entered into the contest.

He paid special tribute to his colleague Ian Mansbridge at CG Fry & Son Ltd and college tutor Scott Oliver, who encouraged him to enter the competition.

Aston said, “Ian was a big help to me, he kept me calm when I got frustrated and really encouraged me to stick with it. He taught me everything I needed to know and when we came to do wallpapering at college, I found I could do it.

“Scott encouraged me to enter and I thought I’d give it a go. I never dreamed I would win. I was shocked when I was shortlisted and I went along to the ball just thinking I’d enjoy a night out. I couldn’t believe it when they said I’d won. I’m over the moon.”

Nicola Martin, 31, from Greenock in Scotland was placed as runnerup at entry-level. She moved into painting and decorating after giving up a career as a nurse to raise her children.

She said: “It was brilliant. Everybody made me feel so welcome and I learned so much about different kinds of jobs and where you can go as a painter. I’ve also made some great new friends from all across the UK.” Nick Church, National Account Manager of Brewers, presented the students with their awards on stage. Afterward he told us, “This contest is a great platform for apprentices to showcase their skills and we’re really proud to have been the main supporter for the last 10 years.

“I was delighted to be able to present the winners with their prizes and would like to congratulate them all on being named this year’s top wallpaper hangers.”

Senior Winner, Alex Stonehouse with PDA Chief Executive Neil Ogilvie (left) and Nick Church from Brewers.

Alex attends Doncaster College and is employed by Hargreaves and Stocks Ltd

Junior Winner, Aston Gooding works for CG Fry & Son Ltd and is studying at Bournemouth & Poole College.

Senior Runner Up, Emma Louise Mackenzie is studying at Inverness College whilst working as an apprentice for A MacNeil Painting & Taping Contractors Ltd.

The Junior Runner Up, Nichola Martin works for Kevin Houston Painter & Decorator and studies at West College Scotland.

Competition sole sponsor

Lift the lid on your potential

At every stage of your decorating career, our Dulux Academy courses can deliver increased knowledge and understanding, enabling you to meet your personal and professional ambitions. To book a course today please visit:

www.duluxacademy.co.uk

gallery

The

Borthwick Decorators Ltd An 18th century laird’s house at Loch Earn, Scotland. Full external painting was undertaken, using Johnstone’s Trade Flexible Primer and Satin on the windows and doors.

Smooth Metal paint was used on the metalwork and Gori 88 translucent stain was used on the front door.

Karamalov Ltd Beautiful papering work done throughout a five-bedroom house in Camberley. Using some fabric, vinyl and custom made French, British and German wallcoverings.

Dowsetts Decorators Assisted by fellow decorator Karl @khdecorating, full preparation was required including sealing previously stained handrails to stop colour bleed, Caparol paints were used throughout, matched to tonal F&B colours and all sprayed with HVLP.

You too can enter The Gallery for free!

For your chance to win £100 of vouchers from Brewers and feature on our front cover, send in your pictures to thegallery@the-decorator.co.uk For use in the magazine and to be considered for the cover, we need high resolution, clear images.

24

On the Cover Douglas Gillie Painting & Decorating

DRM Decorating Services Alumier Labs UK flagship store in Shoreditch required Toupret Stone Filler on the pillars and Toupret EXTREM’WOOD on frames and doors. Masonry was finished with Dulux Weathershield Masonry and all the exterior woodwork with Dulux Trade Hi-Gloss.

Fine Lines The better weather earlier in the year allowed for the external restoration and redecoration of this 1930’s period property. After full preparation, the finish was achieved with Johnstone's Trade paints.

This is a project completed by Douglas Gillie & Son Painters and Decorators of Berwick upon Tweed. Full external redecoration of Waren Mill which is located next to Budle Bay in North Northumberland. All 126 windows, which were previously stained mahogany, were prepared and painted Dock Blue using the Teknos paint system. All metalwork was also prepared and painted Dock Blue using Zinsser Allcoat.

£100 of vouchers from Brewers are now on the way to Douglas for his winning Gallery entry!

Sponsored by

25

CHARITY

#NINE4NORAH The emotional impact of losing a child is unimaginable, but Ross Coniam from PDA Associate Partner firm Owatrol UK knows that pain first-hand. On 29 May 2018, Ross and his wife Naomi spent just nine hours with their daughter, Norah, before she sadly passed away.

In the weeks and months after Norah’s death, Ross and his wife were supported by their wonderful friends and family. They were also supported by charities such SANDS, 4Louis, Iolanthe Midwifery and Keech Hospice who do an amazing job. Ross decided that he would fundraise for these charities and #Nine4Norah came about.

To date Ross has raised over £55,000 for the charities. We asked him about his amazing efforts...

Tell us about the charity...

“Our baby girl, Norah Faith, was born on 29 May 2018 weighing 8lbs. She was just perfect... The most beautiful little dot we'd ever laid eyes on, it was love at first sight!

“Unfortunately our brief moment of ecstasy soon turned into a nightmare as Norah showed no signs of life and didn't breathe for the first 18 minutes. She was whisked off to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where doctors tried relentlessly to find any sign of hope that Norah would improve, but it was not to be.

