Decorating smaller spaces can often be a challenge, especially when working with a room such as the bathroom, which requires key features to suit meet needs. There are many things to consider when decorating any space, but when it comes to a smaller area you need to think about things
The Today Company is a new online home improvement website offering designer lifestyle products at budget prices for the trade and homeowners directly. The todayco.uk provides guaranteed quality bi-folding doors, slim frame sliding doors, roof lanterns, pergolas, verandas, awnings and roof lights which can be fully personalised with a choice
Forming the perfect team is never easy. This is especially true in the potentially hazardous and labour intensive construction industry. On top of having the skills applicable to the construction industry, team members need to be dependable, able to follow set working hours and instructions, as well work well with
Windows, curtain walling and doors feature on the new London Screen Academy. Architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer, including aluminium heritage-style windows appropriate for the conservation area, have helped to transform the façade of an old radio and television factory into the new London Screen Academy. Kawneer’s GT70S
Your warehouse floor is the center of activity and is likely the place where crucial parts of your company are run. Your warehouse is also the place where valuable equipment is kept, and the environment from where your workers interact with machinery. So, it stands to reason that your warehouse’s
Rhodar has completed a 26-week project to remove asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and demolish the derelict Old Vic pub, which was situated on top of a live railway tunnel, above one of the South East’s busiest railway lines connecting the area with London. Further enabling works undertaken included the design
Sliding and folding door hardware manufacturer, P C Henderson, has released two new installation videos for its market leading range of Pocket Door Pro and Husky Soft Stop systems. Launched early 2019, Pocket Door Pro and Husky Soft Stop, although new to the market, have quickly grown to become two
Undoubtedly, wooden floors look timeless, beautiful, classic and glamorous. However, if you want your wood flooring to look like that all throughout, you must take proper care of it. Though most wooden floorings are durable and long-lasting, they still require proper care to serve as protection against any form of
The pioneering programme is now even easier for contractors to use. The pioneer of ceiling recycling schemes, Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, has fine-tuned its award-winning* programme to make it as simple and as accessible as possible. It is now even easier for contractors to reduce their environmental impact and divert waste
Following on from a record-breaking company turnover in 2019, Yorkshire-based firm Caddick Group has set its sights on increasing its presence down south. The construction and property development company has welcomed two new senior additions to its ranks and introduced a new London office. The two new hires will join
Decorating smaller spaces can often be a challenge, especially when working with a room such as the bathroom, which requires key features to suit meet needs. There are many things to consider when decorating any space, but when it comes to a smaller area you need to think about things in even more detail, working out alternative storage solutions that will help you utilise the space you have, whilst still being able to get the correct bathroom features into the room in order for it to function properly. A petite bathroom can be extremely warm and cosy, creating your very own spa-like sanctuary, it’s all about getting the right balance of practicality with style. Adding Mirrors One of the first things you should consider when decorating and styling a petite bathroom space is the addition of a mirror. Mirrors are perfect for creating a sense of space and making a room feel open and light, which is ideal within the bathroom. By adding a mirror to one of your bathroom walls, you’ll instantly be able to bounce the natural light throughout the room and make the area feel much more spacious. Mirrors are also a must have in any bathroom, often positioned above the sink you can create a lovely focal point to draw the room together seamlessly. Essential Features Within the bathroom, there are many different features that are required to ensure you can make the most out of the space you have. Everyday use requires key features such as shaver sockets, vanity cabinets and storage space to keep your daily products neat and tidy. With a shaver socket, you then have the ability to charge your electric toothbrush, razor and other electrical items that you use through your day to day routines. Similarly, you need to focus on investing in the right kind of vanity cabinets, to really make the most of the space. Hidden cabinets within mirrors are a great feature for the petite bathroom styles, as you are doubling up the use and making the most of the wall space available without taking away from any of the floorspace within the room. Statement Tiles Creating a bold statement within a petite bathroom can really help to bring the character the space needs without having to go overboard with the décor. Introducing some stylish, trendy tiles can instantly transform a space and bring the room to life, with lighter tiles also helping to lift the atmosphere. You can get really creative when adding statement tiles, whether that’s creating your own bold pattern, or simply combining bright colours for a really captivating aesthetic. Minimal Mess Less is certainly more when it comes to smaller spaces and with a petite bathroom it’s important to keep the mess to an absolute minimum. Storage is key, as the less you have out on display such as toiletries and appliances the better. Try to keep your bathroom as neat and tidy as possible, as this will help to keep the space feeling fresh and open, rather than it feeling cramped and overcrowded.
