Trends in home décor keep changing year after year, and you really have to be quick to catch them all. They shift depending on the season, which means decorating tips in spring are different from those in fall. So, if you are currently in the process of decorating your living
The eco-friendly movement made its way in almost all aspects of our lives. The people deciding to join this noble cause range from those who are completely ride-or-die when it comes to embracing the green mentality to those who simply are willing to change certain behavioral patterns but are not
Are you fed up with the way your house or apartment looks? Every day, you spend time in an environment that has been looking the same for as long as you can remember. This can easily get to you and you may begin to feel frustrated and in need of
Working from home has so many perks: you don’t have to worry about nosy co-workers or an overly-demanding boss. Everything can be done on your own terms as long as you do finish your tasks on time. Working from bed can be tempting, but it can also impact your productivity,
The roof is an important part of any home. Any plans of renovating it or replacing it should be given considerable thought. You need solid advice if you are going to do any changes that you deem necessary. You can trust your own decision if you have years of solid
Congrid, the Finnish construction quality and safety software company, today announced its expansion into the UK and the appointment of Daniel Hunt as UK territory manager. The Congrid mobile app introduces new levels of transparency and communication for safety and quality on construction projects and helps deliver zero-defect buildings to
Ahead of this year’s Armed Forces Day, top-10 UK housebuilder, Linden Homes is pledging to continue its support for ex-armed forces personnel and veterans. As the housebuilding division of Galliford Try, Linden Homes also supports Galliford Try’s signing of the Armed Forces Covenant. With this the company pledge to treat
Euramax Solutions, a leading manufacturer of PVCu windows and doors, has announced that it will extend its product range with the UK’s largest builders’ merchants, Travis Perkins. The new range will see new products and colour options available to the public in Spring 2019. Based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Euramax Solutions
Let’s set the scene. You’ve just cooked a huge family roast dinner. I’m talking roast potatoes, roast parsnips, roast chicken – the lot. However, while you were cooking you forgot to use any tin foil, so the excess oil and fat you used is now effectively lining the baking tins.
Aluminium glazing systems by Kawneer feature at Welsh University’s new creative and digital centre. Architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer played a key role in a new state-of-the-art building which is at the heart of Wales’ creative and digital future. Kawneer’s AA®110 curtain walling, AA®720 doors and window
Trends in home décor keep changing year after year, and you really have to be quick to catch them all. They shift depending on the season, which means decorating tips in spring are different from those in fall. So, if you are currently in the process of decorating your living space and wish to accentuate the home décor with some cool renovation ideas that are popular for this season, here’s what you should take into consideration, and how much some of these things might cost you. New kitchen countertop The kitchen is one of the most popular areas in every home, so it has to be perfect. After all, this is where the family gathers for meals and where you could even welcome your guests. The first thing everyone notices is the countertop, so replace it with a newer, trendier one. There are a lot of options you could explore when it comes to prices, materials, colors and styles, but be prepared to pay up to $200 for a square foot of a quality countertop. Determine your budget to see how much you can spend, then plan your purchase accordingly. New kitchen cabinets After updating the countertop, it’s time to pay attention to the cabinets as well. Again, there are a lot of possibilities when it comes to materials, colors, shapes and types of cabinets, and all of these things affect the price, too. The amount most homeowners spend on cabinets ranges between $2.000 and $5.000, but you can always add a few more things into the mix if you want to make your kitchen extra special. Corner cabinets, curved cabinets and floor-to-ceiling cabinets cost a bit more, so make the design first and specify the budget before moving forward with the plans. New flooring This is the thing that most people avoid when it comes to renovating and decorating their home because it’s such a large project. Living in a home with poor flooring is terrible, and anyone who’s ever been in that situation will tell you the same. So, what can you do? Some of the most popular options include hardwood floors, laminate flooring and tiles, and the price depends on the material, the size and whether you do the job yourself or hire a professional. Overall, you could spend up to $5.000 on an average-sized home. Whichever idea you opt for, you can take it to a completely new level with a warm and colorful rug that complements other colors in your home and makes it more welcoming. New bathroom features This is another room that gives you comfort and joy, but it’s also a space that’s usually rather small and often forgotten when it comes to huge home renovation projects. However, if you give your bathroom a little love, you’ll be making a good investment because you’ll feel cozy in it every day of the week. The cost of a complete bathroom makeover can pile up to $10.000, but if you keep it smart and simple and focus on just a few things instead of going all in, you could save a ton of cash. Some of the things you might want to introduce are new cabinets, and you could also replace your bath with a shower, lay new tiles and install new fixtures – this way, your bathroom will look amazing after just a couple of days, and you won’t have to spend every dime you have. New décor Once you’ve updated and renovated all these things, it’s time to make your home pretty and introduce some décor into the picture. Doing it room by room is always the best way to go as this method allows you to control the costs and always stay on top of your budget. The prices for new décor in every room of the house can go up to $50.000 for the most high-end projects, but you could also pick more moderate ideas and spend much less money that way. Don’t forget that home décor is all about the style and appearance, not about money, so spend as much as you have to until you’re completely satisfied with the way your home looks and feels. If you’re thinking about remodeling your home and adding new décor to it, be prepared to spend as much as $100.000 if you wish to make a complete transformation. This is quite a lot of cash, especially if you’re doing several things at the same time, but just imagine how amazing it would be to live in a completely renovated place that’s recently been brought up to your own personal standards.
