"flooring"

The first phase of the Middlewood Locks project in Manchester by developer Scarborough International Properties features Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained curtain walling, AA®130 brise soleil and AA®720 external doors on the ground floors of six blocks of apartments around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury canals.The AA®130 brise soleil has also been used between external balconies as privacy screens and was complemented by Kawneer’s AA®3572 lift/slide doors and AA®720 thermally-superior side-hung casement windows which feature on the first floor upwards of the seven-storey blocks.

High-end residential refurbishment that required MicroCement installation to all internal walls and floors in two family bathrooms. This large scale, refurbishment project showcased innovative ways MicroCement can be applied to interior bathroom walls and floors without a need for joins or breaks. Its smooth finish was ideal for a modern, minimalist design that our client wanted. MicroCement can be easily installed over existing materials which in turn reduces the time needed for application and maintenance.We also supplied and installed two large precast and hand-polished concrete washbasins that were done in Mist Silk finish. They were treated with our in-house sealant and made to be stain-resistant.

The award-winning Skelton Lakes motorway services near Leeds is using bespoke manufactured architectural linings from the Pendock Linea range. GRG pilasters were specified to provide a consistent finish between shop fronts, whilst integrating with the dry lined walls above. They also include a 30mm radius on each corner to ensure there are no sharp edges and a stainless-steel kick plate at the base.GRP bulkheads are used to conceal the steel floor beams at first-floor level, which were manufactured to follow the gentle curve incorporated in the design of the shop fronts. By using GRP it allows a small amount of flex to ease installation and ensures the minimum additional mass is added to the structure.

The Project A modernised, revamped nursery based in The Old Courthouse, Ednal Lane. The Nursery prides itself on its high-quality interior and services ensuring children and parents alike enjoy first class facilities and equipment as standard.Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid officially opened My First Friends Nursery and Pre-School on November 13th, 2015, and commented “The facilities look great fun for the kids”.The Challenge Propose a system with children of nursery age in mind. Consider the height of the doors & partitions.Peardrop range is not supported by an overhead rail and the frontage is fixed at the floor and gable walls only.Flooring substate needs to be at lease 60mm thick and stable to ensure a secure fixing point at the base of the foot. The Solution Consult with the client and survey the area to ensure suitable fixing points.Harlequin Peardrop is the idea system for children of nursery age, the system is self-supporting on an aluminium leg; the legs ability to perform is reliant of the strength of the floor substrate which in this case proved suitable, enabling the client to proceed with this infant friendly system.The full system is professionally manufactured with children in mind providing easily accessible doors for children whilst ensuring efficient dimensions for adults to supervise.

Located in Surrey, this detached Victorian property needed its top floor timber windows replaced due to rotting. Maintaining the windows was proving costly for the homeowners but they needed a solution that would still look authentic next to their ground floor timber sash windows. After researching their options, the homeowners came across Roseview’s traditional timber alternative sash windows. The possibility of maintenance-free sash windows that are indistinguishable from the original box sashes, but while providing modern thermal efficiency and enhanced security, made Ultimate Rose the obvious choice. Using modern technology, Ultimate Rose is completely seamless with traditional joinery style mechanical joints and the slimmest 35mm mid rail on the market. When installed adjacent to the homeowner’s original windows it was almost impossible to see a difference. The home was finished with a single vertical astragal bar to match the home’s existing sightlines and allow for maximum natural light. Additionally, run through horns and a wood grain texture was added for a fully authentic finish. The result is truly indistinguishable, and the homeowners now have traditional and modern performing sash windows that will last for years to come. The owners are now planning to replace the timber windows on the ground floor with Ultimate Rose as well.

