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Adrian Ling’s bathroom has stained skirting board, swelling and vinyl flooring with bubbling.
Willem from Belgium recently bought his first house in Italy and has lots of issues he needs to tackle including humidity and ugly black mould.
Charles Mitchell asks, do fire bricks contain asbestos?
David Jones has a nasty leak in his locker!
You can count on comfort and protection throughout the autumn and winter with Snickers Workwear’s NEW AllroundWork Jackets for professional tradesmen and women.
Stay dry, warm and comfortable by choosing from a selection of water-repellent jackets that will give you basic protection from the effects of light showers with great breathability to ventilate your body if you continue to be active on-site for short periods.
But if you need 100% protection from the rain for long periods on site, check out Snickers’ GORE-TEX® jackets and trousers. These highly-technical garments are extremely durable with a membrane that has over 1.4 billion pores per square cm. They’re 100% waterproof to keep you dry, windproof to keep you warm, and breathable to keep you comfortable all day long
There’s a host of designs, styles and extensive size options so you can select the right jacket for you and your job. There is also a great range of Winter Vests and Bodywarmers, even a Body Mapping Micro Fleece – so you’ll be well looked after all day, every day.
For more information on Snickers Workwear’s ‘Waterproof Working’, call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788, check out the website and download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk
This is Robin’s last episode from Dublin and we sign off with a beast of a cordless impact wrench.
The high torque Milwaukee M18 FUEL ONE-KEY ONEFHIWF34 Cordless Impact Wrench is a force to be reckoned with and Albert shows us what it’s all about and how it might just be the best impact wrench on the market.
The M18 FUEL high torque impact wrench with ONE-KEY technology delivers 1627 Nm of fastening torque in a compact size of 213 mm, which gives more access in tight spaces.
The 4 -Mode DRIVE CONTROL allows the user to shift into four different speed and torque settings to maximise application versatility.
Mode 4 bolt removal, provides a maximum nut-busting torque of 2034 Nm then shifts to 750 rpm for unmatched control when removing fasteners.
The integrated blow counting sensor enhances the consistent repeatability of the chosen torque setting.
ONE-KEY tool control enables wireless tool customisation for increased productivity and consistent results.
ONE-KEY tool tracking & security offers a Cloud-based inventory management platform that supports both location tracking and theft prevention.
Three-quarter inch friction ring reception.
Flexible battery system: works with all Milwaukee M18 batteries.
More Milwaukee on Skill Builder.
More impact wrenches from Milwaukee Tools.
Roger has a chat with entrepreneur Ty Harnett about Alfie, his new invention which he hopes will change the plumbing landscape.
INFO FROM COOLAG IN THEIR OWN WORDS
A faster, more robust and watertight connection for securing fixed showerheads, 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
Alfie has been approved by WRAS (water regulations advisory scheme).
Please refer to The water supply (water fittings) regulations 1999 (England & Wales), The water supply (water fittings) regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, The water supply (water fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 when considering point-of-use protection for the prevention of risk of backflow in the design of bathrooms or shower rooms.
#Plumbing #Alfie #Coolag
Roger uses one of his favourite products for treating rising damp internally in brick walls.
We show you how to treat damp walls in an old house internally with Dryrod from Safeguard Europe, their latest development in Rising Damp treatment.
Dryrod provides a highly effective damp-proof course even in saturated internal walls. This results in salts in the wall being less mobile and therefore less able to migrate further into the plaster.
More articles on rising damp on Skill Builder.
Check out Safeguard’s website: http://www.dryrods.com
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Chris Evans is buying a house and wants to fit a new bathroom. He’s watched our videos and wants to make sure the bathroom is waterproof.
David Kilvington has a new combi boiler (ATAG 36kw) installed in his utility room and noticed that if he uses any of the downstairs appliances (taps, washing machine or toilet), that the combi will turn on after the water is shut off. How can he fix this?
Lee Hanson is looking at having a large extension to the rear of his house and has had an architect on board from the very beginning. He had intended to contract the architect to see him through the construction but has struggled through the tender process as many builders and building firms seemed to be pricing themselves out of the job and he didn’t understand why.
