See the full range at: Block Paved Driveway.
Roger joins Sperrin Paving again to install a block paved driveway using a range of products from Tobermore who help make beautiful landscape environments with paving and walling products manufactured in Northern Ireland and supplied across the UK and Ireland.
Special thanks go to Sperrin Paving
http://sperrinpaving.co.uk
Introducing the new Skill Builder Product Roundup Show.
PRODUCT LINKS
True Position Tools Cabinet Hardware Jig
🛒 https://amzn.to/35kcpuy
Y Anchor Heavy Duty 5mm Hasp
🛒 https://yanchor.com/shed-security
Showery Eco-Flow – DISCOUNT CODE: TAKE20
🛒 https://showery.co.uk
Powerfix Profi Angle Measurer
🛒 https://bit.ly/3sCnYWA
CarLock Advanced Real-Time Car Tracker
🛒 https://bit.ly/clskillbuilder
PROMO code to receive 14 days extra FREE trial subscription when you activate the device: SKILLBUILDER
The official CarLock page: https://bit.ly/carlockskillbuilder
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:25 Cabinet Hardware Jig
02:44 Y Anchor Hasp
04:30 Showery Eco-Flow
07:03 Powerfix Profi
08:12 CarLock
Roger looks at the Blue Roof sustainable drainage solution – what is a blue roof?
FURTHER READING
The BauderBLUE Roof System
🔗 bauder.co.uk/green-and-blue-roofs/blue-roofs
6 Reasons to Consider a Rooftop SuDS Solution
🔗 https://ikogroup.co.uk/news-advice/6-reasons-to-consider-a-rooftop-suds-solution/
Blue-Green Roofs from Permavoid
🔗 http://www.permavoid.co.uk/solutions/blue-green-roofs/
Clutter, unfortunately, is a very real prospect for many people. It’s surprisingly easy for a home to become cluttered and, once it takes hold, it can be very difficult to get rid of.
Not only that, but having clutter around you can be very draining emotionally. You might feel overwhelmed and unable to concentrate, or you might be too embarrassed to invite visitors over.
It’s easier to tackle clutter before it starts – you can carry out regular clear-outs and try to avoid buying unnecessary items. However, this is easier said than done.
Anyone who’s lived in the same property for years will know how easy it is for things to mount up and, before you know it, you’re surrounded with useless junk.
Thankfully, there are ways to tackle the problem once it takes hold.
Start small
The thought of clearing out an entire home full of clutter can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you’re a hoarder, so it’s a good idea to start small.
Consider clearing out junk drawers, one or two at a time. You’ll be surprised at how much stuff you’ve managed to accumulate that is totally useless – elastic bands, dead batteries, old receipts, and other random items.
As these items have no emotional attachment, they should be easier for you to throw away. This will help get you in the swing of clearing things before you tackle the bigger jobs.
Sort and store
When you’re clearing out your stuff, place everything in one of three separate piles each marked ‘keep’, ‘donate’, and ‘bin’. This will ensure you get rid of any unnecessities whilst retaining what you really need.
However, the practicalities of this could be difficult – not to mention potentially dangerous – while the space is still cluttered. An ideal solution to this is placing your possessions in storage while you sort everything out.
Box everything up, place it in a secure storage unit, and bring a few back into the property at a time in order for you to sift through. Safestore have a list of storage prices, which is definitely worth checking out.
Be ruthless
It’ll be hard but try your best to be ruthless with what you part with – make a rule that anything you haven’t worn or used in six months, for instance, is donated or binned.
You want to make sure that you have everything you need, but not be bogged down with lots of useless or unessential possessions. It’s a good idea to adopt this mindset for the future because it’ll help prevent you from buying pointless unessentials later on and starting the clutter all over again.
Of course, you’ll want to keep anything that’s sentimental or holds particular emotional memories for you, and that’s important, so don’t be too ruthless.
However, if you’re struggling to find places for all your treasured mementos, then get creative with your solutions. Family photos, for instance, can be made into a nice wall collage, rather than clogging up drawers; whilst souvenir gig t-shirts can be framed and hung up.
There are lots of inventive ways you can incorporate your much-loved belongings into your home, without worrying about them cluttering up the place.
Seek help
Decluttering your home will be a big task, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. A trusted friend or relative can not only support you with the physical demands of the task, they can help you decide what to keep and what to part with.
You might also want to seek out a professional. There are organisations that can help you with clearing a cluttered home, as well as services that offer emotional support targeted at hoarding behaviours.
Conclusion
Follow our advice and reduce the clutter in your home while ensuring you still have everything you need.
Send us your pictures and videos: http://skill-builder.uk/send
Ask Skill Builder Playlist: https://bit.ly/3j7heJT
In ASB#31, we see another shockingly bad shower installation, made worse because it was installed by a well-known installer this time.
