refurbishment

Polypipe Building Services has provided a complex drainage solution for the refurbishment of an ageing tower block with minimal disruption by manufacturing bespoke drainage stacks offsite.

Collaborating with contractors Mulalley and consultants John Rowan & Partners, the Kent-based drainage system company provided prefabricated products adapted to meet the challenges of this 50-year-old building which had been subject to several adaptations over the years.

Building design preferences are as prone to change across the decades as any other trend; but one element of construction that never falters from one generation to the next, is the need for quality; in terms of both aesthetics and performance.

Infinity Steel from Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) is a range of lightweight rainwater solutions suited to both traditional and contemporary buildings, and to secure its continued popularity for future generations it is now available in the timeless new colour,
RAL 9007: Grey Aluminium.

Britain has an existing housing stock that is the oldest in Europe. And this means that many properties don’t have any insulation – in fact, only about 50% have cavity or solid wall insulation.
Heat loss in a house happens faster in poorly insulated homes. So with no insulation, the existing stock of houses aren’t as energy efficient as they could, and should, be.
It’s generally considered that about 35% of heat lost is through the walls, and 25% is through the roof. The lack of insulation means that cold, external walls are the chief culprit for heat loss because, without adequate insulation, they don’t keep heat inside the home, which makes it harder to maintain a comfortable temperature and causes energy bills to rise as thermostats are turned up higher and are left on for longer. And with the majority of heating systems being reliant upon fossil fuels, not only do energy bills increase but the impact on the planet is also significant.

When exposed pipework or services need to be concealed quickly and easily, the Pendock Profiles range is one of the most comprehensive and cost effective available for use in a wide variety of social housing projects and applications.

Pendock MX and TK pipe boxing can be used in most general interior applications to conceal heating system, water supply or waste pipes, while MXF boxing is a dedicated solution for covering fire sprinkler system pipework, where its widespread use is helping speed fire safety improvement projects across the UK.

Alexandra West, EGGER UK’s Product Manager, shares how making simple swaps in furniture and interior design can offer more than just a cost saving.

"Whether it is time, budget or design demands, there are simple solutions in the market to help value engineer even the most complex of projects. With consumers more conscious of their cash flow than ever before, it is important to offer solutions with added benefits.

Many people have now heard of lightweight metal roofing systems, but many have not seen one in action. Because they look so much like a traditional roof, its easy to miss. A recent example of an award winning roof from Metrotile is the replacement roof for a hospital in South Wales.

When Metrotile was asked to provide options for re-roofing part of Glanrhyd Hospital in South Wales, the company’s Barry Jordan suggested Metrotile Woodshake for a number of reasons and John Rhys-Williams, the Project Officer for Capital Planning agreed.

In these difficult times, it’s important to look at your options when making a decision on which type of roof to use on new build or replacement roofing projects and to consider why it is that many social housing organisations are switching to using lightweight metal roofing systems for a number of their projects.

The list of benefits that come with using steel roofing panels is a long one and its one that needs careful consideration before going with more expensive options. Can these lightweight metal roofing systems be cost effective and easy to fit, as well as looking good?