Wednesday, October 15, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 56

SDS-PLUS MX4 Drill Bits from Milwaukee

Roger checks out Milwaukee’s SDS-Plus MX4 Drill Bits to see if they can cope with his tough drilling tests.

milwaukeetool.eu/en-gb/sds-plus-mx4-drill-bits-4-cut

#MilwaukeeTools #PowerTools #DrillBits

Milwaukee Redstick Backbone Box Levels

Robin and Roger check out Milwaukee’s range of Redstick spirit levels on their latest builds.

https://uk.milwaukeetool.eu/redstick-backbone-box-levels/

Heavy Duty SAWZALL Recip Saw Blades from Milwaukee

Milwaukee sponsored video in which Roger thoroughly tests the range of Sawzall reciprocating blades by cutting through tough thick metals.

Milwaukee blades tested include:

Thick Metal Heavy Duty Torch Blade with Carbide Teeth
The AX Heavy Duty Demolition Blade
The Torch Blade

https://uk.milwaukeetool.eu/accessories/sawing-and-cutting/reciprocating-sawzall-blades-1/

Don’t Buy AdBlue Until You’ve Watched This

0

It’s time for Roger to top up his AdBlue on the Vivaro, but where should he be buying his stock from?

What is AdBlue?

What is AdBlue and how does it work? find out at Carbuyer
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/152834/what-is-adblue

AdBlue is becoming increasingly common on diesel cars and is a fluid made up of a mix of urea and deionized water which is squirted into the exhaust system, helping to reduce nitrous oxide emissions produced by diesel engines. With car manufacturers having to adhere to ever more stringent emissions targets, AdBlue is vital to make sure diesel cars pass tests and produce less harmful pollution.

Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty Driver Bits

0

Roger checks out a few different impact driver bits, including our sponsor’s Shockwave drill bits.

With the launch of SHOCKWAVE in 2009, Milwaukee delivered the first line of power tool accessories specifically designed for use with impact drivers. As tool usage and technological advancements within impact drivers has rapidly increased, SHOCKWAVE has continued to innovate and provide tradesman with the best performing impact accessories available.

SHOCKWAVE will continue to be at the forefront of impact accessory technology and focus on DRIVING PERFORMANCE FORWARD.

Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE Durability

SHOCKWAVE Impact Driver Bits are the Most Durable, Best Fitting driver bits on the market. The WEAR GUARD TIP™ increases wear resistance, protecting bit fit over the life of the bit.

The Shockzone™ is optimized for each tip type and length of driver bit, absorbing peak torque and preventing breaking.

CUSTOM ALLOY76™ steel and heat treatment is customized for each tip type for up to 50X bit life. The SHOCKWAVE™ impact driver bits provide extreme durability for the most demanding job site applications.

More on Milwaukee from Skill Builder.

See more on Milwaukee website.

#14 ~ Plumber Chat with James from Plumberparts

When plumbers get together, this is what they talk about. Roger and James Lawrence from Plumberparts discuss plumbing and life in general.

Subscribe to Plumberparts: youtube.com/user/plumberparts

Christmas Message & 2019 Best Bloopers

0

Roger and Robin get together for a beer and a look back at 2019 and bring you all of the best bloopers.

Our thanks go to all of you for watching us in 2019, you keep us going and make it all worthwhile. Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Has Building Control Lost Control?

One of Margaret Thatcher’s less noticeable privatisations was Building Control. It didn’t really have the headline catching qualities of gas or water and there was no bonanza for those lucky enough to buy shares in what was essentially a lottery. Nevertheless, it has had similar deep routed unintended consequences for those it affects.

Many people in the building industry could see the flaw in the whole idea from the outset, but politicians are not generally blessed with the ability to see beyond their next move which is why so few of them are chess players. The problem they missed was an obvious conflict of interests.

Having private companies competing for the job of inspecting day to day building work is beset with problems. If you are a house builder you are looking for a company that can do the job cheaper than the competition because that is your whole reason for being, but you are also looking for a company that is inclined to make the inspections less onerous.

