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Easy Energy Efficiency Upgrade – Baxi & Google Nest

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Sponsored by Mr Central Heating: https://www.mrcentralheating.co.uk/save-time-and-energy

Detailed Google Nest installation video: https://youtu.be/g8nb8IuWUDw

Roger & Gary replace an existing Baxi boiler with an upgraded Baxi Platinum 40 and Nest Thermostat E for an energy-efficient system.

#mrch #baxiboilers #GoogleNest

Have You Got a Head for Safety? with MSA Safety

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MSA Safety launches whitepaper exploring benefits of great head protection

MSA Safety, designer, manufacturer and distributor of industry-leading safety products, has published a new head protection whitepaper following an industry panel webinar, which was hosted by MSA and attended by health and safety professionals across the UK.

The webinar panel was made up of key industry figures:

  • Alan Murray, CEO, BSIF
  • Jim Cliff, UK Product Sales Manager (Industrial), MSA Safety
  • Richard Cunningham, Worley

The whitepaper – Are you getting the maximum benefits out of your head protection? – reviews the vital importance of head protection for workers, and covers themes including:

  • The history of head protection
  • Developing head protection
  • Why comfort is “key”
  • Understanding different environments and applications
  • Key legislation to be aware of
  • The benefits of great head protection – going beyond just physical safety
  • Embedding a safety awareness culture

MSA’s Jim Cliff comments: “At MSA we’re passionate about worker safety and better understanding how we can drive safer working practices. That was the purpose of the webinar and this subsequent whitepaper. It explores insights gleaned from industry professionals – all with the aim of encouraging workers to actually wear their safety helmets.”

MSA has a significant pedigree when it comes to head protection with its V-Gard® range having sold more than 100 million units since its introduction. MSA believes that a hard hat is much more than the sum of its parts; more than just its “hard outer shell,” explains Jim.

“Worker safety has and always will be paramount. That’s a given. But we believe that a quality hard hat – one that’s well-balanced, well-ventilated and easily adjustable for a comfortable fit – can unlock so many other associated benefits. It can increase confidence and help to improve a worker’s general wellbeing, both of which can make a workforce more productive and efficient. And crucially, greater comfort and convenience means workers are more likely to keep their hard hats on, which of course helps to increase safety and worksite compliance.”

Even on well-run construction sites, head injuries are still very much a potential risk and being struck on the head by moving, flying or falling objects accounted for 18 deaths a year in the UK from 2014-19 (Health & Safety Executive). This is why any work to better understand why workers may not wear their hard hats – and how this can be addressed – is extremely valuable. MSA’s whitepaper is a must-read for both those responsible for purchasing hard hats and those who wear them for up to eight hours a day, day in, day out.

Read and download MSA’s whitepaper here

Plastering & Roof Slates – Garden Room #5

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How to Build a Garden Room Episode 5 sees us inside for the first time and we join D Frost Plastering as they work and we see Andy sorting out the roof slates.

This type of garden room is perfect for use as an office, photographic studio, workshop, man cave or playroom.

#SBGardenRoom #MilwaukeeTools #Plastering

6 Roofing Squares Compared – Which is the Best?

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6 Roofing Squares compared and explained by Roger Bisby. Give us your opinion and complete the survey at the end. Roger shows you all of the different tools used by carpenters for calculating roof pitch.

Roofing Squares to consider

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✅ Silverline SL35 Steel Framing Square
Buy link: https://amzn.to/2QXi3Yv

✅ Swanson Speed Square
Buy link: https://amzn.to/2GyXn7n

✅ Stanley Quick Square
Buy link: https://amzn.to/2F6pUjS

✅ Roofmaster from Kingsview Optical (formally OMI Cowley)
Buy link: www.kingsviewoptical.com

✅ Ultimate Roofing Square by Essential Carpenter Tools
Buy link: www.essential-carpenter-tools.co.uk

✅ Roofus in the UK from UPVC Hardware
Buy link: www.upvc-hardware.co.uk

Official Roofus site: https://roofus.tools

Useful links for roof pitching

Roof Pitch Calculator: omnicalculator.com/construction/roof-pitch

Best apps for roofing calculation:

✅ Pitch Gauge iOS ~ Android

✅ Roof Snap iOS ~ Android

✅ Rafter Help iOS

✅ Roofing Calculator Pro iOS ~ Android

More on roofing and carpentry from Skill Builder

How to Build a Pitched Roof with Robin Clevett

Common Rafters, Hips & Valleys with Ultimate Roofing Square

An Introduction to the Most Important Concrete Types

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To put a number on it, there are over 10-15 different types of concrete used nowadays. This is more than what a small construction crew will likely ever need, but each type is essential for large scale construction companies that operate on multiple levels.

