August 2019

AUGUST 2019
Insurance Focus
Contractor’s Qs
NFRC Tech Talk
FEATURES
• APPRENTICES ASSEMBLE: THE
FUTURE OF ROOFING LOOKS BRIGHT...
• COUNTER OFFER: USING COUNTER
BATTENS TO PROMOTE AIRFLOW
• SPEC SAVERS: GET THE SPECIFICATION
RIGHT EARLY TO SAVE HASSLE LATER
Register for your FREE tickets
www.contractorsday.co.uk
>>> • THE RIGHT TROUSERS • FIXINGS FOCUS • LOW PITCH TIPS • THE BIG Q • >>>

Contractor’s Day heads North!
Roofing and
cladding uncovered
OLD TRAFFORD
2ND OCTOBER 2019
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
www.contractorsday.co.uk
The ideal event for roofing and
cladding contractors operating
in the residential, commercial
and industrial sectors.
• Innovation & Products – Source new products
and materials from over 60 leading manufacturers
and suppliers to help you on your projects
• Industry Experts – Contractor-focussed seminar
and debates throughout the day
• NFRC CPD Content
• Free entry and parking

I
V
Editor’s Comment
MATT DOWNS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
MATTDOWNS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK
07963 330774
The annual BMI Apprentice of the Year competition took place at
BMI’s South Cerney training facility in early July.
Once again this skills competition, which has secured its place in the
roofing calendar, brought together finalists from roof training colleges
throughout the UK to find the winner in both flat and pitched roofing
competitions.
With the current push for accredited roofers and to raise the perception
of roofing in the public’s eye, having helped judge this year’s event it
was really interesting to observe the apprentices’ ability to interact with
homeowners tested alongside their practical skills and knowledge.
These are skills that are going to become more crucial in the coming
years. You can read my feature on the event from p18.
Above: Matthew Ford took home the pitched roofing award at the
BMI Apprentice of the Year competition. Read our write-up on p18.
FOLLOW US @TOTCONTRACTORUK
SIGN UP FOR YOUR E-NEWSLETTER AT
WWW.TOTAL-CONTRACTOR.CO.UK
In this month’s issue we bring you news of another big event in the
roofing calendar as Contractor’s Day 2019 takes place at the home of
Manchester United, Old Trafford FC, on the 2nd October 2019. Read
about the big names who have signed up and how to get FREE tickets
to this not-to-be missed roofing and cladding showcase on p06.
Elsewhere in this issue we take a look at the key considerations when
presenting to customers, bank managers or larger audiences (p24);
hear how to make correct use of all the digital marketing tools available
to roofers (p28); get top tips on how counter battens can be used to
promote airflow (p30); learn how to prevent burnout of self-drilling
fasteners on cladding projects (p32); plus take a look at the correct
insurance to keep self-employed roofers covered (p72).
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Registered office: 1 Forstal Road, Aylesbury, Kent, ME20 7AU
Commercial Manager: Jake Roxborough
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Email: jakeroxborough@media-now.co.uk
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AUGUST 2019 TC 3

Contents
COVER FEATURES
18 APPRENTICES ASSEMBLE
Matt Downs reports on BMI’s Apprentice of the
Year competition which he says fits well with
roofing’s current push for accredited roofers
30 COUNTER OFFER
John Mercer explains why ventilating the
batten cavity is crucial and says counter
battens can help promote air flow
48 SPEC SAVERS
Ben Haveron says getting down to the detail of
specification at the start of cladding projects
can save time, money and hassle
50
FEATURES
12 THE BIG QUESTION
Tough, steady, positive? We ask a number of
contributors how the first half of 2019 has been
34 LOW PITCH: EXTENSIONS
Following the relaxation of planning regs, Stuart
Nicholson offers his top tips for low pitch extensions
40 COMPLEX & LOW PITCH ROOFS
Rodney Hogg takes the frustration and confusion out of
finding solutions for low pitch and complex roofs
60 STOP THE LEAKS
The experts at A. Proctor discuss a contractor’s role
when it comes to airtightness on projects
40
65 QI COLUMN: THE RULES
What can readers expect from our new column from flat
roof insulation experts Quantum Insulation?
70 THE RIGHT TROUSERS
All workwear trousers are the same? Not so according to
the team at Scruffs. We hear their top trouser tips!
4 TC AUGUST 2019

REGULARS
24 BUSINESS FOCUS
Presenting is tough, but it’s a key skill whether
it’s to the bank manager, customers or crowds
28 SIG MATERIAL TALK
Social media can be a great marketing tool for
roofers, but it’s crucial to use it correctly...
38 AN INSPECTOR CALLS
The Inspector explains why out of sight, out of
mind is not a phrase to be used with roofs
50 CONTRACTOR’S QS
Karl Sands of HS RoofClad talks high standards,
poor payment practices and growing a business
SECTIONS:
TOTAL
ROOFING
34
TOTAL
CLADDING
48
INDUSTRY NEWS
06 CONTRACTOR’S DAY 2019
Contractor’s Day 2019 takes place at Old Trafford FC on
2nd October; you’ll not want to miss out on this FREE event
08 NORTHERN STARS AT BMI
Leeds College of Building apprentices take home the
Awards at this year’s BMI Apprentice of the Year comp
TOTAL
INSULATION
60
VEHICLES, TOOLS
& WORKWEAR
68
AUGUST 2019 TC 5

