"wood fibre boards etc"

The second phase with sustainable timberPlease Be Seated is a uniquely designed public artwork by London based designers, Paul Cocksedge Studio. The design allows locals and passers-by to stop and watch the world go by whether sat or even lying down. The structure was designed with locations in mind, not wanting to obstruct the busy shopping centres or detract from the surrounding architecture.The artwork was first designed and placed in London using reclaimed scaffolding boards. The second Chinese version of the artwork, however, used Accoya Wood. The structure was fabricated in partnership with UAP and the Accoya was sourced and supplied by local Accoya approved distributor, Jiangsu Dragon Wood (JDW). Paul Cocksedge Studio worked with JDW to complete and install, managing the entire process remotely as a result of Covid restrictions.The artwork is made from 1,440 planks of sustainably sourced, high-performance Accoya timber. A key benefit of Accoya that made it the material of choice is the Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification. This recognises that Accoya is fully circular, with no added synthetic materials, fully recyclable and non-toxic. The Accoya planks are supported by a framework of bent steel designed to be easily assembled and disassembled for travelling.Please Be Seated made its debut in China in 2020, in partnership with Swire Properties. The installation was relocated across numerous locations in China, starting at the Temple Plaza of Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li in Chengdu, before travelling to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and finally Beijing in 2021 where the public artwork is permanently residing.

Thrutone Textured fibre cement slates were specified across a new housing development in Mount Wise. Mount Wise is a historic estate about one mile west of the historic centre of the city of Plymouth in Devon.

Corstorphine + Wright Architects utilised cost effective construction and materials including Thrutone Smooth fibre cement slates throughout this highly energy-efficient private house situated on a 180-acre arable farm in West Sussex.

Fibre bonded Array carpets provided durability and performance in this high-traffic environment. Carpet tiles could be cut on-site without the risk of fraying. Matched the University’s corporate colour scheme and complemented the interiors of other buildings on campus.

As specialists in entrance matting, INTRA’s unique disc shaped product allowed maximum creative potential. The circle design and ruby red fibre allowed a perfect expression of the brand’s innovative history from the moment any visitor walks in.

Combining the former Mayble Tylecoate and Grosvenor buildings, MMU’s new Arts and Humanities hub uses INTRAflex XT entrance matting for a classic aesthetic.With the listed portico and the internal glass vestibule providing some shelter from the elements, the architect specified a primary entrance matting system with INTRAlux Elite fibre inserts in Anthracite 607. This fibre has an exceptional tuft count to provide 5.4l/m2 of absorption, combined with the highest Class 33 Wear Rating. To enhance performance with this simple primary entrance matting system, the specification provides a substantial walk-off area.With 19,550mm wide entrance matting, entry through the main portico doors offers nearly 10,000mm of walk-off in either direction. While the adjacent pass doors are protected by entrance matting that measures 3629mm front-to-back.

The challenge was to construct a roof top extension on top of the luxury hotel NOBU in Shoreditch. The plan was to add an additional 1 storey of hotel rooms, suites, dining areas and open terraces that would replace the existing planted roof. The chosen solution was Tarmac Toplight C lightweight structural concrete in a pump mix with the addition of steel fibres, ensuring maximum weight loss of 35% with no compromise on structural concrete performance.By adding steel fibres into the lightweight mix the composite metal deck system could be installed without the need for traditional expensive and slow steel reinforcement across the deck. The use of lightweight concrete, furthermore, reduced the load by 35% which meant the existing structure did not need to be reinforced or under pinned. The construction programme time was also reduced considerably.

Eternit has supplied fibre cement sheeting in Sherwood to a new livery stable in Reading, Berkshire. The previous stable had burnt down during a ferocious fire, which was fuelled by bitumen based roofing materials used on the original building.

On this office refurbishment the original windows were non-thermally broken aluminium and for that reason not suitable for a residential tenancy.With the windows being on the 12th floor it would have been extremely difficult and expensive to replace them - due to scaffolding etc. Therefore, after a recommendation, the client decided to source Incarnation secondary glazing.As an office refurbishment in a busy built-up area, noise reduction was a key consideration. Using a hidden coupling bar between two units was a key feature, allowing the secondary glazing to match the sightlines of the original windows perfectly. By installing the secondary glazing with an air gap of 150mm between it and the existing window resulted in an impressive decibel reduction.

