"roof finish underlays and insulation"

The essential plaster for restoration and repairs Older houses rarely feature the levels of insulation and damp proofing we take for granted today, so damp walls and brickwork are often a problem. That’s why Limelite is the clear choice in repair and restoration projects. Following treatment with an injected damp proof course, Limelite will help older, damper properties dry out by allowing balanced moisture movement through its coating. The superior workability of Limelite products means they can be applied to any sound substrate as easily as conventional gypsum based plasters. They can even be used on timber and lath walls, which still crop up in refurbishments after existing plaster layers have been hacked away.

Nestled between parklands, at a mere stone’s throw from Lea Valley and Hackney Marshes, and in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with its world-class sporting facilities, an incredible new neighbourhood is arising. Chobham Manor is the first of five new developments to be built in this history-rich area in Stratford, east London. 6,800 new homes will be constructed in total over the next 20 years, along with health centres and multi-purpose community spaces. SOPREMA provided the waterproofing solution and insulation materials for Chobham Manor, as well as collaborating closely from the design stage onwards with Taylor Wimpey, one of the top-five housebuilders in the UK, and SOPREMA-approved contractor Skyler Contracting.

5 Everyman cinemas have been built in a new building in the centre of Harrogate which houses several other retail and leisure facilities.The cinema directly above the ground floor retail units required a concrete floating floor whilst the 4 other cinemas required heavy dry floating floors with large floor voids.Our local branch supplied and installed the floating floors which consisted of Stravifloor Channel isolation rails supporting timber/cement board sandwich constructions or Stravifloor Deck solution supporting a concrete slab.The wall isolation and ceiling hangers completed the box-in-box construction delivering the required sound insulation between cinemas and to the retail units beneath.

DescriptionLocal Smet Supported Partner, a seasoned Lidl Contractor, McCallion Group machine applied the LIDL External Render System onto Poroton blocks externally using as Base Coat: Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render, and as Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete and insulated plinths: Bauprotec RHS Multi-Purpose Render.The internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of a base of Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render, sponge floated in warehouse areas, and skim finished in sales areas. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS is used.The Irish LIDL render spec, available from SMET consists of:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory-produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and the Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET.SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering contractors across the UK and ROI.  If you’d like to speak to us about your Lidl job – contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available directly from Smet Building Products Ltd, which ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical backup in the machine application of the LIDL specification.Related DownloadsTDS CASEA Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec RHS – Multi-Purpose Render

An architect-designed 1970s house in South Yorkshire was given a modern makeover using Cedral Click in Slate Grey.Roger Mills and his family moved into their 5-bedroom bungalow in 1988.“We were very happy with it, apart from its external appearance which was becoming very dated and dilapidated,” says Roger.They considered replacing the exterior cladding with a similar type of tile but worried that vertical tiling wouldn’t give them the quality, contemporary look they wanted. Fortunately, their nephew had just replaced his cladding with Cedral facades and the Mills family, impressed with the results, realised this was just what they were looking for.The fact the building was in the Ranmoor Conservation area could have posed a problem and initially the Mills’ faced some challenges from the local authority planning office. Fortunately, as Cedral facades have been used successfully in other conservation areas, the project was passed.Smooth-finish Cedral Click in contemporary Slate Grey gave the tired looking house a new lease of life – “people now mistake it for a new build,” says Roger.He’s also made his neighbours very happy. “They’re delighted because it has considerably improved the appearance of the house and that helps to lift the class of the houses on the road.”The return on investment has been substantial. In fact, the renovation has actually increased the value of the house by more than the cost, reveals Roger. And installing insulation under the Cedral boards will reduce the family’s energy spend, he confirms.“The project was a big success and I would definitely recommend Cedral to anybody experiencing the same issues we did. The material is very high quality, and the house looks significantly more attractive and modern.” Roger also recommends using one of Cedral’s recognised installers for the job. “This is a product that benefits from having an expert who is familiar with the fitting requirements to fit it.”