TVS was tasked with designing a versatile and multi-functional training area to be rolled out across various newXercise4Less sites.The brief was to include an area for sledge work along with floor demarcations for various activities such as walking lunges, sprinting and battle rope exercises.To fulfil this requirement, TVS first created layout plans to fit the space prior to agreeing the final design with the client. Once the design was signed off, TVS set about ordering materials to complete each of the projects. With the subfloor levelled to within an acceptable tolerance, a hard‐wearingmulti‐sports surface TVS Sports Carpet (Green) was bonded to the substrate to create a central lane for pushing and pulling a sledge.Meanwhile, SPORTEC Color‐0 a black recycled rubber floor covering was installed around the outside of this area.To create a 2‐lane running track with 1m markings, white lines were then applied to the black rubber utilising a 2‐part PU paint.The perimeter edge detail was finished with a black uPVC trim, providing a safe and neat transition between the adjacent floor finishes.The workout area is used effectively for training small groups of people as well as one‐to‐one personal training sessions across multiple sites.

The lift was installed in the heart of the shopping centre, alongside the staircase to provide access to the floors for all visitors. The glazed shaft and panoramic doors preserve the light and airiness of the space, making this an ideal solution for public accessibility.

Product / System:Reflex Sports Wall in Mint Green.Uplift and removal of existing vinyl, floor preparation, DPM, Reflex Gerflor sports vinyl in polished concrete effect finish, linemarking.Size: 1,278m2

Here East involved the transformation of the former Media Campus.  The team at Laing O’Rourke were tasked with designing the building’s fire protection scheme that also accommodates building movements such as movement between floors and in services.

The developer of an apartment conversion scheme in the Pennine hills village of Diggle near Oldham wanted to achieve superior sound reduction standards in the walls and floors and go beyond the minimum requirements set out by the Building Regulations.The Old Mill House project involved transforming a Victorian industrial building into several residential dwellings. The project’s design needed to comply with the requirements of Approved Document E, which sets out minimum standards in England and Wales for airborne and impact sound transmission between dwellings where there is a Material Change of Use.However, to deliver the highest quality living accommodation to potential buyers, the developer insisted that the acoustic specification not only met the minimum standards but went beyond them.To achieve their goals for the floors and walls, they approached Hush Acoustics for assistance in developing the specifications and providing the required products.Given the unique nature of the properties being created, the acoustic design for the flooring had to be compatible with underfloor heating and more unusual floor finishes such as stone tiling.The specification developed by Hush Acoustics for the separating floors beneath the floorcoverings featured a plywood timber deck, below which was the underfloor heating system and 8mm Hush FFR resilient underlay.For the ceiling side, Hush recommended standard acoustic insulation for use within the timber joists, two layers of 15mm Fireline plasterboard attached to the underside of the joists, the Hush MF Ceiling System to allow Hush Slab 100 to be fitted in the void created, finished with a layer of 15mm Soundbloc plasterboard.For the separating walls, two specifications were developed according to the types of walls. In areas where there was an existing masonry wall, a wall lining consisting of independent stud work, Hush Slab insulation and Soundbloc plasterboard was developed. In other areas of the scheme, a twin timber stud wall is recommended, again featuring Hush Slab insulation and Soundbloc plasterboard.As part of the process, the Hush Acoustics team undertook many site visits and guided the design and build process to ensure the correct installation was followed, and pre-completion testing was also arranged.The solutions developed and provided by Hush Acoustics fully met the developer’s goals to go beyond Approved Document E’s compliance standards according to the pre-completion tests.

