Professional Builder January 2023

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JANUARY HOME TRUTHS

As is the long-held tradition in our January edition, Professional Builder dusts off its crystal ball and makes some predictions for the year ahead.

After a whole month at home following the World Cup in Qatar, and a further two weeks for the festivities and New Year celebrations, the nation finally prepares to go back to the workplace –actually, nothing much changes!

FEBRUARY COMEDIC VALUE

With an end finally in sight to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its leader Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to return to his former career as a comedian and actor. “Given our backgrounds I really can’t think of anyone better suited to taking on the role of President of this great country than my good friend Boris,” he states.

MARCH

NOT THE ‘HOLE’ STORY

Work on a new extension at Rishi’s Sunak’s £10 million Kensington Mews house grinds to a halt when it emerges that the contractors haven’t been paid for a month. “I know it looks bad but I’ve simply been too busy sorting the country’s finances out to get to the local hole in the wall cash machine”, protests our (current) Prime Minister.

APRIL

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

Suspicions are raised when planning permission for a one hundred mile long garden wall submitted by a certain Ms Sturgeon are rushed through the Scottish Parliament. Fleets of Ibstock and Forterra lorries are seen heading north, stoking fears of another national brick shortage.

MAY HEAD START

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. © 2023

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Erling Haaland scores his one hundredth goal of the season to win the Champions League Final for Man City after securing the Premier league, FA Cup and EFL Cup. To give other teams a chance, the FA announce that he alone will be banned from heading the ball in 2023 as part of an ongoing investigation into soccer-related concussion injuries.

JUNE ROYAL DISSENT

The coronation of King Charles III is abandoned when his Royal Highness superglues his own hands to the Imperial throne in support of his Stop Oil eco friends. His new valet “Swampy” is arrested and thrown in the Tower.

JULY

‘FORE’ OR AGAINST Rory McIlroy finally wins another major golf

championship at the British Open in Liverpool. The fact that he was the only competitor after the world’s top 200 golfers had all left to join the LIV Tour is purely incidental says his new caddy who joined him on the final round after his old one also went missing in mysterious circumstances.

AUGUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In a historical test case, Professional Builder is forced to apologise to all those readers who were coerced into accepting potentially lethal free bacon butties from our Professional Builder Tea Wagon back in the 1990s and to those who –against their will – may have inadvertently joined our sponsored curry club in pursuit of free vindaloos and Cobra lager. An undisclosed sum of vouchers for vegan meals and kiwi smoothies has subsequently been paid out in compensation.

SEPTEMBER TROUBLE BREWING

“It’s the most serious material shortage to ever impact the productivity of the UK construction industry”, says an industry spokesperson on hearing that – in the wake of worsening diplomatic relations – both China and India have decided not to supply the UK with its usual 150,000 tonnes of tea per annum.

OCTOBER HEAD START!

In the aftermath of a snap General Election, many newly unemployed MPs start to consider a new career in the desperately short-of-skills construction market. “I have experience of digging holes, glossing over obvious problems and building barriers, obstacles and walls which can stand up to the most severe head banging against”, declares one hopeful former cabinet member.

NOVEMBER NO SMOKE……..

The Government’s long promised bonfire of the red tape, which continues to stifle growth in the construction industry, is further delayed when a civil servant demands a full risk assessment be carried out to the likely harmful effects of naked flames and bilious smoke from such an action on the environment.

DECEMBER OLD FATHER TIME UP!

In a nod to gender inclusivity, Father Christmas henceforth is to be referred to only as a nongestational or non-birthing parent, whilst Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph et al will be replaced by sleigh-pulling, non-specific identifying mules.

AS SAFE AS HOUSES

44,729 new homes were registered in Q3 2022, which was 33% up on the corresponding quarter in 2021. In addition, 32,702 new homes were registered in the private sector, representing a 26% improvement in that class of build. 10 out of 12 regions experienced growth in registrations in Q3 2022 vs Q3 2021 with the 4,299 new homes registered in London in Q3 2022 amounting to a huge 277% rise on Q3 2021.

PLAN OF ATTACK

Reform planning to deliver more homes, says FMB

“The Government needs to act to get small house builders unstuck from the complex planning system,” argues Brian Berry, Chief Executive at the FMB.

“Substantial planning barriers stop the nation’s small house builders from delivering homes for their communities. It’s clear that better engagement with SMEs from local planning authorities would deliver Government ambitions.”

ASBESTOS REMAINS A PROBLEM

than

Extensive asbestos remediation work is still needed on more than 100,000 UK buildings, according to a new report from the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy (ATaC) Association and the National Organisation of Asbestos Consultants (NORAC). Industry experts are growing increasingly concerned about the impact of energy renovations on the asbestos issue, since the material still present in buildings could be released during renovation works planned to make homes more

MINI MARVELS

UK construction equipment sales showing strong growth

Mini and midi excavator sales led the way in the October figures and were 9% ahead of the same month last year. Retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment overall were 11% above sales in the same month last year. As a result, sales in the first ten months of the year have almost caught up with last year’s levels, reaching 31,400 units, only 0.7% below the same 2021 time period.

WARM WORDS

Marley launches Winter Safety Campaign

With temperatures dropping and harsh weather upon us, Marley has launched its ‘Winter Safety’ campaign to provide professional roofers with advice and support on how to stay safe on site when it’s cold, wet and windy. “There’s a host of useful winter safety advice available on our website,” explains Daniel Redfern, Marketing Manager at Marley, “plus the opportunity to receive a free Marley snood and beanie hat, to help keep you warm this winter.”

More

100,000 UK buildings still need asbestos remediation work

CLEARING THE AIR

HSE figures reveal the prevalence of occupational lung disease

The latest Health & Safety Executive (HSE) statistics reveal that 12,000 deaths were reported as a result of lung disease from past exposures at work. Annually, there are an estimated 19,000 new cases of lung or breathing problems believed to be caused or made worse by the working environment. Casella urges businesses to put measures in place to protect employees from

READY TO REPORT

The Construction Leadership Council has endorsed “Greening the UK’s Skills” The NOCN Group and BACH publication underlines that the transition to Net Zero will only be possible with a skilled ‘green’ workforce. “There is now an urgent need to develop training for Green Skills in the construction sector,” emphasises Mark Reynolds, Group Chairman and Chief Executive, Mace and Co-Chair, Construction Leadership

Levels 1- 3, to run throughout the FE training

and Apprenticeships.”

ON THE RIGHT ROAD

“especially

THE TRAIN GANG

CITB is responding to a range of challenges

The annual report revealed that, in a 12-month period ending 31 March 2022, CITB invested almost £50m of Levy to support over 22,000 apprentices, directly trained over 2,900 new recruits through the second phase of the Construction Skills Fund, and supported over 16,000 learners with grants to complete their qualifications. Over the same period, direct funding was provided to over 1,600 businesses to invest in their workforce, while Grants Scheme helped fund over 269,000 training courses.

CALL FOR HELP

Van Ninja is reminding drivers of commercial vehicles

of the rules

Did you know that there are rules to driving vans that, if disobeyed, could see you fined upwards of £2,500 in addition to points on your licence?

On both single- and dual-carriageways your top speed is reduced by 10mph, for instance, which means that your top speeds on these roads will be 50mph and 60mph respectively. You can still drive at a top speed of 70mph on motorways, but if your van is also towing a trailer, your motorway top speed is also brought down to 60mph.

Chancellor urged to aid SMEs in the wake of help-to-buy ending Housebuilders are calling on the government to support SMEs following the demise of help-to-buy. The National Federation of Builders, NFB, said it had been pushing the government to improve the scheme rather than scrap it. The organisations housing and planning head Rico Wojtulewicz commented: “We lobbied the government to reform it [help-to-buy] to support certain criteria such as higher energy efficient housing, on smaller plot sizes of houses.”

Council,

at

courses, as well as in Bootcamps

© Monkey Business/Adobe Stock

MATERIAL GAIN

The Construction Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group reports

Product supply continues to improve, with the availability of building materials and products overall now at its best since pre-pandemic levels. The restricted supply of semi-conductors, however, continues to challenge manufacturers of electro-technical products and gas boilers. It is an improving picture for timber although birch plywood –currently a sanctioned good from Russia – is in short supply.

FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN011

BACK OF THE NET!

Ambitious target announced for net zero homes

The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has called for an ambitious target for UK homes to achieve net zero. The trade body EUA wants to see 15 million UK homes made net

zero ready by 2035 spearheaded by a hydrogen-ready boilers initiative, with all new gas boilers hydrogen-ready by 2026.

BAND TOGETHER

CT1 partners with Band of Builders

The sealant and adhesive manufacturer has become a corporate partner of Band of Builders, supporting the charity in its quest to help tradespeople battling illness or injury, making a life-changing difference to them and their families.

“Band of Builders embodies everything that’s amazing about the UK construction industry,” enthuses CT1’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Nicola Walsh.

A HOUSE DIVIDED

Ending housing targets ends Government housing ambitions, says NFB

“Housing targets were brought in to ensure that councils did not condemn another generation to housing misery,” explains Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Housing and Planning Policy at the National Federation of Builders and House Builders Association (HBA). “They also helped smaller builders too by putting an emphasis on deliverable supply and not simply high volume sites which do not always come to fruition –exampled by the 400,000 unbuilt permissions. Removing targets harms aspiring homeowners, small businesses, placemaking and shows that levelling up is a phrase, not a reality.”

HOME TRUTHS

Illegal home repairs – a fifth of brits would break the law

Over a fifth (21 per cent) of Brits admit they would complete home repairs themselves that are legally required to be carried out or checked by a registered tradesperson, reveals new data from Direct Line business insurance. Completing work that does not comply with Building Regulations is a criminal offence, could lead to a maximum fine of £5,000, and can cause serious injury and damage.

INTO THE WOODS

English woodlands could provide a new natural construction resource Boosting the use of English hardwood forest products across the built environment, could improve the carbon footprint of the UK’s buildings, according to experts.

Researchers from the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE), and the Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) will examine the suitability of certain species of English homegrown trees for their use in construction, looking at sawn, engineered, and mass timber products, including crosslaminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (glulam).

MASTER

& APPRENTICE

Anatural talent” is how his colleagues have described

Year, Luke Emery, and added to that is a level of eloquence and maturity that does credit to him and his profession. Indeed, in his burgeoning career teachers, clients and employers alike have described the County Tryrone-based joiner as a pleasure to teach and a highly valued member of the team.

2017, and the tender age of 17, and now holds an NVQ Level 2 in Woods Occupations and NVQ Level 3 in Site Carpentry, obtained through South West College, Omagh, and has now moved on to a Level 4 Foundation Degree in Construction Engineering. It was, however, more home-grown experiences that would inspire Luke to take up the tools.

The building game is nothing if not a family affair and Luke was exposed to a positive image of the industry from an early age. His father plied his own trade for Northern Ireland-based Lowry Building & Civil Engineering – whilst his aunt was also employed by the business – and

Luke began and continues his career with the very same firm.

that you’ve made from start to finish is very fulfilling.”

Luke was specifically singled out from praise from his employer for his willingness to take on and learn new skills. “I’m a carpenter but if was going to progress I recognised that I would have to go out of that job description,” he reveals. “There are so many transferable skills across all of the trades and apprentices shouldn’t be afraid to take them on. Knowing what a plasterer needs from you when you’re setting a doorframe, for example, is going to make for a better build.”

That’s an attitude that is exemplified with the additional training courses he has committed to, including Emergency First Aid, Water Hygiene Training, COSHH, Risk Assessment & Method Statements, and more, and Luke has now worked on everything from residential and commercial new builds, to infrastructure and utilities projects.

