Construction and Building Archives - Page 2 of 2

What is the best Material for Bifolding Doors?

April 24, 2013December 29, 2020Construction and Building, Home Improvementsbi-folding doors, doors, house extension

Bifolding doors continue to be an increasingly popular choice for new build and renovation projects. There are many factors to consider, but the choice of material is probably one of the most important considerations.

In the high end, bespoke bi folding doors market, there are really just 3 choices for consideration.

Firstly there are thermally broken aluminium systems which are by far the most commonly used and indeed the most popular choice for many reasons. Panels are constructed from extruded aluminium profiles which are split by a poly-amide thermal break which helps prevent heat transfer between the inside and outside of the door. This is the minimum requirement for any aluminium door to ensure it conforms to building regulations.

Choosing an aluminium system means your doors are virtually maintenance free. Aluminium is far harder wearing and much longer lasting than uPVC. It can be finished in any RAL colour and you can choose from a number of finish options.With the benefit of large panel sizes and slim slightlines, aluminium is aesthetically pleasing. Marine treatment is also available when needed for coastal areas to prevent saline corrosion. Bearing all this in mind, along with the fact that two thirds of all the aluminium ever produced is still in use today, making is an ecologically sound choice. You can see why aluminium systems are the most popular.

Timber systems are also a popular choice. The highest quality timber systems are produced in engineered timber that has been triple laminated to increase the strength and reduce chances of the timber warping over time. The types of timber available vary, but oak and pine are used the most regularly.

As timber is naturally insulating compared to aluminium, there is no requirement for a thermal break between the interior and exterior faces.

And finally, there are composite bifolding doors. This is a combination of aluminium and timber. Choosing a composite system allows for all the warm and natural appearance of timber internally, whist providing all the maintenance free benefits of aluminium to the exterior. Due to weathering, any system using timber externally would require re-painting or staining within two to three years, then annually thereafter. This requirement is therefore avoided through the use of a composite system.

Author Carly Grigglestone: Sunfold Systems

2013 Budget Round Up

March 26, 2013March 26, 2013Construction and Building2013 Budget, building, construction

New Build Housing So the 2013 budget came and went. As usual reactions to the Chancellor’s fiscal measures have been both positive and negative. The construction industry, although on the surface, seems to have gained a boost, will it really pan out that way?

Let’s look at the two main areas:

infrastructure
housebuilding

Infrastructure

In the 2013 budget, George Osbourne reiterated his commitment to the £40billion guarantee scheme for the UK’s infrastructure. Although this scheme was announced in July 2012 only 2 projects thus far have benefited from it.

The Chancellor remained pretty vague when it came to how and where this money would be used over the coming year while the construction industry waited with bated breath to hear that specific projects and work had been identified for this money. It didn’t come.

In addition a further £3billion was allocated for roads and power stations but again a considerable lack of detail was presented.

Although this money is a welcome input to the industry, confidence remains low as to when and how this money will be spent or if it ever will!

Housebuilding

So, we now have £3.5billion to help first time buyers get on the property ladder. The housing industry is still struggling in terms of new build numbers and in terms of sales by the consumer. The Chancellors answer is to offer a loan of up to 20% of the cost of the property and in addition a mortgage-backed guarantee of up to 20% of the Loan to Value of the property. The only proviso being that the buyer has to have at least a 5% deposit. The limit of the property purchase price is capped at £600,000.

So why is this good? Well it is hoped this will stimulate the new build market, not only in sales but also to help generate new housing projects. The doubters are worried this may create reckless loaning or a false ‘bubble’ which will burst when the funding runs out.

However if these measures pan out, it will certainly help the buyer but will it really help the industry? Unlikely. I believe that the investment and stimulation needs to come further up the food chain, more towards the source, in order to get our housebuilders back on site.

At the moment the number of new build homes being built is around 90,000 a year. Predictions indicate a need for 230,000 a year. This is a huge deficit in numbers and one which I am not sure will be cured with a small and possibly very temporary pot of money for first time buyers.

I guess we will just have to wait and see…

Lobbyists push affordable housing for 2013 budget

March 12, 2013March 12, 2013Construction and Building2013 Budget, affordable housing, building, construction

Affordable Housing Market With only just over a week to go before the 2013 budget, lobbyists are still pressuring the government over their plans to support affordable housing in the UK over the coming year.

Both the CBI and British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have been pushing for a clear commitment to build between 50-100,000 new homes over the next 3 years. Clearly new affordable homes do not come without significant cos, so where is the money going to come from?

The CBI says their estimates of £1.25 billion for 50,000 affordable homes could be found from current spending, from savings within government departments and further sales of land and property plus additional funds from the wider economy.

The BCC estimates the spend needed would be £30 billion to ensure 100,000 new homes over the next 3 years but without growth in the affordable housing sector over the next six months, it may be necessary to borrow more to build these homes.

With the budget announcement due on March 20^th it is unlikely these final pressures will affect any changes to the plan already decided by Mr Osbourne.

With the financial future of the UK still looking very vulnerable, the government has a very difficult job. The UK needs money in order to stimulate growth but on the flip side, this only serves to increase the already huge deficit we are facing.

Finding the balance between incentive and savings is an unenviable task for Mr Osbourne and one which is unlikely to suit everyone.

Many MP’s are unhappy that much of the public spending funds are already ring fenced which leaves little opportunity to successfully support other areas of the public sector which need more help.

