~ Let’s not let our high street fall to the wayside ~ The government has recently announced plans to invest billions of pounds into UK infrastructure to help rebuild the economy. The UK will “Build Back Better”, it claims. The decline of the British high street has been cause for
Building materials supplier CEMEX is proud to present STREETPAVE, a complete three-stage bedding, bonding and jointing mortar paving system. The range consists of BS 7533 compliant products for rigid pavement construction. All three products in the system are high performance and offer rapid strength, including; STREETPAVE PaveBase bedding mortar; PaveGrip
IronmongeryDirect has reported its most successful month in history, with June seeing record figures for both order numbers and revenue. With many people turning to DIY during lockdown, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery experienced an 80% year-on-year (YoY) increase in web traffic in June. This increase led to a 75%
The UK’s leading specialist sheet piling contractor, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is in the process of once again setting the benchmark in its specialist field, to the benefit of all sectors of the construction industry. Having already shaken the sector up and provided new ways of managing sheet piling and
Independent Builders Merchant Group has appointed industry stalwart, Allun Pittingale, to the newly created role of Managing Director of the Builders Merchants Division. Allun started his career at the independent Western Builders Merchants in South London and has an impressive track record as a trader, steeped in builders merchanting. From
Steel sheet pile installation specialist and supplier, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited, is playing its part in helping EFL Championship football club, Fulham FC, develop a suite of amenities, that will enable it to retain the iconic riverside, Craven Cottage site as its footballing home for many years to come. Sheet
Building materials supplier CEMEX presents VIAPATH™, a premium single layer asphalt solution for cycle lanes and footpaths, which has been expertly developed with speed of construction in mind. VIAPATH can be laid between 25mm and 70mm thick, eliminating the need for multi-layer surfacing which can be costly – both in
Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation’s inaugural Realising Resilience e-Roadshow event on Wednesday 17th June, which attracted over 80 delegates, shone a light on Greater Manchester and the great strides it is taking towards embedding green infrastructure throughout the region. “One of the strong messages to emerge from the diverse line-up
When things go wrong with the plumbing in your house, you will likely be left with a hefty bill from a professional and a whole load of stress. Some issues are totally out of your control, but there are plenty of other things you can do to keep your drains
In your house, plumbing becomes necessary parts. This is the water channels with pipes that will distribute the waste and waters from the sink. Some pipe channels are also created to distribute the water to bathrooms, kitchen, and other areas in the house. However, the plumbing is mostly covered by
~ Let’s not let our high street fall to the wayside ~ The government has recently announced plans to invest billions of pounds into UK infrastructure to help rebuild the economy. The UK will “Build Back Better”, it claims. The decline of the British high street has been cause for concern for a number of years, but this new investment could offer a lifeline. Here, Nick Cowley, managing director of aluminium building product supplier, Endurawood, shares insight into how to construct a modern high street that thrives. It’s no secret that the high street has been troubled in recent years. Consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping, and if they do venture out, it’s probably to a large indoor shopping centre. With fewer customers on the high street, retailers are not making enough profit against their overheads, forcing them to close high street stores. The resulting empty shops are an eye sore, making towns and cities appear run down and lifeless. The high street must be renovated in order to bring shoppers back, and retailers must adapt to modern consumer lifestyles and shopping habits. Time to adapt The British high street developed in the 1860s and 1870s due to urbanisation, as many people no longer had the facilities to grow their own crops or keep livestock. Consumer lifestyles were vastly different at that time — there was no internet, less travel and less to do. Shoppers had no choice but to buy their supplies from the high street, and had more time to do so. Now, many consumers have larger work time commitments, and the ability to travel and use the internet makes it easy to shop elsewhere. With many shoppers now possessing a more modern lifestyle, the high street must adapt and evolve to avoid death of businesses. A number of high street shops trade nine-to-five and close completely on Sundays. For a worker in a nine-to-five Monday to Friday job, this outdated trading pattern leaves only Saturday as an opportunity to shop. Retailers who start opening an hour earlier in the morning or offer late night shopping will be able to create a few extra hours of shopping time a day. To prevent shoppers going elsewhere, high streets must offer something unique. Dispersing small businesses between the well-known retailers gives shoppers the perfect balance of the familiar and the novel find. Hosting events, such as student discount