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Have you got the right mental attitude and work ethics in the workplace? Roger and Robin, fresh back from their summer holidays, jump back into podcast action and tackle the subject of having the right attitude and work ethics. We’ve worked with some great people and some shockers, some of who are described in this episode. Find out what Roger and Robin are looking for from a work colleague.
Our show sponsor is HB42 the Ultimate Answer to Sealing & Fixing – www.hb42.co.uk
Further reading:
Top 10 Work Values Employers Look For – thebalancecareers.com
Attitude Really is Everything and Here’s Why – workethic.org
Why You Need A Positive Attitude At Work (And How To Be Positive In The Workplace) – buddingoptimist.com
The Dunderdon brand of fashionable workwear is owned by the Hultafors Group UK, which also owns Snickers Workwear.
With a range that includes Jackets, Trousers, Tops, Footwear and Accessories, these are highly technical, street-smart garments for tradesmen and women who want really fashionable working clothes that meet on-site needs but also look good in leisure activities.
Two of the newest jackets include the stylish J56 Vantage Jacket made of highly durable Vantage fabric developed for tough work in rough conditions. Featuring lightweight padding, this rugged garment offers everything you need to look smart at a hard day’s work.
For the up-coming chilly months, take a look at the S27 Polartec Jacket. Made of Polartec® Power Stretch® ProTM fabric, this mid-layer jacket delivers excellent moisture management and 4-way stretch for anyone who’s really active. With handy front pockets and additional features like the Cell phone pouch and thumb openings at the sleeve ends, it’s available in a black/brown and navy/orange colour combinations.
For more information, check out the Dunderdon website at www.dunderdon.com or call the Hultafors Group UK Helpline – 01484 854788.
Crime in the UK is on the rise, particularly when it comes to theft. Certain areas in the UK have become more notorious for theft, with London, Sheffield, and Birmingham securing the top spots.
Work vans are often a target for thieves, containing high-value items that can be easily accessed if not properly secured. The first step towards prevention, is theft awareness. Be one step ahead of thieves, protect yourself and your livelihood in 4 simple steps:
Over 70 per cent of workers are worried about the prospect of becoming a victim of theft, and for good reason. Half of the victims of tool theft are left unable to carry out their duties the next day as a result of the crime. Some thefts can even leave victims unable to work for up to two weeks after they have been stolen from.
The detrimental effect that can be experienced by tradesmen as a result of tool theft is huge. Loss of earnings, and having to replace your tools, can leave you in a struggling position. Therefore, it is important as a tradesperson to be an advocate for theft awareness and take all possible precautions to prevent it.
Criminals are now thinking of new ways to target work vans and gain access to their contents. Door peeling is a new way that thieves attempt to gain access to the interior of a van. As manufacturers are now using thinner sheet materials on the sides of vans to improve their fuel efficiency, criminals have seen this as a potential point of access.
Another popular modern way for criminals to gain access to work vans is through the method of key fob hacking, a practice involving hacking the remote locking system. In addition to these new methods of gaining entry, attempts are still made to gain access through doors and windows. With all of this information, it can feel like thieves will gain entry to your van no matter what, but there are certain things you can do to help prevent this. Always remember that thieves target vehicles and properties that are easily accessible, so creating a challenge for them can put them off.
“The first step towards prevention, is theft awareness.”
Tool theft is something you need to take seriously to avoid any serious impacts on your business. By following theft awareness tips to keep your tools secure, you are less likely to become a victim of this type of crime. With the rise of door peeling, many van owners are finding ways to fight back. Door peeling should always be taken seriously, but clever parking is a useful solution.
Clever parking means avoiding leaving any vulnerable entry points exposed to criminals. For example, parking close to a wall that blocks access to your side door, back doors, and any thin panelling will make the van more difficult to access. Try to leave as little of the van exposed as possible if you have to park in a public area overnight.
In a recent Evening Standard article discussing car and van theft awareness, GPS trackers were seen as a solution to get your vehicle back if it is stolen. It isn’t only valuable tools that tradespeople need to worry about, the van itself is often more valuable. Having a tracking system installed means you’ll be able to give the police the exact location of the van if it’s stolen.
It can be difficult to get your tools back if they’re stolen. Many criminals steal tools to sell on, and they often do this fairly quickly. Locating your tools can be difficult, even if you see something that you believe is yours on a selling site, you can’t always be sure. Business Insider suggests marking your tools with paint or pen to identify them. If you want to mark your tools in a less obvious way with something that’s difficult to remove, an ultraviolet pen can be a good solution.
