Grown in Britain’s latest pricing data for UK grown hardwood is showing across the board value increases for 2018. News of the price growth has been welcomed by Forestry Commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme as “fantastic news” for woodland owners. “Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management
Longcliffe Quarries are now supplying LONGFLOOR, a groundbreaking dry powder bulk binder for the manufacture of liquid cement screeds. The LONGFLOOR liquid cement screed system has major advantages over both traditional screeds and anhydrite/gypsum flowing screeds. LONGFLOOR can be laid at ten times the speed of traditional screeds, manual handling
SPSenvirowall, a UK leading supplier of external wall insulation, render and facades, has secured BOPAS (Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme) accreditation for its innovative, rain screen cladding, RendaClad for the new build and offsite construction industry. RendaClad was developed for applying a non-structural and seamless rendered rain screen system to a
Lafarge Cement, part of the Aggregate Industries business, is calling on housebuilders to insist on tighter controls around the use of mortar, following claims that the use of substandard product is causing damage to hundreds of new homes. The report by the BBC focused on the use of weak mortar
Insulation work is to be delivered on a renovation project at Coventry University by Western Thermal Limited. The former BT building in Mile Lane is being refurbished into a new cutting-edge learning hub for its students and faculty. The learning hub will make room for up to 3,000 students and faculties, with features
Construction consultancy KAM Project Consultants is celebrating five years in business. The independent company of project managers and cost consultants focuses on delivering schemes across two primary markets – industrial/distribution and commercial mixed-use. Directors Kevin Sims and Mike Wilcock set up KAM in 2013 after 30 years of working together
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has taken a strong stance on the issue of cladding and forcing the removal and reinstatement of a safer product. For months James Brokenshire has been warning landlords of at-risk properties to get on
Dolomite Microfluidics’ micro-encapsulation technologies are used by researchers at the University of Cambridge to develop self-healing construction materials. The University’s Department of Engineering’s Geotechnical and Environmental Research Group is developing microcapsules containing ‘healing’ agents – such as minerals, epoxy or polyurethane – which can be added to building materials to
Forticrete has been granted three UK patents for its innovative SL8® large format roof tile. The leading manufacturer of concrete roof tiles, architectural masonry and walling and cast stone, which is part of Ibstock plc, has been granted patents which cover the camber of the tile, interlocking design and features and
This year’s Brick Awards saw Ibstock Brick celebrating the success of architects and brick contractors. Three outstanding projects using products from the Ibstock Brick range were named as winners, with a further two projects receiving commendations from the expert judging panel at the annual awards ceremony, organised by the Brick
Grown in Britain’s latest pricing data for UK grown hardwood is showing across the board value increases for 2018. News of the price growth has been welcomed by Forestry Commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme as “fantastic news” for woodland owners. “Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management supports future production of this beautiful raw material,” he said. “More than this, well-managed woodlands help plants and wildlife to flourish and store carbon to help tackle climate change. Grown in Britain are doing an exceptional job to develop the market for hardwood timber and realise these benefits.” The pricing data shows UK grown oak sawn timber rose 30% in price in 2018, with strong demand being experienced. Sawn oak is in strong demand due to the weak pound, China buying up French oak and weaker import availability. Prices for millable round oak are also high. Oak reached record prices at the November hardwood auction in Cirencester. Meanwhile, sweet chestnut log prices are up 15-20% and beech logs up by 5-10%, the latter partly due to export business. Ash and oak firewood prices are up around 20-30% and 10-15% respectively. Harvesting rates are rising on an average of 10%. “Buyers may wince at steadily rising prices such as these we have recorded in our latest pricing tables but demand across the world is set to steadily rise and rise and so increases should be passed up the supply chain as it is an amazing substance and should be valued accordingly,” said Dougal Driver, chief executive of Grown in Britain. Mr Driver said by continuing to encourage woodland owners to relook at their woodlands and forests to see the value of the timber they are growing, this will continue to drive up the supply and demand for British hardwood timber. For more on GiB’s pricing data visit here