nights, food festivals and craft markets, can attract shoppers and add vitality to the high street. Shoppers are unlikely to tire of the ease of online shopping. Because of this, retailers should aim for their stores and websites to work together. A great way to do this is through click and collect delivery, as the shopper is likely to see something they like in store when they visit to receive their order. Ensuring customers experience a welcoming and calming atmosphere gives physical shops an edge over online shopping, where there is no contact. Shoppers who choose to go to store wish to view the items in person and have an enjoyable trip out of the house, so retailers must capitalise on this. Keeping up appearances The appearance of the high street is critical to its success. Visitors to an area of empty shops and run down streets are likely to turn away and never come back. In contrast, passers-by of a modern, prosperous area are likely to explore. Investment in new paving and lighting can make a large difference to the feel of a high street. Incorporating areas of interest, such as sculptures and small green spaces, also helps to uplift the area and provides space for social interaction. Adding more cafés and restaurants also boosts the social attraction of the high street. However, the main way to boost the appearance of the high street is to update the shops. Drab buildings give the impression of a boring and lifeless shopping experience, so modernising is essential. Exterior cladding can transform an ordinary brick building into a sleek store with character, and make the area appear warmer and more welcoming. Adding decking to the outside of cafés and restaurants provides a new space for trade, and the ability to seat customers outside gives the appearance of a thriving high street. Incorporating railings into the surrounding area can provide spaces for shoppers to get away from the hustle and bustle of the high street and recharge. Adding enclosures can conceal unsightly areas, such as large shop bins, keeping the space looking clean and clear. However, it’s important that the materials used to renovate the high street are durable and low maintenance, allowing the area to look new for years to come. Endurawood is an aluminium material with a woodgrain finish. Endurawood is available in cladding, decking, railing and enclosure systems that are easy to install and provide a number of performance benefits over traditional wood. Aluminium is non-warping, frost-resistant, non-porous and dissipates heat, making it durable in all weathers. The woodgrain finish is colour stable and stain and scratch resistant, ensuring the features stay looking pristine. In addition, the material is non-combustible and slip resistant, which ensures the safety of customers and staff. The new government investment into infrastructure provides an ideal opportunity to re-invent the high street. By incorporating changes in retail operation with updated store aesthetics, the high street can return to being the thriving hub of urban areas — creating employment and boosting the local economy.
Building materials supplier CEMEX is proud to present STREETPAVE, a complete three-stage bedding, bonding and jointing mortar paving system. The range consists of BS 7533 compliant products for rigid pavement construction. All three products in the system are high performance and offer rapid strength, including; STREETPAVE PaveBase bedding mortar; PaveGrip priming slurry; and PaveFill flowing joining mortar. These products can be used together for pavements constructed with clay, natural stone or concrete pavers. STREETPAVE PaveBase bedding mortar is made from cement and graded aggregates, and is available in a silo, bulk and 25kg bags. Once applied it is highly durable, suitable for walking on in 12 hours and driving on in 24 hours, and can be laid from 10-75mm in one pass. It is perfect for paved areas of mixed foot and vehicular traffic alongside general private and public hardscape areas. Meanwhile, STREETPAVE PaveGrip priming slurry uses specially selected aggregates to create the essential bond between the bedding and the paving element. Delivered in bulk or 25kg bag, it is applied with a brush at 1-2mm thick and is suitable for high-trafficked pavement. STREETPAVE PaveFill flowing joining mortar is the final step in this premium quality system. It is fast-setting and frost resistant with a 40MPa compressive strength and low shrinkage. Simple to mix and apply, PaveFill can be applied in joint widths of 5-50mm and up to 200mm deep in a single pass. “CEMEX is a UK leader in specialist mortar systems for hard landscaping and our new STREETPAVE system is a further demonstration of our expertise; allowing our customers to construct resilient pavements that meet and exceed the strict demands of BS 7533, ” commented Michael May, Sales Manager for CEMEX Mortars Europe. “The STREETPAVE system has been designed so it can work as a three-stage process with each product tested individually and collectively. The long-term value of using such high-quality products is clear; BS 7533 compliant systems are more robust and provide better overall value than non-compliant systems as they require less maintenance and last longer, in some cases exceeding 40 years. We know our customers want reliable, effective products and we are proud to offer the STREETPAVE system to help meet their paving requirements.” CEMEX R&D, Innovation and Business Development projects are part of the global R&D collaboration network, headed by CEMEX Research Centers, based in Switzerland.
