This Tool Makes Your Board Cuts Fast & Accurate. James tries out Klip_ez.
ABOUT KLIP_EZ
KLIP_EZ is a new concept in board technology; compact and affordable allowing you to measure and cut boards with accuracy.
Easy to store on a tool belt or in a toolbox, your KLIP_EZ will soon be your favourite time-saving companion!
Sarah Woodhouse, Director at AMBITIOUS PR, shares her top tips on making the most of social media when it comes to marketing your business …
Whether it’s sharing a funny video clip, your holiday photos (remember those?) or your thoughts on how your favourite football team performed in last night’s game, social media is a great place to connect with friends and family. And these days, it’s also a powerful business tool.
The Coronavirus pandemic has had a mixed impact on the trades, with many tradespeople suffering a loss of income, particularly during the initial lockdown when so many projects had to stop.
If your own business has been impacted, ramping up your marketing activity is especially important and social media is a great opportunity to raise your profile.
But how can you turn something you’re used to using in your personal life as a way of promoting your business? And if you’re already using social media to support your business, can you be sure you’re doing it right?
A ‘shopfront’ for your work
People don’t always trust companies without a website (or with a very poor one), so it’s best practice to have both a website and a social media presence. Good, simple websites are fairly cheap to set up as a hub of information for your potential customers, including links through to your social media accounts.
Setting up a business page on Facebook is easy and free to do and works well as a complement to your website, so it’s not hard to see why small businesses are increasingly relying on this platform.
A Facebook page is particularly useful for the amount of information you’re able to include in one place – and the fact more and more potential customers are likely to be relying on local Facebook groups when seeking recommendations for tradespeople.
It sounds obvious, but make sure you’ve included all key contact details for your business, including a link through to your website, plus plenty of photos of your work and reviews from customers. Encourage previous customers to leave a review and it will help build confidence in your ability to do a good job.
What to post
Social media is a great place to show off the quality of your work and there’s no better way of doing that than by using photos – especially if you’re working on home or garden renovations.
Depending on how confident you are in front of a camera, sharing videos is a great way to inject some personality into your profile while showing off your expertise.
You could do a quick video of a particularly tricky piece of work and explain how you overcame any challenges involved, or share something you’re proud of and why you think it works particularly well. You can find more tips on creating videos for social media here.
Remember, always ask permission from your customer before taking photos of work you have completed at their property and try not to include any details that can easily identify where they live (such as door numbers) and licence plates.
In addition to filling your feed with photos of your work, you can share posts about your availability, the areas in which you work, any job opportunities you may have at your business or positive feedback you’ve had from customers.
Choose the right tone
It’s often been said that people do business with people, not companies. So it’s good to show some personality in your posts, but just be aware of keeping things professional.
Photos of you and your mates messing around on-site don’t always go down well with potential customers and are best left for your personal social media accounts.
Keep posting
Update your feed regularly (it doesn’t look good if the last post your potential customer can see is from over a year ago) and it will help to show how in-demand your services are.
Social media is a commitment, so start small by focusing on one platform only and make a point of updating your feed once every week if you can.
Address any criticism
Having a social media presence for your business makes it easier for customers to leave feedback. This is great when it comes to positive customer reviews, but be prepared that, for those who are less than satisfied with your work, this also gives them an outlet to share their disappointment.
Whether or not you feel any criticism is justified, it’s important to respond quickly and reasonably. Politely reply to their post and do your best to take the conversation offline.
Something along the lines of: “I’m sorry you feel that way and I’ll give you a call to talk about how we can address this” usually works.
You’ll see I haven’t suggested a public, direct apology – and, for legal reasons, that’s something you should avoid – but it shows sympathy for your customer and that you’re willing to listen and see what can be done to put things right.
Getting social media right requires time and effort, but once you’re in the practice of regularly updating your news feed, checking and responding to customer feedback and building your reputation with positive reviews, the rewards to your business can be significant.
AMBITIOUS PR is an award-winning agency with expertise in the construction sector. For more information on PR and marketing for the property sector, including case studies, visit www.ambitiouspr.co.uk/property-pr-agency
Part 9 of our How To Build An Extension series.
