"wood fibre boards etc"

The world’s premier destination for design and decoration excellence. Home to 120 showrooms and over 600 of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands, it is the largest of its kind in Europe.Willmott Dixon is a privately-owned construction and interior fit-out specialist with the ambition to create a huge and lasting positive impact on society, the main contractor who hired us to meet their client’s project specifications. The product selected for the project was the Soundis Absorb-R GypLine αw (also commonly known as a Seamless Monolithic Acoustic Spray Plaster System) which is an extremely flexible seamless sound absorption system. It is a non-perforated, monolithic system consisting of a mineral fibre panel with a layer of micro-porous plaster. Excellent Sound Absorption was required at this project and therefore our task was to ensure class A sound absorption within the large atrium. The Absorb-R GypLine αw was used as a seamless high performing sound-absorbing system, a system with excellent eco-credentials. The GypLine αw insulation board also benefits the energy performance of any building by enhancing the insulation of the building envelope.We were challenged with working almost 20 meters above the floor which adds difficulties to any installation but nothing we haven’t overcome before in previous projects. Absorb-R GypLine αw was selected as the finish offers unrivalled levels of sound absorption but also ensures walls and ceilings are clear of panels and visible acoustic solutions, providing a virtually seamless monolithic surface for walls and ceilings in a choice of RAL colours. This seamless and complete solution can be adapted to a wide range of rooms, from home use, office space to conference halls, auditoria, theatres, recreational sports and educational areas. The Absorb-R GypLine αw acoustic system is environment-friendly, fully recyclable and has natural components that offer optimal sound absorption with extensive resistance to fire.

Whiskey connoisseurs can now enjoy a favourite tipple at the new Ad Gefrin whisky distillery and visitor centre in Wooler, which has been completed externally with a Sto render system. Ad Gefrin opened its doors to visitors in March 2023 to showcase the unique heritage, ancient hospitality, and contemporary crafts, arts and produce of Northumberland and re-awaken the Northumbrian tradition for Whisky distilling that has slept for over 200 years. The StoRend Flex Cote render system was specified for use on the facades of the new buildings by Elphick Associates, to provide maximum crack resistance, weatherproofing and fade resistance. Using the highest quality materials, StoArmat Classic Plus is a cement-free, acrylic resin-based reinforcing coat, and up to 15 times more flexible than traditional cement-based reinforcing coats, providing exceptional levels of crack resistance with the embedded Sto Glass Fibre strengthening mesh. The system, installed by Edendene Construction Services Ltd, was finished with an attractive, low-maintenance, white StoSilco render, which will keep its good looks for years to come.  StoDécor Flex, a mesh-reinforced system comprising of StoDecosit interior plaster onto StoVentec carrier board was also applied to some internal areas of the building to match the smooth, white exterior of the buildings. StoDecosit combines the best properties ofemulsion-based plasters and silicate plasters in a single product and is suitable for decorating walls to protect against mould and mildew, and for walls in heavy-use areas.Ad Gefrin is a family run business and this outstanding visitor experience includes a distillery, museum, bistro, and shop, and is also helping to deliver economic growth to the local and wider communities of Glendale. Client: Ad GefrinDesign: Elphick AssociatesSto Applicator: Edendene Construction Services LtdContractor: Brims Construction Ltd Sto Expertise: StoRend Flex Cote Render system (externally), StoDécor Flex (internally)Photography: Sally Ann Norman Photography

A range of premium and high performance products from Kingspan Insulation has been installed on a stunning new beachfront home on the Isle of Wight, featured on Grand Designs. This includes Kingspan Kooltherm K8 Cavity Board, which was used to insulate the majority of the walls throughout the property, and Kingspan Kooltherm K7 Pitched Roof Board, which was were applied to the ground floor overhang. With thermal conductivities as low as 0.020 W/m.K, the products delivered the required thermal performance with a slim build-up, helping to maximise space within the rooms.

Project involved decking a 350m2 the rooftop of a commercial block in the heart of the city. The owners wanted to create a roof terrace for staff. The customer chose the iDecking complete solution for it's superior look. Installation was carried out on an inverted roof. The contractor laid down a double layer of our aluminium frame onto Wallbarn MegaPad pedestals which provide a stable footing for the framework. The composite Moor Oak boards were stamped into position. Installers were able to achieve a great finish by accurately cutting the boards to fit neatly to edges and corners.