Industry News
HAVE YOU HEARD OF
REVERSE CHARGE VAT?
In a letter to the Financial Secretary to
the Treasury, the Federation of Master
Builders (FMB) has said the Government
has not properly prepared the
construction industry for VAT changes
coming in October, and needs to delay
their implementation to avoid chaos.
New data published by the FMB shows that
over two-thirds of construction SMEs (69%)
have not even heard of reverse charge VAT;
and of those who have, more than two-thirds
(67%) have not prepared for the changes.
This comes after HMRC published guidance on
reverse charge VAT just four months before the
changes were due to come into place. This has
been criticised for being inaccessible to most in
the industry and is even said to be contradictory
in places. HMRC was also due to have a
dedicated website and marketing campaign for
the changes to help prepare the hundreds of
thousands of construction companies who will
be impacted by the changes.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said:
“Construction companies are already struggling
with Brexit uncertainty, sky rocketing material
price rises and skill shortages, and reverse
charge VAT is yet another thing for them to deal
with. What makes things worse is that HMRC
has failed to deliver on its promise to help the
industry to prepare. The guidance is not userfriendly
and even tax experts are scratching
their heads over it. It’s therefore not surprising
that the vast majority of construction SMEs are
not aware of the impending changes. That’s
why we are calling on the Government to delay
the changes by another six months and to use
the extra time to improve the guidance and
work with us to undertake a more intensive
communications campaign. HMRC should also
consider holding workshops across the country
to explain the changes.”
KEY SIGNINGS FOR OLD TRAFFORD SHOW!
The organisers of Contractor’s
Day, the exhibition for roofing
and cladding operatives which
takes place at Old Trafford
Football Club on 2nd October
2019, have announced that
leading supplier SIG Roofing will
again return as the Knowledge Sponsor, and
newcomer EJOT will sponsor the new Fixing
Hub area at the 2019 event.
Andy Dunn, Publishing Director of Total Contractor,
who launched Contractor’s Day alongside the NFRC,
explained: “These are two great names from the
roofing and cladding sectors that, alongside the
broad range of exhibitors already signed up, will add
real value to the visitor experience.
“Visitors will be able to listen to and take part in
presentations in the SIG Roofing sponsored
seminar theatre, and we are currently finalising
the speaker list and topics, but you can be sure
they will be focused on the many current and
perennial issues affecting roofing and cladding
operatives both on site and as businesses.
Likewise, with its strong focus on R&D and
innovation, EJOT is exactly the type of company
we wanted to feature in our new Hub area. Their
portfolio of products is packed
full of very real solutions for
roofing and cladding operatives,
and visitors will be able to ask
questions, discuss projects
and tap into EJOT’s expertise in
the Fixing Hub. We will announce
the other Hub sponsors in the coming weeks.”
Amanda Brackey, Head of Marketing and
Communications at the NFRC, concluded: “We all
know that time is precious for operatives working
on projects, so we’ve made sure we’ve brought
together the key names and assembled a strong
line up of speakers to tackle the important issues
affecting the sector. This will include an exclusive
update on RoofCERT, which will have a huge
impact on the roofing and cladding sector going
forward. A few hours out of your day will enable
you to find out what’s going on in the market,
enable you to access exclusive show deals, plus
put you in front of key suppliers and manufacturers
who might introduce you to that all important
product that can increase efficiencies, open up
new areas for you to diversify into and give your
business a real boost going forward.”
Find out more and register to visit for FREE at
www.contractorsday.co.uk
Join these exhibitors at Contractor’s Day. Book your stand to exhibit on 01892 732047
• EJOT: Hub Sponsor
• SIG Roofing:
Knowledge Sponsor
• A Proctor
• Alumasc
• Bridgman &
Bridgman
• Buckleys
• Calder Lead
• Danosa
• Eagle Insulation
• Filon
• Flex-R
• Glidevale &
Protect Membranes
• Hambleside
Danelaw
• HCL Safety an
MSA Company
• InStar
• Institute of
Roofing
• Kemper System
• Knauf Insulation
• Kytun
• Manthorpe
• MAK Fasteners
• Moy Materials
• MPW Insurance
Brokers
• NFRC
• Permavent
• Protan
•QBM
• Quantum
Insulation
• SIGA Slate
• SR Timber
•Total Contractor
• Ultraflex
• Ubbink
*Correct at the time
of going to print
6 TC AUGUST 2019

Protan Domestic Roofing
Protan PVC single-ply membrane roof systems are only
installed by Protan domestic partner contractors.
Protan provides domestic waterproofing solutions for
both new-build and refurbishment projects including:
- Balconies and terraces
- Dormers and porches
- Conservatories and orangeries
- Extensions and garages
- Garden offices
- Green and turfed roofs
- Outbuildings
Installations are clean, easy and quick and do
not require the use of hot adhesives, naked
flames, resins, solvents, or tape.
“Protan roof membranes are environmentally
friendly, tried-and-tested materials, which are
designed and independently tested to last in
excess of 40 years and are supported by a
manufacturer’s warranty.”
For further information on Protan
Domestic Roofing contact:
sales@protan.co.uk
Or call 01925 658 001
Protan (UK) Ltd
256 Europa Boulevard, Gemini Business Park, Warrington, WA5 7TN
Tel: 01925 658001 Fax: 01925 899688 E-mail: domestic@protan.co.uk
www.protan.co.uk/domestic

Industry News
LEEDS DUO TAKE HOME THE BMI AWARDS
Matthew Ford and Oscar Miller have been
crowned the pitched and flat roofing BMI
Apprentices of the Year as the competition
ended in two days of intense scrutiny from a
panel of industry-leading figures.
At a special gala dinner attended by all the
contestants, tutors and employers, the victors
received a £1,000 cash prize for each of them to
invest in their future, a trophy for the mantelpiece
plus a goody bag of high-quality roofing tools and
materials.
Speaking just after the prize giving, Matthew Ford,
pitched Apprentice of the Year, who attends Leeds
College of Building and works for housing
association Incommunities, said: “To win is
amazing. I really thought winning was beyond me
but I put in the good work and tried my hardest.
Events like this, which promote roofing, make it a
real trade and I’m so pleased to win.”
The flat roofing Apprentice of the Year, Oscar Miller,
who is also a student at Leeds College of Building
and employed by Grimsby-based The Roofing
Corporation, admitted to being a bit stunned: “I had
to take a second because I thought I was being
highly commended then realised I’d won. Disbelief
but really, really happy to win such a big thing as the
BMI Apprentice of the Year.”
So tightly fought was the competition that the judges
felt that each category deserved a highly
commended award. On the pitched side Tyler
Pedrick, who works for Avonside and studies at
Eastern Region Roof Training Group, received the
accolade while for the flat category it was Connor
Pringle, who is enrolled at Bolton College and works
for the Manchester Building Company.
The consensus among the contestants was that the
competition had improved their self-confidence
despite being tough and that they had enjoyed
building a rapport with the judges, all of whom are
industry experts.
Winning trio: Matthew Ford, left, Oscar Miller, right, with
David Mallory, Lecturer at Leeds College of Building.
(NFRC), noted: “The contestants are taken out of
their comfort zone by being forced to tackle ‘soft’
skills rather than the physical side of their trade.
What impressed me so much is how they all grew in
confidence, really focused on the job in hand and
achieved things they probably thought were beyond
them prior to the competition.
Reflecting on Oscar Miller’s win, judge Dr Ronan
Brunton, Technical Manager at the Single Ply Roofing
Association (SPRA), said: “Oscar has the potential
and opportunity to drive our industry forward. Over
the competition event he demonstrated all the
qualities required to be the Apprentice of the Year.”
Steve Revell, President of the National Federation of
Roofing Contractors (NFRC), was similarly
impressed with pitched winner Matthew Ford: “The
judges thought highly of all the candidates and the
standard shown, but Matthew clinched it, thanks to
his work on the defects challenge where he was well
organised in his presentation, identified all six and
more of the defects, then spoke well about the
rectification works that were required.”
Mat Woodyatt, BMI Technical Training Manager, said:
“This has been a fantastic event; all the contestants
deserve huge credit for their hard work and
achievements. I know the judges looked long and
hard at the scoring, deliberated at length about what
marks to award and genuinely found it difficult to
separate participants. However, in the end there can
only be two winners, so heartfelt congratulations to
Matthew and Oscar. Well done lads!”
SIG D&T OFFER
ECO GREEN ROOFS
SIG Design & Technology now offers
guaranteed green roof and blue roof
systems through Eco Green Roofs (EGR).
Partnering with Eco Green Roofs allows
SIG Design & Technology to offer a full
built-up system which combines expertise
on both the green roofing and
waterproofing under one package.
Eco Green Roof provides guaranteed
systems that replicate the natural growing
environment for plants. Using a wide
range of sedum and wildflower plant
species they create lush, vibrant, biodiverse
environments that can transform
both new and refurbishment projects.
A green roof has a core function in the
development of the urban landscape and
every system requires careful blending to
ensure its environmental capacity is
suited to its location and the demands that
may be laid upon it. Designing bespoke
systems to meet the client’s needs, Eco
Green Roofs specialises in the supply and
installation to ensure the sustainability of
their green roofs.
SIG Design & Technology also offers
optimal roofscape water management
solutions with the EGR Blue Roof System. A
blue roof is designed to attenuate water,
typically rainfall, and release this water
over a longer period of time. This eases
the pressure on the drainage system
particularly in times of severe rainfall.
The blue roof system has been developed
by EGR’s own in-house expert and
designed by Carl Harrop who has been a
specialist in blue roof technology for over
15 years.
As judge Gary Walpole, Health and Safety Officer at
the National Federation of Roofing Contractors
More on the BMI Apprentice of the Year from Total
Contractor Editor and judge Matt Downs p18.
8 TC AUGUST 2019

