"stone quarried stonemasons restoration"

Project DetailProject: Motel One – ManchesterLocation: Manchester Piccadilly, UKProduct: TS.9000 range of architectural closers for main reception and TS.3000 range of contract closers for apartmentsProject Description“Manchester has got everything except a beach,” said Ian Brown, lead singer of The Stone Roses. The city in the northwest of England is known as a party and music capital. Bands such as Oasis, The Smiths or The Chemical Brothers have their roots here. However, if you want to experience all the different aspects of this diverse city it would be best if you booked a longer stay at your cheap and centrally located Motel One Design Hotel in Manchester.Brand new and built in a very tight but friendly spot the Motel came as no surprise requiring a couple of door closers for its Hotel and resting overnight stay accommodation. The TS 9205 were chosen for heavily used entrance area and the TS 3204 were chosen for their bedroom doors because:They are supported by an established companyHave excellent right up and guaranteesVery easy and fast to fit and adjust making them the perfect answer for the contractor and door manufacturer.

SubFloor raised steel flooring was used to renovate, raise and level a 285 m² listed museum floor into a modern meeting space in Ellesmere Port, Liverpool.This simple and elegant solution raised an uneven stone floor up to 300 mm to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height. Steel joists were used to meet moisture requirements in the port area and underfloor heating plates were assembled on top.Products:Steel Joist 45x30x3800 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmScrew FootInsulation Bearer 120 mmInsulation Bearer 95 mmHeight Variation: 50 - 303 mmSystem Weight - c/c 400 mm: 2.88 kg/m²Materials:Steel SUB250 GD, Z100 GalvFibre-reinforced VitamidePolyamidePoint Load 50 x 50 mm: 5.78 kN6.78 kN/m² - Between screws10.54 kN/m² - Over screw at joist edge[According to SS-EN 1195:1998] 

In the picturesque Wachau Valley, among numerous vintage taverns and art galleries, lies the city of Krems an der Donau, an ancient town on the Danube that enjoys an exclusive natural landscape surrounded by greenery.A short walk from the city centre, nestled among the surrounding vineyards, the Steigenberger Hotel and Spa offers guests a warm welcome with a modern style where they can breathe in a calm ambiance with relaxing views of the old town of Krems or the Danube Valley. In this setting suspended somewhere between tradition and the search for contemporary style, the elegance and practicality of Atlas Concorde products stand out in some indoor areas of the building. Realism, simplicity, and technical performance: the strength of a natural material inspired by stone covers the walls of the rooms in a warm shade, creating a strong yet natural and welcoming atmosphere. Veins, shading, and inclusions of materials offer a contemporary design, creating a synergy between reliability and beauty. On the other hand, the interpretation of the concrete effect in a ceramic material creates the perfect background to experience moments of relaxation in the suites and the spa. Original decorations and elegant porcelain surfaces embellish these spaces, the floors and tiles interacting in perfect chromatic harmony.

Material and system specification used: Kalzip FC rainscreen in 500mm wide RAL 1035 pearl Beige and RAL 7022 – also Kalzip wall perforated        Stephenson Quarter is a major mixed-use development in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne by the Clouston Group. The site was home to the Robert Stephenson and Co. Locomotive Works, the crucible of the railway industry, where the revolutionary Rocket was built in 1829. The site includes the new Crowne Plaza Hotel and The Rocket (offices) plus Stephenson qtr Car park   Installation of over 1500 m2 of FC rainscreen cladding to the Rocket building in RAL 7022 and RAL 1035 Pearl Beige in between stone cladding on the Crown Plaza Hotel Kalzip Perforated facade was used to create a feature between the main brick work for the car park Key challenges overcome:  With 3 phases of the project to undertake over a period of 18 months. Working at height in a very tight, exposed city centre location, needed a high quality over-cladding solution with neat joints that was quick and easy to install. The product needed to integrate with the window system and other cladding facade materials   

Fifty5ive Queen Street, Salford is a new 18 storey, 220-unit residential building in the centre of Salford for local developer Salboy.It includes modern, high-quality 1-, 2- & 3-bedroom apartments and duplexes, amenities include private resident workspace, gymnasium, yoga studios, resident cinema room and a terrace garden. Domis Construction is the preferred construction partner for Salboy on this scheme. In early 2022 they approached Encon Insulation in Chorley looking for a more readily available alternative to the stone wool product already specified. URSA UK Ltd was chosen to fill the void and keep the scheme on track. We supplied over 4500m2 of 100mm URSAPAN BLACK - a unique glass mineral wool rainscreen cladding insulation slab; ·      Euroclass A1 fire rating (non-combustible).·      Thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK.·      BBA Certified. Kate Fox, Area Sales Manager for the Midlands stated, ‘Following the success of this initial partnership URSA are now the preferred supplier of rainscreen insulation and our products are currently being used on Anchorage Quay in Salford with others in the pipeline including Derwent Street in Salford’.     