The Today Company is a new online home improvement website offering designer lifestyle products at budget prices for the trade and homeowners directly. The todayco.uk provides guaranteed quality bi-folding doors, slim frame sliding doors, roof lanterns, pergolas, verandas, awnings and roof lights which can be fully personalised with a choice of colours and variety of door handles. They also have an extensive range of award-winning designer steel and stone fire pits, bowls and tables. Products can be ordered online in three easy steps, or by phone, and the todayco.uk can also supply trained and insured fitters. Experienced industry expert Martin Pearson set-up todayco.uk, said: “Having worked in the home improvement market for over twenty years we wanted to provide fantastic products at low cost prices. “Most people may not have thought that many of our products could be as affordable, but by ordering direct online makes it possible to create your dream home, bringing the outside in and using your garden and outdoor space all year round.” As an introductory offer the todayco.uk are giving 15% off on all orders for all customers. To take advantage of the offer, simply go to todayco.uk and click on the 15% off coupon and fill in contact details to receive your discount code on all products. Leading brands include Panoramic Doors, Raynaers, Erhardt, Skylux and Eco Smart fire pits. For full product offer and information please visit todayco.uk or call 0113 5312 121.
Forming the perfect team is never easy. This is especially true in the potentially hazardous and labour intensive construction industry. On top of having the skills applicable to the construction industry, team members need to be dependable, able to follow set working hours and instructions, as well work well with others. While it may seem impossible to find employees who can deliver all of the above, there are ways to make your search a little easier. Create and develop an employee referral program The people who already work for you know what you’re looking for, are well aware of the company standards, and will gladly help if your company has a solid employee referral program. Whatever you spend rewarding those who refer quality candidates is a small price to pay for the possibility of finding employees that you can rely on for the long term. This is especially true in the construction industry where, despite Brexit-related uncertainties, both the demand for skilled workers and the number of workers looking to fill skilled positions remain high. In particular, skilled wood-tradesmen have been in very high demand, with 2,380 jobs advertised annually for experts on “wood trades and interior fit-out,” while 45,240 annual searches were made by workers looking for vacancies in that position. Apart from skilled wood-tradesmen, the Construction Industry Training Board reveals that building envelope specialists, roofers, bricklayers, and scaffolders have also been in-demand by tradesmen looking to fill vacancies. In short, the right people for your construction team are out there, and if you have a worthwhile employee referral program, they might just find their way to you. Provide positive candidate experiences The way you treat potential hires influences your company’s image more than you think. Word gets around quickly, especially today with websites like Glassdoor allowing professionals to review nearly anything about the companies that they’ve either worked or interviewed for. This is why Comeet advises companies to carefully develop their hiring process towards providing a positive experience for each and every candidate that walks through your door. Design an interview process that respects the time of everyone involved require an aptitude test beforehand, like the EU EPSO tests, to filter out candidates. Be upfront with your candidates and talk to them as you would with your own CEO. Whether or not they’re right for the job, they should leave the interview with a sense of satisfaction, as well as a positive attitude about recommending your company to other potential hires. One way or another, your candidates’ experiences are bound to reach the ears of the construction industry’s top talents, which will greatly factor into whether or not they decide to work for you. Approach schools and consider fresh graduates While they come with the handicap of having very little to no actual experience in the industry, students and fresh graduates could be the perfect candidates for your team. First and foremost, they’re very eager to learn and contribute to the industry. Whether it’s construction, design, or engineering, fresh grads are looking for not just employment, but also apprenticeship opportunities where they can grow and develop. Wilmot Dixons’ experiences while engaging with Level 3 construction students from Cambridge Regional College (CRC) is a testament to this go-getter attitude. Expressing very clear ideas about the roles they want to pursue in construction, surveying, design, and site management, the CRC students actually impressed Wilmot Dixons’ officers so much that they were each offered a slot in the company’s work experience programme. You might similarly find success if you get involved in engagements with promising construction and design schools to find the ideal team members. Prospect Magazine reports that the UK’s construction industry is experiencing a big shortfall in personnel. If you can’t find the best candidates right away, be patient. As long as you have an employee referral program in place, a fulfilling and positive hiring process, and an open attitude towards hiring inexperienced but eager workers, you’re well on your way to forming the perfect team.