Before we get down to discussing details regarding the surprisingly high number of variations in concrete, it’s important to understand exactly why so many variations are there in the first place. Otherwise, all of it will seem pretty much pointless!

Why are there So Many Different Types of Concrete in the Construction Business Today?

Concrete is an umbrella term, and each different type of concrete has certain strengths and weaknesses, which make them perfect for some projects and inadequate for others. The kind of concrete a contractor will need is based on multiple criterions, some of which we have listed below.

  • Materials used to produce the concrete
  • The formula and design of the mix
  • Construction specifications
  • Construction methods
  • Nature of the construction
  • The space to be filled
  • The allocated budget
  • The geographical location

There are other criteria and requirements that help businesses decide what kind of concrete they need as well, but these are more or less the main ones. Based on these criteria, a contractor chooses the concrete they need. We have highlighted some of the most used types of concrete next, along with a few that will provide you with the highest quality concrete.

Plain Concrete or Normal Strength Concrete

Plain concrete doesn’t have any reinforcement agents mixed in it, meaning that cement, aggregate, and water is mixed in 1:2:4 ratio to produce plain concrete. Although variable, check out some of the most common and usual attributes of plain concrete below.

  • Density: 2,200 kg – 2500 kg/m3
  • Compressive strength: 250 – 500 kg/cm2
  • Use: Pavements and residential buildings when the budget is low and the need for tensile strength is not a priority

Reinforced Concrete

Plain or normal strength concrete has excellent compressive strength but lacks tensile strength. Reinforced concrete, on the other hand, has impressive tensile and compressive strength simultaneously. Steel fibres, steel rods or steel mesh are generally used to add tensile strength to normal concrete, turning it into reinforced concrete, which is much more durable.

Ready Mix Concrete

Ready mixed concrete can produce the best quality of concrete possible because the process potentially has no limit to what it can help the builder achieve. Not only can ready mix concrete be of the highest quality, but it can also be produced in any form or type the builder desires (plain, reinforced, polymer, etc.). Most importantly, the builder or civil engineer can give a proprietary formula to the ready mix provider to get exactly the kind of concrete they are looking to work with.

However, the use of a concrete mix calculator, also known simply as a concrete calculator is necessary, if you wish to use ready mix for your construction effectively. MixIt provides a screed calculator, as well as a concrete calculator that UK contractors and builders rely on heavily for making those crucial calculations. Once you have a near accurate estimation on the numbers you need, consult with the experts for delivery and guidance, in accordance with your project’s specific requirements.

Prestressed Concrete

Prestressing is expensive and requires a skilled labour force that knows how to stress the bars and then place the pretensioned bars into the concrete at the right time. Therefore, it can be quite expensive, but due to the massive compressive and tensile strength it provides to the concrete, pretensioned concrete is reserved for making public structures such as bridges, overpasses, and large roofs with long spans on commercial buildings or skyscrapers.

Polymer Concrete

Polymer concrete essentially substitutes cement from the mix with polymer to reduce the voids. Due to the reduction of voids in polymer cement, the mix can use much less of the stuff, as compared to cement, and still bind the aggregates together. There is no denying that polymer is a lot stronger than cement, but the binder is also a lot more expensive. Whether you choose to use it or not will depend on your budget and the actual need for tensile strength in the project because unnecessary use of polymer can prove to be very expensive.

Instead of going through every one of the concrete types, we decided to highlight the most commonly used and the most useable concrete types here. However, just in case you want to learn about all the other types of concrete as well, you may also want to search for information regarding pervious concrete, shotcrete concrete, pumped concrete, vacuum concrete, stamped concrete, roller compacted concrete, glass concrete, self-consolidated concrete, air-entrained concrete, and lightweight concrete.

How to Screed a Floor by Hand – Screeding Tips

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How to screed by hand step-by-step with our stars Luke and Lee who are at the top of their game and Luke is only 18 years old, very impressive.

Award winning construction software company EasyBuild launches new website

EasyBuild Construction Software Ltd is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website. The new website showcases a host of comprehensive ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software features and financial modules aimed at the construction sector.

EasyBuild is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website.

The new website showcases a host of comprehensive ERP construction features and financial modules to suit businesses from £5m up. At the heart of its core features are information on: Accountancy, Payroll & HR, Estimating, Analytics, Project Management, Supply Chain and Plant Assets.