IronmongeryDirect has reported its most successful month in history, with June seeing record figures for both order numbers and revenue. With many people turning to DIY during lockdown, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery experienced an 80% year-on-year (YoY) increase in web traffic in June. This increase led to a 75% uplift in transactions, taking the total number of orders to unprecedented levels. The surge of interest in home improvements saw a slight shift in IronmongeryDirect’s usual consumer base, away from its usual trade focus and more into the domestic market. In fact, while online traffic from existing customers rose by 29%, the number of first-time visitors more than trebled (208% YoY). Categories that performed particularly well in June included: ● Locks and latches ● Door and cabinet furniture (front door furniture, handles and knobs) ● Screws and fixings ● Gate, fence and shed hardware ● Shelving and storage Charlie Carlton, Head of Digital at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “In recent months, many people have used their extra time at home to do DIY and this trend is clearly evident in our sales data. “We’re delighted to have been able to provide for the nation during lockdown, whilst still supplying critical products to the NHS and schools in this difficult time. With restrictions starting to ease off, we expect to see a return to our normal trade patterns and will continue to serve the country’s construction industry as it recovers from the pandemic.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/
The UK’s leading specialist sheet piling contractor, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is in the process of once again setting the benchmark in its specialist field, to the benefit of all sectors of the construction industry. Having already shaken the sector up and provided new ways of managing sheet piling and infrastructure widening, following the introduction of its unique long-reach telescopic leader rig, the TM 12/15 LR in 2018, a second, even more powerful rig has been commissioned. This agile machine, created to bespoke specifications set by Sheet Piling UK, is set to arrive in the UK in August 2020. Sheet Piling (UK) has the full details under wraps at present but is promising to revolutionise sheet piling in the UK, with a rig with capabilities that are peerless. In the two years since the arrival of the TM 12/15, Sheet Piling (UK) has proven how the long reach rig can deliver massive savings to Tier-1 contractors, in terms of both time and money. The sheet piling specialist has been delivering such benefits on smart motorway emergency rescue area projects, on HS2 groundworks and on a variety of other projects. Whilst designed to optimise works where its long-reach capacities can come into their own, the TM 12/15 has proved to be equally effective when used in standard, rather than long-reach mode. The new and capability-enhanced rig, again commissioned from ABI GmbH in Germany, will be as useful on port and harbour, or commercial and domestic construction projects, as on road or rail infrastructure widening works. Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd’s managing director, Andrew Cotton, says: “Our new rig will surpass the TM 12/15 LR in a number of ways, to become the ultimate steel piling rig in the construction sector, with the TM 12/15 LR a close second. With these two rigs in our fleet, we will be able to deliver impressive financial and operational benefits to a wide variety of projects across the UK, making a tangible and irresistible difference to the cost control that Tier-1 contractors can achieve.” Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd is already booking in projects for this second long-reach rig and briefing contractors on a one-to-one basis when it comes to what it will be able to accomplish, when working in situ.
