"concrete blocks"

Technical recommendation and quality subfloor preparation and adhesive products from Bostik have played a key role inthe successful installation of the flooring at the newly openedTechnical recommendation and quality subfloor preparationKatherine Warington School in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.Construction of the new secondary school – built to meetincreased demand for school places in the town – was dividedinto three phases. First, a temporary teaching building wascreated, featuring communal areas, a dining hall and showerblocks. Second, the main school was constructed. Finally,phase three of the project saw phase one converted intoa sports hall.

Project: Hellaby Business CentreDate: 2021 Background:·        APL was specified by the architect, having successfully worked with APL before ·        APL’s technical expertise ensured a successful project due to the challenges posed by being a refurbishment project Systems:·        300m² of APL Snaploc™ 40/450 traditional standing seam built-up system in pre-coated aluminium ·        400m² of APL Slimwall™ flat-panel system in aluminium with a PPC coating·        APL Tritherm™ GALV subframe to support panel system onto block-work·        All fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Sheffield 

Artform were approached to assist on external building works as part of Loughborough University’s campus master plan. The scheme consisted of an open plaza plus a more formal, secluded seating garden. The landscape architect, BCA Landscape, were looking for simple seating made from quality materials. In addition to providing an aesthetic appeal that complimented the campus, it was also important that the products chosen were tough and durable. Giada Benches and Salgueiro Granite Blocks were chosen for their simplicity, exceptional value and effortless functionality. The Giada’s overall weight also influenced the product choice by being unmovable once installed.

Castle Park View is the tallest residential building to have been built in the city of Bristol to date. At 26 storeys high, the residential tower block forms part of the wider Castle Park View scheme, which is also the largest Urban Green Space in the city.The development also features a main block and a 10-storey tower, creating in total 375 new one and two bedroom apartments. Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and patented low U-value PURe® aluminium windows and doors have been used across the scheme and were fabricated and installed by Denval, for architects Chapman Taylor and contractors Bouygues UK.Created following the extensive regeneration of a brownfield area and built on the former site of an ambulance station, sustainability is a key part of the design of the Castle Park View and the residential scheme has achieved a level four standard in the Code for Sustainable Homes certification.Both Senior’s thermally-efficient SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and Part L compliant PURe® aluminium windows and doors are highly durable and fully recyclable, making them the ideal choice for a modern development that is also striving to help reduce the energy bills of its residents. The thermal performance of the aluminium fenestration system complements the other sustainable features including the use of the UK’s largest water source heat pump, the nearby Castle Park Energy Centre, as the development’s main heat source.

Kawneer’s aluminium AA®100 zone-drained curtain wall and thermally superior AA®720 entrance doors feature on all elevations of Unit 216 at the UK’s leading science park, while AA®190 TB severe-duty doors have been used on the main entrance. The unit was taken back to a concrete shell and rebuilt with a brick and glazed façade by main contractor Hutton Construction and is now the new home for Amgen, one of the world’s largest independent biotechnology companies.

Langley Academy Primary School, is a modern 2 storey development which will house 630 nursery, reception and junior pupils in Slough Berkshire. To carry out the main works of this project, the sub-contractor was appointed to construct the building using a concrete frame and cement particle board, then wrapped in high quality external wall insulation and render materials from SPSenvirowall. Working collaboratively, this saw the installation of 1100 meters of 200mm insulation, which met the desired thermal performance of the building as well as contributing to the fire and acoustic requirements.

Sika's full suit of products helped with waterproofing the scalloped roof at the campus. A combination of Sike Sarnafils waterproof Single Ply membrane, as a flexible and robust membrane, and Sikalastic- 621, as a highly-durable elastic liquid polyurethane system, was used. As well as the roof refurbishment, concrete repairs were also carried out with the use of Sika MonoTop-615 and Sikagard - 550. For the steel reinforcement Sika FerroGard-903 was also used. The refurbishment of the buliding was a great project for Sika to work on as it had solutions for each aspect of the project.