The 21-year-old’s highlight away from the tools is undoubtedly the day he was rewarded with the FMB’s Apprentice of the Year accolade, whilst in his fledgling career he’s already made some significant contributions to prestigious jobs. At the Dark Sky Park and Observatory in

The FMB is championing the next generation through the Apprentice of the Year category in its prestigious Master Builder Awards. Professional Builder’s Lee Jones talks to the most recent recipient of the accolade, Luke Emery.

LtoR FMB, Chief Executive, Brian Berry, Toby Perkins MP, Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education and Apprentice of the Year, Luke Emery.

General Builder Qualification (GBQ)

Small building firms need multitaskers who can fulfil a number of roles and that’s the driving force behind the introduction of a General Builder Qualification (GBQ) standard. Currently under development by the FMB’s Trailblazer Group, the body’s chair, Annie Summun, explains more: “The advantage of the GBQ is that you’d have someone trained at a fundamental or foundational skill level in four trades: bricklaying, carpentry, plastering, and painting and decorating,”

Annie is also Director of Public Affairs at FMB member company, Kiesel Group and is well versed in the recruitment requirements of small and medium-sized businesses. “It will improve productivity on a site as one

Cookstown, for example, Luke was tasked with making and installing birch plywood fins along the feature walls of a corridor. “It’s that kind of bespoke that really excites you but in general I am very happy in my work.”

Communication Luke was also singled out for his first-class communication skills: “Whether it’s with a client and colleagues, you need to be honest, clear and concise. There’s no room for ambiguity on site – and there should be every room for meaningful

person would be able to lay the bricks for the wall, plaster it and then paint it.”

Annie also believes that a workforce with a range of skills would be better equipped to address the retrofit challenges that the industry will face if we are to achieve the Government’s net zero targets by 2050: “Retrofit is going to be a big thing in construction in the next 20 years. So we want those who complete this apprenticeship not only to learn the skills, but to understand the context of how they fit into the industry, to understand a bit about the history of buildings and how houses are constructed because they might be doing a refurbishment or an extension on a house from the 1930s or older, or a more modern house.”

As a passionate advocate of the built environment sector we asked Luke what he would say to other young people for whom construction as a career path does not appear on their radar? “I don’t think there is an industry that is as important as construction,” he enthuses. “From housing to infrastructure, it’s the foundation and backbone of everything we rely on as a society. If you go into it with that mindset, then you can be very proud of what you do. I would urge any young person to give it a go.”

“Promoting alternatives routes to an academic one should start at a much earlier age,” Luke concludes “but, in my experience – even for school leavers –

there’s very little said about apprenticeships in general. That’s something that needs to change. Hopefully the award will give me the opportunity in the future to share my own thoughts and experience so we can have positive policy change. It’s a fantastic, forward-thinking sector that drives innovation and creativity and that’s a reality that needs to be reinforced.”

Annie Summun of Kisiel Group

MOVE IN FOR THE SKILL

According to the CITB’s Construction Skills Network report, we’ll need to add more than a quarter of a million workers by 2026 to keep pace with projected levels of demand. That’s 53,200 additional workers every year.

Output in infrastructure and private housing in particular is forecast to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2023, and the government’s £9.2bn commitment to improving energy efficiency is also expected to put strain on the repair and maintenance sector.

Diversifying training

As well as bringing in new talent, we also need to retain the people we already have. One way we can do this is by embracing a range of opportunities for upskilling, whether that is through more official routes such as vocational education, apprenticeships and distance learning or through onsite training support from manufacturers.

offered by manufacturers helps to develop not only the associated new skills but keeps product users up to date with the latest best practice guidance.

A Construction Products Association (CPA) survey showed that there is little or no collaboration between the product user and the skills-focused organisations that support the manufacturers, so manufacturer led training is key to bridging this gap.

The Saint-Gobain Weber Technical Academy in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, officially opened in 2014 to improve the training and support for our industry and to help produce skilled tradespeople with the know-how to create high-performance buildings that improve the occupants’ wellbeing and daily life.

It is crucial that installers fully understand how the products need to be applied and, as importantly, the health and safety requirements that go alongside them. This is not only for their own safety, but to ensure that the products perform as expected throughout the life-cycle of a building.

In 2019 our academy saw us train more than 1,000 people across 144 courses, with the most popular being monocouche spray render and floor screeding courses. We closed the academy during lockdown

Rob Speke, manager of the Saint-Gobain Weber Technical Academy, addresses the role of product manufacturers in addressing the skills shortage

and have slowly started to reopen the courses this year. We currently offer eight courses including flooring, tiling and external wall insulation (EWI).

Our commitment to training is not limited to our academy. Weber’s application managers give on-site support to larger projects to ensure our products are being correctly used.

Support for the next generation

We also work directly with more than 40 colleges across the UK, offering free materials and training to students and tutors. There are two initiatives that we currently offer; Weber Elite colleges and Friends of Weber.

There are 11 elite colleges that we work with each year. As part of this programme, local Weber application managers visit the college to deliver practical workshops that focus on how to use our products correctly.

The rise of multi-skilled trades

Interestingly, a notable impact of COVID has been tradespeople upskilling and moving into areas that have synergies with their original skills. At the start of lockdown, we saw an increase of plasterers learning more about rendering as they needed to alter their skills to the work that was available and could be done safely outside. While these skills may appear transferable, it’s critical that they have a solid understanding of the products they are using.

In the first lockdown, we launched a series of fortnightly Tea Break Talks that were streamed live on Facebook. In total, we held 14 sessions that were watched more than 88,000 times. The talks covered a range of topics from working successfully in the winter, through to applying floor screed with a render pump. Although not official training, it provided a great opportunity for installers to engage with our technical experts and ask any questions they may have.

For the UK construction to thrive in the years to come we must work together and work smarter. A key part of this is making training and knowledge a priority, whether that be onsite, in the classroom or in the digital world. As an industry we have to be relevant and, as people working in it, we have to care about it.

SCREED LIGHTNING

Professional Builder puts the questions to Fibo Intercon to find out more.

A: Fibo Connect is a fully automated, selfcleaning, self-service batching plant capable of flipping between concrete, mortar and screed recipes. The machines integrate an automated concrete batching plant with a touch screen payment terminal so customers can collect high quality concrete, screed or mortar at the push of a button. The team at Fibo hope that their new technology will help builders and landscapers tackle the ‘small-loads’ challenge, whilst also decreasing the carbon emissions from the current concrete transportation process.

A: Builders and landscapers who require small to medium loads of concrete will typically receive it via one of three methods:

1. They mix themselves on site: This can be an expensive and often time-consuming route.

2.Collection from the local ready-mix plant: This brings about problems with waiting times and issues when special mixes are required.

3.Delivered to site by volumetric trucks: This is the most popular route by far.

times. This is also thought to be the least environmentally friendly solution for smaller loads.

A: “When we looked at the UK market we saw a huge opportunity to tackle both the customer challenge and the environmental challenge posed by concrete delivery. Our solution ultimately gives the end customer more choice: They choose exactly what types of recipes, how much they want to collect, when they want to collect it and even how they want to pay.”

Why local builders’ merchants?

“We built this solution for builders’

ABOUT FIBO INTERCON

Fibo Intercon a/s is a Danish manufacturer, internationally recognized as a leading partner in concrete solutions. With a history spanning back over 70 years, the company aims to deliver world class batching technology that enhances productivity whilst reducing carbon footprint. Learn more about Fibo by visiting WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN023

merchants because we feel they have a huge opportunity to drive new revenue streams from their existing customer base whilst also building a new unique selling point over the local competition that will help draw in new customers.”

FIBO COLLECT MACHINES ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK MARKET. FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN VISIT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN024

QWhat is the Fibo Intercon concept all about?

Q What is meant by the ‘small loads challenge’?

Q In what other ways does your solution help the industry in the UK?

For some builders, financials are their Achilles heel. However, to avoid denting your profitability, ill-will with a customer or –worse still –payment disputes, there are ways builders can protect themselves and their bank balance. Likewise, for those who are more at home with a spreadsheet than a sheet of ply, there are ways to guard your profits and make sure estimating doesn’t eat up all your time.

Start with the scope

The first step in ensuring better profitability is the customer’s brief. Here there’s a delicate balance needed between not enough information and too much, and it’s easy to make assumptions and then underprice or overprice a job.

If you’re faced with a wealth of information, don’t assume you’re needed for all of it. Are they expecting a completed shell or a turnkey finish? Investing time here will stop you spending hours quoting for work that’s not needed or won’t be done by you.

On the other hand, without the full picture, oversights can start to creep in. Did you ask about existing drains or manholes? If you’re only delivering some aspects who’s accounting for scaffold?

Easier estimating

Once you know the remit of a job, the estimate is the next critical step as it’s the foundation of the project’s budget.

If you’re busy it can be tempting to use a price per square metre, or a previous job, but think back to the times when you’ve been left out of pocket or with an unhappy customer arguing the toss over a final invoice. Intelligent estimating services and software, created by extrades, limit this possibility.

Working with a dedicated estimator, they’ll take plans and work through each

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

ESTIMATING

An eye on the

BOTTOM LINE

element to create a report that’s based on specifics. They will look for the details such as the right thickness of plaster and how many boxes of fixings you’ll need. They will also base costs on current materials pricing and produce a full, professional report, with a full materials list, schedule of work and an estimate using your defined labour rates and profit margins.

While conscientious builders might take a similar, manual approach working this way is time consuming and certainly

isn’t fool proof. In our research, we found that most builders spend up to 40 hours per month estimating. That’s an extra working week. With outside help, you can swap hours of quoting in the evening for a short phone call.

Expect the unexpected

Another benefit of producing a thorough, accurate estimate versus a simple text message or email is that when the unexpected happens, you’re in a better position to have an open conversation with the customer.

Changes and ‘can you justs’ are part of a job, but if they aren’t part of your original estimate, they can be overlooked or mean your customer gets an unexpected invoice.

If you’ve used a leading estimating service at the start of a project however, you’ll have a clear picture of what the

Marcus Jefford, managing director of Build Aviator, shares advice on how builders can stay in the black and keep more of their hard-earned profits to themselves.

price is based on. Better still, changes to a report can be made quickly to show you and the client the difference between having to go down another six inches on the foundations or swapping material spec. This makes justifying an alteration to your invoice much easier and helps your client make an informed choice about whether they want to go over budget.

In the reports we generate for builders to pass on to their clients, we also make sure it states that estimates are valid for 30 days. Many builders forget to include that condition on their estimates, which can again backfire if a job happens three or six months later.

For added protection, leading estimating services also provide a free reestimate before a job begins that will take into account any changes in material prices and provide a profit check report. Again, this can be used to have an open

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ESTIMATING

Value your time

While many builders hate forking out for things that they can’t or don’t want to pass on to their clients, be it new tools or

time you could be charging elsewhere, therefore paying for an external service can often work out more cost effective, especially as some providers now offer

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS GOING DIGITAL

CHAIN OF COMMAND

the best estimates, can be easily missed. That could make it tougher to meet specific compliance requirements if you want to work on public sector projects which aim to use local supply chains to reduce carbon emissions or to support regional economies.

While the term “digitalisation in construction” can be off-putting to some, it is simply another way of talking about online solutions that are more effective and efficient with your time, and these can include help with sourcing building supplies or hiring essential equipment. It’s common to work within a project timeframe, or to a tight deadline, so the last thing you need is for the search for the next order of materials to be timeconsuming.

A large part of our lives is now organised at the touch of a button – we regularly make online choices, whether it’s booking a holiday, comparing insurance quotes or ordering the weekly shop. Transfer that process to running your own business – such as searching all supplier options on the market at once, requesting quotes and booking the most suitable option – and you could quickly transform the way you work for the better.