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Industry News
ACCESS 360: “SAFE
ACCESS ALL AREAS”
Three of the UK’s leading access
specialists have come together to form
the Access 360 portfolio, providing a total
manufacturing solution for roof, ceiling,
wall and floor access products.
Access 360
comprises Bilco
UK, Profab
Access and
Howe Green.
These wellestablished
James Fisher, MD Access 360.
brands all have a strong reputation for
delivering innovative solutions to address the
challenges of safe access within a building or
external environment.
The brand identities have been updated,
reflecting the holistic offer that Access 360
presents to the market, to represent the
synergy between the brands and the
complementary nature of the products.
James Fisher, MD of Access 360, explained:
“Since the acquisition of Howe Green and
Profab Access we have been promoting our
ability to provide an unparalleled range of
access solutions. From an operational
perspective it soon became obvious that we
needed a name and an identity that could
encompass all three companies, whilst
retaining the established and trusted brand
names. The name Access 360 represents
what we have to offer the construction sector
– products that cover the complete spectrum
of access solutions. We have a new brand
mark for each company to illustrate how the
brands, and respective products,
complement each other. We are delighted to
present Access 360 to the world and to
announce the bringing together of three
brands with one specific objective – safe
access all areas.”
MIDLANDS MOVE FOR AVONSIDE GROUP
Avonside Group has acquired Wolverhamptonbased
Danescourt Roofing.
The move is the latest in a series of buyouts
which is said to be part of Avonside CEO Tony
Burke’s long-term strategy.
Danescourt is described as a well-established
and well-respected operation that offers highquality
roofing works throughout the Midlands
region.
Speaking about the recent acquisition, Mr Burke
commented: “We are delighted to welcome
Danescourt into the Avonside family, and I’d like
to extend my thanks to both Russell Wood and
Robert Meredith for their professionalism
throughout the negotiating stages.” He added:
“We can now get down to the business of growing
the Danescourt footprint as part of the UK’s most
dynamic player within the roofing sector.”
Avonside Group’s latest acquisition is Midlands-based
Danescourt Roofing.
On behalf of Danescourt, Branch Manager,
Russell Wood stated: “From the moment we first
engaged with the Avonside team, we knew there
was an excellent fit and we have already
established a strong working relationship with the
management team. We have every confidence
that the business will go from strength to
strength.”
BATTEN: SPEED OF SUPPLY NOT COST IS KEY
The speed at which suppliers
“Yes, of course cost is a big issue
can get graded timber batten
to customers, but it clearly
to site appears to be
indicates that the supply of
overtaking cost as the primary
materials is arguably just as
concern for roofing contractors
important at the moment – which
and merchants. That’s the
we can only surmise as meaning
SR Timber’s Premium Gold batten.
surprising finding of a recent
that contractors are working flat
promotional campaign run by SR Timber. out on jobs. This is the best barometer we have to
highlight that despite some of the media scare
The company ran a promotion with some great
stories, the construction industry is still very busy
prices on its 25x38mm and 25x50mm BS-graded
building new houses.”
batten, knowing full well that roofing contractors
need to get absolutely the best prices so they SR Timber says that it can typically get roofing
were still expecting to negotiate. However, what batten materials delivered to most places in the
Trading Director Shaun Revill and the team didn’t UK between 48 and 72 hours after an order is
expect was that the urgency at which customers placed, either as a full or part load.
wanted materials on site superseded cost.
Shaun added: “We are able to supply batten so
“In a lot of cases, the first question that we got quickly because we have complete control of our
asked when we spoke to customers about the supply chain – from the forests of the Baltics, to
offers was ‘how quickly can you get it to us?’ – a dedicated sawmill, to shipping and space at
this isn’t normal,” said Shaun.
four ports around the UK.
10 TC AUGUST 2019