Furnitubes’ Alta range was the ideal addition to newly installed concrete walls at the £90m expansion. 24 seats have been supplied in total, all as 1.5m module lengths to accommodate 3 people on each. 16 of the seats are the open back design for placement where the rear can’t be directly seen, with remainder being enclosed back versions which offer an attractive aspect from all sides. The steel framework to the seats was supplied in a galvanised finish that provides the ultimate in protection against corrosion and will be maintenance-free for many years.

Addagrip are delighted to have been involved in the new Broad Walk project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with an installation of over 3000sqm of our innovative new porous paving system, Terrabase Rustic, The new Terrabase Rustic surface is hard wearing, low maintenance with no loose stone and provides a seamless, natural rustic SuDs compliant pathway which looks very much at home in the grounds of London’s historic Royal Botanic Gardens. Terrabase Rustic's innovative patented design means that it does not need a concrete or asphalt base.

Beaufort Park is one of North West London’s newest and most desirable residential developments. Alfresco Floors supplied Ebema concrete tiles for use across the tree-lined boulevards and landscaped parkland. The Alfresco Floors range from Ebema is a very design conscious collection and features three surfaces, Carreau, Rockstone and Megasmooth, with a large range of standard colours, and tile sizes all the way up to 1200mm long and 80mm deep. Bespoke colours and sizes can be supplied for orders of just 500 SqM or more.

The stadium is actually tilted on one side a little bit which makes a lot of significance. The slope is from the north end of the ground to the south end of the ground. And the difference in depth is 2.5 metres.This is where I wanted to arrive:With or without a slope? That's the question. Sometimes, having or not having a slope in a site, can make all the difference for the drainage solution needed. As you know, as slope limitations can be found in some places, but in ULMA we have a solution:The first Polymer Concrete channel with built-in 2.5% slope.

This bowling alley features a large application of LONDON BRICK AGED RED wall panels, providing a great backdrop for the neon-lit writing. Robust and highly realistic, Vtec Texture Panels are an attractive and extremely practical option for the areas with limited access for future maintenance. Another bowling centre in the group used our ROUGH CONCRETE Wall Panels, which also works really well. Installed in many hospitality and retail establishments, Texture Panels help to create a characterful ambiance in a short period of time.

Accoya was selected as the ideal material for this breathtaking home in West Vancouver. Accoya was used for the railing, siding, fencing and soffits throughout the property. In addition, an Accoya handrail was specifically custom designed by Upper Canada Forest Products. Unlike anything surrounding it, this home’s irregular shape and atypical residential building materials are more akin to modern-day South American projects that stem from their surroundings to showcase concrete’s versatility. This is why the Accoya was left in its rough state, to accentuate the minimalist and harmonious aesthetics of its natural environment.

Oscar Elite exceptionally smooth acoustic plaster used on Grand Design Series 7. Oscar Acoustics' experienced in-house operatives installed Oscar Elite acoustic plaster directly onto the original concrete soffit at a depth of only 25mm and up the vertical faces into the feature light lantern. The end result was a flat white acoustic plaster finish, smoother than most conventional plastered and painted finishes, which made this potential sonic battle ground a relaxing and comfortable place in which to spend time.

The flat roof area at above the vast Guernsey Power Station had been suffering from water ingress as a result of failings in the existing EPDM membrane. Due to the expensive machinery housed within and the potential for widespread and costly disruption should the leaking continue.Guernsey Electricity turned to Sarnian Roofing Limited, a Polyroof approved contractor, to provide a rapid and effective waterproofing solution. The Protec System was specified, and work began quickly.The SolutionRemoval of the failed roof coverings to expose the concrete deck below began, and the BBA-approved Protec 20-year system was installed directly to the concrete. Due to its RapidCure technology, the system cures within 30-60 minutes, meaning less disruption for the client.The Protec System provides an flexible and seamless membrane that eliminates the risk of water ingress around penetration points common in industrial unit roofs. As the system is cold applied, there are none of the safety risks associated with the open flames and hot torches used with traditional roll-applied systems.Polyroof’s reputation has been built on the high level of technical support provided to clients before, during and after every contract.We like to work closely with our clients from the very beginning of a flat roofing project right through to completion and throughout the lifespan of the roof. From our experience, this is the best way to guarantee that all aspects of the roof are finished to the superior standards that our clients expect.

