Make a difference with beautiful balustrades

Combining low maintenance durability with safety and style is key to the success of any residential balustrades project. Nick Haughton, marketing manager at Sapphire Balustrades, looks at the latest developments to maximise aesthetic appeal and performance and highlights the use of innovative balustrade... View Article

Here comes the sun

Carrie Burton, marketing manager of National Plastics, reviews how the 2014 Budget announcements will have an affect on the housebuilding industry and the impact on rainwater goods manufacturers, installers and suppliers. There has been an undeniable buzz surrounding new build and... View Article

Shedding light on sliding doors

Sliding doors are becoming an increasingly common sight in new builds and redevelopments, with a range of systems enjoying a surge in popularity. Lili Wang, product manager at IronmongeryDirect, examines the reasons behind their use and looks at the benefits... View Article

A must-have addition to any new build

Matt Higgs, sales director for Kloeber, tells us how the concept of bifolding door systems is being increasingly embraced as more housebuilders are recognising the added value and saleability they can bring to all styles of development. Bifolding (or folding sliding)... View Article

Our survey says

Dave Osborne, technical manager for Swish Building Products explains why taking that extra five minutes to ensure an accurate site survey is more important than ever. Accuracy is crucial in keeping project costs down and downtime to a minimum; two key... View Article

CIH Conference 2014

The CIH Conference programme is taking shape, with the largest audience in recent years expected New speakers are being confirmed daily for the CIH Conference running this year from 24-26 June, with the line-up featuring a strong political focus as... View Article

Hilton wins at Waterloo

The world famous hotel chain brings one of its growing brands to London for the first time with a distinctive and handsome building, writes Ray Philpott Any brand new hotel building in London naturally tends to attract a lot of... View Article

Top marks for project to give old school new life

Jess Unwin reports on the renovation and refurbishment of a classic example of so-called 1960s brutalism architecture as classrooms are converted into loft-style apartments in the London borough of Lambeth In many ways the Baylis Old School development is a... View Article

UFH in conversion projects – the essentials

The most common question asked about the suitability of underfloor heating (UFH) in a building conversion is ‘how can we minimise the floor build up?’ This is an important area to master within a project such as an office to... View Article

Unravelling the options for cast stone specifications

There are three cast stone options available for architectural projects. Simon Scott of Haddonstone explains Cast stone is one of the most versatile building mat-erials available and, in a number of important ways, is markedly superior to quarried stone. One... View Article

Greenbuild Expo returns

With a packed conference and exhibition Greenbuild Expo returns to Manchester Central in May to highlight and promote sustainability in the built environment Greenbuild Expo takes place in Manchester on the 7 and 8 May featuring a packed conference programme... View Article

The Shadow House: A story of inner city self-build

Having designed large luxurious properties for private clients and worked on complex urban social housing developments, David Liddicoat and Sophie Goldhill were keen to use their combined experience to create a small, attractive, cost effective and compact home for themselves.... View Article

Rigid approach to damp-proofing

Grant Terry, head of brand development for Marmox (UK) Ltd, advocates a structured approach to dealing with damp and insulation issues Despite theories that global warming could turn our latitudes into some sort of sub-Saharan desert, the past few months have reminded... View Article

How green is your rooftop?

Here we review green roofs as an option for your self-build: why you should consider them, what ranges and varieties are available and the practical issues to be aware of One of the great joys of building your own home has to... View Article

Why are trickle ventilators needed?

Dean Bradley, sales and marketing manager for Glazpart Ltd, explores the requirement for trickle vents and how they can affect a building’s living environment The necessity for trickle ventilators has long been a controversial and somewhat puzzling issue in the window market... View Article

Beauty, quality, character & style

With such an abundant choice of colours, textures and styles, choosing the correct wooden floor for any build can be confusing. Peter Keane, director of wood flooring manufacturers, The Natural Wood Floor Company, looks at the benefits of wooden flooring, how... View Article

Wood burning stoves are a hot topic

Matt Hardy, showroom manager at The Heat Store Ltd, gets into the hot seat to answer questions about specifying a wood burning stove. One of the most important things to consider when having a wood burning stove installed in your... View Article