Regupol Insulates Liverpool’s £1 Billion IndustryWith a host of universities, colleges and institutes of higher education, Liverpool is a city that values its students. Not least because students are extremely valuable to Liverpool.There are approximately 50,000 students in Liverpool. Of those current 50,000 students, 34,000 require accommodation. There are 20,324 purpose-built student homes in the city and 2,650 residences currently being built, with planning permission for a further 2,483.The estimated value of Liverpool’s student population to the local economy is more than £1 billion. That’s greater than the combined revenues generated by both football and The Beatles. What’s more, student numbers have been increasing year-on-year.Quality student accommodation is vital to this burgeoning market.Philharmonic Court, located on Catherine Street behind the historic Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, is a £25 million development of two linked structures offering accommodation for 354 University of Liverpool students. The new building, by Worthington Properties, replaces five outdated student blocks.Acoustics are a crucial factor in student residences, given the need to accommodate both youthful exuberance and the demands of serious academic study. As with all residential structures, the requirements of Part E (Resistance to Sound) of the Building Regulations must be adhered to.Offering impact sound resistance between 18dB and 34dB (depending on the final floor finish), and able to not only meet but exceed the demands of Part E, CMS Danskin’s Regupol 4515 Eco (REGUPOL sonus eco) was specified. More than 11,000m2 of the resilient layer material was installed throughout the four and five storey buildings.At just 3mm thickness, Regupol 4515 Eco (REGUPOL sonus eco) resilient layer punches above its weight, not only delivering exceptional sound resistance but also offering long-term performance with a density of approximately 470kg/m3 and a tensile strength of approximately 0.12N/mm2 in accordance with DIN Standards. This offers outstanding resistance to deformation, even under high point loads.

This £40 million retrofit transformation of Brindley Place, a well-known site in the Westside of Birmingham city centre, raises the bar for sustainability and wellness in an urban regeneration and commercial refurbishment project. The ‘back to frame’ concept combines 10 Brindley Place with the adjoining 8 Brindley Place to create over 200,000 square feet of offices with serviced apartments and one of the largest floorplates in the city. Amenities include an on-site café, fitness facilities, a fitness studio and bouldering wall, storage for 100 cycles, electric vehicle charging points, and two communal roof terraces with impressive views. Associated Architects have created a bold new identity for the site. The façade was completely redesigned using 245,000 locally sourced bricks from a sustainable quarry. Each one was installed by hand to cover an area of 40,000 square feet. The system was constructed off an exterior steel frame consisting of a breather membrane, thermal insulation, fire cavity barriers, and helping hand brackets and rails. Grooves were cut into the bricks before they were slotted into these rails and mortar was then applied to all brick joints.The Leicester Grey Stock, Atlas Dark Grey, and Blue Glazed bricks selected complement each other and create a modern and distinctive aesthetic that responds positively to the renovated building’s Broad Street context. Floor to ceiling windows on the large floorplates complete the design, which blends impeccably with the nearby Metro line and adjacent development. The identity is also carried through to the interior styling. This interior, that boasts a striking double-height reception area, was developed in partnership with Willmott Dixon.In addition to its impressive appearance, the renovated Brindley Place also utilises smart building technologies to provide real-time energy monitoring. The building also has excellent thermal performance, achieved a high WiredScore and an excellent BREEAM rating. Occupier wellness is also at the heart of the new design. Indeed, Brindley Place was the first building in Birmingham to receive a Fitwel accreditation. In summary, this highly acclaimed urban redevelopment has both shifted perceptions of Broad Street as an address and set new standards for the reinvention of office space in the city. It has transformed the site and provides one of the most attractive and well-equipped office buildings in the country. 

The Body in White Facility is an extension (60,000sqm) at the Castle Bromwich site of Jaguar Land Rover. This new facility utilises an interesting blend of Trisomet and Trimapanel roof and wall cladding and also benefits from the Colorcoat Renew transpired solar collector system.

The only BBA accredited commercial gutter lining product available in the UK. Specialist roofing company APS Safety Systems chose Sharman's Plygene Gutterline system as the permanent solution for the complex gutter lining work at Headlam Flooring’s offices in Scotland.

