"bedroom suites beds bunks"

Located just off New York Street in Manchester city centre, Manhattan is a seven-storey development comprising 42 one and two-bedroom apartments. In a New York loft style, each property features floor to ceiling windows and private terraces set into a multi-level garden wall. On the seventh floor, there are duplex penthouses offering views over King Street and across the city. The ground floor also offers 2,000 sq ft of retail space.During several site visits, the original red brick was examined, and the requirements for a blue/black finish was discussed. Using KEIM’s Brick Colour Range, Nicola Young, KEIM’s Senior Colourist, conducted trial applications of KEIM Restauro Lasur, using different opacity ratios, to ensure colour consistency.Once the colour required had been achieved a specification was produced for a four coat KEIM Restauro Lasur system, comprising of two coats of diluted bespoke black base colour in a fairly opaque finish, followed by two further coats of a combination of two differing colours, more heavily diluted.The original red brick front façade of this five storey building was retained and enhanced to reference a more industrial feel. To fulfil the design brief, the client wanted to change in colour of the bricks to blue/black, without the bricks appearing painted.KEIM Restauro Lasur, a low pigmentation silicate colour wash, which acts as a stain that penetrates the surface of the brick, was used to change the colour of the façade, retaining the look and feel of the original bricks. KEIM Restauro Lasur is a breathable, colourfast system, which retains the original brick appearance and increases light reflectivity, whilst retaining a natural looking finish. The beauty of the KEIM Restauro Lasur system is that it can be used to achieve almost any effect without the surface appearing painted.

Dual finish wooden windows and doors were used in the renovation of this delightful 1900’s Arts and Crafts style property. The family chose from the Lomax + Wood made-to-order range of timber flush casements and doors.42 Double glazed fully weather-stripped flush casement windows, French doors and entrance doors.Dual colour factory finished paint colour. White internally and Squirrel grey externally.Engineered timber for stability and durability.Espagnolette locking for security.Faceted bay windows.Polished chrome ironmongery.Creating your dream home is not always easy and finding the right plot and location is half the battle. So when the proud owners of this beautifully renovated 1900’s Arts and Crafts style property found it, they recognised the potential. They have taken a period property and renovated it to exacting standards to create a stunning family home with luxury features to maximise their use of it all year round.Lomax + wood timber window and doors were in keeping with the required Arts and Crafts style, while also providing thermal, acoustic and security performance. This country residence is an excellent example of the highest quality craftsmanship. The materials used on the property such as the green oak, clay tiles and bricks reflect the local traditions and are in keeping with the local architecture.This stunning property boasts a feast of traditionally styled timber windows and doors. An excellent use of projecting bays helps to add space and light to the rooms. Dormer Windows with traditional patterned tile hung gables adding arts and crafts character. Juliet balconies help maximise the green views from the master bedroom. The perfect choice of colour allows these windows to blend in with the external traditional materials on this property, while the white interior prevents the rooms from appearing too dark.

Newton System 500 provides a complete waterproofing solution for a boathouse situated on the River Thames, installed by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Stonehouse. Newton Waterproofing Systems were contacted to provide a solution for a delightful boat house on the River Thames.The property originally had a wet dock but this had been back filled and capped with a concrete floor. The client wished to use the ground floor as a bedroom, but during a recent flood the water level had reached 500mm internally.Newton System 500 provided the ideal solution, as it works by redirecting the water, rather than trying to hold water back – which would be impossible under such pressurised conditions. Newton 508 Mesh was chosen for the walls, Newton 520 to the floor with a Newton Basedrain ring around the perimeter. Two Newton Titan Pro pump systems were used, which included a battery back up system.Newton System 500 was installed to this property by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Stonehouse BasementsRather than holding water pressure back, therefore, it was accepted that the river would penetrate the structure and would be pumped out. The system is designed so that ingressing water is depressurised by the Basedrain and then moved around the Basedrain ring to the two Titan sump chambers. The chambers each had 40mm discharge lines exiting the structure. Both pump systems had non-return valves so if the river rose over the level of the pipe the pumps would still be effective.The full waterproofing system was installed in a little over a week. The major test came when the River Thames rose against the property to a depth of over one metre! The Newton System 500 waterproofing system coped with the water ingress as designed. At the height of the flooding, all three pumps in each sump chamber were operational. The system proved to be fully successful.