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centres maximum to enable use for leading edge protection.
Galvanised or powder coated finish. Protective mats 5mm
bonded to the base plates.
Standards – Exceeds Class A EN13374- Class A; For
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The Big Question
How has the first half of 2019 been for your sector, and what’s in store moving forward?
Brian G Newell, Chief Executive and
Founder of Shackerley.
2019 has been an extremely busy year for
Shackerley with a number of projects coming on
line, both around the country and across a wide
variety of sectors.
New build and refurbishment commercial office
projects continue to be a big factor in our production
schedules but the biggest growth area is student
accommodation and multi-occupancy residential
schemes. New legislation on cladding materials for
residential properties above 18m high that became
law in December 2018 following publication of the
Hackitt report, has been a big factor in new orders
for our SureClad system in the residential sector,
across our ceramic granite, engineered and natural
stone ranges and terracotta. All our systems are
classified as Class A1 or A2-S1-d0 to BS EN
13501-1, which means that they are noncombustible
and fully-compliant with the new
legislation.
What we’re finding is that, although the changes
only apply to residential buildings over 18m high,
specifiers and end users are looking for
non-combustible cladding systems for
non-residential and low-rise buildings
too. This may be in anticipation of
further legislation on the horizon, or
prospective later change of use of a
building, or simply due to a more fire safety
conscious culture post Grenfell. The result is a more
quality-led cladding specification culture and a
move away from systems that cannot substantiate
their fire safety credentials.
As an established ventilated façade system
specialist with in-house design, technical support
and production facilities, Shackerley is able to
support the construction supply chain, including
cladding contractors. Sometimes it means tight
production schedules following late change of
specification but our ISO 9001:2015 certified
production plant in Lancashire provides us with the
flexibility to work with customers to ensure that our
outputs are aligned to their installation programmes
and deliver to site accordingly. We find that this
makes a huge difference all the way through the
delivery chain because it offers confidence that
projects will complete on time. As a result,
repeat orders are another big feature of
Shackerley’s forward order book.
As specifiers move away from
cladding systems that cannot prove
their fire safety, we’ve also found that
there’s strong demand for greater choice. We’ve
introduced a new SureClad Terracotta system,
alongside our ceramic granite, engineered stone,
natural stone and vitrified class systems.
Interestingly, it seems to be our SureClad
Engineered Stone and StoneClad Natural Stone
systems that have seen the biggest growth in
demand so far this year. We can only speculate on
the reasons for this, but there certainly seems to be
a move towards natural materials that deliver a
traditional appearance and texture while offering
contemporary design flexibility and buildability.
In terms of what’s in store, I think we will continue
to see more specifiers focus on fire safety and high
end aesthetics, along with speed and ease of
installation and reliability of supply.
www.shackerley.com
Duncan Winter, Trading Director at Flex-R.
Flex-R has achieved double-digit growth in the
first half of 2019, thanks to a rise in sales of its
flagship products and its growing presence in the
North of England.
RubberBond FleeceBack – which was used on a
heritage project that recently received a Highly
Commended at the SPRA Awards 2019 – is
certainly coming of age and is challenging the
historical dominance of hot-melt systems being
seen as the default for use on many new builds
and renovation projects with flat roofs.
Cold-applied single-ply systems are gathering
significant traction in the flat roofing market, and
having the sole rights to distribute USmanufactured
Carlisle SynTec single-ply goods
such as RubberBond means that we have the
best products in the UK marketplace – and the
growth in their use is set to continue.
Having the best products in the market doesn’t
always guarantee growth, which is why our team
works hard to support our network of Specialist
Registered Installers (SRIs), who are making a big
difference and this is translating into growth.
Take the case of Nobu, the prestigious hotel in
Shoreditch, London, which was opened by Robert
De Niro. Contractors G. S. Moore are SRIs, and
they received support every step of the way on
that project, which crucially included the
specification and installation. It’s this level of
support that is paying dividends for Flex-R.
The other factor in our success is our ‘Northern
Powerhouse’. A little over a year ago we opened a
second UK depot along the M62 corridor in
Huddersfield, which acts as a training hub that
roofing contractors based in the North of England
can visit to undergo training to become SRIs. The
depot also acts as a distribution centre for its
product range, including getting pre-cut
sections of RubberBond to sites for next-day
delivery.
Our new depot in Huddersfield has enabled us to
grow our business by 45% in the North of
England – primarily because it’s more convenient
for roofing contractors to come and learn about
the products and become SRIs.
It’s also enabled us to have a northern base for
Area Sales Managers (ASMs) and Regional
Specification Managers (RSMs) – meaning that,
as a business, we can be so much more
responsive in supporting roofing contractors, as
well as architects and specifiers, who would have
previously had to travel to High Wycombe.
www.flex-r.co.uk
12 TC AUGUST 2019

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The Big Question
Shaun Revill, Trading Director at SR Timber.
At the start of 2019, I said we would adopt a ‘keep
calm and carry on’ mantra because the UK still
needs to build lots of new houses; for this, the
house-building industry is reliant on the constant
availability of a range of materials, such as roofing
batten.
I’m very pleased with our half-year performance –
given the circumstances – because we have
remained focused on what we do well, and this has
enabled us to see an increase in turnover on sales
of roofing batten over the first half of the year.
It’s not all been plain sailing – there have been
monthly fluctuations caused by issues such as bad
weather – but, overall, we’re ahead of where we
were last year, and that’s something the team at SR
Timber should be very proud of.
Understandably, when times get tight, customers
are very focused on the cost of materials, and we
have had situations where we’ve lost out on orders
because companies have bought elsewhere – but
they have actually paid a high price because of
hidden costs and dubious quality.
We’ve seen cases where customers have bought
batten that clearly isn’t compliant with BS
5534:2014 – which was revised to BS 5534:2014
+ A2:2018 – but they’re taking a big risk with that.
We’ve also come across situations where roofers
and merchants may be able to get a cheaper price,
but the lead times can be as long as three weeks,
meaning that, in some cases they lose the work.
SR Timber can typically get roofing batten materials
delivered to most places in the UK between 48 and
72 hours after an order is placed, as either a full or
part load – and this reliability has really become an
important factor this year.
New and returning customers, as well as reliable
deliveries, are behind our confidence in taking on
two new members of staff to join the team of ten.
I think house-builders will pull out all the stops
between now and the end of October to get as many
new houses completed, or at least tiled in to be
water tight – to hit their figures in Q3, then
completing the interior works during Q4.
I suspect house-builders may want to hit their
numbers before Brexit due date and get the biggest
area completed before any possible further
shortages of labour and of course any possible raw
material increases due to Brexit in Q4.
All this means that the availability of materials
and the ability to be responsive will be even more
important to support roofing contractors and
merchants.
We’re expecting it to be busy, but as ever, we’ll
keep calm and carry on.
www.sr-timber.co.uk
David Maginnis, MD at BriggsAmasco.
From a roofing perspective, the first half of the
year has been relatively positive thanks to the
good weather. Compared to the first quarter of
2018, which saw huge amounts of rain as well
as snow, ice and freezing temperatures
courtesy of the ‘Beast from the East’, winter
2019 was very kind to us. It meant contractors
who had the work in-hand were able to get on
with it.
In terms of how our work schedule is panning out
this year, I’d say flows are as consistent as
previous years; we’re not seeing huge spikes or
major downturns. There’s a steady level of
projects coming through, and that’s pretty much
the story across the UK. I think that trend will
continue until the end of the year once a decision
on Brexit is taken. There are a lot of Londonbased
building projects in the form of high rise
towers etc, which have been approved and ready
to go as soon as the EU issue is settled.
Elsewhere, we’re seeing a lot of work coming in
from across the UK involving schools and
universities. This, perhaps, can be attributed to
“Personally, like a lot of
people in construction,
I’d like to see a relaxing
of the current planning
laws”
the competition that exists between higher
education establishments in order to attract
students and maintain funding. Therefore,
upgrading or replacing infrastructure with new
state-of-the-art buildings has become a must
for universities in particular to boost their
appeal.
The large increase in housebuilding projects is
also noticeable; the surest sign that the
government is attempting to make good its
promise and fulfil its pledge to build 300,000
homes per year and address the long-running
shortage. If this policy continues, then the
outlook for the roofing sector and the
construction industry as a whole remains
extremely positive; certainly rosier than three
years ago in the immediate aftermath of the EU
referendum. In 2016, expert opinion varied wildly
as to how a Brexit vote would eventually play
out. Pessimists predicted the country would fall
off a cliff into a deep recession, while more
positive forecasts spoke of a rise between 1.5%
and 2.3% in the economy. Neither outcome has
materialised.
Whenever the terms of Brexit are finalised and
whichever Prime Minister is chosen to take the
helm going forwards, I hope the building industry
remains a key component in their prosperous
aim for the nation. Personally, like a lot of people
in construction, I’d like to see a relaxing of the
current planning laws. There has been a
streamlining in the process in relation to
domestic applications, therefore it’s hoped that
some of our larger housing developers will soon
benefit from having to scythe through less red
tape. If we are to deliver the homes the country
desperately needs, a speeding up of the time it
takes to get projects from the inception stage to
the building site will be very much welcomed.
www.briggsamasco.co.uk
14 TC AUGUST 2019