The eco-friendly movement made its way in almost all aspects of our lives. The people deciding to join this noble cause range from those who are completely ride-or-die when it comes to embracing the green mentality to those who simply are willing to change certain behavioral patterns but are not willing to make some larger sacrifices and convert all the way. That being said, we can notice a significant increase in people embracing eco-friendly designs in their homes and living environments. This probably stems from the fact that we, humans – as a race – have moved so much away from the nature we originally came from, that we are now looking for ways to come back to it and embrace it once more as much as possible. Since we already know that the kitchen is the heart of every home and we are now increasingly striving towards embracing nature, it only makes sense that we want to make our kitchen designs eco-friendlier as well. Here are some ideas worth considering. Start from the ground up Just like you wouldn’t start building a home from the roof down, you shouldn’t start any redecoration project with anything other than your floors. When it comes to sustainable flooring solutions, reclaimed wood is one of the better ways to go. However, finding enough reclaimed wood can prove to be really difficult. That’s why you should definitely consider going with concrete floors, especially in areas such as the kitchen. These are very durable and easy to maintain, and they can be so versatile you definitely won’t have any difficulties picking the right fit for your desired final look. Decide on the color scheme Next, once your flooring solution is set in place, you should focus on the other base of your design – the walls. Depending on the vibe and design you’re going for, you probably already have a color scheme in mind. However, in order to stay on the eco-friendly track here, it’s important to note that you should pay special attention to the type of paint you choose to go with as well. Zero-VOC and lead-free paints are the ones you should choose for this project as they are safe both for the environment and the people living in your household – yourself included. Add shelter for your dishes Kitchen cabinets are something many associate with being pricey and usually not very eco-conscious to make. However, this way of thinking is very, very wrong, especially when talking about built-in or fitted kitchen cabinets. With these, you can go with an iron or stainless-steel base construction and the only other materials you’ll have to use will be the ones used for kitchen cabinet fronts and countertops. However, do know that you will have to specify clearly that you want to go with this type of kitchen cabinets, as they are still a relatively new concept and not many people are familiar with the idea. Chose work surfaces with care And now comes the fun part – countertops, sinks and other work surfaces. When sinks are concerned, you should definitely go with the ones made of natural stone, as they are super easy to make and look absolutely stunning. Recycled glass is becoming an increasingly popular option for countertops. The reason behind this is the fact that not only are they super sturdy but they also offer a range of color combos and finishes that can fit right in with any kitchen design. Finally, chopping boards are also something you should be very careful when buying. Plastic cutting boards that are most commonly used in households are not very good for either the users or the environment, as they can contain some harsh chemicals, among other things. That’s why you should always try to go with wooden chopping boards that are not only safe to use but look absolutely stunning. That’s why you should look for a charcuterie board for sale and use it both as a nifty kitchen tool and a décor piece when it’s not being used. You can even buy multiple of these and hang them on your kitchen wall so that they can serve the aesthetic purpose as well. Make it light and bright Finally, the lighting in your kitchen must be top-notch. Since the kitchen is the place most commonly filled with sharp objects, hot surfaces and boiling-hot food it’s only normal that you do all in your power to make this area as bright as possible. To stay as eco-friendly and as energy efficient as possible, invest in equipping your lighting fixtures with LED light bulbs. Not only are these very eco-friendly but they are also excellent at mimicking natural light. So, if you are looking to create a sustainable design in your kitchen and make it as eco-friendly as possible, start by implementing some of these changes.
