Have you fallen in love with a historic property? Are you curious about how period homes always seem so quirky and unusual? The secret is usually woven into the building itself, thanks to construction techniques that have become unconventional to use today. While strange-looking façades help old buildings stand out
Kier Construction Scotland has been appointed to take forward a trio of projects in the field of mental health, including a £6m refurbishment programme at Royal Cornhill hospital in Aberdeen and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. Kier has also been appointed to develop the designs for a £4.8m extension and
A major redevelopment project that will bring more than 100 affordable homes to Salford has been given the green light. Salford Council has today (Thursday, September 6) approved plans for the multi-million pound Canon Green Campus development on Canon Green Drive in Trinity. The £22.5m project by Salford housing association
TOP architectural practice, Leonard Design Architects, has won its bid to design a landmark sculpture for Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea, as part of a wider refurbishment of the award-winning duty-free shopping area. The landmark, designed for Incheon International Airport but commissioned by the three biggest
BALI, through its nationwide GoLandscape initiative, has supported BALI Training Provider member Capel Manor College in developing and launching a brand new Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction (Level 3). Endorsed by employers within the industry, a crucial element of this new Diploma, the course offers a unique opportunity for students
Fusion Building Systems has completed its works on three residential housing projects in the south of England for Barratt Developments. St Mary’s Place, Felpham, West Sussex; New Quarter, Bordon, Surrey; and Cane Hill Park, Couldson, Surrey, are the first schemes to be delivered by the offsite manufacturer since it successfully
To mark this year’s International Day of Charity, Linden Homes is celebrating the hundreds of charity events and challenges hosted up and down the country from opening food banks and hosting Macmillan Coffee mornings to volunteering at YMCA and holding a charity boxing night, raising over £100,000 since January 2018.
In the line with their current ambitious expansion plans, the UK supplier of generators, lighting and welding machinery, MHM Plant, has confirmed Glendun Plant Sales Limited as their distributor for Northern Ireland. Glendun Plant Sales is based in Dungannon, County Tyrone and is an established and well respected dealer and
Somers Town Energy is on course to provide further benefits to the London Borough of Camden following the installation of new plant equipment as the project moves into its second phase. Vital Energi and Camden Council originally began working on the £3.4m project in 2014 when we provided the retrofit
The waterproofing of existing below ground structures, particularly ageing ones, needs as much careful planning as a new-build project in terms of materials and process. System options, however, tend to be more limited when it comes to putting a watertight seal on a basement or a belowground solution area already
Have you fallen in love with a historic property? Are you curious about how period homes always seem so quirky and unusual? The secret is usually woven into the building itself, thanks to construction techniques that have become unconventional to use today. While strange-looking façades help old buildings stand out from the crowd, they often come with a plethora of very specific problems. Wattle and Daub Wattle and daub is one of the most traditional property constructions found around the UK. It’s made up of thin wooden strips that are woven into panels (the wattle) and are then coated with a mixture of soil, clay, sand, straw and animal dung (daub). The low-cost, sustainable nature of wattle and daub has meant that, despite being used for at least 6,000 years, it’s seeing a resurgence in popularity as a construction material. Why can wattle and daub be troublesome? Well, as historic building materials go, it’s actually fairly resilient. The slightly flexible nature means that walls can tolerate considerable structural movement and its sturdiness will even support a failing timber structure where other types of infill would not. However, since it became fashionable to leave both the internal and external sides of these timber frames exposed, the performance of wattle and daub walls has been compromised, letting in draughts and occasionally water. This can cause a wider problem with damp, if left untreated. Ideally, the exposed side of the wall should be coated each year with limewash (killing off bacteria and filling in any small cracks), while the other side should be covered in render or weatherboard. The worst thing you can do with a wattle and daub construction – or any timber-framed building – is to cover the historic fabrics with a modern, impermeable material. These prevent the buildings from “breathing”, causing a build-up of moisture and decay. Bungaroosh Bungaroosh (spelled in various ways, including ‘bungarouche’ and ‘bunglarooge’) is a composite material comprising of building site scraps that would be mixed into hydraulic lime. Broken bricks, flint, pebbles, bits of wood and other miscellaneous pieces would be mixed in