Keen to provide a safe and comfortable environment for their customers, Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff chose Yeoman Shield fire rated door protection products to help maintain and protect the condition of important fire doors.Owned by Live Nation, the concert and event venue receives over half a million visitors yearly resulting in the doors, situated both back and front of house, experiencing damage and unsightly marking from pedestrians and the movement of trolleys and equipment, etc. Not only can this have a detrimental effect on aesthetics but more importantly on the functioning of the fire door.To help protect from such damage Yeoman Shield’s directly employed fixing operatives installed door edge protectors as well as protective push plates to doors in back of house areas such as workshop, cutting room, and boiler cellars etc.Front of house doors, such as the entrances to the auditorium, which experience a huge amount of pedestrian traffic passing through, also had door edge protectors fitted along with half height door protection panels. Vulnerable glazing beads, were replaced with Yeoman Shield fire rated PVCu clad beads completing a comprehensive and durable door protection system that will withstand impact from hands, feet, bags and equipment well into the future.Manufactured from Yeoman Shield’s HessianEx material, the fire rated door protection products were supplied in black for a striking contrast to the colour schemes already in place within the arena.“I was impressed with the standard of work that was carried out by Yeoman Shield’s fixing operatives.“The doors certainly look cleaner and smarter and with the issuing of fire certificate evidence for all the products installed I am confident we will use Yeoman Shield products again.” Commented Marcus.

The ChallengeIn 2018 a joint venture of Bam Nuttall and Morgan Sindall was awarded the £200 million smart motorway scheme by Highways England. These works were to improve the flow of traffic between the M6 and the M60. This involved improving the link road between these two busy Highways which is the M62 J10-12.Many Embankments needed to be retained to fit the new ERAs and to allow room for many of the gantries that are needed on a smart motorway scheme.One of the main challenges with all Highway Schemes is coordinating works around your fellow contractors, this can be tough at times with works spread over such a small distance. With careful planning, this was overcome and the work flowed continuously for the duration of our time on the schemeA durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance wall solution with a Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme and British Board of Agreement (BBA) certificate was required.The SolutionA sizeable number of mass gravity EcoCrib retaining walls are now built along the M62 J10-12. A total of 44 structures equating to 1546m of walling is now spread across the 3 junctions. With construction speeds exceeding 50m2 a day and a design life in excess of 120 years, EcoCrib is durable, and the most highly sustainable retaining solution. Designed, supplied and installed by PC Construction, certified by the BBA and HAPAS in 2012.EcoCrib profiles are manufactured entirely from recycled UK plastic (bottle tops, car bumpers etc) with any wastage or surplus material re-processed to form new EcoCrib profiles.EcoCrib can be recycled when it reaches the end of its useful life.When considering solutions for developments of all kinds, the lifetime cost means EcoCrib is the more efficient choice.2984 SQM of EcoCrib was used on the scheme, equivalent to 222 tonnes of plastic waste diverted from landfill.

With all-glass revolving doors and vast glazing panels, the INTRAform DM entrance matting at 338 Euston Road appears to flow seamlessly from inside to out. Encompassing the angled and recessed doorway, the external matwell continues the line of the interior mat to square. This interesting combination of internal and external matting creates a highly practical design feature. Zonal entrance matting system Using INTRAform DM with differing inserts in the internal and external zones, the architect has created a two-stage zonal system. In zone 1 external, the matting is inset with multidirectional rubber which scrapes away excess dirt and moisture from footwear and wheels. With the entrance on the corner of the building, the flexible rubber fins ensure performance, whichever the direction of approach. In the primary mat, (zone 2, internal), the profiles are inset with highly absorbent INTRAlux Elite polyamide fibre. These inserts remove and retain any remaining dirt and moisture to ensure a safe and slip-free entrance. With the revolving door sheltered within the recess, the matting here is also inset with fibre. Made from 100% Econyl regenerated nylon fibre and capable of absorbing 5.4l/m2, INTRAlux Elite is both a practical and sustainable choice. Minimal design, maximum impact The INTRAlux Elite fibre in Grey 606 matches tonally with the multidirectional rubber. The oversized entrance matting panels lessen the use of diving t-bars. While the positioning of the t-bars has been carefully planned to align with the threshold. Along with the glazed façade, these elements help maximise the impact of the architect’s design, to create a stunning entrance. Learn more To learn how to create a practical, sustainable, and beautiful specification for your next project come along to one of INTRAsystems’ entrance matting CPD webinars. Approved by both the RIBA and the BIID, the 45-minute sessions cover everything you need to know about entrance matting specification; from functions and applications to fire safety and sustainability. Register for free today: https://intrasystems.eventbrite.co.uk

