Professional Builder December 19

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FRE E TO THE TRA DE

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

DECEMBER 2019

WORKING IN WINTER COME IN FROM THE COLD!

INTERIOR REFURBISHMENT THE INSIDE STORY!

WINTER IN A ‘SOFT SHELL’, SCRUFFS JACKETS, THINSULATE BEANIE HATS AND MAX PERFORMANCE FINGERLESS GLOVES ARE THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE TO THE COMMON SITE COLD

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contents

Total Average Net Distribution 113,695 1 July 2018 – 31 June 2019

DECEMBER 2019 VOL. 41 NO.11 @PB_mag

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

www.youtube.com/protrademags

pb@hamerville.co.uk

REGULARS 7 9 12 17 32 79 80 81

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Editor’s Viewpoint News Letters Tool Theft Free-for-All Digital Digest The Doctor’s Advice Wise Howell

& The Charles Godfrey Award for Innovation TOOLS, EQUIPMENT & WORKWEAR

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WORKING IN WINTER

SPECIAL REPORTS 14 The Mental Health First Aid Programme Part 2 19 Meet the Paddle App 20 DI-WHY?

Professional INVENTORS CORNER

22 Inventors’ Corner: Pipe Easy 24 James Latham: Poplar Plywood 27 Building Introspector

TRAINING&

UPSKILLING 29 Stelrad Training

FREE FOR ALL! In it to win it... page 32 see

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43 Tarmac: Using Cement in the Cold 46 Swarfega: Protecting Your Hands 48 Marley: Winter Roofing 51 Bostik: Installing Flooring in Winter Conditions 54 NEW PRODUCTS

71 Tools & Equipment Round-Up 72 Makita Tech Talk 73 Festool: Protecting Builders

PRODUCTS & BUILDING MATERIALS 70 General Building Round-Up 74 BMI History 75 In the Boardroom with Norbord 76 Quickslide 81 Trade Media

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BUILDERS’ VEHICLES 77 Honest John: 3.5 Tonne Vans 78 A Look at the Vauxhall Movano INTERIOR PAINTING, DECORATING & REFURBISHMENT

56 59 62 64 67 68

Dulux: Matching Your Colour Artex Ready-Mix Fillers Rockwool’s Specialist Team Safeguard Competition Box Mate NEW PRODUCTS

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

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

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

viewpoint Artificial dissemination!

The seemingly ever lengthening festive break gives builders a welcome opportunity to rest their weary limbs, and come back rejuvenated for all that 2020 will throw at them, both in terms of skillsets, patience and, of course, politics.* There is, however, a small but growing sector of the construction industry which doesn’t want, or feel the need, to put its feet up, drown its sorrows or listen to the latest Westminster fiasco for even a single day. We are talking, of course, about robots. For many years now there has been much speculation and concern about whether or not robots, or artificial intelligence, will soon replace human workers, and the very latest report suggests that momentous moment may now be actually a lot closer than we’d imagined.

According to research by the grandly “Once confined to multi-million sounding World Economic Forum, it is estimated that more than 5.1 million jobs will be pound projects this new breed of replaced by non-human forms across all machines are noticeably filtering industries by the end of 2020, with half a down to smaller sites which are million of them being construction jobs. In the USA, a study by the Midwest Economic Policy at the sharp end of a serious Institute (MEPI) looks even further into the skills shortage across all trades.” future, and predicts that robots could replace or displace a mind boggling 2.7 million jobs in construction within 40 years.

In recognising that many skills – like roofing and site labouring – are harder technically to replicate right now using robots, the MEPI suggests that as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) gain greater prominence, and more currently untried or undiscovered technology comes to the fore, a multitude of tasks will be undertaken by sophisticated automation. Already, selfdriving vehicles, computer-controlled manufacturing robots, drones and large scale printers are just some of the construction activities which are currently taking over traditional pursuits, such as materials handling, cutting, bricklaying and rebar tying.

There are currently highly complex masonry laying machines, which can lay around 1,000 bricks a day, compared to a human average of 500 – 600, and can complete the end-to-end bricklaying of a house in up to three days. Using industrial adhesives, instead of traditional mortar, the strength of the structure is also increased by four to five fold, with greater accuracy and minimal waste. In fact, many larger housing sites have been using drones for some time to constantly scan the entire site, comparing accuracy against technical drawings and schedules to ensure quality of work, and organising synchronised deliveries to maximise output. When it comes to jobs that were once the preserve of highly skilled surveyors and experienced site forepersons, today there are android versions that clearly didn’t have to attend college for years, never get sick or, indeed, complain about the cold and rain in winter, or the heat and humidity of summer. Once confined to multi-million pound projects, this new breed of machines are noticeably filtering down to smaller sites, which are at the sharp end of a serious skills shortage across all trades.

For example, in 2018 a family in Nantes, France became the first in the world to move into a 3D printed house. The 95m2 four bedroom property took just 54 hours to print on site. With doors, windows and roof added over another four month period, build cost came in at around 20 per cent less than an identical traditionally built alternative.

So is the rise of the machines just a natural part of the evolution process, or is there something more profound at work here? Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between. Despite the relative boom conditions being enjoyed right now, and better income prospects than ever before, the industry is consistently failing to attract enough young people into its ranks. As a softer approach to society in general produces a generation of people who prefer the warmth and sanitised conditions of the classroom or office to the muck and bullets of the typical building site, research suggests that the problem will only get worse. As a matter of absolute necessity, alternatives have to be found quickly, and machines are increasingly the answer.

But hopefully all is not lost just yet for humanity, as it’s quite possible that those with some practical aptitude will be able enjoy the best of two very different worlds. These are the builders of the future who will be needed to programme what are now being referred to as ‘Cobots’ – readily available androids which will uncomplainingly assist them with the bulk of the more ‘dirty hands’ type manual tasks. For a new breed of construction workers, it surely won’t be long before they can comfortably report that all of their Christmases have come at once.

Festive best wishes and a prosperous New Year from the Professional Builder team. * At the time of going to print a general election had just been called for December 12th

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

News Professional Builder

For your information © auremar/Adobe Stock

Construction industry takes first steps at improving product information.

The need for a comprehensive regime that ensures all construction products are properly labelled and marketed was one of many recommendations in the Hackitt Review – following the Grenfell Tower Fire – which made suggestions to improve Building Regulations and fire safety in the built environment.

The Construction Product Information Survey, carried out for the Construction Products Association by NBS explores how product information is presented and made available. The survey reveals the current difficulties of accessing the relevant information required to assess the performance of a product and make informed decisions. Amongst its findings include a preference for the digital provision of product information as well as a desire for standardised and more complete

information, including highlighting applications where the product may or may not be suitable for use.

It also makes clear that there is strong industry support for the introduction of competence levels for those specifying, installing or maintaining products and the systems they make up, as well as an industry code of conduct for manufacturers to ensure that product information has been properly verified before publication.

For further information on the Construction Products Association visit www.rdr.link/BK001.

GOING ROGUE

Three quarters of Britain’s tradespeople have been ripped off by rogue customers.

Forget cowboy builders, a depressing 77 per cent of tradespeople – including builders, plumbers, heating engineers and gardeners – have suffered from a client refusing to settle the bill for completed work. That compares to just 24 per cent of customers who say they have been fleeced by rogue tradespeople, according to a poll of 2,500 adults by online marketplace Rated People.

Almost half of all workmen say they have had clients who refused to pay a single penny for a completed job with more than two thirds (68 per cent) saying this has happened more than once. www.rdr.link/BK003

Meet the Master

Montrose builder presented with new pick up for outstanding renovation.

Montrose building firm MCK Construction, from Angus, has been presented with a new Isuzu D-Max Utah Pick Up at a ceremony on site after beating hundreds of builders across the UK to scoop the overall Master Builder Award in the prestigious Federation of Master Builders’ 2019 Master Builder Awards, sponsored by Isuzu. Brian Berry, FMB: “MCK Construction is a worthy winner, having brought a piece of Scotland’s history back to life and I congratulate them once again for showcasing the talent and potential of builders all across the UK.” www.rdr.link/BK004

Best in Trade

Research shows the best place in the UK for tradespeople.

The cost of hiring a tradesperson is highest in Berkshire, research from the tradesperson comparison website HaMuch.com reveals. The website looked at the current average cost of hiring a tradesperson for jobs in the house, including builders, plumbers, heating engineers, electricians, carpenters and painters.

Across Britain, the most expensive area is Newbury in Berkshire at £47 per hour. Other costly areas in the county are Reading at £43 and Bracknell Forest at £42. These areas are well above the national average, which is £31 per hour. www.rdr.link/BK002

Bat Patrol

Beware of bats in buildings this Christmas.

Beware of bats this Christmas as over the winter months, bats hibernate to stay out of the cold weather and residential buildings in particular present an ideal warm roosting site for female bats to rear their young.

Property consultancy Galbraith reports that bats in buildings are an everincreasing problem when it comes to undertaking renovation works. James Taylor, Galbraith: “There are a range of measures that can be undertaken including the timing of the work to avoid the breeding season, and installation of bat boxes to re-house any bats found during the work.” www.rdr.link/BK005

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Professional Builder

News just get home safe

Michael Goodall, a 31-year-old plumber from Leeds, is joining forces with safety experts, Arco, to highlight the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) after a grinder left him with a cut down his face, a shattered eye socket and cheek bone and limited vision in one eye.

Michael, who owns plumbing company, iPlumb, was cutting the last metre of tarmac needed to bury a cable, when the grinder he was operating shattered and hit his face, leaving him “looking like a monster”, unable to see out of one eye, and lodging a piece of metal in his safety glasses.

Michael usually wears safety boots, gloves and sunglasses while working. However, on this day, his colleague Paul lent him safety glasses from Arco, which Michael claims saved his eye and his life.

Michael said: “It was so quick, there was no warning that it was going to break and I couldn’t dodge it, but when it hit my face it felt like my whole skeleton shook. I immediately knew it was serious.

“Before the accident, I knew very little about what level of protection I needed, and I’m not alone in that. For instance, few people know about categories for rating the level of protection given by PPE, like protective eyewear. I didn’t know the safety glasses I was wearing were rated F, which is the lowest rating, so they weren’t suitable for the job at all. You need a lot better protection, such as a Grade A High Energy Impact Full-Face Visor, for grinding.”

After the accident, Michael shared his story on social media to help raise awareness and thanked Arco for the safety glasses that had saved his life.

Arco was touched by his story and concerned he didn’t have the correct protective safety kit, so decided to take action, inviting him to the company’s Leeds branch to explain more about PPE. “By sharing my story, I want people to see what could happen if you don’t wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment… It’s easy to just want to get the job finished. But, at the end of the day, get home to your partner, your kids – just get home safe. There’s always tomorrow to finish it. Just be safe.” www.rdr.link/BK006

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10 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES Speaking Out

Construction professionals afraid to tell employer about poor mental health.

A new study released by independent job board, CV-Library reveals that 24.1 per cent of construction professionals are too afraid to tell their employer that they’re suffering with poor mental health, with a further 30.8 per cent claiming that their boss wouldn’t care.

The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK professionals, shows a chasm between bosses and employees in relation to mental health. In fact, 23.9 per cent of construction professionals fear they’d be judged unfairly if they told their boss about their concerns, while 23.1 per cent simply believe their employer is unapproachable. www.rdr.link/BK007

At Arm’s Length

Misconceptions about mental health prevent service leavers getting a job.

Research by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has revealed that British ex-service personnel struggle to find work due to mental health stigma.

Almost a half (46 per cent) of UK recruiters worry about hiring a service leaver in case they have had mental health issues. Despite best efforts from British companies and individuals, including Prince William and Prince Harry, negative perceptions about mental health remain a significant barrier in the recruitment process, with service leavers being stigmatised. www.rdr.link/BK008

‘Water’ Good Idea

Ex-construction bosses set up global movement to help mental wellbeing.

Previously running construction companies, Paul Holliday and Michael Henderson noticed a massive and frightening suicide rate within their sector and set up the Swim Rise movement to challenge people from all walks of life to help to improve their mental wellbeing.

Over 1,000 people from 25 different countries around the world signed up to run into the sea at the break of dawn for the first ever Global Swim Rise.

To date over 6,000 people have jumped into the sea at sunrise as part of the project. www.rdr.link/BK009

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Giving Relief

Invisible Killer

Power tool manufacturer supports charity in Bahamas.

Power tool manufacturer Makita supplied a range of its chainsaws to DART International UK to assist with the charity’s work in the Bahamas, following hurricane Dorian. Makita supplied 50cc chainsaws and 79cc chainsaws to DART International UK. The tools were used by the team of five arborists deployed to the Bahamas for tasks such as clearing debris and creating safe passages for other aid organisations to access affected areas. www.rdr.link/BK010

People Power

Power tool manufacturer plays part in V&A sustainability initiative.

As part of the V&A Museum’s commitment to sustainability it has developed two furniture upcycling initiatives using surplus stock of its exhibition pack crates. In one, nine designers were partnered with a homelessness charity to cocreate a piece of furniture that can be taken into temporary accommodation. Throughout the project Festool power tools were used.

James Wilson, Festool: “We are delighted that our products were part of this sustainability initiative, that has enabled people who have experienced homelessness to create unique pieces of furniture.” www.rdr.link/BK012

Concerns raised about the health of workers following new data on air pollution.

The British Safety Council has welcomed King’s College London’s research demonstrating a direct link between air pollution and health emergencies. More work is now needed on the effects of exposure on outdoor workers. Commenting on the data, Matthew Holder, British Safety Council, said: “As a charity focused on occupational issues, we are very concerned about the health of outdoor workers who spend week after week in the ambient environment, breathing in toxic air.” www.rdr.link/BK011

PAYING it Safe

New 'SafePay' scheme stops rogue traders in their tracks.

Book a Builder UK, an online resource to help property owners find professional builders, have launched a safe payment scheme, SafePay, to give consumers more confidence in the building industry. With the scheme, builders are not paid until homeowners are 100 per cent satisfied with the work that has been done. The scheme has been described as one of the most important moves within the building industry and stops projects going over agreed budgets. www.rdr.link/BK014

Paper Chase

Nicola Lewis wins wallpapering challenge.

Dulux Academy has crowned Nicola Lewis of Mrs Lewis’ Decorating Company from Matlock the winner of the third annual Dulux Academy Design and Decorate Challenge. Acclaimed for her unique craftsmanship, eye for design plus expert wallpapering skills – Nicola will now receive the money-can’t-buy prestige of her wallpaper design made into bespoke rolls by wallpapering specialists Graham & Brown. www.rdr.link/BK013

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YOUR LETTERS... ...problems solved @PB_mag

@probuildermag

www.facebook.com/probuilderonline

W www.probuildermag.co.uk

Professional Builder, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF. Through our extensive manufacturer network, Professional Builder has access to some of the best technical brains in the industry. If we don’t know the answer to a building-related problem ourselves, we almost certainly know someone who does.

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

THE MAN DOWNSTAIRS Dear Professional Builder I have just purchased an old wreck of a house. I want to live in one bit and rent the upstairs out for a few years to help pay the mortgage. I need to put in some bathrooms and am looking for an alternative to chipboard for the flooring. Also, I need to soundproof the walls and floors. ● Simon Angel, Guildford PB: If you don’t want chipboard the best thing is to lay a floating acoustic floor such as the one from Thermal Economics. This gives you a rubber mat to cushion the impact noise. You will need Rockwool acoustic bats between the joists.

Soundproofing walls is a bit of a science and there is no such thing as ‘soundproof’. To reduce noise transmission you are better off using a system such as those from Knauf and British Gypsum with resilient bars. These are used in Multiplex cinemas. It is very important that you seal all the air gaps. The denser the walls, the better the sound resistance. Even a badly sealed electrical back box can cause air leakage and therefore sound.

WASTE OF TIME!

ROGER AND OUT Dear Professional Builder I was sorry to read in a previous issue that Roger Bisby is no longer part of the PB team. I go right back to the days of your original product tester, Charles Godfrey and had the pleasure of meeting him at a trade show in Wembley in the early nineties. Quite a character and Roger certainly inherited the same quirky style of writing which made it for me the best part of the magazine each month. I hope the tradition will continue because it is unique within the trade press as far as I can tell. Please pass on my thanks and best wishes for the future to him. ● Jeff Husband, Clacton-on-Sea PB: We certainly will and you can be sure that Charles legacy will live on as we remember his wonderful contribution to the magazine on page 35 with our annual Innovation Award.

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES Dear Professional Builder I keep reading in building magazines of the shortfall in the labour markets. But where I live in Cambridge there are sites going up everywhere and hundreds of houses being built. Who is building these houses, is it the housebuilding fairies? These houses are going up and, what’s more, they’re being sold. Perhaps it’s also the housebuilding fairies buying them? ● Confused of Chatteris

Dear Professional Builder I’ve purchased a waste carrier licence online for £154 for three years and the £5 per card ID. This weekend I’ve been to five local tips around Manchester to dispose of some kitchen doors I’ve replaced. Not much waste really. ‘Do I need a waste carrier licence?’ I asked each time. Two didn’t even know and the others just said “no”.

However, all of them did agree there is a minimum of half a tonne on the weighbridge at £106 + VAT + a duty of care charge.