Are you fed up with the way your house or apartment looks? Every day, you spend time in an environment that has been looking the same for as long as you can remember. This can easily get to you and you may begin to feel frustrated and in need of some change. If these are your feelings exactly, it’s high time you redecorated your place. However, since not all of us have a lot of money just lying around for a quick remodel, we need to find another way to make it work. One idea is to focus on your living room as this is the place you spend most of your conscious time in and also the place where you relax and have fun. Despite the fact that even a single room redesign can be quite pricy, here’s how you can do it and save some bucks. Paint Whenever you’re bored with the look of your interior, the first and easiest thing to do is repaint something. It’s the real Australian way and it’s very effective and quite affordable, especially if you decide to do it yourself. You don’t need to repaint the whole room. It can just be one wall or you can create some kind of artwork to be the focal point of your living room. Wallpapers are also a cool option to consider. You’re free to go nuts here and it’s all for a small amount of money. If you want to make a drastic change of colors, that’s fine too, just make sure to prepare the walls for a radical color change by scraping them and putting the right foundation on. Make room and declutter Another source of dissatisfaction may be a living room that is too crowded with unnecessary stuff. Start cleaning up and be ruthless. If you don’t know where to put certain items, it may be because you just need to throw them away. On the other hand, if you’re too emotionally attached, store them in a box and shove them in a cupboard or a storage room. Also, if you have an armchair that takes up too much space and is never used, get rid of it. You can put it in another room or just give it away. Another great space-saving idea is to mount your TV. If you do that, you can absolutely lose the TV shelf and clear more space. Just make sure to do it right. Most Australians hire professional TV installation in Adelaide to do the job for them as it can get quite dangerous if the TV isn’t mounted properly. Revamp the furniture Getting new furniture can cost an arm and a leg. While there are cheaper options such as the flea market or searching for discounts, there are even more affordable options you can choose. For instance, if your couch is in good condition, there’s no reason to replace it. Instead, you can just reupholster it to go with your new walls and the new look you have in mind for your room. You can also use sandpaper and paint to create a new look for your tables and shelves. Pillows can play an important role here as well, as they’re not expensive but can make a significant change in the aesthetics of the room. All in all, a lot can be done with good will and a bit of imagination. So, next time you’re feeling sad because your home looks boring, get some ideas and start the adventure. You’ll be so proud of yourself having redecorated the living room yourself that you’ll enjoy its appearance for many days to come.
Working from home has so many perks: you don’t have to worry about nosy co-workers or an overly-demanding boss. Everything can be done on your own terms as long as you do finish your tasks on time. Working from bed can be tempting, but it can also impact your productivity, therefore it’s much better to have your own office where you’ll be able to work in peace. A home office can increase your productivity and help you work harder, so here are some tips for designing it to suit your needs. Get rid of distractions Decluttering can be extremely beneficial if you want to stay on track. A home office is supposed to be a place for work, not for lounging, so make sure to remove all the clutter and junk and make it functional. Having too many decor pieces can be distracting, instead, add one or two elements in a tray like this one and keep the rest minimalist. Use the shelves for files, folders, and books, and if you have a lot of documents, get some paper trays where you can put all the paperwork. Make your desk as clean as possible, so you’ll be able to focus on work. By doing so, you’ll have a more relaxing and comfortable work ambiance at home. Get a comfortable chair Having a comfortable chair is essential if you want to avoid back pain and stiffness. There are many types of chairs, so before you purchase, try at least two or three until you find the one that’s comfortable. You can choose a specifically colored chair that matches your office vibe, but when it comes to office chairs, you should always prioritize your own comfort. When picking a chair, make sure that the backrest is adjustable and follow the shape of the spine. Plus, if you have a carpet, make sure that your chair has wheels made for carpet, so it will be easy for you to move around, especially whenever you need to reach something from the chair. It is a good idea to invest in an ergonomic office chair so you may prevent suffering from various postural and other musculoskeletal health problems. Take a look at the following tips when choosing an ergonomic office chair for your work-from-home setting: Choose Adjustable Armrests: With adjustable armrests, your arms can rest comfortably and your shoulders are more relaxed. Your lower arms and elbows rest will lightly, too. To ensure proper posture, your forearm shouldn’t be lying on the armrest while you’re typing. Seat Height: Select an ergonomic office chair with adjustable seat height, which is one with a pneumatic adjustment lever. The seat height should range from 16 to 21 inches to leave your feet flat on the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk. Choose One With A Swivel: Pick an ergonomic chair that could easily rotate so you can easily reach different areas on your desk without causing strains. Backrest: When it comes to the chair’s backrest, it should be around 12 to 19 inches wide. The