Insurance is a legal requirement for a work van, but this doesn’t stop van owners from trying to cut corners to get a cheaper deal. It’s important that you give accurate information to your insurance company to avoid any complications if you are the victim of a theft. Always divulge the correct value of the van and any contents when taking out a policy. Although this may increase your premium, it will mean you’ll get everything back if you do become a target of theft.
I bet you never thought your spirit level might not be level. Roger explains what you need to check and how an uneven level might waste huge amounts of time and money.
Featuring Milwaukee Red Stick.
What’s the difference between a drill and an impact driver? Roger explains the difference and what you need to know.
Robin loves to be in the spotlight and this range of Milwaukee Trueview LED lights cover every possibility.
Milwaukee products featured in this video.
M18 ONESLDP LED Compact Site Light Charger.
M12 SAL LED Stand Light.
M18 ONESLSP LED Compact Site Light with ONE-KEY.
Roger catches up with an old friend to see what he’s working on. Viewers haven’t seen Steve Farrow since the 35A extension series filmed back in 2006 but he’s still on the tools and working on his daughter’s house.
Roger checks out the HiKOKI G3612DA Brushless 36V Angle Grinder and looks at how to use a grinder.
The New G3612DA Brushless Grinder from HiKOKI is a compact cordless grinder that when combined with HiKOKI’s extremely efficient 18v / 36v li-ion batteries, becomes as powerful as a standard AC powered machine, accepting 115mm diameter discs with a 22mm bore, the powerful brushless DC motor produces a max 9500rpm no-load speed.
The massive power in this machine is safely contained with a number of safety features such as the electronic brake that will stop the wheel in under 2 seconds, Kickback Protection System, Anti-Restart Protection, Soft Start, and solid construction that is dust and water-resistant.
At 2.8Kg the G3612DA is incredibly light and it has the smallest grip circumference in its class at 190mm around the motor and only 146mm at its narrowest.
A 5 stage variable speed system gives you complete control but, if you dont have time to fiddle with settings, just flick on Auto Mode and the machine will change between 5,500rpm and 9,500rpm depending on load.
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Bhajan Pabla has syphon problems in with his toilet that’s not functioning properly.
Jake Mariner wants to do a loft conversion on a budget.
Phil Bishop wants to know if it’s possible to tile onto tiles.
Rob Field is refitting a shower enclosure and trying to decide on the fittings.
Kelly Friel, Digital Product Manager at industry and trade suppliers Zoro, offers her advice for attracting the talents of this under-utilised workforce.
“Companies who take steps to attract more women on board, often outperform those that don’t.”
Women are shockingly under-represented in the construction sector. Currently, only 3% of manual trades, 5% of engineering, 8% of haulage and 12% of professional construction roles are filled by women (Innovate UK), which means that the skills and expertise of almost half the population aren’t being utilised — and the industry is missing out. In fact, companies who take steps to attract more women on board, often outperform those that don’t (Sourceable).
But the problem isn’t necessarily that construction companies aren’t choosing to hire women, rather than women don’t consider careers in the construction sector as a viable career path. So, below are just some of the ways we can attract more women to a job within the construction sector.
From toilets to personal protection equipment that fits, there’s a lot lacking in the industry when it comes to equipment and facilities for women. Most of the time, this is because a company has never had to supply these things before as there’ve been so few on-site, but if you want to attract more women into your workforce, you need to be able to show you’ve made the necessary adjustments.
That goes for atmosphere, too: make sure your sites are places that women would feel comfortable working in. Assigning new starters with a mentor can help make them feel more at ease, as that way they have a confidant they can go to if they have any problems. If employee behaviour is a concern, you could organise some diversity workshops for your staff that cover discriminatory language and conduct prior to new female employees joining the business.
As an employer, you must provide equal opportunities from your leadership roles to your onsite engineering positions. It’s illegal to discriminate based on sex and that includes only giving certain jobs to men and women. So, when selecting a candidate, base your decision on their experience, training, and qualifications to find the best person for the job.