1100sqm of Optima FC+ in 3.0mm Aluminium Polyester Powder Coating finished in RAL 9006 has been used in the completion of West End Quay, situated in the heart of London.West End Quay, a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom luxury apartments, provided a new challenge for Sotech – with working to a curved panel requirement. Optima FC+ was chosen as it allowed fully welded and dressed units, that were both robust and aesthetically pleasing.The existing panels were curved horizontally around the slab and vertically around the window, with very little information on the existing structure. A2O used a 3D scan of the building to determine datum levels. With no ‘as-built’ drawings being available to assist in the remaking the panels, the team started again with new information supplied by A20’s design team.A20’s site team worked with Sotech to supply corex templates of existing curved panels to check the radius. Sotech also agreed to manufacture one of each panel type, before starting full production of the project to ensure the panels fit the complex curves. This gave the design team the opportunity to make modifications if required.Close collaboration was imperative by all parties to complete West End Quay on time and on budget. Work was carried out on a live residential area, meaning deliveries to site had to be carefully co-ordinated and palletised effectively for installation.Jamie Brown, Business Development Manager at Sotech, said:“As the works were carried out on a live residential area, it was vital our deliveries to site were carefully co-ordinated and palletised efficiently for install. The curved panel remakes had to be within millimetres of the templates provided from site to ensure they fit within the existing apertures. This is another fantastic example of how close collaboration between all parties gets the job done on time and on budget.”

Transforming Small Spaces with Rooflights.In the heart of the English countryside, you’ll find lots of quintessential cottages, often with thatched roofs, just like something you’d find on a postcard. Whilst these cottages are beautiful on the outside, they often lack light and space on the inside.This was the issue a homeowner in Salisbury, Wiltshire ran into when it came to renovating an ensuite shower room in a cottage. The space runs the length of the adjoining bedroom but due to the size of the property, it’s only a few feet wide. The other problem was, it was incredibly dark, with no existing windows or the wall space to install them. The homeowner would need to put their thinking cap on, because this challenge would be the focus of their renovation. Natural light was a top priority to create the bright and airy ensuite space the homeowner imagined for their renovation.With the room not having the wall space to install vertical windows, and because it was in the eaves of the building, there were no floors above it. Thinking creatively, the homeowner opted to use the ceiling space and install rooflights to allow an abundance of natural light to flood into the small space. However, this wasn’t as straightforward as you may think because of the very nature of the homeowner’s quintessential cottage nestled in the English countryside. Being a Grade 2 listed building, planning permission is strict and so the homeowner needed to find the right rooflights that would be in keeping with the property and not upset its overall aesthetic.The Planning Officers themselves were able to help the homeowner with their renovation, pointing them in the direction of the Rooflight Company’s Conservation Rooflight, the Victorian-style rooflight, engineered to modern specification.With their advice, two CR10-2 rooflights were installed to the ensuite bathroom. The finished result is the beautifully light and airy ensuite bathroom that the homeowner had envisioned from the inside, and a period Salisbury cottage still quintessential from the outside.

With their delicate nuances, Atlas Concorde concrete-look porcelain tiles define the contemporary esthetic of a Spanish residence. Explore the project.The elegance of contemporary architecture with its clean lines and spaces that communicate with each other is the central theme of a home in Sant Quirze Des Vallès on the outskirts of Barcelona. Warm colors that evoke the cozy ambiance typical of Catalonia give the residence a modern flavor, where every piece of furniture faithfully does its part to reinforce the overall style.In this context, concrete-effect porcelain tiles from Atlas Concorde were selected to clad the building's interiors and exteriors. The warmth of a lived-in space and the authenticity of places reborn to a new life are the values evoked by concrete-effect porcelain floors. Applied in an ivory color, Atlas Concorde porcelain tiles give the rooms a relaxing yet dynamic vibe.In the kitchen, concrete-look tiles were the ideal choice to visually enlarge the space, increasing its depth and making it more welcoming. The ivory shade of the porcelain tile also matched perfectly with the minimalist style of the bedroom, bringing out the space’s contemporary character.The sophistication of this contemporary style is also evident in the outdoor spaces of the residence, where the patio and pool area recall a luxury resort. Indeed, the wide selection of Atlas Concorde outdoor porcelain tiles allows for coordinated indoor-outdoor projects, ensuring the esthetic continuity of the various spaces. Furthermore, porcelain slabs with a 20 mm thickness guarantee non-slip performance and high resistance to weathering.Homes with contemporary-style architecture are treasure chests of elegance, expressing a solid bond with the surrounding nature and rejecting all glitz and superfluous frills. With this in mind, Atlas Concorde's ceramic solutions are able to perfectly satisfy the precise, timeless demand for style.