Occupying a prime position on the corner of Drummond Gate and Vauxhall Bridge Road, One Drummond Gate is a landmark office building totalling over 100,000 sq ft. Developed in 1983, the imposing building by Chapman Taylor was lauded for its harmonious integration with the classical architecture of the famous English architect, Thomas Cubitt. The newly refurbished reception area is key to attracting and retaining tenants and is a key sales feature for the building owner. Following consultation, INTRAshape XS rectangle tiles and black INTRAlux Select fibre inserts were chosen to echo the reception’s statement wall cladding.

Occupying a prime position on the corner of Drummond Gate and Vauxhall Bridge Road, One Drummond Gate is a landmark office building totalling over 100,000 sq ft. Developed in 1983, the imposing building by Chapman Taylor was lauded for its harmonious integration with the classical architecture of the famous English architect, Thomas Cubitt. The newly refurbished reception area is key to attracting and retaining tenants and is a key sales feature for the building owner. Following consultation, INTRAshape XS rectangle tiles and black INTRAlux Select fibre inserts were chosen to echo the reception’s statement wall cladding.

Following a major refurbishment, Mercedes-Benz Hemel Hempstead has reopened its doors. As a household name in luxury motoring that aspires to deliver the best in terms of product, technology and services, the customer experience is paramount. By considering the highly functional entrance matting system as part of the overall interior design scheme, the Mercedes-Benz brand experience starts the moment the client walks through the door. Black anodised INTRAform Low Profile paired with anthracite INTRAlux Elite fibre inserts perfectly reflects the sleek Mercedes styling and works in harmony with the interior finishes. read the full case study

In 2019/20 works were undertaken to prolong the life of the promenade structure and adjacent shoreline at Aberavon. The implementation of the Shoreline Management Plan has served to protect residential and commercial properties from coastal erosion. Geofabrics HPS11C is a thick needlepunched non-woven geotextile manufactured from 100% virgin polypropylene high tenacity fibres containing 1% active carbon black. The main function of HPS11C is to prevent loss of the sub-soil from below the rock armour. With challenging low particle size subsoils, the HPS11C was ideal with its combined filtration and permeability characteristics.

Nobu Hotel is a new development in Shoreditch, East London, and was opened by Hollywood legend Robert De Niro and Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa in May 2018.The design of the five-storey building – which has 150 hotel rooms and suites – is a nod to the area’s industrial past with a ‘frayed edge’ look of stepped balconies formed with glass fibre, reinforced concrete and cantilevered steel beams. The design has also been likened to that of a cruise ship and received much critical acclaim.The roofing system covered 1500 sq. m, which included a green roof area and tiered balconies.

Bespoke finishing joiner Josh Williams was all too familiar with the impact of noise when he embarked on his first build. When he took up his next build project he considered how to create a quiet, comfortable home from the start.For his home he chose to fit ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation Slab, due to its stone wool composition that gives a non-directional fibre orientation and high density. ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation Slab traps sound waves and dampens vibrations, making it ideal for busy homes and spaces such as gaming and music rooms.

Cordek was brought on board to provide a formwork solution for feature balconies on one of the new apartment developments at the Great Eastern Quays development in East London.

In an ambitious 12-month building project, the property was stripped to its ground-floor walls with a first-floor being completely reconstructed as a spectacular rectangular wooden box, with raw Accoya boards used for external cladding & fine sawn boards for internal decoration. Around 8 cubic metres of Accoya was used for both the external and internal cladding, supplied by Accoya distributor James Latham. Taking just over a year to complete, the renovation project has created a five-bedroom and four bathroom home for the Treasurers and their two children, delivered on a budget of less than £175,000.

