Refurb and maintenance

Environmentally conscious building methods are becoming more popular. Here, David Knight from Roof Windows 4 You, gives his top tips for making your loft conversion more sustainable.
As sustainable and low-waste living comes to the forefront of home décor (Pinterest), homeowners and renters are looking for ways they can prioritise the environment at home. A loft conversion isn't just the perfect way to add an extra room to your property: as part of the conversion process, you can put systems in place to make your whole house more sustainable. Below, I'll be telling you how, by choosing the right building materials, insulation, and making use of your roof space, you can create a more eco-friendly loft conversion in your property.

Specifications designed to deliver windows and doors that stand the test of time with little or no maintenance are being routinely undermined because fasteners are being overlooked or simply left to chance, according to fenestration fastener specialist Rapierstar.

Nick Boulton, chief executive of the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA), discusses the benefits of trussed rafters for housing associations. 
With the Government pledging to build 1.5 million homes by 2022, the pressure is mounting on housing associations to deliver more social housing. The challenge is to deliver at high volumes while also maintaining quality.
Keeping Britain building throughout the uncertainty of Brexit, with an ongoing skills shortage, increasing costs and a need to ensure that new housing is sustainable, begs the question, how can this be delivered? The answer lies with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

Leading manufacturer of PVCu windows, doors and composite doors, Euramax, has launched a range of unique PVCu-composite hybrid doors. The new product provides the market with a solution to common problems that occur with composite doors, including warping and discolouration. The hybrid doors are available in a range of designs and colours and can be ordered directly from Euramax.
 
Located in South Yorkshire, Euramax has been manufacturing windows and doors for over 60 years and supplies products across the UK to the modular, new build, holiday home, DIY and retail sectors. The manufacturer is now offering a range of PVCu-composite hybrid doors that are a first of its kind to the UK market

If a tower block under housing association or local authority control was built more than half a century ago, one of the major potential problems it faces is the existing drainage systems, says  Ed Swift, National Sales Manager (Public Sector) for Polypipe Building Services…

This is particularly true in structures where the original cast-iron drainage systems have not been replaced and will be entering their sixth decade of service.

Local authorities in the UK have responsibility for approximately 4,500 tower blocks and the refurbishment programmes often deal with aesthetic elements - while internal systems may be hiding a multitude of problems.

A poll of tenanted households, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Safeguard Europe, the UK’s leading specialist in damp-proofing and waterproofing technology, has revealed a new North-South divide.  Renters living in the South are more likely to encounter damp and mould in their homes than those living in the North.

The poll of 1,154 tenants, conducted earlier this year, found that in London, the East of England and the South East, the highest proportion of tenants reported encountering damp or mould while living in rented accommodation at 63%, 60% and 56% respectively. Meanwhile, fewer tenants had experienced such problems in the East Midlands, the North East and Scotland at 39%, 39% and 40% respectively.