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BMI Apprentice of the Year 2019
TURNING A JOB INTO A CAREER
The BMI Apprentice of the Year competition returned this year and once again the
competition proved to be a huge success, providing all the finalists with additional
knowledge and skills to help them progress in their chosen profession...
It’s clear that the generation of roofing
image, whether that be in the
apprentices currently going through the roof eyes of customers or in
training groups are going to be operating in a terms of attracting new
much-changed working environment with new talent to roofing.
challenges for them as roofers – and possibly
And that’s where the
future business owners – as roofing and the
BMI Apprentice of
wider construction sector adapts to changes
the Year competition
brought on, in the main, by the Grenfell Tower
fits nicely with the
tragedy.
current push to ensure
This crop of apprentices is probably the first operatives have both the
coming through at a time when the spotlight will practical skills and the
really be on them in terms of working practices ability to interact in a professional
and the way they interact with end users and manner with customers.
other trades. That’s because RoofCERT, the NFRC
Now in its third year, the BMI Apprentice of the
and CITB’s accreditation programme which aims
Year competition has really established itself as a
to professionalise and elevate the roofing sector
key date in the roofing calendar, bringing together
as a whole by providing individual roofers with
both flat and pitched roofing finalists from roof
visible proof of their roofing skills to homeowners
training colleges throughout the UK for two-days
and end users is well underway. This is quite
of competition.
possibly the single biggest change to roofing and
once up and running will have a huge impact on Whilst the competition has grown, the tried and
the sector. In the main, RoofCERT’s goal is to upskill
the individual and improve the sector’s with sessions on presentational skills,
trusted format has stayed very much the same
Above and below: The flat and pitched roofing apprentices assess the rigs for the defects challenge.
establishing and marketing a
business, health and
safety, and culminating
in the crucial defects
challenge and final
presentation to
judges. These last
two sections are
where the apprentices
get the chance to really
put into action all they’ve
learned over the previous two
days. And it’s no good just having the
technical knowledge and practical skills; yes
these are vital, but crucially the apprentices are
also scored on their ability to interact with the
customer – how they convey their messages, put
the customer at ease and build trust. For
example, on the defects challenge section, flat
and pitched roofing rigs are set up with a number
of deliberate mistakes for the finalists to consider.
The apprentices are then given time to assess the
rigs, note the defects and the impact they would
have on the customer’s roof, but then they have
to talk the judges – who play the role of
‘customer’ for this challenge – through the
defects, any remedial work to be undertaken and
answer any questions the ‘customer’ may have.
“It’s no good just
having the technical
knowledge and
practical skills – the
apprentices are also
scored on their ability
to interact with the
customer”
18 TC AUGUST 2019

This is where Oscar Miller, winner of the flat
roofing Apprentice of the Year 2019, who is a
student at Leeds College of Building and
employed by Grimsby-based The Roofing
Corporation, really excelled. He combined a very
strong practical knowledge of the defects but
crucially was able to talk the judges through the
issues, the impact they would have on the roof and
the best options for rectification in a structured
manner that would build trust with a customer who
has just fallen foul of poor workmanship, and is set
to spend a considerable amount on remedial
works. Again, this ticks the boxes for many of the
goals at the heart of RoofCERT.
Having spoken to the pitched roofing judges, this
is where Matthew Ford, winner of the pitched
roofing Apprentice of the Year 2019, who also
attends Leeds College of Building and works for
housing association Incommunities, set himself
apart from the competition also.
Despite there being two winners and two highly
commended awards – which went to Connor
Pringle, who is enrolled at Bolton College and
works for the Manchester Building Company, in
the flat roofing competition, and Tyler Pedrick,
who works for Avonside and studies at Eastern
Region Roof Training Group, in the pitched roofing
competition – all the finalists will have learned
new skills and will be better equipped to deal with
the challenges their careers will throw at them
going forward. Many will also have found new
levels of confidence that perhaps they didn’t
know they had, and that confidence is built up
over the duration of the two days. The
competition, alongside the support of their tutors
and employers, also gives the finalists a clearer
idea of where they can take their roofing career.
Listening to the judges like Dr Ronan Brunton,
Technical Manager at the Single Ply Roofing
Association, Gary Walpole, Health & Safety Officer
at the NFRC, Steve Revell, President of the NFRC
and Owner of Skyline Roofing Group, who all have
vast experience of various levels of management
at businesses and associations throughout the
roofing supply chain, the finalists can’t fail to be
inspired about where their career might be
Above Left, David Mallory, Roofing Tutor at Leeds College of Building arrives with apprentices Matthew Ford and Oscar Miller.
Right: Little did they know they’d be going home with the pitched and flat roofing trophies, £1,000 each and a packed goody bag!
progress to. Where many may have viewed
roofing as just a job at the beginning of the two
days, most will have left feeling new pride and
enthusiasm for their chosen career.
Just look at the example of this year’s pitched
roofing judge Ceiran Peel-Price, himself a finalist
in the Apprentice of the Year competitions 2017 &
2018. Ceiran now runs Peel-Price Construction
and gave an inspiring talk on what he’d learned
and the challenges of starting up a business. As
Ceiran previously told Total Contractor: “The
competition taught me a lot and was one of the
things that encouraged me to set up my own
business. It also taught me the value of quality
training.” What better testimonial could the BMI
Apprentice of the Year ask for than a former
finalist returning as a judge having established
his own roofing business, who also recognises the
value in continued development and training?
Now it’s over to this year’s finalists to see where
their careers can take them…
More on the BMI Apprentice of the Year
“The BMI Apprentice of the Year competition
fits nicely with the current push to ensure
operatives have both the practical skills and
the ability to interact in a professional manner
with customers”
Above: Flat roofing finalists Connor Pringle (highly commended) and Oscar Miller (winner) present their business plan to the judges.
AUGUST 2019 TC 19