New housing is essential to keep property at an affordable level but also to help employment in the construction sector.

It will certainly be interesting to hear whether the housing industry in particular, will reap some rewards from this year’s budget or continue to expect tough times ahead.

Underfloor Insulation – the choices

March 1, 2013March 18, 2013Construction and Buildingconstruction, insulation

Insumate Floor Tray As energy prices rise and purse strings are pulled, low cost, effective ways of saving household energy are more than ever in demand.

There has long been massive emphasis on the importance of insulating roof space and walls, but it’s a fair bet that not so many people think about floors. An un-insulated floor can sap up to 20% of the heat from your home. Cold air getting into the underfloor void causes draughts and heat to be lost more rapidly.

In the past, the only methods of installing insulation within suspended timber floors was with fishing nets or chicken wire. These primitive techniques are subject to numerous problems. The insulation which the wire and nets support, can sag, or become compacted. Both these problems reduce how effective the insulation is. Furthermore, the wire and netting does not shield the insulation against the sub-floor draughts. This means that, over time, any investment in underfloor insulation may not achieve the impact on your household bills you had hoped for.

To overcome these issues, Insumate Ltd has brought to market the Insumate insulation support tray.

The tray, which is manufactured within the UK from recycled polypropylene, can be quickly installed to support any insulation material between joists. It offers a shield against the underfloor draughts. The polypropylene construction means 70% of the underside of the insulation is covered. Plus, unlike nets or wire, the Insumate tray supports all of the surface area of the underfloor insulation. This alleviates the issue of any compaction or sagging.

The Insumate tray is also much quicker to install that any netting or wire. Up to 50m² can be installed within 30 minutes, by one person. The trays can be fitted from above or below simply by using a hand held stapler. Installation efficiency is also continued into the first fix stage of any project, as the Insumate tray offers a dedicated services void. This means any wires or pipes don’t have to be fitted within the insulation material.

The Insumate tray is available nationwide through the Travis Perkins group network.

Article by Luke Gooding, Insumate Ltd

How safe is your fire door?

February 14, 2013March 18, 2013Construction and Buildingconstruction, doors, fire doors, fire safety

Ahmarra Limetree Fire Door When is a fire door not a fire door? When it is incorrectly installed – then it can pose a significant risk.

The role of the fire doorset is to prevent fire from spreading from its source to other parts of the building by effectively closing off the room in which the fire started. So far, so good and all very responsible. But to be successful, the doorset has to be manufactured and installed absolutely correctly.

Alarmingly, a high percentage of fire door installations are being made by contractors buying all the components separately and constructing the assembly on the building site. This is where danger can lurk. If fire doors are not installed properly, their fire-resistance can be seriously compromised.

Ahmarra Fire Door at Gatwick So how can customers be sure their fire door is fulfilling the role it is supposed to do? It’s worth knowing about the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturer Scheme. This has been designed to allow fire-door manufacturers to demonstrate that their doors meet the standards required, and to provide ongoing reassurance that their product is fit for purpose.

Ahmarra is a member of the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturer Scheme and the BM TRADA Fire Door Registered Installer Scheme. We are one of the few specialist fire doorset manufacturers who can also offer an installation service with the ability to certify every aspect of the performance of a doorset.

Safety is the most important plus factor of factory-hung fire rated doorsets, there are many other benefits, including major savings in time and money. That’s a big tick in anyone’s book and it’s no wonder more and more contractors are advocating the use of pre-hung doorsets.

With a Q-Mark certification, as well as excellent environmental credentials in terms of FSC/PEFC certification, Ahmarra is able to meet the supply chain criteria for many of the top UK construction companies.

Post written by Tim Doran, Managing Director, Ahmarra.

Recession? Blame it on the Construction Industry

February 7, 2013February 8, 2013Construction and Buildingbuilding, construction, uk recession

Roof Trusses on House The end of January saw another negative report about the UK construction industry contracting for another month. Although the UK construction industry accounts for less than 7% of Gross Domestic Product, it is consistently blamed for keeping the UK in recession. This may or may not be the case as within every industry there are areas which gain and lose during tough economic times. However I wonder what the real reasons for lack of progress really boils down to. My own opinion hails back to the financial sector.

There were reports that demand was weak and a lack of new project accounted for much of the poor performance. However if we look further down the food chain, in my view it can only be as a result of the financial crisis. Many of the projects promised by government have been scrapped to cut the deficit and many private housing projects have been abandoned due to lack of finance from banks. All of this harps back to the original sin which the banking sector initiated and which clearly is still ongoing, with fines and punishments being handed out across the globe.

How can the construction sector bolster its output with such ongoing uncertainty and lack of project commitment and funding? Well it can’t but yet it bears the brunt of responsibility for keeping the UK in recession. This financial crisis and economic situation is going to last a very long time; I think we all have to face this fact. As such everyone within the building industry has to look beyond the old means and ways of gaining new business and look towards diversifying and perhaps look at brand new methods and means to keep afloat.

However for me the blame lies firmly with the financial crisis we find ourselves in, reckless trading and funding over many years has now brought us to a decade or two of tough times. This flows through every sector, not just the construction industry and this in my view is what will keep the UK dipping in and out of recession for the foreseeable future. Is it really fair that the construction industry has to bear the brunt of the blame for our ongoing recession!?