Windows, curtain walling and doors feature on the new London Screen Academy. Architectural glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer, including aluminium heritage-style windows appropriate for the conservation area, have helped to transform the façade of an old radio and television factory into the new London Screen Academy. Kawneer’s GT70S slimline renovation open-in windows were the “focal new element” of the renovation of the façade of the four-storey building at Highbury Grove in Islington, north London, where Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained curtain walling and series AA®190 TB entrance doors also feature. The GT70S windows with narrow sightlines were installed over 12 weeks by a team of eight from specialist sub-contractor and Kawneer dealer JPJ Installations throughout the 8,050m2 building, with the AA®100 curtain walling, which also has narrow 50mm sightlines, used on the rear elevation and the series AA®190 TB severe-duty welded doors used on the main entrance. This cutting-edge new free school by the Department for Education provides world-class film industry focused vocational training, including behind-the-camera roles, costume design, production management, distribution and marketing, alongside a broader curriculum, for 17 to 19-year-olds. Procured through the Southern Construction Framework, main contractor Willmott Dixon Interiors worked closely with the design team from Architecture Initiative to deliver the project over 13 months, ready for the first intake of students in September 2019. Sponsored by Working Title Films, the end user is the Day One Trust. The building, also formerly a London Metropolitan University facility, was subject to a dramatic internal reconfiguration, with the core of the deep-plan multi-storey industrial space demolished and replaced with a steel-framed three-storey film production studio and supporting facilities. The general teaching and workshop spaces wrap around the centre core, responding to and utilising the existing external envelope which has remained largely unaltered in appearance. The insertion of a new rooftop courtyard with film theatre and extensive views over London completes the arrangement and provides informal social space for staff and students. Architecture Initiative’s brief was to design a creative education facility that would provide an inspirational learning environment alongside specialist technical facilities to train students in all aspects of digital and film technologies. The practice’s Lee Mainwaring said: “We combined the natural features of the existing building – large windows, generous floor-to-ceiling heights, exposed finishes – with state-of-the-art new technical training facilities based on extensive research and analysis of professional film studios, to create a unique building for students and the wider community. “The building is in a conservation area so any works to the external façade were carefully considered. We also needed to work with current building regulations for schools to ensure we could provide a safe learning space but which also enabled us to make the most of the existing building and provide professional standard technical spaces. “The local authority planners were really happy with the upgrades to the existing building façade which had been unsympathetically altered in previous times.” He added: “The external windows are the focal new element of the façade renovation. The Kawneer window system, which was offered by the contractor as a more cost-effective alternative, effectively met the technical requirements needed whilst achieving a 1930s warehouse “Crittall” window lookalike. “The windows have greatly enhanced the existing façade as well as referring to the building’s history with its design. The final product was of great quality and in keeping with the design concept.” He concluded: “The façade has been visually transformed, in part through the addition of the new windows that are perfectly in keeping with the heritage of the building. From a previously dilapidated appearance, the building has been rejuvenated. We are extremely happy with such an incredible looking product.” The creation of the London Screen Academy follows a recent report published by the British Film Institute which suggested the money spent on production in the UK reached a record level of £3.16 billion across all sectors including film, television and console games. Production investment in the UK has grown by 63% over the four years to 2016.
