When you’ve found the perfect piece of property for your home or real estate investment, the next step is to find the right construction company. It’s essential to select the right company in order to ensure your initial investment is protected and to give you the best possible future outcome
Indeglas, the Cumbernauld-based business recognised as a world class supplier of interior glass solutions, has completed its work at the iconic new building which is the University of Edinburgh’s The Bayes Centre, the final phase of the University’s state-of-the-art Potterrow development. This is the latest of a clutch of contracts
This is the startling finding of a survey carried out by the Construction Knowledge Task Group. 299 practitioners from every part of the industry took part in the survey. 38.5% said they did not have easy access to all the knowledge they need to do their job. This begs the
At the start of the 20th century, there were around a million freshwater ponds in Britain, supporting a bio-diverse mix of animals, plants and herbs. By the turn of this century, half had disappeared and, according to research by charity Pond Conservation, 80% of those remaining were in a poor
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK) has brought in the new year with a new appointment with Guy Robinson being announced as National Head of Project Management. Guy is a Fellow of the RICS and has over 25 years of major project experience
FIS is the representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK and they have started 2019 by strengthening their team with the appointment of Nigel Higgins as Technical Engagement Manager. Nigel has extensive experience working across the sector for some of the most respected and
Master developer Nakheel has started constructing the rooftop infinity swimming pool at The Palm Tower, its 52-storey, luxury hotel and residential complex at the heart of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Perched 210 metres above ground and covering 775 square metres, the infinity pool – one of the highest in the
Polished concrete floors are more popular than ever – not just in industrial environments but in homes, hotels and even restaurants. But what’s behind their popularity? The team at Total Concrete are here to tell you. Style Concrete as a material is not commonly associated with beautiful decor and surfaces,
Accuracy can be one of the most important aspects to ensuring that a construction project runs smoothly. This is especially true when it comes to measurements, as an inexact figure can negatively affect the entire process. Precise readings, therefore, could save huge amounts of time, labour and money for people
Building professionals understand that there are many steps to ensuring that the power system in a construction runs properly– but what are the essential power requirements to remember for large projects? These three tips will highlight the key areas to aim for when incorporating secure power sources and appliances into
When you’ve found the perfect piece of property for your home or real estate investment, the next step is to find the right construction company. It’s essential to select the right company in order to ensure your initial investment is protected and to give you the best possible future outcome for the project. There are lots of different construction companies out there, but they definitely are not all equal. Look For a Construction Company With Relevant Experience First, you should choose a construction company that specializes in the kind of work you need to be done. Construction styles vary greatly between commercial and residential. They also vary greatly between materials used. If you’re looking for a construction company for a commercial steel beam building, you wouldn’t hire a company that’s only done wood residential projects. Similarly, if you have a pole building to construct, you’ll want to hire a construction company with that exact kind of construction experience. Read more here. You can easily narrow down your choices by reviewing the project portfolios of construction companies in your area. Once you find some that do similar work, move on to the following list of seven key features you need to look for when choosing the right construction company for your building project. 1. Longevity In Business In the construction world, companies come and go. The good ones survive and the other ones go out of business due to poor quality. When choosing a construction company for your building project, look for one that has been in business for as many years as you see fit. It bears repeating that the longer a construction company has been around, the more likely it is that they know what they’re doing and they do good work. Chapman’s Construction has a proven track record of excellence, ensuring top-quality results for all your building needs. 2. Financial Stability Another key feature to look for in a construction company is financial stability. Construction companies have quite a few expenses to take care of in order to complete a job. They have to payroll, tax payments, equipment lease payments, travel expenses, and all sorts of miscellaneous costs. This all comes out of the company account – or it should. Some nefarious construction companies that aren’t financially stable may rely on the latest client payment to fund older projects. Companies like these don’t manage their finances well and end up using your money to finish off another customer’s job. Meanwhile, when it comes time to start on your project they come up short until they can find yet another customer. 