“After just 9 hours and 56 minutes with us, Norah spread her wings and joined the other angels in the sky. Her last 30 minutes were the most precious of our lives... My wife and I having cuddles with her, with no machines or wires keeping her alive. I will never forget how beautifully calm and peaceful those minutes were, just the three of us, even though we knew they would be our first and last with Norah alive in our arms.

“With the wonderful support we received from the charities, I decided to start fundraising and doing events to raise awareness and money for them.”

What are the challenges you have done this year?

“The BIG Half Marathon, Virgin London Marathon, Isle of Wight 106km Ultra Challenge, Endure 24, London to Brighton Bike Ride, 135 mile 6 Day Walk from the source of the River Thames to Norah's grave in Chorleywood, 24hr National Three Peaks, 20 mile Walk from Thames Barrier to Putney Bridge, and was due to take part in the Great North Run but postponed until next year due to injury.”

What more have you got planned in the future?

“For the rest of 2019, I am currently taking part in Movember to raise awareness of Men’s Mental Health and raising money for MIND Charity.

“In early December I will be completing a 5k Santa Run which I intend to jog pushing my baby Boy Ernie in the stroller.

“In 2020 I plan to continue growing the campaign #Nine4Norah and currently have three physical challenges booked. I also plan to run a minimum of 9.56 miles per week and will ask anyone to join in and keep me updated.

“My biggest passion for the coming year is to start building a local network, which I plan to call #DadsandLads. The idea behind this is to have a meet-up group focused on Dads that have lost children, but also any men suffering with mental health issues.

“Since losing Norah, it has come apparent that there is not enough support out there the for fathers.

This will be a peer to peer group rather than professional (to start with anyway), somewhere men can chat (if they want) and be free to open up and not be judged.”

How do you feel at the moment?

“My feelings are very much a rollercoaster, as they have been since May last year. Of course, we still grieve Norah every day, but we also now have our rainbow, Norah ’s Brother Ernie who brings us so much joy but also shows us what we missed with Norah.

“I am proud that I have got through the challenges. The awareness and money we have raised is incredible and the legacy that Norah is leaving makes me very, very proud. The pain of our loss will never go away, but we are learning to deal with this in the best way we can.”

What would you say to anyone else who has experienced a loss of a newborn?

“That is such a difficult question to answer as every story is different, but what I can say is that you are not alone. It will feel that way, but there are groups and charities out there to support you. Try not to be silent, open up and do not be scared to let your emotions out.

“One thing that my wife and I have tried to do is start traditions with Norah. Lighting sparklers on bonfire night, setting up a stocking for Christmas and having a picnic at her grave on her birthday amongst other things.

“I am open for anyone to make contact either through our #Nine4Norah social media or directly to my mobile phone number or email address.”

In 2019 Ross was nominated for the Heart FM Hertfordshire Hero Award for Fundraising, and the London Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards where he was interviewed live on the red carpet by ITV News London.

26

You can donate on Ross’s fundraising page

www.gofundme.com/nine4norah

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A UK EXCLUSIVE 103 YEARS IN THE MAKING

In the Spring of 1912 Henry Oldfield of Norwich, England immigrated with his young family to Sydney, Australia. Trained as a Master Brushmaker, Henry saw an opportunity for quality paint brushes to be made and sold in his new home country.

In 1916 he began hand crafting paint brushes from his own small factory in south west Sydney.

Here, Henry’s vision was to create quality paint brushes and tools for the discerning professional painter.

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Above: Henry Oldfield Left: Oldfields workers in Sydney 1927

6

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In Australia this brush range has become a tool box must have and I hope you enjoy using them .

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MARKETING

H

aving blogs on your website can have a big impact on your decorating business - they certainly did for me. Eight out of the top ten most visited pages on my decorating website were blogs.

with Charlie Budd A few writing do’s and ‘don’ts Write naturally, and simply. If you use jargon which non-decorators might not understand, then explain what it means. Not every one will know what a mist coat or spray tails are.

Don’t stuff your writing full of keywords either.

People used to do that to ‘game’ the Google algorithm, but Google is now wise to it and will downgrade your website.

Use short paragraphs, and a few subheadings (like this article), it makes things easier to read.

Always include a picture, or better still a video

The power of blogging What’s the point of blogging?

(see last issue of The Decorator).

You can write about your processes – everything from masking up, to sanding, to filling, to painting, to papering, it can all be turned into a blog.

Why not take five minutes to write down 12 ideas right now? That’s enough monthly blogs for a whole year.

Try to include a mixture of short, snappy blogs – which are easy for

There are four main reasons blogs are good for your business.

people to consume, and longer ones going into depth. Longer posts mean

1. It shows your expertise to potential clients.

people spend more time on one page, so Google will rank it as having

2. It shows you’re helpful, giving away useful decorating tips.

quality information, and some clients will love the details.

3. It helps more people find your website so you get more enquiries.

4. It improves your site’s profile on search engines like Google.

How often should I blog?

I’d say about once a month is ideal. If you get a job cancel or postpone,

Where do I start?

maybe use the day to write several blogs to put out gradually. Putting

First, you need a blog facility on your website - it’s simple to set up.

out one blog a month will help Google to know your website is fresh,and

You need to decide what to write about (below below), then get writing!

keep it higher in search rankings.

I think there are two ways to write a blog – just start writing, or plan it out first. I prefer to just start, as it gets the ideas flowing. A short blog

How can I get people to read my blog?

can take 10 minutes, a longer one an hour or more.