Building Control Inspectors

If the inspectors are over-zealous or obstructive you look for some that are more amenable. Happily, for the builder, the fact that the company has quoted a cheaper fee for the inspections also means they are less likely to spend the necessary time on site to check all the important stages of the job. Key stages are often nodded through.

In so many small and seemingly insignificant ways we see the consequences of this in our new housing stock. Some of the problems, such as squeaky floorboards are annoying but are not within the scope of Building Control which deals with regulations rather than the quality of work.

The aim of the Building Regulations is to make homes safe and healthy to live in and also energy-efficient. The regulations deal with structural stability, insulation, ventilation, noise reduction and fire safety.

Following the failures at Grenfell Tower the public gaze is very much on fire safety. A recent fire in a timber frame housing block in South London saw the whole building gutted by flames in minutes.

Fortunately, the occupants followed their instincts and evacuated rather than waiting for the fire service (brigade?) to turn up. The result was zero casualties but, had some of the occupants been disabled or of limited mobility, they might not have survived.

The way the building was designed meant this should never have happened. The notional fire resistance between each flat is one hour but when the fire started it turned out to be just a matter of minutes. The reason the fire spread so rapidly was simply that cavity fire stops, often known as fire socks, had not been fitted.

Once the fire had penetrated the internal timber walls it was drawn along and up the cavities as if it were a giant chimney. A similar thing happened for the very same reason in a house built by Persimmon Homes in the West Country. It turned out that, not only had the fire stops been omitted in those houses, but in many other homes elsewhere.

It would seem the problem was not simply due to poor local inspection; it was a systematic failure. If the fire stops had been specified, they were either never purchased or were pilling up in a store somewhere. Somebody should have noticed.

Persimmon is now carrying out major remedial work, with all the disruption this entails but, for the homeowners, the problem is that those properties are now blighted in the same way that Barratt’s timber frame houses once were. When prospective buyers hear the name Persimmon they will naturally be nervous.

To rub salt in the wound Persimmon paid their CEO a £75M bonus for his outstanding performance and the company has now gone through the billion-pound profit mark. If this seems to you like an obscene amount of money to extract from struggling first-time buyers for substandard houses it is even more so when you consider that a sizeable chunk of that money was donated by the taxpayer in the form of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Again, those with slightly more foresight than the politicians could see that any artificial injection of cash would not bring a home within the grasp of first-time buyers because it would push up prices. This simple Law of Supply and Demand was seemingly news to the architects of the Help to Buy scheme.

There is no doubt that their intentions were good but so perhaps was the privatisation of Building Control which sought to end a monopoly, the two policies have now converged in the perfect storm.

So where do we go from here? There is an urgent need for an overhaul of the way building control works but something that could be done immediately is cost neutral and arguably more effective than just having inspectors booking site visits.

The utility companies and even parcel delivery companies already use mobile phones to record their work. It should be possible for the site foreman to photograph and upload a pictorial record of the work to the cloud.

If cavity firestops have been installed, we won’t then have to take anyone’s word for it, the evidence will be there as a matter of public record. Not only is this useful evidence for the Building Control Officers it is also invaluable for mortgage companies and prospective purchasers.

It is an idea that will strike fear into those whose focus is upon cutting costs in the pursuit of ever-greater profit but we need to build homes that are value for money and cherished by their owners. If that is too much to ask they ought least to be safe to live in and that is not the case right now.

Do You Need Planning Permission or Are Your Permitted Development Rights Enough?

Alfie Secure Shower Head Fixings – Capel #14

Perfect, watertight, secure connection between pipework and fittings: https://www.coolag.co.uk

Robin is joined by Ty Harnett to look at getting a really secure fixing for his showerheads to make them strong enough for chin-ups!

A faster, more robust and watertight connection for securing fixed shower heads, shower hose wall fittings, wall mounted taps and bar shower valves, WC’s and hand basins.

