Talk.Build

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) should be congratulated for their latest initiative to raise the profile of the workforce and improve standards. Chief executive James Talman has set out three objectives which he believes are needed to take the industry forward in what he calls ...

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everything we hoped to achieve in life went according to plan? If every car we bought lived-up to its showroom tag of being a ‘good, reliable, runner’; if every holiday destination was as idyllic and desirable as it appeared in the brochure; if every ...

Building owners have become increasingly nervous in recent years about sanctioning the use of any kind of naked flame at roof level, traditionally a long standing method of applying waterproof membranes. This has resulted from increased pressure from insurance companies concerned about fire risk ...

Most economists look at the construction industry as a real barometer in terms of trying forecast our financial future – all the more so since we voted to leave Europe. Government figures for building have been erratic at best over the last year but we are now starting to see a few glimmers ...

Theft from construction sites has always been a major problem and losses are now estimated to exceed some £900 million pounds every year, a figure that has changed little since the Government last took a serious look at the situation back in the year 2000. Advice to the industry in terms of ...

From Brent Cross in London to Union Square in Aberdeen, Bluewater in Kent to Kirkgate in Bradford, shopping malls across the UK must not only provide an attractive, modern shopping environment with a good tenant mix, they must provide a secure, high-quality and low maintenance environment.  ...

With people having far less control over indoor air quality in their offices, schools and hospitals, for example, than in their homes, the onus on creating a healthy indoor environment is down to the property owner or facility manager.  Too often, routine design and construction decisions can ...

Europe has led the world in improving building standards with the UK having played a key role in their development.  But after the momentous day that was June 23rd and the UK economy appearing now to have weathered that initial vote-to-leave shock, where does that leave the construction ...

Horrible looking drains, manhole covers and inspection chambers appear in driveways and footpaths everywhere. You can even find them in the middle of your lawn or garden! How do you hide ugly manhole covers and drains?                     There ...

Plastics is rapidly becoming a dirty word for environmentalists across the globe who are now laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of this ubiquitous material for polluting the world’s oceans. In reality, only around 4% of the planet’s oil production is converted into plastics but ...

Flat roofing repairs, particularly in confined spaces, have long been known to cause discomfort to operatives and those living or working nearby. Fumes, odours and vapours can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and lung irritation. They may also irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat. These ...

One of the world’s oldest and most traditional waterproofing materials, mastic asphalt is a truly versatile performer, outlasting other materials and proven time and time again on everything from sealing dams to flooring, flat roofs to sports facilities, walkways to balconies and car parks to ...

At the risk of stating the obvious, most construction projects are usually won or lost on price. It seems that we have reached a situation where cost will frequently succeed over the highest possible quality in a very competitive market place, but you can hardly blame contractors, architects or any other construction professional – it has been that way for years and it’s unlikely to change – or could it? Allegations and unfounded rumours linked to the dreadful Grenfell Tower tragedy have led to speculation that someone chose to save money by agreeing to install inferior cladding. Only a long and detailed investigation will prove if that is true or not but if I was a betting man then I strongly suspect that all the rules and regulations were properly met at the time – so where does it leave us. Right now wherever you go in the construction market this tragedy is the big elephant in the room and no one, understandably, wants to talk about it until more is known. But one thing is f