3. Sound Management The construction company should have a sound management system in place that includes a general contractor, site security personnel, assistant managers, crew supervisors at a bare minimum. Construction companies that try to operate with a skeleton management system often end up disappointing customers because there isn’t sufficient supervision on the job site. 4. Sustainable And Eco-Friendly Work Practices If eco-construction is important to you, then you should seek out a construction company that is LEED-certified or at least tries to use sustainable materials and eco-friendly construction practices. If you’re going for a building that you ultimately want to be LEED-certified, you will be forced to choose a construction team that is also LEED-accredited. If eco-friendly construction isn’t important to you, it’s safe to not worry about this feature. If you don’t, however, you should realize that there may end up being a lot of material and hazardous waste from the project. Disposal of these materials will most likely come out of your pocket. 5. Insured Your building permit from the town may be contingent upon you hiring a construction company with a certain minimum insurance coverage. Liability insurance is an important consideration when hiring anyone to work on your property. Typically, a two million dollar liability policy is standard. Be sure to ask for and retain a copy of the certificate, which should name you or your building project company as the covered party. 6. References Most construction companies will have a website and an online portfolio of completed projects for you to review. However, you should also ask for some references along with contact emails or phone numbers. Contact a handful of past clients to find out how the construction company was to work with. Specific questions to ask include, was the project completed on time, was the budget adhered to, and if there were any issues, did the company satisfactorily take care of them. If the company rep can’t supply at least three references for you to contact, this is a sign that you might want to continue looking elsewhere for a construction company. 7. Good Rapport Most importantly, you should be able to have a good rapport with any construction company you plan to hire for your project. Communication is the foundation of a successful construction project. Without it, there can be misunderstandings, intimidation, and mistakes that cannot be rectified. Be very certain that there is trust and respect between you and the construction company representative. It’s important that you feel that your opinions are being listened to and that you have input as to how you’d like the final project to come out. Finally, pay attention to how the subordinates at the company respond to the company rep. Do they appear confident in their job? Or do they seem intimidated or frightened of the boss? Frightened workers can be afraid to speak up if they see something wrong on the job site, which is not conducive to a safe work environment. Once you’ve found the perfect property, the best construction company for the job will be one that meets all or most of the above features. Don’t be afraid to take your time choosing which one. Before going ahead with any home renovation work, we always recommend getting multiple quotes so you can compare the service and price. You’ll be working with whomever you choose for the duration of the project, which could take many months. You’ll be glad you chose a
Indeglas, the Cumbernauld-based business recognised as a world class supplier of interior glass solutions, has completed its work at the iconic new building which is the University of Edinburgh’s The Bayes Centre, the final phase of the University’s state-of-the-art Potterrow development. This is the latest of a clutch of contracts worth over £840k which have been undertaken on behalf of the University by Indeglas. They include complete glazed screen installations at the Joseph Black Building, James Clerk Maxwell Buildings, Charles Stewart House, Dalhousie Land, Chrystal MacMillan Building, Centre Building Easterbush, Minto Building and New College. Jeanette MacIntyre, founder and Managing Director of Indeglas, said: “We are, of course, very pleased to have been selected to undertake this contract and see it as a clear indication that Indeglas is rapidly becoming the preferred supplier of a growing number of the country’s top performing design teams and construction companies. “The project at The Bayes Centre required an extremely high-performance installation, with full height, fire-rated glass screens to atrium spaces, and acoustic, frameless glass forming the frontages of a wide variety of learning and office spaces. “Our expertise in delivering interior glass solutions, means we can offer directly to the University the maintenance and servicing of the installation for the lifetime of the building, an aspect of our service provision which brings confidence and security for the client from the design stage all the way through the life of the building. “As a Scottish business, the opportunity to work on such prestigious projects for the University of Edinburgh is a huge honour. We offer the University, its Estates team, appointed architects and contractors, the benefits of our nearly 70 years of collective industry experience, as well as our commitment to full client engagement at every level of our business.” Indeglas is a specialist contractor and sole distributor in the UK and Ireland for the products of award-winning glazed screen system, DEKO of Denmark. Established 17 years ago, Indeglas designs project specific screen requirements, and is unique in providing Tier 1 contractors with a full-service design, engineer, supply and install leading-edge glass solutions that are fully backed up with a dedicated maintenance service throughout the UK. The detailed development of the design for The Bayes Centre was completed by architects, Bennetts Associates, a firm which has been recognised with over 150 awards, including 19 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards. The main contractor is McLaughlin and Harvey.