So I’ve spent £154 on a licence and I can’t take trade waste to any tip unless it’s half a tonne or over. If I price for a skip on every little job at £160+ each these days (when they turn up) that’s another headache and a cost I’ll have to pass on. I am left to go home and transfer the waste to a car to get under the barriers and, when asked, simply tell them it’s from my own home! I just can’t get my head around this licence and its cost – what have I paid for? ● Alf Poole, Manchester PB: It does indeed seem to be a futile exercise, and another attempt by our Government to control criminal activity by selling licenses to people who were never committing a crime in the first place. The end result is bound to be exactly the opposite of what they intended.

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PB: There is considerable demand for new homes and that has been driving the housebuilding in recent months. At the same time, there is no doubt that we are facing a skills crisis. Professional Builder is certainly doing its bit to promote the value of industry training through our sister title, Apprentice Builder.

GOODBYE TO ALL CHAT Dear Professional Builder

FRE

E TO

Professional I’m sure I am not alone in mourning the demise of the once cherished tea break as we know it. What’s the chance of discussing the pros and cons of Brexit or the prospects of Arsenal finishing in the top four when everyone under 35 has their head constantly buried in their phone? ‘Unsocial’ media is the curse of stimulating conversation for people of a certain vintage like me! ● Fred Turner, Wrexham THE

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BUILDING ■ FLOORIN G ■ PLUMBIN ■ CARPENT RY G ■ ROOFING DECORATING ■

■ PAINTING AND THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

NOVEMBER 2019

VEHICLES &

DRIVING AMBITI PLANT ONS

PRO BUILDER

PLUMBING & WETR OOMS ‘WETTI NG’ THE APPETI TE

FORD’S NEW RANGER RAPTOR IS MAKING QUITE A SPLASH AS IT LEAVES A TRAIL OF RIVAL PICK UPS IN ITS WAKE.

PB: You can always play them at their own game and bury your head in the latest copy of Professional Builder!

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SPECIAL REPORT MENTAL HEALTH PART TWO

ON THE LOOKOUT ©AdobeStock/Seventyfour

Professional Builder’s Kieran Nee recently attended a Mental Health First Aid course hosted by Willmott Dixon. ccording to recent statistics, 42 per cent of UK construction workers are struggling with mental health problems whilst at work, and 400,000 working days are lost each year in the UK to mental health related issues. The cost to industry of poor mental health is astounding, and just goes to show how prevalent it is among the population. This is especially true of the construction industry. Following on from last month’s issue, where we discussed the need to create a comfortable environment for people to open up and talk about their problems in the workplace, we will now go into further detail about the range of mental health issues someone might be suffering from, what signs to look out and for and how to best proceed.

A

Depression First up is depression, a much misunderstood illness that is more common than people might realise. The word depressed is used a lot, and often refers to someone feeling miserable, blue or simply sad due to an event or a personal problem. Depression as an illness refers to someone who is clinically depressed, lasting over two weeks and interfering with their work, social and personal life. Depression can affect the way people think and behave and can reappear later in life.

According to the Mental Health First Aid Manual, you may suspect a colleague is depressed if they have at least two of the following symptoms for at least two weeks: 씰 An unusually sad mood that doesn’t go away 씰 Loss of enjoyment and interest in activities that used to be enjoyable 씰 Lack of energy and tiredness

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Also, look out for the signs of a loss of self-confidence, feeling guilty about things, suicidal thoughts, difficulty concentrating, moving slowly or being agitated, sleeping too little or too much, and changes in eating habits. The amount of these symptoms displayed can indicate the severity of someone’s depression.

Within a construction environment, someone with depression might not be as productive as before, they may not enjoy being around their colleagues as much and may even stop showing up to work.

It’s important to approach someone whose behaviour has changed as such with understanding and compassion, rather than jumping immediately to conclusions. The lack of sleep and the physical pain and fatigue that often accompany depression mean that life on a building site can make things worse for someone with the illness.

DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

Substance Misuse Something which doesn’t readily get associated with mental health issues, and opens an individual up to criticism and judgement, is substance misuse. Misusing drugs or alcohol is more common among those suffering mental health issues and is more common among men than women. It can be hard to distinguish when someone’s substance use has crossed the line from normal to problematic, especially as alcohol plays a large role in British culture. What’s more, friends and colleagues may be reluctant to bring the issue up as it may appear as judgemental rather than concerned. If you are concerned about a colleague, and that colleague’s work and personal life are being affected by their physical or psychological dependence on drugs or alcohol, then it is important to try and get them to seek help.

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Substance misuse can be a way to relieve bad feelings, and goes hand in hand with depression or other disorders.

Drugs and alcohol play an alarming role in suicides too, as they remove the users inhibitions.

Anxiety The feeling of anxiety is familiar to all and is a natural part of life. However, if you can imagine that uneasy feeling prolonged over extended periods of time, heightened in intensity and recurring at different times, you will have an idea of what life with an anxiety disorder is like.

Anxiety can severely interfere with an individual’s ability to carry on a career or develop personal relationships. Effects can include: 씰 Palpitations, chest pain, rapid heartbeat and flushing 씰 Hyperventilation 씰 Dizziness 씰 Muscle aches and pains 씰 Excessive fear about things

©AdobeStock/A. Bueckert

Mind racing Decrease concentration 씰 Restlessness 씰 Unwanted unpleasant repetitive thoughts These symptoms can result in someone avoiding situations, feeling distress in social situations, exhibiting repetitive compulsive behaviour and feeling urges to escape situations that cause discomfort. It is important to keep in mind that someone may not feel comfortable in certain situations, and that can affect their behaviour, even to the point that they may suffer a panic attack. 씰 씰

Of course, we have only scratched the surface when it comes to mental health, and it must be stressed that a Mental Health First Aid course doesn’t produce professionals capable of dealing with someone’s mental health issues. The purpose of the course is to provide participants with the tools necessary to identify and approach someone who may be suffering. Hopefully, we have shone a light on some of the illnesses that can affect your colleagues’ mental health and, if you’re concerned, have inspired you to look for further information.

For more information about MHFA England and how you can get involved go to www.rdr.link/BK015

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Professional

Cam paign FIGHTING

TOOL THEFT

TOGETHER

Sponsored by...

The Armorgard

guide to preventing tool theft from vans For your free copy visit www.armorgard.co.uk/guides @PB_mag

STOP THIEF! Simply Business has launched a campaign to Stamp Out Tool Theft

www.facebook.com/probuilderonline

씰 Well over a third (37 per cent) of tradespeople have fallen victim to tool theft 씰 Tool theft costs victims in excess of £3,000 on average — £870 in lost earnings, and £2,135 in replacing the stolen tools 씰 The SME insurer is calling for the government to implement tighter regulation for the selling of second-hand tools, and greater minimum fines for those convicted of tool theft 씰 84 per cent of tradespeople don’t believe the government is doing enough to prevent tool theft

imply Business has launched a campaign to Stamp Out Tool Theft once and for all, after research reveals one in three (37 per cent) of tradespeople have had their tools stolen, costing a combined average of £3,005 each in lost earnings (£870) and replacing stolen tools (£2,135).

The small business insurer, which protects over half a million SMEs across the country, is calling on the government to implement greater fines for those convicted of tool theft, as well as tighter regulations on the selling of second-hand tools. The insurer has launched a petition with the aim of attracting 100,000

S

signatures for the measures to be debated in Parliament. The petition can be viewed www.rdr.link/BK112 To mark the campaign, a mobile billboard was driven to the front door of parliament recently, laying bare the issue of tool theft to the government. The mobile billboard, announcing the petition on behalf of the thousands of victims of tool theft, then travelled to some of the capital’s biggest building sites across Battersea, Nine Elms and Wandsworth.

Well over a third (37 per cent) have fallen victim, while 65 per cent also know someone who has. On average, tool theft costs £870 in lost earnings each. Almost a

fifth (18 per cent) lost more than £1,000 in lost earnings.

Adding to this, the average tools stolen are worth £2,135, costing more than a month’s average real-time earnings. This means the average tool theft costs victims a combined £3,005 on average, taking into account lost earnings and replacing stolen tools.

Over a quarter (26 per cent) of those surveyed couldn’t work for a few days, while just under a tenth (8 per cent) were unable to work for over a week.

One in three (33 per cent) had their tools stolen from the building site – either from their van or from the site itself.

Almost a fifth (16 per cent) had tools stolen from their van while parked in the street or in a public car park.

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

Is the government doing enough?

A staggering 84 per cent of tradespeople don’t believe the government is doing enough to prevent tool theft. Just under two thirds (60 per cent) surveyed believe there needs to be greater sentences for thieves, while more than half (55 per cent) believe there should be greater fines for those convicted.

Over a quarter (28 per cent) of tradespeople believe the sentence for tool theft should be five years in prison, and over one in 10 (15 per cent) believe a £10,000 fine should be imposed.

Half (50 per cent) of tradespeople also believe there should be greater funding for police and police presence on the streets, a third (32 per cent) want to see greater restrictions on the selling of second-hand tools, and a further third (30 per cent) believe there should be more CCTV in place. In addition, one in five (20 per cent) want to see more street lights installed to deter thieves.

“Tradespeople are the backbone of Britain,” declares Bea Montoya, Chief

Operating Officer at Simply Business, “but they’re being stopped in their tracks on a daily basis due to the ongoing tool theft epidemic. Tool theft rips through the lives of thousands of tradespeople and their families every year, with victims losing out

on over £3,000 each on average – through lost earnings and replacing stolen equipment. Having their tools stolen doesn’t just impact their ability to work, but it affects their livelihoods too.

“Brexit is having a paralysing effect on British politics, but there are pressing issues at home which urgently need addressing.

This is why we’re calling on the government to Stamp Out Tool Theft once and for all.

We want to see greater fines imposed on those convicted, as well as tighter regulations on the selling of second hand tools which, because of their high value, are often stolen to sell on the black market.

“Putting these two measures in place will go a long way in combating tool theft, protecting the lives and jobs of millions of tradespeople up and down the country.”

To learn more about this campaign visit www.rdr.link/BK016

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SPECIAL REPORT APP

“

Paddle your own boat!

W e wanted to find a way for the trades and homeowners to quickly and easily establish contact and start to build a relationship,” declares the proprietor of Tunbridge Wellsbased Bennix Plumbing & Heating, and the result is Paddle, a new app that promises to generate leads.

“Our ambition was to remove a lot of the complexities that exist with existing platforms, and provide functionality that doesn’t presently exist in the market. With Paddle it’s possible to send photos of the job through instant messaging, or conduct a video call, which can generate substantial detail, and build a rapport with the client, even before you’ve visited the property.”

So how does it work? Once the app has been downloaded, builders can enter their details, including membership of any trade bodies and certification, such as GasSafe or NICEIC, as well as Public Liability. All of that information is used to build a profile of the builder which will then appear on a map of their local area. The customer can then filter the profiles by trade, and

It’s time to get on board with the latest customer acquisition tool for the trades. Professional Builder’s Lee Jones talks to co-founder and plumber Ben Milton about the Paddle App.

“We wanted to make life simpler for tradespeople and let the jobs come to them.” contact whichever company they choose.

Continues Ben: “We recognise that recommendation is still a key source of new work, and Paddle facilitates that by allowing the tradesperson to request a recommendation, in the app, on completion of a job. That recommendation, along with previous clients’ recommendations, will appear on their profile and help build their reputation. Because everything is posted through the app, and the customer recommendations are verified, there are no fake recommendations – just satisfied customers!”

The initial idea for Paddle came to Ben

earlier this year, and in just nine months, whilst continuing to run his successful plumbing and heating business, he has realised his objective. “My knowledge of the trades, and my co-founder’s technical knowledge, has produced a service that is simple to use, and tailored for 28 different trades, and we’ve got some really exciting new features that we’re currently developing, which will be available in 2020.”

Since Paddle puts people in touch with their nearest builders, plumbers or electricians it is a champion of the local economy, bringing the time-honoured tradition of recommendations from neighbours, friends and families into the 21st century, and it is a practice that Ben fully endorses. “People still want to use companies that are based in their own community, and tradespeople certainly don’t want to be travelling too far to the job, so that’s what we are promoting – a local service and good communication.

“Many of the internet-based lead generation services are actually quite expensive, with no real guarantee of getting the job. By contrast, Paddle is free until early 2020. From then, it costs just £15 + VAT per month for tradespeople, with no commission paid on jobs.”

For more information on Paddle visit www.rdr.link/BK017 For further information on Bennix Plumbing & Heating visit www.rdr.link/BK018

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Send in your encounters to recieve a free sticker!

It would seem that some people out there just never learn or heed the warning signs, and those that do have usually paid a heavy price both financially and physically.

The A&E departments after a long Bank Holiday weekend bear testimony to a tale of DIY misery and woe, with a litany of broken limbs and bloodied torsos. It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious, and there’s a very clear message out there to anyone thinking of taking a shortcut... get a pro do it.

Since we invited builders to tell us about their own personal experiences of encountering DIY mayhem, our social media platforms have been buzzing with amazing blunders, mishaps and downright stupidity by the great British public within their own homes and gardens. In a new monthly feature within Professional Builder we will be sharing some of the most “surprising” and inviting our readers to join in the process of shaming these hapless Do It Your Selfers.

Send in your pic example to pb@hamerville.co.uk or tag @PB_mag on twitter.

To follow the campaign online go to www.probuildermag.co.uk or visit www.rdr.link/BK019

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Professional INVENTORS CORNER

Teirnan McCorkell presenting the pipeEASY on the latest series of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den (Photo courtesy of the BBC)

not just a pipe dream

Cutting around pipework is never a straightforward task, no matter how much time you have on your hands. Fortunately, Teirnan McCorkell believes he has a solution, and it’s difficult to argue now he’s convinced a Dragon…

t’s a problem tradespeople from all walks of life have probably faced – attempting to make a neat and professional cut around existing pipework. And, as Teirnan McCorkell attests, it’s a job that is very difficult to get right every single time. “I’ve seen countless tradespeople and DIYers

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attempt it, and I’ve never seen anyone who can do a perfect job, consistently,” explains Teirnan. “I looked around for a tool that could help, but when I realised there wasn’t one in the market, I decided to have a go at designing one myself.”

From here, the pipeEASY tool was born.

Initially designed on a cardboard template with two standard rulers, Teirnan – who was previously in the trade until a move into the

22 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

carpet fitting business – soon realised he was onto something, and started to put a little more time and investment into fully developing and testing the product out.

The device is designed to act as a surface measuring tool to find the perfect centre hole of where to drill to make space for the pipework. Providing a quality finish that Teirnan believes can’t be matched on a consistent basis via other methods, it can be used on a variety of surfaces and situations – from flooring, to exterior walls, to stone paving in the garden.

Fast forward two years and Teirnan now

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“Tradespeople have been really impressed with pipeEASY, which is great news,” adds Teirnan.

“The tool makes the job look professional, plus saves time on site, so it really is a win-win!” has a successful BBC Dragons’ Den pitch under his belt, alongside an array of products and a growing presence within the industry. Sara Davies, one of the newest additions to the Den, saw plenty of future for the product, agreeing to invest £41,000 into the firm for a 30 per cent share of the business. With the due diligence now complete, Teirnan is thrilled with the interest Sara showed.

“It was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I’m not really a talker, and I’m really not used to giving presentations, so to be in that boardroom was a completely new experience for me. I’m obviously glad I did it though. It’s fantastic that Sara saw potential in the product, it’s been great working with her so far and I’m sure this will continue.”

While Teirnan initially saw the pipeEASY as a device that would attract DIYers, he has since realised the trade’s interest, and is now beginning to make it more of a focus.

The tool comes with five free standard sized pipe wedges – 10, 15, 22, 32 and 40mm – with various other sizes available upon request. As a simple addition to the usual array of tools in the van, merchants are also showing an interest in stocking the tool, with visitors demonstrating plenty of interest at the recent trade shows the pipeEASY team have attended.

For further information on the pipeEasy tool visit www.rdr.link/BK020

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SPECIAL REPORT PLYWOOD

Come out to Ply One Spanish board manufacturer is already inspiring ‘poplar’ demand with the building industry.

Professional Builder’s Lee Jones talks to James Latham about its Garnica range of plywood panel products. he James Latham ethos is to associate itself with some of the world’s most prestigious brands in panel products, and that’s just what it has achieved in forging a relationship with one Spanish manufacturer. Indeed, there is a certain synergy between Garnica as supplier and this UK timber distributor. Both are fully committed to demonstrating the sustainability of their products, for instance, and not just through PEFC or FSC certification but equally through more innovative ways of addressing environmental issues. Moreover, each are family run firms, with the 9th generation of Lathams now working at a business which began importing timber into Liverpool from as far back as 1757. The Garnica history is rooted in the natural produce of its native soil, where they were initially making fruit boxes in the Rioja area of Northern Spain. It is a landscape dominated by either grapevines or poplar, and it is from the latter that the company now sources its plywood.

“We’ve been the exclusive importers of Garnica plywood for a few years now, but it actually has a history which goes back 75 years,” explain James Latham’s Miles Kember, “and it’s a very exciting product.”