Over 5,000m² of BEMO standing seam profile was supplied to the new music school. Finished in an Anomax Anodised light gold, the profile provided non-penetrative support to the BEMO-Bond rainscreen panels at the eaves to provide a smooth finish

THE PROJECTShard place is the latest phase of the redevelopment at Shard quarter, home to Western Europe’s tallest building – the Shard. Designed by world-renowned master architect Renzo Piano, the new Shard place is the residential development. The 26 story building houses 176 apartments and their mail is serviced via an amazing bespoke arrangement of mailboxes manufactured by SLB.THE PRODUCTFusion Wood mailboxes are arranged in vertical stacks, fixed and suspended within Vertical wood enclosures including solid brass polished blocks, laser-etched and treated with Cotech* finish to extend and protect the surface.*Cotech is an optional extra finish provided by SLB in collaboration with Cotech surface finishes, to enable the cleaning of fingerprints and marks to be simply removed whilst protecting the finish of materials that may mark or scratch with use.

OverviewKEA Dublin is a 2787m² shopping centre in Ballymun Ireland which required a full smoke ventilation system from Powrmatic.Project BackgroundIKEA Dublin is 30,000 square-foot shopping centre in Ballymun Ireland which required a full smoke ventilation system from Powrmatic.Project SolutionPowrmatic supplied 73 Roof Opensky smoke ventilators to the new IKEA store in Dublin. Specified and installed by Air Design Systems Ltd, the installation is providing full smoke ventilation to five separate areas within the store.The second area is the show room and café which were naturally ventilated by louvred ventilators and split into zones using a fixed smoke curtain. A similar approach was taken with the self-serve warehouse and checkout area, which was also naturally ventilated using louvred ventilators and fixed smoke curtains. Polycarbonate blades are used on the louvred ventilators to allow natural light to enter the spaces. Additionally, the escape staircases were ventilated using louvred ventilators at the head of the stairs and a local control panel with an emergency break glass.Project Result“We were involved from the very early in the design stages of the project, using our knowledge and experience of installations within other IKEA stores and warehouses to engineer a suitable, cost-effective solution,” recalled  Air Design Systems Ltd Director Alan Clare.“Within these works we have had to include for three separate main control panels, all electrical wiring run in fire-protected cable, local control panels with emergency break glasses and a mimic control panel linking all smoke ventilation zones. We also provided rain sensors, roof access hatches, and head of lift shaft cowls,” he added.Due to the success of the project, there was a requirement within a year of opening to extend the warehouse area. Air Design Systems Ltd was awarded the sub-contract to extend the system into the new space and link back to the existing control system. In total, a further 14 Powrmatic ventilators were installed in the warehouse roof & walls and at the head of the two additional emergency staircases.Powrmatic’s Roof Opensky ventilators are attractive, low-profile units that have been specifically designed for both smoke and heat exhaust and natural ventilation applications. The Opensky can be roof or wall mounted for exhaust or inlet and can be supplied with a hinged base for use as an access hatch. They are tested for use as smoke ventilators to BS EN 12101-2.