The JACKOBOARD range from BEWI is “ideal” for use as a tile backerboard on projects where increasingly popular underfloor heating systems are being installed, the company says.Made from extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), the construction boards are said to be inherently waterproof because the structure of the board does not allow water to penetrate. They are designed to be easy to work with and cut, as well as truly lightweight.They are finished on both sides with a special coating and reinforced fibreglass mesh, ready to be tiled, rendered or plastered. The boards are said to possess excellent thermal insulation properties, which give them enormous advantages over plasterboard or cement board. They are especially suitable for interior construction, the company says, especially in rooms subject to high moisture levels.According to BEWI, JACKOBOARD goes “beyond bathrooms” and can be used in any room of the house and as a backerboard for virtually any tiling project.The boards are suitable for quickly and effectively levelling uneven walls and floors, for partition walls, compensating for cracks in substrates and for creating substrates for laying tiles on non-adhesive surfaces.JACKOBOARD is also said to provide the best waterproof, insulated, tiling substrate for underfloor heating projects. Whether electric mats or hot water systems are being installed, BEWI says, JACKOBOARD – laid underneath the heating elements or pipework – will help to decrease warm-up times of the system by pushing the heat directly up to the tile layer. In this way, the heat generated by the system is used in the most efficient way, not just during the initial heat-up stage, but in general usage with the continued thermostat-controlled use of the heating system.As builders are forced to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects, the materials they choose to build with can provide a key to unlocking the thermal performance of a building. The XPS foam used on JACKOBOARD products reportedly achieves excellent insulation properties. It’s designed to help maximise the energy efficiency of walls and floors, improving the overall thermal performance of any property.www.bewi.com

Prepping decking with PrepdeckAfter cleaning their decking with bleach and removing any loose or flaking bits from the surface, our customer then used our professional stripper, Prepdeck to remove the old stain from their decking.Our customer applied Prepdeck in small areas that he could complete in 15-30 minutes, then, after leaving it to do its magic, used a stiff nylon brush to ‘lift’ the stain from the wood, ensuring that they worked in the direction of the grain.They then thoroughly rinsed the product off the decking using a garden hose – again, working in the direction of the grain.If you want to make this part of the job a little easier, you could opt for hot water instead.This is a great product, as it can also be diluted to make a powerful cleaner for weathered woods and can even be used on thermo (burnt) wood.Next neutralise with Net-trolThe customer then used our wood cleaner Net-trol to neutralise the surface of the decking, in preparation for the finish.After applying Net-Trol to the wet decking, they scrubbed the surface with a brush.They then left it to stand for around 15 minutes, keeping an eye on it to ensure that the surface of the decking didn’t dry.If it had begun to dry, he would have had to dampen it with a mist of water.They then scrubbed the decking again, this time whilst rinsing it.Now, it was just a matter of leaving the wood to dry for 48 hours before applying the finish.Choose a finish to protect your deckingThis customer opted for Aquadecks, our water-based penetrating finish. One of the great things about this product is that not only does it protect the wood from warping, splitting, cracking and UV damage, it is also easy to apply and maintain, as our highly penetrative formula guarantees there will be no peeling or flaking.Plus, it dries quickly and has a low odour, so you can be back on your decking with a glass of wine in hand, in no time at all.Our customer applied an initial coat of Aquadecks and allowed it to penetrate into the wood. Then, after around 15-20 minutes (when the ‘wet look’ of the first application had disappeared), they applied a second application and allowed this to penetrate.After a further 15 minutes, they brushed out any puddles so that the decking wouldn’t dry with shiny spots on the surface. Aquadeck’s place is in the wood, not on top of it!“Very pleased with all products purchased.”This customer was so delighted with our products, they got in touch to tell us how well everything had gone.“On advice gratefully received from Ken I had several stages to complete. It’s looking great and I am hopeful the results will last”, he continued.For more information on Aquadecks, please click here.

FOAMGLAS® Board FClient: Porsche GBDesign Architects: Axis 3 Design LtdMain Contractor: Talbot ConstructionConstruction: 2011Application: Below Ground Insulation - FOAMGLAS® Board FThis Porsche Centre opened in February 2012, featuring a 36-car showroom. Is one of the largest Porsche Centres in the UK and represents a significant investment in both, the Porsche business and the local area.The distinctive showroom features a customer specification lounge in which visitors can personalize their car, have a coffee in the bar or enjoy a display of the history of Porsche in the social hub.The workshop is equipped with 10 bays, plus a dedicated bay for a new MOT service and a Direct Dialogue facility for on-the-spot diagnosis, as well as a cosmetic repair service and tire fitting area.Axis 3 Design specified FOAMGLAS® FLOOR BOARD F for the loadbearing insulation to satisfy the target U-value and eliminate thermal bridging within the foundation detail.Due to the high loads associated within the workshop and showroom, FOAMGLAS® FLOOR BOARD F was the best solution for this application. It covers a total area of 2500 m2."We selected FOAMGLAS® for its inherent durability and high compressive strength," explains architect Kevin Conlan at Axis 3 Design, "This made it ideal to use as under slab and perimeter insulation. Its primary function is to act as insulation, but with the additional advantage of no risk of water absorption. This means its thermal performance is going to remain constant for the lifetime of the building."