BMI Apprentice of the Year 2019
3things I’ve learned as a judge on BMI’s Apprentice of the Year
1You get out what you put into it: The apprentices that prosper in the competition aren’t over
confident but aren’t shy either. They leave their ego at the door and make the most of the two
days. A good life lesson for everyone!
2If you don’t know the answer, don’t try and ‘blag’ it: This is applicable in all walks of life
and crops up time and time again at BMI’s competition. The judges are there to help so finalists
should tap into their knowledge, ask the right questions and take this forward in their careers.
3A little bit of confidence can go a long way: It never ceases to amaze me how the body
language of finalists can change from head down, arms crossed and almost hiding on day
one, to open and confident as they give their individual presentations.
A year of firsts!
• BMI’s Apprentice of the Year
competition 2019 saw its first female
finalist in Chantel Daniels, training with
Bolton College and apprentice to Three
Sixty. Let’s hope Chantel is the first of
many female finalists going forward.
•Finalist in 2017 and 2018, Ceiran Peel-
Price, now owner of Peel-Price
Construction, returned as a judge! Let’s
hope Ceiran sets the trend for finalists to
take what they’ve learned and have the
confidence to go on and run their own
businesses!
Left: Former finalist Ceiran Peel-
Price, now owner of Peel-Price
Construction returned this year as a
judge and gave an interesting and
enlightening talk on his early
experiences working as a roofer and
business owner.
The pitched roofing finalists outside BMI’s training facility.
Right: Chantel Daniels, training with
Bolton College and apprentice to
Three Sixty (Stockport Homes Group),
made history as the first female
finalist in the Apprentice of the Year
competition. Chantel gave an
excellent account of herself in the
Pitched Roofing competition.
The flat roofing finalists with one of sponsor Wincanton’s trucks.
The finalists and their tutors prepare for the Awards Dinner.
Apprentices, judges, tutors and the BMI team all ready to go!
“This has been a fantastic event, the second time
we have held a competition to find the best in
each of the two roofing disciplines. All the
contestants deserve huge credit for their hard
work and achievements” Matt Woodyatt BMI, BMI Technical Training Manager
20 TC AUGUST 2019

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Slate Focus
NATURAL VS CONCRETE SLATES
As concrete slates become increasingly popular, Daniel Redfern from Marley looks at how
they compare to natural slate.
In the past few years, we have seen a
significant increase in demand for cost
effective alternatives to natural slate and in
particular, thin leading-edge interlocking concrete
slates have experienced a huge growth in sales.
So, why are they so popular and how do they
compare to natural slate?
Aesthetics
While inevitably there will be some heritage
projects where only a natural slate will be
permitted by planning, advances in
manufacturing mean that some thin leading-edge
concrete slates are able to replicate the look of
slate very effectively. For example, our Edgemere
slates are 40% thinner than a
standard concrete roof tile and
resemble natural slate in their
depth and tone. They have been
used on hundreds of new homes
across the country where
housebuilders want to achieve a
designer slate aesthetic without the price tag.
In addition to the standard Edgemere, there is
also Duo, which has a mock bond down the
centre of the tile to create the appearance of a
small format slate and Riven, which has a
textured surface to give a closer match to a
natural slate. We have also recently launched a
Left: Dan Redfern, Marley.
new Anthracite colour for a
darker slate aesthetic.
Cost
If you take material costs alone,
natural slate can cost between £70 and £100
per m², whereas a concrete slate like Edgemere
can be as little as a third/half the price. This is
partly because of the high coverage rates of
Edgemere, with just 9.7 tiles per m², compared to
around 13.4 per m² for fibre cement slates and as
high as 18 per m² for natural slate. This also
means you’ll be paying less for labour time.
Like your favourite
beer garden,
without the wasps.
22 TC AUGUST 2019

Pitch
In low pitch projects, natural slate can be
limited by geography because driving rain has to
be considered. This means that pitches of 20º
can be achieved with natural slate, but it
requires increased head laps and therefore more
slates, with the consequences of additional
weight. This could lead to higher costs for
materials and additional costs to strengthen
timber structures because of extra weight
loading.
The fact that Edgemere can be used down to a
low minimum pitch of 17.5º means it has less
limitations than natural slate and it has the
versatility to be used on a wide range of projects
in any geographical area (when fixed according
to BS 5534). It can also be installed using
standardised and uniform supports, which
means that its weight loading is more
predictable.
“As contractors continue to face growing skills
and cost challenges, Edgemere interlocking
concrete slates offer the positives of natural
slate with none of the negatives”
Ease of installation
Natural slates need to be installed by highly
skilled roofers with many years of experience and
the variation of thickness of natural slates
means they require extensive sorting on site.
However, Edgemere slates are uniform in size, so
they can be used straight from the pallet with no
sorting time.
As an interlocking tile, they are quick and easy to
install by any roofer, requiring no specialist
slating skills. They do need to be fixed to BS 5534
but, by using a SoloFix one-piece clip and nail,
you can reduce clipping time by around 30%.
As contractors continue to face growing skills and
cost challenges, Edgemere interlocking concrete
slates offer the positives of natural slate with
none of the negatives – like being in your
favourite beer garden without the wasps! All of
the Edgemere slates are also available to
purchase as part of a complete Marley roof
system, including battens, underlay, fixings and
accessories, all backed up by a 15-year
guarantee.
Contact Marley
01283 722588
www.marley.co.uk
@MarleyLtd
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AUGUST 2019 TC 23

Business Talk
PRESENT AND CORRECT: GET YOUR
MESSAGE ACROSS IN THE RIGHT WAY
Not many people relish presenting to audiences – no matter how large or small –
but as a contractor it’s something you will have to do whether that be to your bank manager,
customers or at events. Total Contractor takes a look at some of the key considerations and
offers some handy tips to ensure you get your message across in the right way...
Think of your least favourite work-related
task – chasing outstanding invoices,
finding new business, dealing with angry
customers – none compare for most to making a
presentation.
But whether you are about to present to the bank,
investors, a householder in their home, an
audience of householders (as potential
customers) at a community event, or at a
national roofing event, there are a few simple
steps that can help reduce the pain to the
absolute minimum.
Prepare – and then prepare again
No one ever said that writing and delivering a
memorable and effective presentation is easy; it
requires among things, a modicum of common
sense and the ability to relate to the audience.
An appropriate style is key. Gordon Brown, when
he was shadow chancellor, demonstrated a
classic example of how not to present. In 1994 he
gave a seminar speech saying: “our new
economic approach is rooted in ideas which
stress the importance of macro-economics, post
neo-classical endogenous growth theory and the
symbiotic relationships between growth and
investment, and people and infrastructure.” With
an audience heading for the pillow it’s easy to
see why his style soon became simpler, chattier
and more open. It’s all about approachability if
you want to engage with an audience.
Before writing a single word of a presentation, it’s
critical to understand the purpose of the
presentation and the likely audience. Are you
there to promote your business, to offer guidance,
“Presentations need to get the point over quickly
and simply – the best way to do this is to stick to
three main points such as ‘what’, ‘why’, and ‘how’”
or is it to influence a decision maker at, say, the
bank?
Finding out the size of the group, age range,
gender, level of knowledge, whether humour is
appropriate, as well as whether they’re attending
out of interest or because they have to attend (in
their own time or during the working day) will help
form the presentation.
If it’s a big event, consider the venue – it’s size,
how the seating is arranged, what equipment is
onsite to help (microphone, projector, extension
leads), and even parking in case there are heavy
items to carry. If you’re in a home, think about
your clothing – no householder wants dirty shoes
on their floor or someone in mucky clothing on
their sofa.
Think also about the time of the presentation.
Mornings are good as the audience will be alert,
but mid-mornings are when thoughts turn to
lunch. Early afternoon isn’t ideal as lunch can
make some sleepy; late afternoons and avoiding
the rush hour becomes more important.
Of course, if you’re in a home environment have
an eye to the family – are there young children? If
so, avoid evenings and bath time. What time does
the family eat? Plan to let them dine (yourself too)
so that you get their attention.
Establish the time assigned to the presentation
and where you might be in the running order.
24 TC AUGUST 2019