Designed by architects from Qatar, this complex villa has a very different design from the usual house models; Clean and angular forms which are broken up with massive section of timber structures. These structures are not ordinarily large section of timber. They are created in house at Technowood and serve as a “reduced timber option”. Furthermore, with only using 2% when compared to using sold timber for the same project.Stone, metals and glass are the main texture of the design. These white tones of concrete structured against panels of natural timber, it’s most eye-catching feature. Located in Dohada, one of the most modern cities of Qatar, this futuristic house is also accompanied by the tranquil nature of the pool and the wooden sunbathing areas surrounding the secluded exterior.When working with designs for projects, Technowood allows the Architect to think big and realise big at the same time. Unsupported beams of this natural material can span up to 12 metres unsupported… imagine this section in a hard wood, the weight would be tonnes in comparison to the lightweight Technowood option.Credits and Further informationLocationDohada, QatarMaterialsCantilevered Bris Soleil, solid forms and cladding in TechnowoodProjectPrivate Villa

The Old Grammar School House in Shrewsbury is a Grade II listed historic building, which was formerly part of the school and has been converted to an office space.KEIM were approached by Randle Building Solutions, who had used KEIM Mineral Paints on a previous project in Edgmond, Shropshire. The conventional painted stonework was flaking and blistering due to excess moisture trapped within the substrate. The painted brickwork on the front of the building was in good condition.Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints recommended stripping the paint off the stonework and the brickwork at the back of the building, using KEIM STS 7M, that was holding damp and flaking. The gloss paint on the stone windows surrounds were to be stripped as much as possible and sanded down to create a key for the mineral paint to bond to.KEIM Contact-Plus was diluted with KEM Soldalit Fixativ to equalise surface textures and fill hairline cracks. KEIM Soldalit, in a bespoke grey colour (KS01 0312) that was matched back to the original paint colour, was applied to create a breathable, long-lasting finish.KEIM Soldalit is fire resistant and A2-s1, d0 classified. The sol-silicate properties mean that it can be applied over unpainted and previously painted surfaces without the need of a primer.

Breathing new life into a 16th century farmhouse in Redmarley, Gloucester, Durbridge House has undergone extensive renovation works. Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited the property and found evidence of algae, and flaking paint. In order to provide a solid foundation on which to paint, a skim coat of KEIM Universal Render for the base of the exterior stonework was recommended, to consolidate the fried stone and create a bell shape for improved water shedding.The damp chimney stack on the north elevation was stripped back, using the DOFF system (a high temperature, low pressure method, which is least invasive for the brick facia), to release trapped water and left to dry for two weeks prior to re-decoration. Bryan recommended removing all loose material by wire brush, as well as stripping the chimney stack and base of the stonewall to the north elevation, as much as possible.To remove the red algae, 50:50 of bleach and water was advocated, in addition to KEIM Algicid for mould and algae growth. The KEIM Royalan system was recommended, due to its durability and breathability. It was applied to the newly skimmer render and will provide a long-lasting coating, as its highly resistant to fungal and algae growth, while also being resistant to airborne pollutants and acid rain. 

Opened in April 2019 by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Hounslow House is the new greener-energy HQ of Hounslow Council in London.Building plans for the new purpose-built council offices included a rooftop communal area, and, impressed by what the team at AG could offer, it was agreed that AG’s TerraPave® premium granite flags perfectly fitted the requirement for a smooth granite finish flagstone, providing a more superior product than the original spec while also ensuring significant cost savings on the project.The 500m² area was given a beautiful aesthetic look through the use of our TerraPave® Rimini and Milano Ground (400x400x50mm) which was calibrated and laid on pedestals for speed of construction.Offering an attractive, cost-effective and practical alternative to traditional stone paving, TerraPave® is a favourite choice with architects and specifiers – and this is one project that proves why that’s the case.Dan Smith, AG Regional Sales Manager, said:“AG was able to provide better quality and a keener price on the products used. Furthermore, our team was also able to deliver both the experience and project know-how required to ensure the client received best value for money on the overall project.”

AG were tasked with installing paving flags at the new entrance of the Portlaoise Retail Park as well as lifting and replacing the old paving at the existing entrance.The TerraPave® flag, manufactured from aggregates sourced from around Europe, was chosen as a fine quality concrete alternative to natural stone, which helps keep costs down. It was also selected for conforming to current BREEAM sustainability criteria which AG include as standard requirement. TerraPave® also requires little to no maintenance and is completed in ground and textured finishes, giving it a more attractive look compared to other paving solutions.John Donnellan, Key Account Manager AG, said:“We felt the TerraPave® flags were the best products for these highly pedestrianised entrances due to its glowing track record and the similar projects it’s been used for. TerraPave® is easily maintained and retains its colour very well and these were the qualities Harcourt Developments required due to the heavy footfall at the Retail Park. After 6 years the flags now look in pristine condition.”The old paving was replaced with our TerraPave® Genoa Ground flag for its unique design and eye-catching finish.

Emrys Architects were appointed by Berners & Wells to design this mixed-use development located north of Oxford Street in central London. The building sits across 2 different streets, the lower two floors accommodate flexible retail and restaurant space and the upper floors high end office space.The building has been designed to respond to the historic Character of the local area, some areas were partially demolished while the Edwardian facade on Wells Street was retained, repaired and extended. Portland stone and teal glazed-brick detail was used to create seven two-storey high arches showcasing the grand entrances to the offices and retail units.The ironmongery brief centred around replicating the arches present in both the external entrances and the courtyard, this distinctive shape was also used in the vision panels on a number of internal doors. To fulfil this brief, we worked closely with the architect to design and manufacture bespoke arched push plates in Flat Matt Black(FMB). Where required these were paired with complimentary D-shaped pull handles and simple accessories finished to match. All other ironmongery was finished in FMB including hinges, door closers, signage and accessories.Photography: Neil Kenyon

Expanding Exeter College's 700-year-old campus in the heart of Oxford was a privilege given to Alison Brooks Architects: developing Cohen Quad, a hub for students including living accommodation for 90, an auditorium, seminar rooms, social learning spaces, an archive, a café, roof terraces, offices, and fellows' accommodation.Student rooms and fellows' studies are enclosed by patterned stainless steel that folds across wall and roof surfaces, sitting on a stone-clad 'base' that houses the quads' public spaces.The Rimex tiling in the checkerboard pattern really highlights the stunning dormer windows and the beautiful curve of the tiles from the roofline wrap around the roof and down the walls creating a seamless cloak around the building. 17,000 iridescent stainless steel shingles adorn this roof, and the tiles are of a wonderful muted bronze and champagne colour with an unusual texture - catching - but not reflecting the sunlight. "We were given excellent technical and sales support from Fixfast. All stainless steel fixings and shingle clips were supplied in a timely and efficient manner. These factors contributed to Roles Broderick Roofing Ltd winning the NFRC Roofing Award for 2017"Ben Clark - Operations Director at Roles Broderick Roofing Ltd