backrest should be height and angle adjustable if it’s separated from the seat. Seat Depth And Width: Comfortably sit with 17 to 20 inches wide as the standard width. The depth (measurement from front to back) needs to be enough to sit with your back against the ergonomic office chair’s back (leaving 2 to 4 inches between your knees and the chair seat). Lumbar Support: Look for an ergonomic chair with good lower back support. Because the lumbar spine curves inward, the natural curve can be flattened when sitting for a long period due to slouching. Avoid straining your spine by choosing an ergonomic chair with a lumbar adjustment to get the proper fit and support your lower back. Seat Material: Choose an ergonomic office chair material with enough padding for your comfort, most especially if you will be working for long hours. Shelves will give you more space Aside from looking good, shelves can help you reorganize your office and make it look tidier. If you feel like you need some extra space, you should consider investing in durable and quality shelving. Having a place to put away all your books and heavy folders can greatly improve your home office and make it look more business-like, which is important if you have clients coming over. And if you’re feeling extra creative, you can play with different designs and materials so your shelf will look more interesting. Decorate wisely Maybe some people prefer cramped working spaces, but for maximum productivity, you should aim for less is more principle. Adding some paintings you love will enrich your space and make it look more homely and stylish. Getting some potted plants can have benefits, so be sure to choose those that fit with your office and are also easy to maintain. Besides, a nice round rug will add make your home office look more like a pleasant living room, so feel free to buy one that is easy on the eye and soft. Keep it well-lit Whether you work during the day or night, your home office needs to be properly lit so you’ll avoid straining your eyes. If you prefer daytime, ensure that you have enough natural light coming in. To make it happen, get quality windows and position your home office in a way that you’ll be close to the light source. Add curtains or blinds that are light and easy to adjust. And during the night, make sure you have enough lamps so you’ll be able to work without feeling disturbed by the lack of light. Get a meeting area If you have clients, it’s important to have space where you can sit and talk to them without being distracted. Ideally, a meeting area is a room separate from your office, but in case you can’t afford it, you can use a corner in your office where you’ll place a small table and two
The roof is an important part of any home. Any plans of renovating it or replacing it should be given considerable thought. You need solid advice if you are going to do any changes that you deem necessary. You can trust your own decision if you have years of solid experience with roofing, or you can get professional roofing contractors to help you decide what’s best for your house. Working with expert roofers ensures your roof is fitted correctly and performs well for years to come. Concrete tiles are common in most houses in Melbourne. But recently, Colorbond roofs are gaining popularity. This is because many people realize that Colorbond is more durable and dependable compared to tiles. The question that you need an answer for is “Which is Better? Colorbond roofing or Tiled roofing?” Regardless of whether you are building a new roof or replacing your old one, you need to choose the one that is best for you. Here are some pieces of information that may help you choose between the two. About Colorbond Steel Colorbond steel is secure, strong, durable, and energy-efficient. There are many Australians who have tried and tested the performance and they were able to prove that the claims of lifelong performance are real. The colors can be mixed and match depending on the design of your downpipes, fascia. The first introduction of the steel was in 1966. Since then, the roof has evolved and included a lot of technological innovation. About Tiled Roofs Tile roofs were first used in the Mediterranean because of their beauty and durability. Despite their heaviness, many still wanted them because they provide a classic or traditional look to any home. They are great for houses that are near the sea. They are ideal for tropical climates and places where there are seldom rains. Know more about roof tiles in this link here. Colorbond vs. Tile Roofing Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The design of your house may dictate whether you will get the first one or the other one. Most terracotta tiles or concrete tiles offer a traditional Australian look to older houses. The Colorbond materials were just developed later on 20 years after the tiles but they provide solid roofing. 1. Lifespan and Installation – Most companies manufacture Colorbond materials that promise a lifespan of up to 70 years. On the other hand, tile roofs only last for up to 50 years. When it comes to leakage, you won’t have problems with Colorbond as it does not have ridges that are present with the tiled ones. Colorbond roofing’s installation is simple and reliable. While the tiles take time to install and the process can be complicated. 2. Maintenance – Colorbond roofs go one way and they are easier to maintain. They boast stable surfaces and they can be cleaned and repainted with less hassle. On the other hand, tiled roofs can be a bit more complicated. One misstep of the household owner or someone who tries to do repair can dislodge a tile. A sturdy structure is all you need to maintain a Colorbond roof while the tiles may require more heavy duty equipment underneath it to support all the heavy weight of the shingles. 