Independent Builders Merchant Group has appointed industry stalwart, Allun Pittingale, to the newly created role of Managing Director of the Builders Merchants Division. Allun started his career at the independent Western Builders Merchants in South London and has an impressive track record as a trader, steeped in builders merchanting. From the age of twenty one, he held several branch manager positions for Erith Building Supplies, Hall & Co and Builder Center before joining the Travis Perkins Group in 2001. He spent eighteen years with the TP Group and was a central figure in the leadership team that brought the Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery business to market before being appointed regional managing director in the South East, a role he held for the last four years. Renowned for building tight teams and obsessing about his customers and colleagues, he is considered a perfect fit for IBMG. Allun said: “I have been a big fan of independent merchants for many years and I had been intrigued by the unique competition provided by the newly formed Independent Builders Merchant Group. I am absolutely thrilled to be joining IBMG and be going back to my independent roots.” Andrew Cope of Independent Builder Merchant Group, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Allun to IBMG and know that under his leadership, our builders merchant branches will go from strength to strength.” Independent Builders Merchant Group includes Parkers and Chandlers Building, Stamco Timber and Fairolls. The Group provides all heavy-side building materials, civils, roofing & timber, plus an array of ancillary product lines including kitchens, plumbing & heating, joinery, architectural ironmongery, gardening and landscaping supplies. Local branch contact details can be found at www.independentbm.com <http://www.independentbm.com>
Steel sheet pile installation specialist and supplier, Sheet Piling (UK) Limited, is playing its part in helping EFL Championship football club, Fulham FC, develop a suite of amenities, that will enable it to retain the iconic riverside, Craven Cottage site as its footballing home for many years to come. Sheet Piling UK has been part of a project that has seen Fulham FC extend its Riverside Stand, to increase its seating capacity. The project also aims to create amenities along its stretch of the River Thames, for the enjoyment of fans, residents and visitors alike. Extending the stand and transforming the river side walkway into a world-class destination, which will boast a pathway that allows leisure users to have an uninterrupted walk between Hammersmith and Putney bridges, required the type of groundwork support in which Sheet Piling UK specialises. Its team started work at the site in April 2020, following the demolition of Fulham FC’s existing Riverside Stand. To create the necessary support works for the new stand, Sheet Piling UK both supplied and installed a range of its Emirates Steel sheet pile sections, consisting of EZ24-700 and EZ26-700 pairs of sheet piles, of lengths of between 10-13 metres. These were used to form a three-sided permanent basement, with the fourth side formed by the previously completed and realigned Thames wall. A part-cantilever and part-propped design solution was implemented, using the Z-section sheet piles to deliver the required structural properties and weight efficiencies. No delay in obtaining a supply of these first-class sheet piles was required, given the extensive amount of stock that Sheet Piling UK always holds. This saved the project time, enabling work to keep moving without unnecessary delay. Sheet piles were installed into predominantly cohesive soils using vibrator methods, followed by impact driving to achieve the design toe levels, as pre-augering was not possible. Z-section Emirates Steel sheet piles were installed in pairs, using two ABI telescopic leader rigs from the Sheet Piling UK fleet. These were fitted with resonance-free vibratory piling hammers and Sheet Piling UK’s double jaw clamp, ABI MZK1250 assemblies. Impact driving was then undertaken using the company’s Delmag leader-mounted hammer. This was of great benefit to the client, removing the need to create a deep lead trench, or longer sheet piles, which would have been the case had a conventional, crane-suspended, hydraulic impact hammer been used. Having completed the initial sheet pile installation, Sheet Piling UK’s team are now looking to the next stage of the bulk earthworks project, which will see them creating and installing a temporary steel-welded support frame (part cofferdam). Once the earthworks are completed, the sheet pile interlocks will be welded, so as to provide a watertight basement structure. Sheet Piling UK’s managing director, Andrew Cotton, says: “We are delighted in playing our part in giving a real community-focused football club like Fulham FC the opportunity to develop its ground in such a way as to secure its future at the site for many years to come. Many sports grounds are reticent to ask their fan base to adopt new grounds, in new locations and, through this project, Fulham FC has not had to do so. It has been able to create a valuable sporting and leisure resource at its much beloved sporting home, with steel sheet piling at its base.”
