Bushboard will be at this years hotel design event SLEEP to showcase its Nuance bathroom wall panelling which offers an alternative to tiling. Bushboard, now part of the Wilsonart Group, and a leading producer of laminate worksurfaces is exhibiting at the London Design Centre at SLEEP. Jo Gilhooly, marketing director for Bushboard explained  “SLEEP has gathered pace over the last few …

A lack of available small sites and a lack of finance top the list of barriers to SME house builders increasing their delivery of new homes, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB). Key results from the FMB’s House Builders’ Survey 2017, the only annual snapshot of SME house builders, include: Over half of small house …

Eclisse shares three tips to ensure a professional finish when installing pocket doors.  Tip One: Check the instructions. Does assembly involve cutting pocket verticals or horizontals to make the system fit? Does installation involve aligning separate components? Ideally, the track and pocket should assemble into single unit for insertion into the studwork. Is there a self-centering floor guide that automatically …

The UK construction sector’s efforts to improve the health and mental wellbeing of its workforce have been stepped up with the full roll out of the Mates in Mind initiative. Mates in Mind has led in the creation of a flexible and joined up approach that is tailored to the needs of individual construction companies as they seek to tackle …

The London Housing Strategy’s focus on bringing forward more small sites will help solve the housing crisis by opening up the market to SME house builders, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) London. Commenting on the draft London Housing Strategy, published on Wednesday, Barry Mortimer, Director of FMB London, said: “If we’re to build the number of new …

A Hull based bakery has been fined following the death of a self-employed electrical contractor who died following a stepladder fall from height.

Although basements are a significant area of business opportunity for the construction industry, it is a complex and potentially fraught sector and – in the main – an area for the specialist. Yet Safeguard Europe – the UK specialist in damp-proofing and waterproofing technology – is helping to demystify and simplify understanding of this underground world with the publication of …

A construction company has been fined after a worker suffered life-changing injuries after falling from scaffolding.

Melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by an alarming 119% in the UK since the early 1990s and according to a recent study, construction has been identified as the industry sector in the UK whose workers are most at risk. Now, new research by Wickes has revealed some startling statistics and unsettling attitudes to sunburn and skin cancer amongst …

The ideal ‘forever home’ for the average British homeowner is a four-bedroom, detached house in the country, worth £458,000 – and just down the road from Mum, it has emerged. A detailed study of 2,000 UK homeowners, carried out by Origin, the British manufacturer of bespoke aluminium bi-folding doors, residential doors and windows, also found that homeowners hanker after a …

Checkatrade has announced a partnership with construction giant, Caterpillar to offer members 30% off at products at www.shopcaterpillar.co.uk  Members already receive a range of benefits including inclusion in the Checkatrde search feature. To become a member of Checkatrade and join over 25,000 UK tradespeople, potential members must undergo a thorough background check and commit to, and uphold, the ‘Checkatrade Standard’. The …

Costain has announced it will extend its Employee Assistance Programme to its supply chain. The business is among the first in the construction sector to offer the benefits of its Employee Assistance Programme for anyone in the business or supply chain experiencing worry, stress or anxiety caused by health, family, work, legal or other issues. The move underscores the business’ …

A Dorset based company has been fined after a scaffold collapsed at an industrial unit in Wallisdown, Poole. Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how Swanage and Dorset Scaffolding and Roofing Limited (SDSRL) had been contracted to erect scaffolding at the industrial unit in Alder Hills Business Park, Wallisdown, Poole to provide edge protection for work to be carried out on the …

Fancy a weekend getaway this autumn? To celebrate the arrival of Covers’ ‘Bread & Butter’ catalogue, which lists over 450 daily essential accessories. The timber and builders merchant is giving one lucky customer the chance to win a B&B getaway of their choice worth £250. To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit any Covers’ branch and complete …

The landlord of a property in Ilfracombe has been given a suspended sentence for risking the lives of his tenants by undertaking dangerous gas work.

Jay Hounsell, a Herts-based carpenter and business owner, explains why he believes dust extraction should be the number one priority for everyone in the trade.    He says: “I’ve been working in the carpentry industry for 20-odd years. My new company – The Hertfordshire Kitchen Company – has been going for two years and is successfully placing itself in the …

Global public health organization NSF International and the Indian Plumbing Skills Council (IPSC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide local testing and certification services for the plumbing industry in India. This MOU will help improve the quality of Indian plumbing products and the skills of Indian plumbers through IPSC’s skill development initiatives under the aegis of the …