3. Flexibility – When it comes to design, you can change the color of Colorbond roofs with just a single painting job. There are many color choices and options that you can choose from with these kinds of roofs. On the other hand, the tiled roofs may offer little to no option since most of them may not turn out well if you mix other colors on them. You might have to replace the entire roof with tiles that are different in color in order to get what you want. 4. Insulation – When it comes to the insulation of Colorbond roof, there should be at least a 55mm foil underneath. This provides a blanket and will protect the house better from too much heat of the sun. The foil or blanket will provide acoustic, condensation, and thermal protection from the outside. This is not the case at all with tiled roofs. They can be installed without thermal protection or foil underneath them. Most of them require heavy equipment underneath and the wooden trusses and thick frames may not provide the needed thermal protection for the entire household. 5. Water Collection – Colorbond roofs have excellent water collection system. The rain is collected easily and you can even use that water for the household needs. On the other hand, older tiles may reduce the water collected. Some of the water from the shingles makes them loose and easy to get detached. Colorbond Roofing and Cladding What is cladding? Cladding is the application of a material like bricks, concrete, wood, or steel over another material, providing a thermal insulated and water-resistant layer. This feature improves the appearance of homes and buildings. In the past, cladding serves as an exterior finishing system to enhance the appearance of buildings. With advanced technology and innovation, interior cladding now exists. For instance, a wall steel cladding adds texture and depth to your space, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal and life protection of a property with interior feature walling or a long-lasting exterior façade. Colorbond steel wall cladding makes cleaning and maintenance a breeze because of its exceptional resistance to flaking, blistering, and chipping. Cladding and roofing professionals can help homeowners achieve the perfect design for their dream home. Property owners can call a contractor that offers both Colorbond cladding and roofing services, serving as a one-stop shop to save time and money. A highly trained and experienced contractor ensures the proper installation of your Colorbond cladding and roofing for long-lasting use. So, whether you have a renovation or new construction project, you can match your Colorbond roofing with Colorbond cladding to give your lovely home a new dimension. Now, you can attain a unique and modern home with these features. Roof Replacements There are companies
Congrid, the Finnish construction quality and safety software company, today announced its expansion into the UK and the appointment of Daniel Hunt as UK territory manager. The Congrid mobile app introduces new levels of transparency and communication for safety and quality on construction projects and helps deliver zero-defect buildings to clients. Already the market leader in Finland, with 60% annual revenue growth and all of the country’s major construction firms using its platform, including WSP, YIT, NCC, and PEAB, Congrid is now targeting the UK. Congrid’s cloud-based app is aimed at project managers and quality managers at construction companies involved in various projects, including housing, offices, hospitals and schools. Designed to reduce the industry’s reliance on manual, paper-based workflows by digitising on-site project management and documentation, workers use Congrid on smartphones or tablets, to manage safety and quality inspections, document defects and faults and monitor the progress of each work stage in real time, all in the same app. This approach enables construction companies to involve their contractor network in the quality assurance and safety management process without any additional costs. Everything is recorded using detailed site plans allowing for the accurate resolution of any issues and subsequent monitoring to ensure all faults are fixed. Benefits include increased transparency and better communication between construction companies and their contractors, improved safety levels, reduced quality costs, zero-defect property deliveries and more efficient ways of working on site. The data collected allows detailed monitoring and reporting on any issues in need of attention. Future product developments include new data visualisation tools to expand what users can learn from their quality and safety data. “We aim to bring our expertise and knowledge to the UK market and introduce new, smarter ways of working relating to safety and quality in construction. Our approach offers the UK construction industry a better understanding of what has been built and how,” explained Timo Makkonen, CEO of Congrid. “The entire industry needs to change its mindset towards quality – quality is everyone’s business. Our software enables all stakeholders involved to participate and take responsibility for quality and safety. What we’ve experienced is that quality has become far more of a priority and users are looking for peace of mind, to better manage how a building is built and have a record to demonstrate this.” Congrid’s first UK appointment sees Daniel Hunt become UK territory manager, responsible for spearheading customer acquisition and hiring further staff in 2019. Already established in Finland and Sweden, the UK is the first country Congrid is moving into outside of the Nordic region. For more information please visit: https://congrid.com About Congrid Congrid was founded in 2013 by a team of construction site managers who had become frustrated with the use of pen, paper and Excel-files to control the quality and safety of construction sites. Congrid’s cloud-based software offers users one platform to handle quality and safety management on any construction project, reducing quality costs, improving safety and maximising site productivity. Customers include majordevelopers, construction firms, contractors and subcontractors in the Nordic region.
