Richard Threllfall of KPMG comments on ONS construction figures

Richard Threllfall, Partner and Head of Infrastructure Building & Construction at KPMG comments on this morning’s ONS construction figures: “Apologies ONS, but I just don’t believe today’s output figures. They don’t ring true with what the industry is experiencing on the... View Article

SME house builders boosted by Section 106 ruling, says FMB

The Appeal Court’s decision to uphold a Government initiative to waive affordable housing requirements for small developments is a boost for SMEs and house building, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB,... View Article
Sophie Nguyen, Architect

Sophie Nguyen, Architect

Architect Sophie Nguyen is a one-woman powerhouse of ingenuity. Based in a west London studio, which she designed and built, she is the go-to architect for homeowners in need of clever ideas to extend their houses. She says: “Playing around... View Article

Complex stone cladding solutions

Tamsin Pickeral, business development manager, Szerelmey, explains how a combination of technology and tradition is overcoming the challenges of stone cladding for the 21st Century. The relationship between a contemporary visual aesthetic and fulfilling structural and legislative requirements is one that... View Article

Buyer beware

Designing a roof requiring tapered insulation is beset with challenges, with consequences for the contractor and specifier. Andrew Rowley, tapered design manager for Gradient Roofing, explains. Designing tapered insulation for a flat roof used to be relatively simple. The Building... View Article

Perfecting the building envelope

Graham Hurrell, commercial director at AluK, discusses how structural facades can optimise the performance of the building envelope. In order to achieve optimal building envelope performance, the envelope itself should integrate and work with other elements of the complete building. By... View Article
environment

Brick, the hero of our built environment

Just because a material was developed 9,000 years ago does that make it old fashioned? Apparently not, as brick is enjoying something of a renaissance. The Brick Development Association explains further. To those of us who work in the industry... View Article

Cover all bases using engineered fit-for-purpose canopies

Canopies UK Managing Director Jason Eastwood says that specifiers need to beware of seemingly cost-effective off-the shelf options for canopies, and discusses the importance of site-specific calculations for bespoke fit-for-purpose solutions. Research suggests that many leading canopy manufacturers apply surprisingly... View Article
Doors

Have an open mind on door design

Homeowners, interior designers and architects all agree that doors are more than just a commodity, they are central to the character of any home. James Dean, head of marketing for Todd Doors, explores further. A front door is the first... View Article