The Purple and Green MSCPs have capacity for more than 4,000 vehicles across five levels. The project’s scope involved concrete repair, structural strengthening using carbon fibre laminates, the replacement of the conduits, movement joints, drainage channels and deck waterproofing.

Birkdale fibre cement slates was chosen as the perfect answer to fulfil part of a complex and challenging rainscreen design. The new single storey training centre, consists of a fully grassed roof with ‘basket weave’ Birkdale slates used as a form of a raked rainscreen cladding to elevate the building.

Armourcoat Sculptural creates seamless wall surfaces with impactful designs and cast relief. Each design is created from cast GRG (Glass-fibre Reinforced Gypsum) panels, CAD generated to enable a continuous pattern or unique decorative effect.Specified by Pernille Stafford of Resonate Interiors

Profile 6 fibre cement roofing sheets were used on Cefnamlwch Farm to keep condensation levels to a minimum. The farm is also subjected to strong coastal winds, so the hardwearing, durable sheets made them an ideal choice from which to construct the new build’s roof.

The contractor for the project, Spetisbury Construction, replaced the existing composite decking boards with our non-combustible aluminium decking. The decking boards specified for this project were our ridged Senior Board, chosen for its strength and stability, but also for its excellent slip resistance. This was an important feature to help protect the elderly residents from falls in wet weather.

On the bank of the River Thames, overlooking the then Millennium Dome in London, the Goodluck Hope Gallery was designed to offer high end accommodation within close commuting distance of Canary Wharf. The nod to the areas once industrial past was kept by cladding the building in Eternit fibre cement profiled sheeting in colour black.

Gripsure has played a key part in the transformation of the Story Museum in Oxford. The much-loved attraction has undergone a £6 million revamp, which involved extending, altering and refurbishing a mixture of existing buildings to create space for interactive exhibitions, displays, theatre performances and activities.At the museum’s core, is a courtyard with a bespoke steel and timber feature staircase and walkways, which connect the three main buildings, including the 19th Century Rochester House and a former postal office. Gripsure’s Classic boards with three non-slip aggregate inserts have been used to provide a safe, non-slip surface on the courtyard’s feature staircase and along the curved walkways.Our Classic deck boards achieve the highest non-slip safety rating on the market, meaning museum-goers – many of them young children – can safely work their way up, down, back and along the circular route as they explore various magical storytelling worlds, including a whispering wood and an enchanted library.Project manager Barry Doyle of Buckingham-based construction firm Edgar Taylor said Gripsure decking was a great choice. “It had to be non-slip because it’s a museum and there are children going up and down the stairs all the time,” said Barry. “The decking needed to be safe.”Gripsure’s Classic boards were chosen with a mixture of widths selected to suit the curved nature of the staircase. Gripsure’s Step profile was also used, which has a wide insert. As well as being a safe choice, the contemporary look of the Classic timber boards blends in well with the style of the museum’s timber and steel staircase and walkways.“This was a project of passion for the people that ran it,” said Barry Doyle, adding that it was vital to get details, such as the decking exactly right. “The staircase and external walkways are an important part because they effectively tie the buildings together on all floors.”The Story Museum was founded in 2003 and initially operated as a virtual museum before moving to premises in Rochester House, Pembroke Street. The redevelopment project first started in 2018 and was broken down into ‘chapters’.The Story Museum, which has worked and associated with and associated with authors and illustrators including Michael Morpurgo, Philip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Wilson and Quentin Blake, was finally able to open its doors again in 2020, to the delight of children and their families.The extraordinary renovation project - led by Purcell architects – has been mentioned in the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Journal.The museum was also a finalist in the Art Fund’s 2022 museum of the year.See storymuseum.org.uk; edgartaylor.co.uk

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.

GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops were included in a recent Cornwall kitchen refurbishment, designed and installed by George Robinson Kitchens who produce hand crafted, bespoke kitchens, near Penzance. For homeowners, Mr. & Mrs. Bull, the choice of materials was pivotal to the design of their home kitchen, particularly, as their long-term plan is to use the space as a cookery school. Stainless steel was therefore a key element and was chosen not only for its visual properties and low lifetime cost but also for its ability to withstand heavy usage, to be heat resistant and to remain germ-free. From a visual perspective, the work surfaces make up a significant proportion of the colour and texture in the room. In this Georgian property in Cornwall, the materials and textures chosen make for an eclectic yet functional space. The inherent durability and unsurpassed hygienic properties of the brushed stainless steel elements from GEC Anderson will make it perform extremely well as a professional kitchen. The Tulip wood and Oak wood with its different painted finishes together with the white Silestone quartz top on the central island top provides a striking contrast to the stainless steel in one corner, giving a light and pleasant, contemporary, feel.The L-shaped brushed satin stainless steel worktop and integral sink is made to measure and benefits from being manufactured in one continuous piece thus maximising the use of space in the corner in which it is situated. Furthermore, with no joins at the sink bowl, edges and upstands, the surface remains germ free as well as being free of visual clutter and noise. One side of the L-shape includes a generously sized (500x400mm) single bowl and draining area, whilst the other, provides useful and practical work surface. A 100mm high, integral, back upstand was also specified, providing a neat, practical and watertight junction to walls.Owner Dr Matt Bull says, “My wife and I liked the toughness of the stainless steel and the fact that it can take hot and cold, doesn't stain, reflects light and provides an hygienic surface that is easy to clean. Stainless steel also gains character as it ages, where many surfaces will deteriorate, so that’s a real bonus.” He added, “We struggled to find anyone locally who could manufacture the stainless steel elements of the kitchen to a sufficiently high standard. The neatness of the welding and the configuration of the shape, drainer recess etc. were key to what GEC Anderson could offer.”GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops are supplied fully sound deadened, plastic protected 

The ChallengeIn 2015 a joint venture of Balfour Beatty, Costain, and Skanksa (A14 integrated delivery team) was awarded £1.5bn by Highways England to improve the A14. These improvements included a new major 12-mile bypass, the widening of the A1 and the existing A14, improving the junctions on the A14, and building new access roads.The A14 carries around 85,000 vehicles per day; 26% of this is HGV traffic. It is frequently congested and traffic is often disrupted by breakdowns, accidents, and roadworks.As part of the A14 major scheme, a new retaining wall was needed to be constructed as new road works were encroaching on the pre-existing embankments. A durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance wall solution with a Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme and British Board of Agreement (BBA) certificate was required.The SolutionA vast number of EcoCrib mass gravity retaining walls are now constructed to support the embankments along the A14. The EcoCrib Mass Gravity Retaining Wall began its erection on 24th July and was completed on 10th October 2019. With a design life of over 120 years, EcoCrib is durable, and the most highly sustainable retaining solution. Designed, supplied, and installed by PC Construction, certified by the BBA and HAPAS in 2012.EcoCrib profiles are manufactured entirely from recycled UK plastic (bottle tops, car bumpers, etc) with any wastage or surplus material re-processed to form new EcoCrib profiles. Developed from timber crib technology, the 50mm x 125mm EcoCrib profiles are considerably more durable than treated timber but hold many environmental benefits.EcoCrib can be recycled when it reaches the end of its useful life.When considering solutions for developments of all kinds, the lifetime cost means EcoCrib is the more efficient choice.1838 SQM of EcoCrib was used in the scheme, equivalent to 212 tonnes of plastic waste diverted from landfill.