Your warehouse floor is the center of activity and is likely the place where crucial parts of your company are run. Your warehouse is also the place where valuable equipment is kept, and the environment from where your workers interact with machinery. So, it stands to reason that your warehouse’s industrial flooring must remain in a good, clean condition, enabling workers to perform their duties, and their machinery to be used safely. Here, we’ll look at six reasons why it’s important to have high-quality industrial flooring. Some are more applicable to certain types of industrial flooring, such as resin or epoxy. The benefits of epoxy flooring, in particular, are many, and it’s one type of industrial flooring you should strongly consider. Keeping employees safe Uneven or loose flooring can lead to falls and trips, which could result in your employees taking time off work, and place an extra burden on other workers. It’s important that you adhere to the most up-to-date health and safety guidelines, such as ensuring an appropriate and safe working environment for your workforce to perform their daily duties. If your work environment is considered as being inappropriate for the duties being carried out, it could land you in a lot of trouble. Maintaining your equipment’s working order In addition to maintaining the safety of your employees, industrial flooring can help to ease the process of moving equipment from one part of your warehouse to another. If your flooring is found to be insufficient for heavy machinery or foot traffic, it will quickly wear down, resulting in additional costs for it to be replaced. Saving money By choosing a hard-wearing and appropriate industrial floor to begin with, you will have peace of mind that you will have flooring strong enough to tolerate heavy weight for a long, long time without needing regular repairs or replacement. Durability One of the main benefits of industrial flooring is its high level of durability over other solutions. This is because the flooring is stronger, and thus better able to tolerate force damage, such as cuts, chips, and cracks. They’re also mixed with a sealant component, which protects against moisture damage. So, you can spill various substances without being worried over whether there will be any signs of damage on the floor. Industrial floors have a far longer life than many types of floor material. Therefore, you can maintain the flooring easier and for longer without worrying about needing to replace it. While industrial flooring will initially cost you more than many alternative materials, this benefit makes for a more convenient material for many years to come. Low maintenance Industrial floors can be steam cleaned, disinfected, and washed to sanitize them without losing their robust properties. The floor can also tolerate petrol, solvents, alkalis, and acids. Variety Industrial flooring is a great choice if you want to give your floors a new look. You can choose from various colors capable of giving an elegant, smooth, and flawless shine. The flooring can feature personalized or traditional designs and patterns. The sheer number of choices makes it a cost-effective method of improving an office’s ambience.
Rhodar has completed a 26-week project to remove asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and demolish the derelict Old Vic pub, which was situated on top of a live railway tunnel, above one of the South East’s busiest railway lines connecting the area with London. Further enabling works undertaken included the design and installation of a waterproof membrane to the exposed tunnel arch and permanent fill solution to the basement surrounding the tunnel, ready for the following development consisting of a new station forecourt and entrance to Maidstone East Station. Having been derelict for over ten years, and with a considerable amount of weather damage compromising the internal structure, Rhodar was appointed as principal contractor directly by Network Rail and tasked with asbestos removal and the coordinated controlled demolition of the building. Due to the building’s position over a live railway line, the demolition had to be carefully planned and managed to minimise any stress or impact placed on the Week Street rail tunnel below. Prior to demolition Rhodar’s expert team began by removing all timber flooring from the ground floor to allow the exposed basement to be backfilled with 6F2 crushed concrete. The basement voids surrounding the tunnel were filled to a height of 600mm above the crown of the tunnel, which added weight to the tunnel to compensate for the reduction in applied loads from the demolition of the building and also acted as an ‘impact mat’ to evenly spread any excess loads across the whole tunnel structure. This allowed for a 47-tonne high reach excavator to be positioned over the tunnel at the rear of the site, with its 28m reach being used to take the building down floor-by-floor, negating the need for any internal access by personnel. Due to the limited internal access available and the potential for unknown asbestos being present within the material being removed from the floors and internal walls, each load removed by the excavator was segregated and inspected in a lay down area by asbestos trained operatives under a watch and brief process at ground level. Any hazardous materials discovered were removed by hand and disposed of as asbestos waste. A fully designed scaffold was erected around the building and fully monoflexed to give safe access to the roof and upper floors. This was later adapted to act as a demolition screen to ensure safe working and to minimise any disturbance from dust and debris to the local area. With the site situated next to the town’s main station, adjacent to the shopping centre and on a busy thoroughfare for both traffic and pedestrians, Rhodar deployed several operations to minimise disruption, including traffic management solutions and overnight town centre road closures to allow delivery and collection of large excavators and plant. Andrew Fisk, director of demolition at Rhodar, said: “This high-profile project at the heart of Maidstone included a live railway line, tunnel structure and the need to avoid any disruption to Network Rail and the surrounding areas, combining to add a further degree of complexity. “The team created a bespoke project plan for Network Rail to ensure that the demolition was delivered to the highest standard in a safe and controlled way, setting the foundations for the next stage of development at Maidstone East railway station.”
