Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction

A builder has been sentenced to 250 hours of community service for putting a home owner at risk following renovations to their house in Cardiff. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Brian James was hired to carry out renovations to a bungalow in Cardiff specifically to install new plumbing and heating, including a boiler. Brian James admitted in court that although …

We all know about breather membranes in buildings but Roger Bisby discovers something even more effective is now being used in Snickers Next Generation workwear. 37.5 centigrade is the ideal body temperature and the same part of your brain that (hopefully) keeps your heart ticking also regulates your body temperature. Too hot and you start perspiring to help you cool …

In Snickers’ latest 48 page FREE magazine there’s lots of ideas for what to wear on site this winter. There’s advice on choosing the right Work Trousers and Jackets to suit your trade – RUFFWork, LITEWork, FLEXIWork and ALLROUND workwear. Whatever trade you’re in, Snickers says there’s something precisely for you in its range –Trousers, Jackets, Tool Vests, Shirts, Underwear, …

Skill Builder has teamed up with Bosch to give you the chance to win a Bosch 18V-EC Kit. To be in with a chance of winning just answer the following two questions (clue: the answers can be found in the video). ___________________________________________________________________   Terms and conditions By entering a competition on the Skill Builder web site you are agreeing to us …

You could be a winner of a Bosch Blue Power Tool Skill Builder is broadcasting a live recording from Bosch Power Tools at 9pm on Wednesday 2nd November 2016. Roger Bisby is talking power tools with Martin Sibley, Senior Product Manager at Bosch and they will be joined on Skype by Peter Brett, Tool Tester from Tool Business and Hire …

The nation’s first construction pay trends index has revealed that across all construction trades, the highest increase in earnings year-on-year for sub-contractors was within the Roofing industry which experienced 6.1% growth, followed by 4.8% in Plastering and 4.2% in Scaffolding. The index has also shown that Wales has seen the biggest (5.3%) year-on-year increase in earnings amongst self-employed tradesman – …

Would you like an opportunity to test the latest Bosch tools – and then keep them, free of charge? Bosch is looking for professional tradespeople to take part in its #builtwithBosch campaign. Each successful applicant will be given two new power tools to test over a 5 week period. In return, Bosch will ask them to post short film clips …

Performance is a brand-new workwear range from U-Power, said to feature the finest and most comfortable stretch fabrics, designed with U-power’s trademark Italian flair. The range includes the Quick soft shell unlined jacket, which boasts extras such as an internal multimedia pocket with Free Sound technology, a detachable hood engineered with a reflective rain visor, reflective panels for optimum winter …

Ironmongery Direct has launched a campaign to find the ‘Tool Trickster of 2016’. Tradespeople across the UK are invited to show off their best tool tricks, whether that is hammer flips, slick trowel spins, kicks, catches or any other impressive tricks, as long as they are safe. See some examples here: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/tool-trickster-2016/ To be in with a chance of becoming …

Nissan has collaborated with UK-based design workshop Studio Hardie to transform its zero-emission e-NV200 van into an all-electric mobile office – the e-NV200 WORKSPACe. The office on wheels features an integrated fold-out desk, touchscreen computer, wireless internet, smartphone-controlled LED lights, wireless phone charging, Bluetooth audio system, mini fridge and barista-quality coffee machine. The e-NV200 WORKSPACe paints a picture of what …

Two Norfolk-based companies have been fined after a worker suffered life-changing injuries following an overhead power line strike. Norwich Crown Court heard that L F Papworth Ltd and T. W. Page & Son Ltd had organised drilling work for the purposes of crop irrigation at Felmingham, Norfolk. On 29 April 2014 Jonathan Howes, an employee of T.W. Page & Son …

A Buckinghamshire waste equipment maintenance firm has been fined after a worker suffered serious head injuries when a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) overturned. Geoffrey Hatton, 49, from County Durham, was in the process of dismantling a compactor at a site in Wilmslow, Cheshire when the incident occurred on the 19th January 2015. Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Mr Hatton, …

Makita has introduced two new 10mm battery powered staplers, which replace existing models, offering a host of new technical features. The new Makita DST112 is powered by the Makita 18v Lithium-Ion battery while the DST111 model is a 14.4v version which will deliver 5,000 shots from the 3.0Ah battery whereas the 18v 3.0Ah version generates 6000 shots. Both new staplers …

The Ford Transit was the best-selling cargo van family globally in 2015, with nearly 400,000 vans registered, according to IHS Markit registration data. Transit is building on a 50-year legacy in Europe. In the past 25 months, Ford has seen its commercial vehicle market share grow from 10.8 per cent to 12.9 per cent in Europe. This makes Ford the …

Liverpool City Council and two of its contractors have been prosecuted following two separate incidents involving roadworks on a busy city centre road. One man died and another was seriously injured while attempting to cross Queens Drive in Liverpool during major resurfacing works in the summer of 2012. Enterprise Liverpool Limited and Tarmac Trading Limited were contracted by Liverpool City …

When fencing and landscape gardening business owner Addam Smith found out his employee Keith Ellick had been diagnosed with terminal cancer he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Knowing that Keith’s biggest worry was for the welfare of his family Addam, who owns ALS Fencing & Lanscaping, took to the popular Facebook group Builder’s Talk to see if he could …