This is the startling finding of a survey carried out by the Construction Knowledge Task Group. 299 practitioners from every part of the industry took part in the survey. 38.5% said they did not have easy access to all the knowledge they need to do their job. This begs the question, what are they doing without, and how critical is it? Practitioners also admitted they use less-trusted knowledge sources more frequently than more-trusted knowledge sources, with web searches and free online resources accounting for almost half of all the knowledge accessed. Other key findings include: Cost and sign-up forms are significant barriers to accessing knowledge, particularly for SMEs. Practitioners are unaware of much of the knowledge that is available, they are overwhelmed by how much knowledge there is and frustrated by how fragmented it is. There is a ‘them and us’ culture separating those in the knowledge loop from those stuck on the outside. There is a need for quick and straightforward access to knowledge on demand. The survey also revealed that designers access industry knowledge up to four times more frequently than decision makers such as clients and project managers, and that the most frequently-accessed knowledge is practical, specific guidance that supports day-to-day activities. Less specific, traditional ‘learning’ material is not as popular. The purpose of the survey, which ran at the end of 2018, was to help the Construction Knowledge Task Group steer its work, improving the way industry knowledge is prepared, accessed and applied. It was distributed to the membership and other networks of the organisations that form the Task Group. Ann Bentley, Global Board Director at Rider Levett Bucknall, and Member of the Construction Leadership Council said: “The results of this survey confirm what I suspected, and should be a wake-up call for the industry. Practitioners have embraced the internet and are seeking out easy-to-access, easy-to-apply knowledge. The industry needs to make sure they find what they are looking for. This means bringing knowledge into 21st century and taking a more collaborative and systematic approach to how it is prepared and shared. BIM has shown how this can be done for data and information, but knowledge is still stuck in the past.” Convenor of the Task Group, architect Dr Gregor Harvie said: “Construction is a knowledge-based industry. Knowledge helps spread best practice, promote innovation and prevent mistakes. But this important survey reveals that all too often practitioners are unaware of what is available, or they do not have easy access to it. As a result, knowledge has less impact on the ground than it should.” The survey suggests the future should be one in which knowledge is better integrated, less siloed, more easy-to-access and available through flexible subscriptions and intelligent search tools. The Task Group will meet in January to discuss how to drive this agenda forward. You can see the survey results in full at: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/Construction_knowledge_survey_results
At the start of the 20th century, there were around a million freshwater ponds in Britain, supporting a bio-diverse mix of animals, plants and herbs. By the turn of this century, half had disappeared and, according to research by charity Pond Conservation, 80% of those remaining were in a poor condition and most were polluted. Increased building development in the countryside and intensification of the landscape have been blamed for the decline in ponds. Agricultural chemicals from neighbouring farmlands are the main cause, leading to ponds becoming overgrown and stagnant, and the subsequent failure of the ecosystem. Ponds need clean water to thrive, but once pollutants enter the water the delicate ecosystem breaks down, leading to loss of habitat for threatened species such as toads, newts and frogs. A total of 105 rare and declining pond species are a national priority for conservation action under the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan. To counteract the loss of ponds in the UK, the charity Pond Conservation launched its Million Ponds project, aiming to replace half a million ponds within the next 50 years and so protect freshwater wildlife. How does the pond ecosystem work? A pond ecosystem works with the natural environment to provide food and protection to the wildlife and plants it supports. Fish nibble on the plants and algae, producing waste that is broken down and absorbed as nutrients by the plants. These plants filter the water naturally and help keep harmful algae to a minimum. The importance of ponds for biodiversity