with a mortar and poured between shuttering to set. Bungaroosh was used almost exclusively in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, in the 18th and 19th centuries, although some buildings in the nearby towns and villages have bungaroosh features too. If you visit Brighton today, you can see still countless Regency townhouses with an immaculate cream render, many of which are hiding bungaroosh beneath the surface. Although it was a cost-effective way of using up materials, Bungaroosh is not the most reliable building fabric. The mis-mash of textures means that Bungaroosh is generally very porous. This means that it can become brittle when exposed, either becoming too dry crumbling with little resistance, or getting wet and causing solid materials to become loose. Drilling into Bungaroosh is very difficult and can cause serious structural damage. Although many buildings used to feature designated wooden fixing points within bungaroosh walls, these are typically either covered up or in undesirable positions today. Mundic Similar to bungaroosh, mundic (also described as mundic block), is a type of concrete that utilises local waste as an aggregate. In this case, rather than debris from the surrounding building site, mundic is mixed with the leftover materials from nearby mines. Popular between 1900-1950, you will almost exclusively find mundic in Cornwall, although there are areas in West Devon with properties that have been built using mundic materials too. The major problem with mundic is that it’s hard to work out exactly what has been mixed into the wall, and in what quantities. If the aggregate has a high ratio of certain minerals or chemicals from the mine, this can actually degrade the concrete over time and cause serious structural issues. As any surveyor in Devon or Cornwall will explain, this has a huge effect on local property values. All buildings that are suspected to contain mundic will need to be tested, and if the percentage of mundic material is too high, mortgage lenders may refuse to support the purchase. Sometimes it’s just interesting to know about these unusual construction methods from the past. However, if you’re planning to buy a historic home that might be built using wattle and daub, bungaroosh or mundic, exercise caution. These quirky materials can certainly lend charm and character to your home, just make sure a local surveyor inspects their condition before you commit to a purchase – you could end up with a very expensive pile of rubble!
Kier Construction Scotland has been appointed to take forward a trio of projects in the field of mental health, including a £6m refurbishment programme at Royal Cornhill hospital in Aberdeen and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. Kier has also been appointed to develop the designs for a £4.8m extension and refurbishment programme for the existing facility at Rowanbank Clinic, part of Stobhill hospital in Glasgow, and a contract to design, build and commission a £3.7m, 12 bedded National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service (NSAIS) in Irvine. Work for NHS Grampian to refurbish up to six acute mental health admission wards is part of the Scottish Government’s plans to enhance the clinical environment for patients classed as high risk of self-harm. These latest wins build on a number of healthcare projects that Kier is currently delivering, including a new elective care facility at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank as well as carrying out backlog maintenance work and ward refurbishments with NHS Grampian at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for NHS Highland and at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock and Glasgow Royal Infirmary for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Brian McQuade, managing director for Kier Construction Scotland, said: “Kier has a leading reputation of delivering first-class facilities in the health sector. These latest wins demonstrate significant investment in the area of mental health by Scottish Government and we look forward to working closely with NHS Grampian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Ayrshire & Arran to deliver these enhanced facilities. Not only will these excellent new amenities benefit the patients, they will also lead to job creation and training opportunities, helping to support both the local and Scottish economies.” Judith McLenan, Business Manager, NHS Grampian Mental Health & Learning Disability Services said: “This is the largest project the service has undertaken since the Clerkseat Building opened at Royal Cornhill Hospital approximately 30 years ago. The project will significantly improve and modernise the physical environment. It involves a major refurbishment of the building, the installation of newer, safer specialist ligature-reduction and anti-barricade mental health fittings and fixtures and improvement in the lines of sight for patient / staff accessibility and enhancement of clinical observation in practice.” These improvements, ligature reduction and refurbishment will also be applied to adult mental health in patient services in the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership. Kier Construction, part of Kier Group, is one of five principal supply chain partners on the NHS’ £600m Health Facilities Scotland framework for Capital Development in Scotland.