We love ForgeFast Elite Performance wood screws! https://www.forgefastelite.com
Knightsbridge lighting & wiring accessories: https://www.mlaccessories.co.uk
Domestic USB charging points continue to grow in popularity with homeowners, and Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturer of wiring devices, accessories, and lighting – is leading the trend with the introduction of 230V 13A two-gang switched sockets that uniquely support FASTCHARGE* in two USB ports.
The sockets have either a Type-A USB port, for the most encountered chargers, and a Type-C, which is fast becoming the device charging standard; or two Type-A ports. In either combination, however, both ports are FASTCHARGE enabled. This means that a device compatible with QC2.0/ QC3.0 (Quick Charge) or PD FASTCHARGE can achieve up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes or less.
Both outlets are capable of delivering between 5V DC and 12V DC at a maximum of 3A. Standard charging mode provides up to 10W for both USB types; although charging rates depend on the type of device, for instance, mobile phones ‘determine’ how much power to draw.
The total output is a maximum of 4A when both outlets are in use. The Knightsbridge sockets are unique in the market in being able to shift voltages up to 9 or 12V in either port to achieve 18W.
For instance, the typical Type-C smartphone will draw a maximum of 3A. FASTCHARGE increases that to 18W by switching up the voltages so that 12V x 1.5A = 18W. On the other hand, competitor products will typically languish at 15W (5V x 3A = 15W).
The Knightsbridge FASTCHARGE ports are instantly recognisable over standard items with a distinctive orange port insert colour. Finish options for both socket types include Matt White, Matt Black and Brushed Chrome from its Screwless range and Brushed Chrome in Raised Edged Square. A choice of pin inserts in white, grey or black is available for all Brushed Chrome models.
Finally, all Knightsbridge USB FASTCHARGE 13A two-gang switched sockets are warrantied for two years.
For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.
*Apple devices do not support PD FASTCHARGE, but the use of certified cables will achieve an optimum charge rate of up to 5V 3A.
See more on electrical wiring accessories with Skill Builder.
A Superior Range of Hi Vis Protective Wear – for all kinds of light conditions.
Snickers Workwear takes personal wellbeing at work very seriously. That’s why this range of Hi-Vis protective wear is streets ahead of anything else.
With updated styles and designs added to the extensive range of Jackets, Trousers, Shorts, Toolvests, Shirts and Fleeces for men and women, there’s a host of garments in the range to satisfy the specific requirements of Classes 1, 2 and 3 protection levels.
These ‘outstanding’ products combine Snickers’ unrivalled hallmarks of functionality and comfort with the requirements of the EN20471 standard for high visibility warning clothes.
With advanced designs and high-tech fabrics that are windproof and water-repellent, all the garments have durable, colour-fast protection that will last for wash after wash, retaining shape and comfort throughout the life of the garments.
Added to which, Snickers Workwear Hi Vis garments can be custom-profiled to ensure ‘stand out’ coverage for your corporate brand.
Getting more information on the Snickers Workwear range of ProtecWork and Snickers Workwear Hi-Vis protective wear is easy. You call the Helpline on 01484 854788; check out www.snickersworkwear.co.uk and download a digital catalogue; or you can email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk
Seismic activity may be rare in the UK, but many buildings and critical infrastructure need to be protected from blasts. The cost of specialised equipment capable of withstanding the forces and violent movement caused by seismic and blast activity can be extortionate. However, there is an alternative, more efficient way of providing this blast protection than the traditionally expensive ‘ruggedisation’ method. Here, Adam Fox, director of vibration control specialist Mason UK, explains how you can provide effective blast protection in projects, including where vibration isolation is also required.
Say ‘seismic activity’ in the UK and you might just think of a few damaged chimney pots. Yet while genuine seismic activity might be rare, the engineering expertise that is used to protect buildings from seismic activity still has relevant applications. Bomb blasts or terrorist activity can subject buildings and critical infrastructure to what is euphemistically referred to as ‘accidental loads.’
Faced with these accidental loads, buildings need to remain viable. They must remain stable enough for people to evacuate and firefighters to enter if needed.
You also want to avoid the ventilation or water supply being taken out by the blast. Consequences like these could be disastrous, especially in military installations or for critical infrastructure like power stations.