• Eliminate leaks within walls and floors
• Prevent pipes from being knocked or drilled
• Guarantees perfectly upright shower fittings
• DZR brass for exceptional corrosion resistance
• Reversible manifold for hollow and solid walls
• Dual seal within the wall structure
• Interlocking base plate for various applications
• Prevents depth planning of fittings or using offset adapters

#13 ~ Plastic Pipe FAQ with Pipelife

Roger has a chat with Chris Wormald from Pipelife to look at the common misconceptions with plastic pipe.

Pipelife is a leading manufacturer & provider of plastic piping systems. Specialising in the extrusion of polyethylene (PE) pipes Pipelife offers industry-leading products for the heating & plumbing, water pressure, electricity, cable ducting, gas and agricultural sectors.

Drawing on over 45 years of manufacturing experience from their production plant in Cork, Pipelife has been at the forefront in developing innovative products and has been an industry leader for many years.

#SBpodcast #Pipelife #Plumbing

=================================================
Tell us what you like: http://skill-builder.uk/vote
Get in touch, send us your pictures and videos: http://skill-builder.uk/send
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skillbuilderuk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillbuilderchannel

Broken Sewer Nightmare Thames Water Won’t Fix

Thames Water sewage problems. Roger visits the home of a desperate Skill Builder viewer who contacted us to seek advice on a clogged sewer repair problem that Thames Water refuses to help him further with after two attempts at fixing it.

Thames Water plc can be found here:
facebook.com/thameswater
x.com/thameswater

Frequent searches related to Thames Water area:

Thames Water sewage emergency phone number
Call 0800 316 9800

Thames Water drainage maps
thameswater.co.uk/developers/larger-scale-developments/planning-your-development/where-our-pipes-are

Thames Water sewage treatment works
thameswater.co.uk/about-us/community/education/the-sewage-treatment-process

Thames Water drain blockage contact
thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/drains-and-sewers/blockages

Thames Water contact
Call 0800 316 9800

Thames Water working at night is a beautiful thing, send us your pictures.

Robin Installs the Lindab MVHR System – Capel #13

The Testo commissioning device was also supplied by and is available to buy from Lindab.

What is MVHR and why is Robin so excited to have it as part of the Capel Build?

Special thanks go to Lindab for helping Robin commission the system and make sure it is working perfectly.

Rant – Rising Damp Strikes Again (or does it?)

0

Time for another rant! Roger comes across another example of rising damp and cannot figure out why or how so many intelligent people are rising damp deniers.

Vlog – HSE Figures Show Fatalities on the Rise

0

The annual HSE statistics report for work-related deaths for the 2018 to 2019 period shows a rise in the number of work-related deaths.

Between April 2018 and March 2019, 147 workers died from work-related injuries, 6 more deaths than the previous year.

Breakdown of the HSE Fatality Figures

The 3 industries with the highest number of fatal injuries

Agriculture, forestry and fishing – 32 fatalities
Construction – 30 fatalities
Manufacturing – 26 fatalities

The most common type of work-related fatalities

Falls from height – 40 fatalities
Struck by a moving vehicle – 30 fatalities
Struck by moving object – 16 fatalities
Contact with moving machinery – 14 fatalities
Trapped by something overturning or collapsing – 11 fatalities

The different accident types include:

Injured by an animal – 8 fatalities
Drowning or asphyxiation – 5 fatalities
Exposed to explosion – 5 fatalities
Contact with electricity – 4 fatalities

#HSE #HealthandSafety

Snickers Workwear FlexiWork Insulated Jackets and Trousers

0

Superb insulation and full weather protection for optimal comfort on site.

Street-smart, stylish looks and market-leading GORE-TEX and 37.5® fabric technology make these jackets and trousers a must for winter on-site or for outdoor leisure activities.

You’ll stay warm and dry in this layered clothing that’s robust, waterproof and windproof too! The design and fabric combinations will keep your body in the optimum comfort zone as the weather conditions change on site.