As the UK’s leading organisation for advanced materials research and innovation, the Henry Royce Institute plays a pivotal role in the country’s ambitions to develop groundbreaking materials and technologies, while fostering in parallel sustainable growth and development. Its purpose is to provide industry large and small as well as academia with the capability to develop, make, test and characterise innovative products, components and systems. To this effect, it provides easy access to state-of-the-art equipment worth more than £150m (175m euros) and to a highly trained support team. The Henry Royce Institute, known to many simply as ‘Royce’, operates from its brand new building at the University of Manchester and works in close coordination with eight additional, leading institutions across the UK – the Universities of Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxford and Sheffield, the Imperial College London, the National Nuclear Laboratory and UKAEA (UK Atomic Energy Authority) – as well as Associate Partner, the University of Cranfield. All in all, Royce coordinates over £300m (350m Euros) of facilities, making it one of the global leaders in material science: it was at the University of Manchester, just a stone’s throw away from the new Hub, that graphene – a game-changing, carbon based supermaterial 200 times stronger than steel – was discovered for the first time.

The team at Moorlands Lodge Care Home, situated in the Surrey South Downs are there to welcome you for a guided tour around the home and discuss your specific care needs.Moorlands Lodge Care Home sits in a beautiful rural location, surrounded by local places of interest including National Trust properties, gardens, and art galleries, and with excellent transport links to nearby Guildford and London. Only a stone’s throw from the bustling market towns of Haslemere and Farnham, Moorlands Lodge Care Home offers a warm and welcoming environment and the very best in residential care, nursing care and dementia care. With 97 rooms, residents can choose between one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and studio apartments, all with en-suite shower rooms and some with kitchenettes.The Una was used in this building. The Una is a timber leaf riser door system with a concealed metal frame. Provided as a full metal door set, made to size and delivered to site as a flat-packed kit prepared for all ironmongery. The wood door leaf comes with hinge cut-outs and can be primed for on-site finishing or pre-finished in our factory. Choose from non-fire rated or fire rated to E30 or E60.

The historic Bell Street Stables in Glasgow has recently undergone an extensive conversion, featuring the installation of Alumasc’s Flushjoint aluminium rainwater downpipe system.This magnificent period property has an interesting history. It was built between 1896-98 by A. W. Wheatley, originally to house horses working to pull the Glasgow City Council Cleansing Department’s refuse collection carts. In 1955, the building was redesigned to provide a separate entrance for the Police Department who shared the property with Cleansing until the 1980s. Situated in a prime position within the Merchant City area in the city centre of Glasgow, the building was converted to form 52 mid-market affordable rented flats by the Construction and Manufacturing Group (CCG) on behalf of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and Lowther Homes, during a two-year construction programme. The renovation was completed in 2019.A major requirement of the renovation was to conserve as much of the building’s heritage as possible, which included all exterior aspects. This involved the upgrade of the stone elevation, replacing all windows and making repairs to the roof and rainwater system.Flushjoint aluminium downpipes along with contemporary hopper heads were specified for their contemporary design. The installation was completed in a non-standard RAL colour to match and complement the window surrounds. 

Designed by AHR Architects, the new UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton has won numerous awards including the BCO National Awards Corporate Workplace Award and Best of the Best Award 2020 and a Regional RIBA Award, RIBA Sustainability Award and RIBA Client of the year 2019.The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office is the UK’s agency for providing hydrographic and marine geospatial data to mariners and maritime organisations across the world. The UKHO is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence and is located in Taunton, Somerset with a workforce of approximately 900 staff.We worked with the Architects, Client and Contractors to select one of our exclusive GeoBrick range for this prestigious project. The clean sleek lines and hardwearing stone finish provide a stunning façade to this landmark building. The warm texture of the brick also gives depth and character and softens the mass of the building.“The design principles of the building called for a linear brick which was modern and unique whilst complimenting the landscape and a variety of existing brick buildings surrounding the new HQ. The EH Smith Geobrick brindle bricks stood out from all the rest and we are delighted with the results. Personally, this is my favourite material used on this project!”- Johanna Funnell New Build Project Manager - UKHO

