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On a tiled roof, all the tiles are fixed onto battens with the bottom (lower end) of each tile resting on the top of tile in the row below. At eaves level the last row of tiles (that ends above the gutter) doesn’t have a tile or batten to rest on. Without support this causes the last row to…
With an ageing work force there are many initiatives being put into place to attract younger generations to join the construction industry. As with anything, first impressions are a key factor when forming an opinion on someone or something.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) have…
This is a common problem, most often caused by poor survey work or collapse of trench sides - resulting in the actual shape of the foundations not matching the required dimensions of the external walls.
Does building a wall on a foundation really matter?
Well, yes it does because the loads of…
While it’s important to get the design and installation of the pile foundations right first time, one thing you may not have considered are the documents you need to submit to ensure the foundations are approved by building control.
To help minimise any delays you need to ensure your paperwork…
This is a photo looking down at the floor to a patio door opening and is a relatively common detail where the concrete carries over the internal blockwork to close the cavity.
Using damp proof membranes correctly
The damp proof membrane (DPM) has been cut too short to extend across the cavity…
A photo sent in recently by one of our building control surveyors highlighted a common problem found when the right drainage pipe fittings aren’t to hand on site and deadlines need the work doing right away:
In this instance, it’s surface water drainage from a house and detached garage that…
Whilst correct design, specification and detailing of cavity wall ties is important; correct and quality installation is just as critical to ensure performance of a wall throughout the life of a building.
This is particularly important as the need to construct masonry walls with wide cavities is…
Roofing is a high-risk activity. Working at height, sometimes with fragile materials, means roofers make up nearly a quarter of all workers killed in falls from height at work. Some of these accidents occur because of sub-standard roof battens.
In a bid to improve safety, a requirement to grade…
Severe driving rain is a common occurrence in the UK and these days even sheltered locations may be subject to high levels of deluge. Flashings and cavity trays offer a way around this problem, but should they be provided to canopy roofs?
Site-formed canopies
Where a site-formed canopy is…
We’ve now seen the housing white paper "Fixing our broken housing market" which is principally focused on dealing with the slow planning system.
It remains to be seen if local planning authorities will still be able to override the new options proposed for brownfield and green belt land and…