The original Garnica vision was to produce a panel that matches the performance of material sourced from a tropical rainforest, but with considerably enhanced sustainability credentials, and the result is its range of modified plywoods – Duraply, Fireshield and Ultralite. “Given that it’s imported from

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Duraply Europe rather than some Far Eastern territories there is an inherent reduction in comparable carbon footprint, and it takes just 12 – 15 years to grow,” continues Miles, “but there is a whole range of benefits for builders besides”.

Duraply is effectively a marine plywood alternative, with the reassurance of a 15 year warranty. In that time, it will not experience delamination, mould growth, or swelling. “We’ve actually tested those claims, with pieces laying in boiling hot water day after day,” adds the Garnica product champion, “and, provided it is sealed on the edges and faces, in

24 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, it really does offer that level of robustness. No other plywood in the UK will offer that length of guarantee for outdoor use, and that’s a huge level of reassurance for anyone specifying the material.”

There are also inherent benefits in the species of wood itself, as well as in the manufacturing process. Although Poplar is a hardwood it is very low density, which makes it at least 25 per cent lighter in weight compared to a tropical variety. In essence, plywood manufacture essentially involves slicing trees into veneers of around 3mm thickness, which are then

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Ultralite glued together. If the panels are subject to any treatment it has traditionally consisted of dipping them into a tank, which has the effect of treating the surface but without permeating deep into the timber. By contrast what Garnica supplies is a fully modified plywood, where each individual veneer is fully treated prior to lamination. As a result, cut the board in half, or drill holes in it, and the same level of durability is evident throughout the panel, and that’s the secret to that 15 year guarantee.

Continues Miles: “Duraply essentially gives the end user the confidence to use Plywood in applications where they might previously have been reluctant to do so, and that can include anything from soffits and fascias, to site hoarding, roofing, or outdoor garden products. In truth, as builders begin to understand the product, and its potential, we’re seeing more and more uses emerge, such as exterior signage or shop fronts, for instance.”

Fireshield is subject to that same comprehensive level of treatment but with a solution which, as the name suggests, offers an enhanced level of fire retardance, a particular focus in our post Grenfell age of increased scrutiny on

building standards. Crucially, where the treatment of conventional FR plywood might have an impact on the aesthetics of the panels, Garnica’s Fireshield remains a joinery quality product. “You wouldn’t even know it had been treated at all,” declares Miles proudly, “and, when we provide them with samples, our customers often can’t believe it’s a fire resistant product.”

Fireshield The beauty of this production process for a supplier like James Latham is the enhanced level of certification and declaration of performance it affords. If a product is treated by a third party after it leaves the factory, for example, then it will require additional testing to ensure it meets a certain level of fire resistance, but Fireshield eliminates that entirely.

The third product in the family, Ultralite, takes the low density properties of Poplar a stage further. It consists of two sheets of plywood on the outside with a layer of XPS insulation in the middle. The result is a panel which is just 250kg per cubic metre – where MDF might be more than 600kg – whilst maintaining the strength and durability of Fireshield and

Duraply. “This is a relatively new addition to the range and we’re expecting real interest across partitioning, door manufacture, and shop fitting. Because it is so light and easy to carry timber merchants with loft conversion customers are enthusiastic about its potential.

The story of Garnica’s plywood is even more exceptional in that every individual tree in what are now considerable plantations can be traced back to six original clones, and it is that theme of traceability which reverberates through its supply chain. James Latham already supplies the largest range of panel products to the UK market in terms of species, size and application, including everything from OSB to MDF and Brazilian plywood, all the way up to more specialised melamine and veneer products, and Garnica is a material that fits the brief perfectly.

“As a company we pride ourselves on an ethical approach,” concludes Miles, “and there are certain plywood sources we are wary of, and will not import from.

Hence how highly we regard our relationship with a supplier we can trust like Garnica, who guarantee their product as fit for purpose.”

Fireshield For further information on the Garnica range of plywoods visit www.rdr.link/BK021

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no.9

The Building

‘Introsp ector’

The Building Introspector is advocating the highest quality aspirations for new build developments.

Trevor Clements is a Building Inspector at Hertfordshire Building Control with 35 years of experience in the industry.

have spent a long and mainly happy career doing my best to apply the minimum national construction standards to new buildings that come under the control of the building regs.

People in my job recognise that 100 per cent perfect compliance can never be guaranteed when it comes to the building site environment, but we have to settle for doing our professional best to make a difference, and achieve the best possible result in an imperfect world. Building Control’s role is to ensure, as far as possible, that buildings are safe, healthy, accessible, energy efficient and secure. I am pleased to say that this is usually

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achieved without falling out with clients, and their builders, so the last resort of enforcement notices is usually unnecessary.

The inspection process that we adopt is based on the risks of not complying.

This influences the notification stages, where we are informed, so we can cast an eye over the work in progress. I used to think this contributed to us losing work to private sector building control companies (Approved Inspectors); some of whom are not quite so rigorous in their scrutiny and are often happy with a photograph. A builder of my acquaintance, who has used both systems, joked about having a ‘perfect work’ photo album to use on

every job – courtesy of Google Images!

Speaking to others, it seems that the good contractors welcome the reassurance it gives their customers for a qualified independent person to visit regularly to confirm that their builder is doing a decent job for them.

Of course, the poor quality of new housing coming off the stocks is a trending topic. Headlines about major housebuilders who prioritise share prices, and eye watering bonuses for their management, whilst their customers suffer in shoddily built new homes is shocking.

Many of you with technical backgrounds will recognise that the media often

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The Building

‘I n t r o s p e c t o r ’

sensationalise the issues to make a good headline, but it can’t be denied that something urgently needs to be done to promote the quality agenda.

I recently had personal experience of the problem when I snagged a new house for some friends. This was a £million plus property (the going rate for a relatively humble shack in the south east) and part of a ‘prestigious’ estate built by a big national firm. It was riddled with dozens of quality issues from DPCs set at ground level to foul water inspection chambers half filled with hardcore and paved over, to sub floor voids filling with sewage because of badly connected soil pipes.

That was lucky compared to some of their neighbours, who occupied the properties for two weeks before finding out the hard way that their foul drains weren’t actually linked to a sewer. I am guessing that the

company’s fan got well hit by what erupted from their customers’ sanitary fittings but their Director chose to ignore my tongue in cheek offer to provide a building control service on their future developments.

As I said earlier, my job is about minimum standards. The majority default to that level, so when I come across examples of builders taking pride in

delivering a higher level of quality I have to resist the urge to hug them and kiss them on both cheeks – there’s still a few of you out there!

In my county, Hertfordshire Building Control is talking to developers, local councils and housing associations about an aspiration to go beyond the statutory requirements so that the thousands of new homes to be built in this region can meet a higher quality mark that stands above building regs minimum. There is also some momentum behind exploiting the potential of offsite technology to improve construction quality. I firmly believe that it is only a matter of time before the better examples of these clever systems, pre-manufactured in controlled factory environments become mainstream and we start talking about ‘assembly’ sites rather than building sites.

We will adapt our inspection protocols to suit and might not need to get our boots quite so muddy in the future.

If you have a query you’d like to put to the Building Introspector email pb@hamerville.co.uk

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TRAINING & UPSKILLING STELRAD

t h g i R

C

NO.3 IN THE SERIES

In a new regular series, Professional Builder showcases the training opportunities available to tradespeople.

ON

E S R OU

TOTALLY RAD! veryone has to think carefully about how they use their time, and installers are no exception.

A day in a training course is a day they’re not earning money and at leading radiator manufacturer Stelrad, there’s an understanding of this that has seen them introduce a different and highly acceptable way of providing training – by simply taking the training to the installer.

The successful Stelrad Academy has undertaken more than 200 training visits around the UK so far this year, and is coming to a merchant near you soon. The academy is delivered by the company’s team of Brand Specialists and has been

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29 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

primarily targeted at builders’ merchant staff during 2019, to help them to provide the support required by their customers – the installers looking to purchase its

radiators from their local branches.

The courses on offer help to inform and educate participants in relation to what to look for from their radiator selection and to understand how to install radiators.

Attendees at the Stelrad Academy courses receive a certificate to recognise the time they have dedicated to learning more about radiators and their installation.

There is also a fully kitted out training van travelling around the country giving installers the opportunity to learn more about the Vita Series, which has transformed radiator buying in the UK, and to ask questions from the Brand Specialist team about every aspect of selecting, sizing and fitting these popular radiators.

The training van also visits local merchants and these visits are coordinated by the local Stelrad Brand Specialist. You may see the training van parked in the car park outside the merchants, offering installers the chance to get up close and personal with the Vita Series range of radiators.

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TRAINING & UPSKILLING STELRAD

“We’re conscious that some installers and plumbers are persuaded by the lower quality products available to them online and via non-specialist outlets,” says the manufacturer’s Head of Marketing, Chris Harvey, “but now, with the Vita Series you can have a market leading branded radiator from a merchant branch near you.

You can now choose the best in terms of quality and value.”

Training is just one benefit Stelrad offers purchasers of its radiators. It has also recently launched its Installer Loyalty Club: “We’ve been contemplating what else we might be able to do to show our gratitude to installers and the result is the new Stelrad Loyalty Club,” says Chris Harvey. He continues: “It’s a simple concept – installers buy our products, they register as members of the Loyalty Club, they upload their invoices for the products they have bought and in return

they get 10 points for every £100 they spend. They can redeem their points for rewards in the rewards catalogue, choosing from branded clothing and similar items or they can save the points and exchange them for product if they prefer.

“We really hope installers will welcome this attempt to give something back to them. The rewards include things like fleece jackets, t-shirts and trousers, even hand towels to take on jobs with you – all things that will be helpful in dayto-day jobs across the country. Take a closer look at the website and see for yourself and sign up whilst you’re there!”

The Stelrad Vita Series featured in the Training Van comprises the Vita Compact and Compact K3, the Vita Silhouette, Vita Deco, Vita Deco Concept, Vita Column and Vita Column Concept for those wanting a designer radiator look, the

three Vita Concord options, the Vita Plan and Vita Plan Concept – a flat faced, smooth fronted design and finally, the Vita Ultra – with bespoke colour finishes available. There are also the Vita Compact Vertical, Vita Column Vertical, Vita Deco Vertical and Vita Plan Vertical for those looking for a stylish choice in a smaller space.

For further information on the training offered by Stelrad visit www.rdr.link/BK022

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

WE’VE INTRODUCED A NEW DIGITAL INFORMATION SERVICE. RDR.LINK GETS YOU FASTER ACCESS STRAIGHT TO THE EXACT ONLINE PLATFORM THAT HAS THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION YOU WANT. FROM VIDEOS TO TECHNICAL GUIDES, PDF’S TO PODCASTS – RDR.LINK WILL TAKE YOU STRAIGHT THERE.

No.1

EQUIPM OOLS &

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Professional

BUILDER’S

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

!

L L A R O F E E FR 10

SOCKET SETS

BAHCO BAHCO 25 PC SOCKET SET Here’s your chance to win one of ten 25piece Bahco socket sets, ideal for tackling a variety of tasks on site or at home. The renowned brand’s SL25 ¼in. socket set is manufactured from high performance alloy steel and has Dynamic Drive sockets, which cause less wear and damage to fasteners. The ratchet has a quick release button and is both safe and comfortable to use in any workplace. Bahco provides a wide choice of socket sets and contents, ranging from 17 to 138 pieces, available in all essential sizes.

Go to www.rdr.link/BK023 for your chance to win this great prize.

1

COLOUR SENSOR

1

ERA ERA DOORCAM SMART HOME WIFI VIDEO DOORBELL With remote-controlled security operating systems becoming ever more popular, the latest tech development in home security is the ERA DoorCam Smart Home WiFi Video Doorbell. Using a Smartphone app, DoorCam allows householders to view callers and talk to them in real time, whether they’re home or not, offering not only convenience, but thanks to a motion detector which alerts householders when someone has arrived, added security and peace of mind. With ease of operation in mind, once DoorCam is wired in, the householder can simply plug in the WiFi chime which comes as standard, connecting up to four more chimes in the home.

To open this door of opportunity go to www.rdr.link/BK024

Easy to Enter!er before

than ev It’s now easier titions on our mpe co to enter the e collected all th ve e’ website. W , ge pa y nd ha one competitions on have to enter ly meaning you on s once! your detail BK113 www.rdr.link/

DULUX TRADE DULUX COLOUR SENSOR Dulux Trade has launched a must-have piece of kit for decorators to allow them to match the colour of multiple surfaces to Dulux Trade paint on the job. The cutting-edge device, which is pocket sized and weighs only 17 grams, will give professionals the tools to make colour recommendations on the spot. The device works by scanning for the desired colour – whether it be a favourite item of clothing, a cushion, or a picture of a sunset in a magazine – and showing the closest Dulux Trade paint match on the Dulux Trade Colour Sensor app, which can be downloaded free to a phone or tablet.

Come to your senses this Christmas with Professional Builder’s giveaways, simply go to www.rdr.link/BK025

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DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

SMART DOORCAM

24

CARTRIDGES OF FILLER

GEOCEL PAINTERS MATE Painters Mate from Geocel is suitable for indoors or out, on almost any surface. There’s no need for sanding and you can paint over it in just an hour. Pro decorators rarely settle for anything less for filling cracks in walls, ceilings, plasterboard, architraves and skirting boards and for internal pointing of door and window frames. Its long-lasting performance avoids the dreaded call back and the smooth even finish keeps customers happy in minimum time and with minimum fuss.

Alright Mate! We are giving away 24 cartridges of Geocel Painters Mate and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is visit www.rdr.link/BK026

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3

WINTER JACKETS

JCB WORKWEAR JCB SITEMASTER JACKET This winter JCB Workwear has added three new outer garments to their already extensive range of workwear. The first addition is the Sitemaster Waterproof Jacket which makes use of Geo Tech Storm Technology. It is waterproof, windproof, breathable and built to last. A perfect outer layer which can be paired with any of the hoodies, sweatshirts or microfleeces, it’s sure to keep you warm and dry in the rainy, wintery weather conditions ahead.

Perfect for the snowy season, this jacket will make sure you’re the master of the building site.

Go to www.rdr.link/BK027

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SETS OF TOOLS

HULTAFORS TOOL SET Here’s a leading edge set of top quality hand tools from Hultafors – all ergonomically designed for precision work on site. The package includes a Craftsman Knife, HBS Hand Saw, an EDC Chisel, Ratchet Clamp, Wrecking Bar, 8m Brickmate Tape, a Combination Square, Carpenters Pencil, a Hammer and a 1m Craftsman’s Spirit Level.

To be in with a chance of winning this great set of tools, visit www.rdr.link/BK029 and fill in the form with your details.

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CHRISTMAS BUNDLES

HB42 HB42 SEALANT AND ADHESIVE SET Professional Builder and HB42 have teamed up to give three readers the chance to win a HB42 ‘Eco-Foil’ Christmas package. Using advanced hybrid polymer technology to give outstanding trade strength and adhesion, the All-in-One Sealant and Adhesive is now available in a more sustainable 400ml foil pack, removing the environmental problem of disposing of the single use plastic cartridge.

Included in this bundle are beanie, mug, pen, pocket tape and sealant and adhesive tube. To be in with a chance of winning, simply go to www.rdr.link/BK028

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WORK LIGHTS

UNILITE UNILITE SLR-1300 SITE LIGHT Unilite are giving away a brand new SLR-1300 site light to two lucky people.

These are ultra-bright with a 1300 lumen output and with a specially designed wide beam. The site light has been designed with a typical builders environment in mind, with an IK07 shock proof aluminium/rubber housing and an IP65 Dust & Waterproofing. The SLR-1300 is also very cost effective to run, with a high capacity rechargeable lithium battery that is easily charged via the included DC-USB. Light your way into 2020 with Professional Builder’s competition at www.rdr.link/BK030

THERE’S WAS NOT ENOUGH L’ AL RFO ERE ‘F S BUILDER’ IF PROFESSIONAL MPETITIONS ON GIVEAWAYS AND CO E IV US CL EX OF ST ALSO A WHOLE HO FOR YOUR ILDERMAG.CO.UK BU RO .P W W W T ECK OU OUR WEBSITE – CH ANYWHERE U WON’T FIND THEM YO R BE EM M RE D AN CHANCE TO WIN – WEBSITE. ELSE BUT ON OUR

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 From the masters of plaster, to the highest achievers in roofing, or the latest in time-saving tools, Professional Builder’s Top Products is a celebration of all the latest solutions in building materials and equipment. Over the following pages you will find the 2019

winners of an award for manufacturers who have caught your eye across our print and social media platforms by delivering a solution that’s made your job just that little bit easier and – with another twelve months of opportunity lying ahead – we’ll continue to be the first to supply you with all the information you need to help your business grow.

Charles GodfreyAward for Innovation K-Kaps Damp Proofing Caps

The Charles Godfrey memorial award for invention quite literally “Kaps” a great 12 months for a simple invention that would have had our legendary former product tester, doffing his hard hat in admiration. e have seen hundreds of inventions that builders have willed into existence over the years, some have gone on to shape the industry as we know it and many, unfortunately, have been retired to the garage where they began. All this, we like to think, has given us a pretty good eye for an invention that could make waves in the trade. After meeting builder Kevin Nutkins, and seeing his K-Kaps system in practice, we certainly thought the simple beam end cap had legs, and it seems we weren’t wrong.

