refurbishment

Aluminium has been increasingly recognised as a viable material for construction products over recent years. We spoke with Richard Izzard, manging director of AliDeck, about a recent major roof terrace refurbishment project for Hyde Housing.

With concerns over fire-safety in external wall systems shifting industry towards non-combustible solutions, the benefits of extruded aluminium profiles, such as decking or cladding boards, have answered many of these new challenges.

The benefits of using aluminium products in new-build construction go beyond simple compliance with regulations, though. Its lightweight, cost-effectiveness, striking aesthetics, sustainability and versatility are all key contributing factors to aluminium’s uptake. These benefits, of course, apply for the retrofit and remediation market and aluminium building products are routinely now sought by specifiers in the housing sector.

The switch from traditional tiling to installing Fibo waterproof wall panels in their bathrooms has allowed Places for People, one of the UK’s largest property management companies, to improve its installation rate by up to 133%. Providing tenants with a hygienic and maintenance-free finish.
 
The organisation owns or manages 182,725 homes and provides services to over 500,000 people. Its affordable and social housing properties, which include sheltered accommodation developments, are usually tenanted so finding a bathroom solution that would improve installation efficiency was crucial.

When external pipework needs to be concealed and protected from  the risk of accidental damage, and vandalism, Encasement’s Arma metal pipe boxing is a tough and versatile solution that also improves aesthetics and adds a uniform finish to the project.

Already widely used in a range of refurbishment applications, Arma can help improve security and aesthetics on projects where external vertical and horizontal pipework could be at risk from damage, such as low carbon district heating schemes and air source or ground source heat pump installations.

Every product in the Pendock Profiles family of casings is designed to conceal exposed pipework or services quickly and easily in a range of applications for social housing projects.

For interior pipework, the MX and TK pipe boxing ranges can be used in most general applications, such as heating system or waste pipework, while our MXF boxing is a dedicated solution for concealing fire sprinkler pipes, where its widespread use is helping speed installations on residential fire safety improvement projects across the UK.

Goole’s maritime history and industrial past is written into its skyline. Alongside tall cranes and derricks, you will find distinctive water towers and proud Victorian buildings. Walk into the centre and you’ll also discover the new Goole, a bustling vehicle-free shopping centre with its own market hall and an abundance of quiet gardens and parks.

Where fire sprinkler systems are being retro-fitted in social housing tower blocks and flats, Encasement’s Versa range provides a cost effective, durable and easy-fit solution when boxing-in surface mounted fire sprinkler pipework.

Manufactured as standard from pre-formed EUTR/UKTR compliant plywood, and pre-finished in a durable white melamine, Versa ‘L’ shaped boxing is available in either 5mm or 8mm thicknesses for use within flats, as well as communal areas, such as corridors and lift lobbies.

To aid compliance with sustainable building codes and relevant timber procurement policies, an FSC® ‘Chain of Custody’ certified option is also available as part of the Versa range.

Awareness around mould and damp amongst housing tenants is at an all-time high. A recent Housing Ombudsman spotlight report highlighted the need for all housing providers to ‘adopt a zero tolerance approach to damp and mould interventions’. 51% of renters surveyed have experienced damp and mould problems, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by Safeguard Europe.