Project: Creative Centre, York St John UniversityClient: Tate+Co ArchitectsScope of project: Design and supply 24 bespoke-sized rooflights for the roof of a triple-height atrium to fit within apertures in a glulam timber grid.Products: 24 bespoke sized em.glaze rooflights, some with concealed actuator smoke ventsThe ChallengeThe roof of the striking 14m, triple-height atrium, which forms the centrepiece of the newly opened Creative Centre at York St John University, features a glulam timber roof grid. Architects Tate+Co wanted to punctuate that grid with bespoke sized rooflights to bring even more light into a space which is used as an exhibition, teaching and theatre space, as well as somewhere for students to mix and relax. The rooflights had to have a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, in line with the overall design intent of the atrium and, because almost all the services in the atrium are hidden, needed to be available with matching concealed actuator smoke vents.The SolutionWhitesales designed and supplied 24 bespoke-sized em.glaze rooflights which suited the specification perfectly. The flush-glazed glass-to-edge design of the em.glaze units with flat sealed glass units fitted within a fully welded, thermally broken aluminium frame achieved the lean, crisp look the architects were looking for. The fact that they were also available with fully concealed actuators in the smoke vents supplied by our affiliate business Sertus was an added bonus. All the rooflights were supplied for the project complete with preformed 300mm PVC splayed upstands, which enabled them to be fitted directly into the glulam grid, saving the contractors time on site. They were also fitted with specially coated glazing which allowed for a degree of solar gain and contributing to the low energy requirements of the BREEAM Excellent rated building.‍The BenefitsAs well as the meeting the design specification, Whitesales’ technical team helped to ensure that the em.glaze rooflights could be installed quickly and efficiently by the main contractors Kier Construction. We estimate that our recommendation to supply the units with preformed 300mm PVC splayed upstands saved the roofing team at least two weeks on site because they didn’t have to construct the upstands themselves and the integrated splay made waterproofing the roof a lot easier. Tate+Co Director Andy Baker-Falkner is delighted with the em.glaze units: “We liked the lean, crisp design of the Whitesales em.glaze units, particularly with the clean white reveal and option for fully concealed vent actuators.”

The Garden State Hotel is an iconic building in Melbourne. Accoya was chosen for a feature wall in the balcony dining room – a VIP space that looks out over the rest of the venue. Charred Accoya was used for the feature wall to add to the secluded and private feeling of the venue. The Accoya cladding was lined with a polyurethane finish. Other sections of the feature wall were finished with Woca internal maintenance oil. Accoya was also chosen due to its incredible finish and its ability to adapt to the unique and fresh looks offered by modern architecture.

Bona Craft Oil 2K was specified for the restoration of the Beech floor in the world’s largest purpose-built recording studio. In constant use by orchestras and choruses, it was essential to choose a highly durable, quick drying finish to minimise downtime. Bona said “It was unusual for us to have to consider the acoustic properties of one of our finishes before creating this specification, but understandably this was of paramount importance for the studio team. Another beneficial property of a ‘traditional’ oil finish, is the ease with which local repairs can be made, usually without sanding.

Bona Craft Oil 2K was specified for the restoration of the Beech floor in the world’s largest purpose-built recording studio. In constant use by orchestras and choruses, it was essential to choose a highly durable, quick drying finish to minimise downtime. Bona said “It was unusual for us to have to consider the acoustic properties of one of our finishes before creating this specification, but understandably this was of paramount importance for the studio team. Another beneficial property of a ‘traditional’ oil finish, is the ease with which local repairs can be made, usually without sanding.

A new-build student ‘hub’ providing more than 650 rooms to aid a future generation of learners. The structure consists of a steel frame, Siniat Weather Defence Board, EPS and then finished in our BrickPlus: Eco cladding system. The external BrickPlus: Eco façade increased the thermal performance of the building whilst providing a traditional brick finish.We produced a smooth titanium grey engineering brick to create a clean cut modern finish. There are many bespoke sections including over 30+ specific angles of squints.

Armourcoat polished plaster creates a stunning entrance for the refurbishment of Greater London House in Camden’s Mornington Crescent. The building, owned by Lazari Investments, is a striking example of Art Deco Egyptian revival architecture formerly the Carreras Cigarette Factory. The hand-applied Armourcoat wall finish forms part of the interior design by Forme UK, which pays contemporary homage to the style of the façade and befits the scale, importance and heritage of the building. An entrance ‘portico’ creates subtle references to Egyptian style, shapes and motifs, finished in a dark anthracite coloured polished plaster finish. A silhouette outline of the famous bronze cat sculptures which flank the entrance was incorporated into the surface. The image of a black cat was also a branding device for Carreras, used on the packets of their Craven A cigarettes and is a repeating logo across the front of the building.The Smooth polished plaster finish is similar to the marmorino stucco used extensively in northern Italy during the Renaissance period. Armourcoat Smooth finish resembles natural stone and consists of a natural mineral material composed of hydrated lime and crushed marble combined with special additives to control working characteristics. The final appearance of this finish is dependent on the hand of the individual applicator, making it possible to achieve anything from a plain lightly polished surface to a more highly burred marbelised effect. Photography: © David Barbour

FDT played a key role in reshaping the urban landscape of Turkey’s most crowded city. The vast 70,000sqm M1 Meydan Umraniye shopping and leisure complex, in Istanbul, is the country’s first shopping centre to feature a green roof – at 54,000sqm the largest of its kind.