They’ve got all the features and functionality that you’d expect in Snickers Workwear Jackets and Trousers. They’re great-looking garments that will keep you feeling comfy wherever you are and whatever you’re doing at work in cold weather.

With a range of winter accessories to choose from as well, Snickers Workwear’s FlexiWork and ALLroundWork garments feature contemporary designs packed with must-have features that focus on fit, comfort and freedom of movement as well as using innovative fabrics that deliver long-lasting protection.

Is Dot & Dab an Approved Method of Wall Tiling with BS 5385?

0

Roger looks at the important changes to BS 5385-1 and how it affects the dot & dab technique.

The latest revision to the British Standard covering wall tiling includes a number of changes which the industry needs to be aware of.

We look at the crucial aspect of adhesive coverage and bond strength.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/2qoSmXc

Do You Know How Plastic Pipe is Made? PIPELIFE

Team SB travels to Cork in the south of Ireland to visit the Pipelife factory and discover how they make their Easy-Lay PB barrier pipe.

Max TwinTier Rebar Tying Tool

0

Roger checks out the Max RB441T TwinTier Rebar Tying Hand Tool at the UK Construction show.

Rockwool for Sound Insulation & Fire Protection

0

Roger continues the extension series with some Rockwool insulation roll installation to deal with sound transmission and fire protection.

Is There No Such Thing as Rising Damp?

0

A few months ago we posted a short video on Skill Builder’s YouTube channel showing a remedial product from Safeguard Europe which helps to stop rising damp in masonry walls. But is there no such thing as Rising Damp?

A lack of clarity

Admittedly the video didn’t discuss the many causes of damp in buildings and could have been a whole lot longer, but we felt that it targeted a specific cause of damp and gave a simple solution that is widely used and effective. What is more, it is a very easy job for a DIYer.

So far so good but the comments that followed the posting of this video took us completely by surprise. Some people were not happy. It transpired that there is a significant body of people in the U.K who sincerely believe that rising damp is a myth.

These are not scientists or people with any real knowledge of building technology, they are people who have latched onto a single simple premise and pushed it beyond its logical conclusion.

They have gained traction on social media in the same way as people who purport the earth is flat and that Elvis, Kurt Cobain, and Prince are happily residing on some heavily guarded South Sea Island.

No Such Thing as Rising Damp

The anti-rising damp brigade is lead by a couple of gurus who, in keeping with most fundamentalist, are deaf to any argument but their own. I quickly learned that it is a waste of time arguing with such people or their followers.

It seems that conspiracy theorists are not that discerning and once they believe in one conspiracy theory, they adopt anything and everything that falls under that heading. People who say that rising damp is a myth are more likely to see other scientific phenomena as myths. One such person even put forward the idea that the Moon doesn’t exist.

Pressed on this he said that it was some kind of manmade illumination but didn’t know why it was put there let alone when and by whom. Yes, they really are barking mad.

This kind of thing is now just part of the rich tapestry of modern life and we could all just laugh it off if it were not for the fact that people who really ought to know better are persuaded that there is some substance in the claim that ‘Rising Damp does not exist’.

Damp Conspiracy

The fact that all new building in the UK has to have effective damp proof courses to prevent this supposedly non-existent menace is to them all part of the conspiracy. Now I am entertained by a conspiracy theory as much as the next person but if you are going to have a conspiracy theory surely there has to be a more exciting one out there than ‘rising damp is a myth’? Imagine a weekend conference where people show each other photographs of rising damp and claim they have all been doctored in Photoshop.

When asked for evidence of the nonexistence of rising damp the devotees often cite Venice. For some strange reason, they believe that Venice does not have rising damp.

It makes me wonder if they have ever been to Venice. Not only does Venice have significant rising damp, but the University of Bologna also has a whole department dedicated to research into the problems of rising damp in ancient buildings.