Sliding and folding door hardware manufacturer, P C Henderson, has released two new installation videos for its market leading range of Pocket Door Pro and Husky Soft Stop systems. Launched early 2019, Pocket Door Pro and Husky Soft Stop, although new to the market, have quickly grown to become two of the company’s most popular products due to their high quality design, flexible functionality options and easy installation. The company has now developed two high quality installation videos in order to complement the product offering. Stephanie Lee, Marketing Manager at P C Henderson, “Since launching our first set of installation videos back in 2015 – we’ve gone onto develop a total of 17 videos which have been watched by almost half a million people worldwide – making them the most popular of their kind. Due to the popularity of our Pocket Door Pro and Husky Soft Stop products, we know our latest videos are going to be a big hit”. Developed in the company’s in house studio, with the help of an outside agency, the videos detail the tools required and kit contents before guiding customers through the installation process step by step, highlighting ‘top tips’ along the way. Featuring a realistic CGI background, the videos enable customers to see what the products will look like in situ – providing a realistic demonstration. “Developing tools to make our customers lives easier is always a fundamental part of our marketing strategy – the videos have been an extremely successful development. Customers can view them on our website, scan the QR code on our paper fitting instructions or, if you’re a P C Henderson distributor, embed them onto your own website. “They’re also a great way to instill confidence, customers can watch the videos prior to purchase and see just how easy our kit packs are to install”, continued Stephanie. Currently receiving over 10,000 views a month, the videos are available for the majority of P C Henderson’s kit pack sliding door hardware products which are predominantly aimed towards the DIY market. P C Henderson offers a wide range of sliding and folding door hardware catering for maximum door weights of between 9kg and 8000kg. As well as kit packs the company also offer a large selection of commercial and industrial door hardware, with plans to develop more technical videos for this side of the business in future. To view the installation videos or to find out more about P C Henderson’s range of sliding and folding door hardware visit www.pchenderson.com/installation-videos or email marketing@pchenderson.com
Undoubtedly, wooden floors look timeless, beautiful, classic and glamorous. However, if you want your wood flooring to look like that all throughout, you must take proper care of it. Though most wooden floorings are durable and long-lasting, they still require proper care to serve as protection against any form of damage, as stated by industry leaders from Terrazzo. Even though the caretaking process is quite simple, a lot of people get confused with it. A few straightforward advice can be of help. Protection from damage If you want your wooden floor to shimmer and glitter, you need to protect it against any form of damage. In that light, any form of spills must be wiped away immediately if you do not want your wooden floor to get damaged in any way. The top layer of the wooden flooring is usually coated with lacquer or oil. This provides the initial protection in case any spills occur. However, if the liquid is left to soak in the wood, then it will cause damage in the long run. Protection against scratches and dents Scratches and dents can cause severe damage to your wooden flooring, and thus you need to protect it. Though small scratches and marks are unavoidable, it is possible to protect your flooring against bigger dents and marks. Start with the simple things. For instance, remove your footwear while walking on the wooden floor. Generally, outdoor footwear has girth and dirt in them and walking on the wooden floor with such shoes can cause the floor to get scratched. Additionally, if you do notice stones and girth on the wooden floors get them removed immediately. Use anti-scratch pads In addition to small pebbles and girth, heavy furniture too can cause marks and indentations on the wooden floors. To avoid this, it’s advisable to lift up heavy furniture and move them across the floor than to drag them around. In addition to lift-and-move, it’s important to place anti-scratch felt protector pads beneath the furniture. Once added to the bottom of the furniture they create a soft barrier between the weight of the furniture and the floor. Proper cleaning of wooden floor The cleaning process of the wooden floor is pretty easy and straightforward. In order to do a thorough cleaning, all you need to do is use a bristle brush to clean the floor daily. This should be an everyday practice since it removes any form of dirt and muck. Vacuuming the floor is also a good idea. Once the cleaning process is complete, it’s time to take on the stain removal process. This can be conducted twice or thrice a month. Monthly floor checks Even if you clean your wooden floor daily, it might not be enough. You have to check the floor every month to make sure that it’s not affected by any pests. Do not forget to peep beneath the rugs as well! If there happens to be any discoloration, then it might be a good idea to consider a fresh topcoat. Insect damage is dangerous and must always be nipped in the bud. Let your wood flooring shine with grace! Take proper care of it today.