The challengeQueen Elizabeth University Hospital were looking for a ceiling manufacturer that could provide a ceiling solution that offered excellent cleanability, resistance to disinfectants and offered a balance of sound absorption and attenuation to help improve patient wellbeing.This is one of the largest retrofitting projects to implement Zentia’s mineral fibre tiles and ceiling systems. Zentia provide a range of solutions for healthcare applications that improve patient outcomes by improving light reflectance, cleanability and helping to reduce noise in the hospital environment.The solutionThe tiles selected where over 110,000 m² of Zentia’s Biobloc Acoustic Board 600 x 600mm and 1200 x 600mm with its antimicrobial performance and enhanced water repellency is an ideal solution for healthcare environments with average or severe risk of infection. These where installed on a Prelude 24mm and Prelude 24mm corrosive resistant grid which has a patented design for improved strength and stability that is also easier to cut than standard grid types.30,000m² of Zentia’s lifetime-guaranteed Aruba Max Tegular24 mineral tiles was selected to provide the perfect balance of sound absorption and attenuation for patients wellbeing in general circulation areasA variety of Zentia suspension systems were used on the project including 10,000 linear metres of Axiom Transitions profiles (which help with ceiling level changes, floating ceiling construction and lighting integration) and over 40,000 accessories including connecting brackets, clips and hanging brackets.Zentia also provided a recycling service as part of the retrofitting process for the older ceiling tiles, helping to reduce the environmental impact of this large-scale project.

Making an Entrance at London's leading net zero CAT A ProjectWithin London’s Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Holbein Gardens is a remarkable building just off Sloane Square that seeks to lead the way for companies seeking to achieving net-zero goals. Blenheim House Construction (BHC) helped realise Grosvenor’s vision to turn a tired old 1980s building into a net zero exemplar.A bare bones CAT A project, the site boasts quadruple environmental certification, including BREEAM Outstanding and WELL gold accreditation. Naturally, market-leading sustainable Entrance Matting was required to echo the space’s green ethos.INTRAsystems was the obvious choice thanks to our extensive range of sustainable products that help meet WELL and BREEAM standards.A sustainable successAcross the entire scheme, suppliers were challenged to use the industry’s most innovative, sustainable products, aiming at the highest levels of recycled content and recyclability.INTRAform DM Low Profile was chosen in the unique wood effect finish, which ticks all the boxes including validated data on embodied carbon and packing a double punch of sustainability and performance. Cool black Elite fibre inserts are made from 100% post-consumer waste with extremely low whole-life carbon emissions.Specified in 2020 but delayed through COVID, installation was completed in 2023. INTRA liaised with contractors to reschedule site surveys once pre-works were completed sufficiently for the entrance area to be assessed accurately. This was particularly crucial since the Entrance Mat sits in a lower position surrounded by steps and a raised floor level.Beauty and Brawn - Wood-effect Recycled Aluminium for Sustainable Entrance MattingThis smart wood-effect finish was new to the market back in 2020 but the client was confident it would meet their quality demands based on the many successful projects we’ve collaborated with them on across a variety of settings.Today the faux wood variant is a market-leading product that beats similar looking products made of real bamboo in terms of strength, longevity and good looks. Real wood systems don’t handle excessive moisture well, so the wrapped aluminium is ideal and more sustainable too. Read our bamboo vs aluminium blog to learn why.Fir for purposeNext door to London’s Sloane Square tube station, the 25,000 square feet office building is designed to house 2,500 office workers plus service staff and visitors. The entrance is immediately off the street with a small canopy and no draft lobby, so the matting will be exposed to direct and prevailing rain.Technically, INTRAform DM Low Profile was an ideal choice for a Cat A project like this as it can cope with high footfall and provides more flexibility than other systems. This 12mm profile variant can be surface mounted or shallow recessed for easier integration with whatever finishes the future tenants choose. And the interlocking plank system makes installation and onward retrofitting easy, if required.Entrance Matting Triumphs in Durability and Moisture AbsorptionINTRAform DM, with the Elite inserts will cope with rain with ease thanks to being happy in external (zone 1) and internal (zone 2) locations. It is typically found in shopping centres and office complexes as it’s hard-working and hard-wearing with excellent moisture absorption and dirt removal.The closed construction format and extra wide inserts make cleaning and maintaining INTRAform DM a breeze too. This will be essential to protect any materials chosen for the expansive lobby of this high-spec building.

