Features Articles

Cost-cutting on heat metering at the installation stage can be a false economy, but there are ways to avoid the pitfalls, as Anthony Coates-Smith of Insite Energy explains. When housebuilders and developers strive to minimise initial construction costs, they can... View Article

Patrick Dean of Door-Stop explores the wealth of safe and secure options available to housebuilders looking to make the right entrance. When it comes to specifying a front door for a property, it can seem there is no end of... View Article

Sharing knowledge across the supply chain and driving innovation is vital to boost the construction industry’s productivity and meet the UK’s housing needs, says Neil Ash of Siniat UK. The construction industry is suffering from a productivity crisis. Only last... View Article

Timber cladding has boomed in recent years. However, as early installations now mature it’s time to reflect on what has and hasn’t worked. Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber reflects on the ways to ensure cladding installed today looks good and... View Article

Stuart Hicks, from cold liquid-applied wet-on-wet waterproofing specialist, Kemper System, discusses the problems caused by a failed waterproofing system at a luxury residential development near Brighton and outlines the project undertaken to replace it You only need to see a... View Article

Between 50-75 per cent of traditional vinyl installations in new housing developments require remedial work, which is costly to housebuilders and tiresome for home owners. However remedial work can be dramatically reduced if housebuilders opt for loose-lay rather than glued... View Article

Martin Currell, Sales Director at Domus Residential, discusses the benefits of using tiles in a bathroom, the options available and the trends for 2016 There are numerous benefits with tiles: they are modern, easy to clean and compatible with underfloor... View Article

We’re in the midst of another winter comprising short bursts of torrential rain, flash flooding, rising water levels and mounting repair and insurance costs. With urbanisation increasingly replacing our green spaces, the changing nature of our landscape has become an... View Article

Jeandre du Toit, sales director of London flooring specialists ‘Ecora’ outlines the key points to consider when selecting natural wood floors. In the UK wood floors are an essential element in any good quality construction or renovation project. Combining practicality... View Article

Antony White, technical director at Warmup looks at the reasons insulation is such a key feature when designing a home and how it affects the installation of underfloor heating. If you are including underfloor heating within a new build property... View Article

Marty Day, marketing manager at StairBox, discusses the use of staircases when building and selling a home. When readying a home for sale there are a massive number of things to consider and far too many times the staircase gets... View Article

The introduction of new government guidance on the security of properties on 1 October 2015, through changes to part Q building requirements, has meant that the security of doors and windows is more important than ever. Neil Ginger, CEO of... View Article

How interiors can increase the value and desirability of your property. By Sarah Ritchie, creative director of The Gifted Few. There are a number of factors potential house buyers consider when looking around a property. Is it in the right area? Has it got... View Article

With an increasing drive to ensure homes are as efficient as possible – particularly where heating, cooling and ventilation is concerned – it is important to carefully consider the various housebuilding options available to ensure minimal thermal losses. Here, Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA) looks at... View Article

Mike Rawlings from Saint Gobain PAM challenges housebuilders to look beyond alternative rainwater systems and consider specifying a steel system. Steel rainwater systems are quickly becoming a great alternative for all types of dwellings and offer significant benefits for social housing. The material is making... View Article

David Layland, joint managing director of treatment specialist Japanese Knotweed Control (JKC) offers a timely warning to landowners and developers on the perils of ignoring the latest invasive plant legislation. A difficult and expensive burden, invasive, non-native plants have long been the scourge... View Article

Visiting five locations across the UK throughout September: Coventry, Exeter, Farnborough, Edinburgh and Manchester, plus an awards ceremony on 10 September at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. The last few months since the General Election have been anything but straightforward for the construction industry. With... View Article