Ahead of this year’s Armed Forces Day, top-10 UK housebuilder, Linden Homes is pledging to continue its support for ex-armed forces personnel and veterans. As the housebuilding division of Galliford Try, Linden Homes also supports Galliford Try’s signing of the Armed Forces Covenant. With this the company pledge to treat those who have served in the armed forces and their families with fairness and respect. Signing the pledge is part of a continuing commitment by Linden Homes to help ex-armed forced personnel. Linden Homes recently supported Matt Knight into a career in the housebuilding industry, following his time in the Royal Navy. After a three year career in the armed forces, Matt joined Linden Homes’ South Division as a trainee site manager in November 2018. Matt has begun to build a new career in housebuilding and has used the skills he gained in the military to help do this. Matt explained: “There are a lot of similar skills you need for a successful career in the Royal Navy and as a site manager. In both roles you need to have excellent communication skills, as you’re often dealing with people from all different walks of life – whether that’s the different trades you’re working with on site, or dealing with company directors, that can be like dealing with Navy officers.” Matt has built his skills and expertise in his new career, and taken advantage of opportunities on offer to him through Linden Homes: “Linden Homes has been fantastic when it comes to offering training to help me get where I want to be. So far, I’ve undertaken the Site Management Safety Training Scheme, as well other relevant health and safety to ensure everyone working on site is doing so in a safe manner. In the coming months I will be undertaking an NVQ in Construction Contracting Operations, which will help me progress to assistant site manager and then hopefully to site manager”. Andrew Hammond, CEO of Linden Homes, said: “In the run up to Armed Forces Day we are extremely proud to be able to continue to support former service men and women into new careers. During his time in the Royal Navy, Matt learnt many life skills that make him ideally suited to the role of site manager. He is organised, has excellent communication skills and knows how to work as part of team. Housebuilding offers a diverse range of job opportunities and we always welcome applications from ex-armed forces personnel and former veterans who are considering a change in career.” Armed Forces Day takes place on Saturday 29 June with a number of events taking place up and down the country, to find an event near you visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk/find-events. For further information about the careers on offer at Linden Homes visit: www.lindenhomes.co.uk/careers
Euramax Solutions, a leading manufacturer of PVCu windows and doors, has announced that it will extend its product range with the UK’s largest builders’ merchants, Travis Perkins. The new range will see new products and colour options available to the public in Spring 2019. Based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Euramax Solutions has manufactured PVCu windows and doors for over 65 years. With its 200,000sq. ft manufacturing facility, Euramax supplies a range of composite and PVCu doors and windows to the modular, new build, holiday home, DIY and retail sectors across the UK. As one of the largest UK suppliers to trade professionals and self-builders, buildings merchants Travis Perkins has over 660 branches across the UK and supplies more than 100,000 product lines. Euramax has supplied products to Travis Perkins since 2004, primarily delivering standard white PVCu windows. In April 2019 the Euramax product range was extend, adding coloured PVCu windows, deluxe French doors, sliding patio doors and Bi-Fold doors to the range available to customers. “Trends in the market are always changing and evolving, which means more choice is needed to meet customer demand”, said Richard Banks, commercial director at Euramax. “As a leading manufacturer of windows and doors, it’s important to take advantage of the market shift and provide more options for customers, which is why we have extended our product range with one of the most notable UK builders merchants. “We understand that appearance is one of the primary reasons why homeowners upgrade their windows and doors, so we know that colour and style is important. Previously, Travis Perkins only supplied a selection of Euramax products in white, but as 40 per cent of the market want coloured doors and windows, we have added Chartwell green and Golden Oak options, along with Anthracite grey as it is becoming increasingly popular,” explained Banks. “We also know that customers are always looking to improve their home’s energy efficiency, which is why all of our products at combine energy efficient frames and insulating glass to deliver the best thermal performance possible,” Banks added. “Aside from our extended product range supplied at Travis Perkins, our bespoke made to measure service means that customers can purchase windows and doors to fit their exact needs.” The range of products is available now at Travis Perkins stores across the UK as well as on the website for customer collection or delivery. To find out more about Euramax and their products, visit www.euramax.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1226 361639.To browse the full range of Euramax products available at Travis Perkins, go to www.travisperkins.co.uk.