Building materials supplier CEMEX presents VIAPATH™, a premium single layer asphalt solution for cycle lanes and footpaths, which has been expertly developed with speed of construction in mind. VIAPATH can be laid between 25mm and 70mm thick, eliminating the need for multi-layer surfacing which can be costly – both in terms of the materials and labour required. It also presents significant time savings, which helps to limit the disruption to pedestrians and other road users and achieve a faster rate of job completion. In addition, multi-layer construction can often lead to damage in underlying layers resulting in further delays and spiralling costs. For those looking to incorporate more eco-friendly products into their construction projects, VIAPATH offers real sustainability benefits. It achieves a carbon footprint reduction for a project by requiring less fuel use during the paving operation, less tack coat/bond coat and lower on-site wastage. A further benefit of this single layer solution is that it addresses a common cause of potholes caused by traditional pavement construction. Typically, a horizontal joint would be required between the binder course and surface course layers which presents an inherent risk to the ingress of water. With VIAPATH this joint is eliminated, thus improving the overall structural durability of the pavement. Martin Ashfield, Technical Manager for Asphalt & Paving, CEMEX Europe, commented: “As more and more of us adapt to new ways of sustainable travelling that also eases pressure on public transport, the development of cycle and footpaths is critical. “Fortunately, VIAPATH is a premium-quality asphalt solution that has been specifically designed to replace surface, regulating or binder courses in a single pass. This will allow our customers to quickly meet government demands for fast pop-up solutions, while also being cost-effective and minimising disruption to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.” CEMEX R&D, Innovation and Business Development projects are part of the global R&D collaboration network, headed by CEMEX Research Centers, based in Switzerland.
Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation’s inaugural Realising Resilience e-Roadshow event on Wednesday 17th June, which attracted over 80 delegates, shone a light on Greater Manchester and the great strides it is taking towards embedding green infrastructure throughout the region. “One of the strong messages to emerge from the diverse line-up of speakers was the importance of collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders in delivering green urbanisation. One simply can’t just look to ecologists, landscape architects and designers; utility companies, private investors and data analysts are all part of a successful mix,” explained Sean Robinson, Specification Director, who hosted the event. Nicholas Wright, Specification Manager, City & Landscape Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation, opened the event with a look back at Manchester’s Angel Gardens. Completed in 2019, this project boasts a large Permavoid, shallow invert attenuation tank situated on the podium which limited the impact to the surrounding drainage infrastructure. He also explained how if this project was designed today the addition of more green assets and smart systems – like the ones installed on Polypipe’s own award-winning, blue/green roof in Aylesford – could have boosted this development’s resilience further. Sophie Tucker, United Utilities’ Sustainable Drainage System Manager, spoke of her organisation’s role in encouraging the installation of blue/green roofs in the North West, with retrofit a particular focus. United Utilities is incentivising this with significant reductions in sewage charges to non-household customers who deploy SuDS such as blue/green roofs. John Roberts, Principal Civil Engineer at specialist consultancy Environmental Protection Group provided an insight into the design of cascade blue roof systems. Such set-ups add even more resilience by reducing discharge into sewers and reducing the need for potable water by allowing the movement of water between roof areas and attenuation zones, and making this water available for passive irrigation to support green assets. Samuel Evans, Head of Environment Policy, at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, outlined how the authority is working to encourage private investment in natural capital. Exciting plans are already afoot to form a portfolio of retrofit projects, where the savings in sewer charges offered by United Utilities could provide a return on investment for would-be funders. The final speaker, Francis Hesketh, director at the Environmental Partnership, explained the value of ecosystem services. Both he and Evans referenced Greater Manchester’s impressive mappinggm.org.uk resource which now contains an overlay providing a colour-coded Ecosystem Services score which will help inform planning and biodiversity net gain goals. Polypipe’s next e-roadshow, which will tell the story of Wales’ SuDS journey, is on 23 June and features speakers from Cardiff City Council, Kew Planning and Noel Isherwood Architects. Realising Resilience events centred on Birmingham and London follow on 30 June and 7 July respectively. For information on the full programme and details of how to register visit: – https://www.polypipe.com/roadshow-2020 Pic caption: The move to a shallow invert Permavoid attenuation solution on Angel Gardens, Manchester, allowed the creation of a two storey, 146 space basement car park.