An adaptable, modular balcony system with a range of balustrade, floor finishes and drainage options.Levitate is manufactured off-site in accordance with our Quality (ISO 9001) and Environmental (ISO 14001) Management Systems. The foundation of Levitate is the steel frame cassette with the anchoring locations to house our balustrade system, enclosed aluminium soffit and finished floor. Concrete floor tiles come as standard but aluminium decking is also available.Levitate comes with controlled drainage, including a drip edge which prevents water from cascading onto the balcony below. Piped drainage can also be incorporated into the balcony.The first part of the installation process can be carried out safely from the scaffold, where stub connectors are installed to the cast-in anchors, which once extended, can allow completion of the external façade works. Once completed, the installation of the Levitate arms can be undertaken as the scaffold is being struck. Levitate then then slides easily onto the Levitate arms and automatically locks into place.The methodology ensures improved efficiencies on-site and a reduction in crane time due to the ease of installation.Features and benefits:When using concrete tiles, the balcony system is available as standard in twenty-one different sizes.Choose between seven different widths and three depths. Bespoke sizes are available by using the optional aluminium decking.

Regent’s Park Regeneration is a £72m development which has seen the creation of 122 affordable new homes and community facilities in Camden, north-west London.The scheme, on behalf of Camden Council, followed the demolition of housing and businesses in the area to make way for the High Speed 2 rail link between London and the West Midlands. As a result, Lovell Homes London, in conjunction with architects Ingleton Wood, was selected to deliver the new homes across eight sites within the existing estate. The one-to-five-bedroom apartments are situated in an inner-city location with buildings ranging from three-to-eleven storeys in height.ChallengeEach building within the Regent’s Park Regeneration presented a slightly different challenge, with the brick elements playing a vital role in fulfilling the architect’s vision for each of the blocks.Various brickwork features in an array of bespoke designs were required for the exterior of the blocks. Traditionally, achieving these features requires skilled labour cutting bricks onsite, a time-consuming process which IG Masonry Support’s offsite manufacture of bespoke, pre-fabricated brick slip components helped to significantly speed-up.SolutionThe intricate brick detail achieved at the Regent’s Park Regeneration project highlights the design versatility of IG’s offsite brick slip solutions.The company worked with the architect from an early stage to design effective offsite solutions which enabled the project’s complex brick details to be achieved across the eight buildings; Cape of Good Hope, Newlands, Rydal Water, Robert Street, St Bede’s, Varndell, The Victory Pub and Dick Collins House.IG Masonry Support was challenged to supply brick slip soffit solutions, accommodating the range of different sized openings and soffit requirements throughout the development. A combination of Brick Slip Lintels and B.O.S.S. units capable of achieving both stretcher and soldier course bond patterns, were designed by IG’s technical team. These offsite units achieved the beautiful brick soffits over apartment block windows and openings on the various elevations of the buildings throughout the development.The Newlands and Rydal Water buildings presented complex brickwork elements that required IG’s technical team to design bespoke B.O.S.S. units to achieve the detailing specified within the architect’s designs. Beautiful brick soffits varying in depth from 102mm to 440mm feature over the balconies on every corner of these apartment blocks, as well as recess panels with 102mm brick soffits in a stretcher bond pattern on each elevation. A flying beam features on the upper level balconies of the Varndell building. This architectural detail, which has a 665mm soffit, was also achieved using bespoke-designed B.O.S.S. units. IG Masonry Support’s precise, prefabricated solutions manufactured using a consignment of bricks from site, blended seamlessly within the buildings’ eye-catching exterior.From design stage to delivery, IG Masonry Support worked alongside the contractor and the architect to deliver complex brickwork elements that formed an integral part of the design of the buildings. The result is a stunning, modern inner-city housing development which has not only been shortlisted for a host of industry honours including the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence, New London Architecture Awards, and RICS Social Impact Awards; it’s provided new homes and peace of mind for hundreds of residents whose domestic lives were transformed by the government’s ambitious rail project.