EasyBuild offers solutions for the following software:

● Cloud – giving you access to business-critical applications at any time from any location.

● Mobile –Mobile enables the capture of labour cost via the Timesheet app; requesting material and plant deliveries via the Requisition app, and recording the delivery of materials via the Goods Received app. Data is automatically synced back into EasyBuild’s ERP solution, which in turn saves time, removes paper and increases efficiency.

● API – Developed using the very latest Microsoft .NET Core technology, the EasyBuild Web API provides the required communication layer between the Mobile solution and the EasyBuild database.

EasyBuild is an established construction software developer with headquarters based in Borehamwood. The company provides their solution to many high-profile main contractors, housebuilders, fit-out firms, rail, civil engineering, service and maintenance companies and many others. Having developed a wide range of financial accounting features and solutions bespoke for various businesses and sectors, EasyBuild is an award-winning construction ERP solution provider in the UK.

The brand-new website enables EasyBuild to fully convey their construction financial accounting services, to the sectors they work with, the competitive pricing bundles on offer, how they deliver implementation and training, and a range of client case studies. This redesigned website will make information much more accessible for EasyBuild’s existing client portfolio and new customers.

Carol Massay, CEO at EasyBuild Construction Software, added “After several months of hard work and dedication, we’re delighted and extremely proud to announce the launch of our brand-new website. We’ve completely redesigned and rebuilt a site from scratch and made major changes to incorporate better design enhancements, usability improvements, site speed and security enhancements, and many more features that will make browsing a far superior experience for our users.”

The new website also placed a big emphasis on showcasing their case studies by redesigning the format, style, and the way information is presented. The new EasyBuild website will be regularly updated with new content, blog posts, case studies, video, training information and latest news to keep the website engaging and up-to-date.

Forticrete Low Pitch Roof Window System

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Looking for low pitch roofing options? Roger takes a look at the Forticrete roofing solution for roof windows with a pitch as low as a 10º and gives a helping hand with the installation.

Before now, the minimum pitch for most roof window installations has been 15°, and even at that pitch problems can occur. Homeowners want a lower pitch roof to enable them to extend their property as far as they can – particularly with the relaxed planning regulations.

Conventional roof windows and flashing kits work by discharging water up and over the face of the tiles. At lower pitches, water does not run off so quickly and tends to pool and lead to water ingress. The Forticrete Low Pitch Roof Window System solves this with a two-piece tray drainage flow, which collects any water which runs under the tiles and disperses it across the trays, over the fascia and into the gutter in a controlled manner.

#Forticrete #LowPitchRoof #Roofing

Fitting a Multipoint Lock in Timber Doors – KB#7

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Part 7 of King Build and James is fitting a multi-point locking system to the doors and isn’t helped by the damaged kit.

New regulations require better security on new builds but it makes sense to beef up external doors.

The client didn’t like the idea of operating several locks and bolts so a single-action mechanism that locks the door in three places was a better solution.

Our thanks go to James King for letting Roger film this extension project series. The Supreme Finishing Company can be contacted by following the link below.

https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk

Angle Grinder Wood Carving – Graff Speedcutter

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Buy your Graff Speedcutter: https://amzn.to/2VjrfIA

A neat angle grinder power tool accessory for cutting and grooving wood.

Multifunction wood cutting disc for angle grinder 115 mm (4 ½ Inch) is an ideal solution for wood carving, sculpting and shaping. This woodworking tool has 3 tungsten carbide teeth and antikickback design, and it is safer than 6 teeth wood carving disc. This is one of the most universal wood carving tools and angle grinder attachments. ✷This carving blade was certified by MPA Hannover.✷

Graff Speedcutter Power

This grinding disc 115 mm (4 ½ Inch) has unique tungsten carbide semi-circular tooth shape and because of this can replace wood carving tools set. It can be used as a grinder shaping disc, sculpting and cutting wheel and also circular saw blade and is designed for wood carvings.

Angle grinder wood cutting wheel GRAFF Speedcutter does not overheat even after continuous work. This grinding wheel ensures safe work because it creates reasonable radial resistance value at high rotation speed rates 13200 RPM. This angle grinder wood saw disc has a special design in which the disc body has feed stop. Working with our woodcarving disc is safer than with chainsaw grinder wheels.

GRAFF Speedcutter is a multipurpose woodcutter. This wood shaping disc for angle grinder is intended for carving not only wood but also plywood, laminated flooring, parquet (hardwood), plasterboard, MDF (hardboard), chipboard, etc.