It’s mostly about titles. Write answers to questions people might ask, like

I use Google Docs to write everything, copy the text and paste it into

‘How to paint a door’ – simple stuff people might search for. And the

the blog. Google Docs is useful as it auto-saves constantly and it’s free.

more helpful and interesting you can be, the longer people will stay on

If you can, get someone to check your blog before you post it – not

your site, which is good for website rankings. You can also post links to

just for typos, but to make sure it makes sense to a non-decorator.

your blogs on social media.

What can I write about?

One of my specialisms was resin repairs for old buildings. My blog on How

Every single task you do is a blog idea. If you paint a kitchen, then you

to repair cast iron guttering still gets me more hits to my website than

can blog about that – ‘How to sand a kitchen door’ the processes and

any other page – it’s had 1,000 readers in the last 6 months, closely

products you used, with ‘before and after’ photos. My blog on ‘How to

followed by How to choose a paintbrush.

Make your blogs relevant to your business – especially if you specialise.

repair faux tudor beams’ is pretty niche, but got me lots of enquiries.

You can write about your favourite brush, or roller, or wall paint, or wood filler – just explain why you like it, people love to know this stuff.

The popularity of my blogs helped to get me to the top spot on Google in my area. And several of my clients told me that they chose me after reading my blogs. This stuff works.

The more popular your website, and the more

Want to know more? Find me on social media!

30

Facebook Charlie Budd Twitter @charliebudd

Instagram @thetallphotographer LinkedIn Charles Budd

you can convince potential clients you’re good at what you do, the more enquiries you’ll have.

So write some blogs, and get your order book filling up for 2020.

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SECTOR NEWS

BELL GROUP TRAINEE CROWNED APPRENTICE DECORATOR OF THE YEAR BELL GROUP’S GATIS Celmins has emerged as winner of the 2019 Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition after a gruelling three-day contest hosted at the WorldSkills UK live event at Birmingham’s NEC. The Inverness College UHI apprentice triumphed over eight other finalists thanks to the quality of his careful setting out and excellent time management, completing the complex design set by competition sponsor Crown Paints to an exceptionally high standard.

Gatis had impressed the judges with his attention to detail and good brushwork in the regional heats earlier this year, but the final required a step up from all competitors, as well as the ability to deal with the pressure-cooker environment of the packed NEC conference hall, with lots of noise and potential distractions all around.

He was joined on the podium by silver medallist Lewis Metcalfe and bronze medallist Abi Johnson (winner a the 2018 PDA Trophy Awards Apprentice title), both of whom studied at Leeds College of Building and are employed by another PDA Member firm, Bagnalls.

In the final, the competitors had 18 hours over three days to complete the decorating challenge devised by

Crown Paints, which was a celebration of the company’s 40-year sponsorship of the Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition and featured metallic paint as well as a complex multi-coloured streamer effect, half of which the finalists had to paint freehand.

Gatis said, “Reaching the final meant a great deal to me, and I’m happy to have achieved one of my goals. I'm very proud of myself to be an Apprentice Decorator of the Year winner - it’s proof that hard work pays off.”

Bell Group director, Colin Cochrane commented, “We are very proud of Gatis’s achievements and are pleased to see his dedication and skill being recognised.

Competitions like the Apprentice Decorator of the Year serve greatly in motivating apprentices even further, who bring great value to our business and are a significant part of our success.

“We believe today’s apprentices will shape our future industry and are fundamental in addressing the skills shortage in the sector.”

For more information about Crown stockists please visit www.crowntrade.co.uk You can also follow @CrownTradePaint on Twitter and CrownTradePaint on Facebook

Top tips to secure your van n

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n

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STOLEN VANS HIT RECORD HIGH UK THEFTS UP 45% IN LAST FOUR YEARS

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Van theft across the UK has soared over the last four years with 30,000 vehicles stolen since 2015, according to research conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

A total of 32,056 vans have been stolen over the last four years with almost 10,000 thefts recorded across the UK in the last year alone, according to official police statistics.

The 2018/19 figures represent a year-on-year rise of 4% and a 45% increase since 2015/16. Of the 9,371 van thefts reported in the past 12 months, the Metropolitan Police recorded more than half of the total with 4,777 commercial vehicles stolen.

The biggest yearly increase in thefts was reported in Leicestershire with ten times more vans stolen in 2018/19 than records for the year before. Van thefts in North Wales doubled while West Yorkshire police records show a 67% rise. In fact, West Yorkshire was the second highest overall (931 thefts), followed by the West Midlands (409), Essex (387) and Leicestershire (377).

n

Park in well-lit areas or car parks with CCTV or alternatively position your van so that the doors are blocked by another vehicle or object Window guards or full internal bulkheads can stop would-be thieves seeing inside Adding security film to the side or back window glass can stop criminals smashing it Fitting additional locks to rear and sliding doors can help deter thieves Invest in lockable internal racking or secure storage boxes for your most valuable tools Fitting a tracker can help police hunt down the van if it is stolen plus it may reduce your insurance premium

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is advising van owners and fleet managers to ensure their vehicles are fitted with the latest anti-theft devices as well as remembering to remove expensive tools from vehicles at night.