Making an ImpactOne Great Cumberland Place is 5,511m2 of high-grade office and retail space, over 8 floors behind an Art Deco façade. Each of the three entrances receives hundreds of pounding feet every day. The design ambitions here were to maintain and enhance the historic elements; the curved draft lobby, original hardwood, brass details, and marble floors.Water and dirt collection was the major challenge for all entrances. But, in particular, a dedicated entrance leading to 121 bicycle lockers housed in the basement!We’ve worked with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) on several projects, so they knew INTRAsystems’ premium Entrance Matting products would be up to the task.Combination inserts deliver with efficiencyIn a busy location with so much coming and going, performance, serviceability and longevity were key. AHMM opted for alternating inserts of INTRAlux® Ultimate 907 Anthracite fibres and Ribbed Rubber.This premium Entrance Mattting combination can withstand heavy wear from tyres, and remove more debris than fibre alone while the INTRAlux® Ultimate inserts offer market-leading moisture absorbency.The Unbeatable Duo of Durability and Luxury in Entrance MattingThe innovative composition of our Ultimate fibre draws off three times more moisture than traditional fibres. And the 900g/m2 density enables faster moisture evaporation, even in busy areas.INTRAflex XT is a popular design choice for outstanding performance, consistency, and adaptability. This open construction variant easily draws off debris and water brought in from the busy London streets while the tough aluminium frame comes with a 10-year warranty and a choice of three finishes. The black anodised finish chosen here is stylish and inconspicuous.Hidden Depths in the Challenging Cycle CorridorThe cycle entrance corridor is 7m x 2.2m, especially designed to welcome heavy bicycle traffic heading down to the subterranean lockers.Wall to wall Entrance Matting runs along the stretch with our unique INTRAmatting Waterlogic drainable system mounted underneath. This 80mm deep tray sits on a screed base and holds up to 75 litres of water per m², perfect to collect water run-off or direct water contact.Its a great hack for this location, since the doors are open to the elements for longer to allow riders to enter and exit the building. The engineered gradient helps to collect dirt and contain or divert water into an optional drainage outlet.Easy Entrance Matting MaintenanceDesigned for extreme performance and built to withstand pretty much anything. We’re so confident in Waterlogic’s durability, we provide a 15-year warranty. What’s above the tray is equally industrious. The heavy-duty INTRAflex XT system is removable to aid maintenance. Facilities teams can clear debris without special tools or training, saving time and money for a busy property.A sensitive and Robust OutcomeAHMM maintained key architectural features of the Art Deco façade in their design scheme. Features like the curved draft lobby, wooden detailing, brass thresholds, and marble floors and motifs.INTRAsystems’ products enabled the installers, LW Flooring, to sensitively and precisely work around them. The entrances contain engineering secrets that deliver exceptional performance to perfectly complement this beautiful building.

THE PROJECTThe Green Quarter project features a single large bank of H1 type mailboxes that are recessed into the wall maximising the amount of space available in the location. Each row of mailboxes is divided by an oak wood insert, adding visual interest to the bank of mailboxes.PROJECT DETAILSProject Type: Private ResidentialProduct: H1 MailboxInstallation: Wall RecessedAccessories: Numerical engraving. Oak wood inserts. Surround.

FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD T4+Design Architects: Kohn, Pedersen, Fox Associates – KPF London, Marcus BlanesMain contractor: SkansaConstruction: 2011Application: Compact Roof - FOAMGLAS® Ready Board T4+Finish: Umicore VM ZincThe roof level 41 of the Heron Tower (with a height of 120m) is designed to the most exacting standards for sustainability and efficiency.The building received the BREEAM rating of 'Excellent', with FOAMGLAS® thermal insulation being part of a green and energy efficient building. The roof is composed with FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD insulation and Umicore VM Zinc roofing as a durable finish.FOAMGLAS® insulation has the ability to withstand high structural loads and has developed a special fixing system for metal roofing.Square metal fixing plates are inserted into the upper surface of the insulation and covered with a waterproofing and a separation sheet.This is the perfect system to fully support metal standing seam roofing which is screwed to the metal plates without thermal bridging between the metal roof sheet and the building structure.

The Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) is a state of the art rehabilitation centre for the armed forces and potentially the nation. RCM supplied over 4,000 sheathing boards to the project.

