C

S

T

T

S

A

T

T

T

T

T

K

J

Whether yoursquorespeaking to a traineeor a director thereshould be nodifference in howpeople interact andtreat each otherThatrsquos part of mymantra in businessrdquo

As the pressure on price is downwardsproductivity has to go up yoursquove got to deliverbetter Yoursquove got to use technology to help youbecome more efficient

W

The whole industrywonrsquot be immune fromthe huge risk fromweaker maincontractorsrsquo lack ofliquidity

B

T

Extruded polystyrene

(XPS) insulation

boards are the best

solution for inverted

roofs due to their

unparalleled levels

of low water

absorption and the

high compressive

strength of the

boards

T

This year sees the launch of the full Lantragreen roof training suite which will offertraining and assessment in the installationand maintenance of green roofs

T

This survey isimportant Theguidance comingout of this researchwill set thedirection of futureblue roof designYour input willhelp make thatguidance the best itcan be

W

F

As an industry we need to push for anyonepurchasing roofing products to fullyunderstand their capabilities and how theyare used to support the highest possibleinstallation standards

M

T

Itrsquos a decision most contractors will have tomake lsquodo we stop doing business withcompanies which regularly delay paymentsand risk getting less work in the short-termwhilst we look for other customersrsquo

T

Forecast those jobs which will likely beaffected by changing external conditions andmake contact with clients as soon as possibleto let them know how your business isresponding to the situation

A

At a time when you

are unable to

provide a fully

normal service itrsquos

crucial to switch

your focus from

promoting your

company to

appropriate brand

building

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Joining the IoR enables individuals to use thestatus of membership with qualifications aftertheir name Our members are also eligible fora Professionally Qualified Person CSCS Card

C

Regardless of whetherthe DPC is set atfront apron or backgutter level there willbe an area ofchimney brickworkthat is at risk fromdampnesspermeating below theroofline

CUPA PIZARRASrsquo Heavy 3slate has been selected todeliver the traditional look ofScottish slate for theredevelopment and extensionof the historic KingshouseHotel in the Glencoe area ofthe Scottish HighlandsNatural slate was specifiedfor the roof to provide acontinuation of the style ofthe original building and tomatch with the inn buildingthat would be retainedCUPA PIZARRASrsquo Heavy 3slate was chosen for its close resemblance to the traditional Ballachulish slate whichwas produced locally between 1693 and 1955 and was used on the roof of the originalKingshouse The dark grey seven to eight millimetre thick CUPA PIZARRAS Heavy 3slates closely replicate the colour and thickness of the original Scottish slates as wellas the characteristic pyrite crystals often visible on the surface Catherine CopeAssociate at Covell Matthews Architects explained ldquoWe had specified CUPA Heavy 3on previous projects where we needed a replacement for traditional local slate and knewit would provide the look we wantedrdquo The new Kingshouse Hotel opened to the publicon 8th February 2019 For more information visit wwwcupapizarrascomuk

Leading power tool manufacturer Makitahas added two new rivet guns to its powertool range The DRV150Z and DRV250Zinclude Makitarsquos innovative LXT batterytechnology and brushless motor formaximum efficiency The DRV150Z andDRV250Z are both powered by Makitarsquos18V LXT batteries which offer industry-leading run times and charge timesimproving on-site efficiency LXT meansthat the DRV150Z and DRV250Z benefitfrom anytime charge (without the need todrain down) and minimal self-dischargeand the battery indicator lights makes itsimple for operators to monitor how muchcharge their tools have improvingoperator productivity The machines arecompatible with Makitarsquos 5Ah and 6AhLXT batteries Kevin Brannigan Marketing Manager at Makita said ldquoThe combinationof cordless and brushless technologies makes Makitarsquos new models up to 50 moreefficient than alternative machines The DRV150Z and DRV250Z have been designedto ensure that operators can keep working for longer There are no concerns about thetool overheating due to friction in the motor or the batteries losing charge too quicklyor taking a long time to rechargerdquo To find out more about Makita and its wide rangeof products please visit wwwmakitaukcom

Hambleside Danelaw havealways conducted extensiveresearch design and testing toprovide the best dry-fixsolutions to roofers and housebuilders alike in order toensure efficient roofweatherproofing andconfidence in durabilityContinuing this reputation ofinnovation and exceptionalquality of product HamblesideDanelaw have done it againlaunching InVerg trade a game changing dry-fix solution to the plain tile market InVergtradeis a patented never-before-seen interlocking dry-verge system suitable formostmachine-made single and double cambered clay and concrete Plain Tile types Theverge units consist of 2 blades that slot in-between the corresponding course of plaintiles preventing weather ingress and carrying out any excess water and debris downthe channels and out at the eaves minimising staining of the verge and gable endldquoThe InVergtrade design allows for a streamlined outer appearance of the verge units witha stepped edge and smooth lap joints the verge units rest discretely in line with theedge and course of the tilesrdquo comments Paul Lambert Field Technical Support Theunique system includes two distinctive components the InVergtrade units and the EavesBracket designed exclusively to securely start the system from the eaves Patent Pending GB19113273