A new facility for London self-storage company, Attic Self Storage, was developed using EQUITONE [natura] fibre cement facade material, helping to give the contemporary building a modern, vibrant appearance. The premises, in London N7, bordering Islington and Camden, offers businesses and individuals across North London safe, secure and convenient storage solutions.

Situated just two miles from Heathrow and directly under the flight path, the school site poses some difficult energy efficiency, acoustic and thermal challenges. Pollard Thomas Edwards specified the Thrutone fibre cement slates for the main two storey section of the school, not only for the roof but also for vertical cladding, to help address these demands.

Dual finish made-to-order double glazed timber flush casements and doors were used to totally transform this previously tired property into a vibrant, exciting and modern family home. Dual finish wooden flush casement windows and doors. Knot free engineered timber. Fully weather-stripped, internally glazed and with espagnolette locking. All tested to meet Part Q of the Building Regulations for Security. 22 High performance flush casement windows. 4 High performance made-to-order timber French doors. 2 sliding, folding bi-fold door sets.

Residents of a community on the hillside by Loch Craignish, one of Scotland's most beautiful sea lochs, have a new and unique village hall with a roof that is sympathetic to the surroundings, thanks to Eternit's fibre cement profiled sheeting.The old village hall at Ardfern in Argyll and Bute had been built traditionally with most recently, a corrugated metal roof which had corroded and leaked. Architect Tom McCardel was tasked with giving the villagers a community facility capable of handling a vast range of activities and he specified Eternit's fibre cement profiled sheeting for Craignish Village Hall for several reasons.Its light weight meant the main spaces of the building did not have to be taken up with supporting framework, its green painted finish blends more into the landscape than traditional gloss paint, and its roof had to be resistant to the corrosive atmosphere of the sea coast."I specified the Eternit sheeting because of its lightweight qualities, cost effectiveness, ease of detailing and appearance" he said.

Two new apartment buildings in Kent have been given a thermally-efficient and visually-striking façade thanks to the use of an external wall insulation system from Sto. The two new blocks in Ashford - Stour Heights and Somerset Heights – have a single-skin construction, comprising a reinforced concrete frame with concrete block infill, and they benefit from the installation of StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation, with a StoCleyer B mineral brick slip and StoSilco render façade finish.“An alternative insulation system was originally proposed for these buildings,” says John Mahoney of Sheffield-based J Mahoney Architects. “As things progressed a different solution was required to meet the demands of the various parties involved in the project. Sto pretty much leads the pack in terms of quality, and the StoTherm Mineral system was able to satisfy everyone’s requirements, so it became the obvious choice. The fact that Sto could work with us and provide technical support was also extremely helpful.”The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system uses mineral-fibre boards to provide outstanding thermal performance, combined with reliable fire protection and effective sound insulation. Its efficient single-leaf construction and external installation do not compromise the building’s interior space, and it can be installed without the need for additional expansion joints.For the new buildings, it was installed using Sto’s unique Sto-Rotofix plus mechanical fixing system. The helical Rotofix fixings create a cavity behind the insulation board, which can be easily adjusted after installation to ensure a level outer surface is created. This system combines the ease-of-use of ETICS anchors with the flexibility of a mechanical rail system, but without the material and labour cost of installing the rails.“The StoCleyer B brick slips were specified to meet certain planning requirements,” adds John Mahoney. “An alternative brick solution was originally considered, but Sto was able to manufacture slips which were a perfect match for the proposed original. The fact that they were also fully compatible with the Sto insulation system was another significant point in their favour.”The new buildings have added 109 one- and two-bedroomed flats which are spread across the five floors of Stour Heights, and the three floors of Somerset Heights.