A major redevelopment project that will bring more than 100 affordable homes to Salford has been given the green light. Salford Council has today (Thursday, September 6) approved plans for the multi-million pound Canon Green Campus development on Canon Green Drive in Trinity. The £22.5m project by Salford housing association Salix Homes will see ageing tower block Canon Green Court completely transformed and modernised, along with neighbouring apartment block Westminster House, which will undergo an external facelift. As part of the development, a brand new 11-storey apartment block will be built within the grounds of the expansive site, comprising of 108 one and two-bedroom affordable apartments. Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: ‘We are delighted that Salford Council has given the green light for our Canon Green Campus development – this is a proud moment for Salix Homes. ‘At the time of a national housing crisis, this project will not only refurbish and modernise the homes of the existing residents, but it will also deliver desperately-needed new and affordable housing in Salford. ‘We have worked incredibly closely with the existing residents to develop these proposals and we are confident our plans will deliver the essential improvement work they have been calling for and help create, safe and modern homes we can all be proud of for generations to come.’ The refurbishment at Canon Green Court, which was built during the 1960s, includes new kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, sprinkler systems and exterior re-facing and insulation. Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,000 homes across Salford, will now appoint a contractor to carry out the project and it’s hoped that work will start on site later this year.
TOP architectural practice, Leonard Design Architects, has won its bid to design a landmark sculpture for Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea, as part of a wider refurbishment of the award-winning duty-free shopping area. The landmark, designed for Incheon International Airport but commissioned by the three biggest duty-free retailers in Korea: Lotte, Shilla and Shinsegae, will be located in the busiest part of the duty-free shopping area and therefore entries had to be nominated by the retailers to ensure the highest quality design. Leonard Design, an award-winning global architectural practice headquartered in Nottingham, with three further offices in London, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, Australia, was asked to pitch for the work in August 2017 and its designs were chosen above all other nominated designers. Ian Staples, director at Leonard Design, said: “We have been working with Lotte Duty Free for a number of years and more recently have been involved in the bid for the new duty-free license for terminal two of Incheon International Airport. As a result, Lotte Duty Free put us forward as the preferred designer of the landmark and our concept was selected by the airport.” The brief was to create a ‘one-of-a-kind’ landmark within the terminal space which had symbolic character to represent the new Incheon International Airport terminal, as well as sculptural qualities to celebrate the continuous development of the airport. The sculpture is also to house two independent information desks. Ian added: “We took inspiration from the airport itself as flight is central to every customer’s journey. We used birds, or more specifically Incheon’s dancing cranes, and their elegant wing form to influence our design. “We also introduced some modern techniques to uphold the high standard of the airport. As the brief was to create something ‘one-of-a-kind’ we decided to turn shiny metal into a media screen – a new and interesting challenge – which involved perforating the metal with varying intensity and placing LED lights behind to ensure a seamless transition. “While airports are a necessary transition for travelling, as the world gets smaller the demand for quality transport hubs has grown. Modern airports are now considered destinations in their own right and therefore fight to have stand-out features which create the best possible image. “There is a real drive in Asia to become the best and this has certainly influenced the narrative of the landmark. The cultural approach to design and delivery combined with the respect Korean’s hold for good design, helped the final product retain the core qualities of the concept and reflect the high quality of the terminal it will sit in.” For further information visit www.leonarddesignarchitects.com or follow @leonard_design on Twitter.
BALI, through its nationwide GoLandscape initiative, has supported BALI Training Provider member Capel Manor College in developing and launching a brand new Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction (Level 3). Endorsed by employers within the industry, a crucial element of this new Diploma, the course offers a unique opportunity for students to develop both technical and business skills. Capel Manor College developed the course based on the recent GoLandscape skills survey that was circulated to all BALI members earlier this year. The course has been designed based on that feedback, with input directly from landscape businesses, many of whom are BALI members. The course will also incorporate the BALI Chalk Fund sponsored additional tickets. Modules on the course will include living walls, water management/SUDS, surveying and construction drawings, business practice and project management, paving, timber and brickwork, water features and the use of plants in landscaping schemes and show garden builds. A block of work experience, which forms part of the course, is also being supported by BALI members who have agreed to provide placements. BALI’s Technical Officer (Quality Assurance) Richard Gardiner said ”It’s great to see a land-based college continually thinking about how they can improve their offering to students and the industry they serve. Hard landscaping, in particular, seems to have been overlooked by colleges for some time and I am delighted that Capel Manor College has developed this qualification in response to industry feedback.” BALI’s Education Officer, Stephen Ensell, who is responsible for delivering GoLandscape, said ”The fact that Capel Manor College has taken the lead and approached the industry to support them in developing a hard landscape qualification is a great encouragement. It means that students now have an entry point to gain the very best, most up-to-date skills and experience to help them enter the landscaping industry.” The Diploma will be taught at Capel Manor College’s Enfield campus and can be studied on a full or part-time basis with an optional unit selection. Successful completion of this course will enable students to begin a career in landscape construction or progress to a degree level course. Sarah Seery, Head of School for Horticulture and Landscaping at Capel Manor College, says “We’re incredibly excited to have partnered with BALI in the creation of our new Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction. As London’s leading land-based college, renowned for our exceptional courses in horticulture and landscaping, the unique opportunity to create a course in collaboration with a leading trade association has been warmly welcomed by the college community and endorsed by employers. Details on the course can be found on Capel’s website here. The first course starts w/c 10 September but Capel Manor College have confirmed that they will still accept entries at this stage.