Shingler Homes is an independent housing developer keen to provide individual, attractive homes sympathetic to their surroundings.Their development at Perry View, near Shrewsbury, is such a development. With thirty houses ranging in size from 2 to 4 bedrooms, Shingler Homes offers a quality, personal approach to housing development.Direct Roofing Services (DRS), who are a long-standing customer of ARP, approached Shingler Homes to quote them for the Mustang® Seamless Aluminium Guttering System as it is a high-quality, cost-effective gutter system, which is quick, easy and safe to install, and requires no maintenance.The Mustang® Seamless Aluminium guttering system was the obvious choice, as it is produced on-site from coated aluminium coil, roll-formed in continuous lengths of up to 30 metres. Brackets stop ends and outlets are installed at ground level before the finished section is raised to roofline level for the final fixing. As the gutter lengths are cut to size on site, there is no waste, and the aluminium coil is made from recycled aluminium, which, once it reaches the end of its useful life, can be further recycled.Mustang® Seamless Aluminium Gutter system is the ideal solution for housing developments as it is a strong, sustainable, leak-free, no maintenance option, which has a life expectancy in excess of 30 years.Mustang® Aluminium Seamless Guttering is a unique joint-less system and is the only seamless gutter system approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA).By meeting the strict BBA guidelines, both ARP and their approved installer network are audited and assessed twice yearly to ensure that the product and installers maintain these high standards.Jeremy Shingler, Managing Director of Shingler Homes, said, “DRS provide an excellent service supplying and fixing aluminium guttering, which our customers like due to its low maintenance”.

Hundreds of homes have been refurbished as part of a multi-million pound revamp of housing association properties.Tristar Homes spent £8m on the scheme at Kennedy Gardens in Billingham where they carried out work on 225 properties across the three housing blocks as well as creating 12 new one and two bedroom homes which have been made available for rent.The development, completed in September 2014, includes the fitting of new windows, new bathrooms and improved living space due to the new balcony extensions.The roof area before its refurbishment had a U-value of 0.4 W/m²K. This existing build-up would not have met the requirements of the current building regulations Part L.The lower roof had been overlaid at least twice since its original construction. In all but one core sample, the existing insulation was wet through and therefore it was apparent that 90% of the existing roof build up needed stripping to the original asphalt. A further inspection was needed when the asphalt was exposed to ascertain the condition and depth of the asphalt. The asphalt was deemed in reasonable condition so the new system could be installed onto the original asphalt.IKO worked with installing contractors BriggsAmasco to refine the roof specification and recommended IKO Mach One single layer bituminous membrane system, installed to the recommendations of wind uplift calculations and performing to a 0.18U value as per requirements.IKO Mach One membranes are a robust, flame-free, single-layer roofing system with added fire-retardancy. IKO Mach One can be mechanically fastened, ballasted or bonded with polyurethane adhesive.A 20-year insurance-backedfire retardancy guarantee was issued to cover all materials, design and workmanship covering contractor insolvency.

THE PROJECT: Recticel Insulation supplied the high quality insulation solution for an old school in Oxford. The main aim of this project, carried out by Touchstone Lofts, was to convert an uninsulated historic school building originally constructed in 1860 into a modern, energy efficient four-bedroom residential unit. The contractor endeavored to create a two storey dwelling and hoped to minimise headroom loss with insulation in both the floor and pitched roof, therefore selecting the right product was paramount.THE SOLUTION: Eurothane® GP, a low-thermal conductivity PIR insulation panel for use in multiple building envelope applications, was the obvious choice for The Institute’s ground floor and loft insulation. The product's thermal performance of λ = 0.022 W/mK enabled an appropriate thickness selection, so the desired minimum headroom loss was achieved giving the completed build an energy efficiency rating of B. The contractor was thrilled with this given the constraints associated with retrofitting insulation into a period building.Paul Johal, Owner of Touchstone Lofts explained:"Recticel’s insulation provided us with a thermal solution that achieved the required U-value targets whilst keeping the overall thickness to a minimum. The quality of the product is excellent and at a competitive price. The extremely proficient technical team of Recticel Insulation were very responsive with U-value calculations, meaning we could move forward with the project more efficiently. Having the right advice and products from Recticel certainly played a crucial role in achieving our aims. We are delighted with the final outcome."About Eurothane® GP:Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installers