David Hanna, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Head of Service and Parts Operations said, “Our most recent findings are concerning as it reveals that the problem of van theft is getting worse rather than better – and it’s a problem right across the country. Vans are the lifeblood of so many businesses up and down the country and it’s not only the emotional stress of replacing the vehicle but also the days and weeks of letting customers down and the cost of replacing tools, often worth thousands of pounds, before you can get back to ‘business as usual’.”

For more on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

SECTOR NEWS

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THE AWARD WINNING FORMULA THAT WORKS!

OFFICIALLY INNOVATIVE JOHNSTONE’S TRADE HAS won the award for Best Materials Innovation at the 2019 Building Innovation Awards for Air Pure, a bio-based wall and ceiling paint that improves indoor air quality.

The manufacturer fought off stiff competition at the awards, which celebrates the pioneering organisations that are embracing and creating new technologies, including those that help to deliver greener, smarter and safer buildings.

Developed with Air Purifying technology, Johnstone’s Trade Air Pure neutralises up to 70 per cent of formaldehyde from the air as soon as it is applied. Formaldehyde is one of the most harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in houses and public spaces, with molecules being emitted from a range of common indoor materials, such as chipboard, carpet, glue and interior fabrics.

Thanks to the use of renewable raw materials, Johnstone’s Trade Air Pure is also 45 per cent bio-based and the packaging is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, contributing to a more sustainable world – one of the key factors that impressed the judges at the awards.

Danielle Aiken, specification marketing manager at Johnstone’s Trade said, “Air Pure is a product we’re really proud of so we’re delighted that it’s been recognised at the inaugural Building Innovation Awards, and to have shared a category with such remarkable innovations.

“Modern lifestyles mean people are now spending around 90 per cent of their time indoors, where the air can be up to 10 times more polluted than the air outside. Air Pure therefore provides a very timely and unique solution to a growing issue in the sector, while using bio-based products in its formulation to further help improve the sustainability of both existing and newly developed buildings.”

Johnstone’s Trade Air Pure is available in a variety of colours, including the PPG Voice of Colour colour palette, and dries to a desirable flat matt finish.

For more information about Air Pure, visit www.johnstonestrade.com/airpure

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TRENDS

Colour trends for the winter blues Crown Paints has launched its new collection of colour trends for the 2019 autumn and winter season, helping to inspire new ideas in interior design for decorators.

Created to empower professional decorators, designers and consumers to embrace different colour palettes and painting techniques, the new colour trend collection has been devised by Crown’s expert panel of colour consultants and specialists. Each of the individual schemes has been given a distinct and inspirational identity, with hero shades, complementary tones and style suggestions included so they can be easily adapted to suit a variety of projects and different personal tastes.

The three new trends that are set to take the rest of 2019 and beyond by storm for your customers are Botanical Noir, Unprocessed and Pigment. Taking inspiration from the enduring trend of creating a link between interior and exterior living spaces, Botanical Noir (right) is a celebration of nature within architecture, using forest green and teal shades used alongside pops of pink and metallic gold. This trend lends itself to the use of strong geometric, botanical prints and natural foliage, making it both stylish and versatile.

The use of colour as an artistic tool has led to the development of the Pigment (below left) trend which aims to evoke the sense of a traditional painter’s studio. Here textures are as important as the colours themselves, with a faded chocolate and moody plum used alongside metallic rose golds and granite top greys, and applied using layering and the classic loose painterly technique to add depth and interest.

The natural world is also the inspiration for Unprocessed (top left) but here, the more earthy colours of terracotta, dusky pinks and powdered clay have been embraced. This palette moves away from clean lines and highly polished finishes and instead works well alongside rough, raw and organic materials.

Jemma Saunders, colour specialist at Crown Paints commented, “We regularly publish new colour schemes as we want to help everyone to be as confident and passionate about colour as we are. Embracing new schemes is a great way to refresh your home and for those working in the commercial sector, keeping up to date with the latest style trends is essential.

“Each of our design trends aim to introduce new colours and styles and to change the way people think about interior design by equipping them with a greater understanding of the emotive side of colour and how certain combinations can improve both the look and feel of a room. Our trends are inspirational and inclusive and can be used in their entirely or in part, allowing plenty of scope for individuality.”

For more information and to find your nearest stockist visit www.crowntrade.co.uk You can also follow @CrownTradePaint on Twitter, CrownTradePaint on Facebook or Crown Paints on LinkedIn 34

P

DA Member firm G BORG High Class Painting and Decorating recently completed the total redecoration of a residential property in Stockport. Working with the colour specifications of interior design company Utopia Mix Interiors and the client Andrew Gee, the end result is stunning.

From gutted to glorious Aaron Borg outlined to The Decorator the work involved, “The project

“Some of the most detailed work we sprayed was the interior of the

was a full strip out of the existing interior of the property and included

conservatory, using a plastic adhering matt black paint to get the

other trades such as plasterers, working to a schedule of 4-5 weeks.

required finish. We also sprayed some old tables, a mirror frame and a

Initially, we met with Susie at Utopia Mix and the client, Andrew, to

radiator in black matt and eggshell finishes to match.

understand their objectives for the work. It was a grand project with

“Across the house we used a range of products from different paint companies. Johnstone’s Durable Matt was used on the walls in New Chalk

everything being new or upscaled.