Apollo Roofing Solutions part of the Apollogroup the UKrsquos largest privately-owned liquidadhesive sealant primer and coatingmanufacturer has welcomed Mark Turland asits new Procurement Manager Mark joinsApollo at an exciting time as the businesscontinues to drive forward its ambitiousstrategy for growth and is responsible forstreamlining the purchasing process forservices materials and equipment across thebusiness Commenting on Markrsquosappointment Apollo MD Ian Cornelius saidldquoItrsquos important for us that we use supplierswho can meet our high standards and are insync with the businessrsquo core values Wersquoredelighted to have Mark on board andconfident that with his input we can continueto improve our customer experiencerdquo Mark joins Apollo with a background inprocurement within the chemical industry looking for a new challenge Mark said ldquoItrsquosearly days in my new role but itrsquos obvious that Irsquove joined a business that is lsquoon the uprsquoand values its employees With the support of a proactive team Irsquom looking forward toconsolidating supply routes to boost business performance whilst maintaining the bestquality products for customersrdquo For more information about Apollo its products andservices contact tel 01827-54281 or visit wwwapollocouk

Trying to decide whichVELUX window issuitable for a projectcan be hard at thebest of times which iswhy online roofingmerchant Roofgianthas developed a toolto help customers dojust that The VELUXwindow selector hasbeen developed toguide customersthrough a simple fivestep process encouraging them to choose the size finish and glazing options theyrequire At the end a single window or a small selection of windows will be presentedleaving them with a simple choice of which one to buy The tool was developed usingthe knowledge of Roofgiantrsquos roofing experts combined with the expertise of their webdevelopment team Elaine Gardner Commercial Manager said ldquoWe know how difficultit is for people to understand which window they require and we also know thatVELUX is a well known brand when it comes to roof windows We decided to developthis tool so that customers can choose and checkout online without needing to speakto our sales teamrdquo Roofgiant have already seen an increase of 40 for sales of VELUXwindows and expect that number to rise as more and more customers come to theirwebsite to use the tool

Fixfast a leading manufacturer and supplierof fasteners has launched two majorinitiatives to support the correct specificationof fasteners for the building envelopeArchitects and contractors can access acomprehensive technical support serviceproviding guidance on project-specificfastener selection and testingComplementing the new service a highly-detailed Specification Guide can bedownloaded by specifiers as useful referencematerial Both initiatives have beenintroduced to encourage more consistent andimproved specification of building envelopefasteners and therefore enable theconstruction of better safer and longer-lasting buildings Against a constructionindustry background of increased scrutiny on building product safety and quality KenLynes MD of Fixfast explains ldquoAlthough a small detail itrsquos critical that the rightfastener is used for the right building application The consequences of a building or itssub-systems failing could be very serious In addition to the obvious impact on publicsafety using the wrong fastener could compromise the buildingrsquos whole-life value andintroduce the risk of litigation for the people involved in creating itrdquo The SpecificationSupport Service promises responses to queries within 48 hours access to Fixfastrsquosdedicated Technical Support Team and advice on what fastener will meet the requiredsystem specification Visit wwwfixfastcomSpecificationSupport

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In additionto its use onroofs theversatilityof slatemeans itcan also beused as acladdingmaterial onresidentialprojects

POLYFOAM XPS hasachieved the newlylaunched ISO 45001international standardsfor OccupationalHealth and SafetyManagement SystemsThe manufacturer ofextruded polystyrenehas been approved andcertified to thestandard following anexternal audit fromBureau VeritasCertification Theachievement reflects the robust systems that are in place at the Polyfoam XPSheadquarters in Hartlepool that prevent work-related injury and ill health andproactively improve its occupational health and safety performance Stuart Bell MDof Polyfoam XPS said ldquoThe continuous development of our management systemsunderpins this achievement and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improve allaspects of our business ldquoWe are rigorously audited to maintain accreditation to all ourcertified standards This ensures we can continue to provide a professional service thatmeets our customersrsquo requirements and that we canidentify and reduceoperationalrisks within our businessrdquo ISO 45001 replaces OHSAS 18001 in March 2021 Formore information about Polyfoam XPS visit wwwpolyfoamxpscouk

