Celebrate culture change

Visitor registration for UK Construction Week Birmingham is now live, as the mammoth three-day show returns to the NEC from 4-6 October UKCW Birmingham 2022 will “celebrate culture change in construction” with three days of debate and discussion from top... View Article

View Point: Sonia Travis of Nordan

Following June’s significant changes to Part L, Nordan’s Sonia Travis reviews the implications for window specification, and aluminium-clad timber in particular The state-of-the-art demonstration COP26 Zero-Carbon House at last year’s international COP26 climate conference in Glasgow was an effort to... View Article

A durable sustainability case

Sustainability needs to encompass long-term durability factors in addition to embodied energy to provide an accurate picture. Keith Aldis of BDA (Brick Development Association) explains how achieving this bolsters the eco case for brick When considering the materials that may... View Article

Coat of many colours

Home colour choices can say a lot about your personality. Lisa Grosse from Cedral discusses how to use the ‘colour wheel’ approach to get the look you want for a new build home or a makeover Colour is one of... View Article

Super solar

In a world that is steadily warming, and with energy bills also on the rise, solar control products are playing a vital role in maintaining the comfort for homeowners, says Paul Higgins of TuffX. The average British person spends approximately... View Article

A labour of love in Lanarkshire

When James and Lorna Hamilton made their decision to self-build, their new home had to meet not only the demands of their growing family but also recognise Lorna’s heritage, sitting on the family farmstead TEXT NIK HUNTER IMAGES DAPPLE PHOTOGRAPHY... View Article

Masonry’s role on the road to net zero

Miles Hogg of Lignacite explores how concrete masonry has evolved to meet the demands of the 2050 net zero deadline. Over the years, concrete masonry has evolved to meet many challenges, including carbon reduction targets for buildings and increasingly demanding... View Article

Showcase of RCI innovations

Registrations for the Roofing Cladding and Insulation (RCI) Show, which is being held at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes 18-19 October, are now open. The RCI Show will be celebrating its sixth year as the UK’s dedicated roofing, cladding and insulation... View Article

The big one is back

The Birmingham edition of UK Construction Week – claimed to be the UK’s “largest event for the built environment” – returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 4-6 October 2022. UKCW Birmingham will “celebrate culture change in construction” with three days of... View Article

Steps towards safety

Kevin Underwood of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) discusses the key components for construction of safe staircases,, and the regulatory background. For many homes, a staircase not only provides a functional role, it’s also a central feature of a property. ... View Article

Closing the green skills gap

Elaine Gilligan of K Systems argues why reversing the skills shortage could quicken the race to net-zero Addressing the skills gap in the construction sector could bolster the industry’s efforts as it seeks to help the UK reduce carbon emissions.... View Article

Closing the door on fire

Each year, Fire Door Safety Week raises awareness of the vital role that fire doors play in keeping building occupants across the country safe. Helen Hewitt from the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) explores why the campaign remains as important as... View Article

Air exchange targets

Richard Poole from Siegenia addresses how and why housing managers should meet the new air exchange targets The updated new building regulation Approved Document F covering ventilation came into force on 15th June 2022. Part F concerns construction projects that... View Article

Reducing fire risk across the entire building envelope

Will Wigfield from ROCKWOOL UK explains why above ground level amenities such as roofs, balconies and terraces need greater consideration to mitigate fire risk Fire safety is critical in any home but has a particular significance and complexity when it... View Article

The race for space

Kevin Gamble of Saint-Gobain Weber explains how steel frame construction with external wall insulation (EWI) can help to increase not only thermal efficiency but internal area when building new homes and extensions. The shortage of skilled tradespeople to build homes... View Article

Local solutions for low-carbon heating

Steve Richmond from Rehau Building Solutions looks at the key considerations when commissioning a district heating network – an key option to consider in the race to reduce carbon in residential developments. Though the UK’s green transition will likely be... View Article

Shoring up Folkestone

As part of the wider regeneration of Folkestone, over 80 homes are being constructed on the site of a former car park on the town’s historic beachfront. Ella Brocklebank and Chris Page of contractor Jenner explain to Jack Wooler how... View Article

The new housing secretary’s Catch 22

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance magazine, discusses the Government’s ‘transitioning’ housing policies. The Government has sensibly accepted that its long-standing commitment to build 300,000 new homes each year by the mid 2020s is... View Article

Change to the decentralised line

With design and installation of ventilation systems increasingly essential for both new builds and renovations, Richard Poole of Siegenia looks at how decentralised systems can offer an important way around trickle vents. As we produce more tightly insulated buildings, window... View Article