Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction

Despite the tragedy of Grenfell, an online poll has revealed that 50% of tradespeople don’t feel confident in advising on fire door safety.

Roger tries out the MFE 40 diamond chaser from Metabo, a machine designed to take the hard work and dust out of cutting chases. But does it do that? Having owned a diamond chaser and dust extractor for the past 15 years I am still slightly taken aback by how many trades still seem to do things the hard way. …

One in ten home building projects fails to please homeowners, leaving many unhappy with building work, according to new research from the FMB.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of people consider a lack of quality of build to be a major disadvantage of buying a new build home over an older property, according to a recent survey by BLP Insurance, a specialist residential warranty and commercial latent defects insurer. People living in the north of England (29%) were more likely to view a lack …

Klober is offering a vent tile matching and granulation service to help roofing contractors and developers achieve the highest aesthetic possible for their roofs. The service allows customers to achieve a consistent finish across potentially conspicuous components and the roof as a whole, to deliver a top-quality look, especially on higher end developments. Customers submit a sample of tile to …

This problem has become more pronounced, with this age group having been four times more likely to experience pressure to study for a degree than +55 year olds, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Skill Builder’s ‘Day in the life’ feature takes a look at a typical day in the life of different tradespeople. In this installment, we talk to Plumber/Carpenter and married father of three Stuart Roache, the winner of Screwfix’s Top Tradesperson 2018. After deciding on a career change at the age of 30 Stuart trained at night college for six-years before becoming …

A disgruntled builder has destroyed a £2.5 million row of newly built cottages in a dispute over pay.  Neighbours are said to have seen the man laughing and taking photos while he began demolishing the buildings. According to the sun neighbours confronted the builder, concerned their homes would be next but the builder said he was only damaging properties on …

The latest clothing styles from Snickers Workwear promise to make working in cooler weather easier and more comfortable. Each style incorporates the  latest in market-leading designs and stretch fabric technology. There’s 37.5 high-tech undergarments, plus jackets, trousers and accessories added to the RUFFWork, FLEXIWork and ALLROUND clothing families for both professional craftsmen and women as well as the hi-vis garment collection for …

The Hultafors Group which owns Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear Safety Footwear and Hultafors Tools has acquired Hellberg Safety. Hellberg Safety is a specialised supplier of PPE Equipment which includes highly advanced hearing protection products, face protection and communication solutions for personal protection. David Clark, managing director of the Hultafors Group UK says, “We are delighted with this acquisition given that …

Warmer weather brings with it a need for tradespeople to be cool and dry – to maintain well being and working efficiency. That’s why Snickers’ new working clothes for the summer uses 37.5 fabric technology which is really good at ‘wicking’ moisture away from the body and keeping you dry. In the Snickers Workwear FLEXIWork, LITEWork and RUFFWork product families, there’s NEW …

A Manchester-based property developer has been sentenced after the roof and part of the rear wall collapsed at one of his properties during demolition works. Manchester Crown Court heard how Riaz Ahmad appointed a group of workers, who had no experience in construction, to carry out demolition work at a property in Oldham. On 11 August 2017, after receiving a …

A contractor, client and director have been convicted after conditions at a building site were found to be dangerous. Southwark Crown Court heard that inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the construction site on Gladesmore Road, London on numerous occasions in 2015 while building work was taking place at the property. Inspectors found poor health and safety conditions …

Simon Thomerson has been sentenced to 8 months in custody after pleading guilty to a health and safety breach that resulted in the death of two brothers. Luton Crown Court heard how Mr Thomerson, the sole owner and director of Clearview Design and Construction Ltd, had been contracted by the owners of an industrial park in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire to refurbish …

The Health and Safety Executive has released figures for work-related fatal injuries, showing an increase in injuries occurring in the construction industry.

Develop Training Ltd (DTL), is warning that firms will face a dash for compliance when new electrical wiring regulations are released next month. DTL says many firms will be caught unawares by the scope of the changes in the new British Standard requirements for electrical installations. The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, which form the basis …