Treating water pollution on construction sites

Dr Richard Coulton of Siltbuster outlines the main types of on-site water pollution, and how to treat them. Under the Environment Agency’s Regulatory Policy Statement (RPS), construction companies likely to discharge anything off site other than clean water need a... View Article

Transforming the industry for the better

Sarah McMonagle of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), explains the organisation’s three point plan to reform the sector’s approach to quality, in the wake of Grenfell. Let’s be honest, the construction industry does not have the greatest image in... View Article

Underlying benefits

Shane Oxberry of YPS Plumbing supplies recaps the many compelling benefits of underfloor heating. Neat, economical to run, reliable and green, it’s tempting to recommend underfloor heating (UFH) for every new build, renovation or extension. Unless you demand period cast... View Article

Don’t forget your thermals

Karen Everitt of Ravatherm UK explains the importance of correct insulation specification in achieving high thermal performance. Housebuilding is on the rise. Research suggests that by 2050 there could be a 23 per cent increase in UK households, and the... View Article

Better ventilated homes for a brighter future

Paul Croughan, Head of Sales – New build at EnviroVent, looks at how the new build sector is meeting ventilation requirements and improving the air quality in new homes. The Government’s plan to build at least 200,000 new homes per... View Article

A sense of place

Andy Speake of Aico advises on the importance of getting placement right when it comes to alarms. In the domestic smoke alarm sector there has traditionally been three alarm types: optical, heat and ionisation. These different sensor types react best... View Article

Going off-grid

Ian Digby of Calor discusses looks at how alterations to standard housing designs resulting from fuel choice can be reduced for off-grid properties, and the part played by Part L1A of the Building regulations. Complying with Part L1A of the... View Article

Getting a handle on aluminium doors

Will Jones of Senior Architectural Systems looks at how aluminium doors can open up new opportunities to create homes that offer the highest standards of style, security and sustainability. The term ‘patio door’ is often used to refer to a... View Article

Gutter bliss

Paul Jackson of Polypipe explains why developers need to ensure they are selecting the right guttering and downpipe system on each project, which might mean that plastic turns out to be the best option. When the Government announced that 217,350... View Article

Choices in the bathroom

Making the right choices when designing a bathroom can make all the difference in a successful development. With more options available than ever before, Lisa Ward of Bristan looks at how housebuilders can best meet consumers’ rapidly evolving needs. Like... View Article

Tackling drainage challenges in Timber

Ann Boardman of Saniflo Uk explains how to overcome the particular set of drainage challenges presented to house builders constructing in timber. You may not be aware that by using a combination of macerators, pumps and shower cubicles, you can... View Article

Comment on Intergenerational Commission report

Mark Farmer, chief executive of Cast, said: “The price and availability of land is a major problem within the housing market. Developers have increasingly been accused of overpaying for land by suppressing affordable housing provision and challenging quotas through the planning... View Article

Down & dirty

Have you ever wondered why a newly installed tiled floor looks dirty? in most cases it’s down to a poor initial clean, with over 70 per cent of all installation complaints being the result of this. Lisa Breakspear of FiLA... View Article

Projecting a better image

Richard Twiddy of F. H. Brundle explains how the right balcony can elevate the entire feel of a property. Whether it is a place for peaceful reflection or a feature spot to host a gathering, there are many reasons why... View Article

Warm reception

As aluminium windows and doors continue to grow in popularity in the housing market, Bruce Manning of the Synseal Group takes a look at the advantages of warm aluminium products. The surge in popularity for aluminium products last year will... View Article

Solid solutions in a crisis

Calum Forsyth of H+H puts the case for masonry construction methods as a key part of the solution to the UK housing crisis. The Government has been clear it wants housebuilders to deliver far more units per year, which means... View Article