Since we profiled the inventor, Kevin has expanded production, adding new sizes and increasing his order book, as

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well as receiving a litany of awards for his clever idea. The product covers the cut ends of beams in a block and beam flooring system. Kevin devised the idea as a solution to the laborious process of wrapping each beam in plastic.

As we outlined in our article at the time, block and beam flooring is a relatively recent method of building up a floor. Accordingly, building inspectors are only now catching up with the new conditions and the solutions that will be needed for problems which will soon raise their heads. By covering the exposed rebar at the end of

a cut beam, the K-Kaps damp proofing caps anticipates any issues building inspectors might have with the build.

Fully recycled, the caps have led to an extraordinary upturn in onsite productivity, allowing builders to get through hours’ worth of work within literally minutes. Sometimes the best inventions are the ones that make you wonder how we ever managed without them, and we’re sure a lot more builders will be wondering that about K-Kaps soon.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK031

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 vauxhall vivaro www.rdr.link/BK032

hultafors

cromar building products leadax www.rdr.link/BK034

snickers comfort stretch trousers

www.rdr.link/BK033

Vauxhall Vivaro Professional Builder racked up some mileage this year with Vauxhall, travelling the length and breadth of the country in order to present a selection of lucky builders with British Superbikes tickets. However it was getting behind the wheel of the new Vivaro that really got motors going.

The latest incarnation of a name that’s been steadily winning fans with van users since it initial launch in 2001 is actually slightly more compact than its predecessor, a feature that will no doubt find favour with tradespeople operating in our increasingly congested towns and cities.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK032

wetherby group ecorend range www.rdr.link/BK035

Hultafors Snickers Comfort Stretch Trousers Many have long called for the workwear industry to take notice of the prevailing winds in the world of fashion and respond accordingly, and indeed, Snickers Workwear, owned

by Hultafors Group UK, has done just that. The company’s new Comfort Stretch fabric trousers enable builders to wear clothing that protects them and keeps them cool whilst also providing the closer, comfortable fit more associated with jeans or chinos.

Professional Builder’s Tibby Singh Chodha was smitten with the trousers, exclaiming: “They are without a doubt one of the, if not the, best workwear trousers I’ve ever had.” He likes the trousers so much, we’ve not seen him out of them since.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK033

Cromar Building Products Leadax Leadax, launched by Cromar Building Products in the UK in 2017, it is intrinsically similar to lead in appearance, thickness and malleability. It needs no backing adhesive, and typical uses include soakers, back gulleys, chimney, stepped and cover flashings together with all traditional forms of valley, dormer and abutment work.

With theft unfortunately on the rise within the construction industry, builders are looking for preventative solutions.

One such, is replacing the valuable lead with alternatives, such as Leadax. Roger Bisby used the product on a job earlier in the year and was impressed, writing in regards to the durability: “Having used the material, it seems as tough as old boots.”

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK034

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36 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

Wetherby Group EcoRend Range 2019 was a bumper year for fans of render, as Professional Builder’s Made Great in Britain series revisited an old acquaintance in the form of the Wetherby Group, whose EcoRend Monocouche Through-Coloured Render system reappeared later in the year in an in-depth step-by-step guide to application. It was a trip down memory lane as we recalled our original product tester Charles Godfrey’s original visit to the Wetherby Group, and readers certainly welcomed some more insight into a familiar name.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK035

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 Ibstock brick blue bricks www.rdr.link/BK036

TLX batsafe membrane www.rdr.link/BK037

Ibstock Brick Blue Bricks As a colour, it may not traditionally be associated with joy, but that’s certainly what Ibstock Brick’s blue brick range has brought to readers of Professional Builder this year. The striking bricks added some much welcome colour to our pages. Such is the demand for blue bricks, the brick maker recently invested £7.6 million in its Lodge Lane factory – home of its Stafford Slate Blue Brick – to boost production by up to eight million bricks a year.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK036

HB42 Eco-foils www.rdr.link/BK038

rainclear systems uni-prop www.rdr.link/BK039

TLX Batsafe Membrane Our readers strive to make their clients’ homes the best they can, using the latest techniques and materials, achieving the best thermal efficiency they can to save their heating bills. Unfortunately for some, the presence of bats can really put a spanner in the works. Fortunately, we featured TLX’s Batsafe membrane this year. The issue with breathable membranes and bats is the fibres used become damaged and fluff up when put in contact with bat claws, which can then entangle and trap the bat. This new membrane is designed with a protective mesh either side of the product which allows contact for the bat, whilst enabling the breathable membrane to function.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK037

Rainclear Systems Uni-Prop

HB42 Eco-Foils If you haven’t noticed, protecting the environment has been a recurring theme of late, and HB42 has made a leap forward this year with the introduction of its new Eco-Foils. The new packaging removes the environmental problem of disposing of the single use plastic cartridge normally associated with sealants and other similar products. The 400ml foils produce 95 per cent less waste than the single use tubes and users get 38 per cent more sealant than in the 290ml plastic tube.

Using the latest MS Polymer technology, the product seals, sticks and fills, is flexible and can be over-painted. It is low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and bonds to almost anything.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK038

Not that the Uni-Prop system needs any extra support, but the intelligent replacement to the acrow certainly earned plaudits among our readers.

The key innovation and facilitator of this added safety, time and extra-workreliever is the detachable hydraulic assembly. It is the addition of this feature that sets it apart from existing devices that are used on virtually every building site everywhere. In use the application of controlled power of up to two tonnes ensures safety and avoids damage to the integrity of the brick and plasterwork around it.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK039

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 anglia lime thermalime www.rdr.link/BK040

JCB 19C-1 E-TEC electric excavator www.rdr.link/BK041

As the time comes for the restoration of more and more heritage homes, and with local authorities demanding techniques and materials be used in line with the original building envelope, one manufacturer is using the past to stay ahead of the game. Anglia Lime’s Thermalime uses a combination of chalk, St Astier lime binder, fibres and an insulating component to provide thermal performance, robustness and beauty in the finish. Zero shrinkage means no cracking, and it is far more durable than sand and cement, or other soft lime plasters that do not contain the fibrous element, a factor which also increases its flexibility.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK040

JCB 19C-1 E-TEC Electric Excavator JCB sent shockwaves through the construction plant industry this year with the introduction of its 19C-1 E-TEC electric excavator. Featured at the tail end of last year in Professional Builder, the electrically powered 1.9 tonne tracked mini excavator gets its power from three ‘next generation’ 104Ah lithium-ion battery packs which provide a storage capacity of 312Ah (15kWh). The modular batteries utilise the most advanced NMC lithium-ion cells (as used in the latest road cars) in a rugged battery pack housing that has been designed to withstand the rigours of construction site use.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK041

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38 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

ADVERTISING

Anglia Lime Thermalime

marley jb red roofing battens www.rdr.link/BK042

Marley JB Red Roofing Battens Laying out roofs was the name of the game this year as Marley focussed its energies on its JB Red roofing batten range. The battens are made using slow grown imported redwood or whitewood and are cut from kilndried sideboards that are less likely to distort. Readers praised the campaign, which provided free information about battens and underlays and t-shirts. To promote its Sitework Guide app, containing lots of useful information about installing roofs, the manufacturer gave respondents the chance to win an iPhone – an offer that was, predictably, well received by readers.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK042

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 safeguard europe dry rod campaign www.rdr.link/BK043

rocket door frames Pocket doors www.rdr.link/BK044

royd optimaxx screws www.rdr.link/BK045

made for trade korniche lantern www.rdr.link/BK046

Safeguard Europe Dry Rod Campaign Alongside its regular Top Trumps column in the magazine, Safeguard has been busy getting its important message out to builders with its informative, well-illustrated adverts. A feast for the eyes, each advert shows the fabric of a typical house in the UK and the effects that the miserable UK weather and other conditions can have if left untreated. Part of the solution is the Dryrod DampProofing Rod system, which comprises solid fibre rods, impregnated with reactive silicones of low molecular weight. Once inserted into the drill holes, the rods allow for more efficient diffusion of the silicone molecules – resulting in a more effective treatment.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK043

Rocket Door Frames Pocket Doors Sometimes simplicity is the key, and readers certainly appreciated the suave stylings of Rocket Door Frames in our pages this year. As space gets more expensive, builders are looking for an answer and this company, with 30 years involvement in the door frame market, is offering one.

Including all the information needed to get started on a pocket door installation project, the advert shows both the engineering behind the door and the uncluttered aesthetic value it provides.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK044

Royd Optimaxx Screws Optimaxx design and manufacture a premium range of Extreme Performance Woodscrews that are highly regarded by joiners, kitchen fitters and tradesmen across the UK. As such, readers of Professional Builder have well and truly taken up the thread with Royd’s advertising this year. A specifically positioned long thin groove reduces the pressure build up on insertion by dispensing wood fibres, preventing splitting when screwing close to the edge. Of course, any readers not fully convinced could see for themselves by taking the company up on its offer of a free sample pack.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK045

Made for Trade Korniche Lantern Former winner of the Charles Godfrey Award, a fact proudly displayed on its advertising this year, Made for Trade’s Korniche aluminium lantern roof was a big hit with readers once again. With all the details necessary for potential customers included on the advert, readers certainly didn’t hesitate to register their interest in the product.

It’s no wonder, as builder Darren Crain told Professional Builder: “My carpenter recommended Korniche and I decided to run with it. This turned out to be the best decision I had made in a long time.”

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK046

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 MAKITA www.rdr.link/BK047 CAMO www.rdr.link/BK048

FESTOOL www.rdr.link/BK049 Snickers workwear www.rdr.link/BK050

GirdaGrip www.rdr.link/BK051

Most popular products from the Professional Builder website in 2019 Makita DCM501Z Cordless Coffee Maker It turns out, it’s not just the staff of Professional Builder who like to fill out the day with the odd brew, as the popularity of Makita’s cordless coffee maker on our website has shown. Weighing in at just 2.2kg, the 18V battery powered machine is compatible with ground coffee as well as 60mm coffee pods.

Dependent on battery type and voltage, a fresh 160ml cup of coffee can be brewed in just five minutes, how long you spend drinking it over the latest copy of Professional Builder is your choice.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK047

CAMO Edge Fastening System Tibby took the CAMO edge deck fastening system to the edge and back this year, returning with a smile on his face.

The fasteners are specially designed screws with a reverse tip. This removes wood as it’s driven in, which prevents excess build up and the risk of splitting the board, which would result in wastage. Another feature of the fastener is the thread finishing half way up the shaft, which pulls the board tight up against the joist.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK048

Festool Systainer3 Tool Storage System We hopped over to Germany this year for the European launch of Festool’s hotly anticipated follow up to

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40 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

the Systainer T-Loc – the Systainer3. So much more than a simple tool box, the new generation of Systainer was developed by Festool and Tanos in cooperation with bott, and all components of the range can be integrated into bott’s vehicle racking. All things Festool tend to go down well with our readers and this was certainly no exception.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK049

Snickers Workwear Allround Work Jackets Coming just in time for winter, Snickers Workwear’s AllroundWork Jackets for professional tradesmen and women have been a big hit online, promising comfort and protection through the coldest months. If you need 100 per cent protection from the rain for long periods on site, the Gore-Tex jackets and trousers are highly technical waterproof garments designed to be extremely durable with a membrane that has over 1.4 billion pores per square cm.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK050

GirdaGrip RSJ Grip System One product which has left the Inventor’s Corner and become an online hit this year is the GirdaGrip. The small fixing provides an invaluable solution to fireproofing steel girders. As Mick Attwood, inventor of the system tells the story: “There have been many incarnations of the design, minor improvements as we’ve gone along, but the principle hasn’t really changed – a clip to directly connect beam and board.

The two end holes on the side that attaches to the beam are bigger so if you need to fireproof a wall you can fasten it to the wall instead.”

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK051

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TOP PRODUCTS 2019 BIG WIPES www.rdr.link/BK052 Wera www.rdr.link/BK053

HiKOKI www.rdr.link/BK054 Festool www.rdr.link/BK055

FORD www.rdr.link/BK056 medite www.rdr.link/BK057

checkatrade www.rdr.link/BK058 bosch www.rdr.link/BK059

Most popular products on Professional Builder’s social media channels

OSMA www.rdr.link/BK060 nu-heat www.rdr.link/BK061

Most popular email campaigns in 2019 Medite

Big Wipes Demo Video Now at 60 million views on the Professional Builder Facebook page, the Big Wipes demo filmed on the company’s exhibition stand at Pro Builder Live in January 2019 shows exactly why these cleaning wipes are so popular with the trades.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK052

Wera Tools Demo Video The Wera Tools stand is always popular at Toolfair so it was no surprise to see the demo video we filmed doing so well on our Facebook page. The company’s Advent Calendar demo racked up lots of views, but was overtaken by a video of the Joker combination ratchet wrench.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK053

HiKOKI Name Change Campaign Our social media campaign showcasing the change from Hitachi to HiKOKI has been incredibly popular across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with lots of you getting involved and submitting photos of your old Hiatchi power tools.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK054

Festool SawStop Technology Available in the UK in 2020, we went along to film a demo of the SawStop technology from Festool and there was lots of interest from our social media community. The safety feature will reduce the risk of serious cutting injuries.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK055

Ford Transit Plug-in Hybrid The first PHEV in this class of van was revealed at the CV Show and we were there to share the photos with you and details of its availability, with lots of conversation on Twitter about this new model from Ford.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK056

Smartply Pattress Plus is a precut, pre-rebated OSB3 board for use in ‘C’ shaped metal studs in the construction of partitions where secure anchorage for fixtures and fittings is required.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK057

Checkatrade 12 months’ membership for the price of 10 from Checkatrade, which has been connecting the trades with customers for over 20 years.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK058

Bosch Carbide blades The blades in this new Bosch range last up to 20 times longer than standard bimetal blades, saving you money every time you cut.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK059

OSMA Holiday vouchers and merch from OSMA. For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK060

Nu-heat Easy-to-install electric UFH for the bathroom For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK61

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working in winter

Cold comfort Gareth Davies, Technical Advisor at Tarmac Cement offers some essential advice to builders on working with cement in the colder months. ith winter now upon us, the construction industry has an altogether different and challenging task on its hands. When the first frosts bite, even the most thought out of projects can experience kinks in productivity. As such, those planning outdoor building projects should consider winter specific complications and, most importantly, plan ahead in order to execute their operations effectively.

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Preparing for frost A critical factor for works carried out in cold weather is ensuring that the mortar or concrete has adequate heat for normal cement hydration. The usability and strength of mortar is affected by temperature, and additional care must be taken when working with a mortar mix in colder conditions. Cement will not hydrate sufficiently at low temperatures (hydration will virtually stop below three degrees Celsius), which increases the likelihood of slow setting and poor strength gains, as well as frost damage and freeze-thaw attack on hardened mortar or concrete.

It seems obvious, but this can be easily managed by avoiding mixing or laying the mortar or concrete when the air temperature is below 5ºC. It’s also important to keep the mortar or concrete protected for three to seven days.

Cement curing is an exothermic chemical reaction, so the coverings you use will not only trap the moisture required for hydration of the cement but additionally some of the heat generated; this helps to ensure the mortar or concrete remains

above 5ºC and allows it to continue to gain strength.

Also, freezing temperatures significantly reduce the compressive strength, the bond strength and also decreases the resistance to water penetration of masonry. If the newly placed mortar does fall below freezing before developing enough strength, it will often result in cracking, scaling and crumbling of the product.

Although the best advice is to wait for temperatures above 5ºC before doing these jobs, the formation of cracks and spalls are annoyingly unpredictable. In any case when getting the job done is essential, and there is a risk of frost, protect the mortar with an insulation quilt sandwiched between two sheets of polythene sheeting.

plastic sheeting.

Water is both the friend and foe of mortar and concrete. Add too much at any point in the mixing or installation process, and you can ruin the concrete or mortar, radically reducing its final strength and durability. Allowing too much water to evaporate from the concrete or mortar can also weaken the final product.

Therefore, without adequate protection,

The elements It’s not just frost that you need to consider. A great deal of judgment is required to perform construction projects in wind and rain.

Severe wind can cause premature drying as a result of increased evaporation. For this reason, it’s important to make the necessary arrangements to tackle the risk before laying concrete or placing mortar in a windy area. Consider putting up wind barriers to protect your work and secure the area with

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working in winter

to freeze/thaw degradation.

Packaging is also important when protecting against the elements. Often, the winter months can see cement spoilt when left open outside. To keep cement dry and prevent wastage, look for products that are available in weather resistant packaging and tubs. It sounds simple but doing this will save you the time and money associated with purchasing more cement.

you could be left with a weakened surface and further problems in the future.

This might include dusting of the surface, shrinking, cracking, surface scaling and a porous surface that will allow far too much water to be absorbed, leading to a reduced ability of the slab or mortar to resist cracking due to freeze-thaw cycles.

But the most serious consequence could be complete structural failure requiring removal and replacement. Protecting new concrete and mortar from the elements with a water-resistant tarp or plastic sheeting is, therefore, essential to aid curing and help form strong durable concretes and mortars.

Tools To prolong the life of your tools and materials in the winter, and save money in the process, it’s important to give them extra care. The annoying job of chipping away at hardened dirt or mortar and removing rust in spring, can be prevented by keeping your tools clean and well-oiled throughout the colder months.