Native’s flagship boutique aparthotel in the bankside conservation area of Bear Gardens is an eight-storey scheme that involves the transformation of three of the five buildings located within the confines of the densely packed area. IG’s brick feature arch lintels feature on the front elevation of the former derelict 19th century Empire Warehouse that has been replaced and linked into a 75-room boutique aparthotel.Challenge:SPPARC in association with Southwark Council, Macro Investments and Native wanted to demonstrate that modern architecture can successfully cohabit with the historic collection of buildings informed by the industrial heritage that dominates the southern bank of the River Thames.A carefully considered restoration and modern intervention was required for a cutting-edge contemporary mixed-use development, offering an urban experience for its users but remaining sensitive to the colourful history, conservation area and surrounding developments.Solution:IG’s technical team designed eighteen brick feature arch lintels to accommodate metal paned and arched factory styled windows. A 2718mm opening span and 143mm rise was required for each prefabricated lintel, each including a 338mm high face brick and 223mm soffit return with either a 78 or 90-degree end skew.The massing arrangement across each floor ensures that natural light is maximised throughout the building with the intricate brick detailing prominent at street level appearing above impressive double height foyer windows. The offsite construction method used negated the need for skilled brickwork to be created onsite to achieve the decorative brick pattern at a raised height. This helped to reduce any health and safety concerns in a location surrounded by tourist destinations and narrow cobbled streets.The ground floor of the scheme provides mixed use units with the northern site leased by Bell English Language School and the southern site providing studios for the iconic Globe Theatre directly linking to their Sackler Education Building.The upper floors are lighter in composition, combining clear and obscure floor-to-ceiling glazing with rich bronze circular rods, creating a strong rhythm to the façade, and enhancing the appearance of the once-dilapidated buildings. The upper floors of the Rose Alley elevation have perforated bronze screens that offer privacy, referencing the loom patterns that were once manufactured in the original warehouse.

A global construction, energy and infrastructure organisation required a durable, chemical resistant floor coating solution with an anti-slip profile that would withstand the daily wear and tear of its internal vehicle repair and maintenance facility. VINCI Construction is part of VINCI Group, a multinational enterprise with operations in the energy, infrastructure and construction industries. Founded in 1899, the company now has a presence in over 120 countries with a global team of around 220,000 people. The Widnes facility is one of ten VINCI Construction UK locations and houses, among other facilities, a vehicle maintenance workshop where the company ensures their fleet of general and specialist vehicles. The industrial unit that houses the workshop previously had a concrete paving slab floor that proved to be uneven, unsafe, and difficult to maintain.  Not only did the new flooring solution need to address these concerns, it also needed to be both slip and chemical resistant as well as feature clearly marked automotive bays and provide enough durability to withstand frequent wheeled traffic as well as the impact of dropped tools and the weight of heavy equipment. Installed in a combination of RAL 7037 Dusty Grey and RAL 6024 Traffic Green, vebrores EP HBC was installed across the 332 m2 vehicle workshop, with the Traffic Green used to mark out the facility’s six automotive bays, before being outlined using vebrodeck PU Linemarker in Yellow. Prior to the installation of vebrores EP HBC SR – a system comprising an initial layer of vebro EP Primer followed two coats of vebro EP Universal with a broadcast of 52 mesh silica sand after the first coat for an anti-slip profile – the pre-existing concrete paving slabs were first coated with an epoxy DPM and a 20.0 mm screed to level the surface. vebrores EP HBC SR is a pigmented, solvent-free, slip-resistant high build epoxy floor coating system that is best suited to floors in medium duty processing areas where a textured, hard-wearing, chemical resistant finish is required. Available in a wide range of BS 4008 or RAL matched shades, the system is ideally suited to areas where there is a need for navigational demarcation and zoning. 

This elevated balcony project in Taunton is a great example. The goal of the project was to make the addition of large balcony areas to the rear of two adjacent houses, with large steel frameworks to be designed to provide the balcony level to the first floor.

When Tenpin decided to reconfigure the layout of its leisure complex in Hounslow and embark on a complete refurbishment of the premises, it was in need of practical flooring that could cope with a high level of footfall, and was also available in a vibrant selection of colours.

A unique new retirement setting in the heart of Kidderminster, Berrington Court, features Karndean Designflooring in a bid to deliver a fresh approach to retirement living for residents with a stylish and realistic wood look luxury vinyl floor underfoot.

As part of plans to introduce an exclusive Champagne Nail Bar to its already successful boutique salon, Earl’s & Co’s founder and managing director, Jessica Earl looked to Karndean for inspiration over real wood floors.

The hotel’s newly marble-fitted bathrooms required a thin, water resistant floating screed to be applied to the insulation boards providing a base for the marble flooring. The screed needed to withstand the weight of the marble baths and other fixtures.