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Business Talk
Plan to not over-run as it’ll have a knock-on
effect on other speakers; similarly, avoid being
last in case your presentation is cut short.
The message and the power of three
Presentations need to get the point over quickly
and simply – the audience needs to be able to
grasp and remember the salient points of what is
being said; the best way to do this is to stick to
three main points such as ‘what’, ‘why’, and
‘how’.
Taking the first – ‘what’ – this is all about the
message that you want to get over to the
audience. What is it you are trying to tell them
and what will they gain by listening to you?
Next, ‘why’ considers the reaction from the
audience – why should they listen or agree with
you? Establishing this point gives the audience a
reason to stay on side and off their smartphone.
Lastly, ‘how’ offers a subtle call to action.
Speakers rarely get anywhere by demanding
action; they get much further by leading the
audience into thinking about a response that ties
in with the speaker’s agenda.
Another way to look at a structure is to have a
beginning (introduction), middle (the message),
and end (conclusions and takeaway actions). As
to how many points to make, that’ll be a function
of time. Some suggest three points for a short
presentation, six work for a half hour
presentation, while eight points can fit neatly into
a 45-minute presentation.
“It’s precisely because
presentations are
spoken that it’s
important to eliminate
long sentences”
Control the content
Plan the introduction to start with who you are and
why you’re presenting before attempting to grab
the audience’s attention with the main points.
“If during the questioning you don’t know the
answer, do not attempt to flannel; in most cases
you’ll come off badly from the encounter. It’s
much better to tell the questioner that you’ll take
their details after and come back with the
appropriate answer”
Your choice of language is key – as Gordon Brown
found out – so ensure that it’s appropriate for the
audience you’re presenting to. Avoid jargon and
terms that others might not be familiar with and if
they must be used, explain them in a way that is
easily understood.
Allied to this is the need to keep the presentation
friendly. It’s precisely because presentations are
spoken that it’s important to eliminate long
sentences. Keep in mind that you’re trying to get
your ideas over to an audience that may have
come to the subject cold. So, keep sentences short
and have a logical and simple structure to make it
easy for the audience to comprehend the message.
If it helps, use examples to make the message
more relatable remembering that the aim of the
presentation is to grab an audience’s attention.
This is where well placed and well-designed
slides – if appropriate – come into play to
illustrate key points. Remember though, slides are
there to illustrate and simplify a point – they
shouldn’t need further explanations. Certainly
don’t use slides laced with animations just to
show that you can use a computer. Keep in mind
that slides are not a substitute for the
presentation. In other words, don’t just read off
the slides.
Do keep in mind that if you want to use slides and
a projector that you know how to use the
equipment and software properly. And plan for
failures as they are more than likely to occur
when least wanted. If you’re presenting to
homeowners perhaps use a tablet or lap top –
but again make sure it’s charged and working.
Lastly, and this may seem obvious, check that the
spelling is correct is on slides or handouts.
Giving the presentation
Everything you do in the presentation will
determine if it’s a success or not. For this reason,
it’s important to practice the speech and ensure
that it runs to time.
In some situations, a microphone will be cut off
if you over-run, so if the conclusion takes two
minutes ensure that it’s started two minutes
before the allotted time expires. That said,
you’ll be surprised just how hard it can be to fill
time and while the audience will generally be
willing you on, you’ll not want to die in front of
them.
Eye contact is key so that while it’s possible to
read, head down from prepared notes, you’ll
never engage with the audience that way. But this
doesn’t mean reciting the presentation from
memory – there’s nothing wrong with cue cards
as TV presenters prove. Similarly, don’t hide
behind a computer or lectern. Also, position
equipment so that you don’t need to turn your
back on the audience.
In a home, try to address all in the room, don’t
ignore the spouse – they too will have influence
on the buying decision.
Ensure too, that you avoid chit-chat that involves
the cardinal three sins of religion, sex and
politics. Touch on any one and you could close
the door if you cause offence.
One last tip. If during the questioning you don’t
know the answer, do not attempt to flannel; in
most cases you’ll come off badly from the
encounter. It’s much better to tell the questioner
that you’ll take their details after and come back
with the appropriate answer.
26 TC AUGUST 2019

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Material Talk
SOCIAL SELLS: BUT POST IT RIGHT...
The options available to roofers looking to attract new customers have changed
immeasurably over the past 20 years. Gone are the days of paying for an ad in the
Yellow Pages or placing a postcard in the newsagent’s window; today’s roofer has a
plethora of digital marketing tools at their fingertips which, if used correctly, can lead to a
real upturn in business. Here, Chris Macey, Regional Manager at SIG Roofing, examines
how roofers can make the most of social media – and how it can be effectively
harnessed to drive business growth.
Roofing 2.0
The roofing industry is notoriously
competitive, with more than 63,000
professionals currently active across the
UK. In such a crowded marketplace, attracting
new business can be a real challenge, so
identifying the most effective routes to
prospective customers is essential for roofers
seeking to grow their business.
One of the biggest advancements in the roofing
industry over the past two decades has
undoubtedly been the rise of social media. The
likes of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn afford
professionals access to a seemingly limitless pool
of potential new business, but, without a proper
plan in place, roofers could easily find themselves
‘drowning in digital’.
For a roofer looking to embark on a successful
social media journey, there are a number of tried
and tested methods which can help grow a
company’s digital footprint, and ensure they’re
getting in front of the right people.
Know your audience
You can have the most dynamic social media
presence in the world, but it will mean very little if
it’s being seen by the wrong type of audience.
Before you decide the type of content you want to
put out – or even the channels you wish to
promote it on – you must know exactly the type of
audience you want to engage with. Are you going
directly to end-customers, or do you want to
catch the eye of architects and specifiers? Each
demographic will require a
bespoke communications
approach, so think carefully
before pressing send on any
social media update.
The power of platforms
Everyone’s heard of the obvious
platforms – think Facebook, Instagram
and Twitter – but what about the channels that
help you connect with slightly niche audiences.
Sites such as Pinterest and Tumblr are great for
connecting with end-users who have a very clear
idea of how they want their roof to look.
When it comes to ‘the big three’, Twitter and
Instagram are very photo-based and lend
themselves to short, snappy updates – perfect for
those ‘work in progress’ crew or site photos.
Facebook allows you to build a fuller profile for
your business and is also a useful tool for
reaching out and engaging with potential
customers directly.
Be warned though, Facebook is the ultimate
democracy, and customers who feel – justly or
otherwise – aggrieved are free to air their
frustration on your public page. Make sure you’re
monitoring the page regularly and engaging with
disgruntled customers as quickly as possible,
enabling you to take the conversation offline and
away from potential new customers.
A picture speaks a thousand words…
Did you know that the average, internet-browsing
human now has an attention span
of just eight seconds? That’s
down a staggering 12 seconds
from the year 2000 – an era
before social media and
smartphones. So, while reams
and reams of text might work
well enough for your product
brochure, it won’t cut the mustard on your
social sites.
Luckily, roofing is a very visual business, so there
are lots of ways to ensure your content is
engaging, without resorting to a wall of text. Use
your Instagram account to tell the story of a job
from start to finish and make sure you’re
attaching photos or videos to any of your
Facebook updates. One of the main reasons
potential customers visit your social channels is
to check for themselves the quality of your work.
Nothing displays this better than a high quality
image.
Keep it clean
It might go without saying, but remember that
your social media platforms are an extension of
your business. It’s fine to inject some personality
into your posts, but avoid anything likely to cause
offence or alienate a potential new client.
Contact SIG Roofing
0845 612 4304
www.sigroofing.co.uk
@SIGRoofing
28 TC AUGUST 2019