Engineers, therefore, design buildings with these criteria in mind. The basic engineering principles were set out in the International Building Code that was designed with the help of our big brother across the pond, Mason Industries, in the 1970s.
In many conventional buildings, the volume of steel and concrete provides sufficient blast protection, but in situations where you need to introduce a structural break for vibration isolation reasons, you require a different level of engineering expertise.
For example, let’s say you have a building that is mounted on a series of columns and is near a train line. You might place one of our bearings on top of the column, to protect the building from the vibration caused by the train.
Suddenly, you have a soft connection between the column and the structure it is supporting. So how do you make sure the column is fit to withstand the accidental loads referred to before?
In these situations, where vibration isolation meets blast protection requirements, there are two solutions. The more simple, traditional approach is to apply heavy restraints which can be seriously expensive and if poorly designed can easily negate the benefit of the vibration control measures It is more efficient for cost and performance to design a connection that respects both.
Ensuring building services remain operational can keep a building running. Expensive ‘ruggedised’ plant equipment can cope with forces but the smarter, far cheaper engineering solution would involve combing anti-vibration mounts with inbuilt restraints.
The former provides general vibration isolation but will also reduce any forces from a blast or accidental load down to levels that standard, off the shelf equipment can withstand.
The equipment in the video shows spring mounts with seismic restraints cushioning a pump and motor. It may look violent but the goal is to reduce forces down to less than the equipment would see when being shipped to site.
We have worked on many projects for the military and government, as well as for buildings whose function just cannot be interrupted for repairs. We worked to provide a holistic engineering solution, ensuring the entire system was designed to withstand accidental loads and protect critical infrastructure.
If you need to introduce structural breaks for vibration isolation, or need to meet blast protection criteria, you face a problem. However, the problem is not that we lack a viable engineering solution in these situations.
The problem is, so many developers, architects and engineers are simply not aware that this kind of engineering solution is available and therefore fork out extortionate sums on ruggedization and extra testing.
Mason UK is a vibration isolation specialist with extensive expertise in seismic engineering. To discover how their products and engineering can assist your projects, visit mason-uk.co.uk, email info@masonuk.co.uk or call (01252) 716610.
Another vintage episode from the 35A Extension series where we see around.
https://www.hanfordandgreen.com
About Hanford + Green
Hanford + Green was established by a team with decades of experience in paint manufacturing, building and commercial decorating. They set out to provide high-performance paint that the commercial sector needs, meeting each of the challenges of large-scale commercial projects head-on.
A gas engineer’s asbestos removal was potentially dangerous during a gas boiler replacement putting himself and others at risk from exposure to asbestos fibres.
Brian Hockin, aged 58, was removing an old warm air heating system at a residential property on Williams Close, Wrafton when he disturbed a quantity of asbestos insulation board that surrounded the warm air boiler.
The tenants of the property raised their concerns with Brian Hockin that he had disturbed asbestos but he continued to remove the material bagging it and removing it from the property and storing it at his yard.
The tenants were so concerned that they contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which prosecuted Brian Hockin at Barnstaple Magistrates’ court.
During the hearing, the court heard that Brian Hockin used no safety measures to prevent the spread of asbestos and that he used no protective clothing or protective breathing apparatus when he was removing the asbestos.
Brian Hockin of Bickington, near Barnstaple, pleaded guilty of breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £450 and ordered to pay £921.40 in costs.
HSE Inspector Simon Jones, speaking after the trial, said: “Brian Hockin’s negligence could result in serious health effects to both him and anyone else who may have come into contact with the asbestos material that he disturbed.
“Given Mr Hockin’s vast experience as a gas engineer, he should have realised that there is a very good chance that a 30-year-old gas boiler could be insulated with asbestos insulation board but he made no checks before working around the material.
He then compounded matters by ignoring concerns raised by the tenants that the material that he had disturbed was asbestos and carried on removing the material.
“Tradesmen should always be aware that asbestos can be found in any industrial or residential building built or refurbished before the year 2000.
“Tradesmen should make enquiries as the presence of asbestos before starting work and if they suspect that they have come across asbestos during work they should stop work immediately and confirm what the material is and arrange for it to be dealt with by properly trained asbestos removal professionals in a safe manner’
MORE FROM HSE
When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases. These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important that you protect yourself now.