Middlewood Locks is a prestigious 25-acre mixed-use regeneration scheme of Salford’s canal district. The first development phase included the construction of Quarry, an eight-storey building combining ground floor commercial space, luxury apartments and an undercroft car park for residents. It was the insulation for this car park that threw up a challenge for sub-contractor Horbury Building Systems. A complex underdrawing method had been specified, comprising the installation of timber battens, non-combustible mineral wool insulation and a separate soffit insulation over the top. Installation would be extremely labour-intensive, so Horbury Building Systems consulted Knauf Insulation about whether it could provide an alternative that would meet the thermal performance and fire safety requirements, but also be easy to install. Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team reviewed the specification and recommended 185mm Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra to achieve the required 0.18 W/m2K U-value.  Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra is a Rock Mineral Wool insulation slab bonded to a 6mm off-white weather resistant facing board which provides a two-in-one aesthetic and thermal solution. It has a low thermal conductivity of just 0.034 W/mK and is designed for use as an insulated underlining solution in semi-exposed environments. The off-white cementitious particle board reflects light which makes it ideally suited for use in car parks. As well as thermal performance, Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra is non-combustible. It has the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, so it will not contribute to the development or spread of a fire should it occur. This is important because car parks can contain large quantities of a potential propellant – petrol. So the insulation will help to ensure the fire safety of the rest of the building.   Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra also has good sound absorption characteristics so it provides high levels of sound reduction. This reduces noise from the car park, minimising disruption for the people living and working in the premises above. As well as meeting the specification, Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra has been enhanced to add rigidity and is easy to install. The board is simply placed onto the concrete soffit and fixed into position with five drillscrews. This reduced the installation method from three separate phases to just one, saving Horbury Building Systems time and associated labour costs. Stephen Hampshire, Contracts Manager at Horbury Building Systems said: “We found the panels easy to install. Firstly, we marked and drilled the fixing points at bench level. Next, we held the panels in place to the underside of the concrete – although the panels are lightweight ‘this is a two-handed operation’ – then we drilled through and fixed.”  “We took care in lining the panels together when installing it against the soffit and with some minor tweaking up and down we got a nice flush finish.” Being able to align the panels exactly is not only important for ensuring a good finish. It also means that the slabs will butt tightly together, reducing unintended air gaps which can reduce thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance.  The insulation was supplied to the Middlewood Locks construction site by distributor Galaxy Insulation.  Thanks to Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra, the underlining of the car park at Middlewood Locks was easy to install, is aesthetically pleasing, and provides complete thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance.

An historic landmark in the Lake District has been given a new lease of life with the installation of StoTherm Mineral K external wall insulation and StoSilco finishing render. Built in 1937, the building in Keswick originally housed the UK’s first pencil factory, and now provides new headquarters and site for the Keswick Convention for the Keswick Ministries organization. After being used by the Cumberland Pencil Company the building had fallen into disrepair. Set at the entrance to Keswick, this important local landmark has now embarked on a £10.5m redevelopment project, split into four phases. The Sto materials have been used on the first phase which has seen the building’s front elevation fully restored, and they have also been specified for the remaining three stages of the work.The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral K system combines impressive insulation with unrivalled fire protection characteristics. It features Sto-Mineral Fibre thermal insulation boards, which in this case were fixed to the substrate using StoLevell Duo Plus mineral bonding and reinforcing mortar.  “This allows any unevenness in the surface of the substrate to be accommodated and makes installation a fast and easy process,” comments Alan Rees of Eco Rend North East who installed the Sto system. This efficient single-leaf construction allows for excellent thermal performance without reducing the interior space, and as it requires no additional expansion joints, a smooth and unbroken exterior surface can be created.  An additional mineralic reinforcing coat was applied and the exterior surface was finished with StoSilco silicone resin render.  With high CO2 and water-vapour permeability, StoSilco render allows a weather- and water-repellant outer surface to be created in any of the 1,000+ colours available in the StoColor System.  

The Old War Office is a magnificent refurbishment of Winston Churchill's headquarters during the World War II. The sensitive restoration of this Grade 2 historic building includes a 125-room world class Raffles Hotel and 85 luxury residences, along with restaurants, exclusive bars, a Spa and Wellness centre. Referred to as London’s anticipated destination, this architectural landmark opens its doors to the public in Summer 2023.RYNO’s involvement in the scheme included providing the paving and substructure to the Centre triangle Courtyard and the Penthouse Roof Terraces. The triangle Courtyard was finished with a RYNO Quadro porcelain range and supported on our TerraSmart Rail system. The system uses a double lattice structure to provide superior support to the pavers even around the complex curves of the planters on the courtyard and penthouse terraces. The design and detailing of the build-ups from concept to completion has been brilliant, fully complementing the building’s magnificent heritage and unique character.RYNO worked very closely with The Gardenists to ensure the rail layout and build-ups were designed to absolute perfection. Seeing is believing and as Calvin Dalrymple, Specification Manager at RYNO, testifies “to come to the site and see the results…, they really just speak for themselves. Knowing and understanding the coordination that's gone into this whole project and now to see it looking so fantastic has really been a huge reward.” Home to Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George, the Old War Office was designed in a trapezium shape to maximise the use of the land in Whitehall. Of the 25 million bricks that make up the building, the first was laid in 1901: the building was completed in 1906. For all Bond-fans out there, the building has featured in the background of many films: its first Bond-appearance was in 1983.

THE PROJECTThe M3 Hackwood Road Bridge is located near Basingstoke on the M3 motorway. It required extensive concrete repair over large areas, due to water ingress causing the corrosion of the steel reinforcement through carbonation and chloride attack. The repairs were undertaken as part of the Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) for National Highways. Continuity and half-cell tests carried out revealed weak areas within the bridge’s rebar.THE SOLUTIONSacrificial anodes were installed to the perimeter of all repair areas prior to Renderoc DS being used to spray back replacement material. Renderoc was selected as the best product solution due to its low rebound performance, which is well-known and tested in the market, having been used in many similar applications. Renderoc DS is fully compatible with all anode systems due to its low resistivity. This is true for a majority of the Renderoc range, meaning it can be use alongside cathodic protection. Renderoc HB45 hand applied mortar was also used where access was limited. Each phase of the repairs lasted approximately 2 weeks, involving breakout, continuity tests, anode installation, area preparation, spraying, and a 3 day curing period before moving onto the next section.THE BENEFITSThe corrosion and potential spalling of the existing concrete meant that there was a risk to health and safety of the bridge. If left unrepaired this could have also affected the capacity of the asset on a major UK motorway. The application process for each section of the repairs was significantly faster due to the spray application method and ensured a comprehensive restoration of the entire structure. Volker Laser completed all works on time and to program.