This unique house was built in Thorpeness, in Suffolk. The whole ground floor walls are made out of glass. This gave Silent Gliss an unique opportunity to help design the new building with its quality blinds and curtain tracks.

For the JD Sport store in Newcastle, the Derby Terrazzo Untamed tiles selection exemplified our commitment to merging style with sustainability. Covering an area of 245m², the flooring transformation brought an elevated aesthetic and robust functionality to the space.

Products from F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s System LVT range, including the company’s fast-track, fibre-reinforced transitional adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS, have been used to install luxury vinyl tiles in an ambitious, modern self-build property in rural Cambridgeshire.Flooring contractors began by thoroughly vacuuming the building’s concrete subfloor to remove dust and debris. F. Ball’s technical service team recommended treating the subfloor as a newly installed screed for the purposes of moisture management, despite being installed months earlier, as it had been left exposed to the elements since. Therefore, Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane was used to create a barrier to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and floorcoverings, potentially causing floor failure.Once the waterproof surface membrane had cured, the surface was primed using Stopgap P141. Stopgap 300 HD heavy-duty levelling compound was then applied over the entire ground floor to create a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings. The product’s high compressive strength and excellent self-levelling properties help create a flawless finish when installing LVTs, while ensuring a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing floor finish even when subject to high levels of wear.The contractors then used Styccobond F58 PLUS and Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS temperature tolerant, moisture resistant, pressure sensitive adhesive to install wood-effect LVTs over the 372m2 area. Styccobond F49 was used where floor-to-ceiling windows were likely to cause temperatures to rise significantly as a result of solar gain.Styccobond F58 PLUS was used to install vinyl tiles everywhere else. The fast-track adhesive enables floorcoverings to be installed from as little as five minutes after application, transitioning from a wet-lay adhesive to become fully pressure sensitive. Reinforcing fibres in the formulation provide resistance to lateral movement, holding tiles firmly in place and reducing the potential for them to slide around when working. The adhesive’s high bond strength and strong initial tack also prevent excess adhesive oozing between joints, facilitating easier application.All of the products used in this installation feature in the F. Ball System LVT range: subfloor preparation products and adhesives which, used in combination, can help achieve optimum results when installing LVTs.Commenting on the project, Richard Argyle of 4 Floor Fittings, said: “It’s the best screed I’ve ever done. The levelling compound had no imperfections whatsoever. Styccobond F58 PLUS allowed floorcoverings to be installed over large areas in one go while helping with the precise alignment of LVTs. The result is a visually striking finish in keeping with the rest of the project.”

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, has been used alongside the company’s Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive vinyl adhesive to provide a time-saving solution for installing floorcoverings in Derbyshire’s largest hospital.Derbyshire Flooring Contractors installed an eye-catching bespoke vinyl flooring design in the waiting area and connecting corridors of the children’s outpatient ward at Royal Derby Hospital, a total area of 800m2.The floors in the ward required refurbishing as the old floorcoverings had become worn. Work needed to be carried out in the evening, in stages, so that it would not interfere with the day-to-day running of the ward. Requiring a time-saving solution, contractors opted to use Stopgap 1500 AquaPro water-mix smoothing underlayment, avoiding the need to remove old adhesive residues.Stopgap 1500 AquaPro 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. In such applications, there is no need to prime beforehand, saving further time and expense. 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.Work began with the labour-intensive task of uplifting old floorcoverings. Stopgap 1500 AquaPro was then applied at a thickness of 3mm over the subfloors to create a perfectly smooth base for new floorcoverings.A bespoke two-tone design, resembling a river running through the children’s ward with ‘islands’ of colour either side, was created by cutting shapes from two different colours of Polyflor Classic Mystique PUR vinyl sheet flooring, with the pieces adhered using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive.Styccobond F46 provides instant grab, preventing floorcoverings from sliding when placed, helping with the creation of designs and patterns. The adhesive is also formulated to minimise the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl flooring potentially affecting the finished appearance of installations.Commenting on the project, Mark Grant, Managing Director at Derbyshire Flooring Contractors, said: “We like using F. Ball products – they’re really good quality and reliable. Also, their tech reps are always available, if needed, to provide advice on products to use and procedures to follow throughout a project, from start to finish, including keeping us up-to-date with the latest technology that can help us achieve optimum results efficiently. That’s how I found out about Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, which saved us a lot of time outside of normal working hours and enabled us to complete the work while the ward wasn’t in use, minimising disruption to services.”