“Most of the colours and finishes were chosen by Utopia Mix Interiors

and the woodwork was finished in Dulux White Eggshell. We used

with some input from ourselves. We had our own schedule that we had

Johnstone’s Acrylic Eggshell for the upcycled furniture and the radiator,

to keep so that everything moved smoothly, and also organised some

to give a long lasting finish.

other trades to help with other jobs that needed doing.

“We came in on time and to the budget we had specified at the beginning of the project. Working with the interior designer was great, and the finished house looked superb with all the final furniture in place.

The standard white uPVC conservatory also received a fresh look with the help of some plastic adhering matt black paint, applied using an airless sprayer.

36

CASE STUDY

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As the finish looked so good, we thought we’d do it justice with some photographs from a professional photographer – DH Photography.”

The client Andrew Gee commented, “I was looking to modernise my period property without losing its character. Built in the 1920s, the rooms were airy but dark. The décor was old fashioned and was in urgent need of an update. I was open to a radical re-think to open out the space and

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welcome light, but had no idea how to accomplish this.

“I needed guidance and wanted the job project managed, both for convenience and to make sure the house could fulfil its potential as a beautiful space to live. This has been achieved by employing Utopia Mix Interiors to design the space and G BORG High Class Painting & Decorating to take the vision and make it a reality.”

G BORG High Class Painting & Decorating are Members of the PDA based in Lancashire. You can get in touch with them on 0161 330 8840, visit their website at gborg.co.uk or follow them on Instagram @GBorgDecorators

A FREE Peelaway DVD is available on request.

St. Ivel Way, Warmley, Bristol BS30 8TY. T: 0117 960 0060 F: 0117 935 2437 E: sales@barrettine.co.uk www.barrettinePro.co.uk

* Environmental claim compares to shot blasting, abrasion and heat guns where toxic paint particles can be released into the environment.

CASE STUDY

Vicar’s Vestry all dressed up

R

egular readers of The Decorator may remember the stripping down of the main exterior doors of St Mary's Church in The Lace Market area of Nottingham, as featured in our October-November 2018 issue, but that was far from the end of the work.

We caught up with Phil Beckwith to find out the next challenge undertaken at the church...

The call came later on in 2018 to do a total overhaul of the Vicar's Vestry

the Old School House and we booked Colin Bird to come out and see the

(which was said to have been decorated well over 50 years ago by a

job to get his advice.

husband and wife who were members of the church congregation). After

Once he'd seen it, he was happy with the products and procedure we'd

popping down to see what state the Vestry was in, it was clear this wasn't

already spec'd for the job, with the additional recommendation of using

a case of just a lick of emulsion paint.

Zinsser Gardz over the walls once all the scraping and stripping back of

As you can imagine, being a church that is Grade I listed and hundreds

the flaking paint had been done.

of years old, you can't just go in there unprepared. Many layers of paint

In the following weeks leading up to starting the job, colours were

had been applied over the years (but obviously not many in the last 50),

picked by the Church and scaffolding ordered. When we started, all

lots of which were flaking and shelling off the surfaces, due to the paints

fixtures and fittings had been removed

that had been applied (lime wash and distemper paints to name a few),

and furniture all cleared out. An ideal

along with historic damp issues from the roof leaking.

room to work in!

The research started on what paints and products would be most suited

The plan was that the floor would be

to complete the job. After finding that Zinsser do specialist paints for

stripped after we'd completed the

problem surfaces, we came to the conclusion that Zinsser had a full range

painting, so while the prep was being

of paints that would see the job through from start to finish.

done and scaffolding being moved

I read one of the case studies on the Zinsser UK website of a job that

around, we didn't worry too much about

was done on the Old School House at Turo Cathedral and built my

protecting the floor. It was easier to

specification up based on what was used there.

sweep up at night and move the scaffold

Whilst at the 2018 P&D Show in Coventry, we took the opportunity to speak with the Zinsser reps about our project and how it was similar to

around. Once the paint arrived we sheeted it over as you'd expect.

Doug Beckwith tackles the many layers of old paint on the plaster wall feature.

Ready for the first coat.

Smart Strip applied, time for tea!

The Vestry as the team found it, along with samples of the colours to be used.

38

Brian during his week long preparation of the wood panelling.

Stripping the ceiling rose revealed a poor quality previous repair (right).

CASE STUDY

We began by scraping off all loose paint from the ceiling and walls and

Next, the woodwork was painted three coats of the water-based Zinsser

getting it back to a tight edge. Once it was all cleaned down we applied

AllCoat (satin) once again using the QTech5, which I have to say made

the Gardz, then filled and sanded, Gardz applied again before Zinsser

light work of giving a great finish to the woodwork that had looked old

Grade1 paint was applied by brush and roller to the ceiling and walls.Â

and tired before we started. Having no brush marks on the panel surfaces

The woodwork and panelling around the room was cleaned down, we

when using water-based paints give an extra level of professionalism in

raked out any loose angles and joints before sanding, then spot primed

my opinion. We all know about water-based paints drying too fast on you

prior to filling joints and mouldings. This took almost a week for Brian

on larger areas that can show brush marks and sometimes 'flashing'. Not

(who's worked for us since 1966) on his own.

something that crosses your mind when using spray equipment.

