Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction

Timber Conservation windows and doors by Mumford & Wood have been specified by a building developer for his own residential property in Poole, Dorset.  This large coastal town, once a maritime trade hub, has attracted tourists and visitors to its beaches and landscapes for many decades and is an established area of beauty. The 1950s cottage-style property was purchased by …

The electrical contracting industry has agreed a wage deal which will amount to a 10.25% pay rise over four years to take effect from January 2017. This is the first time that an agreement spanning four years has been determined between trade union Unite and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). Some of the key changes to be implemented include: Wage …

From the 25th July the all-new Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 will be available to order in the UK. The pick-up truck which is based on the D-Max model, is the result of close technical collaboration between Isuzu and Arctic Trucks, a company with a 25 year history in Iceland and Scandinavia as a developer of 4×4 vehicles. Isuzu describes …

A plumber from Chesterfield has received a ten month suspended sentence for health and safety failings. Northern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard how a 45-year-old plumber, Jamie Simpson, undertook work on gas appliances at a domestic property when he was not Gas Safe Registered. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred in January 2015 …

Roger Bisby looks at some products from the Senco compressed air tool range including the Senco SLP 20XP 18 gauge brad nailer. Every time I review an air tool I start by making the case for using compressed air. In the U.K it is an under valued resource but elsewhere it is a major player. I have been on American …

Households could be generating an extra £3,000 per year by sharing their homes, cars, parking spaces and even power tools according to online parking marketplace  YourParkingSpace and Rent my Items. YourParkingSpace, which enables homeowners to rent out their spare parking spaces and driveways has reported that 1 in 3 adults are already using digital sharing economy platforms to make money …

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) had said Theresa May’s decision to scrap the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is alarming as it signals that improving the energy efficiency of our existing buildings has been pushed ever-further down the list of Government priorities. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Three years ago Cameron told his officials to …

To make it easier for builders to design and construct complex HVAC systems, Paroc has developed PAROC Hvac Bend AluCoat T – high-quality, factory produced bends for efficient and fast insulation. PAROC Hvac Bend AluCoat T is a non-combustible stone wool pipe section bend for thermal and condensation insulation of pipework in buildings and ships. Coming with a prefabricated layer of …

Roger Bisby takes a closer look at the Next Generation Trousers from Snickers. When you look at the huge range of styles and sizes that Snickers currently offers you might reasonably ask why they need to produce a whole new Next Generation Trouser range. Fashion undoubtedly plays a part, even for a builder who declares himself to be totally uninterested …

A construction company has been sentenced after a worker suffered crush injuries when he was hit and then run over by an excavator. Complete Demolition Ltd had been contracted to demolish a school on the site at Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port to make way for a new leisure centre when the incident occurred. The firm was prosecuted by The Health …

Everyone in the building industry knows that fixing things to plasterboard can be a bit hit and miss. If the plasterboard is on a stud wall you might strike lucky. Or you may not. Sometimes you may be able to position the item, i.e. kitchen wall cupboard to fix across two studs but nothing is guaranteed. There is of course …

Superglass CEO Ken Munro has been appointed chairman of the mineral wool insulation manufacturers’ representative body, MIMA, taking over from David Travill, Managing Director at Isover Saint Gobain. Ken Munro said: “I would like to thank David for his leadership and contribution, and I am pleased to be assuming the chair at such a critically important time for energy efficiency …

The Access Industry Forum (AIF), the forum for nine of the leading trade associations and federations involved in work at height, has announced details of its first national, one-day conference. Supported by the Association for Project Safety (APS), Hire Association Europe (HAE) and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), Implementing change and innovation in work at height …

Provisional annual data for work-related fatal accidents in Great Britain’s workplaces has shown a rise in deaths among construction workers. Forty three construction workers were killed while at work in 2015/2016 – up from 35 in 2014/5. The construction industry has the highest death rate of all industries. HSE figures show 144 people were killed accross all industries in 2015/2016 …

A Somerset based Timber company has been sentenced for safety failings relating to a construction project which an HSE inspector has said should act as a warning to other construction firms. Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard how The Timber Frame Company (TFC) was contracted to work at Tracey Farm, a country retreat. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served a Prohibition …

Latest construction statistics for June, which show the weakest sector performance for seven years, are a cautionary sign of the damage that current uncertainty is causing to the building industry. according to the Federation of Master Builders. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “June’s PMI figures, which show a huge dip in construction output, reflect our fears that …

Arco, one of the UK’s leading safety companies has recently undertaken tests that reveal some of the safety footwear being used by tradespeople may not be fit for purpose. In order to adhere to EU standard EN ISO 20345 2011, midsoles must be able to resist a penetration test using a nail with a force of 1100N and a corrosion …

Shortlisted for the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Awards 2016, The Harley Scientific Fibrecheck 6 (HS-FC6) from SMH Products provides a real-time warning for tradespeople and others at risk of inadvertent exposure to airborne particulate. Fibrous particles, such as asbestos, produce distinctive scatter patterns when they break a beam of light. The HS-FC6 works by drawing a constant air sample …

Hultafors Tools has extended its range of Knives specifically for craftspeople. With a selection of Heavy Duty Knives, Safety Knives, Chisel Knives and Utility Knives already available from Hultafors in the UK, there’s also specially designed and developed products for Electricians, Plumbers and Painters. The new Knives include those for general-purpose outdoor use as well as ones for precision tasks. …