has only recently been understood. Research has found that invertebrate biodiversity and abundance is greater in ponds than in rivers. Frogs, toads and newts use small ponds to breed, while large ponds can support waterfowl, including mallard ducks, moorhens and coots. The grey heron also regularly visits even the smallest ponds, feeding on fish and amphibians. Wendi O’Toole of Scott Parnell Water Management Ltd, which specialises in pond lining, said: “Ponds are now becoming increasingly commonplace on new residential developments. Not only do they provide an aesthetically pleasing landscape, but have the added advantage of handling rainwater and preventing issues with potential flooding. However, it is really important to ensure ponds are properly lined.” Lining your pond Pond liners are the ideal solution for creating a richly biodiverse and sustainable pond. Water loss is a significant issue for ponds, due to normal ground absorption and adverse weather conditions, such as drought. Liners not only significantly reduce water loss, but also minimise the amount of silt that can enter the water. For manufactured ponds created for aesthetic reasons, such as those on golf courses, less silt production will maintain water clarity. Liners also prevent water contamination by acting as a barrier against pollutants in the ground. Using geomembrane Geomembrane liners are impermeable barriers that prevent water from passing through. They are ultra-strong and durable, as well as being completely customisable – so they can be used to line a small fish pond or large man-made fishing lake, for example. The liners are flexible and resistant to punctures, and will withstand debris, such as rocks and branches. They are also resistant to temperature variations from snow and ice to drought conditions. Most importantly, geomembrane is totally eco-friendly and environmentally safe, so it is harmless to wildlife and vegetation. Wendi added: “At Scott Parnell we have developed prefabricated geomembrane panels, which can be cut to size in-house and are then heat welded at the seam by highly-qualified technicians. The panels are then folded and delivered to site and installation is carried out by our welding technicians. Upon completion of the work, warranty certificates are supplied to the client.” Safeguarding future biodiversity Phase II of the Million Pounds Project is now underway in England and Wales and will continue until 2020 when it’s hoped that 30,000 new clean water ponds will have been created. Scott Parnell specialises in the supply of groundworks and civil engineering products and services to customers across the UK. Independently owned and run, the company has five offices across the south of England and Wales with a team of highly experienced staff offering expert advice to customers. Scott Parnell prides itself on its innovative and pioneering approach to delivering high quality products from a variety of manufacturers – not just market leaders.
Leading independent construction, property and management consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall UK (RLB UK) has brought in the new year with a new appointment with Guy Robinson being announced as National Head of Project Management. Guy is a Fellow of the RICS and has over 25 years of major project experience both within the UK and internationally. His experience encompasses a variety of sectors including commercial, mixed use, residential, industrial, hotels, education, healthcare, aviation, sports and leisure. Illustrating the importance of project and programme management to the consultancy’s UK service portfolio, Robinson will lead a team of 150 project and programme management professionals nationwide that will account for over 35% of RLB UK turnover in 18/19. Guy Robinson comments, “I am delighted to be taking on this national role working with the rest of the UK team at RLB. 2018 delivered some great successes in the project and programme management side of the business working with both private and public sector clients such as AVIVA Investors, Lendlease, Taylor Wimpey, and the Department for Work & Pensions. 2019 looks to be just, if not more, exciting and I am looking forward to working with our professional bodies and industry to develop the future of project management.” Andrew Reynolds, RLB UK and Global Board Director continues, “Guy’s appointment is great news for RLB. He will draw upon his UK & international experience of working on large scale and complex projects and programmes. We see project management as a key area of growth for RLB in 2019 and beyond and consider Guy and his team to be critical to this success.”