The benefits of going digital Relying on word of mouth and using handwritten or quickly printed-off quotes is not only inefficient but can lead to issues, such as misplacing a paper record of any estimates. It’s frustrating having to repeat the process or feel restricted to using one supplier because there simply isn’t time to shop around.

More seriously, it can lead to a lack of compliance through poor record keeping. This can be easily avoided by using

digital solutions with an online dashboard, meaning that no emails, phone calls, or paperwork are missed and that a virtual paper trail is automatically created.

Having an online profile that you can log into through a convenient app or dashboard is not only a better use of time, but also means you can run your ‘office’ from anywhere –from requesting quotes while in your van on site, accepting the best estimates at lunch on your phone and checking emails on the go.

Digital tools that can request estimates and allow contact from the best-suited suppliers, so you don’t have to do this manually, can be a blessing to small contractors. We know that many will return to the same merchants they have used before or decide to only gain one or two estimates simply based on location or word of mouth.

An online procurement tool effectively levels the playing field for smaller contractors who can approach merchants eager to reach a new customer base online and to offer deals that will secure their future loyalty – meaning better relationships, more sales and a stronger business proposition in the long-term

Suppliers can also make suggestions and recommend alternative materials or equipment options if a more open quote is requested. Or orders can easily be split online for the same amount of time and effort, which can make the difference when contractors are working to tackle material shortages and prevent site delays – this is crucial when reputation and a satisfied customer is central to securing future work.

The choice is yours

Convenience, speed, efficiency, and transparency are just some of the benefits of using an online platform for ordering supplies or hiring equipment. When reputation is everything for contractors, who often rely on word of mouth for growth, a quicker and more reliable process for sourcing materials or hiring equipment can positively contribute to a job being completed on time and at a good profit margin.

By turning to a ready-made solution, contractors can experience the benefits that a digital approach can provide.

discusses the many benefits for small businesses looking to reduce costs and save time when buying materials or hiring equipment.

INDUSTRY SCHEME (CIS)

CIS EXPLAINED

Ihope it comes to no surprise for you to hear that at EEBS we take our CIS responsibilities very seriously. We thought it would be beneficial to share some of the common CIS misunderstandings and foibles that pop up regularly with clients, so in no particular order…

Expenses are taxed – the regulations say that all payments other than material costs must be taxed at the relevant CIS deduction rate. So, unless a subcontractor holds gross payment status their expenses must be taxed, and they can only claim the tax relief when submitting their annual accounts.

The only self-employed professionals fully exempt from the CIS regulations are either non-construction related (so, for instance your accountants) or surveyors and architects – unless they go beyond the design process and act as an on-site project manager, then they will be subject to the CIS.

If any other self-employed individual providing “professional services” is involved in the day-to-day running of a project, no matter what their role ( e.g. Project Design Manager) they are still subject to the CIS – unless they are purely consultative and have no active involvement with the running of a job –under those circumstances they are outside of CIS!

And if the contract requires them to perform both roles, then yes, you’ve guessed it – CIS applies to the whole contract.

CIS applies to the installation of heating, lighting, air-conditioning power

supply etc – but not to maintenance or repair. So, fitting a new boiler is outside of CIS, but fitting a whole central heating system is in. Replacing a defective spur and fitting new sockets is outside CIS, but a full domestic rewire is in!

Plant & equipment

The hire to clients of plant and equipment is outside CIS, as is its delivery to site –But if you hire-out plant and equipment that you own with an operator the whole invoice is subject to CIS!

If you are the client engaging that subcontractor who supplies plant, equipment

contractor is entitled to identify the hire as a material cost, and to be paid gross for that element of the invoice.

And if you are the sub-contractor in the above arrangement, any uplift you charge on the hire cost to the client (so, if your hire cost was £1,000, and you charged the client £1,100) the £100 profit is subject to CIS deduction.

If you are the client in the above arrangement, we have seen examples where some sub-contractors identify a nominal part of the labour charge as part of the hire (say 50%) – this is not allowed under the CIS regulations! Indeed, if you were subject to an HMRC inspection and had agreed with those arrangements you would be liable for an additional CIS deduction on the 50% labour charge.

I didn’t say it was simple!!

As ever should you require any help or advice, or further clarification, do not hesitate to contact The EEBS CIS Payroll Team. EEBS provide HMRC compliant payroll solutions.

Nick Pilgrim, EEBS Managing Director, helps you the with the misunderstandings and foibles that surround the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and what falls inside and outside of CIS…

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HOUSE WARMING

QHow can roof windows help with

energy bills?

When your customers want to make their homes more energy-efficient and warmer in the winter months, they need to choose a roof window that’s well-constructed and properly installed. Which is why Dakea is a great choice: a well-insulated window means less heat loss in the winter months

There are a number of excellent choices: Dakea Energy roof windows boast a toughened external pane and high performance insulation as well as triple pane construction.

Our Better Safe window has a toughened external pane and double low emission coating that reflects heat back into the room and which means thermal transmittance of 1,3 W/m2K.

Comfort Glass, used in our Ultima window, is designed to bring comfort to every home they’re installed in, thanks to two different layers of heat-reflecting and sun-protecting coatings on the pane. All these features combine to

make a home’s heating more efficient and energy bills lower overall.

Our best seller, the Dakea Ultima Energy is not only triple-glazed but also filled with krypton gas which conducts heat by F46% less than the most frequently-used alternative, argon. It also has an excellent Uw  parameter of 0.99 W/m2K:  WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN033

Check online to find the best roof windows to save on energy bills for your project: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN034

Stopping draughts

Draught-proofing a home is one of the simplest and best ways to save energy and money. While homes need ventilation from extractor fans and vents to stay condensation- and dampfree, draughts let in cold air and allow warm air to escape so should always be blocked up. Advise homeowners to look for any gaps around windows using self-adhesive strips or strips with

brush attached (these are best for sash windows).

Did you know that 10% of heat is lost through windows? When having windows installed they need to be done as securely as possible to minimise gaps. Installers can keep upto-date on the best way to install a roof window with Dakea’s expert instructional videos on our website WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN035 which cover different styles of Dakea roof windows and flashings. Once installed, roof windows should offer draught-free service for up to 15 to 20 years.

If your customer has a front door that opens into their front room, why not advise them to cover the keyhole and letterbox? They can also attach strips to gaps at the bottom or around the edges of any doors that are letting cold air in, including internal doors, particularly when one room isn’t heated. Always keep internal doors closed, too.

As bills continue to concern many homeowners over the coming months, it’s smart to advise customers on saving money and also let them know how Dakea can help...

Solar panels

The cleanest, most renewable form of energy for the home is made by solar panels which soak up the heat of sunny days and then generate free, clean electricity and hot water. A large investment to buy and install, most solar panels take around a decade to pay for themselves but will work brilliantly for decades without needing to be replaced. Your customers may be eligible for a Government Green Deal loan which makes them more accessible:

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN036

Dakea’s Solar Blinds can be an excellent way to stop warmth escaping.

Our Solar Roller Shutter offers up to extra 16% thermal insulation.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN037

Double glazing

Whether double- or triple-glazed, windows and doors with proper glazing reduce draughts and save energy, thus reducing bills. Secondary glazing, adding another layer to existing windows, is about half as effective but will still save energy and cut bills.

Smart heating

Boilers begin to wear out after a decade’s service so tell your customers it’s often worth replacing an energy-guzzling boiler with a new, efficient model, as is switching over to a smart meter and thermostat. With smart energy meters

homeowners can monitor their energy usage, and get into good, money-saving habits while smart thermostats, usually app-controlled, save money as the heating can be controlled remotely.

Installing ventilation valvles help ensure trapped air and gases in the piping system are released so that during draining a positive pressure is maintained.

Insulating the home

It’s also worth advising homeowners on insulation which ensures their property is using less energy while staying warm. Insulation is recommended for homes with attics, lofts or flat roofs as a quarter of heat is lost through the roof.

Loft insulation will cost in the low thousands and should pay for itself in two or three years. A straightforward job, it involves laying thick material between the joists of the attic.

Dakea Ultima roof window range

“We always recommend installers and housebuilders let homeowners know about the benefits of the Dakea Ultima roof window range. The triplepane construction, each filled with krypton gas, creates excellent energy efficiency. What’s more, the glaze blocking on the strengthened external glass pane offers 95% protection against UV rays while still letting light in. So you’ll be helping customers have a warm house during winter and no overheating during summer. And our noise block technology reduces noise from the outside by 50%.”

Andrew Birch, Dakea Technical Sales Manager GB, Ireland, Netherlands and Belgium

A third of heat escapes through the walls of our homes. Cavity wall insulation is relatively expensive but can result in a 20% reduction in bills and emissions. The process consists of adding another layer between two brick walls and is best done while decorating.

Internal wall insulation is a cheaper option where boards and rolls of insulation are stuck to internal walls with adhesive.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE DAKEA ULTIMA ROOF WINDOW RANGE VISIT WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN038

A PROUD ORIGIN

The fenestration industry is being challenged on all fronts. Between supply chain troubles, material shortages, and changing Building Regulations, the market is in a constant state of fluctuation. This directly impacts the nation’s builders, so having a reliable supplier that has ample stock available and can deliver on time, in full, is essential to keeping projects on schedule and to budget. Origin, the UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke aluminium external and interior doors, and premium quality windows, offers the solution.

For over 20 years, Origin has been helping builders create homes that families will love. Its most recent product launch, an internal steel-look door and screen system, now makes the company a one-stop-shop for all aluminium doors and windows, with a solution available for every requirement and style, whether it be for a residential or commercial property.

aluminium with precision engineering to

create functional and aesthetically pleasing solutions that are designed to last.

The History

Their ambitious response was to create a company capable of manufacturing the UK’s best quality doors, backed by uncompromising levels of service. The result was the Origin Bi-fold Door, a cleverly designed sliding folding door system made from the highest quality aluminium and that had a unique freeglide running system included.

The Innovation

After perfecting the design and functionality of its first bi-folding door system, the company used its experience to introduce sliding, residential, and internal doors, and windows to its product collection.

This British manufacturer has complete control over its operations, from sourcing and design, through to manufacturing and delivery, ensuring that every product is of the highest quality. Products are rigorously tested and exceed current Building Regulations, so can achieve the required standards for thermal efficiency and security, such as PAS 24:2016 and Secured by Design.

The bespoke nature of the products

Professional Builder profiles premium door and window manufacturer, Origin

THE PRODUCTS

Bi-Fold Door

Available in two sightlines, 72mm or 49mm, the Bi-Fold Door provides a seamless transition between the inside and out of a home whilst allowing an abundance of natural light to flood into a property.

It has been engineered to be thermally efficient, with sophisticated weathertight seals and thermal breaks. Plus, it benefits from a unique 8-point locking system, making for an ultrasecure system.

Sliding Door

The manufacturer’s sliding patio door is available in three sightlines, 29mm, 44mm, or 77mm, and is a modern variation of the traditional patio door system.

Also in the sliding door category is the Artisan Slider (OS-20), which features

allows builders to specify the exact size, colour, configuration, and hardware of doors and windows, ensuring the perfect solution for every project is available. In addition to this, significant investment in innovation, stock, and storage ensures Origin will always deliver.

The Service

Lead times can often be a costly problem for builders. However, the level of investment made means Origin can deliver bespoke, high-quality systems when requested, even if that’s just 24 hours after the order being placed. This industry-leading promise has transformed how the manufacturing sector operates, and helps keep projects on schedule

This promise is able to be fulfiled because of the attention that’s been given to the supply chain. In 2021, the company invested in a new 55,000ft2 warehouse facility to maintain its supply chain and manufacturing excellence and futureproof the business against economic and environmental uncertainties. The Ark, as it’s affectionately known, is used by the supply and logistics teams to stock significant volumes of aluminium profile and components. This stockpiling means that the business is never impacted by materials delays.

unrivalled individual maximum panel sizes and sightlines of just 20mm for panoramic views.