With the aim of making a somewhat dated house welcoming and comfortable for a young family from Vilnius, the architect Ieva Prunskaitė of the Prusta studio redesigned the interior. The minimal, clean design combines functionality with beauty. Its focus is on simple lines and light spaces, devoid of clutter. Wood, plaster and cement are the three elements that are used throughout the house.The predominantly white walls with ECLISSE Syntesis Flush Hinged white doors contrast beautifully with the wooden flooring. There are also wooden accents across the white kitchen cabinets and wooden panelling defining storage areas and a cloakroom between the main door and the living room.The interior is also interspersed with accents of grey and black in the form of the black marble worktop and black chairs in the kitchen, the minimalist wood burning stove, grey accent wall and grey sofa in the sitting room and a decorative black metal screen with a geometric design separating the master bedroom with the ensuite.The minimalist style of the ECLISSE Syntesis Flush Hinged doors integrate perfectly into this interior being almost invisible, whilst being accented with sleek black handles echoing the colour scheme throughout.The ECLISSE Syntesis® Flush Hinged Door is part of the Syntesis® Flush Collection. This is a range of flush or architrave free products that work in harmony with each other. The collection features a, the concealed hinged door frame (available as a door set or frame only), pocket door system without jambs or architrave and a flush skirting board adapter. The emphasis is on uninterrupted, clean lines for an interior without fuss, where less is more.Architect: Prusta studioProduct: ECLISSE Syntesis® Flush Hinged Door

Accoya was handpicked as the ideal wood for the project as, due to the acetylation process, it will not splinter. This is a critical requirement for the project. Further evidence of this is also suggested due to the SDA designed Velodrome in Tbilisi, Georgia which uses Accoya wood. Prior to the new Accoya track the architects used Larch wood. However, because of the humidity in the arena the wood shrank. Now that the track has been replaced with Accoya we’re watching this space for new world records to be set.

Raithwaite Hall is a 5 star, 45 bed boutique hotel set in 85 acres of wooded valleys within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The hotel offers terraced views of the landscape and across the Whitby coastline. A new extension was designed that is built against the hillside with stepped landscaped areas around the new building and an intensive green roof terrace to help blend the structure in with the surrounding gardens.The intensive green roof terrace is installed directly above a new function and dining room and required a specialised design to accommodate the additional loading and provide the necessary drainage for the turf lawn.     By utilising a multi-purpose geocomposite roof drainage board, the green roof system could be achieved to meet the project specific requirements. The ABG Deckdrain 2540S-NW20XUV product offers a lightweight option that delivers the equivalent drainage capacity of 300mm of drainage stone in a 25mm layer that weighs over a 100 times less per square metre. The lightweight drainage layer is supplied in rolls and is fast to install and move into position. The Deckdrain layer includes an integrated filter geotextile bonded to the top of the cuspated core. This prevents the growing media layer from intruding into the drainage void and filters the soil to prevent clogging. The Deckdrain is made from a high strength HDPE core that supports the 200mm deep layer of growing media required for the intensive green roof installation with deeper root systems. The underside of the product is impermeable and provides additional protection to the liquid waterproofing membrane. A green roof surface finish further helps to prolong the lifespan of the waterproofing layer and prevent UV degradation. The large grassed area on the podium also reduces surface water run-off and the grass is protected against waterlogging via the efficient drainage board layer. The shallow drainage build-up required also reduces the height of the steps onto the terrace and the associated cost of stone flags. The completed installation encompasses a 20mm Roofdrain drainage & reservoir board to support a secondary smaller sedum roof area, as well as Deckdrain layers installed for structural drainage to the surfaces around the patio slab and retaining wall areas.ABG provided a full green roof project design, installation and maintenance service for the project.