It is government-funded because the Italian government knows all too well that rising damp is a real threat, not only to Venice but to many historic buildings in other parts of Italy.

Water Water Everywhere

The denial of rising damp is even more baffling when you recognise that it is everywhere and even has some beneficial properties. Damp rises through tiny capillary veins or tubes and through this process millions of gallons (or litres) of water move from the ground up through the less dense sapwood of trees and out through the leaves.

If you cut a tree open, you will not find a pump or any moving parts.  The capillary pathways in masonry and mortar have the same effect. Damp evaporates out of the masonry and more is drawn up from the ground.

The whole existence of our planet depends upon the principle that damp rises either through capillary action or evaporation. The clouds in the sky are the most visible example of rising damp and if you look at the wick in an oil lamp you will see rising damp being put to good use.

With such overwhelming evidence, it is hard to work out why some people insist that there is no such thing? The answer may lie in the fact that rising damp has been over-diagnosed. People keen to sell damp treatments are, in some cases, looking at condensation or penetrating damp and calling it rising damp simply because it gives them an opportunity to sell a product.

Damp Treatment Professionals

The term Snake Oil Salesman is often used to describe these ‘damp specialist’ but to dismiss everyone in the industry as a Charlatan because of a small number of rogues is unfair.

We are told by the detractors that all a building needs is to breathe which really means that it needs air passing through it to move damp to the outside. The idea that it might be good to prevent the damp entering in the first place is, for some strange reason, ignored.

There is also a belief that damp is a modern problem that simply didn’t exist in the good old days. So there we have it, a modern problem that is caused by us.

Newly Dampened

It is true that newly built homes were once left unoccupied for six months to allow them to dry out. This was prudent because a huge amount of water is used to build and plaster out a house and that water has to go somewhere.

These days we tend to dry buildings out by heating them but without ventilation all the heating does is to cook up a fugg. Even after the initial drying out process, if it happens, water is still generated by cooking, bathing, showering and breathing.

That water needs to be moved to the outside often by mechanical extraction. This used to happen naturally in the time of open fires many rooms had a chimney, and with the fire lit, this produced as many as eight complete air changes to the room every hour.

That is the real reason why homes did not seem to suffer from damp in the way they do now.  Modern draughtproofing means, we are now looking at as little as one air change per hour and sometimes not even that.

We keep the heat, but we also keep the airborne moisture and the result is condensation, which since the compulsory introduction of damp-proof courses, is now a lot more of a problem than rising damp, but that is not to say that rising damp no longer exists.

Diagnosed Damp

It is perfectly possible to have more than one cause of damp in a home and that is why it needs to be diagnosed properly before any attempt is made to reduce it.

It also needs to be acknowledged that the less well off are more likely to have damp homes. If you are struggling to pay the heating bills you may not want to open a window or even switch on an extractor fan. If you are poor you may also be living in a home with higher occupancy.

The more people living in a house, the damper it is likely to be. It may also be the case that the occupants are drying washing indoors and not heating every room which is just about the worst combination there is. Airborne moisture will move from heated rooms to unheated rooms and condense on cold surfaces which quickly produces ugly black mould.

Damp is not only a building issue it is also a political, social and health issue. The rise in asthma among children is undoubtedly due to poor air quality both inside and outside our homes. Mould is toxic and those who suffer most from such conditions are the young and the old.

Blame Game

It is common for landlords to be blamed for damp houses and there are often news items demonising uncaring landlords. Of course, such people exist, and they need to be held to account but sometimes the tenant’s lifestyle (living habits) is to blame.

A tenant may be looking at the black mould forming around the tops of skirting boards and blaming it on rising damp whereas the landlord is looking at the washing drying on the radiators and thinking it is more likely to be condensation forming on the lower part of the wall, which is always colder.

In such a climate of claim and counterclaim, it is little wonder that people take up polarised positions. As with so many problems these days our first reaction is to find somebody to blame.

More about rising damp on Skill Builder.