Duo D410/D411 Glass InfillDuo D431 Perforated Infill Top FixDelta Balustrades were pleased to play a part in of the large Birmingham BSF Scheme with the completion of several hundreds of metres of balustrades in this new build project. Balustrades were installed to far reaching street areas with feature stairs leading to 2nd floor. Continuing across atrium bridge links on both 1st and 2nd floors, several staircases, and external terraces the Duo system provided a focal point for the building.In line with Birmingham City Council’s requirements for schools, guarding to atrium edge and external terrace was required to be 1500mm high above FFL. A number of special access gates were required to match adjoining balustrades.

When the Trade Council of Denmark exhibited a real world Danish Living Room at London Design Fair. The stand featured a curated mix of Danish brands to highlight Denmark’s strong heritage within quality design. Facilitated by the Embassy of Denmark in London and sponsored by Junckers, whose Hexparket flooring formed the backdrop to a host of iconic and promising contemporary Danish brands. Made in solid wood, the hexagonal design showcases Junckers’ long-standing tradition for quality and craftsmanship with a contemporary take on the classic parquet floor. The joint stand presented furniture, lighting, homeware, kitchen, TV and sound. Other brands included Fritz Hansen, Overgaard & Dyrman, Spekva, LOP Furniture, Arttiles, Møbel & Rum and Made by Toft. 

The Park Plaza Hotel, Hercules House is positioned just south of Westminster Bridge overlooking the River Thames with spectacular views across London. The hotel provides high-end dining and premium facilities such as the spa, sauna and swimming pool. Within walking distance of London’s most famous attractions inclduing the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the London Aquarium, Hercules House is the ideal place to stay in the Capital. Licata Building Systems was involved with the development of this project, providing several Licata systems, such as waterproofing and flooring systems. Licata waterproofing systems were used throughout the modern bathrooms and swimming pool facility. Licata resin flooring created a sleek and finish throughout public area of the hotel. 

Rawson Carpet Solutions have been chosen to supply the Modern Artesian Building Studio Apartment blocks in Liverpool. The building sits in a bustling creative area of Liverpool in the heart of the Baltic Triangle.500 sqm of Rawson’s Dash carpet tiles have been installed by the flooring contractor Bogans. Rawson Dash Tile is a commercial durable, carpet tile with a dash linear pattern. The Carpet tiles provide a subtle but pleasing aesthetic to the floor complementing the bright wall colouring and imagery.Rawson Carpet Solutions is a long established UK Manufacturer offering a vast range of carpet sheet and tile solutions to suit any commercial or public space project, whether the criteria is durable and competitive or high end designer.

Our client on this project specialise in vehicle conversions for all emergency services and government departments. They needed a reliable, reputable flooring company to assist them with their refurbishment.   The project requirements were:Surface area to cover 410m2 Must be able to handle vehiclesFire retardant - Bfl S1Fast installationImpact resistantNo adhesive or damp-proof membrane requiredColour optionsHardwearingReduce dust and noiseEasy to clean and maintainCE accredited R-Tile Textured Dovetail by R-Tek Manufacturing was the clear choice, we supplied and fitted a durable, hardwearing flooring suitable for their needs and requirements.(R-Tile Textured Blue -with some black tiles for a walkway had been selected by the client).