Halamar acquired this site in Beaconsfield. Planning permission was granted for a new build two-storey detached dwelling, replacing the existing residential property constructed in the 1900s.A comprehensive set of architecture plans specified high quality elevations with a ‘classical’ Georgian-esque design. The sub-contractors, B-Bespoke Design & Build Ltd, required Keystone’s brick slip flat gauge headers above multi-pane sash windows and an intelligent bespoke interconnecting brick slip splayed bay system across two floors on the side elevation.ChallengeThe design and scale of the building, along with the arrangement of fenestration and opening detailing, required the careful skill and use of sympathetic materials to ensure the development enhanced the special character of properties in close vicinity.B-Bespoke Design & Build Ltd considered the volume of decorative window openings and availability of local skilled bricklayers when considering the most effective and efficient approach to the build schedule.SolutionAn offsite construction method was deployed by the sub-contractor. Keystone’s technical team were contacted to design brick slip flat gauge headers accommodating brick spans between 1135mm to 1472mm. Each with a 70-degree end skew, 375mm high face brick and 102mm soffit return whilst also incorporating keystone stone headers above specific windows. The prefabricated lintels improved the allocation of time and resources elsewhere on site allowing the build to be completed to a high interior specification still with an exterior full of character.The rigid symmetrical design and gracious classic proportions create a generous sense of space and natural light, with stunning traditional period features created above each window opening. The interconnecting brick slip splayed bay system spans 1695mm and provides a stark contrast to the boxy room profiles often seen with a Georgian home. This architectural feature accommodates the high ceilings and desired aesthetics whilst providing effective structural support to withstand roof and masonry loads above.A consignment of bricks was collected from site and each brick cut and bonded using a BBA approved construction adhesive to the load bearing lintels offsite. The patented perforated lintel design allows the adhesive to squeeze through the perforations and form a ‘mushroom’ on the inside, providing a mechanical lock between the steel lintel and the brick slips.Testimonial“For the new build Georgian styled home, we sourced over thirty bespoke prefabricated brick slip feature lintels from Keystone as well as a unique interconnecting feature brick splayed bay system. As a smaller building contractor, we saved time and money using Keystone Lintels. We did not need to source additional skilled labour on site to create and replicate the intricate brick detailing which included Keystone stone headers. Ultimately this resulted in a faster build schedule for the client.”Nirmal DhaliwalSite Manager at B-Bespoke Design & Build Ltd

Rockfon® Lamella has been awarded Product Innovation of the Year in the Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment category of the FIS Innovation Awards 2023. The modular wall system provides Class A sound absorption for commercial projects and boasts a unique range of wood veneers in different colours and dimensions, allowing for an impressive 650,000 design combinations.Nigel Watkins, Commercial Sales Director for Rockfon, expressed his excitement about the recognition, saying, "We are thrilled that Rockfon Lamella has won this award only a few weeks after its launch." Rockfon Lamella's development was based on effective collaboration, knowledge transfer, and partnership along the project team, satisfying two initial criteria for Rockfon innovation: modularity and customisability, and occupiers' well-being through the use of colour, biophilic-inspired design, and natural surfaces.Combining the warmth and beauty of wood with a stone wool sound-absorbent panel, Rockfon Lamella creates a serene and inviting environment inspired by the biophilic design trend. Customers have expressed their satisfaction with the combination of these elements, with Nigel Watkins sharing that "The feedback we’ve had from customers is that the combination of a stone wool sound absorbent panel with biophilic wood makes interiors feel calm and connected to nature."Joe Cilia , Technical Director of FIS who was one of the Innovation Award judges, was impressed that Rockfon Lamella has such comprehensive test data, covering the whole system, not just individual components. “The furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE) sector suffers from a lack of standardised testing and compliance for acoustic and fire performance, leading to clients choosing products that don’t perform as well as they should. The judges were impressed that Rockfon Lamella has clear, transparent test data that shows how the whole system performs.”Rockfon Lamella sets itself apart from other acoustic fixtures and fittings by offering exceptional fire performance classification of c-S2,d0, in line with EN 13501 standards, and Class A sound absorption that adheres to ISO 11654 regulations. Additionally, accessing all the necessary specification data, BIM Objects, and CAD drawings on NBS Chorus, NBS Source, and pCON is quick and easy, making the specification process quick and effortless.Rockfon Lamella simplifies installation by providing a complete kit that includes all necessary components. In-house facilities teams can easily follow the straightforward installation process, thanks to specially designed mounting clips. As Teemu Rekonen, Head of Design & Innovation at Rockfon, highlights: "This advanced product... enables individual placement of the slats to create the perfect acoustic environment. Once the platform is in place, installing Lamella slats is a quick and hassle-free process that requires no tools".Visit www.soundsbeautiful.com/lamella  for more information on Rockfon Lamella.To view all the FIS Innovation Award winners visit www.thefis.org/membership-hub/fis-awards/innovation/