Asbestos can cause the following fatal and serious diseases:
Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure and by the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.
Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as (looks the same as) lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.
Asbestosis is a serious scarring condition of the lung that normally occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos over many years. This condition can cause progressive shortness of breath, and in severe cases can be fatal.
Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.
Note: It is also important to remember that people who smoke, and are also exposed to asbestos fibres, are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.
Further information about asbestos safety can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos
More on asbestos: 5 Warning signs of asbestos poisoning
http://www.sihg.org.uk/swallowsrooftiles
Find Focus with Hellberg’s range of all-new specialist safety glasses and goggles.
Renowned for its hi-spec PPE that includes advanced hearing protection products, face protection and communication solutions, Hellberg Safety is launching a new range safety eyewear.
With a wide range of street-smart styles, from basic to premium – the new range ensures a consistently clear line of sight and safe vision for professional tradesmen and women wherever they’re working on site.
Built with lightweight, durable materials and specially developed lens technology, the eyewear provides complete protection, and comfort throughout the working day and can be easily combined with other PPE including ear defenders, safety helmets, and visors.
With a focus on enhanced safety in all conditions, Hellberg glasses and goggles have impact-resistant lenses with anti-scratch and anti-fog coating on both sides and there are styles that can be worn over prescription glasses.
Around the lens, the ergonomic design, incorporates practical features, like a soft nose bridge and ‘adjustable temples’, making sure the glasses stay in place and fit safely allowing you to keep your focus all day long.
https://www.safeguardeurope.com
Safeguard has grown to become a market leader in the UK and now exports throughout the world. All products are manufactured under an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality & environmental control system, audited by the BSI. The product ranges are accredited by a wide range of industry authorities and international testing houses.
They pride themselves on industry-leading technical knowledge and an ability to innovate by developing and manufacturing new products.
Skill Builder travelled to Northern Ireland to see the boys from Sperrin Paving laying a patio and some paving using Tobermore paving products.
They also built a retaining wall and a boundary wall to complement the retaining wall. Roger Bisby has laid a few patios in his time but this method of laying the Historic Paving onto a dry sharp sand was a revelation.
Roger commented “Normally I would use a bed of mortar and tap each slab down. This is the way I was shown by the old-timers but it is a slow method and you do get problems with levels if one bit of mortar shrinks more than another and if you get a rocking slab it can mean putting down more mortar.
The dry bed method is not only quicker it also allows you to sort out any problems that might occur down the line. If for example, you get a bit of a dip over the top of a drain run you can simply pick up a few slabs, put down a bit more sand and lay the slabs down again.”
The dry bed method is made possible because Tobermore slabs are 50mm thick and they are absolutely uniform in thickness. Once you get the bed flat putting the slabs down is the quickest job ever.
The video shows Roger completely amazed to see that half the patio was down after day one and that also included building some steps and a retaining wall using Secura Lite walling. The wall is built completely without mortar and cleverly interlocks.
Another big advantage of the dry bed method is that it allows a lot of the water to permeate through the paving so it helps to reduce flooding.
The video is packed full of useful tips for the competent DIYer who fancies laying their own patio but it also highlights the advantages of using a Tobermore approved contractor if are thinking of hiring the professionals.
Tobermore supports its network of Approved Contractors with a design service and product samples so the customer can see and feel the products before they commit to them.
Arguably the best bit of the video is right at the end when Roger explains how Tobermore’s advanced production process produces a product that is not only colour-fast but extremely hard-wearing.
All too often concrete paving begins to fade and show signs of deterioration within a few years of being laid. The old method of making cast paving meant that the pigment was mixed through the whole thickness of the slab or block.
This sounds like a good thing when you first hear it but in reality, it means that you are spreading the pigment over parts of the paving that will never see the light of day.
By placing the pigment in the wear layer and adding the hardener in there as well, this Premium Top gives you unrivalled durability and colour.
You would imagine that this kind of extra quality comes at a premium but the cost is actually very competitive with thinner less durable products. Take a look at the video and see if you agree that it is not only the fastest easiest paving to lay but it is also one of the best-looking ranges on the market.