LKAB Minerals is pleased to supply Gypsol on one of Vistry Partnerships' most challenging projects in London.Brunel Street Works is one of the largest regeneration sites in London, Canning Town, E16. This exciting new urban development is helping support and attract new homeowners and revitalise a disused site in Canning Town. The site is close to major rail links, a short walk to Canary Wharf and to London City Airport. In addition to the strong transport links, the apartments offer stunning views of the city landscape, including the O2  Arena. The development project in total consists of 996 apartments and a Premier Inn Hotel over 5 Blocks.

A new mixed use development in East London, which features apartment blocks and individual residential plots along with an underground car park. This development lacked sufficient substation capacity for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure required to meet London planning conditions. This case study shows how we were able to prevent installing a further substation or having to upgrade existing power supply by load managing the load allocated to the electric vehicle charging points. Using an Array Charging/Load Management system is the only way you can allow for diversity for the load you allocate for electric vehicle charging points (BS7671).

Wedding ceremonies are made more peaceful in the Grade II and II* Listed Reading Town Hall following acoustic secondary glazing adaptations to block noise from the town centre. 23 units were installed. Each gothic arch was treated with a combination of transom coupled secondary glazed units with a Series 42 curved fixed light system affixed at the top. Series 10 horizontal sliding units were specified for the lower units on the wider windows, whereas the Series 45 side hung casement was selected for the narrower windows. 6.4mm acoustic laminate glass was specified which reduced noise levels by 40-45dB.

A unique and distinct project delivered by Helo within a tight timescale. The old garage building was completely refurbished to create spa treatment rooms on the first floor and a health suite and ‘Pay-for-Play’ rooms on the ground floor. Outside a ‘secret garden’ was also created. Helo provided an Aroma steam room, Salt inhalation room with Himalayan salt blocks, automated Rasul /mud room with Carrara marble seats, Hammam wet massage room, Dry Float, Log burning outdoor sauna, Outdoor metal tub heated spa, Indoor wooden hot spa tub, warm tub and cool plunge tub.

Brookland House is the latest refurbishment project by Beech Holdings, who are known for taking unloved buildings and transforming them into sustainable homes.Formerly a neglected office block, Brookland House now provides 25 contemporary eco-friendly apartments for both students and professionals. Built with sustainability in mind, the apartments benefit from an energy efficient glazing package from Senior Architectural Systems. This includes double glazed SPW600e windows, elegant and thermally efficient SF52 Curtain Walling with slim sightlines and arched frames at the head, plus robust SPW501 commercial doors, which are certified to PAS24 and Secured by Design standards.

The National College for High Speed Rail contains a variety of learning spaces inside a visually striking yet simple building shell formed from two intersecting blocks. The main entrance is defined by a simple yet striking cantilevered upper floor, providing a sheltered space in front of the building. To insulate this, Kingspan Kooltherm K110 Soffit Board was used. The boards were fixed directly to the soffits using thermally broken fasteners, making installation quick and simple. Kingspan Kooltherm K110 Soffit Board is a premium performance insulation board. It achieves a thermal conductivity of 0.018 W/m·K across all thicknesses.

This development of 104 apartments was built on behalf of the Metropolitan Housing Trust by Guildmore on an infill site at Barrington Road, Brixton, which forms part of the Loughborough Estate.The project was designed to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and has been tested to meet BS8414 part 2 Fire Performance of External Cladding Systems.FastClad Brick Slip Rainscreen Cladding System was used on the tower elements at the end of the main block, the balconies, as well as the third and fourth floors of the main building.FastClad was chosen for it’s weight, ease of installation, fire properties, as well being indistinguishable from the areas of traditionally laid masonry