One Chamberlain Square is part of the £700m Paradise scheme in the heart of Birmingham City. It offers 150,000 sq ft of office space fitted with floor-to-ceiling glazing and 22,000 sq ft of ground floor restaurant and retail space. Sylan Products Supplied:ColourCoat High Gloss Toilet CubiclesFlush frontedFull height cubicleUp to 80% gloss finishAvailable in over 200 colours in the classic RAL rangeHigh Gloss Duct PanellingModern and StylishCreating Uniformity through outMatching panelling to cubicles Solid Surface Countertop Vanity with Cantilever BracketsTimeless designHardwearingCantilever bracketsQuick and easy to installAvailable in 12 Solid Surface colours

Comfortable space created for parents and babies at university hospitalIssueLa Paz University Hospital in Madrid is a national centre of expertise in neonatal care. They wanted to transform the Neonatal Acute Unit, to allow families to stay together with their babies while they are receiving treatment and care. In total, 24 units were created to accommodate and make this visit more comfortable.ApproachA homely, family-friendly space was needed that was also hygienic and reduced the transfer of noise. Víctor de las Casas, Architect at EACSN studio, said: “We wanted to modernise the neonatology area: not only in terms of materials, but in the very “neonatal concept” of La Paz, which wants to encourage parents to be with their children in the most normal and welcoming way possible”.SolutionSandra Fuentes, Maintenance and Works Technician at La Paz said: “The professional high standards of the medical team had not been reflected in the quality of the neonatal unit, and that was frustrating.” The flooring needed to be able to cope with foot traffic, hospital beds, trolleys and wheelchairs. It also needed good looks and design flexibility. The hospital team opted for robust Altro Operetta flooring, which provides 4dB impact sound reduction, comfort underfoot and ease of cleaning.Altro Operetta is a robust floor perfect for medium to high traffic areas and is easy to clean and maintain. Designed in line with the Bauhaus ethos that style is as important as function, it has multiple attractive, natural colours and finishes to fit in your interior design scheme."Altro Operetta gives the same warm feeling that carpet does, but also provides safety to both staff and patients." Sandra Fuentes Maintenance and Works Technician, La Paz University Hospital"Basically, all the technical issues have been resolved and the floor has provided more comfort for families staying in the unit." Víctor de las Casas Architect, EACSN Studio

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon has undergone an ambitious and exciting £112m project to install a brand new auditorium inside the skeleton of the art-deco original. The internal refit created some interesting acoustical challenges. One of the most important aspects of the project was to ensure that theatre performances were not disturbed by noise from other parts of the building. In particular, the gantry – from where scenery changes and lighting are managed – was identified as requiring a specialised acoustic solution, to stop the noise of people working behind the scenes from carrying through to the audience. This is where CMS Danskin stepped in.The SolutionAs soft flooring subcontractors on the project, Loughton Contracts installed CMS High Impact Mat in the gantry. Composed of reclaimed rubber, EPDM granulate and PUR binder, CMS High Impact Mat is a durable, environmentally friendly type of floor covering that reduces excess sound, prevents unwanted noise and has excellent impact reduction. CMS High Impact Mat is available in a variety of thicknesses and colours. Simple to install, LoughtonContracts fitted 573m² of blue, 10mm thick CMS High Impact Mat onto wooden, concrete and screeded floor areas in the theatre gantry. As a non-reflective, slip and tear resistant material that meets the highest safety standards, it provides a safe surface for an area of the theatre where there is constant movement of scenery, people and heavy lighting.CMS High Impact Mat also has other qualities which made it the preferred specification for this refurbishment. As well as providing high acoustic performance, it offers an aesthetic, ‘final floor finish’ which is warm underfoot and has anti-fatigue properties. It creates an attractive, comfortable and quiet working environment in the gantry, as well as contributing to the quality finish that runs throughout the theatre.

A 30 year old building previously part of the Hewlett Packard campus in Bristol was selected for renovation to become the University of the West of England (UWE) Future Space. Altro resin floors were selected to meet the needs of the specification.

Specific service penetration deflection. High movement requirement due to construction type. Firestopping requirements through flexible walls and concrete floors up to 120 minutes with typical 2mm deflection required for all service penetrations.

