Piping hot

Underfloor heating combined with air source heat pumps can provide housebuilders and property developers with flexible and efficient heating solutions, as Paul Wakefield of grant UK explains. Evenly distributing heat upwards into a room, an underfloor heating system maintains optimum... View Article

Dementia-friendly bathroom design

With an ageing population, dementia is on the rise in the UK. Stuart Reynolds of AKW discusses how housebuilders can act on this to create bathrooms that are dementia-friendly, promoting both dignity and safety. The number of people with dementia... View Article

BIM for all

Adrian Wild, founder of Integro Construction Software, looks at why smaller housebuilders and developers are missing out on practical BIM software solutions which could bring a range of benefits. Feature-heavy CAD and Building Information Modelling software products are popular with... View Article

Change is in the air

In the wake of the Hackitt review, Paul King of Vicaima explains the changing landscape around fire doors. Government departments are poring over technical data and preparing new directives, and trade bodies are examining every aspect of potential market implications.... View Article

Window shopping

Tom Swallow of Quickslide Windows & Doors discusses some of the key performance and aesthetic considerations when selecting windows. Windows are crucial to the design of a home. Not only do they take the brunt of the elements such as... View Article

Balconies: Bridge the gap

Lee Barber of Balcony Life explains the benefits of, and methodology behind, bolt-on cantilevered steel balconies designed to avoid thermal bridging. Bolt-on cantilevered steel balconies are an architectural feature which are becoming increasingly popular in both the construction of new... View Article

Putting community at the centre

Providing retirement homes alongside a multi-functional social hub, it is hoped that Debden Grange will become a ‘village within in a village’ for retirees in Essex. Jack Wooler spoke to Andrew Mills of developer Retirement Villages Group, to see how... View Article

Blog: AI and VR in House Building

Technology is advancing at break-neck speed but so far, the construction industry has stayed relatively impervious to it. This is often put down to the very slim margins that developers work to which makes the investment in new technology seem... View Article

SuDS is not money down the drain

Brian Wilson of Tobermore explores how the changing climate is urgently increasing the need for sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS). Climate change is the talk of the moment, with consumers being encouraged to reduce and monitor their water consumption. Flooding... View Article

Opening the envelope

Simon Wild of Formica group discusses how the application of cladding using traditional building methods has evolved, and explores the modern materials now on offer. Traditionally, housebuilding techniques in the UK relied upon the use of local materials typical of... View Article

Seal the deal

Richard Osborne of LTP Ecoprotec looks at the options for sealing outdoor surfaces, and the benefits that each can bring to projects. When discussing the best sealer for a job, it’s generally assumed that it’s for use indoors – for... View Article

Softly, Softly

Ryan Blake of Harvey Water Softeners details the dangers of hard water, and explains the techniques that can help developers attract customers seeking the benefits of softer water With any new build or renovation project, the main focus for developers... View Article

The importance of being energy efficient

Chris Stanley of The Concrete Block Association (CBA) on improving thermal efficiency in modern housing. According to a recent survey by Energy Saving Trust, nearly 90 per cent of those who completed a home improvement of some kind also made... View Article

A quiet place

Steve Smith of Knauf Insulation explains why a happier, healthier home starts with a quiet building. With people living in closer proximity to industry, infrastructure and each other than ever before, it’s no surprise that complaints about noise are rising.... View Article

Peer-to-peer: Do your research

Jason Tebb of Go Develop explains how recent issues with peer-to-peer lending have highlighted the need to do research when funding a new project. Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) continues to be an extremely popular solution for companies that are looking for... View Article

Compliance can no longer be ignored

Yvonne Orgill of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) says attitudes to compliance are changing, and housebuilders and developers cannot ignore their responsibilities to protect consumers when specifying bathroom products. Last year, the tragedy of Grenfell Tower highlighted the potential worst-case... View Article

Door closers create safer homes

With fire safety high on the agenda, Dr Lloyd Blewett of Samuel Heath investigates the potential of door closers for social housing The tragic events of last year have, understandably, brought the fire safety spotlight on to the social housing... View Article

How to add smart value to homes

Paul Hilditch of Systemline explains how smart technology can add value to new build homes, revealing the key elements housebuilders and developers should consider when choosing products, and the challenges to address. Technology is rapidly advancing to meet consumer demand... View Article

The efficiency checklist

When specifying heating systems, housebuilders need to take a variety of considerations into account to ensure that they can produce maximum efficiency returns from developments. Bill Jones of Potterton advises on best practice. The integration of an appropriate heating system... View Article

Engineered wood holds the floor

Katherine Mathews of Kährs explores the benefits of engineered wood flooring, and the significant impact the right kind of flooring can have on a development. When designing and building a home, flooring is just one of many things to consider.... View Article