This angle grinder cutting wheel provides smooth grinding and carving. One more advantage is the right blade diameter – 115 mm and 125 mm (4 ½ Inch and 5 Inch) allowing easy multipurpose work on a variety of materials.

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Tool Theft Lockdown – Is Your Van Secure Enough?

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Roger’s Van Gets Total Security Pimp Out – https://youtu.be/GxVLWmheb74

Steve goes to Sussex Installations to get his Vivaro pimped out like Roger’s to prevent the dreaded tool theft which is getting out of hand.

Dickies Puts Your Hero Tradesperson in the Spotlight

Global workwear brand Dickies is putting the spotlight on tradespeople who are working hard to deliver essential projects during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Dickies is encouraging anyone who knows a tradesperson carrying out such work to share their stories on social media – using the hashtag #dickieshero – where the company will highlight inspiring examples to its followers.

“During these testing times, many are realising how hard the construction industry works and how essential the trades are in keeping our nation going,” said James Whitaker, Marketing Director for Dickies.

Dickies hero

“Whether they’re constructing new field hospitals, carrying out essential repairs for social housing providers, or continuing to make sure no one goes without hot water, there are thousands of tradespeople up and down the country who deserve recognition and thanks. We’re keen to hear about anyone who is doing their best to carry out essential work at this time and encourage people to tell us of their hero tradespeople on social media”.

Do you know a hero tradesperson who is working hard to help deliver essential services during the Coronavirus outbreak? Share your nomination on social media, using the hashtag #dickieshero, tagging Dickies using the following details:

On Twitter: @DickiesEurope

On Instagram: @dickiesworkwearofficial

On Facebook: @DickiesWorkwear

www.dickiesworkwear.com

200K! A Big Thank You Message from Team SB

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Follow us on Facebook https://facebook.com/skillbuilderchannel

#Milestones #Thanks #Gratitude

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Skill Builder Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/skillbuilder
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

Out of respect to our channel sponsors and the wide variety of people who watch our videos, we will remove comments that do not follow common standards of politeness and decency.

How to Saw Wood Like a Pro! Robin Clevett Tutorial

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Do you know how to saw wood and get a nice crisp perfect edge? Robin Clevett shares his wood sawing expertise gathered from his 30 years of joinery.

Another in our series of woodworking tutorials, showing you joinery technique, see our other woodworking videos:

How to Cut Hip Rafters – https://youtu.be/CmKZoPmROn8
How to Create a Scarf Joint – https://youtu.be/-SUtoKKNKHQ
How to Make a Tusk Tenon Joint – https://youtu.be/osoItQj_blw
How to Create Stud Work – https://youtu.be/a43Gd1lxP2M
How to Make Casement Windows – https://youtu.be/8pjpFPx_X5U

#RobinClevett #Woodworking #Carpentry

Roof Construction & Weathering In – Garden Room #4

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How to build a garden room episode 4 gets our room weathered in by the Skill Builder team. Robin finishes the roof construction and PIR board while Andy gets the Easy Trim Vista Breather Membrane on ready for the slates.

This type of garden room is perfect for use as an office, photographic studio, workshop, man cave or playroom.

Challenges of Coronavirus – 5 Survival Steps to take Today

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In navigating the unparalleled challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, businesses are confronted with a myriad of obstacles. However, amidst this adversity, it’s important to recognise that there exists a spectrum of governmental assistance and guidance tailored to support enterprises during these trying times.

These resources encompass a diverse array of initiatives aimed at providing financial aid, strategic counsel, and logistical support to help businesses weather the storm and emerge resiliently on the other side. By tapping into these available resources and leveraging the wealth of support and expertise provided by governmental agencies, businesses can navigate the complexities of the current landscape with greater confidence and efficacy, ensuring their survival and sustainability in the face of unprecedented uncertainty. Here are 5 key steps you can take today:

1. Get help with your finances

For small and medium-sized businesses, the new Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is now available for applications. For more information and how to apply, visit our website.

You can also speak to your bank or lender to discuss options.

The Bank of England’s new lending facility for larger firms is also open for applications. Find out more on their website.

It is also prudent to explore potential contingency plans to address supply-chain disruptions, another issue caused by coronavirus, effectively . By proactively seeking alternative sources or methods, businesses can mitigate the impact on timeframes and financial resources, thereby enhancing resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges. By devising comprehensive strategies that encompass diverse scenarios and contingencies, organisations can optimize their ability to navigate disruptions and maintain operational continuity with minimal disruption to productivity and financial stability.