3 x high-rise tower blocks in Essex received new ground source heat pumps, 3 x more energy-efficient than their old night storage heaters, reducing heating and hot water bills by up to 66%.Award-winning project:Winner of ‘Regional Large Scale Project of the Year’ at The South East Energy Efficiency Awards 2023Winner of ‘National Renewable Heat Project of the Year’ at The National Energy Efficiency Awards 2023Winner of ‘Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit Award’ at the Essex Housing Awards 2023Shortlisted for ‘Domestic Installation of the Year’ at the PHAM Energy Saving Awards

“If you ask pupils what aspect of the facilities is their top priority for the school to improve, it will always be the toilets. We now have a space that is bright, colourful and looks smart. These facilities are great!” - Ian Parnaby, School Business Leader. The washroom area at York High School was a unisex block, which meant that privacy was a key priority when selecting their cubicle range. They also had to be smart, robust and easy to clean and maintain. With all this in mind York High School selected Centurion Full Height cubicles and Venesta’s pre-plumbed panelling system, Vepps®.For more details read the full case study.

The London borough of Camden’s extensive heating system renewal and refurbishment programme at the St Silas Estate is using bespoke manufactured metal pipe boxing boxing from Pendock to conceal external pipework on several high rise blocks where the community heating system is being upgraded.The metal boxing from the Pendock Profiles range is bespoke manufactured from 2mm thick aluminium to ensure it fully conceals the vertical and horizontal pipework used on the new heating system. Incorporating two PPC finishes in brown and dark yellow to integrate with the brickwork, the boxing not only conceals the pipework, but also protects it from damage.

Built on the site of the former East London Bus Garage, The Forge creates 192 residential apartments clustered around communal courtyards. Working alongside installer Ravenworth, a two-million pound systems package of 1,000 aluminium windows, 170 aluminium patio doors and 20 aluminium commercial doors were provided to this project.The light buff buildings range from three to five storeys with a contrasting white brick 14-storey focal building. This forms the gateway to the development together with a row of interestingly designed townhouses. Each block displays frequent openings with contrasting areas of glazing and cladding, softened with balconies.

The Oaklands House development on Old Oak Common Lane represents London’s biggest regeneration since the 2012 Olympics. Constructed by Vistry Partnerships, it has transformed a derelict brownfield site into a new neighbourhood, providing local people with 605 homes, as well as office and commercial space across three major blocks.Titan Interior Solutions was appointed to install the flooring throughout the 24,000m² housing-led development in West London. They turned to long-term supplier Bostik, who could provide the expert subfloor preparation advice, as well as its market-leading products, needed to make this site’s regeneration a reality.

The Darwin Centre cocoon creates a new architectural icon for the capital, ground-breaking in scale and breath-taking in its originality and creative brilliance.The design features a vast free-standing structure taking the form of an enormous cocoon within a glass atrium. The eight storey high cocoon houses a unique collection of 17 million insects and 3 million plants collected over the last 300 years by scientists including Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace and Sir Hans Sloane. The building completes the Museum’s life science complex, the Darwin Centre, following the first phase opened in 2002.Design TeamThe response of the architectural design team at C.F. Møller, lead by partner Anna Maria Indrio, was to create an engaging image reminiscent of an essentially organic form. The surface and texture also needed to reflect this, so the subtle sheen of the ivory coloured Armourcoat plaster was chosen. With an intersecting network of ‘silk threads’ that criss-cross the cocoon, the surface allows for movement and provides a visual framework for openings and niches. Armourcoat was specified to devise a unique creative solution combining both the insulation and the final decorative layers. The cocoon performs a genuinely protective job providing thermal mass to inhibit any fluctuations to the internal temperature – essential for the museum’s treasured specimens. The structure also houses state-of-the-art laboratories for 250 international scientists and an interactive visitor exhibition.ConstructionA sixty-five metre long skeletal structure was built by sprayed concrete specialist Shotcrete – the first above ground sprayed concrete structural element in the world. Expanded metal mesh was fitted to the steel re-bar framework and a 250mm thick layer of concrete was spray applied to create a 3,500 m2 raw concrete surface. Armourcoat then applied a resin modified render to the structure to minimize localized variations to the surface, before the polystyrene insulation layer was fixed. Using Dryvit Genesis adhesive and over 16,000 Hilti insulation fasteners, a 50mm polystyrene layer was fitted to the entire surface of the cocoon then covered with a layer of reinforcing mesh bedded into Dryvit Genesis basecoat. To create the silk threads wrapping the structure, a special cutting machine was devised which could cut an accurate slot and create the individual 340 panels which make up the cocoon surface. A total of 5.6km of edge bead was then fitted before Armourcoat’s unique AntiCrack substrate preparation system was applied. AntiCrack is a polymer and fibre modified gypsum skim-coat plaster which creates a first class substrate, keeping the Armourcoat plaster layer in peak condition. Two layers of Armourcoat keycoat were applied prior to the application of the final finish. The finished effect of a giant silk cocoon was achieved using ivory coloured Armourcoat Armuralia polished plaster - an exquisite, smooth finish with subtle tonal variations.The cocoon is a milestone achievement, a unique design and technical solution befitting the historic and social reference of the Natural History Museum. This also is a stunning example of the type of commercial projects now undertaken by Armourcoat, celebrating twenty-five years of creative excellence in 2009.Client: Natural History MuseumArchitect: C. F. MøllerMain Contractor: HBG Construction