FIS is the representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK and they have started 2019 by strengthening their team with the appointment of Nigel Higgins as Technical Engagement Manager. Nigel has extensive experience working across the sector for some of the most respected and recognisable companies over the course of his career. Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO said “we are delighted to welcome Nigel to the team, this is a new role that we have created to improve engagement, both from a supporting delivery and active listening perspective. It is vital to ensure that as many voices as possible are steering our work so that we deliver against our core values of supporting members, raising standards, improving safety, enhancing productivity and driving innovation in the finishing and interiors sector”. Nigel will be splitting his time between supporting the FIS Working Groups, expanding wider industry engagement work and most importantly helping to support the ambitious membership growth plans of the FIS. Nigel Higgins, Technical Engagement Manager said “I have spent all my working life in interiors, from a family involved in partitions, I have been proud to work for contractors, distributors and manufacturers who have fed my passion for innovation and high-quality commercial interiors. Working for the FIS will allow me to share my knowledge for the benefit of, and add value to the members, and join an organisation that is the voice of this dynamic and diverse industry”
Master developer Nakheel has started constructing the rooftop infinity swimming pool at The Palm Tower, its 52-storey, luxury hotel and residential complex at the heart of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Perched 210 metres above ground and covering 775 square metres, the infinity pool – one of the highest in the world – borders all four sides of the building, boasting unrivalled, panoramic views across Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline. The pool – which will hold 930,000 litres of water – is on the 50th floor of The Palm Tower. Above the pool will be a podium housing a 51st level speciality restaurant and a 52nd storey public viewing deck, 240 metres high. Construction of the rooftop dining viewing deck complex will begin soon. Located at the heart of the world-famous, award winning Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Tower comprises a 289-room St. Regis hotel, 432 luxury residences and an array of dining and leisure facilities. The hotel occupies the first 18 floors, with fully-furnished studios and one, two and three bedroom apartments on the upper floors. Currently, around 850 construction workers are on site at The Palm Tower, rising to more than 1,500 when internal fit out gets in full swing in the next few weeks. Fit out of the St. Regis – due to open later this year – has already begun. The Palm Tower is directly connected to the under-construction Nakheel Mall – the access point for the public viewing deck – and its 350 shops, restaurants and attractions. Nakheel Mall, which has its own Palm Monorail station, is due for completion this year. Several other dining, leisure and entertainment venues are nearby, including the St. Regis Beach Club, part of Nakheel’s Palm West Beach complex, to which hotel guests and residents will have priority access; Al Ittihad Park, the UAE’s first indigenous park, spanning 1.1 million square feet across the heart of Palm Jumeirah; and the newly-opened Pointe at Palm Jumeirah, with 70 seafront restaurants and shops. For more information on The Palm Tower apartments, visit the Nakheel Sales Centre, call +971 4 390 3333 or log on to www.nakheel.com
Polished concrete floors are more popular than ever – not just in industrial environments but in homes, hotels and even restaurants. But what’s behind their popularity? The team at Total Concrete are here to tell you. Style Concrete as a material is not commonly associated with beautiful decor and surfaces, however, polished concrete can be a superb surface that can complement almost any interior design. The sleek aesthetic works perfectly in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as wider spaces like hotel lobbies – it still possesses the uniform presence of concrete, but the polished aspect gives it a little more class. Longevity Providing you make sure to maintain the concrete floor as necessary, it can last for years on end. Its strength means that it can withstand even the heaviest of footfalls – perfect for busy commercial environments like shops and restaurants – and there’s no need for major facelifts or maintenance like there may be with other types of flooring. For all commercial cleaning needs contact CHOR Services. Maintenance Concrete floors require hardly any maintenance compared to other services. All you need is a pH-neutral cleaning agent, some warm water and a mop. Wiping the floor down once every so often will ensure that marks are removed and the hygiene levels of the floor are preserved. It is recommended that you re-seal or wax the concrete every two to three years to ensure it retains its water-resistance. Cost A polished concrete floor is an investment, owing to its fantastic lifespan and the lack of costs associated with its upkeep and maintenance. It’s on-trend at the moment, too, so if you were to sell a property with a polished concrete floor in it, you can be sure the pricetag of your property would benefit from its presence. Colour options The days of concrete only being grey are long gone; now, concrete is available in a spectrum of colours. There are a couple of ways concrete can be coloured; acid staining is one such method, but a modern technique is using pre-cut coloured overlays – thin pieces of concrete – and placing them on top of the floor itself. Concrete floors needn’t just be used for warehouses and and hangars, they can be used for anything – kitchens, bathrooms, shops, you name it. All you need is a trusted installer and some high quality concrete . This article is produced by Total Concrete , proud suppliers of the highest quality concrete for customers throughout Surrey, Woking and the surrounding areas.