Sometimes you need toreplace a radius gutter(guttering that follows theshape of a circularroofline) on a conservationor renovation project andit needs to be lsquolike forlikersquo The original patternfor lsquosand castingrsquo of thatspecific Cast Iron radiusgutter may be long gonebut we can use the piecesyou still have to createnew lsquopatternsrsquo and castnew matching radius gutters for you This is known as a lsquoTrue Castrsquo Radius Gutter Inanother case you may be allowed to replace the original Cast Iron radius gutters withCast Aluminium If so we can arrange for a new pattern to be made from the piecesthat need to be replaced andor from measurements and calculations from plans of thecurrent roofline If the project calls for a more contemporary style of gutter we can lsquocutand mitrersquo (welding together segments of machine mitred gutter to achieve a givenradius) lengths of extruded or pressed aluminium gutter to create the curve necessaryfor your roofline The friendly knowledgeable team at Rainclear Systems are happy tooffer technical advice and quotations Visit wwwrainclearcouk tel 0800 644 44 26or email salesrainclearcouk

To support their range of liquidwaterproofing products SIGDesign amp Technology are workingwith EAP to exclusively supplytheir innovative LIQUIROOFinsulation boards Thispartnership combines theirexpertise on both the insulationand waterproofing under onepackage LIQUIROOFinterlocking PIR boards deliver asuper-flat surface ideal for liquidand flat roofing systems Liquid waterproofing coatings are typically between 125 to2mm thick meaning even the most minor imperfections in the substrate surface cancreate alignment issues and stress points on the outer surface coating LIQUIROOFfully supported PIR insulation boards interlock on all 4 sides from top to bottom tocreate a strong and solid surface with no raised edges misalignment or gaps Facedwith a lightweight 8mm OSB 3 panel on the topside LIQUIROOF panels are designedfor use on old or new boarded structures The polyurethane rigid foam insulation coreprovides maximum insulation with minimum panel thickness The serrated edges onthe boards slot together easily to cover large uneven surfaces and with minimisedalignment time are quick to install SIG Design amp Technology offer a wide range ofliquid waterproofing systems to suit your project with warranties available from 10 to25 years Visit httpbitlyLIQUIROOF

High-performance products fromthe A Proctor Group experts atsolving condensationairtightness and energy efficiencyproblems in buildings have beenselected for use in theconstruction of a British AntarcticSurvey building The BAS SignyCummins Hut is designed toprovide a fully fabricated fit forpurpose hut which can be easilyerected to provide short-termaccommodation for two BritishAntarctic Survey operatives to carry out incredibly valuable research in extreme polarconditions Main Contractor Mike Robinson of Rothwell Robinson Manchesterexplained ldquoIn light of the extreme temperatures involved we approached the AProctor Group who carried out a full condensation risk analysis Following the riskanalysis the recommendations adopted included Roofshieldreg for the roof andProcheckreg 500 as a VCL for the wallsrdquo The products reliable performance has beendemonstrated in the toughest locations around the world Its characteristics allow evenvery complex pitched roofs to breathe without the need for air gaps or secondaryventing Procheck 500 is a strong reinforced polyethylene vapour control layer for usewithin roof and wall constructions to prevent warm moist air escaping from inside thebuilding and condensing within the insulation Visit wwwproctorgroupcom emailcontactproctorgroupcom or tel 01250 872261

Installers builders andhomeowners across the UKand Ireland can now benefitfrom an extra rewards boostthis spring a traditionallybusy time for homerenovation projects thanks toVELUXreg The schemeprovides customers with anopportunity to earn rewardseach time they buy a VELUXroof window flat roofwindow sun tunnel blind orselected combinationflashings throughout the year However for this March and April only VELUX is givingaway an extra rewards boost by offering pound35 of rewards for every white painted roofwindow and pound70 for every VELUX INTEGRAreg electric or solar roof window purchasedIf you purchase 10 VELUX INTEGRA roof windows you will be entitled to pound700 worthof rewards that can be redeemed at a range of retailers and restaurants including MampSArgos John Lewis Halfords and Tesco The last day customers can submit a claim is15 May 2020 Richard McArthur marketing manager from VELUX said ldquoTherersquos ahost of rewards to take advantage of Sign up now and you could earn literallyhundreds of pounds worth of rewards for purchasing VELUX productsrdquo To receiverewards from VELUX upload your invoice at wwwveluxcoukrewards