Residential Door

The Residential Door is designed with heightened security and thermal efficiency. Available as either a front or garage door, it allows for a complete front of house integrated look.

Available in 10 panel choices, it’s expertly engineered for optimum energy efficiency, with an advanced polyamide break to limit heat transfer. The panel is also made with a highly efficient Thermimax core.

Internal Door

The internal door is a steel-look wall and door system designed to separate home

and office footprints into practical spaces, revolutionising interior design by allowing light to travel unhindered through the building. Available in several configurations, including fixed, single, and French, it can be coupled with a corner post to create a whole new room in a property.

Window

Available in two systems, slimline or premium, the Origin Window is available as a casement, fixed, gable, bay or French window. The Premium Window is the only window in the UK that can be upgraded to include the revolutionary Aerogel, which boasts the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid material, to deliver an unbeatable energy rating and certified 0.8 U-Value.

In addition, an online quoting and ordering system – Origin Sale Safe (OSS) –is designed specifically to help its Partners easily quote and order products from the Home Range, increasing accuracy and efficiency in the process by allowing users to build and save whole customer projects, rather than quoting on individual products.

Alongside this, on-site training for installers is offered to get hands-on with the products. This reduces the possibility of call-backs by homeowners and creates a more efficient operation for installers.

As well as boasting award-winning products and offering a ‘gold standard’ of service, the company currently holds the ISO 14001, 9001, 45001 accreditations, Secured by Design – the official police approval – and a Queen’s Award for International Trade, all ensuring that those involved with Origin can specify with confidence.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN039

STEAL A MARCH ON THIEVES

2023 is set to be another year of twists and turns with the cost of living continuing to rise, but this financial strain imposed on most of the country has caused experts to warn of the impact this will have on crime rates across the UK.

In times of financial hardship, we typically see burglary rates increase. With figures showing that in the year ending March 2022 there was an average of 526 burglaries a day, this seems to be ringing true already.

So, to ensure you’re clued up on the prevalent crime trends as we enter the New Year, Matt Claydon, Head of Trade at Yale UK, shares how you can not only protect your own belongings and important tools, but your customer’s homes and valuables too.

Tool theft

Over the past year, tool theft has risen to an all-time high. A reported 78% of tradespeople surveyed have had their tools stolen, with only 1% fully-recovering their valuable kit. With the value of tools stolen typically costing between £1,000 to £5,000, it’s essential that, as we start the New Year, protecting your expensive tools is a top priority.

Firstly, it’s always advised that you remove tools from your vehicle overnight. Whether that’s storing them in a secure garage, shed or in a locked toolbox, it’s important to remove these items from your car or van to avoid being an easy target.

If you’re storing tools in a shed or garage, ensure that you are securing these with a high security, weatherproof padlock to add another level of protection to your home and valuables. You can also add additional protection to your storage space with a handy, wire-free shed and

garage alarm, which can be installed in seconds, notifying you of any motion detected immediately.

Vehicle theft

As a tradesperson, you will know the importance of having to keep a close eye on your van and unfortunately vehicle theft shows no signs of slowing down in 2023.

Of course, it’s no surprise that vans are a prime target for criminals. They house thousands of pounds worth of valuables from tools, machinery, equipment and even important private documents. In fact, recent statistics have highlighted the continued rise in van theft, with an estimated 20,000 vans stolen annually by 2030. And with the average vehicle storing around £2,500 worth of kit, it’s essential that tradespeople

are doing all they can to prioritise their vehicle’s security.

Investing in a high-quality van lock, such as Yale’s Heavy Duty Van Lock, is a must to upgrade your van security. Ensuring your chosen van lock is tested to industry standards will provide protection against a range of attack methods, whilst also maintaining protection in extreme weather conditions.

We also recommend tradespeople invest in security cameras to not only act as a deterrent to opportunists, but to also ensure that they can keep an eye on their van, tools and possessions from afar.

Smart security cameras allow for remote

Yale is urging the trades to keep clued up on crime trends in 2023

A window of opportunity

Making improvements to your customer’s home security at this time of year is also an effective way of not only helping to boost sales, but to ensure you’re helping to secure their homes at this vulnerable time.

Windows are a great place to start. Although a traditional form of burglary, it appears the ‘back to basics’ trend of breaking and entering through a window continues to prove popular with opportunists. According to a recent survey conducted by Yale, 25% of burglars gained access to a home through breaking a window, alongside a further 21% that saw criminals enter a through an open window. Although these figures are alarming for homeowners, window security is an area that can quickly be improved and upgraded to ensure heightened security for homes.

Of course, a simple suggestion is

locked at all times, when not in use. But it’s also wise to stock up on high quality window locks and door handles too, as a simple upgrade can work wonders in improving window security. When suggesting window security measures, it’s important to recommend the highest level of security, such as a 2-star TS007 security handle. Combine a 1-Star cylinder with a 2star handle to ensure 3-star protection for the windows on a property.

With the recent developments in smart home technology, there have been further progression in the smart security sector to ensure homeowners can monitor their

SensCheck Window Sensors, allow homeowners to monitor if their windows are open, locked, or in the vented position remotely via their smartphone. This adds an additional level of security and peace of mind, ensuring homeowners can feel confident that their windows are secure and protecting their home.

So, ensure you’re starting off the new year safely and securely by not only upgrading your own vehicle and home security measures, but your customer’s too, for a profitable start to 2023.

FOR MORE ADVICE AND

THE REST IS HISTORY

When it comes to the majority of building projects, especially new build or modern homes, there is plenty of choice out there for most materials and components, and shopping around a little can yield useful savings. However, if your project is historically sensitive – for example a Listed building, barn conversion or a property in a conservation area – then choices may be more limited.

There are many examples of imitation ‘conservation’ products on the market, for example plastic being used as a replacement for cast iron rainwater goods, windows and rooflights. While these products might offer a cheaper alternative, there are few, if any examples where these materials should be considered appropriate.

Authenticity

According to Historic England, the public body that looks after England’s historic environment, in its Materials for Historic

Paul Trace of Stella Rooflight discusses the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of buildings

Building Repairs article: “The use of authentic traditional materials helps to retain the character of historic buildings and in turn supports traditional industries and vital craft skills. The organisation argues that: “some materials can actually

harm the existing historic fabric and speed up deterioration,” and urge for consideration to be given to “the potential durability of the material used and its future maintenance requirements”, the conclusion is that “what might seem like

the cheapest option might not always work out so in the long run”.

Looking more closely at the rooflight market, just because something is sold as a conservation product, that doesn’t automatically make it suitable for all building types. If a rooflight is going to be introduced it has to meet the conservation specifications of that particular area or type of building. If your building is listed, or in a conservation area, then the criteria for using conservation rooflights are much stricter and you should always gain approval, not only for their use but also the manufacturer that you would want to use.

See the light

There are only a handful of companies that specifically make conservation rooflights and even fewer who design, manufacture and assemble in the UK. Many conservation rooflights available online are simply other products which have been spruced up to look like they meet the requirements of that type of product. There are many elements which go into a genuine conservation design and price is always a reflection on quality.

If a conservation rooflight is all frame, then there is little point in having one. Genuine conservation designs should be manufactured with slim, clean lines and a low-profile to match the roofline. A number of skylight companies try to produce conservation rooflights using modern bulky aluminium or plastic profiles, which sit proud of the roofline, particularly slate. It is widely accepted that most authentic conservation rooflights are manufactured from steel because it provides great strength while offering a slim profile and excellent glass to frame ratios. There are many types of steel conservation rooflights and for unrivalled protection and lifespan, one should always consider 316 stainless steel which will protect against the common issue of rust.

Consideration should also be given to the viewable area of a rooflight. Large rooflights do not always guarantee lots of light and you should always check what the finished viewable (often referred to as clear viewable) area of the rooflight will be. You might think that a conservation rooflight with a whole frame size of

900mm (w) x 1,200mm (h) would have a similar clear viewable area regardless of the manufacturer, but you would be wrong and bulky framed modern types or the flat rooflights posing as pitched conservation styles will let in considerably less light than a genuine steel framed version.

Genuine conservation

Understanding what constitutes a genuine conservation product is vitally important in an age where we are witnessing far too many cheaper, often imported, plastic products, being used in sensitive buildings across the UK. The use of such

products very rarely contributes anything to historic character of a building, indeed the visual impact of using modern materials on older buildings usually has quite the opposite effect.

While there is no denying that bone fide conservation products are more expensive – and hopefully the reasons for this have been demonstrated above –builders, architects and homeowners must resist the temptation to use alternative materials when looking at areas in which to cut back on budgets. As we continue to feel the economic squeeze we can only hope that decisions are taken in the best interests of the long term preservation of our heritage and that cost cutting does not end up having a long term impact on our important historical buildings.

“Consideration should also be given to the viewable area of a rooflight. Large rooflights do not always guarantee lots of light and you should always check what the finished viewable (often referred to as clear viewable) area of the rooflight will be.”

COMPLIANCE BY DESIGN

Future-proofing a home renovation, extension or build project is always a key consideration, and that same carefully-considered ethos is also applied to the design of all Made For Trade’s Korniche products.

New building legislation, which came into force in June 2022, means that bifold doors are now generally required to have background ventilation when used in renovation projects and new or self builds. These regulation changes to Approved Documents F are designed to incorporate ventilation via the use of trickle vents, but the updates were well planned for with the Korniche bi-folding door system already fully compliant.

The addition of mandatory ventilation can often mean additional cost and unsightly features, but the Korniche door was designed from the very beginning in such a way that there is no additional requirement for an extender profile to house the trickle vent. The vent was instead designed to be incorporated into the head, allowing for a 17mm clearance from the top of the inside of the door and 12.5mm from the outside top. Integrating such a feature at the engineering phase means two things for the trade partner and consumer.

Slim profile

Firstly, the sleek and slim profile of the company’s bi-folding door is maintained with no unsightly additions or protrusions as part of a secondary component; the original market-leading aesthetics are preserved. Secondly though, the lack of additional frame parts – typically around £75 per door plus VAT – and no requirement for installation on site, ultimately means a notable saving for the supplier and customer.

Also in focus when it comes to cost saving and convenience for trade partners is a ‘One-Drop Delivery’ service. Having invested in excess of £400,000 over the last 18 months in its fleet of delivery vehicles, MFT now not only offer crane offloading for maximum ease and safety on site, and includes both the door system

and glazing together on the same truck. This significant investment allows a Document L-compliant glazed product to be offered at a much-reduced cost and increased convenience. What’s more, the One-Drop Delivery saves downtime on site dealing with deliveries and glass that could typically arrive a day or two either side of the door system.

MFT’s award-winning Korniche products have been designed from the outset to comply with revised Building Regulations

Andas means ‘breathe’ in Swedish. Both Quickslide and Kolorseal were delighted to be chosen to help Andas Homes live up to its name by breathing new life into a heritage renovation for a luxury homes development in Yorkshire.

Quickslide’s sliding sash windows were chosen to complete the restoration of the 19th-century Harewood Estate farmhouse in Chapel Wold. Situated in the hamlet of Kearby, the site is steeped in history, with one of the stone barns dating back to the 1800s. So, careful consideration was given to ensure the property’s traditional Yorkshire stone walls and slate roof would be complemented with perfectly proportioned authentic yet highly efficient sash windows to reflect both the heritage and luxury of the new development.