In the new Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD) showroom in Woking, Surrey, tile products by Saint-Gobain Weber have been specified for their new 400m² sales facility which includes an extensive showroom and trade counter.Relocation of Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD) from their original showroom on the junction of Goldsmith Road and Church Street West to Kestrel Road a few miles away was brought about by the £150m redevelopment of Woking town centre."The relocation of CTD has not presented a problem," says Rob Stevens, manager, CTD Woking. "The showroom looks brilliant – it's bigger and better, and our trade custom has definitely increased. We also attract lots of private customers who enjoy the simplicity of the large sample displays and the huge variety of tiles for every location."Several site visits were made by Weber's tile specialists to inspect the floor substrate and identify the appropriate materials. The floor was prepared with weber PR360, a multi-purpose priming solution suitable for most building substrates including wood, anhydrite, plaster and cement/sand screed. This primer regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion and the flow of levelling compounds.High performance, fibre-modified weberfloor flex was then applied which is a self-smoothing and self-levelling compound suitable for most substrates. It has rapid setting qualities and can take light foot traffic after just 3 hours. It is also one of the many products in the Saint-Gobain Weber range to feature Low Dust Technology™ which makes it cleaner and more comfortable for the applicator to use.Large format GEMINI Young Stone tiles in grey were set with weberset rapid plus ECO which is a very rapid strength tile adhesive for low porosity tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain and natural stone, and has been specifically developed to allow easy bedding of large format tiles. It is suitable for use on solid substrates and is ready for grout in only 2 hours. The new ECO formulation contains cement replacement technology which reduces the product's environmental impact of initial excavation and contributes to a significant reduction in transportation costs.The CTD Woking showroom floor was grouted with weberjoint wide which is suitable for very wide joints from 2-20mm. This is a cement-based floor and wall grout which gives a coarse textured finish. It has the added benefit of Mould Stop Technology which ensures lasting protection from mould growth, it's also abrasive-resistant and available in seven colours.As part of Woking's redevelopment, the bandstand, fire station and market place will all be demolished to make way for a new complex featuring shops, apartments, parking and a hotel. On the old CTD site a brand new state-of-the-art fire station is to be developed providing additional space and working areas for the crews and an improved training facility.

Britannia Leisure Centre is a new multi-sport community complex in Hackney. A key driver for the client was that the building should have a compact footprint. This was achieved by stacking the facilities, creating a rooftop MUGA with tennis courts and 5-a-side football pitches.Lang+Fulton supplied the external grating panels which crown the building and offer panoramic views of London. These were made from their Terra-34 grating which features an anti-climb aperture. The narrow panels were designed to continue the architectural theme of the building’s columns and vertical elements and were finished in a graphite grey ppc to compliment the neutral palette of stone, concrete and glass.In addition a grating screen was supplied to secure the upper levels of the stairway providing natural daylight and through visibility to the entrance atrium and cafe area.The steel grating also conformed to the requirement for material durability and low maintenance which were key specification considerations.Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney has written, 'I am so proud that we have delivered one of London’s best leisure centres, with absolutely incredible facilities that are affordable for people to enjoy'.The Britannia Leisure Centre has received multiple awards including Overall Building of the Year (New London Architecture).

When renowned house-builders, McAllister Developments were tasked with delivering a distinctive and upmarket detached residential scheme at Moneymore, they turned to AG.Working closely with the experienced team at McAllister we were able to provide a range of brick, paving and retaining walling products in a variety of complementary colour blends to help create a truly standout residential development.The highly-regarded Heritage facing brick was selected due to its hand-crafted aesthetic appeal and its renowned durability. The retaining wall used was Anchor® Diamond®, with caps, as it allows for fast installation and it blends in perfectly with the surrounding garden.The Long Stone Fiammata is AG’s newest range of premium, porcelain-effect plank paving and was chosen for its unique minimalist design style and ease of maintenance. Finally, for the paving AG favoured the Rosemount flag for its extreme strength and low slip potential.David Speirs, Head of Specification and Commercial Sales believes they met all the project criteria:“Using our vast experience and range of products for use within the residential market we were able to provide perfect colour blends and styles that complemented each other to help the developer achieve the goal of building an upmarket detached residential site.”

Products donated by F. Ball and Co. Ltd., including the company’s Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound, have been used to prepare subfloors as part of the renovation of the Coventry Caribbean Community Centre prior to its reopening to coincide with Coventry’s UK City of Culture status last year. Firstly, they removed old floorcoverings, revealing a rough screed. A moisture test also indicated that subfloor relative humidity levels were above the 75% maximum threshold for installing floorcoverings. Installers therefore opted to use Stopgap 1200 Pro to smooth subfloors.Stopgap F77 one-part waterproof surface membrane was then applied to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking floorcoverings and adhesives, potentially causing complete floor failure.Once dry, the surface was primed using Stopgap P141, which is designed especially to promote the adhesion of levelling compounds to non-absorbent surfaces, including waterproof surface membranes. Another layer of Stopgap 1200 Pro was then used to create a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of new floorcoverings.Once the levelling compound had cured, Amtico Spacia stone-effect LVTs were installed in the majority of the floor area, with cream-coloured hexagon tiles positioned around the bar area for visual interest.

Addagrip are used to seeing their surfacing systems being used for projects all over the country but it is great to see an installation being undertaken in our own town.As part of the Uckfield town centre improvements project, Addagrip approved contractor Street Tree Care Ltd was appointed to install a number of trees and SuDS compliant Resin Bound tree pit surfacing in the newly widened pavements in Uckfield High Street.Field Maple trees were selected for their compact habit, tolerance of pollution and vibrant autumn colour. Once planted, a stainless steel tray was suspended above the tree root ball and filled with a decorative resin bound porous tree pit surfacing system.The Addastone TP tree pit system consists of a 10mm aggregate bound in a PU resin which provides a hard wearing, low maintenance finish that is porous enough to let the water reach young tree roots but robust enough for the urban environment. A drainage pipe and grill was seated in the Resin Bound surfacing to assist with additional watering that will be carried out from April to September over the next few years.A 10mm Trent aggregate was selected for maximum porosity to help alleviate surface water flooding and to provide a decorative finish to complement the new York Stone pavements.