The right product Another significant factor to consider in the colder months is the quality of the mortar mix itself. Go for a leading manufacturer to ensure your product is air-entrained. These mixes, such as Tarmac Blue Circle Quality Assured Mortar, contain billions of microscopic air

pockets that relieve internal pressure on the mortar by providing small chambers for water to expand into when it freezes.

This gives the mortar increased resistance

For further information on Tarmac Blue Circle go to www.rdr.link/BK062

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working in winter

GETTING UNDER THE SKIN! Chris Brooks, Technical Product Manager at Swarfega is urging builders to guard against skin disorders this winter. or builders and construction workers, the hot sunny days of summer may feel like a lifetime ago. Working outdoors can make skin care a tricky issue, and in winter, looking after the hands can be even harder – but it is more important than ever.

With winter weather, the risks to hands are increased, as is the prevalence of occupational skin disorders (OSDs) – a real threat for those in the trade. For builders, the hands are the most important tools of the job, so looking after them is vital. Good skin care should be one of the core aspects of health and safety, and so proper and regular handwashing is necessary, especially on site.

OSDs affect a huge number of people who work with their

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hands and more awareness needs to be raised around this issue in the trades. In fact, around 40 per cent of workers will be affected at some point in their career according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in the US. Dry, cracked and sore skin may be a common sight for construction workers, but it isn’t something to suffer through – it can lead to seriously unpleasant, long-term skin disorders such as eczema or dermatitis.

One of the reasons OSDs are particularly prevalent among builders is the frequent contact with dirt and contaminants, and the constant strain the hands are put through shifting heavy, rough materials onsite.

Contact with contaminants via surfaces or tools can soon take its toll, and if the hands are damp or wet for prolonged periods of time, without use of proper skin care products, you run the risk of developing an OSD.

46 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

OSDs are particularly prevalent during the winter months as the cold and wet weather can be particularly harsh on skin.

A porous organ, the skin is constantly losing water vapour via evaporation into the surrounding environment. When the air is cooler and the humidity drops, moisture in the skin tends to evaporate more quickly, leaving it drier – even more so if it is windy, and you are exposed to the elements on the job! Coupled with the use of car or van heaters during the winter months, your hands can be left in seriously poor condition. Although necessary for keeping you warm on the

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move, heaters can actually end up accelerating the skin’s moisture loss.

Whilst handwashing is key for healthy skin, employees should also be aware of using overly hot water in winter. This can also dehydrate skin, as the heat can strip it of protective oils – potentially exacerbating a skin disorder even further.

Good skin care in winter is therefore essential. When protecting skin on the hands, the skin care experts at Swarfega recommend a three-step approach; protection, cleansing and restoring: Before digging in to the nearest cleaner to hand, consider the kind of soiling you need to clean from the hands.

There are varying strengths and types of hand cleaner available, and you should aim for the mildest cleaner that will get your hands clean, to avoid stripping any natural oils from the skin.

Facing more ingrained soilings? For construction workers, this isn’t unusual.

Try a hand cleaner with a non-abrasive scrubber which gives a deep clean.

Whatever you do, avoid homemade hand cleaners – washing up liquid and sugar is a common culprit. It may work for you a couple of times, but is likely to lead to damaged skin in the long run.

Always begin work with a protection cream – this will make the hands easier to clean at the end of a shift and strengthen the skin. This in turn, is kinder on the skin in cold weather.

Finish work with a moisturising cream which will help replenish the skin and restore its essential oils – perhaps the most important step in winter!

For employers too, the prevention of OSDs should be a top priority. Each unreported case of dermatitis is estimated to cost a business £6,000 according to

Contact Dermatitis – so the provision of quality skin care products onsite is vital.

The lack of proper skin care products is a common complaint amongst construction employees, with hand cleaners that are not fit for purpose often being installed.

A combined approach with all three steps is the best way to protect the skin against harsh winter weather, particularly for those who work outdoors or on the move.

To find out more about Swarfega’s skincare products visit www.rdr.link/BK063

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working in winter TECHNICAL TEAM TIPS – NO 11

Winter

warning

With some forecasters predicting one of the coldest and snowiest winters for almost 70 years, Tom Woodhouse, site services manager at Marley, gives his top tips for roofing in winter. redictions of extreme winter weather can’t be taken too lightly after the Beast from the East and Mini Beast in 2018, which, throughout February and March, saw the UK battered with three snowstorms in just a matter of weeks. As a result, construction activity ground to a halt, as sites were frozen with punishingly cold temperatures as low as -15°C. Whilst the deluge of snow seen last year was rare, forecasters are predicting a very cold winter this year, with similar extreme weather events likely, so contractors should take steps now to make sure they are prepared for ongoing freezing conditions over the next few months.

As well as important safety precautions, there are other considerations to ensure the durability and security of pitched roofs in winter, such as choice of materials, storage and fixing. Here we give some of our top tips for roofing in the winter:

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When it comes to working on roofs in winter, don’t take any risks.

Monitor the weather forecast so you can anticipate and be prepared for poor weather conditions. Carry out a risk assessment every day to check it is safe to work and conditions haven’t changed.

Pay particular attention to working at height platforms and do not work on roofs in icy conditions. Always consider safety when working at height as scaffolding and roofs can become slippery.

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Always install roofs to the BS 5534:2014 standard, as this was revised to help make roofs more secure against extreme weather.

Get a new fixing specification for each project, as this will help ensure the roof is as wind resistant as possible and help prevent call-backs. You can get a free fixing specification from our website www.marley.co.uk/specifying

48 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

3

Make sure that any clay tiles you use have passed all freeze/thaw test requirements.

In the UK, clay tiles face a challenging environment because they have to go through many more freeze thaw cycles than those used in colder or warmer countries.

That’s why EN 1304: the European Standard details robust test criteria to confirm freeze/thaw resistance. Clay roof tiles in the UK have to pass a minimum of 100 cycles to achieve CE marked status when tested in accordance with the frost test method detailed in BS EN 539-2: the European Standard test method for frost resistance.

All of Marley’s clay tiles have been tested to meet these standards and carry the CE mark to demonstrate conformity. If you are using clay tiles manufactured outside of the UK, as a minimum they should match the standard BS EN 1304 when tested to BS EN 539-2, otherwise they may not be durable enough for our changeable weather conditions.

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Ensure roofing products are stored correctly.

Many roofing products are delivered to site shrink wrapped but, for products that aren’t, like battens, make sure they are protected from the weather or store them in racks that have a roof. Battens should always be stored on bearers, spaced so that twisting and sagging is prevented and protected from water saturation.

5

Protect unfinished roofs.

Avoid using wet battens where possible and get roofs covered in at the earliest opportunity to prevent moisture damage.

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Use dry fix where possible.

Mortar should be avoided in very cold conditions, so even though mortar bedding with mechanical fixings is allowed under BS 5534, it may be worth switching to full dry fix systems in the winter to enable roofing work to go ahead. Make sure any dry fix systems you use that require BS 8612 compliance, meet the requirements or have BBA certification. If you are going to keep using mortar in the winter, the NHBC states that it should not be used below 2°C, to resist frost damage.

7

Seal underlay laps.

Always install membranes to BS 5534 requirements and seal the laps to prevent snow or water ingress.

8

Take steps to prevent condensation.

Avoid using a breathable membrane as the only source of ventilation and ensure there is supplementary high and low level ventilation.

100

cosy snoods to be won!

To help you prepare for freezing temperatures, Marley is giving away 100 cosy snoods to keep your head and neck warm on site this winter. For your chance to get one, visit www.rdr.link/BK064 and fill in your details.

To find out more about Marley products visit www.rdr.link/BK065

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER DECEMBER 2019 49

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Floor plan With cold and wet weather inevitably on the way, here’s some top tips from Bostik for installing flooring during the winter months. hen laying floors, the weather is always an important factor to take into account – and never more so than during the winter months when cold and damp conditions are common.

Fail to adapt to your surroundings and your smoothing compounds won’t smooth, and your adhesives won’t stick – leaving the project behind schedule and in jeopardy. Here’s how to make sure you get it right.

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Warmth is key There are multiple processes involved in laying a floor, and all are vulnerable to cold and damp conditions. The first of these is the use of primers, such as our own

Cempolay Universal Primer, which acts as a bonding agent for non-porous surfaces when applied undiluted, or a primer for porous surfaces when applied diluted.

The issue with primers, which are generally water-based, is ensuring the water can escape quickly enough to leave the primer film as desired – something that’s more difficult in the cold. The only reason products dry out is because the air above them is drier and can take the moisture away.

Similarly, cold, damp conditions with poor airflow will delay the curing of standard smoothing compounds, which require evaporation of the excess moisture in order to work. As a result, a good solution is to create a warmer temperature in the area where you are working.

The need to control the conditions equally applies to many flooring adhesives, so always refer to the technical data sheet before applying in order to get the product to perform as intended.

Once you get to the stage of installing the floorcoverings, ambient conditions are again critical for the flooring to be sufficiently flexible to cut, and to keep any end-curl to a minimum.

Also remember that, where there are

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working in winter

high levels of moisture present in the subfloor, it’s best practice to use a moisture suppressant, such as a fast drying Cempolatex Moisture Suppressant.

As the name suggests, these are designed to suppress the release of moisture from a subfloor and therefore protect the smoothing compounds, adhesives and floorcoverings above.

Finally, it’s important to be aware of how your flooring products are stored.

Leaving them in cold vehicles overnight could result in poor performance the following day, or even permanent damage if they’re allowed to freeze, so we advise keeping them in heated warehouses or well-insulated lock ups instead.

The speedy solution If the weather isn’t on your side, the single best way to beat the cold conditions is to use a rapid setting smoothing compound that is specially designed for fast turnaround projects, allowing the flooring to be done in a single day.

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Want to be a smooth operator on site? Then get involved in Professional Builder’s giveaways, including the chance to bag five 16kg packs of Bostik Cempolatex Rapid 30 absolutely free. All you have to do is follow the link below, submit your details, and one lucky reader can take to the floor with confidence with the latest in rapid setting solutions.

Visit www.rdr.link/BK066 to win this great prize and many more.

Cempolatex Rapid 30 has a different chemistry to standard smoothing compounds, enabling the moisture levels to reduce much more quickly and for the strength to build up much faster.

This enables a walk-on time of just 30 minutes, a loose lay time of 45 minutes, and allows floor coverings to be bonded in as little as three hours. Supplied in a 16kg bag, Rapid 30 can be laid over most common substrates, including cement, concrete, and other strong, rigid subfloors. It’s also compatible with underfloor heating systems, proving its ability to cope not just with cold, but with heat too.

For more information on Bostik visit www.rdr.link/BK067

Save time, make money all year with the reliable, easy to use and clean, pneumatically powered, vibration free Pnu-Point pointing tool.

sales@pnupoint.co.uk

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working in winter product round-up

FREEZING PIPE TOOL

WORKWEAR RANGE

Billed as easy-to-install, Condensate Pro prevents condensate pipes freezing in low temperatures – a common cause of gas boilers malfunctioning or breaking down when they are really needed the most.

Available in a convenient kit form so as to fit any installation (grate, rainwater soil pipe and soakaway), with specially designed UV/ water resistant lagging and seal and bond adhesive, all products fit onto 32mm or 21.5mm overflow pipes.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK069

Workwear range, Timberland PRO is growing with the launch of new products spanning footwear, trousers, tops, jackets and accessories. All products benefit from new fabrics designed to offer optimum durability and comfort throughout the working day. Clothing technology includes Rain Repel, a fabric with an outer layer that resists moisture penetration, plus WickWork, which is used in t-shirts to help pull sweat away from the body and move it to the shirt’s surface for faster evaporation.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK068

FOOTWEAR

Designed with the Scandinavian weather in mind, the Toe Guard range of shoes and boots features in-built hitech designs that deliver S3-certified comfort and safety, including robust fiberglass toecaps, shock absorption, flexible puncture resistant composite plates, ESD protection, oil resistant friction soles and water resistance.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK070

OVER-FLOOR HEATING SYSTEM

Underfloor heating specialists Wunda Group have created Wundatherm, a rapid response over-floor system 16mm or 20mm thick that can be laid without the need to dig up floors and is suitable for both retrofit and new build homes. The system consists of preformed aluminium coated boards that deliver rapid response heating and are bonded instantly to the floor with spray adhesive. Once in place, high output 16mm floor heating pipe is laid into the pre-formed grooves in the boards, looping around to a heating manifold.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK072

WINTER WORKWEAR

Ready for the winter season JCB Workwear is launching a new winter collection. The brand has added three new outer garments to its range of workwear, including the Sitemaster Waterproof Jacket which makes use of Geo Tech Storm Technology. It claims to be waterproof, windproof, breathable and built to last. It is an outer layer suitable to being paired with hoodies, sweatshirts or microfleeces.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK071

WINTER DECKING PROTECTOR

Decking Protector from Ronseal Trade allows builders to help their clients get ready for winter and protect decking against the elements. Offering protection against splitting and swelling, the solution is designed to keep softwood or hardwood decking looking as good as the day it was laid. The product prevents splitting, swelling and greying that can make decking look tired and unappealing.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK073

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interior painting, decorating & refurbishment

THE BIG MATCH Professional Builder reports as Dulux Trade launches its new Colour Excellence Programme.

hen it comes to paint, we can talk about the technology used, the science behind the materials, the range of application methods, and on and on the list goes, until we’re blue in the face. Indeed, we do spend a lot of time talking about the technical details of paint, and rightfully so.

The workability, durability and finish of paint can be the difference between a good job and a bad one. Yet, when it comes to the customer, there is one variable that trumps them all – colour.

As homeowners are opting to improve their homes, rather than move, there is an increased focus on adapting the interior space to suit individual tastes, and homeowners expect to be able to customise their properties to a high degree, matching their personal spaces to the latest trends and reflecting their own character.

Dulux Trade has come up with an answer for painter and decorators looking to go that extra mile in offering their clients an unforgettable service. The paint manufacturer has launched its latest

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colour mixing technology to give professional decorators the ability to provide a highly accurate and bespoke colour match for their customers.

The cutting-edge technology has been developed by the paint brand to redefine the way colour is created in the industry,

Professional Builder got creative at the Dulux Academy recently and produced its own paint colour, Bank Holiday Blue

56 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

providing faster, more accurate and more consistent colours across a range of products.

Using a unique system, Dulux Trade products can now be mixed into a unique colour that can then be personally named and stored, allowing decorators to return to store and re-tint the exact colour in any product for years to come from the one single scan.

Committed to the way colour is delivered and applied, Dulux Trade is not compromising on quality – with the paint still reaching an immersive depth of colour as well as keeping its consistency robust and repeatable.

A team of specialists has been working tirelessly to introduce new technology throughout the colour creation process, with new scanners, colour mixing recipe updates and updated paint matching software to ensure excellent colour accuracy and a smooth end to end experience for decorators and their clients.

Improving on previous matching services, Dulux can now offer colour matches that go beyond what is distinguishable to the human eye, and

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that new colour can be saved and named by the customer. What’s more, the manufacturer has developed the Colour Sensor – a pocket-sized scanning gadget.

The product was launched in July to help decorators make colour recommendations to customers in the comfort of their own homes.

The device scans any given surface to enable the user to make colour recommendations on the spot. Not only does this provide a quick, useful colour matching service, but it also provides the wow factor that really impresses a client and leads to more work.

This improved colour matching technology is also supported by the development of a new streamlined Dulux 384 colour wall so that it is easier for decorators to help their customers to choose and scheme with colours in store.

The palette is the perfect choice for those that don’t have a colour in mind and can be viewed on new colour walls being installed in stores across the UK. Karen Wilkinson, Dulux Trade Marketing Lead, said: “Dulux Trade puts colour at the heart of all we do, and we bring the magic of art and science together to make it as easy as possible for professionals to get the perfect colour for their customers, every time.

“This has resulted in a continual drive to deliver more innovative and expert colour technology with the latest innovations the result of years of hard work by our research and development experts.

“The upgrades not only make colour choice easy but provide an unrivalled experience in colour matching so that professional decorators can have every confidence they are providing the best and most accurate product to their customers.”

Don’t stress Martha Dunican, Colour Operations Manager at Dulux Trade, explores the impact of paint, and colour, on occupant outcomes in homes.

The World Health Organisation forecasts that stress related illness will be the primary cause of sickness by 2020.

It’s no surprise that, in our increasingly always on, technology driven world, people are now investing in physical and

psychological health.

The global wellbeing market has grown by 18 per cent in the last two years alone to $4.2 trillion, exemplified by the growing desire to ensure our health, particularly in the design of our homes.

Our researchers have been investing substantially in research, working to develop frameworks that show just how powerful colour and design is in the built environment.

Trend analysis shows that while we are surrounded by technology, extravagance and distraction, there is a growing desire to strip things back to basics and welcome the beauty of imperfection.

It is insights like this that have informed the development of the Dulux ColourFutures 2020 palettes. The universal theme for 2020 reflects a desire to create more opportunities to experience ‘A Human Touch’ at work and home, at a time when advances in technology are making us feel increasingly disconnected from each other.

People are seeking more positive realworld experiences that provide maximum benefit in a short space of time. Architects and designers can use colour to encourage making better human connections, enhancing wellbeing and productivity as a result.