BackgroundBelfast City Council designed Walkways Community Centre with the local community in mind, providing them with places to both work and play. In this £1.37m project, the original portable modular building was demolished and replaced with a new 575 square metre build. The two storeys include a creche and soft play area, a 250sqm sports hall and a series of multipurpose rooms for meetings and courses aimed at the local people. Main contractor, McKelvey Construction led the project and worked alongside Michael Whitley Architects to design and deliver the most appropriate solution for Belfast City Council and the local community. K Systems provided on-site technical support and installation guidance throughout the build which resulted in delivery of a modern, aesthetically pleasing facility that achieved the target U-value of 0.18W/m ² K. Our ServiceHaving originally specified rainscreen cladding, K Systems technical team worked with the architect to design a bespoke engineered system with the drained cavity to suit the metsec frame. Regular site visits from our team ensured support was available throughout the build. The Centre is located on a busy street with limited surrounding space, so we had to manage a very congested, condensed site with deliveries planned and arranged by appointment only. We worked closely with McKelvey Construction to manage such challenges and ensure that local access for residents was uninterrupted, as well as ensuring the overall safety of the site area. From design advice through to installation, we offered a partnership approach which ensured a smooth installation process with minimal disruption, and the delivery of a fantastic community centre for the local area to enjoy. Technical Project Details Originally rainscreen cladding was specified for the Walkways project. However during the construction process, due to spiralling material costs and budget restraints, this was deemed too expensive so alternative solutions had to be sourced. It was decided an external insulation system would be used and a ventilated cavity system was required, as this provides a secondary defence in commercial buildings like Walkways. The K Systems Exicco E drained cavity façade system was specified as it ticked all the boxes. Exicco provides excellent protection and can offer an excellent fire rating of up to A2-s1,d0, providing high levels of fire resistance and non-combustibility. The drained cavity behind the insulation in the Exicco system will ensure that any interstitial moisture will escape without detriment to the performance of the system. As EWI was not originally specified for the project, no metsec frame had been designed. This is a crucial element for the Exicco system, which meant a bespoke metsec frame had to be designed specifically to suit our system. The Exicco E system for Walkways used Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation boards that were mechanically fixed and attached to 12mm BBA Approved sheathing boards to create a 25mm drained cavity. EPS boards are extremely light-weight and the system offers a great fire rating of B-s1,d0. It is a high performing, economical system that generates high levels of thermal performance and ensured the target U-value of 0.18W/m ² K. was achieved. For the finish, Silkolitt+ silicone renders ensured a clean, crisp contemporary finish that offers protection to the exterior of the community centre. The flexibility of this finish provides resistance against cracking and increases the durability, ensuring a long-lasting finish for Walkways. 

Heighington Hall | Helping To Restore A Grade II* Listed HomeMr & Mrs Anderson’s period home had some sash windows and a period door that were cold and draughty, and some windows that were completely stuck shut. But as the owner of a stunning Grade II* Listed property in Heighington, Darlington, they were only too aware of their responsibility to protect their home’s heritage. So, when they saw Ventrolla recommended by Sarah Beeny on the television about her home, Rise Hall, they got in touch.This was back in 2017, and we’ve continued to work on their beautiful house ever since, phasing the work over the past five years.Phase oneThe first project we completed was for the sash windows in two of the bedrooms. Both were sealed shut, so following a survey, we completed renovation works including sill repair and replacement, incorporating our innovative Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System to eliminate draughts, and our Sash Removal System (SRS), so that any future decorating or repairs could be completed effortlessly. Both windows were completed with antique brass hardware, to complement existing fittings in the property.Phase twoIn 2018, The Anderson’s contacted us again. This time to complete work on their master bedroom window. This 6 by 6 pane Georgian sash window required extensive repair work, rail and sill replacement, and again we incorporated our unique draught-proofing and SRS systems.We also surveyed a pair of French doors for restoration – in the end, Mr & Mrs Anderson decided that they would prefer replacement doors made, rather than repairs carried out. As these were an exact, like-for-like replica of the existing doors in their home, Listed Building Consent wasn’t required. We crafted stunning timber French doors to mirror the originals, creating a seamless look and feel ­– including glass specially chosen to blend strength with the subtly ‘distorted’ look of old, heritage glazing.Following the works carried out, Mrs Anderson went on to review Ventrolla on independent review website, Trustpilot, rating Ventrolla 5-stars and commenting:“Excellent workmen. Pleased with product and will recommend.”Ventrolla replicated the existing Georgian timber doors, hand crafting new versions in their workshop.Phase threeWe were delighted to hear from The Anderson’s again in 2019 – and undertook restoration work on two of the property’s dining room windows. A complex project, due to foliage on the exterior restricting access, our team worked to release stuck sashes and restore them to their former glory. The works in this phase also included new joinery elements – replicating the existing single-glazed sashes with new versions, hand crafted by Ventrolla, in their Harrogate workshop.Phase fourMost recently, this year we were brought in to help Mr & Mrs Anderson again – to refurbish, draught-proof and craft new sashes for a sash window in a bathroom. Repairing the sash box and providing replacement sashes, we completed the window works with polished brass hardware.Mrs Anderson commented:“Once again, I was very pleased with all aspects of Ventrolla’s work. The team were reliable, polite and tidy – and my new windows look excellent. They’ve made the room warmer and less draughty.”Heighington Hall was thought to have been built in the early 17th century, and the home has many stunning Georgian features of the time, such as the twelve-pane sash windows, the sandstone front exterior and detailed stonework with fluted pilasters, dosserets and a scrolled pediment around the door. It became Grade II* Listed in 1952 to preserve these iconic and historic features.Can we help with your period window or door project?If you have a wooden window or door project to tackle, or require listed building renovation advice, you can find out more about our renovation services and speak to a member of our team on 0800 0277 454 or by contacting us here.