General Building

How to render exterior walls – rendering tips for beginners

How to render

Roger revisits a topic that Skill Builder covered many years ago. Skill Builder’s original how to render video has been one of the channel’s most popular videos but some professionals responded to say that they prefer alternative techniques. Roger Bisby considers some of the points raised in response to the first video and shares some details about how to render …

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Building an extension Part 6 – Installing joists and steels

Installing joists

In Part 6 of The Extension series, which follows the build of a side and rear extension, we see the joists and steels slotted into position in preparation for the removal of a load bearing wall at the back of the house. The wall is being knocked out to extend the existing kitchen and create a kitchen/diner on the ground …

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Dewalt vs Hitachi framing nailer Head-2-Head

Dewalt vs Hitachi framing nailer

Roger visits his friend Malcolm to put the new Hitachi NR1890DBCL up against the established Dewalt DCN692 to see how much of a difference Hitachi’s new air spring drive technology makes to performance. Features of the new Hitachi NR1890DBCL/JP The Hitachi NR1890DBCL/JP is powered by a lightweight, rechargeable 5.0 Ah Li-Ion battery, so there’s no need to replace fuel cells. …

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Building an Extension Part 5 – Up to the joists

Lintels

In Part 5 of The Extension Series Roger and his team make preparations for the first floor.  Roger talks through the key considerations at this stage including installing the lintels and exposing existing joists for bathroom pipework alterations Here’s a link to the Brickbrace video mentioned in this episode. Brickbrace is a system for supporting a wall when you’re going …

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Roofing materials donation

Roofing materials

With the industry suffering from a lack of skilled workers, Cembrit is helping to educate the roofers of the future by donating roofing materials to Leeds College of Building for the Roof Slating and Tiling apprenticeship scheme.   Cembrit has contributed approximately 1,000 Westerland fibre cement slates, 600 Glendyne natural slates and 120 angled ridges to help deliver valuable roofing …

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BS 8612 – A Watershed For Pitched Roofing

pitched roofing

Redland – the company that invented dry-fixed roofing systems, with patents dating back to 1966 – has welcomed the introduction of BS 8612 Dry-fixed Ridge, Hip and Verge Systems for Slating and Tiling.

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Pecavoid Max Frank ~ The Capel Build #2

It’s time for the second instalment of the Capel Build which follows the renovation and extension of an unusual property designed by architect Michael Newberry in Surrey. Carpenter and Builder Robin Clevett is taking the first glass and steel house in the UK which was built in 1957 and extending it and refurbishing it while paying homage to its original …

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The Capel Build part 1: The foundations

Capel Build

This is the start of our second building project series on Skill Builder. The Capel Build follows the renovation and extension of an unusual property designed by architect Michael Newberry in Surrey. Carpenter and Builder Robin Clevett is taking the first glass and steel house in the UK which was built in 1957 and extending it and refurbishing it while …

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How to tie in a wall securely with Tiger cavity wall ties

Cavity Wall Ties

Tiger says its unique, patented ‘one-shot’ Cavity Wall Ties mean faster fixing, easier application, stronger grip and less room for error. Roger Bisby tries them out. Tiger says its cavity wall ties will transform professional & DIY building fixings, forever. The secret is in Tiger’s patented wall fixing system. Insert, twist and the fixing becomes its own plug. An E.D.P.M. …

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Building an Extension Part 3 – Suspended Beam and Block Floor

beam and block floor

Roger Bisby talks through the beam and block floor stage of building an extension. Generally speaking there are two options for constructing ground floors. You can opt for a solid floor which involves laying wet concrete directly onto your ground surface or you can choose a beam and block floor which is also known as a suspended floor which allows …

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Building an Extension Part 2 – Moving drains

moving drains

Roger Bisby shares the trials and tribulations of moving drains in the second episode of The Extension project. Builders will often tell you that the hardest part of a job is the bit in the ground. In my case this was true. The ground was made up with rubble, there were two drain runs and manholes to be removed and …

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BMF Welcomes Commitment to Housebuilding

year for bricks

Responding to the Budget, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has welcomed recognition by the Chancellor that housebuilding needs to be one of the Government’s main priorities.

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Delving deeper into the world of damp prevention & cure

damp prevention

Roger Bisby attends a one day damp-proofing course with Safeguard Europe where he learns about the different causes and types of damp in buildings and what can be done about them. I have been using DryRods from Safeguard Europe for a couple of years now. Before that I used the Dryzone cream. There is no doubt that the product works …

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Choosing a house builder

Choosing a house builder

Ryan Abell of building services company, Abbell Building Services, describes how working in a range of building trades has helped him to instantly recognise a house builder that is great to work with.  In this article, he explains what makes a house builder stand out. Skills Perhaps the most important attribute of an excellent builder is their level of skill.  …

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Hultafors Tools Range of Hammers -Whack, Bang, Pound, Smash

range of hammers

Whatever type of hammering jobs you have to do, the Hultafors Tools range of hammers is said to deliver all the power and precision you’ll need. The new generation range features Ball Hammers, Carpenters’ Hammers, T-Block Hammers, Electrician’s Hammers, Sledge Hammers, Dead Blow Hammers and even Copper Hammers. The tools are designed to handle the toughest work, delivering the best possible …

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Skill Builder launches Ask Skill Builder

Ask Skill Builder

Skill Builder, the video and web resource for building professionals and enthusiasts, has launched a brand new video series giving viewers the opportunity to get their building and DIY questions answered. The series, which is being aired on the Skill Builder YouTube channel, is hosted by Roger Bisby and Georgina Bisby. Roger Bisby is known for his expertise in the …

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Eurocell Raises the Bar With Lower Threshold

PVC-U low threshold

As a part of a drive to continuously improve its systems, Eurocell – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers, distributors and recyclers of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products.

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Real Deals for You: Jack Classic 50cm/20″ Handsaw Twin Pack review

Jack Classic 50cm

Skill Builder has once again teamed up with Real Deals for You to take a look at a selection of products from their Christmas campaign.  In the second installment of this series Roger Bisby takes a look at the Jack Classic 50cm/20″ Handsaw Twin Pack. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand …

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