The new Colour of the Year, Tranquil Dawn is a versatile, soft green hue with a calming, restful quality that perfectly supports our inclination to blur the boundaries between our indoor and outdoor spaces. Its almost ethereal dimension creates an illusion of space and perspective, a nod to the biophilic design values that espouse the benefits of a greater connection to nature, natural materials and daylight.

An eminently usable shade of green, Tranquil Dawn will happily stand alone in a home, creating a restorative overtone, or can be paired with other colours within each of the four supporting palettes: Care, Play, Meaning and Creativity – where Tranquil Dawn provides a soothing anchor to pops of richer, more dynamic shades.

For more information, go to www.rdr.link/BK074

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THE TRADESHOW BUILT FOR THE TRADE PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

TOOLFAIR 2020

POWER TOOLS

NEXT SHOWS Alexandra Palace, London: EventCity, Manchester:

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All the latest tools, live demos, show specials – all under one roof!

Wednesday 29th & Thursday 30th January 2020 Thursday 12th & Friday 13th March 2020

Featuring:

Register for free at www.toolfair.info

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interior painting, decorating & refurbishment

THE GOOD FILLERS Professional Builder’s Lee Jones talks to Artex product guru Ted Elliot, about the company’s expanded range of Gyproc Ready Mix Fillers.

hether you’re a painter and decorator or jobbing builder a reliable ready-mixed filler should be a fixture in the back of your van, but the usefulness of the Gyproc range will extend much further. If you need to quite literally get out of hole – because you’re a sparks who’s been asked to move downlights or socket boxes, or a plumber making good around pipework, for instance, then you can reach for a tub of EasiFiller.

Launched in March of this year, the three-strong EasiFiller product family now caters for every eventuality. “Painters and decorators will no doubt be already familiar with the 1kg round tub of EasiFiller,” explains Artex Technical Product Manager, Ted Elliot, “but through our own customer feedback we’d often be asked for larger tubs. We initially responded to that by introducing a choice of 1, 2.5 & 5ltr tubs, as well as improving access to the material by making the packaging squarer, but the product has evolved much further still.”

Indeed, what was one product has now become a family of three – the original EasiFiller, EasiFiller Light and EasiFiller Finish. One of the trends in the decorating market in recent years has been the emergence of lightweight Fillers and EasiFiller Light is the answer. It’s the lightweight air balls in the mix that dramatically reduces shrinkage whilst it is equally resistant to slump. It can be used to a depth of up to 25mm, and will very quickly dry to the point that it can be over-painted. When using ready mix it is, however, important to remember that they are air drying rather than a chemical set – the thicker they are applied then the longer they take to go off.

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Because they dry by losing moisture, shrinkage is a feature of any ready mix product. That moisture inevitably leaves a void and that results in shrinkage. With conventional fillers that’s why you might well need to apply several coats to fill a deep crack or hole, but EasiFiller Light reduces shrinkage to the extent that you will only need one pass.

EasiFiller Light will deal with depth but if it’s expanse you need then reach for EasiFiller Finish. There is often a perceived skill barrier between the trades in the UK building industry, with decorators often reluctant to break it by graduating from filling knife to trowel. At the same time, they can often be faced with considerable preparation work even

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interior painting, decorating & refurbishment

before they paint or paper the walls, but with the right equipment, and product to hand, that can be considerably reduced.

“Rather than fill individual cracks, EasiFiller Finish is – rather like a skim coat – designed to cover a larger area,” explains Ted. “Using ready mix compounds for this type of application is more common on the continent and is not something that is readily seen in the UK, but we’re not targeting plasterers, who tend to be resistant to ready mix solutions anyway, but to the decorator who needs to get the prep work done quicker. If you’re going to go beyond 5 sq metres you might look at a different product, and getting a plasterer in, but 1 litre of Finish will provide 1 sq m of 1mm skim coat coverage. It might involve a slight change in skill-set but, once on, you can make use of a skimming blade to find a level, and you’ve covered a far greater area much quicker than you could with a skimming knife.”

What these products provide the

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trades is options – and it doesn’t end with fillers. The Gyproc Plasterboard Patch is an aluminuium plate with an embedded fibreglass mesh. Each pack contains 5 x 150mm x 150mm, 5 x 100mm x 100mm and 2 x 50mm x 50mm self adhesive patches. Simply, peel off the backing, fit it over the hole, and apply a coat of Gyproc EasiFill powder or EasiFiller ready mix.

“It’s a brilliant product but where a lot of people go wrong is that they expect the hole to be disguised after the first coat.

All you need to do initially is lose the edge of the patch. Once dry, just run you’re skimming knife over the area, and then apply a second coat. It’s a very good solution in combination with our EasiFill 20, for example. That powder product sets in around 25 minutes, which means, within an hour, you can apply two coats, completely hide the patch, and then paint.

One of the most obvious advantages of a ready mixed product is convenience, but many decorators will still favour the control that a powder product can

60 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

provide. A powder product, like Gyproc’s EasiFill powder is perfect for filling & finishing as its a fine and can be mixed to a consistency that suits the end user. By contrast, the thickness of ready mix is immutable from manufacture. You can add water, of course but, because that moisture will need to leave that material in order to dry, it will inevitably increase the level of shrinkage. Powder products generally provide larger quantities, which suits jobs that require greater levels of coverage. In addition, powders chemically set, which means that there is a set working time within which that newly mixed material is workable, but no such constraints exist for ready mix. With the new range of EasiFillers now sitting alongside those existing EasiFill solutions Gyproc now has a filler for every occasion.

For further information on the Gyproc EasiFiller range from Artex visit www.rdr.link/BK075

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interior painting, decorating & refurbishment

No.4 in the Series

ROCK SOLID SUPPORT The Rockwool Contractor Sales Specialist team (CSS) provides expert support directly to merchants and builders.

This team knows their subject well, so, in a special feature for Professional Builder, we asked them to shine a light on the most common insulation-related issues.

e recognise that even simple jobs can turn out to be complex.

That’s why we’ve designed our family of products so that it is simple to choose the right product for your project. So, whether you’re looking for insulation for cavity wall, cladding, underfloor solutions or acoustic and thermal protection, or anything in between – we have a solution for the job that will work in almost any application.

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Which product do I need?

Typically, there are three things a builder needs to bear in mind when choosing insulation: fire safety, sound and thermal performance.

In terms of fire safety, all of our Trade Insulation products, whether for sound or thermal performance, meet or exceed the latest fire safety regulations.

“If the project demands it, Euroclass A1 fire-resistant insulation should definitely be used,” says Chris Ludlow of the CSS Team. “It helps protect the building from the threat of fire, both during the construction phase, as well as once the building is occupied and complete.”

“While understanding fire safety is a common concern in the building sector,

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we do also get asked what the differences are between Rockwool,Thermal and Sound.

Adds Chris: “The Thermal insulation range performs best when used in the building envelope: this could be ground floors, external walls, masonry walls, timber-framed walls and loft spaces – but wherever used, the Thermal insulation helps to create warmer indoor climates.

“In comparison, our Sound Insulation Slab has a special production process that is at the root of its market-leading performance, being designed to trap sound waves and deaden vibration. In terms of installation, it also features the patented ‘FLEXI edge’ which makes it easy to fit snugly without any gaps, and without the need for further fixing in the timber or metal framed internal walls.

While there are inherent differences between the Thermal and Sound product, Chris reminds us that, “all Rockwool insulation products are made from stone and inherently possess all-round qualities that mean, for example, both Thermal and Sound products can contribute towards meeting thermal regulations, and equally both products reduce the transfer of sound in the application they are being used.”

62 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

Sound advice In the context of a building, there are two types of sound: airborne sound, voices or the noise from a loud TV, for example, and impact sound or vibrations, which are produced by two elements coming into contact, such as someone walking on a wooden floor or running across a room.

Both types of sound (airborne and impact) can be reduced with a well thought through insulation installation that uses the right type of product.

It is perfectly natural to think that a thicker amount of insulation would make a greater impact on noise reduction.

“However, this is not always the case,” says CSS Team Member, Liam Dowling.

“We always recommend a small air cavity behind the insulation to help prevent a ‘bridge’ that soundwaves can travel across. A cavity of air behind stone wool insulation can equal a few additional decibels in noise reduction. It can also be tempting to use heavier gauge plasterboard in this situation: but there’s no need if using our insulation; a combination of standard 12mm

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plasterboard and 100mm Sound Insulation Slab works very effectively and helps reduce overall costs and the headache involved in using 15mm plasterboard.”

We recognise that it is important for you to know the performance of a specific product in an individual application and advice is just a phone call or mouse-click away. We have a technical team that can provide you with a sound calculation on request – just get in touch with us directly or through our website.

Fit for purpose Tackling an insulation project can be a daunting prospect. Taking a step-by-step approach is essential, beginning with taking all the correct measurements.

These should include the total area, the thickness required and width – which is a measurement many initially overlook. “By taking accurate measurements you will know the quantity of product you need,” says Liam Dowling.

“Having those figures to hand means it is simply a matter of cross-referencing

with the product labelling, which will clearly show the area covered. If in doubt on thickness required, use the U-value calculator on the company’s website or refer to the relevant product datasheets.

Regarding width, Sound Slab is available

in 400 & 600mm centre sizes and knowing upfront which one you need will save a lot of hassle on site.”

Once on site, it is a simple matter to fit the product. Rebecca Gallagher, CSS Team Member provides some advice on cutting the product: “The ideal tool to use is an insulation blade or a knife with a serrated edge, such as a bread knife.

Don’t use a wood saw as they are not suited to the job – they can create a rough cut or tear the insulation – creating potential for gaps. It can also blunt the saw in the process, so not only are you cutting the insulation ineffectively, you are also ruining your favourite saw!”

“A huge advantage to this particular product range is that it will perform for the lifetime of the building so it will not need to be replaced or topped up every 3 – 5 years. The brand itself has been around for over 80 years and has been manufacturing in the UK for more than 40 years.

For more information, go to www.rdr.link/BK076

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Competition

IN SAFE HANDS

STAY DRY THIS CHRISTMAS WITH OUR GREAT SAFEGUARD EUROPE GIVEAWAY.

With nights now long, and it getting colder and wetter, Safeguard Europe – the UK’s leading specialist in damp – and waterproofing, and masonry repair solutions – is seeing the year out with a great damp-proofing giveaway that gives you the chance to win a rooms’ worth of treatment.

There are 15 of the company’s Drybase Flex kits to be one – worth over £150.00 each – that will give you a fast, convenient and effective solution to tackle over three linear and/or three square metres of damp. The compact kit form of Safeguard’s Drybase range is ideal for tackling smaller areas of hard-to-treat damp; or as a handy ‘on the van’ option for instant use.

The kit comprises a 3.6m2 roll of Drybase Flex Membrane; two 10kg bags of Drybase Flex Adhesive – just the right amount to fix the membrane provided; 30 of its market-leading Dryrod damp-proofing rods for the rapid installation of a 3.6m damp-proof course; and its

your chance to win!

Dryzone System Accessory Tool Range, especially designed for applying the kit. The Dryzone System Accessory Tool Range comprises a notched trowel for adhesive application; a 12mm SDS Masonry Drill Bit; a 12mm Hole Clearing Tool and a Rod Cutter for trimming Dryrods to length when varying wall thicknesses demand.

The whole kit weighs in at less than 23kg, making it suitable for one operative only handling.

The Drybase range of damp-proof coverings, coatings and membrane has been designed to provide a comprehensive and effective damp-proofing solution when the circumstances do not lend themselves to usual remedies.

For full details of the Drybase range visit www.rdr.link/BK077

To win one of the Safeguard Drybase Kits, visit www.rdr.link/BK078 and answer the simple question below:

WHAT IS THE WEIGHT OF THE DRYBASE FLEX KIT?

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64 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

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interior painting, decorating & refurbishment MORE INFO Just type in www.rdr.link/ follow ed by the unique code shown to get straight to more info.

FIRST MATE

Designed to help tradespeople overcome a common issue during the first and second fix stage of installations, we learn more about the inspiration behind BoxMate. s is so often the case with new and innovative products that are introduced for trade professionals, BoxMate was originally invented by an experienced electrician and site supervisor.

His aim was to address a problem encountered all too frequently on-site: during plastering, plaster can often find its way into back boxes and will then dry into a solid mass. Then, when the electrician returns for second fix, they have to dig the plaster out and clean the box before fitting the face plate – a

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waste of skilled time and effort.

The solution to this issue was to design a temporary cover that would prevent plaster ingress. As well as being able to withstand site conditions, the cover also had to be easy to fit and remove. During trials, another requirement became clear: the cover had to be able to accommodate small variations in box sizes.

After several iterations, the BoxMate design was finalised. This great new product features tabs to accommodate variations in box height, and a material

which compresses laterally to accommodate variations in box width. Its central door means it can be easily removed after tapping off any plaster skin, and the product can be re-used several times, bringing the cost down to as little as 4p per use.

Although its main use is to eliminate unnecessary work and reduce electricians’ time on-site, BoxMate also offers protection to cables. Available in the UK from Cattano, to view more product, pricing and specification details for BoxMate, go to: www.rdr.link/BK079

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Ensure cables are coiled up and tucked into the back of the box.

Rest the bottom edge of the BoxMate on the bottom edge of the installed box.

Use both thumbs to press the top edge home into the box. Then ensure the BoxMate is pushed fully into the box and rests against the fixing lugs.

REMOVAL After plastering, there is likely to be a thin skin of plaster on part of the face of the BoxMate. This can be easily removed with a few taps from a small hammer, or a screwdriver handle.

FINALLY...

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B

Just push in the central door, hook your finger inside and pull out the BoxMate!

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B

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interior painting, decorating & refurbishment product round-up

EGGSHELL PAINT

Aimed at decorators looking for a trim product combining the traditional finish of an eggshell with the modern benefits of water-based technology paint, Crown Trade has launched the new Fastflow Quick Dry Eggshell paint. The paint can be used for both exterior and interior wood and metalwork and the new water-based eggshell option’s low odour formulation alongside its quick drying properties can also help reduce time and labour on site.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK080

SEALANT

On the back of Silfix U9, Hodgson Sealants has just launched Silfix U8, which has been specifically formulated and packaged for the professional applicator. The new solution is a low modulous, neutral cure, solvent free, alkoxy silicone sealant. It provides improved application characteristics and adhesion to a wide range of substrates used in the building envelope.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK081

FILLING SYSTEM

Toupret’s new Joint, Skim & Fill system of products endeavours to offer both clarity and quality in the plasterboard jointing and skim-filling market.

“Better results in less time” is the touchstone for the range, which is designed with trades in mind and finish to the forefront. The Quick Dry products in the range are ready for overpainting in just three hours. For normal applications they require just one coat, remove the need for spotpriming and are suitable for surface finishing, filling or plasterboard jointing.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK082

UNCOUPLING MAT

Mirka is launching a new extension pad to enhance the versatility of the DEOS 353 CV 81x 133. The pad’s overhang will enable users to sand further into corners and hard to reach areas. It is versatile enough to handle multiple applications but has been specifically developed for sanding window shutters and sash windows, which have traditionally been tricky to reach with a normal orbital sander because slats are narrow and difficult to access.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK086

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68 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

A white emulsion, V33 Multi-Surface Renovation claims to offer professional painters and decorators time and costsaving benefits, whilst ensuring a finish that customers will appreciate. The composition of the paint means it can be used to transform multiple surfaces including ceilings, plaster, radiators, doors and panelling, window frames plus painted or papered walls in just one application.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK083

ROLLER SLEEVES

Providing tradespeople the confidence to tile onto difficult floors at risk from stresses and movement, Dunlop’s ProCover Uncoupling Mat protects against the different rates of contraction and expansion experienced by the floor and tile layer depending on moisture and temperature. The mat also works as an anti-crack membrane and provides a buffer layer between the tiled layer and the substrate.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK084

SANDING

WHITE PAINT

The latest additions to the Purdy decorating tool range are the 4.5in. and 6.5in. Parrot Jumbo Mini Roller Sleeves. Made with mohair, the new sleeves can be used with water- or oilbased trim paints to give a glass-like finish on wood or metal. The rollers have been engineered to load well, cover consistently, reduce splatter, and release evenly whether for heavy duty coverage or edge to edge application.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK085

ADHESIVE

Geocel’s theWORKS XXX is a fast-acting product with 50 per cent more grab than traditional grab adhesives on almost any substrate in any condition without shrinking or staining. It performs even when applied to wood, brick, stone, tiles and most plastics. The solution is paintable, resists mould growth, will not crack or shrink, and is resistant to impact and vibration so the XXX bond will remain strong no matter what the conditions.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK087

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GENERAL BUILDING SHOWER TRAY

PRIMER

The new all-purpose PX primer range has been specifically developed by Crown Trade to achieve opacity and adhesion on even tricky surfaces such as tiles and ceramics, as well as helping to block stains and offer protection from alkaline attack. The new range offers a choice between the traditional solvent-based stainblocking PX3 primer and the new water-based PX4, which also features the added advantage of a quickdrying and low-odour finish.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK088

INSULATION

The length of Isover’s Spacesaver mineral wool insulation rolls has increased, with approximately 33 per cent more insulation per roll. The rolls are available in 100, 150, 170 and 200mm thicknesses pre-perforated to 3 x 386mm and 2 x 580mm widths.

