Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction

Roger Bisby takes a look at the Man-Up Key, a new tool that is designed to allow manholes to be safely lifted by one person without the need for chiseling or hammering. Man-Up Key, what a great name for a manhole lifter, unless of course you subscribe to the gender neutral version which is a person hole but person-up is …

With a focus on ease of use, a clean high-tech design and the possibility for customisastion, ThermoSmart has give Google Nest and Tado a run for their money. According to the company ThermoSmart allows the end consumer to control the temperature in their homes easily. The gadget like thermostat can be operated through an app, at home or remotely, using …

Boly Inc, a global high-tech company headquartered in Silicon Valley, has announced its latest patent-pending technology for renewable energy at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017 (CES 2017) in Las Vegas. BolySolar is an evolving set of solar system technologies designed to revolutionise the energy industry. At CES 2017, Boly Inc. is announcing its fourth and fifth renewable energy products — …

A Lincoln based Construction Company, specialising in fitting mezzanine floors was prosecuted after a contractor fell onto a concrete floor. Guildford Crown Court heard that M & L Installers Ltd were contracted to install a mezzanine floor at a factory in Sunbury on Thames, Surrey. The design included a hole in the mezzanine floor where a lift was due to …

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed this week’s Government announcement, which gives the green light for the construction of thousands of Starter Homes, but has urged that SME builders should be given greater opportunities to deliver the homes. The Starter Homes will be built exclusively for first-time buyers between 23 and 40 years old at a discount of …

There’s been lots happening on the Skill Builder YouTube channel in 2016; here’s a few highlights. Power tools In January 2016 we published the first part of the new 18v drill test which was first published in 2014. This time we split it into three parts looking at: Part 1 – batteries; Part 2 – flat bits; Part 3 – …

Ian Anfield, Managing Director for construction audit and contract provider, Hudson Contract, provides his predictions for the industry in 2017. “There’s no escaping the fact that Brexit will dominate the news and political agenda in 2017 and will have a massive impact on UK construction. This is primarily because we rely so heavily on EU labour to man our construction …

Anyone who tuned into the Band of Builders facebook live auction last Saturday evening, 17th December, which was broadcast via the Band of Builders and Builders Talk group facebook pages, could be forgiven for thinking the event’s organiser Addam Smith was going to take the rest of the year off. (If you haven’t heard Addam and the Band of Builders …

Two Essex-based companies have been fined after exposing workers to potentially deadly asbestos over a period of years, despite knowing of its presence, in units that they occupied in Manor Road Trading Estate, Benfleet. Basildon Magistrates heard that asbestos had been found in poor condition when Connect Packaging Ltd moved into the Benfleet premises in 2007, but that it failed …

Insulation and interior building products distributor CCF, is on the lookout for trade superheroes to win a trip to go to New York City in May 2017. The competition, which invites trade professionals to share what makes them a superhero, runs until 28 February 2017. The competition has been launched as part of a campaign with top insulation suppliers Celotex, …

Snap-happy installers could be in for a Christmas bonus of £150 thanks to a promotion from Baxi to celebrate the launch of its new 200 and 400 combi boilers. Installers can get their hands on one of 50 prizes of £150 by visiting selected merchants, posing with the superhero Baxi Man cut-out and tweeting the picture to @baxiboilers. Exclusively available …

People with more money than sense can now take home the Christmas gadget to end all gadgets, in the form of the new, limited edition Ultimate Christmas Drone. The drone, which can be purchased from the UK drone e-tailer, DronesDirect.co.uk for a mere £1199.00, makes the perfect little Christmas elf and is even equipped to dress the Christmas tree. Deck …

3 companies have been sentenced in Lincoln Crown Court after a worker’s leg was broken in six places when a trench collapsed on him.

A building company and its director have been fined for breaching Gas Safety law after putting a childminder and children in her care at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Plastic and Wood Specialists Ltd built a structure, that the childminder used to shelter sleeping babies and young children, around the flue outlet for the boiler. A carbon monoxide alarm sounded …

  The trades community will come together tonight via a live facebook auction to raise money for a fellow tradesperson in need. The event, organised by Addam Smith of Band of Builders in conjunction with the Builders Talk facebook group, will be live streamed at around 6pm on their respective facebook pages with viewers invited to bid for tools, workwear …

Roger Bisby tries out the Muck Truck, a pedestrian operated motorised power barrow which is designed to carry three times that of a normal wheelbarrow and will shift loads of up to one quarter of a ton. It is a while now since I tested a Muck-Truck. Last time it was a battery powered machine that surprised me by taking …

A builder from Surrey has been prosecuted for the fall of a worker. Redhill Magistrates heard how the worker fell 3.2 m through an opening in a roof onto a concrete floor. He survived the fall but was left with broken ribs, swelling to his brain and nerve damage. An investigation found that he was part of the team building …