When things go wrong with the plumbing in your house, you will likely be left with a hefty bill from a professional and a whole load of stress. Some issues are totally out of your control, but there are plenty of other things you can do to keep your drains in perfect working order and avoid that plumbing headache! Clear blocked drains Some drain cleaners can contain harsh chemicals that can, in time, wear away your pipes and cause lasting damage, and so you may be wondering, ‘how can I clear my plumbing drains without chemicals?’ There are, in fact, plenty of non-chemical options for clearing out blocked drains, from a good, old-fashioned plunger, to a wire coathanger! These options are a lot gentler for your pipework and with a bit of muscle, can do just as good a job. Run some hot water down the drain after each use, and occasionally a cup full of baking soda to neutralize any smells and clean the insides of your pipes. Get a waste strainer One of the easiest things you can do for your drainage health is to invest in a waste strainer. They are super cheap, simple devices that cover your plughole and catch any little bits of food and waste that shouldn’t be going down into your drains. Although these little bits of rice and leftover peas don’t seem like an issue when it’s only one or two bits, it all adds up and can cause a problem. You can get a similar gadget for your shower plug to catch any hair that might fall out. It’s pretty gross to have to clean it, but much pleasanter than having to remove a hairball from your drain. Be careful what you flush There is an enormous list of things that shouldn’t be flushed down a toilet; in fact, the list of things that can be flushed is much shorter! For example, baby wipes, menstrual products such as pads or tampons, and cat litter should not be flushed. Although it might seem harmless to flush hair or dental floss, they both act like nets and can catch anything that comes down the drain, causing a blockage. Keep oil and grease away Although they are both liquids, and it may seem as though they can be safely flushed or disposed of down your kitchen sink, grease and oil are two of the worst things that can find their way into your pipes! They will solidify, and cause a stubborn blockage that may need professionals to treat. When it comes to keeping your house in good running order, a lot of it comes down to common sense, although there may be a few items on this list that did surprise you. That said, if you follow this guidance, you will keep your pipes, drains, and plumbing in optimal health, which will save you a considerable amount of time, money, and worry in the long run!
In your house, plumbing becomes necessary parts. This is the water channels with pipes that will distribute the waste and waters from the sink. Some pipe channels are also created to distribute the water to bathrooms, kitchen, and other areas in the house. However, the plumbing is mostly covered by walls. Even if there are visible parts, these are the ones coming from the sink and dish washer. Because of its location, when there are some problems occurred on the plumbing, it will bring serious issues. Some problems are still possible to handle. The wastes of foods, ingredients, and other dirty materials still can be removed as long as it is still reachable. However, as it grows deeper in the plumbing, it will take much effort, and even it requires special tools to do it. When you are actually not confident in solving the problems yet you still do it, it may lead to some serious issues. Once the plumbing is broken, it will only give you leaked water, and you will get many areas of your house soaked in the water. When it is clean water, it will not be big problem since it will not have bad impact. However, it becomes disaster when it is the water from the waste. It will give you awful smell, and it is surely uncomfortable. That is why it is always better to call the drain cleaning and plumbing service. This is the best solution to do. You do not need to work all things by yourself, and you do not need to take big risks that may ruin everything. Fortunately, there are the plumbing and drain cleaning services in Toronto. When you want to have a good recommendation, there is great drain cleaning Toronto to choose. This is trusted service provider that can help you in handling the issues on your plumbing. You do not need to worry about its service, and surely you will not get disappointed. This plumbing and drain cleaning service has many methods to deal with the problems. When you find that your sink is blocked by some materials or waste of your cooking and ingredients, they have the tools to easily remove the problems. Of course, it is not only about the tools. Behind the useful tools, there are also professional and trained staffs that know what to do for certain problems on your sink and plumbing. They also have drain snaking method to do. When their regular means are not effective, this is good to use. This can easily unclog the drain. Of course, it may seem simple, but it is hard to operate, special training is necessary to be able to operate the drain snake. Other than these, there are other tools that are always brought by the team. Once you get problem and you call, they will soon respond your problems and come with the complete tools. They will start the procedure by seeing the problems and analyzing the issues. Once it is clear, they will start to solve the problems. Even when you also ask for some tips regarding the maintenance, they will gladly answer your questions and give some suggestions.