Stopgap 700 flexible smoothing underlayment and Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier have been used in the refurbishment of a thirty-year-old Routemaster bus to create a library for children at Tolworth Nursery. On the top deck of the bus, Stopgap 700 flexible smoothing underlayment was applied over a firmly secured plywood subfloor. On both floors, Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier was used to install premium fibre-bonded carpet tiles. Styccobond F66 solvent-free contact adhesive was used to install carpet tiles on the bus’s staircase. Stycco Flex, a rapid-curing flexible adhesive, was then used to attach the aluminium stair nosings.

Dr Gunther von Hagens’ renowned exhibition of real human bodies is the most successful travelling exhibition in the world. On display since 1995, it has attracted more than 47 million visitors in over 130 different cities across America, Africa, Asia and Europe. With its worldwide popularity and central London location, the venue expects significant annual footfall which means a robust entrance matting system is essential to maintain the safety and aesthetics of the reception. To combat dirt and moisture at the door, our flagship INTRAflex XT Entrance Matting system was combined with the popular INTRAlux Elite Anthracite 607 Fibre insert.

Eastcheap Court has been newly re-designed by Trehearne Architects and Fletcher Preist, to provide best-in-class office space within a smart controlled environment.We manufactured and installed a precast concrete reception desk for the newly redesigned reception area. The desk was constructed from two large precast sections, and we used our special eco mix of glass fibre-reinforced concrete for this project. It was created in a White Smooth finish and was had-polished and assembled onsite. We also added LED lighting strips to provide evenly distributed lighting around the area. It was a successful build that the client was very happy with.

Home House is an award winning private members club, located in Portman Square, London and provides outstanding facilities for its members. Buzon UK were commissioned to install over 220sqm of Buzon BC pedestal to support the new Ecodek Heritage composite deck boards to create a large decked terrace area within the club’s private garden. Home House were looking for a durable, minimal-maintenance, anti-slip deck with superior safety qualities without compromising on aesthetics for this glamorous outdoor space. The carefully selected BC pedestal system and Ecodek composite deck boards delivered all this and more.

Location: BirminghamMain Contractor: WinvicBuilt on the former Kent Street Swimming Baths site in central Birmingham, the development will be home to four residential blocks, providing a total of 406 purpose-built apartments.The site once housed Kent Street Baths which opened in 1851 and was subsequently heavily damaged in the Second World War bombing of Birmingham.OBEX supplied the CORTEX 0270FR Score'N'Snap Cement Board system, ensuring the project had a robust, durable cement-based sheathing board, but without the considerable cost of traditional cutting equipment and dust extraction.Purpose-built apartments: 406Blocks: 4Storeys: 18

XPS Insulation and Dry Screed Board Acoustic FlooringKing’s College London is one of the Top 20 Universities in the world, according to the international world 2013-14 ranking. They are the fourth oldest university in England, holding over 25,000 students. As well as this, the college includes more than 10,600 postgraduates and over 7,000 employees. The College also has research earnings of nearly £587million overall annually.The Architect specified a combination of Soundis Dry Screed Board and XPS Insulation, both of which are recyclable and amongst the most effective insulation materials available for acoustic performance and thermal performance in this student development.

Project Details:System: INTRAshapeSpecification: Small rectangle INTRAshape in black, laid in a herringbone pattern, and Elite 606 Grey fibre insert. Client: Franklin Ellis ArchitectsInstaller: SyncrosLocation: 11 Station Street, NottinghamUnique Commercial Office Entrance MattingFranklin Ellis designed the new 50,000 sq ft city-centre Domestic & General office to achieve BREEAM Excellent standard. It welcomes over 500 employees each day through glazed revolving and accessible side doors.The sloped site means the entrance has steps and a wheelchair lift to the right of the doors, giving access to the security turnstiles on the raised ground floor. With multi-directional and wheeled traffic, SpaceInvader Design needed suitable office Entrance Matting to meet the challenge. INTRAshape fits the brief, fulfils BREEAM standards and delivers a unique, modern tessellation for an easy install across the lobby width.Striking Aesthetics Without the StressINTRAshape comes as individually tessellating tiles in a variety of sizes and shapes for infinite creative options – rectangle, square, hexagon, triangle, diamond. There are 22 colour and fibre combinations as well.The office entrance matting is an irregular polygon shape, approximately 8.5m wide x 4m deep. We provided detailed layout drawings based on the construction plans and the chosen herringbone pattern. We labelled every title with a co-ordinating reference and boxed them by type to make installation easier. It also helps that INTRAshape can be cut to shape without any specialist tools.High-quality, Sustainable and PracticalSpaceInvader Design chose INTRAlux Elite Grey 606 inserts, our high-quality 100% recycled practical Econyl – ticking those BREEAM boxes in this instance. As one of our most absorbent inserts, it can hold 5.4L per m2.With a combination of coarse and fine strands, it brushes off dirt and sucks in the moisture from shoes and tyres. It’s hard-wearing and has top fibre resistance and acoustic ratings so perfect for a busy office building.They also chose an anodised black finish for the recycled aluminium frames to complement the rest of the luxurious design scheme. Adding to the palette of gold, greys and greens throughout the building.Grade A Entrance Matting for Grade A OfficesINTRAshape and INTRAlux Elite partner perfectly to deliver easy installation, high-performance and striking design. This isn’t just office Entrance Matting, this is luxurious office Entrance Matting.