Luxury property

The process of transforming the period farmhouse into a luxury home uncovered charming heritage features including fireplaces, oak beams and a stone floor basement which were all carefully renovated and restored. A new garden room extension made a modern yet sympathetic addition. This, along with a spacious outside seating area and landscaped garden, emphasises the biophilic focus of Andas Homes, where every design aspect contributes to a focus on improving health and well-being and building a connection with the surrounding nature.

Andas Homes has been working with Quickslide for a number of years for premium, heritage projects such as this.

“Chapel Wold is a luxury, sensitive renovation, which draws out the character of the existing buildings and breathes new life into their timeless traits,” said designer Holly Simpson. “We love the quality and performance of Quickslide’s sliding sash windows, in particular the run through sash horns which make the frame so authentic.”

Andas Homes opted for a bespoke colour frame. Quickslide chose colourcoating specialist’s Kolorseal, their regular supplier for colour coating. Kolorseal could easily match to their exact preferred shade of Light Grey. The colour option provided the perfect complement to the pinky tones of the Yorkshire stone walls.

“Together with Kolorseal we can give home builders high quality, stunningly

beautiful products in the exact shades their customers are looking for” said Quickslide’s Managing Director, Ben Weber.

“This luxury development at Chapel Wold is just the latest example of how doors and windows are transforming home design. Glazing elements are now so much more than just building products. They add value and personality to the very fabric of home building and are an integral and crucial consideration in the internal and external design of a home.”

Andas Homes breathes new life into heritage homes with Quickslide and Kolorseal

WOOD WINDOW

Andersen Windows and Doors is expanding its E-Series product line to include a new white oak species option. The whole range encompasses 50 standard exterior colours, custom colours and anodized finishes, plus a range of interior wood species and interior stains. For a cohesive look the same manufacturer’s Big Doors are already available in White Oak.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN046

COMPOSITE DOORS

Thanks to the material, Virtuoso Doors’ products have a high level of thermal efficiency. Glass designs are supplied with a warm edge, are Argon filled, include a Soft Coat, and are available in both double and triple-glazed solutions. An easy-to-read guide on how its products meets the new Building Regulations can be accessed from the link below:

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN047

FIRE DOOR GUIDE

Guidance on specifying, installing, maintaining and inspecting fire certified doorsets is available inside the ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Fire Door Guide. The publication covers residential and commercial buildings, and aims to raise industry standards and provide greater awareness.

ROOF WINDOWS

Bigger roof windows that are easier to install is the VELUX promise for the top hung variants of its 3in1 roof window solutions. All sashes can be removed to get the weight of the product down, the installation of the one-frame module means fewer components, and one installation and one lining is needed to get the benefits of multiple windows. The manufacturer also offers training on its products.

FLOODLIGHT CAMERA

The smartphone control on the Yale Floodlight Camera, allows homeowners to monitor the outside of their home at any time of the day or night. The unit combines the benefits of light and sound – with a 110dB built-in siren – there’s clear 1080 FHD video quality, and multiple lighting modes can configure the

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN051

ROOFLIGHT UPSTAND

Now that the Building Regulations require all rooflight upstands built on site to meet a 0.35W/m2K U-Value, Whitesales has developed a new preassembled timber sloping upstand to fit with its popular em.glaze fixed and hinged aluminium rooflights. There’s no need to build anything separate on site or worry about U-Value calculations for Part L compliance.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN052

GLAZING REPAIR KIT

Offered in a ready-to-use, 675ml twopart cartridge, the DOWSIL 993 Structural Glazing Sealant Kit is suitable for on-site installation or repair of structurally glazed units. It adheres to a wide range of substrates, including coated, enamelled and reflective glasses,

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN053

RECYCLED CONTENT

As part of an initiative to reduce its carbon emissions the VELUX Group has entered into a partnership agreement with Novelis, the world’s largest aluminium recycler, to provide high-recycled-content, flat-rolled aluminium for use in its roof windows. Recycling aluminium requires only 5% of the energy and results in up to 95% fewer carbon emissions.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN054

Sherlock, Managing Director of Smartroof, explores ‘room in roof’

solutions

A JOURNEY INTO SPACE

With the UK having some of the smallest homes in Europe, we traditionally need to explore the basement or roof space. Basement construction is costly and complicated, so the next logical place is to expand upwards. It is here that prefabricated roofing packages can offer real benefits in terms of ease of installation, improved energy efficiency and cost certainty.

In the past two years we have spent more time in our homes than ever before, and evidence suggests that hybrid work will continue to exist, and so will the importance of maximising space. But in the UK our homes have been getting smaller. A 2019 survey carried out by LABC found that UK homes have reduced

in size by an average of 10m2 since 2010. Much of this is a result of affordability and developers maximising the land on which they are building.

basements or lofts are the best options

for maximising smaller footprints and increasing the space in homes. An

Kevin

excavation is a costly proposition and construction work below ground is complex and carries a significant degree of risk. It’s why the smart decision is to ‘go up’ in order to find extra space in homes.

Habitable room on top

Creating habitable roofing spaces has been made easier by the increased use of off-site fabrication and systems such as structural insulated panels (SIPS), and preengineered insulated roof systems such as Smartroof’s ‘room in roof’ system. Manufactured offsite, the NHBC-approved Smartroof system is a complete room in roof system that eliminates purlins and ridge beams to create an internal space completely free from structural intrusions. Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulated roof panels, spandrel wall panels, dormers, roof windows, GRP chimneys, soffit and fascia, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require roof tiling.

More competitive than traditional forms of construction, the system has many benefits – less waste, better quality control, safer to install – and meets the industry’s demand for solutions that allow us to build better quality homes more efficiently.

Improved energy efficiency

In addition, the interlocking design of the system makes it ideal for housebuilders adopting a fabric first approach. Production of the system in a factorycontrolled environment ensures consistent and predictable thermal performance. With the latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, Smartroof’s factory insulated panels eliminate voids or cold spots and offer design flexibility, as insulation levels can be easily upgraded to meet requirements. This allows the client to ‘future proof’ their roof so their desired Uvalues can easily be achieved.

Build faster

An off-site solution such as Smartroof can also reduce the detrimental impact of bad weather on build times, whilst faster weatherproofing of structures will reduce delays for follow on trades. Its off-site manufacturing reduces the time spent working at height and decreases on-site

wastage to provide a cost-effective, modern method of construction. A full vaulted ceiling and an extended floor area in the eaves can be achieved in a matter of hours, making it a highly cost-effective package for house building projects of all sizes.

Evesham Gate

At Bloor Homes’ Evesham Gate development close to the market town of Evesham, the three and four-bed Makenzie, Medina and Morris homes will maximise fabric efficiency and maximise sellable space through the creation of rooms in roofs. The project provided the perfect opportunity for Smartroof to provide Bloor Homes with its offsite produced room in roof system for phase one of the scheme.

■ ABOUT SMARTROOF

Smartroof understands the unique challenges facing the construction industry and its team of experienced engineers has developed an insulated, panelised ‘room in roof’ system that reduces overall build time, addresses the issue of skill shortages onsite and improves health and safety during the construction process. With depth of knowledge and experience in ‘room in roof’ construction the company’s technical and installation team are able to manage projects from concept to site.

The Smartroof system is manufactured offsite and offers a whole range of benefits associated with moving roof construction away from the building site and into a factorycontrolled environment. This includes health and safety, speed of construction, cost certainty and consistent quality.

With energy efficient, fabric first design having become a key driver for all new homes, particularly with the latest changes to Building Regulations Part L, Bloor Homes require solutions that can maximise airtightness, optimise insulation and eliminate thermal bridging. Smartroof’s pre-engineered insulated roof system does just that and has allowed the developer to maximise a smaller footprint by increasing the space in homes and creating rooms in roofs.

Bloor Homes also benefited from reduced working at height and decreases in on site wastage to provide a costeffective method of production.

At a time when the construction sector is facing challenges in terms of cost, quality and a shortage of trades, the Smartroof system expedited the build process and has ensured the homes at Evesham Gate are future-proofed to meet the required thermal efficiency standards whilst also providing additional muchneeded space for the homeowner.

TO FIND OUT MORE DOWNLOAD THE SMARTROOF BROCHURE BY VISITING WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN055

WORK THE ROOM

Underfloor heating (UFH) is now well-established as an efficient, affordable way to heat a home. It offers an even, radiant heat that keeps a property warm without leaving cold spots around people’s feet, and brings a luxury feel and the convenience that comes with not having to fit radiators on the walls. UFH is also the most efficient way to heat a property using a low-temperature heat source which, thanks to recent Building Regulation changes, will quickly become the norm when heating engineers are installing new systems and upgrading existing properties.

That’s why so many newbuild properties are now built with UFH throughout, and why people looking to extend their properties often opt for UFH

wetrooms, because of the restrictions around pipes and drainage. But this simply isn’t true. Thoughtfully designed UFH systems can be fitted almost anywhere, including in any bathroom, WC or wetroom.

So, what do tradespeople need to bear in mind when they’re planning to fit UFH in these areas of a property?

Types of wetroom

People use the term wetroom to refer to lots of different kinds of bathroom. Some are describing a room with a low-level shower tray set into a tiled floor, others a fully tanked room where the drain is inset into a bevelled floor. There are lots of rules around the best type of UFH to use

in these rooms, but the first thing to decide is whether it is a true wetroom you’re working on (ie, tanked), or a more traditional bathroom.

For true wetrooms electric UFH may be the best option, because you can lay the electric mats above the layer of waterproof tanking. That said, we wouldn’t generally recommend using electric UFH in any other situations, as it is significantly less efficient than waterbased UFH systems.

Continal’s UltraSlim panels can also be installed in a wetroom. At just 15mm thick it’s Continal’s lowest profile system and combines a high-strength MDF base and heat dissipation layer to maximise output and temperature variance.

There is still a misconception among some installers that underfloor heating is complicated to install in wetrooms and bathrooms. Chris Ingram, founder of Continal Underfloor Heating, explains why this isn’t the case.

People often think that you can’t install UFH beneath a shower tray, when in fact this also isn’t the case. Many shower trays can easily withstand the heat from UFH pipes, and so the pipes can be run beneath the tray provided you make sure you know where the waste is going to be positioned, and allow enough space for it to be installed. Always check with the shower tray manufacturer before going ahead with the UFH installation, however.

The decision of whether you decide to run UFH under the shower tray depends largely on the size of the room itself, and whether leaving that space free of UFH pipes will still give you sufficient heat output for the room. This is why carrying out a full heat-loss calculation is always recommended before starting work on any system, especially in areas where the effective floor area may be reduced because of the presence of baths or shower trays.

We do recommend that you avoid running pipes beneath where the toilet is going to be sited, to prevent any damage being done to the pipes from those fixings. It’s also important to consider the position of any bath, and whether it is going to be a freestanding or built-in bath. Again, UFH can be fitted beneath any bath as long as space is left for the waste and allowances are made for any plumbing pipes that will be running beneath it, though most people don’t bother to run UFH beneath a bath that is blocked in.

Freestanding baths, which are growing in popularity, need slightly different considerations. It is much easier for freestanding models to be moved at a later date, either because the family are having the bathroom updated or because the house has been sold to a new owner, and the risk is that if they move the freestanding bath elsewhere there will then be a cold area in the bathroom, so it’s always best to run the UFH beneath those models.

This is why it’s so important that, during any renovation or building work, the position of things like units, baths and showers are decided before the UFH is designed and installed, as these things can significantly affect where the pipes should be laid to achieve the best results.