Longcliffe Quarries are now supplying LONGFLOOR, a groundbreaking dry powder bulk binder for the manufacture of liquid cement screeds. The LONGFLOOR liquid cement screed system has major advantages over both traditional screeds and anhydrite/gypsum flowing screeds. LONGFLOOR can be laid at ten times the speed of traditional screeds, manual handling is avoided and a denser, more even surface and creamy smooth finish achieved. LONGFLOOR dries at three times the speed of anhydrite/gypsum based flowing screeds. There is no laitance to sand off. Contamination and blistering issues with wet concrete or cement based floor adhesives are totally avoided. This innovative product is not susceptible to cracking, crazing or curling and can be laid in wet areas. Applications include both domestic and commercial and provide good thermal conductivity over underfloor heating. It can be applied down to 25mm thickness in bays of up to 150m2. A single crew can lay 1000m2 in a day. The binder consists of superfine high purity limestone powder plus a suite of dry chemical reagents and admixtures manufactured to BSEN 13813:2002. It is made in a new state of the art factory at the Longcliffe quarry near Matlock then delivered by Longcliffe tanker to a stockist’s silo where sand, cement, water and a liquid admixture are added. Stockists are typically ready mixed concrete plants, mixer or dry leg. Delivery to customer can be from drum mix or volumetric trucks. LONGFLOOR liquid cement screed is discharged or more usually pumped in to the building, then simply dappled before applying LONGCURE, a sprayed proprietary curing agent. Longcliffe Quarries are the UK’s largest independent producer of calcium carbonate, (limestone), powders, a company with a 90 year history of quarrying and grinding high purity Derbyshire limestone. As a result of a unique manufacturing process LONGFLOOR has a certified 95% recycled content. Andy Littler, LONGFLOOR Director said: “We are very excited about this pioneering easy to use screed product. For many years the concrete industry has tried to develop a cement based liquid screed which flows well, dries quickly and is not prone to cracking. We have now achieved this. The screed industry is witnessing a sea change in favour of cement based liquid screeds and we intend to make LONGFLOOR the market leader and top performing benchmark standard”. LONGFLOOR screed is currently available to screed contractors in the North West, Midlands, South East, London, South West, Humberside and Scotland. LONGFLOOR screed is being supplied on a daily basis in these areas with contracts up to 600m3 secured. We would welcome enquiries from additional stockists who would receive full technical and commercial support from the highly experienced Longfloor team. For further information please go to www.longfloor.co.uk or phone the LONGFLOOR sales office on 01629 540284.
SPSenvirowall, a UK leading supplier of external wall insulation, render and facades, has secured BOPAS (Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme) accreditation for its innovative, rain screen cladding, RendaClad for the new build and offsite construction industry. RendaClad was developed for applying a non-structural and seamless rendered rain screen system to a timber-framed substrate. It replaces the need to build a structural masonry outer leaf that is finished with low-performance cementitious renders. RendaClad is a full façade system made up of many carefully selected components which have been rigorously tested and as an entire system makes up one of a very few BBA approved systems of its type which provides the reassurance that it will perform over the long term. The system ensures a fully ventilated and drained cavity is maintained within the wall structure, meeting the requirements of the NHBC and TRADA. The system can be applied to any wall structure, lightweight steel frame or masonry construction. SPSenvirowall is delighted that RendaClad is the first and currently only proprietary solution which has undergone the rigorous BOPAS accreditation process designed to give lenders and surveyors the assurance of the building materials utilised within a development. This has provided confidence to the market that the innovative concept has a minimum life expectancy of 60-years. This accreditation will allow SPSenvirowall to deliver its RendaClad system to offsite and modular developments, enabling the supply of a greater range of projects while providing the assurance required to satisfy mortgage lenders and their surveyors, meaning that the RendaClad system will last for a minimum of two mortgage cycles With the challenges brought by the government to build 250,000 homes per year, the demand for innovative or non-traditional methods of construction to replace poor quality and conventionally constructed homes has never been greater. BOPAS accreditation assures lenders, funders, valuers and purchasers that homes built from non-traditional means will be durable and deliver the quality required by the industry. About SPSenvirowall SPSenvirowall is a leading UK supplier of external wall insulation systems to the construction industry for new build and refurbishment applications. Supplying insulation systems, high-quality decorative renders, façades and rain screen cladding solutions, SPSenvirowall offers a value-added and integrated service to any construction project. To find out more about SPSenvirowall, visit www.spsenvirowall.co.uk or call 01535 661633. Media enquiries to Natasha Ives or Sarah Wason at SPSenvirowall on 0845 644 7081 or email natasha.ives@spsenvirowall or sarah.wason@spsenvirowall.co.uk