Smithy Cottage an unusual cruciformshaped new-build property inWarrington has recently beenconstructed using CUPA PIZARRASrsquoCUPA 2 natural slates Selected foruniformity longevity and aesthetics in-keeping with the surroundingproperties the CUPA 2 slates wereused for the roof of the property whichunusually incorporated atrium glazingand inlaid solar panels The eye-catching home was designed byFasciato Architects who had been tasked with creating a contemporary single storeyhome Ian Scullion Associate at Fasciato Architects comments ldquoWe decided to use anatural slate for the roofing material to achieve a balance with the brief whilst alsomaking the house feel homely and appropriate to its contextrdquo Having initially decidedto look into slate as the most suitable solution Ian met with his local CUPA PIZARRASrepresentative attended a CPD presentation and was intrigued with the products onoffer ldquoWe were impressed with CUPA PIZARRASrsquo reputation for producing qualitytraceable roof slates and we were also pleased with help given to us by the arearepresentative at the timerdquo Ian commented ldquoThe final finish of the roof is smooth andsleek with both the slate selection and the workmanship exceeding our expectationsrdquoVisit wwwcupapizarrascomuk

Work Shorts for the flexibleworking environment - designed todeliver superior comfort andfreedom of movement FabricFunctionality and Fit are hallmarksof Snickers Workwear itrsquos theinnovation and fabric technology inthe design of the new StretchShorts for men and women thatreally set these new garmentsapart These new AllroundWorkand FLEXIWorkshorts are great forworking in the warmer monthsDelivering superior flexibility andcomfort these lightweight workshorts come in a body-mapping design and a range of new colours including Hi-visoptions Made from a self-ventilating stretch fabric with Cordura reinforcements for all-round mobility and durability theyrsquore packed with comfort and functionality andspecially designed for the fast-paced professional whorsquos always on the go for deliveringtop class work on site For professional tradesmen and women who rely on their gearin demanding environments Snickers Workwear Work Shorts are a must for everyonewho wants the ultimate in cool comfort this summer To get more information on whatrsquosright for you in the Snickers Workwear range visit wwwsnickersworkwearcouk emailsaleshultaforsgroupcouk or tel 01484 854788

Global circular economy leader andCEO of Leadax Roeland vanDelden presented his closed-loopstrategy that is already impactingcities worldwide during theFuturebuild exhibition in LondonSustainable companies likeLeadax are developing circularproducts that use waste as a rawmaterial to create and producerecyclable and sustainablewaterproofing building materialsFeatures such as cost pricequality capital and scalability areimportant to change the way our economy works however as Mr van Delden describedin his presentation it is all about mindset and being creative ldquoJust do itrdquo was the mainadvice he gave His idea of modifying PVB-waste to reuse for circular building materialslike Leadax was a bold move but it works extremely well PVB is the foil that is usedin laminated glass (eg car windows or safety glass) Large amounts of polyvinyl butyral(PVB) waste are being buried every year up to 1500000000 kilos each year inEurope alone and Leadax is using this waste to create their sustainable buildingmaterials Mr van Delden concluded that he is excited about Leadax vision for the futureand the role it will play in developing a global circular economy Visit wwwleadaxcoukor wwwcromarukcouk

Leading roof windowmanufacturer VELUXreg haslaunched its new STUDIOwindow which is the first roofwindow to boast three sashes inone frame The innovative one-frame design features two VELUXcentre-pivot roof windows oneither side of a fixed unit to bringin even more daylight and offer awider more impressive view Byutilising a solar conversion kitVELUX STUDIO can be remotely operated via VELUX INTEGRAreg technology offeringgreater flexibility to homeowners who want better control of their indoor environmentThe VELUX STUDIO window offers a number of unique benefits to the trade including Itrsquos easy to order as only one product code and one flashing package are required

to order The innovative one-frame module follows a standard installation process so you

can save time and get the job done in one day Having three glazing units in one integrated solution makes installing multiple

windows a whole lot easierGrant Sneddon product manager for VELUX said ldquoIn comparison to a similar triplecombination VELUX roof window installation VELUX STUDIOrsquos all-in-one mechanismprovides a more cost effective solution and brings in 23 more daylightrdquo For moreinformation visit wwwveluxcoukstudio

Easi-Dec the working at height safety specialist hassupplied an 8m Roofline System to JAL BuildingContractors Ltd to provide the team with confidencethat when they access multiple rooftops in a housingdevelopment in Manchester they are safe and secureat all times The company provides all aspects of newbuild and refurbishment works to main contractorsand is currently working alongside Great PlacesHousing Group and Knauf to provide cavity wallinsulation and remedial works to solar panels onsocial housing projects in Manchester The team wasimpressed by the fast delivery time with the systemarriving the next day after ordering it John ChesterDirector of JAL Building Contractors Ltd commentsldquoWe swiftly received training from Easi-Dec whichwas professionally delivered on site and included inthe purchase pricerdquo Great Places Housing Group andKnauf have been very impressed with the systemwhilst the JAL Building Contractors team has beenworking on their properties They are pleased that byusing the Easi-Dec system no fixed scaffolding has tobe erected and left up overnight which can present various safety and security issuesVisit wwweasi-deccouk tel 01767 691812 or email infoeasi-deccom