In between all this, the idea was put forward to strip the ceiling rose

The whole job was completed in the two-week timescale and looked

and plaster wall feature, the main coving would not have been cost

fantastic once completed. The lady who last painted the room with her

effective for the Church, particularly in the time scale we had.

The ceiling rose and wall feature were stripped back using Smart Strip, a thick paste applied to the surface then covered with a special paper, left overnight and then peeled off. As the paint was old with lots of layers this wasn't easy, but we got there in the end and the results were pleasing.

The only disappointment was uncovering a repair job on the ceiling centre where it had been 'copy' cast from another area of the feature whilst it had all the paint layers on, so it wasn't as defined as the rest of the mouldings which I could get back to the original casts.

The ceiling centre, wall feature and 'shell' near the window were painted with two coats of the oil based Grade1 paint using my Aristospray QTech5 HVLP, a great bit of kit, ideal when you need control of where you want to paint. The ceiling and walls were brushed and rolled with two coats.

late husband popped in to see us and said it was about 20 years since they did it, which increased to about 50 when she started thinking back to memorable points in her life happening!

Product choice made this job so much easier to complete. At no stage did we have issues of paint not wanting to stick to the surface, which you can when going over efflorescence and old lime/distemper paint surfaces using 'normal' off the shelf paints.

This was one of those jobs that gives total job satisfaction when you see it through from start to finish. What a great trade we are all in that can transform a room like this and give enjoyment and pleasure to those who appreciate quality work on this scale, now and in many years to come. If it's not done for another 50 years, it will be money well spent by the Church of St Mary's.

MD Beckwith Decorators are Members of the PDA based in Nottingham. You can get in touch with them on 0115 9871661 or email beckwithdecorators@btconnect.com

39

CASE STUDY

I The bridge on the River Witham Jack Tighe sub-contracted the scaffold and encapsulation aspects of the work to two existing members of their approved supply chain, SGS Scaffolding and Envirowrap respectively, with a manned safety boat supplied by Kier for all scaffold erection and dismantling works. During the project, the bridge was closed to all traffic, but remained open to pedestrians and cyclists.

Phase one of the project involved blasting and painting half of the underside of the bridge and all of the parapets, this allowed the road to be re-opened and available for civils works at an earlier stage, phase two was to complete the remainder of the underside of the bridge.

Heavy rainfall in mid-June caused the River Witham to rise to an unsafe level for work to continue and the flood risk in place delayed work by four days. Consequently, the Jack Tighe team worked closely with Kier and all other parties to work additional shifts and catch up on lost time.

Steve Rudkin, Kier Programme Manager said, "I would like to thank all those involved in planning, delivering and managing the works, despite the weather doing its bit to disrupt things, we substantially completed all key tasks and met the original completion date. The organisation and co-operation between all parties has been first class and it has been a pleasure to work with the teams concerned. Bardney bridge has been given a new lease of life and feedback from locals on the way site personnel conducted themselves and carried out the work has been very positive."

Jack Tighe Ltd are Members of the PDA based in Lincolnshire but operating Nationwide. You can get in touch with them on 01652 640003 or visit their website at www.jacktighe.com

40

n April 2019, PDA Member firm Jack Tighe Ltd were awarded the contract to scaffold, encapsulate, clean, blast and paint the structural steelwork at Bardney Bridge. Bardney is a busy village in the middle of Lincolnshire on the east bank of the River Witham.

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Products independently tested and reviewed by Award Winning Decorator, Wayne de Wet

Farrow & Ball

Full Gloss @FarrowandBall

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Working on a property earlier in the year, the paint specified by the interior designer was Farrow and Ball Full Gloss. I was keen to try out the gloss as Farrow & Ball were an early adopter of water-

Features & Benefits

‘ Water-based and Low VOC

‘ Quick-drying - Two hour touch dry, recoat in four

‘ 132 colours with 95% sheen level ‘ Interior and exterior

‘ Washable and wipeable

based paints.

Two large radiators were lightly sanded, washed with sugar soap and speed dried with power fans. I used a tinted adhesion primer (Zinsser 123 plus) and applied it with a 4in Two Fussy Blokes 10mm microfibre mini roller sleeve, before slightly thinning the paint and using the same roller washed out.

It dried quickly and was touch dry in two hours, ready to recoat in four hours. The results achieved were simply amazing! Easy to apply, excellent coverage and an incredible shine.

I was very impressed with the paint. It’s washable and wipeable, suitable for prepared interior and exterior wood, walls/ceilings and metal. It has a 95% sheen level that is very reflective and is available in the full range of 132 F&B colours. If applied following the instructions, the paint is resistant to water, flaking, peeling and colour fade for up to six years.

After use, the great thing is you clean up your brushes and rollers in warm soapy water.

Features & Benefits ‘ Keeps dust contained

‘ Heavy-duty aluminium with no loose parts

‘ Telescopic adjustable and available in three sizes ‘ Spring-loaded foot pedal

Trimaco

‘ Pivotable rubber top and bottom grip pads

Heavy Duty E-Z Up

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Dust Containment Poles @TrimacoInc

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There is always a lot of dust in painting and decorating, which led me to be an early advocate of dust-free sanding. Even when not sanding though, there is still a lot of dust created when carrying out prep work – scraping, sawing or just general building work.