Waterproofing and damp proofing specialists, Severn Damp & Timber Preservation, installed a range of Triton Systems’ waterproofing materials to deal with water ingress around two skylights, formed within the concrete roof deck over a basement that extended into the garden of a domestic property. 

The ALDI Eco Concept Store in Leamington, was a first for its innovative designs, sustainable building materials, green roofing & solar PV technology. The project was aimed to reduce carbon emissions, energy consumption and operational costs whilst providing an excellent retail environment.

Complex geometry and a combination of roof and wall cladding, without welded joints, required BEMO's MONRO freeform standing seam panels on this prestigious project. Produced in stucco embossed aluminium, the panels were manufactured on site, and designed by the BEMO in-house technical team

Completed in 1842, HMP Pentonville has remained in use since opening, experiencing many stages of refurbishment throughout the decades. In 2003, the existing asphalt deck above the kitchens was in need of a complete refit with the building having to remain in use throughout the refurbishment of the roof.

SMART were contracted to design, manufacture and install 250m of stainless steel with glass balustrade, 200m of wall fixed handrail, 100m of trolley bump rails as well as 100m of 1500mm high 3.0kN loading structural glass balustrade to the roof top bar.

Project: Sale Grammar School, Manchester Client: K Pendlebury & Sons Ltd Scope of the project: School rooflight replacement as part of a roof refurbishment Products: em.line gable-ended ridgelight, em.line monopitch, em.dome and em.glaze hip-ended lantern light

Albion Stone supplied over 4,000m² of Fancy Beach Whitbed for the stone-on-precast panels, starting with a coarse finish on the bottom working up to a fine finish at the higher levels. Grove Whitbed was used for the plinths, similar to the Stock Exchange at Paternoster Square

A visually appealing and functional hard landscaping solution was achieved at Calderbridge Primary School in Lanarkshire thanks to Tobermore’s Textured Flags which offer a beautiful granular surface finish, and Pedesta block paving which provides a vibrant and hard-wearing finish.

Victoria Gate is one half of Victoria Leeds; a beautiful shopping district, recognised as one the premium shopping destinations in the North of England.The award-winning Victoria Gate opened in October 2016 and is a modern interpretation of Victoria Quarter, paying homage to the surrounding architecture. Victoria Gate brings together brands such as Anthropologie, The White Company and Aspinal of London, in addition to being home to the largest John Lewis store outside London.Artform were asked to supply a mixture of street furniture items to the prestigious city centre development, with the initial specification being produced by ACME Architects, London but the majority of the dialogue and final decision was directly with the client's project management team.Samples of all materials and finishes were supplied, to ensure that the client and team were comfortable with the final proposal and furniture elements.The products specified were the Parc Vue seats, with and without armrests, the Loop cycle stands and the Spencer litter bins, plus in this instance, Artform also provided a full supply and installation service on this project.The traditional seating and cycle stand designs were pivotal in the selection process, ensuring that they integrated with the timeless character of Victoria Gate. The distinctive diamond shaped latticework covering the roof of the complex is echoed in the Parc Vue seat and the Loop cycle stand, making them the perfect addition to complement this impressive architectural structure.The result has encouraged bicycle use and reduced congestion, offering a space for visitors to rest and contemplate, without compromising on the aesthetics of the surrounding structure.