Vision 7 is the third generation in the Vision range ofcommercial doors with anti-finger trap functionality,making it suitable for a wide range of ground floorapplications, including schools and leisure facilities,hospitals, shopping centres and offices

ACOUSTIC insulation experts CMS Danskin Acoustics has worked with historic Standon Hall to specify and supply a range of acoustic products to reduce the impact of airborne and impact sound transmission in the Grade II listed Staffordshire venue.During the course of redeveloping the early 20th century country house into a high-quality wedding and business venue, Standon Hall made acoustics a key element for investment. CMS Danskin Acoustic’s in-house technical team conducted a site assessment in order to specify an insulation strategy to address structure borne noise and absorb sound.The objective was to prevent noise transfer between ground floor functions rooms and nine bedrooms and suites above. Andrey Magiy, Standon Hall’s MD, said, ‘During this two-year project to transform the hall into an outstanding venue we had an opportunity to address acoustics as floors were lifted to install new services. It was as important to prevent sounds from above being heard in meetings and conferences below, as it was to prevent noise from ground floor functions filtering up into the bedrooms.’The resulting acoustics strategy from CMS Danskin Acoustics involved the installation of 600sq m of Smartspan floor panels, Karma TNF70 high density stone-fibre batt and REGUPOL acoustic isolation strip. Challenges included the need to work from above to avoid disturbing fine, moulded lath and plaster ceilings below and the necessity to specify high performance acoustic materials of a thickness that wouldn’t increase bedroom and bathroom floor levels.Andy Hayes, CMS Danskin specification manager and IAO Affiliate, said, ‘Smartspan panels span across bearing structures such as, in this case, joists. They provide high acoustic performance, are easy to install, come in different thicknesses, such as the 32mm and 18mm used at Standon Hall, and have a reaction to fire classification (EN 13501-1) A1.‘Smartspan was also valuable for use in bathroom floors as it has excellent thermal conductivity making it ideal over UFH systems, has surface water absorption of only (EN20535) <300g/sq m is suitable for stone and ceramic finishes and, with a tongue-and-groove profile, it’s straightforward to install.’REGUPOL Acoustic Isolation Strip was also incorporated to reduce impact noise from first floor footfall. The strips are designed to sit beneath all types of partition walls and are described by the company as a simple and effective way to reduce structure borne noise. ‘Quick and easy to install, they provide long term performance without collapse or ‘bottoming’ out under high point loads, are resistant to ageing and deformation, are manufactured using recycled materials and are 100% recyclable.’~Karma TNF70 was also specified in places. Says the company: ‘It’s typically used in refurbishment projects for improving existing structures where access is only available from above and where additional acoustic and fire performance is required, such as in flats, offices, shops, and hotels. It’s lightweight, quick to install and is a dry system that won’t damage sensitive lath and plaster ceilings or fine plaster mouldings.’‘The products have been absolutely brilliant and we have great acoustics results for the primary rooms,’ said Standon Hall’s Andrey Magiy. Standon Hall opened for private hire for weddings and corporate events during 2021 and the bedrooms and suites were completed and launched in spring 2022.