So, being able to screen off sections of a property or office and contain dust is a real plus. Keeps me healthy and my clients happy and reduces clean up time. ®

The Trimaco Heavy Duty E-Z Up Dust Containment Poles are a must-have addition to my decorating kit. The poles are made from heavy-duty sturdy aluminium, but they are easy to use. They come in three different sizes, and even the longest doesn’t take up any space in the van.

Trimaco E-Z Up Poles have three telescoping sections with approx.150mm (6in) adjustable increments accessed via the bright yellow extender button. You press with your thumb, and listen for a ‘click’ to confirm its firmly located in the next corresponding position. The fold-away aluminium foot pedal allows for fine adjustment with a range from 75mm (3in) to 247mm (93/4in).

Located at the top area is a quick clip (pictured left) with aluminium body and lever with black rubber buffer, this is what clamps the plastic sheeting. Durable pivotable rubber grip pads at both ends allow for use on uneven floors or ceilings, with the bottom pad being able to rotate making it easier to use the foot pedal if used in awkward positions. A metal unlocking tab, also controlled by your foot, quickly releases for fast dismantling.

You wrap your plastic sheet over the top grip pad using the quick clip to hold it, then, press and release the yellow extender buttons until the pole reaches the ceiling. Press downwards on the spring-loaded foot pedal as many times as needed to get that perfect fit. To remove, press the unlocking tab with your foot.

42

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

tool TALK

Win it all!

One of each of the items reviewed in this edition of Tooltalk are available to one lucky PDA Member!

For your chance to win, simply send an email to tooltalk@the-d ecorator.co.uk Well done to our most rec ent winner, Jamie Wakeford of J.W . Decorating - Scarborou gh.

Enjoy your new products!

Features & Benefits

‘ Perfect grid pattern for smooth loading

Go!Paint

‘ Made using 100% recycled plastic

Roll & Go XL @Go_Paint

go_paint

‘ Disposable recycled liners for easy cleaning ‘ Transparent lid for short term storage

www.go-paint.com

What I like about Go!Paint is that they continuously innovate and their latest creation hits the sweet spot for me – a perfectly thought through innovation of the roller tray!

The bucket is a sturdy paint tray with an angled roll off grid built-in that is raised higher than the bucket itself, meaning the roller head can turn more, spreading and loading paint much better. The perfect grid pattern allows the paint to load evenly, I’ve tried many others with coarse grids that don't do this.

A five-pack of recycled disposable ultra-thin liners mean you don’t wash the bucket, just throw away once finished. This saves water, time and mess, especially if working in domestic homes.

A four-finger grab handle on the front allows controlled handling when decanting material plus a transparent lid with four easy to use grips allow overnight or weekend emulsion paint storage. Transport the Go!Paint Roll & Go using the sturdy metal, finger grooved handle.

Roll & Go buckets are made from recycled plastic which is excellent news for our environment, and high-quality manufacturing is excellent news for the trade! Available in 18cm and 25cm widths.

Trimaco

E-Z Up Peel + Stick Zipper ®

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A great addition when using the Trimaco Heavy Duty E-Z Up Pole system is to add a zipper to create a door in and out of the contained area. You ®

can do this simply with the ingenious E-Z Up Peel + Stick Zipper.

Features & Benefits

‘ Strong adhesive-backed zipper

‘ Creates re-sealable door opening ‘ Easy access with twin pull tabs for two-way opening /closing

‘ Controls dust when entering the work area

The Peel + Stick Zipper measures 7cm x 213cm (23/4in x 7ft) and is made from high quality sturdy blue fabric. It has a super-strong adhesive on the back to fasten it to the plastic sheet you use.

The zipper must be installed so that you pull downwards to close it and up to open, with pull tabs so you can open and close it from both sides.

Once fitted, fully open the zipper and carefully/slowly cut through both adhesive tape and plastic sheet which will then form your door opening, paying attention not to damage the brand-new zipper teeth!

Suitable for plastic coverings, tarpaulin and shrink wraps.

You can find Wayne on...

@ToolTalk1

@ToolTalk1 43

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Tape it easy ®

®

®

KleenEdge Perfect Edge and KleenEdge Low Tack painting tapes are specifically designed for creating clean straight lines with no bleed through. They allow clean removal for up to 14 days, which means no residue left behind to clean-up at the end of the job. KleenEdge Perfect Edge Painting Tape is for use on a variety of surfaces and KleenEdge Low Tack Painting Tape is specially designed for delicate surfaces. Both tapes can be used with Easy Mask Masking Film, Masking Paper and ®

on the QM5000 PRO Masker. Easy Mask KleenEdge

®

Painting Tape is masking paper lined with adhesive along one edge to catch paint spills and splatters while you paint straight lines. Perfect for walls, ceilings, windows, skirting boards and more. It can be left on the surface for seven days and is quick and easy to apply and remove.

UP

tool

Trimaco now offer professional grade masking tapes to make your next job easier than ever. Easy Mask

Keep up to date with what’s available for the modern decorator

trimaco.com

Orange is the new black www.brushmate.co.uk Cheshire based business Brush Mate, has unveiled new branding for their Trade 20 and Trade 4+ wet paint brush storage range. Having been a workplace essential with painters and decorators for over 50 years, it was ready for a makeover, along with the rebranding the Trade 20 metal lid is now back to its recognisable Brush Mate orange! Using a unique vapour system, the Trade 20 and Trade 4+ keep brushes soft and pliable, ready for immediate re-use hours, days or even months later. You should start seeing Brush Mates new branding in your local stockists soon!