Let’s set the scene. You’ve just cooked a huge family roast dinner. I’m talking roast potatoes, roast parsnips, roast chicken – the lot. However, while you were cooking you forgot to use any tin foil, so the excess oil and fat you used is now effectively lining the baking tins. It’s no big deal though – you can always sort it out after you’ve eaten. You move to the table to get stuck into your food. Before you start eating though, you accidentally knock over the jug of gravy when reaching for a knife and fork. You run back into the kitchen, grabbing some kitchen roll to clear up the mess. You get the stain all cleaned up and are just about to throw away the dirty kitchen roll, when you notice your bin is full. Typical. You want to get back to your nice hot food as quickly as you can so, what would you do in this situation? For many of us, we’d do exactly the same thing. We would either throw the excess oil from the baking tins down the sink while it’s in liquid form, or wait for it to congeal and leave the dishwasher to sort out the problem. Then, we’d potentially throw the used kitchen roll down the toilet so we could get back to our food sooner rather than later. After all, kitchen roll is quite similar to toilet paper so it must break down in the same way, right? Adjusting attitudes Wrong. It’s attitudes like these which contribute to the growing ‘fatberg’ problem that the UK is currently facing. When we flush non-flushable items down the toilet, or dispose of fats and oils down the sink, we don’t only create problems for plumbers, we also create issues for ourselves. Nappies, tights, condoms, plasters, sanitary towels, tampons, kitchen roll, dental floss, oil, fats, food waste – none of these products are designed to go down sewage pipes. Our old-fashioned sewage systems simply aren’t equipped to deal with them. When these items get disposed of, either via the sink, dishwasher or toilet, they accumulate and block the sewage pipes. Over time, this blockage builds up to form a large mass of disgusting waste by-products known as a fatberg. After this mass grows to a certain size, it causes a number of expensive problems to occur – both plumbing-related and health-related. Whether it be flooding inside or outside your home or a health problem due to overflowing sewage these blockages cause a mess and are expensive to sort out. For a blocked pipe alone, a plumber can cost around £200 to sort the issue out. Couple this with that fact that there are 6.7 million blocked drains in the UK each year, and that works out at over £1.3 billion each year. Contain the problem So, what can you do to prevent fatbergs? We now know that incorrectly disposing of fats and oils can cause blockages in our sewage systems, so how should you dispose of them instead? You can’t simply throw liquid oil or fat in the bin – it would go everywhere and stink out your home. One thing you can do is use a spare container – such as a margarine tub, plastic pot or jam jar – to capture any excess cooking fat and oil. You can then safely place this into the bin, making sure the lid is on tight beforehand! You could even save excess fat or oil to reuse another time, but make sure you’re aware of these things before you do. As a preventative measure, you should also scrape off any leftover food on your plate before loading it into the sink or dishwasher. Or, if you’ve got a dog, you could just let them handle the leftovers on your behalf. Three Ps (and a V) Toilets are only able to handle the three P’s (pee, poo and toilet paper), and the occasional V (vomit). Anything else you think you can throw down the toilet, you can’t – put it in the bin. Even toilet tissues which say that they’re flushable, they’re not – they actually take significantly longer to decompose than traditional toilet paper does. Just because they have a cute golden retriever puppy on them doesn’t mean you should believe what they say. Make sure your bathroom has a bin available to throw non-flushable items away into. It’s all to easy to fall in a pattern of ‘I’ll flush this wet wipe, just this once’, but don’t. Solving the fatberg problem requires a solid effort from everybody. Remember that it’s not just your house your helping, it’s the wider environment too. The tip of the fatberg While it’s all well and good knowing how to dispose of fat correctly, and understanding which items you can and can’t flush, more still needs to be done to make the issue more widely known. Every individual can play their part, but it’s also up to certain industries to make changes as well. Fatbergs should not be a problem that only the water industry have to deal with. The FMCG industry should be manufacturing products and packaging that clearly states how to correctly dispose of them. Likewise, food manufacturers should be crafting foods that either don’t use or require much oil to cook. While fatbergs aren’t a recent phenomenon, and there are certain strategies already in place, more public campaigns are also needed to make people more aware of the problem. This will involve a combined effort from both the government – to start the conversation – and the retail industry – to broadcast it out to the wider public. Effective alternative options for disposing of waste fat and oil also need to be created and implemented, so that people don’t have to rely on having a spare margarine container on hand. As this article discusses as well, our sewage systems really are in dire need of an upgrade. The only saving grace that fatbergs have is that