Sylan Veneer installed at Majestic, City Square in Leeds. This Grade A office building has been designed to provide a flexible, contemporary working environment in a superb prime location.Sylan Products Supplied:Real Wood Veneer Toilet CubiclesFlush fronted, Real Wood Veneer cubicle systemStrong, secure and luxurious finishInvisible fixing systemFull height cubicleFSC CertifiedAvailable in 11 Real Wood VeneersReal Wood Veneer Duct PanellingAllows continuity in designCan match panelling to cubiclesFSC certifiedAvailable in 11 Real Wood Veneer finishesSolid Surface Washtrough with Veneer UnderpanelsModern designMetal frame systemQuick and easy to installFSC certifiedAvailable in 11 Real Wood Veneer finishesMatch your panelling to your cubicles

Our client wanted a low maintenance but high quality finish for the balconies on a build of high end flats and penthouses.Castlewood composite decking was chosen as it provides good slip resistance and a very luxurious finish. Our composite decking is very low maintenance due to the unique polymer cap that is applied to the decking boards during production. This particular deck board is supplied with a 25 year limited warranty for domestic applications and a 10 year limited warranty for commercial applications. Terms and conditions apply.Our aluminium substructure system was chosen as it is quick and easy to install and will never rot like traditional timber joists. The balconies also had very low thresholds in some areas that could not have been overcome with traditional timber joists.The aluminium substructure was assembled in frames with joists running at 400mm apart to provide adequate support for the composite boards. Additional joists were also installed to support the ends of each decking board where two ends meet.Each aluminium frame was then laid on our DD adjustable pedestals to make them completely level. Decking boards were then secured to the aluminium with our unique fasteners that work with our boards and aluminium profiles.If you have a project that may require this system please get in touch with your dimensions and we will happily provide a quotation for everything required.

Laboratory taps, laboratory water taps, laboratory gas taps……they all have handwheels and for the keen eyed amongst us those handwheels have coloured indices on them. …..but what do they mean?Dead simply they tell the laboratory tap user what service is being offered. This could range from anything from hot and cold potable water to the more funky special waters (Demineralised, deionised) and various gas services found in the laboratory; gases such as Argon, Helium, Nitrogen etc which is what would you expect in laboratory fume cupboards and reagent shelving.The colouring is governed by the DIN EN 13792 which covers laboratory taps, this standard is a worldwide initiative so whether you’re in Switzerland, Hong Kong or elsewhere it doesn’t matter the service from the laboratory tap will always reference the same service!

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, and Styccobond F48 PLUS temperature tolerant fibre-reinforced adhesive have enabled a fast-track LVT installation as part of barn conversions to create three holiday cottages in rural Nottinghamshire.Flooring contractors installed floorcoverings in bedrooms, open-plan living and dining areas and corridors of three previously disused farm buildings of varying size, a total area of over 200m2.Work began by sanding down the new concrete bases, which had been installed as part of the renovation of the properties, by mechanically preparing them, removing any laitance, contamination, dust and debris, to leave a solid, sound, micro textured surface to receive floor preparation products.A moisture test was undertaken by one of F. Ball’s technical representatives to ensure that the building’s subfloors were dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Surfaces were then primed using Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer to promote the application characteristics of subsequently applied subfloor preparation products.Stopgap 1500 AquaPro was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings. Fast-setting and fast-drying, it is walk-on hard in as little as 60 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings from just four hours. The product uses the latest technology to offer a water-mix smoothing underlayment that can be applied over old adhesive residues, including bitumen, carpet tile tackifiers and ceramic tile adhesives. As it is moisture resistant, it can be applied to damp subfloors prior to the application of a waterproof surface membrane.Flooring contractors then used Styccobond F48 PLUS to adhere 7-inch wood-effect vinyl planks in each of the three cottages. The temperature tolerant adhesive holds floorcoverings in place when subject to high temperatures, which may be an issue as a result of solar gain caused by large patio doors. This can cause tenting and gapping at the edges of vinyl floorcoverings as a result of repeated expansion and contraction over time. Fibres in the adhesive also provide high initial grab, a benefit when installing LVTs.Commenting on the project, Anthony Holmewood, fitter at Forester Flooring, said: “Using Stopgap 1500 AquaPro meant that we could complete the work in less than a week. We opted for Styccobond F48 PLUS to install LVTs mainly because we like the adhesive, but also for the reason that floorcoverings are exposed to direct sunlight in some areas.”