44

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Velvet revolver www.axusdecor.com Following feedback from painters, Axus Décor have enhanced their Wood Finishing mini rollers, part of their lime series, plus added a new size. These rollers are shed resistant, ultra-long-lasting and capable of delivering a flawless finish. The outer core of the roller is made of high-density foam that prevents deforming, this is

water-based coatings. Available in a conventional 4 inch and a new 6 inch version

Fill without the fuss

with double core that holds three times as much paint, both sizes click easily into

www.toupret.co.uk

topped with a layer of velvet flock that features incredibly fine pores, reducing the visibility of texture as paint is released, and makes it highly suitable for applying

place on an Axus Décor S-Frame and don't come loose. The product is easy to

Toupret’s innovative new Joint,

clean and can be re-used several times, in contrast to

Skim & Fill system has been

foam sleeves that are typically disposed

developed for reliability,

of after a single use.

performance and workability to achieve a great finish with the minimum of fuss and time. The Quick Dry products are ready for overpainting in just three hours, with all of the jointing products in the range approved and conform to the all-important BS EN 13963 standard. For normal applications they require just one coat, remove the need for spot-priming and are excellent for surface finishing, filling or plasterboard jointing. The Patch & Repair additions to the range provide a hardy backline for preparation work, whether filling significant gaps or smoothing over cracks. All products are easy to mix, apply and to sand, providing an easy-on first-class finish that feathers well, keeping both trades and homeowners happy.

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

ofoffftthhe sshheelflf Did you know Brewers offer a choice of over 15,000 wallpapers from budget friendly options to designer brands? Within the range, there are also a number of special collection wallpapers, exclusive to Brewers... The new exclusive Morris collection features archive designs such as the ever popular

Here, there and everywhere www.v33.co.uk

Strawberry Thief, Willow Bough, Brer Rabbit and Fruit. These beloved patterns are reimagined in a more contemporary colour palette and backed on to paste-the-wall paper. Signature by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

V33 Multi-Surface Renovation is a major new innovation in white

exudes his vivacious personality, humour

emulsions that offers professional painters and decorators major

and style with an eclectic mix of hand

time and cost-saving benefits, whilst ensuring a great finish that

illustrated patterns inspired by global

customers will appreciate. The composition of this ground-

experiences and tropical influences.

breaking new white paint means it can be used quickly to

Signature is only available at

transform multiple surfaces including ceilings, plaster, radiators,

wallpaperdirect and Brewers Decorator

doors and panelling, window frames plus painted or papered

Centres. Free samples are available in

walls in just one application. Featuring an integrated undercoat,

store at Brewers or online at

V33 Multi-Surface Renovation can be used to cover at least

wallpaperdirect. There is also a click

twenty different surfaces, including bare, varnished and stained

collect option, so your client can select and

wood, plasterboard, copper, concrete, bricks, ceiling tiles, lining

order the paper for you to collect in store.

paper, polystyrene and MDF. And thanks to its 98% opacity matt

wallpaperdirect.com

finish, it is ideal for hiding marks or colours. The V33 brand is well established in Europe, particularly in France, where it has already garnered a great reputation for its high quality products.

A sea of sealants www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk Dulux Decorator Centre has extended its sealants and adhesives range and introduced new recyclable foil packaging as part of its commitment to reducing decorating waste. The 97 per cent recyclable foil wrapper, which has 20 per cent extra product compared to the standard cartridges, is compatible with the DDC Caulk applicators and incorporates a unique design that compresses during use - significantly reducing the waste generated. The retailer also now features new products from the Bostik range, Instantly Paintable Caulk has been specially developed to be painted with oil or water-based paints immediately after application, perfect for a quick turnaround. High quality Bostik Exterior Caulk is rain resistant immediately after application and can also be painted with water-based or synthetic paints once cured. To make the shopping experience easier and smoother, the sealants products on display are now split into colours, depending on what type of job they are used for, so decorators can get the products

46

they need and get back to the job as quickly as possible.

Vaalue for Money?

0845 504 5040 brewers.co.uk

When times are tight, thoughts naturally go to ways of saving money.

With budgets being stretched, cheaper options often appear attractive.

ofoffftthhe sshheelflf

But these cheaper options often suffer value engineering or ‘shrink inf lation’.

Less paint lift, less coverage, poor cutting in n, sweet spots lost no sooner than they arrive – All comments heard far too often.

When up to 85% of a quote is purely the lab bour, time is a vital consideration and can have a serious impact on costings and bottom lines.

So ask yourself – Does the sweetness of low prices really outlast the bitterness of poor quality?

XXX

Quality... Uncompromised web. www.coronabrushes.co.uk tel. 0333 20 21 031

Toop To p and miid d rraang gee brus bru russh heess ffoor d deecorra attoorss,, contrraacttoorrsss,, fu furnitur urrnit itu urree paiin nters teerrss,, boat paiin nter teerrss and morreee..

Order online 24/7 for delivery direct to your door!

The full range is now available in all Brewers stores.

Don’t forget, Brewers have over 170 stores and offer free delivery within its trading area.

Pop in to your local store for more information or visit www.brewers.co.uk!

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Associate Partner