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We all get frustrated at losing work to someone who's quoted significantly less. Even worse, you know that the job can’t be done for that price even if you were prepared to lower standards or dumb down the quality of your service to win the building work. But should the end result of that ‘cost…
High winds are an ever present risk, often leaving a trail of destruction on properties and construction sites. Average wind speeds are increasing and ‘storm force’ winds are more common.
Site hoarding, roofs, and unsecured or unbraced masonry walls in a temporary condition on construction sites…
On 27 April, building industry stakeholders gathered at the Energy Technology Centre of Nottingham University where the long-awaited new air tightness testing (also known as air pressure testing) technology, the PULSE unit, made its first appearance.
Build Test Solutions (BTS) is an exciting new…
Building Regulations Approved Document C recommends using BS 8102 to design basements where walls and floors are subject to water pressure.
Three methods of basement waterproofing are defined in the standard:
“Type A” (barrier protection) which requires a tanking membrane
“Type B” (…
O.Seaman & Son Ltd, trading as Seamans Building, was awarded the title of Best Local Builder or Traditional Craftsperson at the Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.
A panel of industry experts judged a…
The next generation of engineered first floor joists offers greater spans and easier fitting of services. While hours can be saved removing the need for notching of pipework and drilling for cables, the floor joists still need careful attention to ensure they work correctly and as they are designed…
Property owners across England and Wales are increasingly investing in photovoltaic and solar thermal collector panels to lower their energy costs. These panels usually come in a rigid, lightweight aluminium shell that can be screwed or clamped securely to a roof.
But once the individual solar…
The West of England 2017 winners from Herefordshire Council, back in the office.
Employees from 12 England and Wales local authority building control regions were given LABC Superstar awards on the 20th March, at a Gala Dinner in Leicester.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, …
Changes in 2015 to the Building Regulations Approved Document Part M, which contains guidance on access, introduced some new standards for new-build dwellings. The base standard is fairly similar to the old Part M; M4(2) is a higher standard that designs new dwellings so that they're more…
You may have come across a recent BBC news item about a house collapse in London following basement renovation work.
The property was thought to be worth in the region of £1 million and collapsed in the early hours of 3 April 2017.
(Picture on the left courtesy of the Kingston building…