Lafarge Cement, part of the Aggregate Industries business, is calling on housebuilders to insist on tighter controls around the use of mortar, following claims that the use of substandard product is causing damage to hundreds of new homes. The report by the BBC focused on the use of weak mortar – not meeting required industry standards – leading to crumbling found in properties across 13 estates in the UK[1]. The news has caused widespread concern amongst residents and across the construction industry. Jeremy Lee, Commercial Director at Lafarge Cement, comments: “This latest report is concerning, especially as it has been identified as a potential industry-wide problem affecting hundreds of homes. As acknowledged by the BBC, mortar performance is a complex issue, with a myriad of factors including weather and correct specification and application having a potential detrimental impact. “However, this is why it’s critical that all building products, including mortar, meet required industry standards – which according to the NHBC should be one part cement to 5.5 parts sand for most of the UK but for areas that experience extreme weather conditions such as Scotland, it’s recommended that a higher proportion of cement is used to increase durability. “Building standards are in place for a reason and tighter controls are needed to ensure that the correct products are specified, as well as being mixed and applied properly on-site. From housebuilders to the wider industry, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that adequate and suitable products are used, through a robust specification process and due diligence during all stages of the construction process.” As part of Aggregate Industries, Lafarge Cement offers a solutions-based packed cement portfolio, underpinned by robust technical knowledge and the latest product innovation. Through continual research and development with builders and builders’ merchants deployed by a highly skilled team, Lafarge Cement has an unrivalled track record for customer-focused innovation in cement products. The range includes the premixed and ready to use Mortar Mixed product, which is made up of a selected blend of cement, lime and aggregates and is suitable for laying all types of brick and block. For further information, please call 01285 646900, email packedcement@aggregate.com or visit www.aggregate.com [1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46454844
Insulation work is to be delivered on a renovation project at Coventry University by Western Thermal Limited. The former BT building in Mile Lane is being refurbished into a new cutting-edge learning hub for its students and faculty. The learning hub will make room for up to 3,000 students and faculties, with features including teaching rooms, IT suites, engineering and science labs, as well a café and extensive breakout areas for more social learning. “We are delighted to be working with Coventry University on what promises to be an exciting project. The university has a long and proud tradition of delivering first-class education and experiences to its students and local community, and we are happy to play a small part in helping them in uplifting their service to the students and the wider academic community,” said Phil Jones, Executive Director – Operations at Western Thermal about the prestigious project. Thermal insulation will be provided to the pipework and ductwork services from Western Thermal under a £180,000 contract. “Western Thermal Limited is a leader in the sector and continues to find ways to emphasise its expertise and experience through a number of exciting, high quality projects. It is our specialism which has enabled this company to deliver successful results on a consistent basis and has made us out a stand our performer in the market,” said Phil. “The project is certainly an exciting one and we are confident that it will prove to be a success. We are aware of the expectations placed on us and are know that our thermal insulation and pipework will contribute to providing the new campus with high quality heating and ventilation,” he added. The scheme will be delivered by Wilmott Dixon, which will work alongside NG Bailey to complete the work. Building work is expected to be complete in February 2019, with the facility opening the following month.