Aluminium glazing systems by Kawneer feature at Welsh University’s new creative and digital centre. Architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer played a key role in a new state-of-the-art building which is at the heart of Wales’ creative and digital future. Kawneer’s AA®110 curtain walling, AA®720 doors and window vents, and series 190 doors feature on the £10 million new creative and digital centre, Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, located on the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Carmarthen campus. Specified by BDP architects, they were installed over 10 months by a team of up to eight from Kawneer-approved dealer APiC UK for main contractor Kier Construction. The AA®110 zone-drained curtain walling with 65mm sightlines was used alongside Kawneer’s thermally superior AA®720 doors and series 190 automatic entrance doors on the ground floor which houses a spacious public café alongside performance space and auditorium as well as resources for community groups and offices for the building’s administrative staff. The AA®110 system also features on the first floor, which is let to the centre’s main anchor tenant – Welsh language broadcaster S4C – for its headquarters (corporate, communications, finance, business affairs and legal departments) alongside actuator-operated AA®720 top-hung, open-out window vents. And it also features on the third floor, which is let to a number of different companies working in the creative and digital sector, as well as on a clerestory lantern above an atrium which overarches the three storeys. Many of these tenants will offer work experience to UWTSD students, allowing them to make the most of the university’s connections during their studies. BDP’s award-winning design was based on the close relationship between the university, prospective tenants of the centre and the wider community. This relationship, or trinity, is reflected in its form – a simple triangle that grows from Carmarthenshire’s soil, a titular reference to Yr Egin – a Welsh play on words referencing energy and birth. The layout of the building encourages collaboration, communication and interaction between all users of the building, where initial ideas can be shared and developed – an incubator for the establishment of new companies and a breeding ground for a new generation of creative and technical people. Externally, the theme of trinity is expressed through the use of differing materials in a tripartite arrangement – a dynamic, reflective volume is seen to float over a solid plinth at ground level and a translucent intermediate layer reinforces the distinction between plinth and reflective object. The 3,600m2 building is linked to the main campus by a large public square which allows for the staging of a variety of outdoor activities in its stunning Carmarthenshire location between the Pembrokeshire coast and the Brecon Beacons. On the use of Kawneer’s systems, BDP’s project architect noted: “As most of the façade comprises curtain wall we needed a system that could meet a wide range of performance requirements. We specified Kawneer due to their extensive range of features which met the functional and aesthetic demands of the project. “The Kawneer curtain walling had a key role in the project. As a naturally ventilated building it has an active façade that reacts to changing environmental conditions. The Kawneer system houses the various components that protect the interior from the elements while allowing air to flow through. “A key element of the building’s aesthetic was to create a distinct character for each level of the building – a challenge for a facade almost entirely constructed from curtain wall. This challenge was met by the extensive range of Kawneer features, especially the fin capping, which was vital to the characterisation of the different elements of the facade.” The durability, strength to weight ratio and life cycle benefits of aluminium were key factors in the consideration of Kawneer’s system when specifying the external envelope. APiC UK senior sales and estimating technician Andrew Finn said: “Working with Kawneer we were able to offer solutions for all the differing project requirements including profiled vertical faced caps with new dies for the 100mm and 150mm profiles to the ground-floor curtain wall which was specified to accommodate the vertical movement of the building. “The 100mm, 150mm and 200mm vertical faced caps provide a strong vertical emphasis to the curtain wall. The use of differing sizes and finishes to these are designed to provide a ‘flickering effect”. Canolfan S4C Yr Egin was opened by the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, first Minister of Wales, in October 2018 and has since won a RICS Wales award for best commercial building. RICS judges said the team behind the project – including Mott McDonald, BDP, Rural Office for Architecture, and the University of Wales Trinity St David – had succeeded in designing a scheme that encouraged occupiers to collaborate, network and exchange information and ideas, to innovate and create jobs. For further information about Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, please visit https://yregin.cymru/