Secura Lite antique retaining wall blocks
Tobermore Historic Circles Installation Guidelines.pdf
Tobermore Historic Flags & Circles.pdf
Tobermore Sienna Setts & Circles.pdf
Special thanks go to Tobermore and Sperrin Paving.
Check out the official Tobermore website.
Where have we moved home the most? – Britain’s home moving hotspots revealed
Nearly 800,000 home moves have taken place in the last year, meaning 2.6% of Britain’s entire property market chose to up sticks and moved home despite numerous periods of lockdown restrictions and the wider ongoing problems caused by the pandemic.
The latest market insight by national estate agent, Keller Williams UK, analysed the number of homes sold across England, Wales and Scotland over the last 12 months and what this equates to as a percentage of total residential housing stock, to highlight where Britain’s home moving hotspots.
Note: Home movers refers to the whole house rather than several individuals moving home who might live within the same property.
The research shows that Scotland moves the most, with 81,751 transactions in the last 12 months equating to 3.1% of all homes in the country.
It is no surprise that Scotland accounts for seven of the top 15 home moving hotspots at a local authority (LA) level, with East Lothian seeing 4.1% of all homes hit the market in the last 12 months. Midlothian (3.9%), East Renfrewshire (3.7%), South Lanarkshire (3.7%) and Renfrewshire (3.5%) also rank as some of Britain’s most prominent home mover hotspots.
2.6% of all households made a move across England over the last 12 months, with the South West (2.9%), the South East (2.8%) and East Midlands (2.8%) ranking top.
However, it’s Harborough in Leicestershire that tops the table at LA level, with 1,477 transactions completed in the last year resulting in 3.7% of the total property market moving in the area.
South Derbyshire (3.6%), North West Leicestershire (3.5%), Central Bedfordshire (3.4%) and Bracknell Forest (3.4%) also moved the most of all areas in England.
2.3% of the total Welsh property market decided to move last year, with Vale of Glamorgan seeing this figure increase to 3%, the highest in Wales. Bridgend also saw a large number of home movers with 2.8% of all homes in the area selling, along with Conwy (2.6%), Denbighshire, Newport and Flintshire (2.5%).
At just 1.9%, the capital saw the smallest number of home movers in relation to market size, although this did climb to 2.9% in Bromley, making it the capital’s home moving hotspot.
Havering (2.8%), Bexley (2.7%), Richmond (2.6%) and Kingston (2.5%) also ranked high.
CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented:
“Although 2.6% of households choosing to move doesn’t sound high, it’s important to remember this is in relation to 28.5m total homes across Britain and against a backdrop of pandemic uncertainty and lockdown restrictions.
In this context, nearly 800,000 successful home moves is pretty impressive, and the fact we’ve managed it while also juggling the strange new normal of lockdown life is pretty commendable.
Of course, the dangling carrot of a stamp duty saving would have helped boost these figures. With a potential deadline extension on the way, we should see the number of us selling up and moving on remain high.”
The Data Explained
Data in the below tables is based on transaction data from Gov.uk over the last 12 months from the latest available point of October 2020. Source: Gov.uk UK House Price Index – Sales.
Estimated dwelling stock levels sourced from: –
England: Gov.uk, Live Tables on Dwellings Stock
Scotland: Gov.scot, Housing Statistics
Wales: Gov.wales, Dwelling Stock Estimates
Transactions as a percentage of dwellings stock is based on transactions divided by total dwellings.