The nine storey timbered framed apartments completed giving a solid floor finish. SoundBar eliminating the normal wooden floor issues of creaking floor boards and sound transmission.

Several disciplines are going to be joining forces under one roof in the future university centre for dentistry (UZB) in Basel. A centre of dentistry competence ranging from basic care to research and teaching is being built. Every year, dentists, dental and preventive care assistants and dental hygienists will be administering more than 80,000 treatments in the 5-storey building.The staircases were a key area of focus on this project, both for architectural reasons and in light of the strict sound insulation requirements. All staircases and landings have a bare architectural concrete finish. Compliance with the requirement of an impact sound level delta ΔLn,w* of 28 dB was mandatory in order to protect the quiet areas (e.g. treatment rooms, lecture halls, library, etc.) from distracting noise.Products from the Schöck Tronsole® range have been implemented for acoustic insulation. These impact sound insulation products enable a structural connection of the staircases and landings with no acoustic bridges whatsoever. Correct planning and installation of Schöck Tronsole® in a system results in a blue line visible at the treated areas. It is the mark of quality for reliable impact sound insulation and acoustic bridge-free installation.

Aspiring to create a brand new design concept with a Fresh and Contemporary feel, Asda working closely with Resopal, has achieved this goal. Resopal Candy Wood 4147 - EM texture (HPL) Laminate has been selected, offering a natural wood feel, whilst giving a modern authentic look. Used to stunning effect in the cafe, signage above the customer service desks and fresh food areas, this concept will be rolled out in future stores.

It’s not everyday you get a phone call from an architect asking for help on a grade 2 listed mill building, but that is what happened to us back in April 2017 when Stephenson Studios contacted us with a problem they were having with floor to ceiling heights on their Brownsfield Mill project in Manchester.Their design criteria was for the existing 75mm thick timber mill boards to be retained and each of the apartments in the building would have these as an exposed ceiling. The idea was to keep the building as rustic and to retain as much of the original look and feel of the listed mill building as possible. Because of this all of the acoustic (Part E.) and fire Building Regs. (Part B.) requirements would have to be installed above the existing floor.The drawings we were sent through identified a floor build up, on top of the mill boards, at nearly 300mm thick. This started with a self levelling compound on top of the mill boards, to level them to, and then a timber on timber solution with a final layer of cement particle board prior to the oak flooring being installed.This thick floor section was causing a problem due to the original oak beams that were in place meaning the floor to ceiling heights weren’t as high as they needed to be. This design was compounded flowing the removal of the bitumen floor covering. When the mill boards were exposed and then levels were taken across each of the floors it was clear that the original design was no longer suitable for the project.With the age of the building some of the mill boards were beyond repair and each of the floors needed levelling up so the use of self levelling compound and a timber/ cement board solution also became a very expensive solution. We were asked if we could come up with a solution that was able to reduce costs and time and also to be able to achieve the required acoustic and fire requirements for this type of conversion project.Our initial thoughts on the project was to use timber ferrings, 100mm wide at 600mm centres, to lay our Lewis Deck system onto. This was reducing the number of ferrings by 50% (these were originally at 400mm centres) and it also removed 4 layers of timber/ cement board as well as the self levelling compound from the project. Following a meeting on site however, and after being able to fully talk to the design team and developer about what the Lewis Deck system can do we agreed that we would look at putting the ferring strips at 1400mm centres with the Lewis Deck being laid across at these centres. Rubber granulate acoustic strips would be installed on top of each of the timbers and mineral wool insulation would then be installed between. This would allow more material to be removed from the project but crucially still hit both the acoustic and fire requirements of the project.A test floor was commissioned, by the acoustic engineer, and built in August 2018 which passed all tests. You can see from the photos below the Lewis Deck laid at 1400mm centres for the middle section of the test with the 15mm thick rubber granulate acoustic strip laid on top of the timber ferrings. These timbers, due to the nature of the mill boards below, had to be installed individually to differing heights.The first full delivery of Lewis Deck arrived on site at the beginning of June 2019 following on from the steel strengthening works that were being carried out on site.The deck was quickly installed across the whole first floor in just a couple of days and the first screed pour was scheduled for the following week. The whole floor was poured using an anhydrite screed in just a few hours.The project continued on and the last main section of floor was poured on 19th December 2019, exactly 6 months after the first of the pours.This grade 2 listed mill building was a great project to work on. One that gave us a lot of challenges to overcome from the outset and one that helped overcome a number of issues that kept dropping up as the remedial works on the building progressed. We are delighted with the final result.Developer: Urban SplashFloor Installer: Trent Construction Services Ltd.