Glazing Vision rooflights were used in the re-construction of this mews house situated in the prime real estate and conservation area of Mayfair, London. The building is an exceptional example of stunning architecture and elegant, contemporary interiors. Whilst adding a majestic character to the mews itself with its dark brick façade and impactful balcony, the outer appearance belies the vast size of the residence internally. After the demolition of the former mews house and after 2 years of construction, which had even necessitated underpinning the neighbouring houses, this property now accommodates a basement with indoor pool, lower ground floor with cinema room, open plan living and dining space, 2 floors of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as additional terraced balconies.Keeping the interiors bright and airy throughout was key to the design concept – floor to ceiling windows and Flushglaze Walk On Rooflights from Glazing Vision were installed to maximise the daylight where it would have been otherwise compromised on the ground and second floors. In addition, a Glazing Vision 3 Wall Box Rooflight provides unimpeded access from an internal staircase to the impressive roof terrace, which is recessed down 1 1/2metres between 2 pitched roofs and which offers a vast outdoor space for entertaining, dining and relaxing.Two Flushglaze Walk On rooflights were specified by the architect to negate the risk of potential dark spots appearing in the dining zone and living area on the ground floor. Engineered by Glazing Vision to bespoke sizes and to meet the future projected foot traffic upon them, they were seamlessly integrated into the balconied terrace on the second floor, thus shedding light through to the bench seating in the kitchen and lounge.Their minimal internal framework was in keeping with the contemporary aesthetic of the interior, and both rooflights augment the quality and quantity of light entering this open plan area, even extending out towards the central stairwell and landing.Two further custom-sized Flushglaze Walk On Rooflights installed on the roof terrace add an intricate design detail but also create a wow factor. Perfect for flat roof terraces, these rooflights lie flush with the wooden decking. Again tested to allow for regular foot traffic and to bear the weight of terrace furniture, the rooflights offer complete safety and watertight integrity. On the second floor below, the two windowless bathrooms are flooded with the light coming through these rooflights – indeed such is the brightness of these rooms that privacy blinds have been installed for occasional use.Seeking to optimise the very large roof space that had been created (4m x 8m) the architect specified Glazing Vision’s 3 Wall Box Rooflight, which would offer easy access all year round to the roof terrace and also provide a contemporary glass feature. For the accommodation of the 3 wall mounted box rooflight a timber box frame had to be built which abutted the exposed brick wall behind.The property’s imposing central staircase provides access to the box rooflight, which in turn maximises the light falling down the stairwell to the bottom of the house. At a touch of a button from an access keypad, the sliding roof retracts to give a 50% clear opening with no “bowing of the head” necessary. The operation is quiet and safe, and the provision of a rain sensor ensures closure from inclement weather.

The combination of old and new architecture provides unusual views and insights.This was certainly the case with the extension of the Batelease Farm owned by the Moody couple in the English county of Devon.The original Batelease Farm was built back in the 15th century and the building has been changed and extended over the centuries. Because the Batelease Farm is a Grade II listed building everything had to be approved by the responsible heritage officials.The modern extension to the old farmhouse creates a contrast between old and new and combines the two - quite literally. Because the goal wasn’t merely to create a new build - it also had to be accessible and enable barrier-free access between the old and new building.This will allow the client, a wheelchair user, to navigate between the buildings independently and to move between the centuries, so-to-speak.A glass structure connects the main house and the new build and covers two floors, including a lift. Barrier-free access has been created between the buildings on both the ground floor and the first floor. There is also an entrance and exit here, which enables the client to enter or leave the building independently at any time.A Guldmann GH1 ceiling hoist system is used in the client’s bedroom with the rail system integrated subtly into an exposed timber beam, so that the practical aid is almost invisible.

This project consisted of many Helmsman products, with lockers, cubicles, vanity units and IPS panels being supplied. Alongside the team at Mixbrow Construction and Ipswich Town FC, we designed, manufactured and installed 8 bespoke 1 compartment laminate lockers, 1775mm high x 400mm wide x 500mm deep on a cantilevered seat stand. The theme of the changing rooms was kept slick and professional, with See Group’s Biocarbon Laminate used in colour Gabbro. This fantastic carbon neutral laminate is strong, moisture resistant, easy to clean and has antibacterial protection, perfect for a changing room project. The locks chosen for the lockers were Lowe and Fletcher 2800 combination locks, also a great choice for the coaches’ changing rooms.Whilst we offer a wide range of cubicle options, we worked with the team at Mixbrow Construction to design a bespoke floor to ceiling cubicle to fit their needs. The changing room design featured 2 Bespoke Floor to Ceiling shower cubicles and 1 Bespoke Floor to Ceiling Toilet Cubicle. Also included in the project were 4 sets of IPS (Integrated Plumbing System) Panels and a Solid Grade Laminate Vanity unit, all in matching Solid Grade BioCarbon Laminate in colour Gabbro.