The Ready-Cut rolls are available in 100, 150 and 200mm thicknesses precut to either 3 x 386mm or 2 x 580mm widths, to fit between common joist spacing.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK093

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70 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

ROOF TILES

Russell Roof Tiles’ thinner leading-edge tiles can provide the appearance of slate, clay and stone. These high-tech tiles are man-made versions of tiles that match the indigenous look of materials widely used on roofs across the UK. At two thirds the thickness of a normal tile, they are one of the thinnest and lightest concrete tiles available, making them easier to handle than traditional products on the market.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK090

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

British manufacturer, Kudos, has extended its Connect2 Shower tray collection to include two new quadrants and a curved corner shower tray. At just 35mm in height, Connect2 is a slimline shower tray that’s been designed specifically to avoid floor joists, ensuring it retains its low profile when installed. The new models include a 900mm and a 1,200 x 900mm offset quadrant. In addition there is a new 910mm and a 1,000 x 810mm offset full curved corner tray.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK089

ROOF REPAIR SYSTEM

Claiming to waterproof immediately in one coat, Thompson’s Emergency Roof Repair Seal can be applied in wet weather, and lasts for years. The solution flexes with the natural movement of the roof for a tough, long lasting, water-tight repair. It is suitable for small repairs on any kind of roof including felt, asphalt, slate and tiles.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK092

PANEL CORNER PROFILE

BRICK SLIP

The new weberwall brick from Saint-Gobain Weber is a simple lightweight brick effect product supplied on mesh sheets, in a range of highly realistic brick finishes. The brick slip is particularly suitable for applications where a builder needs to achieve a quality finish but without having to bring in specialist labour on site – for example, completing the facades on garage blocks, plant rooms, bin stores or other ancillary buildings, or as a factory-applied cladding for volumetric modules or panellised build systems.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK091

A new ‘hidden’ corner profile for use with Fibo UK’s kitchen and bathroom wall panel system has been launched, offering a complete tile effect. While the original plastic or aluminium corner profiles overlap the wall panels, the new option can be installed behind them. Once sealant is applied, the internal profile is completely hidden from view, so the join looks the same as if the wall were traditionally tiled and grouted – as well as being totally waterproof.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK114

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TOOLS & EQUIPMENT DIAMOND BLADES

Norton Clipper’s Diamond Blades are each tailored to specific materials and applications, in order to provide maximum performance. To help contractors quickly and easily choose the correct blade for their project, the packaging and blades are colour coded. The diamond blade range also offers a clear choice of three product performance levels for every job requirement, helping contractors choose a product that suits their budget and matches the level of performance and longevity they require.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK0094

SWEATSHIRT RANGE

Its new range of Hoodies and Sweatshirts for craftsmen and women are, according to Snickers, the most comfortable the company has ever designed. The ‘Full Zip’ or ‘Overhead’ Sweatshirt and Hoodie choices can be combined with first and second layer undergarments and can comfortably be worn under a jacket on chilly days. They’re made from a durable polycotton fabric for extra ruggedness and have a soft-brushed finish on the inside for extra comfort plus handwarmer pockets at the front.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK095

AVIATION SNIPS

END CUTTING NIPPERS

Made from high grade steel, the Knipex End Cutting Nippers are designed for tightening steel mesh knots during reinforced concrete work. 200mm long and weighing 319g, the tool features a comfortable plastic coated handle, giving the user a powerful and easy to use pair of nippers for concrete work. The head shape provides optimised movement when tightening steel mesh knots with hardened cutting edges for soft and hard wire.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK097

CIRCULAR SAWS

HiKOKI Power Tools has launched two 36V Circular Saws – the C3605DYA for steel, aluminium and wood cutting and the CD3605DA for cutting metal. Each saw offers increased runtime per charge, a kickback protection system, quick and easy blade change and a silent mode, to improve motor efficiency. Inhouse tests show the C3605DYA can make up to 700 rafter cuts per charge (in 45 x 45mm cedar).

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK098

LOCK SOFTWARE

Manufactured in the USA, Midwest Bulldog Aviation Snips are designed for cutting thick materials including multiple layers of metal and seams using either hand.

The snips require 40 per cent less hand force to cut 16 gauge cold rolled steel compared to standard snips and feature short Glide-Tech forged serrated blades to maximise strength, surpassing ASME Standards. The lifetime guaranteed blade pivot bolt ensures durability, while the Kush’N-Power grips are slip resistant and provide comfort during use.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK096

Vault Enterprise, a business security management solution, has been launched

by Master Lock. The software, in combination with the manufacturer’s range of Bluetooth-enabled hardware, provides business owners who manage multiple locks and users with a convenient way to control access, oversee products and improve accountability. Business owners can track and share access of multiple padlocks/lock boxes all via one smartphone app.

For more details online, go to www.rdr.link/BK099

rdr.link rdr.link AIntroducing new digital service for our readers With a wide array of online resources supporting the latest solutions – from videos to technical guides, PDFs to Podcasts – it can be a challenge to locate what you need.

To ensure you don’t miss out on these valuable resources, we are introducing rdr.link – a new, rapid service to transport you immediately to the online resources mentioned in our stories. So, on certain pages, you may see things like: “For more new products & solutions use rdr.link/AB101” Just type rdr.link/AB101 into your browser and be transported to the products section on our website, packed full of new solutions.

Designed to help busy professionals rapidly locate more information – look out for & use

rdr.link

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No.4 in the series TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DUST In the latest instalment of the Makita Tech Talk series, Charles Shaw, Hire and Construction Division Manager at Makita explains how the company’s new generation of dust management solutions are helping to keep construction professionals safe on-site.

Not all dust is harmful, but the types produced on construction sites often are. In particular, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is one to avoid. The harmful dust emerges when materials like concrete, masonry and rock are processed, which can include breaking, cutting, drilling and sanding. RCS is a miniscule particle, some 100 times smaller than the average grain of sand.

Interacting with the particle can cause serious issues including silicosis, autoimmune disease and respiratory problems. As of 2019, silica trails only asbestos as a cause of occupational cancer deaths.

All in all, you’re five times more likely to die from a respiratory illness brought upon by dust inhalation than you are in a car crash, and the HSE has formulated a series of legal requirements and guidance around dust management.

This guidance can be found in material such as CIS36 and CIS69 available from the HSE. If you’re found to be in material breach of the law, firms can face an FFE (fee for intervention) that can be charged as an hourly fee, which is currently £154 per hour. Failing to understand your legal requirements, or

failure to implement control measures could result in a significant fine. What’s more, reactive compliance costs, as well as the cost of lost work will pose an additional cost to your business.

Companies have a legal duty to protect their operatives from exposure to dust. There are three classifications of filter system; L Class, M Class and H Class. The L, M and H stand for Low, Medium and High, respectively.

Dust solutions The recommended on tool extraction systems for on site are M Class dust extraction, which can extract <0.1 per cent of dusts with maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) > 0.1mg/m3, and H class machine, which extracts <0.005 per cent dusts with maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) <0.1 mg/m3. To help the sector get a better grip on its dust management problem, Makita now offers dust management solutions rated at least M Class or H Class. The M Class extractors are suitable for the majority of construction tasks. To this end, the machines can effectively remove dusts involving mica, china clay, gypsum, wood dust and silica dusts. An L (Low)

class unit is only suitable for lowertoxicity dusts like gypsum in plasterboard. The specification of the extraction unit must be suitable for the tool and the task.

The innovative “M” and “H” class units are designed with features giving the users options to control dusts respective to the tool used. These extraction units are compact in design and have the capability to contain up to 40ltrs of captured material. The dust extractor automatically activates when connected to a power tool. Similarly, the machine is fitted with an air flow sensor that beeps when air flow is reduced by a clogged filter or full tank.

These units would form part of a LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation) system which requires regular servicing and testing to ensure that it remains effective. This requirement can be achieved by a Thorough Examination and Test (TExT), which is needed at least every 14 months to ensure that the extraction units perform as intended. As an owner of an on-tool extraction system you would need to arrange for this TExT to be carried out by a competent person and keep suitable records to show that it has been completed. Makita offers this service to its customers.

To find out more about Makita and its new generation of dust management solutions visit www.rdr.link/BK100

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No.6 in the series TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Out of joint The health of tradespeople is becoming an increasing priority for regulators, employees and employers. That is why Professional Builder has teamed up with Festool to discuss ways to ensure compliance and minimise long-term health damage. In this instalment, we discuss the importance of tradespeople properly protecting their muscles and joints.

Speak to any tradesperson who’s just completed a full day’s work and they’ll tell you; it’s a physically demanding job.

Working in the trade takes a toll on your whole body, with muscles and joints suffering the most from the strain of repetitive daily tasks. So, it’s no surprise that a high number of construction workers suffer from some form of muscle or joint pain. Long term, muscle and joint conditions can become very troublesome in later life, impeding people trying to lead active, healthy lives.

The industry has deemed muscle and joint pain as an unfortunate inevitability.

Whilst most building tasks are strenuous and can’t be completed without physical exertion, improvements to methods and creating healthier ways to work needs to be addressed. In practice, this means identifying more innovative solutions and ensuring that tradespeople have access to them.

Carrying harness At Festool, we believe the answer lies in technology and work to include innovative solutions within our products to help tradespeople in the goal to working healthier. A great example is our ‘Carrying Harness TG-LHS 225’, which can be used to support our Planex 225 EQ LongReach Sanders. The ergonomic design of the harness enables continual working on sanding ceilings by spreading the weight of the long reach sander across several pressure points.

The ergonomics of tools are vital, and at Festool our products are designed to make work as comfortable as possible.

The ETSC 125 eccentric sander weighs just 1.4k (including the battery) and has been designed with perfectly balanced

weight distribution and low height. This contributes to make sanding overhead as effortless as possible. Other solutions, such as the ErgoFix height adjustment system, allows you to adapt the height of the Festool Mixers ensuring that you aren’t stooped over while mixing. This helps prevent the back pain that usually occurs when mixing.

Muscle and joint pain might be invisible, but that doesn’t mean it should go unnoticed by those in the construction sector. For tradespeople suffering from the condition, it’s a problem that causes discomfort on a day-to-day basis. Many joint and muscle conditions are easier to prevent than they are to correct, so it’s important to find preventative strategies that reduce the onset of problems.

To find out more about Festool visit www.rdr.linl/BK101

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ROOFING

Professional Builder continues to reveal the rich history behind Redland BMI.

Cast in concrete From the explosive boom and growth of the 1960s, the 1970s were a period of consolidation for Redland, with a minor corporate shift marked in 1976 with a name change to Redland Roof Tiles, highlighting the specificity of its offer from the broader Redland Tiles moniker of 1946.

Innovation in this decade was reflected in both service and product systems. First was the company’s REDIES computer-based roof estimating service. In an age when smart phones are more powerful than the on-board computing of the Apollo programme’s rockets, the importance of such a pioneering development on the roofing sector cannot be underestimated and heralded the future of online functionality, currently represented by the company’s marketleading SpecMaster and FixMaster systems.

Second, 1978 was the year that saw the launch of the UK’s first dry ridge system. A natural and obvious counterpart to Redland’s dry verge system launched in 1966, dry ridge meant the company could offer specifiers, developers and contractors mechanically fixed systems across the whole roof.

In 1981, the roofing industry’s first dedicated training centre was opened in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. Now in its fourth decade of operation, the BMI Academy – as the National Training Centre is now known – employs three fulltime dedicated pitched and flat roofing trainers and delivers approximately 60 hours of training every week. Since opening, over 45,000 delegates have been trained at the centre – with 2,000 visitors being hosted in 2018 alone.

1984 saw two developments – an acquisition and an opening – that truly centred Redland at the heart of UK tile manufacture. First, it acquired the Rosemary Brick & Tile Company. This meant the company extended its pedigree beyond 1919 back to 1837. It also meant that the UK’s most popular and durable clay tile became part

of its portfolio. Yet if that wasn’t enough, the company made a huge stride this same year with the opening of its Rassau plant to manufacture Cambrian Slate – the UK’s first interlocking tile made from reconstituted waste slate.

Comprising over 60 per cent recycled Welsh slate, Cambrian is designed with a unique three-point fixing, making it secure on even the most exposed sites. Manufactured to be lightweight with a thin leading edge and surface patterning taken from impressions of real natural slates, and proven on pitches as low as 15°, Cambrian is suitable for a wide range of projects.

The 1990s started with the launch of Dovetail, a separate universal roofing components business, while Anderson, along with Callenders and Vulcanite, was acquired by Icopal to create a leading UK waterproofing business. The year was capped by the opening of a new wind tunnel, built at a cost of £2 million, in Horsham.

This strong start was matched by back-toback milestones in the following two years when, first, Cambrian Slate won the prestigious Queens Award for Technological Achievement and, second, the company acquired Steetley Brick & Tile – meaning UK brick stocks in 1993, when Steetley’s were added to Redland’s own, totalled a whopping 110,000,000! Three years later, the combined Redland/Steetley business was sold for £155m.

1996 saw the establishment, by Icopal, of the Intelligent Membrane Association (IMA), designed to improve flat roofing industry standards and give building owners and architects access to a network of high-quality roofing contractors.

Whereas, to 1997, the Redland story had been one of frequent strategic acquisitions, this year saw a role reversal with the company being acquired by Lafarge, who went on to acquire 100 per cent of Braas – the German company Redland itself had invested in 1954.

For more details of BMI UK & Ireland’s heritage and flat and pitched roofing solutions, visit www.rdr.link/BK102

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(PART TWO) The Norbord Board Room reconvenes to continue its installation best practice for CaberBoard

Vapour control layer with battened floor

Continuously supported floating floor

Advice on door thresholds

It is essential that a continuous damp proof membrane – not less than 1,000 gauge polythene – is used. This must be laid in accordance with CP102:1973. A continuous layer of insulation is used above the structure of pre-cast concrete beam and block. The insulation may be incorporated in the screed. Most commonly, when used in conjunction with CaberFloor P5 as the floating floor overlay, the insulation is immediately below the flooring and laid onto the slab or beam and block, with vapour control layer between flooring and insulation. Any unevenness, localised or general, may transmit through the P5 layer, therefore subfloor flatness is important. The insulation material should be rigid and suitable for the loading requirements.

At all door openings, support the edges of the panels on preservative treated timber battens.

Ensure that battens are on a firm and level base and fix a strip of flooring to the battens as a threshold. Allow a gap on each side of the threshold for movement in the flooring panels.

Battened floating floors Use additional support battens where extra floor loading is anticipated and the exact position is known, e.g. beneath kitchen equipment and sanitary fittings. When required, use a levelling screed to ensure that the battens of a timber battened system are true and level. Do not attempt to fix the flooring to the battens through resilient insulation material, as this will create an uneven floor. If necessary lightly sand and clean floors to make the surface suitable for further overlays, e.g. thin plywood, vinyl etc. Do not wash or scrub with water.

Joisted / suspended timber floors

Joisted floor

Joisted or suspended timber floors have an advantage in that they can accommodate the required thickness of insulation within the structure. The insulation materials may be mineral wool supported on boards (or netting) or rigid foam insulation simply supported on timber battens. The board may be mechanically fixed to the joists and the underside of the board glued to the top of the joist for additional strength.

Independent tests have shown a 10 per cent strength increase by gluing as above.

Maintain adequate cross ventilation of the subfloor space, taking care not to obstruct ventilators by insulation material or timber struts in the subfloor. Use herringbone struts in preference to solid strutting e.g. above sleeper walls.

Vapour control layer with CaberFloor

Advice on moisture protection CaberFloor P5 is a highly durable product.

Similar to other wood-based panels it is affected by moisture. Good practice on installation and protection against moisture in construction is advised. We recommend, with or without battens in the floating floor construction, that 1000 gauge polythene should be used as a continuous Vapour Control Layer (VCL) between the CaberFloor P5 and the insulation material.

Taping CaberDek When using CaberFix Joint&Joist, for BBA approval, use CaberFix Tape on all joints, perimeters and mechanical fixings.

In extreme cold conditions, CaberFix X-Treme Tape should be used instead, as it withstands cracking or lift in temperatures down to –21°C.

For more information on Norbord online, go to www.rdr.link/BK103

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ADE’S TOP WINDOW & DOOR TIPS

No. 11

! ’ L L A ‘C S ’ N A I ADR

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

LOOK INTO GLASS!

A window is just a hole without the glass, right? Of course, but actually the choice of what you fill that hole with is not only defined by law but also, it can help you to sell better windows and doors and with improved margins too.

Up to now my guess is that most of the time you have been quite happy to use the glass supplied by your window supplier. And indeed, if you use a decent supplier, the right insulated glass unit will be supplied to comply with regulated performance and safety considerations.

But with a little bit of thought you can offer so much more to your customers by simply offering some of the value-added glasses that are available. The fact is that in recent times some amazing products have been developed and, far from being affordable only by a wealthy few, many are in the mainstream. In fact, if you have installed any conservatories almost certainly you or your customer will have specified self-cleaning glass.

Although this amazing glass doesn’t actually dissolve bird’s poop the minute it strikes, it will take care of

organic mess, continuously and over a period of a few days, using a combination of its magic coating and rain, which will wash off the residue.