Talking tiles

People have a particular desire for UFH in a bathrooms because they want that lovely feeling of walking barefoot on a warm tiled floor on a cold winter’s day. UFH is primarily installed in these areas for comfort, and it’s important to remember that bathrooms with small floor areas, and which have high heat losses due to mechanical ventilation, may need additional heating from a towel rail, for example.

But not all types of UFH are compatible with every type of tile – at least not without needing to add a layer of board between the UFH and the tile, as well as using specialist tile adhesive, otherwise you run the risk that the heat

the UFH, which is particularly useful when you need to keep floor heights to a minimum. Continal’s TileFix system is typically installed over existing solid or timber deck floors, and can have tiles fitted directly on top of it using flexible tile adhesive. It can be used with ceramic, porcelain, marble and stone tiles, and the panels provide pipe routing for return loops and distribution, ensuring simple installation.

You can also lay ceramic tiles directly over Continal’s DriDEK-20 panels, making them especially suitable for use in bathrooms and kitchens, since the panels don’t contract or expand when exposed to water. They are also compatible with laminate, vinyl and carpet floor finishes for extra flexibility.

If you’re unsure what the best UFH solution is for your next project, or you want help designing the perfect system for your customer’s new extension, it’s always best to seek advice from a trusted manufacturer such as Continal Underfloor Heating. Our expert Technical Sales Advisers are always on hand with technical support at every stage of a project, whether it’s in the design phase or you want help with commissioning or when working on site with project managers, customers or other tradespeople. We provide full CAD designs as standard and, because we sells a full range of solid, suspended and overfloor system solutions, we will always provide you with exactly what you need.

NICE ONE ‘SUN’

Due to the increase in the Energy Price Cap, the typical payback period for a conventional solar system, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) system, is now shorter than ever. That means contractors can take immediate steps for success with solar by investigating the training required to take on PV installations.

Thanks to the Energy Price Cap, the typical payback period for a standard household solar system is currently between six and seven years, which is the shortest it has ever been. Many solar installers are having trouble keeping up with demand as the number of inquiries and projects rises.

A result of the ongoing energy crisis is that more qualified installers are also in high demand as the number of people considering switching to solar power has

increased dramatically. Due to the tremendous public demand –some companies have reported a “400–500%” increase in sales – many in the solar industry are currently being forced to turn down jobs.

Now is the best time for non-PV contractors to grow their businesses and get a piece of the PV market. There are several methods to enter the industry but specialising in solar inverter installations stands out.

Considerations for usability and design

Practically speaking, having a thorough understanding of how inverters work, how solar systems generate power, as well as how they ought to be developed, specified, and installed in distinct environments is essential for developing into a well-rounded

For the purpose of securely connecting inverters to panels and batteries, it is important to get knowledge and expertise in electrical systems. Specification and the ability to get consumers ready for the future are two other crucial skills. Success depends on knowing which products to select among the numerous already on the market for different uses.

Since they enable operation without a battery while permitting battery installation down the road, products like

solar specialist.

Eugene Lucarelli, Marketing Manager at GoodWe UK, talks about

the potential new revenue opportunity that solar

PV

brings for contractors

the GoodWe ES G2 Series hybrid inverter are great for homeowners wishing to enter the solar industry.

Become an inverter expert

For professionals in the construction sector, having a place to start and the capacity to train is essential. More people will start to realise that they can – and possibly even must – become selfsufficient in order to avoid depending on an unreliable grid as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy. Due to the fact that inverter installation is a skill that not many people currently possess, there is still a significant possibility to benefit from this relatively new opportunity.

Electrical knowledge is required and can be acquired through apprenticeships or education. In addition, GoodWe has introduced a new professional training programme in the UK to aid in the preparation of contractors and installers. The GoodWe PLUS+ initiative aims to give those looking to expand their use of solar energy a route into the market.

The training sessions are hosted by a technical expert from GoodWe and consist of three straightforward online modules. The modules will teach new solar contractors about different solar solutions, how to set up and manage systems, commission inverters and batteries, and diagnose problems.

Developing the next generation of solar energy

Construction contractors may gain a competitive edge and future-proof their companies by upskilling now. Whether they concentrate on relatively small domestic projects, or large systems that require several batteries, numerous panel arrays, and numerous inverters, solar installers have a lot of potential in the UK.

There is no denying the importance of developing renewable, independent technology. It will help the UK move closer to net zero and lessen its susceptibility to supply disruptions including those caused by major world events. Additionally, the additional income can help skilled installers weather challenging financial times.

“Renewable technologies will help the UK move closer to net zero and lessen its susceptibility to supply disruptions, including those caused by major world events. Additionally, the extra income can help skilled installers weather challenging financial times.”

Case Study

CLAY TIME

The Gables – a beautiful Victorian period property situated right on the River Tee – was topped by an expansive roof that was in desperate need of repair and replacement. Over the decades, age and moisture absorption –from the river itself as well as the northeast climate – had created fatigue in the clay tiles, cracked lead work and reduced roof performance, which meant a complete re-roof was needed.

BMI Redland, part of BMI UK & Ireland, worked with N T Sweeting to overcome every issue that presented itself, offer expertise, specification advice and give peace of mind that the solution would perform for years to come.

Choosing materials

The roof of the property had an array of architectural features that stood out aesthetically yet made the task ahead for N T Sweeting far more complicated. To stay faithful to the period detail and premium clay aesthetic, they set to work with BMI Redland to specify and install the beautiful Rosemary Clay Classic tile. Rosemary tiles have been produced from Etruria Marl Clay since 1837 and are timeless, hardwearing, and naturally stronger.

As a full system solution, with all components and fittings optimised to work together, this gave N T Sweeting and the client total confidence. Added to

this they used the manufacturer’s SpecMaster service and had bespoke support on call to make the project go smoothly from concept to completion.

A challenge overcome

The period features of the property really gave the contractors an interesting challenge. They had to work in and around distinctive, non-standard features – such as a 75-degree canonical turret, octagonal spire roof and multiple mitred hips and valleys, together with a lead finial at the apex. Coupled with this, the roof originally had four chimney stacks, but – as part of the refurbishment – one needed to be carefully removed, with the area tiled over. Meanwhile, the remaining three stacks were partially taken down and rebuilt with matching brickwork – meaning the roofing team needed to work closely with a quality mason to create a finish sympathetic to the building’s history but fit for the future.

This all required great communication and collaboration between N T Sweeting’s installation team and BMI Redland’s SpecMaster support team. As well as offering a full specification service and guarantee offering, the latter supported the installation with everyday service,

support and advice to ensure the project ran smoothly from concept to completion.

Due to the location of the project being close to the banks of the Tees, the team had to work with caution and capability to manage the high level of moisture in the air and instances of bad wet weather. Each morning they had to make sure they didn’t strip off too much of the old roof, so that areas could be covered and completed on the same day – minimising the impact of the weather on the roof, the house itself, and the project timeline.

Despite its many challenges, the intricate clay tile system was successfully installed thanks to constant, clear communication between contractor, consultants and manufacturer.

Speaking about the success of the project, Neil Sweeting from NT Sweeting commented: “We found working with Steve Chappell from CSN Consulting and Frank Bainbridge from BMI Redland very rewarding. They have a wealth of experience within the roofing industry and were always available to offer advice to deal with any technical difficulties we encountered, their overall knowledge was a huge help.”

BMI Redland and roofing contractor, NT Sweeting, have brought renewed performance and durability to a challenging period project

extensions & home improvements

LVT

Available to specify across the Signature, Spacia and Form collections

Amtico Bio low-carbon LVT flooring is a bio-attributed LVT option, manufactured using sustainable PVC derived from renewable raw materials. This process saves more than 90% on CO2 emissions released in production compared to fossil fuels.

COMPOSITE DECKING

Whilst the realistic wood look and wood-grain texture of Envirobuild’s Hyperion Explorer Composite Decking makes it aesthetically pleasing it is also manufactured almost entirely from recycled materials. It exhibits a low-maintenance anti-slip surface, and is protected from stains and scratches.

NATURAL TOPSOIL

Garden Club London – an award-winning garden design firm – opted for Boughton’s premium BLS Plus natural topsoil in order to meet their client specification for a quality soil full of micro-organisms and micro-nutrients. The product boasts superior soil health characteristics, and has excellent moisture and nutrientretention. Take a look at more Boughton case studies of the topsoil in use by using the rdr.link below:  GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN060

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

STERLINGOSB ZERO

A family-run firm from Surrey, which specialises in loft conversions and the creation of bespoke garden rooms, is making extensive use of West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero. “We know we can rely on the quality, while the 18mm T&G boards are like gold when it comes to doing flat roofs and make a really good deck,” explains MB Loft Conversions’ Mark Bell. To read the full case study use the rdr.link below:

A WINTER’S TALE

Falls from height could come from hazards such as water leaks that could turn into ice; wet, decaying leaves; slippery wet or icy surfaces; waterlogged or slippery ground which could destabilise access equipment; and windy, wet or snowy weather which could affect safe working conditions, and subsequently the worker’s ability to carry out jobs safely.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace accidents, with an estimated 30,000 non-fatal injuries occurring each year. Throughout the winter months, harsh weather elements and low lighting conditions pose an additional health and safety threat and can increase the risk of injury. As these conditions can affect a worker’s ability to carry out a job safely, it is vital to ensure that necessary precautions are taken to prevent hazards.

Wear appropriate clothing

Wearing the correct clothing is paramount for safe working throughout the colder months. As a first defense against the cold, additional winter layers must keep wearers warm and dry, while at the same time, still allow free movement and not impair the efficiency of PPE.

Added winds can contribute to freezing temperatures, which often make working from height much colder than on the ground. Adopting the ‘3 layer’ garment principle is an effective way to remain warm and dry. A base layer should be moisture-wicking and transport sweat away from the skin, while a mid-layer of a thick jumper or fleece will insulate heat to

keep you warm; and a third outer layer of a waterproof coat will shield you from the wind and rain.

Additionally, it is advised to wear enough layers of clothing to protect ears, face hands and feet with appropriate hats, face coverings, gloves and boots. As an additional safety measure, consideration should be given towards purchasing a reflective outer layer which will ensure that workers remain clearly visible in lowlight conditions.

It is essential that any additional clothing such as gloves, headwear or outer layers do not impact visibility, grip, hearing or movement, or impair the fit of other protective clothing worn while on a job, which could result in accidents occurring.

Step up with risk assessments

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 highlight that risk assessments should be taken into account when organising and planning work, and identifying any precautions required. When the colder weather can affect both the functionality of equipment and the safety of working conditions, regular safety checks should be stepped up in the winter months to try and negate additional risks.

In addition, regular checks on ladders and structures must be undertaken to check for problems caused by low temperatures. It remains imperative to be aware of what defaults to check for, and what steps should be taken if a problem should arise. Signs to look out for include movement from original fixing positions; frozen, damaged, loose or missing components such as screws and fixing bolts; and rust and corrosion.

On top of regular risk assessments, workers must ensure that ladders, structures and equipment are both inspected and tested every 12 months.

Kris Hallee, Head of Product Development at WernerCo, shares his top 5 tips on keeping safe while working at height in winter.

Implement control measures

Once a risk assessment has been undertaken, workers should always ensure that the appropriate measures are implemented to enable safe working.

If it is too dark on site to be able to clearly identify hazards, visibility will need to be improved by adding more lighting to the area. While snow is clearly visible, ice and wet surfaces may not be. Depending on the job, utilise slip-free solutions such as grates and non-slip surfaces to establish safe working spaces and pathways to minimise the risk of accidents. In addition, depending on the job, always take extra precautions to maintain maximum safety when

When equipment may be damaged from repeated freezing and thawing, which can cause it to weaken, it is vital to keep it protected. Where possible, it is always good to store equipment inside or under covers when not in use to minimise this risk.