| Table shows the number of sales in the last 12 months by each area and what percentage of total housing stock this equates to | |||
| Location | Estimated dwelling stock | Transactions | Transactions as a % of dwellings stock |
| England | 24,413,501 | 634,815 | 2.6% |
| Scotland | 2,605,000 | 81,751 | 3.1% |
| South West | 2,579,210 | 74,528 | 2.9% |
| South East | 3,943,537 | 111,553 | 2.8% |
| East Midlands | 2,103,080 | 58,862 | 2.8% |
| East of England | 2,705,425 | 74,896 | 2.8% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,440,528 | 65,221 | 2.7% |
| North West | 3,300,088 | 87,283 | 2.6% |
| North East | 1,236,808 | 31,269 | 2.5% |
| West Midlands Region | 2,512,503 | 62,837 | 2.5% |
| Wales | 1,437,567 | 33,701 | 2.3% |
| London | 3,592,322 | 68,366 | 1.9% |
| Great Britain | 28,456,067 | 750,267 | 2.6% |
| Table shows the biggest home moving hotspots in Britain at local authority level | |||
| Location | Estimated dwelling stock | Transactions | Transactions as a % of dwellings stock |
| East Lothian | 48,000 | 1,954 | 4.07% |
| Midlothian | 40,000 | 1,555 | 3.89% |
| Harborough | 39,891 | 1,477 | 3.70% |
| East Renfrewshire | 39,000 | 1,433 | 3.67% |
| South Lanarkshire | 151,000 | 5,528 | 3.66% |
| South Derbyshire | 45,363 | 1,619 | 3.57% |
| Renfrewshire | 87,000 | 3,072 | 3.53% |
| West Lothian | 79,000 | 2,742 | 3.47% |
| North West Leicestershire | 45,513 | 1,579 | 3.47% |
| Perth and Kinross | 72,000 | 2,481 | 3.45% |
| Central Bedfordshire | 121,347 | 4,154 | 3.42% |
| Bracknell Forest | 50,231 | 1,717 | 3.42% |
| Rugby | 47,113 | 1,608 | 3.41% |
| South Norfolk | 61,926 | 2,100 | 3.39% |
| South Northamptonshire | 40,033 | 1,357 | 3.39% |
There are many advantages to using solar power. Harvested from the sun’s rays, solar energy helps both consumers and businesses. This form of renewable energy can reduce your energy costs, lower your dependency on fossil fuels, and much more.
It’s easy to see that going solar presents many benefits. With all of that said, how is the solar market doing in 2021? Here’s a closer look at how trends impact the future of the solar energy industry.
You can see how fast the solar industry is growing by looking at the many companies in this field. This growth came through the Department of Energy awarding special funding to solar companies. The first company to receive this funding was First Solar, a fast-growing solar manufacturer that acquired a loan for $1.9 billion.
First Solar is far from the only company succeeding in this fast-growing field. Many other large solar manufacturers continue to bring solar power to the world.
It’s now time to learn about some of the largest companies leading the solar energy industry. The leader in this industry remains First Solar. With a market cap of $7.4 billion and revenue of $3.1 billion, First Solar has a bright future in the solar industry.
The second-largest solar firm in the United States is SunPower Corp. Based out of San Jose, California, SunPower Corp designs and manufactures solar systems. This company posted revenue of $1.9 billion in 2020.
NextEra Energy is another renewable energy company that’s making lots of waves. While not strictly a solar company (they also provide wind energy), NextEra Energy recently toppled ExxonMobile as America’s most valuable energy provider. It’s unknown if NextEra Energy will hold on to this top spot, but it’s encouraging news to renewable energy supporters.
Another company that deserves mentioning is a business that’s arguably more well-known: Tesla. While many people connect Tesla with Elon Musk and electric cars, this company also installs residential solar panels.
It’s understandable to wonder if or by how much the solar industry will grow in 2021. Fortunately, things look good for this industry in the near future. In 2020, both China and the United States broke records for solar installations. During the first half of 2020, Europe generated 40% of its power from renewable energy.
As the adoption of solar energy continues growing, 2021 looks to be a great year for renewable energy. The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that solar capacity will double and surpass 100GW in 2021.
You can also learn a lot about the solar industry by looking at a few solar energy statistics. Here are a few of the most interesting statistics showcasing the popularity of solar energy.
So far, you’ve learned many interesting statistics about the solar industry. With that in mind, you’ll now learn more about the biggest solar energy trends to watch out for in 2021.
One of the most popular trends in 2021 is solar roof tiles. These items function the same way as solar panels. But they’re much smaller, essentially the size of a shingle. Solar shingles are attractive options for homeowners or property managers that want solar energy without traditionally bulky solar panels.
You likely remember the automobile industry changing with the invention and popularity of electric vehicles. These vehicles operate partially or fully on electricity, reducing the need for fuel from gasoline. With that in mind, it appears that solar energy will soon be powering lots of automobiles. Research shows that the solar vehicle industry will be worth $329 million by 2023
In recent years, the world has experienced dangerous weather. Two notable examples of this took place in the United States. There were the 2019 wildfires that took over large parts of California. Recently, the southern state of Texas experienced week-long power outages from harsh winter weather.