Roger explains why your brick wall may have cracked and looks at what can be done to prevent this from happening.
FURTHER READING
Helifix Crack Stitching
🔗 https://www.helifix.co.uk/products/remedial-products/crack-stitching/
How Concerned You Should Be About Cracks in the Walls
🔗 https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cracks-in-walls/
6 Most Likely Reasons You’re Seeing Cracks in Your Walls
🔗 https://edensstructural.com/6-most-likely-reasons-youre-seeing-cracks-in-your-walls/
How to Fix Cracked Walls Permanently
🔗 https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fix-cracked-walls-permanently-57017.html
Sustainability has become so much more than just a word in recent years. It has become a call to action, a call to change. Sustainability efforts are becoming integrated into every aspect of our daily lives to help combat the effects of climate change.
Action is being taken around the world to help preserve our planet for future generations and to help beat the effects of climate change, one of the most defining issues of our time.
It is likely you are taking practical steps within your own life to tackle climate change and reduce your carbon footprint. From reducing your plastic waste and recycling to investing in renewable energy and being mindful of where you shop, there are many practical ways you can practice sustainability within your own life. In this article, we will discuss sustainability in building a garden office.
While construction projects aren’t as common as the weekly shop, the global shift to remote working has caused many homeowners to invest in garden offices – the new home-away-from-home – where work can be completed without any distraction. Here, too, sustainability can be prioritised, from planning through to project completion. Let’s take a look at the most common sustainability concerns in construction and how they can be addressed.
You might not think it at first, but choosing a good location is a key stage in the planning process, when it comes to building a garden office. The location of your garden office will determine the office’s longevity, access to natural light, accessibility for construction, security, and so much more. Where you decide to construct your garden office can have a significant impact on sustainability.
Sustainability should definitely come to mind when you are considering where to place your garden office. Taking the time to consider how you plan to construct, heat, and maintain your garden office is important during the planning phase and will help you consider the more sustainable methods of construction. A few considerations to prioritise in the name of sustainability include:
Natural Light: the amount of natural light your garden office receives will have a dramatic impact on how warm the office is and how much you will have to rely on heating while you are working. The more natural light you can capture, the more heat you will enjoy from the sun and the less you will need to rely on running the heating. What’s more, situating your garden office in a suntrap sets you up perfectly to invest in solar panels for a renewable energy solution.
Access During Construction: the easier it is to access the construction site, the less environmental damage trucks will cause when they deliver materials. If you can locate your garden office in a space that is easily accessible by road, you will reduce the amount of damage to the natural environment and ensure your construction project can continue unhindered by access issues.
Building Longevity: if you can construct a garden office that is made to last, it will be far more sustainable than a building you have to replace in a few years’ time. To get the most out of your garden office, you need to avoid positioning it underneath a large canopy of trees. This is because trees can limit construction space and their roots can create problems with things such as drainage. What’s more, foliage can gather on the roof of your building which, over time, can cause issues with drainage, light levels, and building longevity. So, aim to construct your garden office in an open space if possible.
Selecting the right materials for your construction project can have a significant impact on the sustainability of your garden office. According to the Construction Leadership Council, “for new buildings and infrastructure, the focus, where feasible, should be on waste prevention throughout the lifecycle. This includes designing a building to be adaptable, longer lasting, and capable of being repurposed or deconstructed for reuse.” Below we share how you can be mindful of the materials you select for the construction of your sustainable garden office.
Since the rise in sustainability efforts, we have seen a rising demand for sustainable construction materials. Selecting the right materials for your garden office can have a significant impact on its longevity, sustainability, and aesthetics. Below are some of the most popular sustainable materials to consider.
Bamboo Flooring: Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. In fact, according to the Guinness World Records, some bamboo species can grow up to 91cm per day. Due to its rapid growth, bamboo is a versatile and sustainable building material. Bamboo can be used in many areas of construction, from scaffolding to flooring, and is one of the most popular materials for those looking to be more environmentally friendly.
Steel Flashings: this popular material is installed to protect buildings from water damage. Steel Flashings is regarded by experts such as Southern Sheeting as being strong, versatile, and high-capacity, making it a great option for office garden buildings. Steel flashings are thin pieces of steel that are used as a barrier against the weather, protecting buildings from water damage and making structures more long-lasting and durable. Steel flashings offer a sustainable solution that can be recycled at the end of its life.
Timber Frames: timber remains one of the most popular and most traditional materials used in construction today. You can source your timber from sustainably managed forests to support the environment. According to research, “if sustainably sourced, using timber can have an additional positive environmental impact because trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and lock it away as carbon, thus removing it from the atmosphere.”
One of the most significant ways construction projects affect our planet is through environmental damage. Whether it’s in clearing space for new housing developments or driving trucks full of materials through fields and wildlife areas, environmental damage is a huge cause for concern. If you want to prioritise sustainability during the construction of your garden office, you need to plan avoiding environmental damage.