Remove as much ice as possible if it freezes over and avoid drying it with a heater.

Regularly check over the structures and equipment in the working area after any changes to the weather, particularly if using an access tower or scaffolding.

Refresh Health and Safety training

Having the correct training is vital for ensuring workers understand health and safety procedures and work according to the current requirements, know what risks to look out for, and how to act in the event of an accident. It is recommended that a training refresh is undertaken at least every six months, so doing this ahead of the winter months will ensure that workers can carry out work safely and limit the risk of serious injury if a fall should occur.

Cold weather can have adverse effects on the body, which not only increases the risk of accidents, but also causes conditions such as cold stress, frostbite and hypothermia. All workers on site should be trained to spot the symptoms of these conditions in both themselves and others, which can include shivering, confusion, loss of coordination and slurred speech.

Be flexible

When the winter weather can be unpredictable, it remains essential to be both prepared and flexible to work around conditions.

RECYCLING SHOWER

GENERAL BUILDING

The issue of water scarcity is the motivation for introducing the GROHE waterrecycling shower concept. The circular solution cleanses, reheats, and reuses water in order to use only a quarter of the water and a third of the energy typically required by traditional showers, resulting in a cost-saving of up to 65% a year for a four-person household.

GET MORE DETAILS AT:

BREATHER MEMBRANE FOR TIMBER FRAME

A breather membrane designed specifically for timber frame construction, ECHOFOIL EXO from Partel improves thermal comfort and enhances airtightness. This reflective foil membrane has one of the lowest emissivity values in the market of just ≤ 0.04 and a cavity R-Value of 0.78 m2K/W, helping achieve a low U-value and is highly breathable.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN066

NATURAL FIBRE INSULATION

Made with industrial hemp, IndiTherm is a flexible thermal insulation batt. Unlike conventional insulation materials, it helps tackle climate change by having a net capture of carbon. Its vapour breathability helps preserve buildings and create healthy indoor air quality reducing damp and mould, whilst it’s also pleasant to handle and healthy for installers.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN067

FLOORING

MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN068

Wworking on renovation or refurbishment

projects, one of the most labourintensive elements can be removing walls, fixtures, and fittings. A combination of a high-quality, powerful demolition hammer and reciprocating saw can help make work quicker and easier.

Historically, corded products have been the go-to solution to tackle such arduous jobs, however developments in battery technology mean that cordless products are now a viable, alternative solution for even the most demanding tasks. For example, the tools in the Makita 40VMax XGT range have been designed to deliver both high-performance and

battery charge.

Utilising cordless tools has added benefits including improved safety and flexibility. The removal of power cables improves user safety by eliminating a potential trip hazard as well as offering greater flexibility. In addition, using tools that have been designed to operate within the same battery platform also means that batteries can be switched between tools as required, making it simpler for the user.

When removing partition wall sections, a tool that can cut many different materials with minimal effort will help improve productivity. For example, with an orbital cutting action and speed of up to 3,000 strokes per minute, the Makita JR002G XGT 40VMax Brushless Reciprocating Saw is ideal for cutting through wood, metal, plastic and many other materials thanks to a wide choice of demolition blades. The machine also has a constant speed control that maintains the blade speed under load for more efficient cutting.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN069

When breaking up concrete or demolishing walls and floors, a powerful demolition hammer can help streamline the work. The Makita HM001G XGT 40VMax Brushless Demolition Hammer

delivers up to an impressive 2,650 blows per minute (bpm) and 9.4 Joules (J) of impact energy per stroke. For heavier duty tasks there are also more powerful cordless tools such as the HM002G 80VMax (40VMax x2) that offers up to 1,900 bpm and an impact energy of 20.9 Joules.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN070

With hand-arm vibration being a serious

IN THE SERIES

joints and muscles. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has set a maximum vibration exposure level per day and when this is reached, work must stop. To reduce the risk and maximise productivity, professionals should opt for power tools that include features to minimise vibration levels, such as those that include Makita’s Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT). This is a combination of measures designed to reduce the vibration transferred from the tool to the user’s hands and arms. This extends the length of time that users can safely and comfortably operate the tools.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN071

Finally, dust management is also a key health and safety concern. The HSE advises that a M-Class dust extractor is the minimal legal requirement for tasks that produce concrete, brick Makita Auto-start Wireless System (AWS), included on the HM001G and HM002G, makes this simple. It allows the tool to connect via Bluetooth to compatible dust extractors to automatically run the extractor whilst the tool is in use –providing a cleaner and healthier work environment. For cordless tools that feature Makita’s AWS Bluetooth functionality, these can also be connected wirelessly to any mains powered M-Class extractor that has a power take-off facility, by using one of the Makita wireless adaptor units (wireless adaptor for 110v extractors – 191A40-6, or for 240v extractors – 199804-6)

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN072

For demolition and refurbishment work it is important to invest in high-quality tools that can deliver the required performance to improve productivity and efficiency. However, it is also fundamental to consider the safety features that will help to avoid long-term health effects. Choosing tools from the same battery platform will also allow batteries to be switched between tools, providing greater flexibility.

BURIED UTILITIES

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Contractors working around and removing buried utilities services can now protect themselves with a new product from Stopper Specialists. The Air Lance has been designed to provide a safe solution to loosening soil around buried pipes, ducts and cables prior to removal either by hand excavation or with suction and vacuum excavation methods.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN074

WINTER JACKETS

Choose a weatherproof outerlayer

with Snickers

Workwear’s Winter Jackets. The garments – such as the new FlexiWork Quilted Jacket – will deliver on effective wind and water protection, whilst insulation, breathability and ventilation features stop you getting too warm.

GET MORE DETAILS AT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN075

TELESCOPIC LADDER

Available in four sizes, the BoSS TeleguardPLUS from WernerCo is a telescopic platform ladder with a safe working height of 5.15m. It provides a multi-purpose solution, with the ability to be used in flat slab mode and on stairways. The spacious platform offers plenty of room to manoeuvre and there’s a built-in tool tray.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN076

THERMAL IMAGING

CAMERAS

With the Teledyne FLIR range of thermal imaging cameras, tradespeople can diagnose and report problems, allowing them to fix issues and improve the energy efficiency of a property. The Ex-Series range features resolution options up to 320 × 240 infrared pixels and the ability to accurately measure temperatures from -20°C to 550°C, whilst the Exx-Series benefits from onboard inspection routing.

Electric van finance can be confusing, but the process is actually relatively simple with the cost of the vehicle being spread over monthly payments. The cost of the payments will depend on the type of finance package you choose and the value of the vehicle. You may also be charged interest (APR) and fees for damage of excess mileage, which means the total cost of the vehicle may be higher than buying it outright.

When it comes to electric van finance, it is usually split across four options: leasing, contract hire, personal contract purchase and hire purchase. In all cases, you will be signing a financial agreement that will commit you to the duration of the agreed contract so it’s important to be aware of the commitment you’re making.

Leasing

‘Leasing’ is basically a long-term vehicle rental that is split between two and four years. You pay an up-front fee, plus monthly payments for the length of the lease. The management and maintenance of the van is handled by the leasing company. There is no depreciation to worry about and at the end of the

there’s usually no option to buy the vehicle at the end of the contract.

Most leasing agreements will also restrict the number of miles you can drive in a year, which means you’ll be charged if you exceed the agreed limit.

Contract Hire

Similar to Leasing, a Contract Hire agreement is a long-term vehicle rental. The term is typically between one to five years and often has a mileage limit for the hire period. These agreements are most most attractive options to small

A PCP will let you spread the cost of the finance over a number of years. Payment is split between an initial deposit, followed by monthly payments over the term of the contract and an optional ‘balloon’ payment at the end (which you pay if you want to keep the vehicle).

The advantage of PCP is the options you get at the end of the contract, which lets you buy the vehicle, swap it for a new model (and new PCP agreement) or walk away.

Paying the ‘balloon’ payment means you can keep the vehicle and this can be split over two or three years if you cannot afford the lump sum. Alternatively, you can return the van to the dealer and put any equity towards the deposit for a different vehicle or walk away from the agreement altogether.

businesses due to the fact that they only require a small initial outlay.

Maintenance is often included in the contractual agreement, however, the van must be returned in reasonable condition and any damage will result in a penalty fee. As you do not technically own the vehicle there are no depreciation costs and the monthly payments are allowable against tax.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

PCPs are very popular. Instead of paying off the entire value of the vehicle over the term of the agreement, you only pay off the depreciation. As a result, the deposit and monthly payments tend to be lower than a traditional hire purchase agreement.

As with any finance agreement, a PCP will require you to commit to the finance agreement for three or four years. You will also be asked to agree to a mileage limit and you’ll be charged a fee if you hand the van back with any damage.

Hire Purchase (HP)

In a hire purchase contract, the cost of the van is split into a deposit and monthly instalments, plus interest, which is paid over a number of years. The loan is secured against the van, so you do not own the vehicle until the final instalment is paid.

HP is similar to a PCP, but the full cost of the van is spread across the contract. There is no ‘balloon’ payment, but the monthly costs tend to be higher. The same risk applies to both hire purchasing and PCP; if you cannot afford the payments, you will have to return the vehicle.

Honest John Vans explains your finance options.

Daniel Powell of Honest John Vans

builders’ vehicles

Electric vans are increasing in popularity, but should you buy one for your business? Sarah Tooze from Desperate Seller reveals the top five things every builder needs to check before going electric.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Wpetrol and diesel vans looming large over the horizon, you may be wondering if now is the right time to make the switch to electric.

Electric vans are more expensive to buy than their diesel counterparts but they offer significant long-term savings when it comes to fuel, tax, and

comfortable over a long journey. The latest crop of electric cargo carriers from

However, before you ditch your diesel, there are some important things you should be aware of. Sarah Tooze, editor at the online van marketplace, Desperate Seller, reveals the top five things you need to know before joining the electric revolution.

Work out your mileage

How many miles do you drive a week? Does your daily commute involve long motorway trips or are you a local builder who covers lots of short journeys?

Before you set foot in a van showroom, you’ll need to work out what your daily and weekly mileage is (then add 20% to cover those unexpected trips to the builders’ merchant). Once you have an idea of your mileage, you can start shortlisting vans.

The Ford E-Transit will cover between 166 and 196 miles on a full charge, while the Vauxhall Vivaro-E is advertised with a maximum range of 205 miles. It’s important to note the real world range may be slightly lower than the advised figure as things like air conditioning and heating will require extra power from the van’s EV battery.

Do the maths

An electric van could save your business thousands every year. Charging the 75kWh version of the Vivaro-E will cost £21 (at 28p/kwh) and give you around 200 miles of range. A diesel van that returns 47mpg will cost at least £37 to fill (at 191p-per-litre) and you could save even more if you charge your van at home on an overnight tariff.

Electric vans are more expensive to buy than their diesel rivals, however. The Vivaro-E, for example, is around £5,000 dearer than the standard diesel model. But road tax is free and electric vans also have fewer moving parts than diesel vehicles, which means maintenance and servicing costs tend to be lower. Many supermarkets and public car parks will let you charge your van for free. Electric vans are also exempt from clean air zone charges, like the London ULEZ.

Take

charge

Obviously, if you buy an electric van, you’ll need somewhere to charge it. And a home charger is the cheapest and most convenient way for your business to operate an electric van.

Charging your van via a three-point plug will take all day, so invest in a home wallbox if you have a driveway as this will cut the charging time to seven hours.