In the summer of 2007 the country witnessed extensive flooding with areas in England experiencing “over two months rainfall in just 14 hours.” Loss of water and electricity supply was experienced with thousands of homes. Providing protection against a 1 in 1000 year flood event involved building over 1 kilometer of reinforced concrete and sheet piled walls. As well as protecting the site from future flooding, the team at RHI Industrials worked in partnership with Lochrin Bain to ensure the security fencing system was fully integrated with the substations new flood defences.

Park House Stables, Kingsclere, is home to some of Britain’s most famous racehorses. Boasting a rich history for training the best in the sport, the stables are also home to licensed trainer, Andrew Balding and his family.Situated in Newbury, Berkshire, the stables recently replaced an existing gravel track with a 500-meter-long, four-meter-wide, structurally-sound concrete access road.Sika was called upon for this project, working alongside Kendalls Newbury (part of Aggregate Industries) to provide a suitable solution for contractor, L J Morrissey Contracts Ltd.

Delta were employed to assist on this leaking podium deck project. Following a full assessment of The Hub and its underground parking facilities it was identified that rainwater was entering the basement car park through the ceiling deck at multiple points. These points included holes that were formed to allow drainage from the surface, movement joints and investigation holes that had been created through the steel rib and concrete deck. Based on “as built plans” a system was designed post construction that would offer the same quality of structural protection had it been incorporated during the build phase.

Seating has been provided alongside the paths of Euston Road in Camden to offer pedestrians the opportunity to rest and enjoy the green space in what is otherwise a very concrete-dominated local built environment. The contemporary styling and robust construction of Furnitubes’ RailRoad made it the ideal choice for the tough demands of this busy site. Three seating units were supplied in total - all from the ‘Loop’ family within the RailRoad range - comprising two simple straight benches and a combination assembly of a straight seat with backrest adjoined to a curved bench unit.

Howe Green Ltd supplied a number of HSE75 Series Hinged Aluminium Floor Access Covers for a new £1.5 billion hospital facility in Stockholm. The requirement was for a solution that would enable regular access to the underground power stations and escape routes located underneath the hospital. The gas assisted hinged HSE75 floor hatches provide easy and safe access ensuring that maintenance can be carried out with the minimum of disruption. The floor hatches have been installed in various areas of the hospital and infilled with both concrete and tiled flooring to provide a seamless, flush floor finish.

Howe Green’s 7500 Series Medium Duty Aluminium Floor Access Covers were supplied for the Nationalmuseum of Art in Stockholm, which is currently undergoing an extensive restoration programme. The premier tourist attraction required an access solution that was visually appealing, secure and of superior quality. The 7500 Series Floor Access Covers were fitted as duct runs in the museum. The majority of covers were infilled with limestone floor tiles while the remaining units have a visible concrete finish. The covers offer safe and easy access to cabling and other services located beneath the flooring.