2020 is a significant year forFreefoam Building Productswith the company marking 30years of trading In 1990founding MD Tony Walsh setup an extrusion plant in CorkIreland with one co-extrusionline With a vision to provide thegrowing home improvementmarket with high quality longlasting low maintenance PVCfascia and soffit to replacetraditional timber products thebusiness grew into a leadingmanufacturer in Ireland Since those humble beginnings Freefoam has become a broadpan-European business with manufacturing operations in Ireland and the UK togetherwith distribution in continental Europe Tony Walsh now Chairman remarkedThroughout 2020 we will be looking back at where we started what we haveachieved and what our plans are for the future Today Freefoam Building Productsemploys over 300 team members across three locations Manufacturing facilitiesconsist of 30 extrusion lines in Ireland and the UK producing PVC-U and PVC-UEfascia soffit gutter and cladding Aidan Harte MD explained ldquoWe are looking forwardto the future with further expansion planned for our site in Northampton this yearongoing investment in training and development for our team members and growthstrategies in place for our European marketsrdquo Visit wwwfreefoamcom

Sika Sarnafilrsquos single ply roofing membrane has been installed on the UKrsquos firstdedicated centre for stroke and dementia research at the University of Oxfordproviding a long lasting waterproofing solution for this impressive building Thefacility required a robust and fully integrated waterproofing system that wouldaccommodate roof penetrations walkway and PV requirements Sika Sarnafil theUKrsquos leading single ply roofing manufacturer was specifically requested for theproject by the University of Oxford and came on board during the early design stagesto help Oxford-based architect firm fjmt with the specification Sarnafil G410 12 ELFin Lead Grey along with Sarnavap HD were chosen to weathertight the concrete slabroom Due to an uneven and rough surface a system had to be specified that wouldovercome this problem Roofing contractor Vertec liaised with Sika Sarnafil andopted to mechanically fix the single ply to overcome this With support from SikaSarnafil who oversaw the project offering advice and knowledge throughout Vertecwas able to get the roof weatherproofed on schedule For more information tel01707 394444 email sarnafilroofinguksikacom or visit gbrsikacom

Many construction sites have been forced to close prematurely to support thechallenge to reduce the spread of Covid-19 In the light of this A Proctor Group hasissued the results of tests conducted last year that show contractors can be confidentthat their buildings are left protected from the elements Whilst most membranes areweather resistant for three months the best advice is to cover as quickly as possiblewith the primary water shedding layer This is an accurate action to take as inextreme cases of weather water ingress may occur The three main characteristicswhich are important to the long-term protection and performance of the roof or wallare MVTR (Vapour Permeability) water holdout and airtightness Proctor Groupmembranes have been tested quarterly for 12 months during 2019 with all of theabove factors tested periodically The results showed the membranesrsquo mainattributes are robust enough to maintain performance in all categories preventingthe expense of stripping and replacing when sites open again While all appreciatethat Breathable Membranes are designed for temporary protection it is comfortingto know the building is kept safe while you keep safe

Makitarsquos new cordless ratchet wrench isa versatile compact and lightweight toolsuitable for use across a wide range ofapplications and ideal for accessing tightspaces With a number of innovativefeatures included the WR100DZ hasbeen designed to ensure optimumefficiency and operator productivity TheWR100DZ ratchet wrench utilisesMakitarsquos CXT Compact eXtremeTechnology (CXT) making this an ultra-compact and lightweight (10kg-12kg)machine suitable for extended use Theinclusion of a LED job light meant thatthe WR100DZcan light up the projectspace and aid working in restricted darkspaces maximising productivity Forease of operation the WR100DZ includes a variable speed trigger to easily control thespeed and a trigger lock which prevents the trigger from being accidentally pulledwhich also improves operator safety by preventing the tool from being accidentallyturned on Kevin Brannigan Marketing Manager at Makita said ldquoThe WR100DZ hasbeen designed with ease of operation in mind the inclusion of CXT means its compactlightweight design improves handling in tight spaces and overhead applications andenables operators to use the tool for extended periods of time with minimal fatigue andwith maximum controlrdquo Visit wwwmakitaukcom