The new extension for the Donegal Garda is a prominent feature utilising materials that respond to its topology and enhance the building’s civic presence in the town. The dark coloured brick plinth of the semi-basement grounds the building while the upper floors which feature a facade of open mesh grating provide an open and transparent interface with the public whilst maintaining necessary security provisions.Lang+Fulton supplied the bespoke steel mesh cladding for the glazed upper floors of the facade. The grating achieves a contemporary aesthetic and delivers the practical advantages of protection and a brise-soleil solution, while achieving a transparency that offers the public an insight into the activities of the station; the degree of transparency and solar shading creating an interesting variety, dependent on the angle of view, the time of day and light conditions.The Terra-34 grating, which features an anti-climb aperture, was also used to create walkways, soffits and a secure enclosure around the roof-top plant. The gratings were made to 19 different custom-sizes and shapes for each floor with 3038mm high panels for the facade cladding. Slotted tabs were designed for fixing to the support steelwork. The material was supplied in a hot-dip galvanized finish to withstand the coastal environment.Donegal Town Garda Station has won 4 national awards including Best Cultural/Public Building (RIAI). Adjudicators said that, “The project stands out for its laconic civic presence and its no-nonsense adaptation of the spatial culture of a thriving historic town … the building demonstrates that thoughtful architecture can quietly and carefully edify our everyday culture”.

Client: Jedburgh Grammar CampusLocation: Jedburgh, Scottish BordersSector: EducationYear: 2020Project Size: 700 m²System: vebrores PU SL HDOver 700m² of trafficable, solvent-free, flexible and self-smoothing polyurethane flooring for the main entrance and large atrium at the brand-new Jedburgh Grammar Campus in the Scottish Borders.Vebro Polymers provided its flexible, self-levelling, polyurethane flooring system, vebrores PU SL HD, in a deep Graphite Grey shade for use across the campus’ main entrance and atrium. Inspired by Jedburgh High Street, the linear atrium features large sawtooth roof lanterns with scoop up lights and is the heart of the new development. vebrores PU SL HD offers outstanding strength and performance and is ideal for use in high-traffic areas requiring a highly durable, scratch, stain and wear resistant floor finish that is easy to wipe clean. vebrores PU SL HD is a three-component product, mixing the popular vebro EP Universal unit with a special blend of graded filler. Once mixed, the material is spread out across the floor to the required thickness using a steel trowel before being spike rolled twice to both level out and de-aerate the material.vebrores PU SL HD is formulated from bio-based polymers, low to no VOC and phthalate-free – and it meets stringent AgBB low emissions coating criteria, making it an excellent choice for use in public venues such as schools, offices, hospital and community centres.

Linework Architects imaginative use of architectural glass rooflights was key to transforming this period north London property. Lineworks director, Robert Haworth collaborated with Glazing Vision with the objective of delivering natural daylight and a touch of glamour to some tricky spaces whilst maintaining privacy where needed.The design brief for the project called for an ultra-minimalist final finish, so it was important that all of the glazing featured minimal framework and a clean integration with the building fabric itself.Glazing Visions philosophy of minimum framework, maximum daylight was the preferred solution and met all of the design requirements, providing enough flexibility to tackle the various challenges that the scheme presented. The property comprises of three stories with a mixture of extensions added to increase usable living space, the problem with this is that some of these areas can be starved of natural daylight, making them gloomy and uninviting, in order to combat this, several types of rooflight needed to be specified to tackle each of the areas.Beginning on the ground floor, a wrap around extension has been created featuring a modern and contemporary kitchen dining area leading on to the garden. A large set of sliding glass doors provides natural daylight and access to the outdoor space, but their effectiveness at delivering enough daylight is limited as you go deeper into the building where it would begin to feel darker and more claustrophobic.To address this, a Glazing Vision modular rooflight system measuring over six metres in length runs along the entire length of the extension, this unit is fixed structurally to the original wall of the building creating the feeling of a ‘glass roof’ when transitioning from the original building to the new. Manufacturing the unit in three sections allowed it to be successfully maneuvered on site without the use for an expensive crane and the structural silicone joints between the sections maintained the frameless appearance needed to compliment the minimalist interior.“All three rooflights were quite tricky to install because the property was a terraced house and there was no ability to use a crane. Somehow the team got them in!” Robert Haworth, Director, Linework Architects.The creation of a second storey extension was essential to provide a large family bathroom space, but this meant that the stairwell leading to it was another area potentially starved of natural daylight. Installing a rooflight overhead was a logical solution, but this was complicated by the position of the stairwell being located beneath two opposing pitched roofs. An off the shelf solution would not be acceptable as any rooflight installed above would need to be designed to accommodate this tricky detail.As rooflight specialists, Glazing Vision were able to design and manufacture a custom shaped fixed Flushglaze unit specifically for this part of the building.Therefore maximising the amount of overhead glazing and thus lighting the stairwell sufficiently so that it can be used safely without the need for artificial lighting. Perhaps one of the most quirky and inventive parts of this renovation is the use of glazing in the bathroom, the client had specified a large walk-in shower area which was easily achievable given the space available but would have resulted in the shower being located in a dark corner of the room necessitating the use of artificial lighting. Natural daylight is critical when attempting to achieve a minimalist scheme, so Linework Architects wanted to ensure that this element was carried through to all corners of the building.“We were trying to make a really exceptional bathroom space, so we decided to use the Eaves Rooflight, and play with the glass transparencies.” Robert Haworth, Director, Linework Architects.The resulting installation delivers a floor to ceiling vertical glass window section which transitions into the roof seamlessly with no additional framework, this creative solution provides a unique design element to the bathroom and the much-needed daylight to open up the space. Being a bathroom, privacy also had to be addressed, particularly in the shower area! Glazing Vision recommended the use of opaque satin etched glass which provides enough translucency to allow light to permeate, but also presents a frosted glass finish sparing the blushes of anyone using the shower.Taking around five months to complete, this was not a straightforward scheme to deliver, however the end result can be considered transformative. Linework Architects uncompromising and inventive use of glass rooflights has proved incredibly successful in this project and contributed greatly to the feeling of light, air, and space in this minimalist haven.