The owner of this house wanted to build a purpose-built home to meet the needs of his growing up family.  He wanted to live in the village he grew up in but at the same time it was important that the design embraced new concepts and ideas. The end result is a stunning contemporary luxury home that incorporates large glazing areas throughout. There has been a careful use of traditional stone, wood and also unique metal cladding detail with the external design. Internally the feeling throughout is minimalistic clean lines, with the furniture being a perfect complement to the end result. With the exception of the switchable privacy glass for the window adjacent to the front door, the inclusion of completely concealed fully automated blinds to all other windows are the ’Grand Finale’ to this beautiful home.  When not required the blinds are completely concealed but at the press of a button or using their mobile devices, blinds appear as required – providing shading, sun protection, privacy or blackout blinds as required.A feature of interest is the large gable window in the master bedroom.  Here Honeycell Duette® blinds have also been concealed within the sloping ceiling and again appear from their hiding places when required showing that irregular shaped areas can benefit from the Blindspace headboxes which can be made to conceal almost any blind available on the market.

Private Clinic Blomenburg stands for holism when it comes to the therapy and design concept.A haven in the middle of a beautiful environment in the north of Germany: The 19th Century Blomenburg („Burg“ for castle), is surrounded by a huge park. Away from the everyday hustle and bustle, offering 69 furnished in premium quality, spacious single rooms and suites. The modern bathrooms are equipped with KEUCO furnishings and complement the syntonic interior design. Here the guests can dedicate their soul to regeneration in a quiet and peaceful stylish ambience.The elaborate restoration of the building was carried out taking the historic importance and special use of the Blomenburg into consideration. The new building with its generous glass facade was constructed under the castle rock and now accommodates the guest rooms. Between the old and the new building, there is an approximately 800m² big spa and pool area engrafted in the topography of the castle rock. The historic buildings surrounding the castle yard are used for social purposes, medical fitness, healthy living and mindfulness training of the body, soul and mind. The exclusive design of the indoor rooms is not to be compared with the magnificence of the outside of the buildings.Noble materials and luxurious items of furniture in the guest rooms create an ideal setting for convalescence and relaxation. This temporary home equipped with KEUCO furnishings and accessories in the bathroom offer the guests plenty of storage space for personal care products. Not only do the PLAN vanity unit and tall unit in unobtrusive truffle offer generous storage space, but the light mirror with a frame offers additional storage space. The perfect light lets the windowless bathrooms appear brighter and friendlier. The integrated mirror heating makes it possible to look in the mirror after a hot and relaxing shower.IXMO fittings in a strong design offer intuitive use to reach the right temperature. Matching accessories nicely round-off the bathroom interior in a coherent way and perfectly match the high-class concept of the clinic.

The India Buildings is located on Water Street in the centre of Liverpool’s financial and business district. It was designed by architects Arnold Thornely and Herbert J Rowse, following a competition to design an office block which was judged by the great Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built between 1924 and 1932 for the Blue Funnel shipping line owned by Alfred Holt.The building’s design is influenced by the Italian Renaissance style and it has several features of the American Beaux-Arts style, including for example the sculptures of cherubs above the windows.Having sustained damage during World War II the building was restored to its original state after the war under the supervision of Rowse, the original architect.In 2017, the Grade II* Listed Building was purchased by Legal & General and it was announced that HMRC would base a regional centre there. Renovation works commenced with the focus on creating modern, comfortable office space while retaining the heritage features of the building.Clement Windows Group was selected to manufacture and install the new double glazed steel windows which match the original single glazed metal windows and improve thermal performance and energy use within the historic building. Almost 1,000 windows from the Clement MW40 range were specified, polyester powder painted in RAL 9016 (White).Alex Harrison of architects Falconer Chester Hall said: “We had the pleasure of working with Clement on the steel window replacements of the India Building refurbishment project. Their performance in every aspect of the work was outstanding, and we wholeheartedly endorse them for any future contracts of a similar nature. One specific area where Clement excelled during the early stages, was the support we received from them during our discussions with the city planners regarding the bespoke windows. Their contribution proved very useful in moving matters forward and the end result is exceptional.“

The Sash Window Workshop were contacted to replace the windows and doors in a property in the Cotswolds, as part of a large renovation project of the property.The majority of the existing windows were 2 over 2 sash windows, but these didn’t suit the style of the property home so they wanted to get an idea what other styles of sash windows would look like to restore the property to be more period appropriate.After discussing with the customer, a quote was sent across for replacement 6 over 6 sash windows, new casement windows and new doors.When proceeding with the work, they decided to split the work required across several separate orders between October 2020 and July 2021.As the property was in a conservation area and the windows were not being replaced like-for-like, they obtained planning permission for the new windows. After the order was placed with us, we sent across detailed drawings to accompany their planning permission request.The door and windows were then made to their exact requirements in our workshops in Berkshire. They were manufactured in Accoya, which comes with a 50 year anti-rot guarantee, and were finished in a bespoke semi-gloss paint.After the windows and door were manufactured, they were installed by our skilled fitters. In total, across all the orders, 1 complete new window and 2 complete new French doors were manufactured and installed, along with 24 sets of windows having new sashes manufactured and installed into the existing window frames.Since completing the work, the customer has commented that the product and service was excellent and noted that they would recommend us to others. They have also since placed another order for additional work.To obtain a quote for your project, call us on 01344 868 668.