2. See what you’re entitled to

The government is also making cash grants and additional funding available to certain sectors and smaller businesses.

Find out more about the schemes available, whether you’re eligible and how to apply on our website.

3. Support your staff

Through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Government will pay salaries (at 80% of current pay up to £2,500 a month) for workers who are no longer working and would otherwise be made redundant.

For businesses with fewer than 250 employees, the cost of providing 2 weeks of COVID-19 related statutory sick pay per employee will be refunded by the Government in full. Find out more on our website.

Offer support to employees who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges due to the ongoing pandemic, including access to counseling services or employee assistance programs.

You will also find messaging in this toolkit that can be used in your internal staff communications.

4. Check guidance on tax

If you are concerned about paying your tax you can talk to HMRC about managing payments.

We have already postponed upcoming VAT payments through to June, cancelled business rates for many sectors and delayed July’s self-assessment tax payments until January 2021. To find out more visit our website.

5. Follow the latest Coronavirus advice

Maintain regular cleaning and disinfection protocols for high-touch surfaces and common areas within the workplace and follow recommended safety protocols such as maintaining physical distancing, wearing masks where required, providing hand hygiene stations, and ensuring proper ventilation in indoor spaces.

Regularly monitor updates from reputable sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local health departments for the latest guidance and recommendations.

Our website will be updated regularly as more information becomes available.

The Prime Minister’s daily press conference, live streamed on the @10DowningStreet Twitter feed, will also provide the latest updates on health advice, support for businesses and employees, as well as a range of other issues.

Check out “Big wipes”

The industrial-grade cleaning wipes,  proven to be affective against covid.

https://skill-builder.uk/big-wipes-go-anti-viral

Pnu-Point Pointing Tool – Time-saving Mortar Gun

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The Pnu-Point Pointing Tool video is one of our first product reviews which we produced back in 2003.

A great mortar gun powered by low-pressure compressed air (32 psi/2 bar), the tool has no moving parts, so nothing to go wrong as long as you keep the tool clean.

Buy this pointing gun online at the Pnu-Point shop: http://shop.pnupoint.co.uk

For old film and videotape conversions to digital formats, visit Telecine Guy: www.telecineguy.com

See more amazing tools on Skill Builder.

Repointing Old Victorian Brickwork – Best Mix & Tools

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Repointing old Victorian brickwork is a job Roger loves. In this video, he shows you his technique and the tools he recommends for pointing, see the list below.

Morta Sortas Raking Tool – https://amzn.to/3jYOCCF

Mortar Raking Tool – https://bit.ly/2QTtIbi

Armeg G175B4MRC6 175mm SDS + Mortar Raking Chisel – https://amzn.to/30kC3cY

Flexible Stainless Steel Knife Set – https://bit.ly/2UJHMVN

Tuck Pointer – https://bit.ly/2ykG3Pv

Pointing Hawk – https://bit.ly/3asEH3g

Removing Mortar Between Bricks with Morta Sortas

How to remove the mortar between bricks the easy way with Morta Sortas Diamond Coated Mortar Rake and Crosshead TCT Tipped Masonry Drill.

The 45mm long 8mm diameter high concentration diamond coated router has its diamond segment vacuum brazed to the shaft with a tough hard-wearing tungsten carbide bond for excellent durability.

The Morta Sortas diamond-coated mortar rake will work in harder mortars, whereas the regular carbide rakes will almost certainly fail.

Removing Mortar Quickly

The fact that this screws directly onto a standard M14 angle grinder spindle makes life even easier so you can get to work straight away.

This new spec Morta Sorta bit now comes complete with a premium quality crosshead TCT double fluted masonry drill to pilot the initial hole in the mortar.

The Mortar Sorta router is run through the mortar joints and best used in conjunction with a suitable guide plate.

Please note, this 8mm rake is the size to use in an industry-standard 10mm joint.

UK buyers can get one from Amazon:

See other great tools for dealing with mortar on Skill Builder.

Sunrise Tools for dustless and dust-free brick raking guards and cowls.

Roof Slate & Dangerous Demolition ~ 35A Extension #5

A look back at 2006, after a long break, we have another episode of the 35A extension series, the first project that Team SB worked on together and this is some dangerous demolition.

Roger had heavy-duty trouser braces, Robin looked 16, Steve was a chain smoker, Dylan had hair and the cameras recorded shockingly low-quality video.