Case study for cavity wall insulation upgrade at St James Wood apartments, Dublin.

SMARTPLY PATTRESS PLUS, an innovative factory prepared oriented strand board (OSB), has greatly reduced the time spent on the latest big build project for contractor SD Plastering.

THE PROJECT: Recticel supplied the high-performance thermal solution to transform a 100-year-old property in Moseley, Birmingham. Divided into nine apartments, in which two were refurbished to create one, two-storey home, the project caught the attention of the producers of Channel Four's Old House to New Home. Connecting a ground floor property to a flat above led to the creation of a modern and stylish home trimmed with decorative reminders of its structural origins.THE SOLUTION: Eurothane® GP, a high-performance rigid PIR foam board, was selected for the new home's pitched roof, framed wall and floor. Eurothane PL, Recticel's insulation and plasterboard solution was fitted to the property's existing, cavity-less, nine-inch exterior brick walls. The well-sized board ensures minimal thermal bridging during construction.Coupled with Eurothane® GP's 0.022W/mK low thermal conductivity, these products were crucial to attaining a good U-value rating. In total, 130m2 of Eurothane® GP and Eurothane® PL panels were installed.The homeowner, Paul explained:"As we were carrying-out most of the building work ourselves we wanted the best possible insulation for the project. Research revealed Recticel's solutions fitted the bill. Excellent thermal performance and simple to-fit, they were a far superior alternative to other insulants we considered. The panels have done so much to create a welcoming and comfortable interior environment."Used products:Eurothane® GP:Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installers.Eurothane® PL:Suitable for mechanical fixing or dot and dab fixing, this insulated board is consistently sized with extremely tight tolerances, ensuring thermal bridging is minimised. Factory bonded, the plasterboard provides optimum board dimensions and optimum adhesion between layers.

Specifiers looking for a high quality gloss exterior varnish with a true clear finish can lift the lid on a new launch from the superior woodcare brand Sadolin. Sadolin Yacht Varnish has been developed in response to customer demand for a clear, traditional, high gloss varnish for use outdoors on windows, doors and conservatories. The product is ideal for use on new wood and previously coated surfaces, with a translucent finish which maintains the natural colour of the wood.

Ateliers C.Eco.Bois got their hands on this ecological Bed & Breakfast. The wonderful Red Cedar cladding on the outside of the B&B is finished with our all-rounder product for exterior wood: Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector, colour Teak.The guys from Ateliers C.Eco.Bois are specialized in the construction of timber frame houses. The know-how and the quality this craft company brings to their clients is now recognized by the profession. Each project is unique and the requirements and budget of the customer are ‘key’.

Location: StockportMain Contractor: Willmott DixonStockport Interchange is a mixed-use development that will create a new state-of-the-art transport interchange, a two-acre town centre park and 196 new, high-quality residential apartments.The multi-million-pound project includes a rooftop park along with cycle paths and a footbridge linking the development with the town’s famous railway station.OBEX CORTEX 0270FR Score'N'Snap Cement Board system was specified, ensuring the project had a robust, durable, cement-based sheathing board, but without the considerable cost of traditional cutting equipment and dust extraction.Residential Apartments: 196Rooftop Park: 2 Acres