Accuracy can be one of the most important aspects to ensuring that a construction project runs smoothly. This is especially true when it comes to measurements, as an inexact figure can negatively affect the entire process. Precise readings, therefore, could save huge amounts of time, labour and money for people in the building trade. But why exactly are accurate measurements so valuable in construction? Let’s explore the three main reasons for this. It is Easy to Do Every step is critical during construction – from area calculations to framing measurements – and the right equipment can aid the process even more. When it comes to vital elements like power sources, equipment like function generators offer a simple and effective way to test, troubleshoot and repair devices at the installation stage of construction. Spectrum analysers can be useful for testing electrical systems, too. So, identifying brands that provide effective testing equipment like MCS Test could make the measurement element of construction easier, and may even guarantee a smoother building process. It Saves Huge Amounts of Time, Money and Labour Measurement inaccuracies can often result in having to restart a building project completely. But companies that specialise in reliable tools can help to ensure that this kind of mistake is avoided. Likewise, businesses that can do this and deliver to onsite locations could save additional time for project workers by eliminating pick-up duties entirely. So, equipment providers such as MCS Test may hold the key to massively reducing the number of unrelated duties attached to the construction process. 3. It Can Support Electrical Safety Accurate measurements are also important when construction projects involve electrical installations and equipment. Reliable testing can help identify potential problems before they become more serious, particularly when equipment is being installed or maintained. Different countries use their own inspection frameworks to address these risks. In the Netherlands, for example, a Scope 10 keuring can assess electrical installations and equipment for potential fire risks. Using suitable testing equipment and keeping clear records of inspection results can make it easier for construction businesses to identify issues and take corrective action. This can help prevent avoidable delays and additional costs while contributing to safer and more reliable construction projects. 4. It May Improve Company Reputation Reducing excess labour costs and securing services for measuring equipment can lead to faster project completion. Quick completion rates and reliable infrastructure could also improve company reputation, an outcome that may result in heightened popularity, and perhaps a higher level of investment. As measuring resources can often deliver the fastest and most accurate means of ensuring successful a building process, investment could lead to a reduced requirement for staff. A decrease in staff expenses can often heighten company funds hugely, leaving more money to be spent on improving the business, its aims and its performance. Making accurate measurements is vital for ensuring that the construction of any infrastructure is successful. What’s more, understanding the benefits of accurate measurements in this area could help businesses improve and gain more outside attention as a result. The advantages to measuring precisely show that it is not only necessary, but can also maximise company spending and performance.
Building professionals understand that there are many steps to ensuring that the power system in a construction runs properly– but what are the essential power requirements to remember for large projects? These three tips will highlight the key areas to aim for when incorporating secure power sources and appliances into the process of building on a large scale. Speedy energy sources are vital for any building, especially if built to host a range of different activities simultaneously, such as an apartment block or a hospital. Cost-Effective Outlets When planning a large-scale construction, such as an apartment block or school, ensuring that energy can be consumed as cheaply as possible can help maintain the reputation of both businesses in a building partnership. This can be achieved most easily through smart planning by the building and design team, a process that benefits immensely from regular engagement with the buyer. Advice from energy-efficiency as well as financial experts may also help to produce a power source design that is affordable for both the buyer and the prospective property users and works to protect the environment through conserving energy. Locating cost-effective power sources is, therefore, an important requirement, and hugely advantageous, for a large construction project. Green Energy Sources Building regulations are greener and more sustainable than they have ever been: initiatives like the Code for Sustainable Homes ensure that a high percentage of properties built in the UK are as energy-efficient as possible – but unfortunately, this is yet to extend to all buildings. So, when it comes to large structures, it is especially important to use the greenest products on the market. Construction project leaders that locate brands offering AC-DC power supplies for multiple applications, who comply with the latest global energy efficiency standards such as XP Power, are able to power large buildings through efficient energy sources. As this benefits the reputation of a building company as well as the planet, professionals who adopt a greener power supply service may even benefit from more building business partnerships in the future. Back-up Power Supplies Once power has been installed in a large property or construction, a back-up system is necessary for making sure that operations expected to take place in the building can still function should the original supply cut out. This can be particularly critical for large buildings where supplementary power facilities can guarantee that a large number of people are not left without means to carry out essential activities like cooking when one power source fails. Power failures that have occurred in densely-populated areas like East Midlands Airport highlight how full accessibility to all power systems can help to secure the constant and reliable running of energy in a large, heavily-used area. Large Construction Projects require a huge amount of attention and consideration in their planning, particularly when it comes to power sources. However, the environmental and financial advantages that successful power systems bring to most people underlines the significant role that building continues to play in everyday life.