It doesn’t really matter how big or small you plan for your garden office to be, it will have an impact on the surrounding environment. Below are some of the ways you can avoid environmental damage during the construction process.
Transportation Accessibility: during the planning process, it is important to consider how materials, workers, and machinery will get to you in order for work to commence. Is there easy access to the construction site via a road or would trucks and diggers have to cut through fields and natural environments? Taking the time to consider transportation accessibility can greatly support your sustainability efforts by reducing disruption to the local environment.
Reduce Noise: construction can be a noisy process, one that is often disruptive to neighbours as well as nearby wildlife. Noise pollution should be an important consideration throughout your project to ensure reductions are made where possible. The best thing to do is warn neighbours ahead of time that work will commence between certain times of the day so everyone knows what to expect. Limiting noise as much as possible will also help protect local wildlife.
Dispose of Waste: many construction materials end up as waste. As construction looks to more sustainable practices, efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle are being widely adopted. This is greatly reducing the need to dispose of construction waste in landfills or incineration sites, reducing construction’s impact on the environment.
Building a garden office is a great opportunity to address sustainability concerns and implement eco-conscious solutions. Just as you are concerned about where to buy groceries or how to reduce your plastic usage, you can be sustainably-minded when it comes to construction projects, too.
Whether you are building a garden office to create that perfect work-from-home space or to enjoy drinks with friends in the summer months, prioritising sustainability will ensure your garden office fits in beautifully with its surroundings and stands the test of time.
Get a 45% discount with the Skill Builder discount code.
boundary.co.uk/youtube/skill-builder
Boundary is a next-generation smart alarm. Design your own system. No surveys. No contracts.
Boundary is the only smart alarm in the UK undergoing testing to meet UK and European alarm standards BS EN 50131. Boundary will then be known as a ‘graded’ system – Grade 2. (Grades 3 and 4 are typically reserved for banks.) Graded systems minimise false alarms and provide a higher standard of security. All without the need for hard wiring. Certification pending.
The true test of any intruder alarm is how smart it is at telling the difference between real danger and a false alarm. Car lights, insects, gusts of air can all play havoc with lesser systems. Boundary sensors have been tested to the limit so your patience doesn’t have to be.
Clunky, hard to use systems don’t get used, rendering them pointless. Having the Boundary app on your phone gives you all the information you’ll ever need is in one easy to view place. Add users, change permissions. Arm and disarm. You’re in full control. More precision. More protection.
If an intruder cuts your power, the hub has a 12-hour back-up battery and will remain operational. If they also hack through your phone lines, they’ll be foiled again. The Boundary hub is available with optional cellular back-up. If your wi-fi is flakey, or cut, the hub will switch to mobile signal to contact the alarm receiving centre (ARC) and the police. (Police response available spring 2022)
Boundary sensors communicate with the Hub securely using Z-wave not wi-fi. It’s world-class wireless technology optimised for smart home technology.
All your data is end-to-end encrypted to protect against known criminal tricks like ‘Replay’ or ‘Man in the Middle’ attacks on your system.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO_A6keHMis&w=560&h=315]
Get a 45% discount with the Skill Builder discount code.
boundary.co.uk/youtube/skill-builder
Roger takes a look at this ancient technique to protect wood from the elements.
Sponsored by Snickers Workwear: https://www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
FURTHER READING
Wikipedia overview
Yakisugi (焼杉) is a traditional Japanese method of charring wood for preservation. Yaki means to heat with fire, and sugi is cypress. It is referred to in the West as burnt timber cladding and also known as shou sugi ban (焼杉板) which uses the same kanji characters but an incorrect pronunciation. The ban character means ‘plank’.
By slightly charring the surface of the wood without combusting the whole piece, the wood becomes water-proof through the carbonisation and is thus more durable. It also protects against insects and makes the wood fire retardant.
Does Charred Wood Rot?
🔗 https://degmeda.eu/does-charred-wood-rot/
What Is The Best Wood To Use For Charring?
🔗 https://www.ukhardwoods.co.uk/what-is-the-best-wood-to-use-for-charring/
6 Reasons Why Shou Sugi Ban is the Hottest Trend in Architecture
🔗 https://us.kebony.com/blog/shou-sugi-ban-6-reasons-why-shou-sugi-ban-is-the-hottest-trend-in-architecture/
Send us your pictures and videos: http://skill-builder.uk/send
Ask Skill Builder Playlist: https://bit.ly/3j7heJT
leading to water damage and a loss of insulation efficiency. Addressing the problem promptly is crucial to prevent further damage and costly repairs.
In ASB#30 Diane Morris has an old leaking conservatory roof and wonders if this could be repaired in a household insurance claim.
Roger gives his thoughts on inventors and the obsessive mindset that can be a blessing or a curse.