Fusion Building Systems has completed its works on three residential housing projects in the south of England for Barratt Developments. St Mary’s Place, Felpham, West Sussex; New Quarter, Bordon, Surrey; and Cane Hill Park, Couldson, Surrey, are the first schemes to be delivered by the offsite manufacturer since it successfully completed a trial project for Barratt in Angmering, Southampton in 2017. Across the three sites, working on almost 200 units, Fusion adapted existing Barratt house types as well as developing bespoke multi-storey designs, to make them suitable for use with its light gauge steel panelised system. The work was completed on each site over the past 12 months, but was the result of almost three years of intense integration and education at all levels across both companies, exploring how offsite systems could be used as a viable alternative to traditional methods of construction. “Our system was proven to work on a small number of houses for Barratt’s trial 18 months ago, so it’s exciting now for us to see how we can scale up to deliver a much larger number of units,” said Robert Clark, Fusion Head of Business Development. The light gauge steel superstructures for each development were designed, engineered and manufactured at Fusion’s factory in Northampton – with its patented, pre-insulated panels being transported to site, ready for immediate installation. The three sites were very different in their requirements however, from two, three and four-bedroom standard house types, to non-standard designs with challenging ground conditions and four-storey apartment buildings. Robert continued: “Each site put our design and engineering teams to the test with the successful delivery of each, from concept through to installation on site, reliant on effective collaboration and communication throughout the supply chain. The early phases on site once again presented a learning curve for each company, but as each development progressed, all parties worked well together and were ultimately convinced offsite was the future for volume housebuilding.” Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director, Barratt Developments, added: “Fusion has now successfully delivered full scale pilots on three sites with our Southampton and Southern Counties divisions. We have seen a real improvement in speed as predicted and are now continuing to work closely with the Fusion team to roll this technology out further. We believe the work we have done over the last two years on things like standard details and the construction approach really supports the application of the Fusion system into our private housing market.” The new homes at each development are now being marketed to private and social housing customers. For further information visit www.fusionbuild.com or www.barratthomes.co.uk
To mark this year’s International Day of Charity, Linden Homes is celebrating the hundreds of charity events and challenges hosted up and down the country from opening food banks and hosting Macmillan Coffee mornings to volunteering at YMCA and holding a charity boxing night, raising over £100,000 since January 2018. In addition, this month will see the top-10 housebuilder, along with Galliford Try Partnerships participate in the mammoth Housebuilders Mountain Marathon Challenge. The team will cover a gruelling 26 miles across the rugged terrain of Snowdonia in North Wales, with the aim of raising £25,000. The money raised by the housebuilders will go to the Youth Adventure Trust. The Trust helps vulnerable children, aged 11 to 14 years old whilst giving them the chance to take part in a number of residential adventure camps. The programme enables the participants to experience success and learn to go beyond their own expectations whilst growing in confidence. Linden Homes’ charitable side does not stop with this challenge with Linden Homes West Yorkshire recently hosting a charity dinner for Macmillan Cancer Support. The evening