Another pressing equality issue is the gender pay gap. Once a woman has managed to overcome the odds and land a traditionally masculine role, she then faces the possibility of being paid less than a man for the same work. This is often accidentally perpetuated by basing employees’ salaries on their previous rates of pay, repeating the mistakes of their former employer, so it’s best not to do this when hiring new staff.
Raise the profile of women who are already working in construction and make your existing female employees more visible at your company, for example through your website or social media. Not only will female applicants be better able to visualise themselves at your company as a result, but you’ll be leading by example and other businesses will do the same.
It’s also important to consider whether any of your current female employees have been overlooked for promotions or leadership roles. By supporting professional development in your company, candidates will consider even the most basic roles you have available as worthy of their time because they are good career opportunities.
There’s a bigger emphasis on technology-aided construction than ever before because it is often cheaper, more precise, eliminates human error and can complete projects of a size and scale that would otherwise be unachievable.
And, technology such as augmented reality, drones and robotics, as well as heavy machinery, means that most construction work is less labour intensive than it was the past, eliminating any concerns people may have had previously about women not having the physical ability to keep a job in construction.
Plus, advertising the use of technology and innovation in your construction business can not only appeal to women but a younger generation who are looking for roles that utilise their digital skills.
These are just some of the ways you can attract more women to roles in your construction company. It’s important for equality that all applicants are considered — but hiring women can greatly benefit your business too.
Time for another one of Roger’s Rants. He has seen too many stained Monocouche renders and wants to share his thoughts.
Monocouche render stains refer to discolourations or blemishes that appear on the surface of monocouche render, a popular choice for exterior wall finishes. Monocouche render is a single-coat render system that provides a decorative and weather-resistant finish to buildings.
However, despite its durability and aesthetic appeal, monocouche render can sometimes develop stains over time due to various factors. These stains may manifest as dark patches, streaks, or efflorescence, which are crystalline deposits caused by water-soluble salts migrating to the surface of the render.
Common causes of monocouche render stains include exposure to weather elements such as rain and wind, water penetration from defective or improperly installed flashing, and biological growth such as algae or moss.
Preventing and remedying monocouche render stains requires proactive maintenance and appropriate treatment methods. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help minimize the buildup of dirt, algae, or other contaminants that contribute to stains. Additionally, addressing underlying issues such as water penetration through the application of waterproofing sealants or repairing damaged areas of the render can prevent future staining.
When stains do occur, various cleaning techniques and chemical treatments may be employed, depending on the nature and severity of the stains. These methods may include pressure washing, chemical cleaners, or poultices designed to draw out efflorescence. Proper care and maintenance are essential for preserving the appearance and integrity of monocouche render, ensuring that buildings maintain their aesthetic appeal and structural integrity over time.
https://skill-builder.uk/apply-weber-one-coat-weberpral-monocouche-render#google_vignette
Robin takes a quick look at the HiKOKI NR1890DC first fix cordless framing nailer.
https://www.hikoki-powertools.co.uk/products/nr1890dbcl-jp-18v-brushless-framing-nailer
Check out How to Build a Pitched Roof on YouTube.
Grab your plungers, it’s time to unblock that clogged sink using the old-fashioned way.
Unblocking a kitchen sink with a plunger might possibly be the simplest video we have ever made, but it works a treat.
New Styles, New Designs and Snickers Workwear’s most advanced work trousers yet – with 4-way stretch.
September sees the next generation of Work Trouser choices from the premier brand of working clothes for professional tradesmen and women. There’s the Flexiwork 2.0 trousers, designed for craftsmen who want nothing but the best. These high-spec trousers are made of durable 4-way stretch fabric that offers a new level of comfort and freedom of movement.
Then there’s the ‘loose-fit’ AllroundWork stretch trousers with a classic Snickers Workwear look and feel plus the new FlexiWork Denim Work Trousers where Workwear meets Streetwear in these slim-fitting work trousers made of washed stretch denim.
Also, take a look at the new regular-fit RUFFWork Canvas+ heavy duty trousers. But the ladies will definitely have a close eye on the ALLroundWork women’s stretch trousers, specially designed and shaped to fit the female anatomy with a narrower waist for optimal comfort and freedom of movement.
All in all, probably the best possible additions to the Snickers Work Trouser range with something to suit everyone, whoever you are, wherever you’re working and whatever you’re doing on-site.