Construction consultancy KAM Project Consultants is celebrating five years in business. The independent company of project managers and cost consultants focuses on delivering schemes across two primary markets – industrial/distribution and commercial mixed-use. Directors Kevin Sims and Mike Wilcock set up KAM in 2013 after 30 years of working together on a range of high-profile clients at an international consultancy. Since then they have been joined by seven directors to take the business forward on to the next stage of its growth cycle. The company now has a 34-strong team across its offices in Milton Keynes and Leicester and an impressive array of clients including GLP Gazeley, Bericote, Panattoni, Sainsbury’s and DHL. Sticking to its company mission statement – ‘One Team Delivering Excellence’ and working with the wider project team, KAM team members always strive to deliver exceptional results for clients. This ethos combined with the diverse calibre of expertise in the KAM team, is the reason KAM has experienced significant expansion and the company was listed in the top three of the 150 fastest growing companies in Building magazine with 64% growth and a 40% increase in staff in just the last year. The company is continuing its expansion plans and its current recruitment drive is focusing on cost managers for both of its UK offices. Projects in mainland Europe are also a possibility in 2019. Kevin said: “Five years ago Mike and I set up our new venture with a lot of hard work and hope. Our vision was to build a project manager/quantity surveyor (PM/QS) business that puts customers at the forefront of everything it does. “Since then, along with many other dedicated and talented individuals, KAM has grown into the company it is today – the premier PM/QS business in the industrial and logistics sector. “Our success is derived from exceptional hard work across the team and delivering high quality recruits. We pride ourselves on developing long lasting relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the delivery of every project. “All of our team are empowered to forge and maintain relationships with both clients and other consultants and we take every pride in each client project that we take on, from the first meeting to completion.” Significant schemes that KAM is currently working on include multiple sites for Panattoni, Bericote’s Littlebrook development, Clipper Logistics’ new warehouse in Crick for Halfords, and a multi storey distribution centre in central London for GLP Gazeley.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has taken a strong stance on the issue of cladding and forcing the removal and reinstatement of a safer product. For months James Brokenshire has been warning landlords of at-risk properties to get on and remove dangerous cladding. Yesterday Brokenshire announced a change to the housing health and safety regulations to force the landlords to make good these works with no apparent financial risk to the leaseholders. The Association for Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) welcomes the move as it has been lobbying for Government intervention ever since the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Immediately after the tragic fire, ARMA flagged to Government the problem under leasehold as to who would likely pay for the cost of fire safety remedial works and that this could seriously delay remedial works. ARMA has publicly asked for Government loans to be make available and for remediation to be taken into a national programme to avoid such delays as the safety of residents must always be the uppermost concern. Dr Nigel Glen, Chief Executive Office of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), comments: “We congratulate the Government for taking this strong approach to ensure remedial works on affected buildings can get under way immediately. People need to know they are safe and able to live their lives. We have always said time is of essence here and work should be completed first and then worry about who pays later. The costs to cladding removal has given many residents grave anxieties and now some headway should start to be made more quickly. “The Secretary of State has said that ‘leaseholders must not pay’. We keenly await details of how that will work in practice given the structure of leasehold. For example, in the case of Citiscape in Croydon, the First tier Tribunal Property determined that the leaseholders were liable for the costs under the terms of their lease. That may well be the case across all the buildings under discussion, depending upon their leases. And where Landlords are not the guilty party re installing the cladding is it fair that they will be expected to pay? Clearly there is more work to be done but this is a welcome and significant step.”
Dolomite Microfluidics’ micro-encapsulation technologies are used by researchers at the University of Cambridge to develop self-healing construction materials. The University’s Department of Engineering’s Geotechnical and Environmental Research Group is developing microcapsules containing ‘healing’ agents – such as minerals, epoxy or polyurethane – which can be added to building materials to allow self-repair of small cracks which develop over time. “Many composite building materials used in the construction industry – such as concrete – suffer fatigue over time, developing small cracks. We are hoping to overcome this problem by adding microcapsules filled with ‘healing’ agents to the concrete before it is used. The idea is that, as cracks begin to form, they rupture the microcapsules, releasing their payload and stabilising the material,” said Dr Livia Ribeiro de Souza, a postdoctoral researcher in the group. The Dolomite system has enabled the researchers to create functionalised microcapsules that bind more strongly to the cement matrix, while also having thinner shell walls and higher core retention, improving their self-healing properties. “This approach requires the formation and functionalisation of double emulsion microcapsules, which we have been producing with the help of microfluidics. We have been using a Dolomite Microfluidics system since 2014, and find that microfluidics offers much better control of particle size and composition than traditional emulsification polymerisation techniques, simplifying the investigation and optimisation of particle properties,” she said. “It is good to be able to discuss any issues we’re having with the experts at Dolomite Microfluidics, helping to accelerate our research and move us a step closer to real world applications,” Livia added. The research was recently highlighted in BBC News broadcasts.