It’s always possible to spot conservatories and roof windows fitted with this glass, the most popular being Pilkington Activ, the first on the market, or Bioclean from Saint Gobain.

Perhaps your customer has a particularly sunny outlook from their home: if so, when building extensions and other projects, recommend the use of solar control glass in windows, entrance and especially sliding doors to reduce over-heating. Even in average UK summer temperatures heat gain can make a house uninhabitable so anticipating this will win you huge appreciation from your customers.

Another regular problem that can be improved by choosing the right

type of glass is noise. If you are installing windows in a home that is close to a busy road or railway for example, why not suggest using special ‘acoustic glass’ instead of the standard stuff? This laminated glass uses special interlayers that are tuned to absorb noise, from the outside or indeed, from the inside if the kids are that noisy!

When considering urban living, security can also be a major concern.

So as well as discussing high security locks with your customer (see my column in the last issue) you can also offer further peace of mind by suggesting laminated glass in all vulnerable areas. Security laminates will use two or more sheets of tough interlayers that remain totally invisible when installed, yet which will be virtually impenetrable to all but the most determined intruder.

Many of these glasses may be combined of course: security or selfcleaning with solar control, for example. Whatever the needs of the job, it’s worth looking into the right kind of glass.

For further information on Quickslide online, go to www.rdr.link/BK104

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builders’ vehicles 씱

heavyweight champions Honest John Vans has crunched the numbers and found the top five 3.5 tonne vans for payload.

ooking for a capable van with a gargantuan payload rating that you can drive with a standard car licence?

Honest John Vans has analysed the market to find the top five panel vans in the 3.5 tonne market.

You might not know it, but the date you passed your driving test can have a big impact on the type of van that you can drive.

For example, if you passed your test before January 1997 then you may automatically be able to drive larger, heavier vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes. Anyone who passed their driving test

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after January ’97 may need to pass an additional test in order to drive vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes.

You can tell exactly what types of vans you can drive from the information on the back of your photocard driving licence. There are four columns on the rear of a modern licence; the left-hand one displays categories (i.e. the specific types of vehicle you’re allowed to drive) and the two central columns show the start and expiration dates for each category.

BEST 3.5T VANS YOU CAN BUY RIGHT NOW looks pretty purposeful, too, while a recent revamp has kept the cabin looking fresh. It’ll carry 1,610kg.

Vauxhall Movano With a payload of 1,620kg in entry-level edition specification, the Movano currently has the highest payload of any 3.5 tonne van, though the 10kg advantage it has over its sister model, the Renault Master, is largely down to its pared-down specification. If loads are more important than luxury, though, it’s the one to go for.

Fiat Ducato It used to be able to carry more weight than any of its rivals in this class, but recent mechanical changes have seen the Ducato’s overall payload drop by 50kg, in exchange for a far better engine and transmission line-up. Its load carrying ability and decent dynamics make it a firm favourite with camper van converters – the max payload is still a creditable 1,605kg.

Peugeot Boxer

Renault Master The medium roof Master dCi 130 is a great all-rounder, with a spacious load bay and one of the best payloads of any 3.5-tonner on the market right now. It

The Boxer’s new Blue HDi engine is Euro6 Temp compliant, but in becoming so the new NoX filtration systems have added 30kg to the kerb weight, and the same amount off the payload. It’s still a huge van, though, and is capable of carrying an impressive 1,570kg.

Citroen Relay Similar names, identical payload ratings... yes, this is another instance of sharing vans and changing badges. The Relay shares most of its components with the Fiat Ducato, and so is ideal for similar uses. The only thing separating the two is personal preference, or the sign above the door of your nearest dealership.

For more van buying and selling tips visit: www.rdr.link/BK105 I

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builders’ vehicles

GIVE US A MO!

A refreshed large van offering is another important MOment in time for Vauxhall.

s is the way with these things it’s unlikely to last very long, but for the moment at least, Vauxhall is enjoying its status as the manufacturer with the youngest, freshest range of LCVs in the marketplace. It follows the launch of the Combo Cargo at the beginning of the year, a new Vivaro in July and now the updating of its large van, the ever popular Movano.

Remaining on the same platform as the Renault Master, unlike its smaller siblings, which now sit resolutely within the PSA Peugeot/Citroen portfolio, the new Movano gets a modern front end that, with a great big Griffin, clearly positions it as a member of the Vauxhall family. Daytime running lamps are now incorporated into the headlights and continuously flow into the new chrome cross bar added to the grille. Inside, the cockpit has also been updated and laid out to resemble a modern mobile office. With an impressive total of 22 different storage compartments there is room for pretty much anything that

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is needed on a daily basis.

Safety is paramount in the design of any modern vehicle, of course, but the significant dimensions of the Movano present another set of hazards for the driver. The manufacturer has attempted to pre-empt these potential problems with a rear vision camera for the first time which provides a live feed to a seven-inch touch screen, providing optimum visibility and helping to detect cyclists and pedestrians.

A blind spot monitoring system is also new, using ultrasonic sensors to detect objects and alerting the driver with LED indicators in the corresponding mirrors. A side wind assistant which comes as standard provides extra stability and peace of mind in unpredictable driving conditions.

Behind the wheel drivers will appreciate first class connectivity and entertainment features, thanks to a NAVI 5.0 itellilink Pro infotainment system with a wireless charging point for smartphones. Multi adjustable seats are comfortable, and supportive, and can even be ordered with an air-cushioned driver’s seat, whilst the cargo area has LED lighting with new handles on the side walls and pillars for further convenience.

The Movano LUDING VAT EXC 745 £27, UND comes in four ARO AT T STAR ES PRIC different lengths and three heights, carrying

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a maximum payload of up to 2.1 tonnes and 17m3 of cargo. This means in certain configurations, the van can transport up to five euro pallets and, with 150 versions available ex works, there are numerous opportunities for conversions for specialist trade professional requirements.

Vauxhall offers half height protective panels in the load area as part of a standard package on rear wheel drive models, and full height as an option.

Protective floor coverings are also offered, along with a number of load retention aids.

At the vehicle’s heart is a new range of BTi turbo engines all offering higher power, more torque and greater efficiency than before. Service intervals have been extended to 25,000 miles, or two years, and moderately priced spare parts and materials have been designed to further reduce operating costs. The 2.3 litre power units range from 130 PS to 180 PS and all comply with the strict Euro6d-TEMP (Light duty) Euro V-ID 9Heavy duty) emissions standards. Compared to previous generations the new engines boast five to ten more PS and 20 to 40 higher torque, the top of the line 18-PS Bi turbo develops maximum torque of 400 Nm. In addition to front wheel drive, customers can select a rear wheel drive configuration for heavy duty applications and feature six speed manual and, coming soon, automatic transmissions.

Certain versions are also available with all wheel drive.

For further information on Vauxhall’s Movano visit www.rdr.link/BK106

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Digital digest

Professional BUILDING ■ FLOORING ■ PLUMBING ■ ROOFING ■ CARPENTRY ■ PAINTING AND DECORATING ■

At Professional Builder we have invested significantly in our digital offering over the past year, which has created some impressive results across our website and social media channels.

To discover more about us, and keep up to date with the very latest tools, news and reviews please visit our website www.probuildermag.co.uk where you will also find links to our social media channels. Here you can sign up to our weekly email newsletter which delivers all the latest industry news straight to your inbox.

Here is a snapshot of what has been popular online with Professional Builder’s audience over the past month…

www.facebook.com/probuilderonline/ FACEBOOK FAVOURITES A guide to protecting your van and tools from thieves went down well with our Facebook followers recently. The handy infographic detailed all the things to look out for on your van.

ONLINE HITS Time is money! Clichéd as it may be, it’s true and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.

Good hand tools can save you time, and thus money.

We featured an article on our website recently explaining just how tools can make your work life more efficient.

Everyone likes a sticker, especially one of your favourite building publication!

We’ve been giving them away on Twitter, just for sending in a picture of your #SiteSnack!

@PB_mag TOP TWEETS Everyone in the trade has bad days and good days, and sometimes, inevitably, you are left wondering whether it wouldn’t just be easier to pack it all in and go and work in a shop. Well, luckily for our Twitter followers, we were on hand last month to remind you of some of the best things about being in a trade – and, of course, some of the worst.

SEE IT SEARCH IT SHARE IT @PB_mag

@probuildermag

www.facebook.com/probuilderonline

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PROFESSIONAL BUILDER DECEMBER 2019 79

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GOOD HEALTH PROSTATE PROBLEMS

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

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

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

Address ....................................

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

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

Date ..................

NO. 8 ............

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FOLLOWING ON FROM LAST MONTH’S COLUMN ON PROSTATE PROBLEMS, PRACTICING GP ALICE FITZGIBBON TALKS ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER.

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

To find out more about the Prostate, visit www.rdr.link/BK107

PART TWO

PROSTATE CANCer

We see lots of patients coming in and asking for ‘the test for prostate cancer’ or worried as they know someone that has been diagnosed. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer seen in men; of every eight men in the UK, one will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

Over the last 50 years, survival rates for prostate cancer have improved dramatically, and now the 10 year survival rate is greater than 80 per cent (8 out of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer will still be alive 10 years after their initial diagnosis).1 The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, if you have other family members who have had it, and if you are a black man. People of black Caribbean and black African origins have a significantly increased prostate cancer risk – it is not yet known exactly why this is the case but is likely down to genes. It is important to be aware of this, especially if you are black and have a family history of prostate cancer.

So, prostate cancer – common and lots of people are surviving it, but some people don’t – why is this? It is because there are different types of prostate cancer.

Sometimes, the cancerous cells grow very slowly, often over years, and stay within the prostate gland. The cancer might never give any symptoms and treatment might not be needed as it isn’t causing any harm to the patient. In other cases, the prostate cancer cells can be more aggressive, growing quickly and spreading outside the prostate gland. If this is the case, the prostate cancer cells can spread into the bones, lymph nodes, liver or lungs.

The symptoms of prostate cancer can be similar to the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but may also include signs of bleeding: ● Weak urine flow ● Finding it difficult to start or stop urinating ● Having to strain to pass urine ● A sensation that the bladder is not empty after urinating ● Urine continuing to dribble after urination has finished ● Having a need to pass urine frequently or

80 DECEMBER 2019 PROFESSIONAL BUILDER

with little warning ● Getting up to pass urine during the night ● Blood in the urine or blood in the semen If you have any of these symptoms it is important to see your GP for an examination and further tests, including prostate examination, urine samples and blood tests.

One blood test that might be used to further assess for prostate cancer is a test called the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. This can be raised if there is prostate cancer present.

However, the PSA test is unreliable so it cannot be used to test all men for prostate cancer as a screening test. This is because PSA levels can be high because of other reasons, like urinary infections or an inflamed prostate. According to NHS UK, three out of four people who have a raised PSA will not have prostate cancer, and around 15 per cent of men who do have prostate cancer will have a normal PSA level.

Having the PSA test, and getting a high level result, can cause a lot of worry to patients. It was also leading to lots of people going on to get prostate biopsies and treatment they may not have needed, along with unnecessary side effects. Now, instead of relying on the PSA test, often suspected cancer cases are referred directly to the hospital specialists for more tests, including scans of the prostate, before any surgical interventions are undertaken.

Treatment for prostate cancer very much depends on what sort of cancer is present and if it has spread or not. Treatments include surgery, hormone injections, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. New treatments including ultrasound therapy and cryotherapy (freeze therapy) are being developed too.

For further information on prostate cancer and the PSA test including the pros and cons of having the test can be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer. If you are worried about having any of the symptoms detailed above, make an appointment with your GP to get it checked out – the earlier problems are detected the more successful treatment is likely to be.

1

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org

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wise howell

TRADE MEDIA ELFIN KITCHENS NEW WEBSITE

Elfin Kitchens has launched a new, redesigned website. Visitors to the site can find comprehensive details of every kitchen the company has to offer, as well as information on the additions and accessories available. Plus, a newly introduced filter allows users to find the kitchen best suited to their needs by choosing from a range of different sizes, colours and features. This also allows for a quick and simple comparison of the different ranges (Entry, Economy, Economy Plus and Premium models), depending on the application. www.rdr.link/BK108

IBSTOCK PRODUCT SELECTOR

Ibstock Brick has launched a new Product Selector. Users can customise their search, displaying the final product in a variety of project views and configurations, and the tool features a configurator and easy-to-use interface which is said to make it highly interactive and user-friendly.

Additionally, the product image updates as the user modifies each variable, making the process more visually-led, which benefits the user by allowing them to see a customised version of each brick. www.rdr.link/BK109

JB KIND CLASSIC WHITE BROCHURE

JB Kind has launched its Door Collection for 2019/20 guide, as well as its updated Trade Essentials brochure. This year’s flagship Door Collection brochure has been produced in a new iPad size format for customers’ convenience. The new Trade Essentials brochure contains all the vital information, but is almost doubling in size. All of the distributor’s commodity products are still there, plus many more doors from its main collection.

To request a copy, go to www.rdr.link/BK110

BUSHBOARD NUANCE BROCHURE

The new 52-page Nuance brochure from Bushboard is available in both print and online formats, and showcases the company’s new Designer and Acrylic bathroom wall surfaces in both striking roomsets and swatch layouts. Nuance is a patented waterproof bathroom wall panelling system. Installing the panelling in a 7 by 7ft bathroom or wetroom space can reportedly be completed in just 4 hours.

To request a copy, go to www.rdr.link/BK111

I’ve been on a first aid course. It’s been a few years since my last one, and it’s interesting how many things were different. Research is always finding better ways to do things, and recommended best practice can change.

Take “the recovery position” – for a patient who is unconscious but breathing. That’s not so important any more, apparently.

Instead of wasting precious seconds rolling the patient onto his side, the first priority is to check that his airways are clear so he can’t choke.

And as for “mouth-to-mouth resuscitation” – for someone whose heart has stopped – don’t bother. It’s unlikely to have any effect, and uses up valuable time that would be better spent pumping the patient’s heart until the paramedics arrive and take over.

There was also a big stress on checking for your own safety. Before you do anything, you should look around and assess the situation. What has caused the patient to be in trouble – and could the same thing happen to you?

For example, if it’s a building site accident – has the guy been electrocuted, or has something fallen on him? Well, you’d better make sure that same hazard doesn’t repeat itself on you, or there might be two of you lying on the floor needing an ambulance!

The second thing you should always do is shout or phone for help, before taking any direct action yourself. And if you ask someone else to run for help, ask them to come back and tell you what’s happening.

And, sadly in the present

day, any of us might come across someone with a knife wound. If that’s the case, then you need to assess if the knifeman is still around, in case he’s looking for further victims.

Health and safety on big construction sites is taken seriously these days, of course.

Although I’ve still been on sites where the sticking plasters have run out in the first aid box, and nobody has got around to replacing them.

And in the domestic repair, maintenance and improvement sector things can be even more slapdash. How often have you a seen a chippie bandage a cut finger with a scrap of newspaper and a bit of insulation tape?

As builders, we are often called upon to carry out first aid on a house. Would you feel confident about doing the same on a human?

Every builder should attend a first aid course. It will help you react calmly and effectively in the unfortunate event that you do encounter an emergency.

And if you’ve done one in the past, do a refresher course now – you might be surprised how much you’ve forgotten, and how some things have changed.

(Online searches for first aid courses often direct you to expensive private ones. Your local authority might provide the same course much cheaper.)

Jeff Howell

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

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Advertisement index Aanco UK Ltd ..................................(page 45)

Mitsubishi Motors ............................(page 31)

Aanco UK Ltd ..................................(page 47)

Muck Truck .....................................(page 63)

Ariston Thermo UK Ltd ........................(page 4)

Nissan UK Ltd ................................(page 16)

Blakes Building Profiles Ltd ................(page 23)

Plumb Partners Group Ltd .................(page 11)

BSA Brands (UK) Ltd .........................(page 44)

Pnu-Point Ltd.................................... (page 52)

Buckler Boots Ltd ..............................(page 52)

Polypipe plc ....................................(page 26)

Build Aviator ................................... (page 69)

Pro Builder Live................................ (page 66)

Drew Brady & Co Ltd .......................(page 18)

Progressive Safety Footwear .............(page 54)

Ecotherm Insulation Ltd ..................... (page 53)

Quickslide ........................................(page 5)

F Ball & Co. Ltd ...............................(page 21)

RDR.link ..........................................(page 30)

F. Engel Workwear .......................... (page 52)

Royd UK/ACER ...............................(page 15)

Fakro GB Ltd ...................................(page 55)

Royd UK/Optimaxx .........................(page 28)

Federation of Master Builders............ (page 65)

RSS Tilemaster .................................(page 63)

Festool UK Ltd .................................(page 42)

Safeguard Europe Ltd .......................(page 34)

Ford Motor Co Ltd .............................(page 8)

Snickers Workwear Ltd .......................(page 6)

GX Glass ........................................(page 23)

Toolfair Exhibition ...........................(page 58)

Hexstone Ltd/Vortex......................... (page 50)

Toupret (UK) Ltd ...............................(page 61)

Isuzu International Motors .....(inside front cover)

TuffX Processed Glass Ltd.................. (page 13)

MAN Truck & Bus Ltd .........(outside back cover)

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