To solve weather-related power outages, companies are utilizing stored solar energy to provide power during times when electrical grids go out. Solar storage works by having large modules collect energy. This energy is then collected and distributed in the event of a power outage.
As you can see, there’s a lot to get excited about regarding the future of solar energy. If you’d like to experience everything this type of renewable energy has to offer, consider going solar.
Before he pitches the roof on our new extension series, James shows us a quick 2-minute tip for getting a super straight string line.
Workwear – Protectivewear – Performancewear – Leisurewear.
With street-smart designs for men and women, all Snickers Workwear high-performance jackets include must-have features that focus on fit and freedom of movement as well as using innovative fabrics that deliver long-lasting protection and stretch comfort.
Whatever you need – if it’s for work, play or protection against hazards – Snickers Workwear has Jackets that will work on-site, are ideal for leisure, always ensuring optimal performance, comfort, good looks and visibility.
ALLROUNDWork Jackets are just what the name suggests, delivering a great all-round performance.
There’s also FLEXIWork Jackets that provide superb comfort and weather-proofing if you’re always on the move and LITEWork Jackets that keep you feeling cool and looking good whatever you’re doing in warm weather.
So check out the performance, comfort and protection features of Snickers Workwear Jackets, there will be one to suit you – wherever you are, whatever you need, whatever you’re doing.
Rain and snow delays force James onto the blockwork in part 6 of our 2 storey extension series.
How To Build An Extension series playlist: https://bit.ly/2LnUhG5
Keystone Windposts
https://keystonelintels.com/products/windposts
Our thanks go to James and Ian of The Supreme Finishing Company.
◾ https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk
◾ https://www.facebook.com/thesupremefinishingcompany
Roger shows us how he installs radiant underfloor heating in a screed.
This is the Worcester Bosch Greenfloor system but the ideas can be applied to other systems.
Check out the Underfloor Heating Store.
https://www.theunderfloorheatingstore.com
They supply electric and water underfloor heating systems as well as thermostats, controls, insulation board, adhesives and revellers.
See more on underfloor heating with Skill Builder.
An institute representing thousands of tradespeople and independent retailers has called on the Government to support the home improvement industry to play a full part in the economic recovery that will be needed now that the route out of lockdown is clear.
Commenting on the day that the Prime Minister announces how the UK will emerge from lockdown over the coming months, the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) has called for immediate action to help independent retailers open their doors and installers get to work, as well as longer-term interventions that stimulate consumer demand, open up supply chains and support skills development.
Damian Walters, Chief Executive of BiKBBI, said: “Tradespeople and independent businesses in the home improvement industry cannot afford to be ignored by the Government as we finally begin to open up the country.
“Our industry has felt the economic impact of the pandemic more than most. Installers in England and Wales invested time and money into Safe Operating Procedures that allowed them to continue serving customers through the most recent lockdown, but our members north of the border were forced to down tools as the Scottish Government took a much more restrictive approach.
As a result, far too many tradespeople have struggled to make ends meet due the additional expenditure needed to work safely or the loss of income from being unable to work at all.
“Meanwhile, the industry’s independent retailers were forced to close their doors while larger competitors carried on trading thanks to loopholes that allowed them to classify as trade suppliers. The loss of business could force many shops to close for good, doing further damage to high streets that are already struggling.
“Our industry is one of the cornerstones of the UK economy, providing products and services in demand across every part of the country and offering a route to skilled work for people from all walks of life.
It’s vital that every effort is made to help it quickly recover from the hit it has taken over the past year. This means immediately declassifying independent Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom retailers from being ‘non-essential’ so that they can compete on a level playing field with large trade suppliers.
It also means working with the Scottish Government to ensure that installers in Scotland can get back to work as quickly as possible.
“Beyond that, it must include efforts to stimulate the market through tax incentives that encourage people to invest in their homes; moves to quickly unlock supply chains that have slowed over recent months; and continued support for the education and training initiatives needed to maintain a skilled workforce.
“The Prime Minister has offered a glimmer of hope to tradespeople and independent retailers who have had to contend with such huge challenges over the past year, but more will be needed to help them play a part as the national recovery gets underway.”