included a three-course dinner, charity auction, raffle and live music from award-winning band ‘Undercovered’. The dinner raised an impressive £12,500, taking Linden Homes West Yorkshire’s total fundraising to date to £14,420, with the target of raising £20,000 by the end of the year. At the other end of the country, Linden Homes South West hosted a charity golf day in May, which raised a staggering £24,000 for Torbay Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital’s Neonatal Unit. Linden Homes South West has since hosted another charity golf day, raising £30,000. The funds were split with half being donated to FORCE Cancer with remaining funds used to install defibrillators in the communities that Linden Homes have built in the region. Tom Nicholson, Divisional Chairman of Linden Homes commented: “As well as taking part in wider charitable events such as the Housebuilder Mountain Marathon Challenge, it’s also fantastic to see that our business units across the country are showing such generosity to support so many worthwhile causes to give something back to the areas that we build our homes in. “In addition to direct fundraising, Linden Homes’ teams around the country have supported their communities by sponsoring sports teams, local events and schools. Groups who can often get overlooked have found the help they’ve needed and it’s rewarding to see the range of organisations we’ve assisted.” International Day of Charity is observed annually on 5 September and is an awareness day proposed by the United Nations (UN inviting organisations and individuals to commemorate the day by encouraging charitable acts in their communities. To read the full story and to donate in support of Linden Homes’ Mountain Marathon Challenge, please visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HBMM18LindenHomes
In the line with their current ambitious expansion plans, the UK supplier of generators, lighting and welding machinery, MHM Plant, has confirmed Glendun Plant Sales Limited as their distributor for Northern Ireland. Glendun Plant Sales is based in Dungannon, County Tyrone and is an established and well respected dealer and distributor for a wide range of plant, tools and equipment. Commenting on this latest distributorship for Glendun Plant, Dermot Cunnie, sales director said, “We had seen the success that Mat was having in Great Britain through various trade publications and online media. Our interest in the product developed after a very positive meeting at our offices. The quality is a main factor – we are already familiar with the lighting tower products and the MHM generators are a very good fit to our profile”. Following these successful discussions, Glendun Plant Sales placed an initial order for a stock of MHM petrol and diesel generators from 3.0kVA to 25kVA. They also received an immediate order for a 3,000 litre fuel cube from one of their regular customers and an order for 6.0kVA generators from Balloo Hire Centres. Glendun have committed to keep in stock a wide range of fast moving items, which will build up as customer demands become apparent in their area. Dermot added, “Mat and the team have been a great help in getting us up and running. They know the product, market and the business, so it’s onwards and upwards!” MHM managing director, Mat Llewellyn added, “We are naturally delighted to have Dermot and the Glendun Plant team marketing our range of equipment in Northern Ireland. Their success in promoting a complimentary range of machinery drew us to the conclusion that Glendun was the company we should be working with to increase our market share.” MHM Plant was incorporated in February 2010 and they currently operate from two locations. MHM West is located in South Wales and MHM North in Coatbridge, Scotland. A London depot, MHM South, is currently under development. They have recently invested over £5m (€5.6m) in their exclusive rehire fleet dedicated to the UK and Irish rental markets.