Sadly, it’s all too common to see what was once a beautiful wooden decking, transform into a cold, dark and grey decking due to an inferior product being used to finish it.This customer’s decking was finished with a low quality oil which lasted only 3 months before turning their beautiful new deck into a sorry state of affairs.Luckily, our good friend Roger at R&A Pressure Washing Services (visit his website via the link at the bottom of this post) knew exactly what to do to restore this balau decking back to its former glory.So how exactly did Roger get this beautiful finished result?Striping the previous coatingBefore Roger could apply any finishing products, he first had to remove the previous coating that caused the damage in the first place.To do this, he used Prepdeck, our wood stripper specially designed for the removing of old solid and semi transparent stains from wood.Due to the balau decking being a tight grooved deck, he had to be sure to scrub the decking thoroughly. This is to be sure no previous coating would be left behind in between the grooves. A very important step when using Owatrol products as they need to penetrate into the surface. Products that sit on the surface of the wood will not give you long lasting results.Neutralising and brightening the woodAfter the wood has been thoroughly stripped and the previous coatings are a thing of the past, the wood then needs to be neutralised.To do this, Roger used Net-Trol, our powerful wood cleaner and brightener. This restores greyed and weathered wood to its natural colour without damaging the wood’s fibres.Net-Trol is fast acting and can restore the original colour of your wood surface in as little as 15 minutes.Applying the finish to the deckingFinally, Roger applied the customers chosen finish, Textrol.Textrol is available in 7 shades and the customer opted for Clear so they could fully appreciate the beautiful natural colour of the Balau wood. Roger applied 2 coats to get the desired finish.Textrol enhances the natural beauty of the wood whilst providing a mildew-resistant finish. It offers exceptional and long-lasting protection from the effects of moisture, weathering and UV rays.We think you’ll agree that the finished result is absolutely beautiful!Using inferior products may seem like the most cost effective way to finish your decking, but unfortunately, these types of products simply do not last and will cost you more in the long run to get the wood to the way you want it.Owatrol offers high quality, long lasting coatings which offer exceptional protection and a superior finish.Find out more about Prepdeck, Net-Trol and Textrol by using the following links:PrepdeckNet-TrolTextrol