There are more than 33,000 public EV charging points in the UK, and more are being added to this figure every day. Some public charging stations are free to use. Rapid charging is the most expensive

Check your weight

Payload capacity and loadspace is generally the same as diesel and petrol vans but electric vehicles tend to have lower towing capacities than their diesel counterparts. The Vivaro-E, for example, will tow a braked trailer up to 1,000kg –so always check the spec if you need your electric vehicle to tow heavy tools or equipment.

The Government changed licensing laws in 2018 to make it easier for people to drive electric vans. This means you can operate an electric van weighing up to 4,250kg with a standard driving licence (instead of the 3,500kg you’d normally be limited to with a petrol or diesel vehicle).

Take a test drive

Have you ever driven an electric van before? If you haven’t, you’ll probably find the experience a little strange at first because electric vans are silent and don’t have a manual gearbox.

Electric vans also use regenerative braking, which recovers energy to top up the battery when you slow down. This means the van will lose speed when you lift your foot off of the accelerator much quicker than a standard diesel vehicle. As a result, we’d recommend taking an electric van for a lengthy test drive so you

RANGER PLATINUM

The range-topping Ford Ranger Platinum features a premium interior, advanced connectivity, and powerful new Ford 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine –producing 240PS and 600Nm of torque. It’s towing capacity is 3,500kg and the vehicle is available exclusively in

PRO+ RANGE

The revised Renault PRO+ range includes a new trim line-up comprising Start, Advance, Extra and Extra Sport models, and the first vehicle to adopt the new model structure will be the Kangoo. The manufacturer has also simplified its portfolio by 38%, reducing the previous offering of 161 separate versions into a core of 100 distinct models.

INSURANCE

3,314 vans were stolen in London over the past year, according to new data from Direct Line business insurance. This equates to nine thefts each day between September 2021 and August 2022. The company provides a small courtesy van as standard to support customers if their van is stolen, damaged, or written off.

FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM

Tiling contractor, Dan Tapper knows all about a flawless finish – so he was mightily impressed with the smooth purchase and delivery of his latest Ford Transit Custom, from independent supplier Van Sales UK. The 2.8-tonne gvw van has a compact L1 body and is powered by a 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine which generates 96kW/130ps, and drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. It boasts a 6m3 loadspace, can carry a payload of up to 738.7kg, and returns up to 38.7mpg (WLTP Combined).

PICK-UP

It’s the Ford Performancedeveloped twin-turbo 3.0litre EcoBoost

V6 engine in the Ranger Raptor that delivers phenomenal onand off-road ability, according to the manufacturer. The Ford pick-up delivers 292PS and 491Nm of torque, seven selectable drive modes and a new full-time four-wheel drive system.

GET MORE DETAILS AT:

VAN BREAK-INS

A reinforced Renault Trucks Trafic can now be specified with a Cat 1 alarm and fully lined interior and floor. Security is further bolstered with a fully sealed steel mesh internal door system with an internal five-point locking mechanism fitted to rear and side, with apertures finished off with an external high impact clear Perspex covering.

ARMD & POWERED NOW

ARMD, the platform designed to combat the effects of tool theft and protect the livelihoods of tradespeople with tech and smart insurance, has announced a partnership with Powered Now, the easy-to-use app that lets you run your trade business on the go. The partnership brings all the benefits of the ARMD platform to the growing number of users of the Powered Now app at a special membership rate.

WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN080

TRADE MEDIA

VANDERSANDEN TEXTURE GENERATOR

Clay paver textures for garden and landscape projects have been added to the Vandersanden Texture Generator. The resource allows the rendering of designs in a detailed and lifelike way and is already available for facing bricks and brick slips. Users can experiment with formats and laying patterns, mix colours or create their own unique colour mix.

VIRTUOSO DOORS  WEBSITE

There’s now a ‘design-adoor’ portal on the updated Virtuoso Doors website, an easy-to-use service which allows you to create a door for your project in just a few clicks. The site showcases the complete range of composite doors and accessories, in both traditional and contemporary styles. It also includes the design-a-door portal.

PJH AUTUMN/WINTER BATHROOMS TO LOVE COLLECTION

Lifestyle photography, practical product information and design ideas are all included in the latest PJH publication. The furniture, sanitaryware, washbowl, bath, shower tray, mirror, lighting and accessory collections are all included with new launches, spanning a range of price points.

ALLUR COMPOSITE

DECKING WEBSITE

include a handy visualiser tool where users can hover over a decor to see what it looks like in a realistic virtual setting. A day-to-night slider shows how the decking will look in the evening when enhanced with lighting, and the gallery page showcases creative uses of decking in outdoor projects.

Dampness problems in buildings have been in the news again and –as someone who makes a part of his living by investigating them – I can say I’m not at all surprised.

The recent news stories have concerned health problems caused by mould growth, with one tragic case involving a youngster whose death was attributed to living in damp, mouldy accommodation. All very sad.

And this situation is set to get worse, as the rocketing cost of gas, oil and electricity means that many more poorer families will be unable to heat their homes adequately.

Newspapers and TV shows are full of helpful hints to the public on how to save money by turning their thermostats down, only heating one or two rooms, and draught-proofing their doors and windows. Unfortunately, cold rooms with less ventilation are going to mean a rise in relative humidity, and an increase in mould growth.

The UK has a damp maritime climate. These islands are surrounded by sea, and the prevailing weather pattern brings us moist air from the Atlantic at most times of the year. For six months of the year our homes need heating in order to keep them above dew-point temperature. If we don’t do this, we get condensation forming – not just on our windows, but in the depths of our building structures, where it can’t be seen, but will support mould growth and wood rot.

Lest we forget, the reason that British housing conditions developed so quickly from the

Industrial Revolution onwards was because we had coal, lots of it. And coal was cheap enough that even poor people could afford to keep fires burning in their homes. And Victorian houses had fireplaces in every room –even when there was no fire burning, the flue would draw moist air out and away.

The phasing out of coal fires, and their replacement with gas-fired central heating, has itself led to dampness problems in some homes. But as long as gas was cheap enough that boilers could keep pumping out the heat, most homes remained warm and dry enough.

But now that gas (and oil and electricity) prices have risen to a level that classifies them almost as luxuries, many British homes are at risk of becoming health hazards.

That is why the energy price crisis is far more serious than most politicians seem to realise. The emphasis has been on insulation, but if done carelessly this can also cause dampness problems. And insulation on its own does not make a building warmer – only heating can do this.

Many of my damp survey reports conclude with a recommendation to improve the levels of heating in a property, but unfortunately that might no longer be an option for many.

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

ADVERTISEMENT INDEX

Here is a useful summary of all the adverts that appear in this issue of Professional Builder .

Each is listed with its page number and a direct URL that will get you straight to the relevant online information

Buckbootz............................................................................(page 22) www.rdr.link/BAN120

Build Aviator..........................................................................(page 4) www.rdr.link/BAN121

Makita (UK) Ltd....................................................................(page 36) www.rdr.link/BAN130

PB Online........................................................................(back cover) www.rdr.link/BAN131

Dakea....................................................................................(page 32) www.rdr.link/BAN122

Eclisse UK Ltd......................................................................(page 15) www.rdr.link/BAN123

Pnu-Point Ltd......................................................................(page 47) www.rdr.link/BAN132

Quickslide..............................................................................(page 5) www.rdr.link/BAN133

EEBS Ltd..............................................................................(page 47) www.rdr.link/BAN124

estimators.com....................................................(inside front cover) www.rdr.link/BAN125

Rocket Door Frames..........................................................(page 38) www.rdr.link/BAN134

Rocket Door Frames..........................................................(page 39) www.rdr.link/BAN135

Federation Of Master Builders Ltd..................................(page 20) www.rdr.link/BAN126

House Builder XL Ltd..........................................................(page 31) www.rdr.link/BAN127

Rockwool UK Ltd..................................................................(page 8) www.rdr.link/BAN136

Saint-Gobain Construction/British Gypsum......................(page 6) www.rdr.link/BAN137

Made for Trade....................................................................(page 17) www.rdr.link/BAN128

Made for Trade..............................................................(pages 18,19) www.rdr.link/BAN129

Sureset UK Ltd....................................................................(page 47) www.rdr.link/BAN138

Toolfair..................................................................................(page 52) www.rdr.link/BAN139

SMOKING

Let’s talk about SMOKING...

This month’s article is about a condition known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is the name used to describe several conditions that cause breathing difficulties due to lung damage. Most commonly, this lung damage is caused by smoking.

COPD is a very common condition, and many people can have it without realising. It often gets worse slowly over time and can be treated but, as the lung damage is irreversible, cannot be cured.

Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and toxic chemicals such as benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde. Nicotine, while extremely addictive, is not the harmful component of tobacco. That is why nicotine replacement can be used to help people quit smoking. The carbon monoxide, tar and other toxic chemicals found in cigarettes and other tobacco products are what cause damage in the lungs.

These chemicals cause irritation and damage the tiny airways. This causes narrowing of the tubes and the lungs cannot work as well. The function of the lungs is to allow us to breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide, which the body produces naturally. If the lungs are damaged, it stops us getting as much oxygen as our bodies need to work well. This can put extra strain on the heart.

The chemicals inhaled from smoking also damage the lungs in a way that stops our body’s protective mechanisms from working. Our airways are lined with tiny hairs called cilia. Cilia help us clear any dirt and dust we inhale, and also move along any mucous we produce – helping us to cough it up. When they are damaged, the dirt and dust settles in the airways and this can cause more irritation and lead to lung infections.

COPD generally affects people who smoke. It can also happen to nonsmokers who have a rare genetic condition. Some other cases can be due to long term exposure to harmful dust

“SMOKER’S COUGH” OR SOMETHING ELSE? GP, ALICE FITZGIBBON DISCUSSES CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

COPD as a long term health condition.

In some cases, COPD can continue to progress despite treatment. This can have a big impact on patient’s quality of life if they have severe breathing difficulty. In some cases, oxygen therapy might be needed. End stage COPD is a life limiting condition.

particles or certain fumes. The symptoms of COPD are: feeling increasingly short of breath, particularly when being active a constant chesty cough with phlegm recurrent chest infections wheezing

As a GP, I like to see anyone with a persistent cough especially those who smoke. We know that persistent cough can be sign of lung cancer and, of course, we want to get people checked out for this as early as possible. Some signs of COPD might be seen on a chest X-ray, but often other breathing tests, called spirometry, can be used to help make a diagnosis.

Stopping smoking is the best thing that can be done to help in COPD as it prevents any further damage from happening. By contacting your GP practice, local pharmacy or the NHS Smokefree webpage, you should be able to find out about help to stop smoking in your area.

The main treatment of COPD is inhaled medication. There are many different inhalers depending on how severe symptoms are. In COPD, people can have sudden flare ups of their symptoms – this is called an exacerbation. If this happens, tablet forms of medications such as steroids and antibiotics may be needed. In some areas, patients may be offered a place on a pulmonary rehabilitation course. This is a specialised programme of exercise and education to help manage

Reducing tobacco use and preferably stopping it altogether leads to many health and financial benefits for patients. If you have concerns about the health of your lungs, symptoms that could be cancer or want to stop smoking, then please see your GP to discuss further.

PROFESSIONAL BUILDER’S HEALTH PAGE HAS PROVED TO BE JUST THE RIGHT MEDICINE FOR ONE OF OUR READERS:

Dear Professional Builder

I just wanted to say thank you for running the Good Health section. Reading it made my husband finally go to the doctor about something that had been troubling him for some months. Thankfully, it proved to be not that serious and treatable. He is so much better now.

The Good Health article made him take it seriously.

Please keep running these features –they do make a difference.

Virginia Tandy, via email

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD) FROM THE NHS VISIT WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN093

FOR MORE ADVICE ON GIVING UP SMOKING FROM THE NHS VISIT WWW.RDR.LINK/BAN094