Somers Town Energy is on course to provide further benefits to the London Borough of Camden following the installation of new plant equipment as the project moves into its second phase. Vital Energi and Camden Council originally began working on the £3.4m project in 2014 when we provided the retrofit energy centre into an under-used car park and connected four housing estates via a 581m district heating network. This has been providing 339 homes with low carbon heat and hot water from the three 1.3MWth boilers installed. The project is now at its exciting second stage which sees the installation of a 1MW CHP engine, four 9,000L and three 11,000L thermal stores which will reduce carbon emissions even further. The units were delivered over a two day period which saw us complete all traffic and pedestrian access management to ensure safety, with the deliveries completed between working hours to minimise disruption as much as possible. Once this phase of the project is complete, Somers Town Energy will provide savings of over 1,000 tonnes per annum and will deliver financial benefits to Camden Council through the sale of electricity generated by the CHP. As the heat network begun operation in 2015, there was limited historical operational data to determine detailed demand patterns, which led the Council to request a period of study in order to understand the network’s performance. This led Vital Energi to provide a dual phased solution, allowing for a period of heat study to generate operational data before deciding upon the best matched CHP engine size. An implementation plan like this allowed us to overcome challenges of the unknown usage levels and provide an accurate solution that best suited the client. Vital Energi’s Project Manager, Derek Culver, commented, “It is always an exciting time when a project reaches its next phase, and having been operating Somers Town Energy for almost four years we are incredibly pleased to be involved with this latest development. The additional CHP engine and thermal stores will maximise the financial and carbon savings for the borough with work connecting the next estate set to begin at the end of the month.” Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Improving Camden’s Environment added, “Somers Town Energy is Camden’s flagship low emissions project. It shows how a forward-looking council can deliver projects that are both good for the environment and save money. I look forward to seeing the project develop further over the coming months.” The next phase of Somers Town Energy will see extensions to a new community centre, the redesigned Edith Neville School and a further housing block. To support Camden’s Community Investment Programme visit www.camden.gov.uk/cip. If you’d like to know more about Vital Energi and the work they do, please visit www.vitalenergi.co.uk
The waterproofing of existing below ground structures, particularly ageing ones, needs as much careful planning as a new-build project in terms of materials and process. System options, however, tend to be more limited when it comes to putting a watertight seal on a basement or a belowground solution area already in use. In general, two systems are up for consideration as far as waterproof refurbishment is concerned. A Firstly a waterproof render solution, such as BBA approved Sika-1 Pre-bagged Structural Waterproofing System, is one popular option. This consists of a 3 coat render system for use on walls and overhead surfaces, and a screed system for use on the floor. Sika-1 pre-bagged ensures specifiers meet the requirements of a waterproofing project without the need for ongoing maintenance. The pre-bag system is factory-controlled quality, with each layer to the optimum mix ratio. Site batched versions should not be considered as the quality cannot be relied upon. Cavity drain systems are also popular with retrofit waterproof installers. Sika® CD – Cavity Drainage System, for instance, controls water after it has penetrated a structure. Loose-laid for flooring applications and attached to a wall with surface plugs in vertical installations, Sika® CD – Cavity Drainage System directs penetrating water into a drainage system and a collection sump before using a pump to discharge water from the building. This is also a proven, reliable system, but unlike the pre-bagged option, the cavity drainage system requires maintenance programme which at a minimum is annual A combination of both is also an option often used. Early intervention Existing fissures and cracks in the structure should be addressed at the earliest opportunity. Left untreated, defects could potentially lead to greater issues and costly, time-consuming repair. Failure to make good the structure at the earliest stage of deterioration could also affect the overall structural integrity of the building, which in-turn may adversely affect any waterproofing system installed. For manufacturers, a key aspect of retrofit waterproofing is interaction and compatibility between different waterproofing interfaces. It’s a challenge Sika is able to meet, as it offers Type A, B and C systems – A (barrier protection); B (structurally integral protection); C (drained protection) – each of which can connect to form the highest-quality waterproof solution. As a full range provider, Sika is able to offer unbiased advice and tailor the solution to the requirement, thus avoiding specifying solutions unsuitable for the product. As for contractors, the challenge is to ensure installation teams are sufficiently-skilled to correctly fit the waterproofing system. Through toolbox talks and site visits, Sika is able to offer full, technical support to installers. This is a value-added service which comes at no extra cost. In addition, contractors are able to obtain official recognition of their skills by becoming a ‘Sika-approved’ installer of as the Sika-1 Pre-bagged system where candidates are vetted, trained and assessed before being given registered status. As well as having access to on and off-site technical support. Only Sika 1 Registered contractors benefit from the Sika guarantee on the Sika 1 pre-bag product. With Sika Cavity drain systems, it is always best to use a specialist waterproofing contractor, but if the works are being done by a general contractor, Sika do offer site tool box talks and on site support as part of the guarantee process. At your service In terms of the specifier, the biggest challenge is ensuring the specified waterproofing product is fit for purpose and meets the required performance level. This is where – once again – Sika’s service offering comes to the fore. The company not only provides a range of watertight solutions for a host of concrete applications, its CSSW-qualified specification managers have a wealth of experience to offer expert guidance to ensure products are fit for purpose, specified and installed correctly. This helps ensure projects are completed successfully. Sika can also recommend specialist contractors for a particular scheme, whilst its guaranteed BBA-certified products assure users that they are in possession of goods of the optimum quality.