Forticrete has been granted three UK patents for its innovative SL8® large format roof tile. The leading manufacturer of concrete roof tiles, architectural masonry and walling and cast stone, which is part of Ibstock plc, has been granted patents which cover the camber of the tile, interlocking design and features and dry verge design. Specifically, the patent for its dry verge design includes the term concealed guttering as the tile channels water to the gutter. The SL8 roof tile was designed to meet the increasing demands of the roofing market. With just 8 tiles per square metre needed it provides greater coverage with approximately 20% less tiles required per roof. Additional benefits include its thin leading edge – which is up to 50% thinner than other large format tiles – which creates an impressive visual characteristic. John Lambert, Managing Director of Forticrete, comments: “Forticrete has a long history of introducing innovative products which offer building efficiencies. Our SL8 roof tile is one of these and we are delighted to have achieved these design patents. In designing the SL8 tile, we listened to what our customers wanted; the result is an innovative roof tile that meets market demands. It reduces the number of tiles needed for a roof by up to 20%, meaning it is more cost efficient and tiles are easier to handle and lay. The aesthetics of SL8 are also much more appealing as its thin leading edge and dimensions go a long way to replicate real slate. “Being awarded three UK patents means we have 20 years protection on our design and our customers can be assured they are using market leading products for the construction projects.” Forticrete is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of concrete construction products including roof tiles, concrete decorative facing blocks, walling stone and cast stone dressings. For more information visit www.forticrete.co.uk.
This year’s Brick Awards saw Ibstock Brick celebrating the success of architects and brick contractors. Three outstanding projects using products from the Ibstock Brick range were named as winners, with a further two projects receiving commendations from the expert judging panel at the annual awards ceremony, organised by the Brick Development Association (BDA). Ibstock Brick also proudly sponsored three awards; Individual Housing Development, Architect’s Choice and Supreme winner. “Each year the standard of entries for the Brick Awards improves. As the market leading brick manufacturer we are delighted to be associated with the celebration of brick as a modern building material. We would like to congratulate everybody involved with the award-winning projects for their success in showcasing how brick can be used within creative and contemporary architecture. Ibstock Brick is committed to providing products which offer design flexibility for the most innovative building facades,” commented Darren Bowkett, Operations Director of Ibstock Brick. Voted by the public from a selection of shortlisted projects in other categories, the Architect’s Choice Award was handed to the BPTW Architects designed project at Creek Road in the heart of Greenwich. The project utilised the Funton Old Chelsea Yellow brick to mirror the existing bricks whilst adding a contemporary twist. The winner in the Education category was Marlborough Primary School (Architect: Dixon Jones), while Royal Albert Wharf was the winner in the Large Housing Development category. Blackfriars Circus also picked up a commendation in this category, with both projects being designed by Maccreanor Lavington. Scala Yard (Architect: DLA Design Group) received a commendation in the Small Housing development category. The winners of the Specialist Brickwork Contractor award, Anglian Brickwork Ltd, used Ibstock Bricks in one of their winning projects at the David Attenborough Building (Architect: Nicholas Hare). Ibstock Brick, part of Ibstock plc, is the biggest manufacturer of clay bricks sold in the UK. With 20 manufacturing plants producing more than 850,000 new bricks per annum, it offers an unrivalled choice of more than 450 different bricks, which includes prefabricated brickwork components, rainscreens and a diverse selection of special shaped bricks and pavers.