The pioneering programme is now even easier for contractors to use. The pioneer of ceiling recycling schemes, Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, has fine-tuned its award-winning* programme to make it as simple and as accessible as possible. It is now even easier for contractors to reduce their environmental impact and divert waste from landfill which also saves them money from the subsequent taxes as well as from skips and transportation costs. All contractors are now required to do is simply take down the old Armstrong acoustic mineral ceiling tiles** and stack them on pallets. In partnership with the local distributor, Armstrong will arrange collection free of charge*** and the old tiles will be 100% recycled into new ceiling tiles at the company’s production facility in Gateshead. The scheme for the UK and Ireland, which has been in place since 2003, enables Armstrong to minimise its impact on the environment by not only diverting its old products from landfill but also producing mineral ceiling tiles with even higher post-consumer recycled content, currently up to 82%. As well as the support it gets from distributors, Armstrong has also developed a “green” branch of its Omega network of approved sub-contractors, specifically for those installers with proven recycling expertise .. and they claim that as well as saving them landfill tax it also makes then more attractive for main contractors to use. Armstrong’s recycling programme for demolition, construction and renovation schemes has saved 15 million m2 of old ceiling tiles globally and diverted 61,000 tonnes of waste from landfill. And with 2,000m2 of recycled ceiling tiles equating to 7.6 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill, that is a 14,000 kWh saving on energy. Projects have included the headquarters of main contractor Kier Construction, the temporary beach volleyball venue at Horse Guards Parade in London, and the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. A member of the UK Green Building Council, Armstrong also a partner in the Ceilings Sustainability Partnership, a working party of the AIS (Association of Interior Specialists) technical committee, which delivers on the actions within the Mineral Wool Ceiling Tile Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP). The REAP plan is intended to help the sector reduce the amount of mineral wool ceiling tiles going to landfill. Armstrong recycling case studies also feature as WRAP exemplars, including Birmingham University Hospital where almost 43 tonnes of ceiling tiles were diverted from landfill and an estimated 19.5 tonnes of embodied CO2 were offset. A new recycling programme leaflet, which has all the criteria information and steps to follow, is available from https://www.armstrongceilingsolutions.co.uk/en-gb/performance/sustainable-building-design/recycling-programmes.
Following on from a record-breaking company turnover in 2019, Yorkshire-based firm Caddick Group has set its sights on increasing its presence down south. The construction and property development company has welcomed two new senior additions to its ranks and introduced a new London office. The two new hires will join the Group’s development arms: Caddick Developments, which specialises in city centre regeneration projects as well as big box and mid-box industrial/logistics schemes, and Moda Living, a leading build-to-rent developer and operator. Alistair Smith joins Caddick Developments as Associate Director from Town Centre Securities PLC, where he was responsible for a diverse investment and development portfolio across Yorkshire and the North West. Alistair will be working with the existing team on a variety of projects including the delivery of SOYO, a new neighbourhood in central Leeds within the city’s burgeoning cultural quarter, as well as City One, which will offer a mix of offices, retail, leisure and residential and help expand the city centre. Charlie Adcock, previously of Summix Capital, a UK and Ireland fund focused on delivering housing, build-to-rent and student accommodation, joins Moda Living as acquisitions manager and will be responsible for sourcing new opportunities in London and the South of England. Charlie will be joining the existing London team in Caddick Group’s newly acquired office space at 1 Heddon Street W1. This historic building was recently renovated by the Crown Estate into co-working space and is a certified WELL building, an accreditation that was specifically sought by Caddick Group to reflect the company’s focus on wellbeing. These company changes form part of Caddick’s effort to grow and deliver its £5bn development pipeline and expand its presence in London and the South East. Johnny Caddick of Caddick Group said: “Having recorded a successful 2019, we look forward to entering the new year with a growing team and with a new headquarters in London that will help drive our growth in the capital and South East. “As a Group our focus remains on areas of the market that are structurally supported with long-term growth potential. We see a huge opportunity to redefine what city centre living means through both our Moda Living brand and major regeneration projects like SOYO and City One, and there remains strong demand for high quality logistics facilities to service Britain’s e-commerce boom.”