A new development of exclusive lodges on the coast of St Ives, Cornwall required a low maintenance, high quality finish that would withstand the types of weather experienced on the coast.Nestled within the 72-acre Tregenna Estate, Castle Approach, is a new development offering stunning views over St Ives Bay and the peaceful grounds of the estate gardens. The original Tregenna Castle at the centre of the estate was built in 1774 as a 12-bedroom private home. In 1878, one year after the Great Western Railway opened its St Ives branch line, the castle began its new life as a hotel. Now a Grade II listed building, Tregenna Castle Resort boasts 99 bedrooms, six private event spaces, gym and golf course.Defining the design requirementsThe lodges at Castle Approach have been under construction since 2008. The architect, Mike Bradbury of Mike Bradbury Designs, designed the properties, and wanted to make the most of the coastal location.The lodges are positioned in a crescent shape to provide residents with sea views. Each lodge is built using a timber frame system with a masonry ground floor structure. The whole structure is then rendered. Mike chose white render to provide a contrast between the dark stained timber frame, the anthracite grey windows and the slate roof.“It was important that we used a render that would withstand the elements over time, particularly as we had chosen such a light-coloured render,” said Mike. “Being by the coast and surrounded by trees, we wanted to prevent algae growth and discolouration on the render.”The building work has been completed in phases and to date, six lodges have been completed, with four more close to completion.Withstanding the weatherAfter the first three properties were completed, Tregenna looked to change the original render system that was installed so approached Nigel Smitheram, the area sales executive at the local Jewsons.  “The developer wasn’t entirely happy with their original choice of render system,” said Nigel. “As a high-end development, the quality of the final finish was very important to them, so they asked me to help find an alternative system. Tregenna was very clear that they wanted a system that delivered on aesthetics and weather resilience. That’s when I reached out to Saint-Gobain Weber.”Phillip Powell, regional applications manager at Saint-Gobain Weber, is part of the technical team that has been supporting Tregenna Estates during the construction of the lodges.“We recommended that the applicator used weberend MT, a BBA approved system for use on render board systems. It incorporates weberend LAC, a lightweight base-coat render, meshcloth reinforcement and a decorative finish of webersil TF,” said Phillip. “This combination of products is particularly suitable for this project as the weberend LAC is polymer-modified which allows some flexibility, a necessity for timber frame systems. Using this with the webersil TF, a silicone based textured finish, makes it much more resistant to the type of weather experienced in these coastal areas.“For each property, an initial 3mm pass of weberend LAC was applied, followed by meshcloth reinforcement and then a second 3mm pass. A coat of weber PR310, a render primer, was used before applying a final finish of webersil TF in Winter White.”The final finishThe technical team at Saint-Gobain Weber stayed in touch with team at Tregenna Estate throughout the construction of each lodge. Saint-Gobain Weber also sourced one of its local recommended installers, Daniel Fish of DMF Plastering, to ensure the products were applied correctly using best practise methods.Neal Peek, contracts manager at Tregenna Estate, said: “From the moment they stepped on site, the service provided by the Weber application team has been brilliant. They are always on hand with technical advice and have visited the site regularly since they first got involved in the project back in 2015.”“We’re pleased with the products. Even when you visit the development now, the first few houses built using Weber’s system look the same as the new builds.”In 2020, Tregenna Estates hopes to start work on the remaining two propertiesAfter working with the Tregenna Estate on this project, Saint-Gobain Weber also donated some of its render products to the local surfing school charity, Board Riders, to refurbish a disused council building in St. Ives

The combination of a lightweight steel and concrete composite ComFlor® 100 slab and a glulam timber beam structure has helped deliver a truly sustainable three-storey office building. The internal climate in the building is supported with a ComFlor® Active system in the roof slab.

ROM Ltd is a specialist manufacturer of reinforcement solutions that has facilities located throughout the UK and Ireland. The waterproofing on the roof of their Sheffield manufacturing facility had exceeded its serviceable life and the main-substructure was extremely corroded leaving it unstable and requiring urgent remedial work.

Stroll down a quiet lane in the Bedfordshire village of Blunham and you might take a second look at a house that catches your eye. The house was built by Fairfield Homes and features a precisely executed coloured zinc roof and cladding which takes your breath away.