Ladder safety video: https://youtu.be/n9RcWKBzs24
🛒 Dan’s Roofing Square: https://www.essential-carpenter-tools.co.uk
Roger looks at what can be done when installing your fence to prevent damage caused by strong winds.
▶ 2-minute tips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRh7uimDQff-H-QD6ZzIxEMrjDnFsots
▶ Ask Skill Builder: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRh7uimDQfeARPDGL8GLsJ1Saxlx6scI
▶ Showdowns: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRh7uimDQfdFdnofqFB0nJQ1WNqKLGOf
▶ How to playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRh7uimDQfddLu9kc-cCSBds9xNeoUiU
Long-lasting, innovative new fabrics for comfort, sustainability and longevity.
Clothes change as the seasons do. That’s why Snickers Workwear’s LITEWork working clothes combine superior comfort and protection for working in spring and summer on site.
With sustainability at the core of every garment, the new LITEWork range combines all the features of high-performance sportswear.
Its 37.5® Technology fabric technology is quick-drying and functional as well providing UPF 40+sun protection. It’s also longer-lasting – and more sustainable – than other comparable workwear.
There are new Trousers, Shirts, Shorts, and Jackets and a High-Vis range with new styles and stretch features for enhanced freedom of movement plus trousers that feature the bio-based Sorona® fibre for a more sustainable approach.
So, to make sure you get the right comfort, durability and ventilation, check out the LITEWork garments for precisely the right clothes to fit your workday and your carbon footprint!
Roger and Steve prepare the floor and install the underfloor heating system while Matthew lays the pillow edged travertine tiles on the 35A Extension.
Nu-Heat underfloor heating: https://www.nu-heat.co.uk
Roger digs deeper into the pros and cons of parapet walls.
Check out Parapet Walls 1 🎬 https://youtu.be/kLOpgjT5enA
Roger is back with another rant.
Roger follows Dan on another roof construction project. This one didn’t exactly go to plan.
🔗 Dan Cox Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvRh7uimDQfejtJYfW_yI1U-EAkth0vxr
🛒 Ultimate Roofing Square: https://www.essential-carpenter-tools.co.uk
Roger has a chat with Rajiv, who has had a nightmare experience with a rogue trader who took thousands of pounds from him and another family member and did not deliver the extension job promised.
Roger looks at the challenges presented when waterproofing a basement.
Rubi Kasuto — Back To Basement: https://www.backtobasement.co.uk
We’ll be visiting Back To Basement to see Rubi’s basement conversions and look at concrete waterproofing, sump pumps and treating wet basement walls and flooding.
Bradfords Building Supplies has teamed up with a range of organisations, who are leading the way in environmental responsibility in the built environment, to train its new team of Sustainability Champions.
Marshalls, Xtratherm, Polypipe, Millboard and Timloc led presentations and discussions on a range of topics at an intensive training session.
Challenging the Champions to think differently about products that might appear to be sustainable choices at only face value, there was also a focus on designing resilient spaces with a long-term view in mind as well as the importance of a systems approach to making a building more energy-efficient.
In addition, Bradfords’ Head of Transport, Martin Caddick and Head of Facilities, Donal Ryan, updated the Champions on the company’s own efforts to drive down its energy consumption, carbon emissions and waste.
“Our Sustainability Champions volunteered from across our network to help deliver Bradfords’ environmental sustainability strategy by engaging with fellow employees at department or branch level and to support our customers in considering environmentally friendly options for their projects.
Our training day was an effective way to get them started on that journey,” said Giles Bradford, Head of Sustainability at Bradfords.
“There was a real spirit of collaboration and our Champions engaged enthusiastically with what can be a very complex and challenging range of issues.
“Our suppliers also provided a real ray of hope and inspiration, demonstrating the impressive inroads they are already making in environmental sustainability.
“We have made a substantial step forward in our goal to be able to best support our customers in building the sustainable communities of the future.”
Nick Weeks, Assistant Branch Manager at Bradfords in Sherborne, was among the Champions taking part.
He has been inspired to trial new eco-friendly alternative solutions to more traditional sealant and adhesive plastic tubes in his branch.
He said: “This really made me think about how we make sure the sustainability credentials of what we sell are visible in our branch. That’s what will start the conversations we need to be having.”
Evan Morgan, Civils Sales Specialist at Bradfords’ Cinderford branch, added: “I was really encouraged to hear just how committed Bradfords is to reducing its carbon emissions, from only using green energy suppliers to a pledge to switch our car fleet to low emissions vehicles, and conversion to 25% of our forklifts being electric this year.”
Bradfords’ Sustainability Champions have been chosen for their commitment and enthusiasm for the cause and are spread across various roles and branch locations.
Watch Evan talking about his role as a Sustainability Champion at Bradfords here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VIytc7HjS4
