Refurb and maintenance

The wide range of innovative products and systems offered by today’s window and door industry may provide housing specifiers with the scope to achieve their performance goals effectively on paper without focusing on the minor components used in their manufacture. However, the reality could be very different.

Reputable window and door manufacturers always have a clear procurement strategy for fasteners, so they know the products they use are fit for purpose. But what are the most important considerations specifiers need to be aware of when it comes to window fasteners?

In an era where housing associations face increasing demands for quality, efficiency, and sustainability, Sidey stands out as an example of excellence. With a rich history of delivering top-class services and products tailored to the unique needs of housing associations, Sidey has solidified its position as a trusted partner in the industry.

In applications where external pipework needs to be concealed and protected against the risk of accidental damage or vandalism, Arma metal pipe boxing provides a tough and versatile solution that also improves aesthetics and adds a uniform finish to the project.

Durable and weather resistant metal pipe boxing from UK Boxings is widely used to conceal and protect external pipework and building services from the risk of damage, while also helping improves the finish of completed projects.

If our water usage patterns don’t change, the UK will have an ongoing water deficit of 4,000 Megalitres per day by 2050.  Some water companies are introducing a new strategy to manage the ever-growing demand caused by increasing population and new developments - ‘water neutrality’.

The continued growth in population and housebuilding means that reductions in leakage and domestic consumption have not been enough to offset the increasing demand.  In all regions, even in our traditionally wetter regions water companies in response to OFWAT guidance, will be introducing Environmental Incentive Schemes in the near future.

The use of pre-formed boxings and casings for concealing pipework on social housing refurbishment projects has gradually overtaken the time intensive procedure of fabricating individual boxing on site to become the preferred solution for most social landlords and contractors.

Traditional methods of covering surface mounted heating system and boiler pipework typically involved the fabrication of boxing from wood or MDF. To create the required shape, the raw materials need to be cut to length then fixed to the wall, as well as sanding, sealing, priming, and painting sealing, all of which are extremely time consuming and costly, especially in terms of labour.

While the most obvious and persuasive advantages of using ready-made plywood boxing are the significant reductions in time and costs that can be achieved, aesthetics also play an increasingly large role in the decision to adopt ‘pre-made’ over ‘site-made’.

The UK has some of the oldest housing in Europe, with approximately 20% of current dwellings built before 1919 – that equates to about 5.8 million homes in the UK that are over 100 years old. And, using data1 to 2017, 17% of the current housing stock has been built since 1990. That means that roughly 23.6 million homes across the country were built over 30 years ago.