The House of St Johns’ is a beautifully restored andrenovated Grade I listed building in the heart of Bath, UK.The building now houses a mix of flexible office spaces,dedicated desks, meeting rooms and modern eventsspaces – offering a fully flexible working environment formodern times.Working in close collaboration with architect FelidenClegg Bradley Studios and contractors Emery BrothersLtd, Allgood provided a complete ironmongeryspecification throughout, while Allgood Secure designedand installed a security and access control system thatmet with the client’s requirements.The Modric range in a Spectra bronze finish was chosenthroughout the building as its timeless aesthetic andelegant simplicity matched the architect’s vision for thespace. Our Holt range was also fitted onto the lowerground floor communal doors and shower rooms from European oak, Holt’s super circular design providesa welcoming, warm to the touch feel that suited thedesign intent to provide welcoming spaces.Allgood Secure designed a comprehensive securityspecification for this project, including an access controlsystem, CCTV, and a video intercom system. All of thiswas backed up with powerful cloud-based software,Brivo Access, giving the staff full visibility across the siteand allowing them to lock and unlock doors remotely.The system was also integrated with House of StJohns’ room booking system, meaning members canunlock meeting rooms themselves using their accesscredentials.A key part of the security system was the installationof Eagle Eye cloud-hosted CCTV cameras. Thesecameras are fully integrated with the Brivo Accessplatform, allowing the team to view the live video feedsfrom anywhere and with ease. All of this is backed upwith expertly selected and fitted electronic locks andironmongery from the wider Allgood team, ensuring alldoors are compliant with the relevant fire, escape andaccessibility criteria.

Architectural glazing systems by Kawneer were specified for their “robustness and quality” for two linked 16-storey apartment blocks on the last plot to be developed in one of Britain’s fastest-growing property hot spots - the £37 million BTR (Build To Rent) towers at Erie Basin in Salford Quays, Manchester, a stone’s throw from MediaCityUK.Kawneer’s AA®100 curtain walling features as strip curtain wall to copper-coloured rainscreen areas of the towers at Erie Basin. In addition, AA®110 curtain walling features on link bridges and as floor-to-ceiling screens facing the water. While the AA®100 system uses 50mm sightlines, the AA®110 system uses 65mm but both in this case were zone-drained. They are complemented by AA®541 open-out casement window inserts and AA®720 ultra thermally-efficient entrance doors.The Kawneer systems were installed over eight months by a team of up to 35 from approved specialist sub-contractor FK Group for main contractor GRAHAM and client Glenbrook, the privately-owned property development and investment company, who acquired the site from the Peel Group.The prominent dockside development is GRAHAM’s second project with Glenbrook, with work also underway on another £27 million BTR project in Ellesmere Street, Castlefield, Manchester, which also features Kawneer systems.

St Luke’s Church of England School is part of Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust. They are all about their community to treat one another with dignity and respect and follow their Christian ethos. The school prioritises making students under their care to know and feel that they are highly valued as human beings and are worthy of an outstanding education.Here at Helmsman, we have manufactured and installed 179 four-compartment laminate metal lockers. The specification of the lockers was 1775mm high, 300mm wide, and 450mm deep. The school requested for the lockers to have a sloping top when they were fabricated. For school lockers, sloping tops are a popular option as they prevent the increase of dust and prevent the top of the lockers from being used as storage which can create a safety hazard if any items fall off.The school requested for the body of the locker to be Metal, and the door was to be Laminate. The doors were coated in multiple colours between Paradise Blue, Yellow Crisp, Orange, Hot Pepper, and Stone Grey, and the body of the lockers was powder coated in our standard colour ‘Ice’. The lockers were all finished with oval number plates above the Camlocks which is a great choice for school lockers as students can feel secure that their belonging is safe in the laminate metal lockers.Laminate metal lockers are an excellent choice for school lockers as it’s modern and stylish. Additionally, the material will do better at withstanding scratches, and dents.

The International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales is an extraordinary venue designed for world class conventions, events and meetings.The result of a joint venture between the Welsh Government and the Celtic Manor Resort, renowned construction company, John Sisk & Son, was the main contractor on this 3500m2 project which also included a permeable and sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS).AG’s premium granite block paving TerraPave® was the obvious paving choice for the convention centre as it offers a beautiful finish to complement a contemporary design. Additionally, it is a cost-effective, practical alternative to traditional stone paving. TerraKerb® also played its part in this high-profile hard landscaping project, adding a premium appearance to the ICC surrounding. With its widely recognised durability and weather resistance, it is now well established as a market-leading option.Tim Cave, Regional Sales Manager at AG, said:“A key challenge faced by AG was to create a high-quality permeable paving system for a large roof deck, capable of withstanding continuous heavy traffic. Our Xflo® Plaza was the perfect choice. AG’s Plaza block paviour is made using the most modern manufacturing techniques, ensuring it will stand the test of time and retain its high-quality aesthetics, whilst effectively managing the movement of water through the SuDS system. This is a pioneering but proven way of mimicking the natural movement of storm water and replacing conventional storm water drainage systems.”

AG was delighted to continue our partnership with Braidwater Homes at one of the house builder’s most prestigious private housing development, Castlehill, located just off the Ballygowan Road in Belfast.Braidwater Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Ryan Boyle said:“AG’s paving and walling products which are aesthetically pleasing, tie in totally with Braidwater’s ‘living the dream’ aspirations. For the Castlehill development we had a number of requirements, which included ensuring that the landscaping tied in with the modern feel of this high-end development.” To this end, we utilised AG’s Vertica® and Diamond® retaining walls, where appropriate, together with AG’s River Stone 3’s set pavers in contrasting tones.”AG’s Regional Sales Manager, Barry Scott commented:“We have a really good relationship with the Braidwater Group and are currently involved in a number of their sites across Northern Ireland. The Castlehill contract was an important one for us and we have worked hard to ensure we live up to their high standards. As part of our commitment to Braidwater I personally make visits to their sites to ensure their team always have the products they need. Our personal service supported by speed and ease of delivery is something they appreciate. They also like the fact that by utilising our Anchor® Diamond® mortarless/pin-less segmental retaining wall system their team can work on in wet weather with no breaks in construction.”