The choice for decking and paving supports
With the demand for useable rooftop space ever
increasing, Areco is leading the way with its range of
fixed and adjustable supports for paving and decking
applications. We have worked with Hotels, Landscapers,
Roofing Contractors and Builders to provide attractive
and practical solutions.
To complement our range of supports, Areco have
several ranges of Composite and PVCu Decking Systems
available. New ranges of Fireproof Self-Extinguishing
pedestals will soon be available along with Aluminium
Decking Bearers to complete the range.
With a stock of over 20,000 units, we are sure to have
the right support for your project.
Please contact Areco with your enquiry.
• large stock range
• technical knowledge and advice
• nationwide express delivery
• competitive rates
tel: 01922 743553
www.areco.co.uk
t: 01922 743553 e: sales@areco.co.uk
ARECO, Unit 2A Coppice Park, Coppice Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 9AA

Perfectly Pitched
THE CASE FOR VENTILATING
THE BATTEN CAVITY
By John Mercer, Pitched Roofing Consultant, writing on behalf of Edilians.
Those of you who are regular readers of my
columns in Total Contractor may be forgiven
for thinking that I am something of an
advocate for the use of counter battens in some
unusual situations. In the past I have
recommended their use as an alternative to draping
the underlay to ensure a free passage of water runoff
towards the gutters. In this article, I will suggest
the use of counter battens to promote air flow.
We now have some extremely efficient permeable
underlays that the manufacturers claim can be
used without traditional roof space ventilation.
Experience in use tells us that this is indeed the
case, as condensation tends not to form within
the roof space when using these
products. However, all the water
vapour that passes out of the structure
through the underlay ends up in the
batten cavity for a period before it
dissipates out through the roof tiling; I am
seeing increasing evidence of this causing
excessive amounts of condensation on the
undersides of the roof tiles.
This isn’t to knock permeable underlays; on the
contrary, underlays have been developed to such an
extent that their very efficiency in removing water
vapour from the roof space may now be causing a
problem elsewhere, and this should be considered.
BS 5250: British Standard Code of practice for
control of condensation in buildings,
recognises that permeable underlays
will lower the risk of water vapour in
the loft, but may increase the risk of
condensation in the batten space
unless there is enough air movement
through the external covering.
There is a test method in BS 5534 for determining
the permeability of external roof coverings such
as tiles and slates. When tested, if the airflow
rate through the tiling, measured at 2 Pascals
pressure difference, is greater than 7.8A m3/h
(‘A’ being the effective area of the test rig) then
the roof covering is regarded as sufficiently
permeable. If the airflow is less than this, then
BS 5250 recommends that either counter battens
are installed with low-level and high-level batten
space ventilation, or the loft be ventilated.
Clay and concrete tiles are generally considered
to be sufficiently air-open, though increasing
cases of efflorescence on the backs of concrete
tiles and even some cases of delamination on the
backs of clay tiles may be a sign that relying on
the tiles or slates alone to dissipate water
vapour may no longer be enough.
It is worth pointing out that in mainland
Europe, the risk of excessive
condensation forming on the
undersides of tiles is well understood. The batten
cavity is routinely ventilated at low and high level to
encourage air flow to remove water vapour and
thus prevent condensation from forming. Roof tile
manufacturers produce special eaves ventilating
tiles – the image above shows an example
produced by French clay tile manufacturer, Edilians.
Although most concrete tiles are
treated with an acrylic coating to
discourage efflorescence
forming on the visible surfaces of the
roof tiles, the undersides are
uncoated. Therefore, condensation
can draw efflorescence out of the
undersides.
In extreme cases, the water and
efflorescence may run down the backs of the
tiles, through the headlaps and onto the top
surfaces of the tiles on the courses below,
causing visible staining (see pic, bottom). This
has no detrimental effects on the long-term
durability of concrete tiles and is temporary,
normally only happening during the first months
after construction; but the result can be unsightly.
It may sound counterproductive when using
permeable underlays, but one option is to ventilate
the loft or roof space with eaves and ridge
ventilation. This will reduce the amount of water
vapour passing through the underlay into the batten
cavity and thus reduce the risk of condensation
forming on the undersides of the tiles.
Alternatively, or even in addition to roof space
ventilation, ventilating the batten cavity at eaves
and ridge will further reduce the risk of
condensation build-up. For flat tiles, 25mm deep
counter battens will create an air gap to allow air
to flow through the batten cavity, taking away
unwanted water vapour with it. Profile tiles, such
as clay and concrete pantiles and Roman tiles,
have gaps underneath that will allow the passage
of air, though the use of counterbattens will
further promote air flow through the batten cavity.
In conclusion, the efficiency of modern
permeable underlays is such that
undue strain through condensation may now
be placed on the roof tiles. Therefore, if the loft or
roof space is not ventilated, consider ventilating the
batten cavity at eaves and ridge and installing
counter battens to encourage airflow to reduce the
risk of harmful condensation collecting on the
undersides of the tiles.
Images: Clockwise from top: eaves ventilating tile from
Edilians; batten space ventilation graphic; efflorescence.
Contact Edilians / John Mercer
www.imerys-roof-tiles.com
@imerys
@johnmercer3
30 TC AUGUST 2019

Gable
end
stained?
DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU.
At Marley we’re all about building better.
Our new Ashmore Dry Verge has been designed with extra
drainage channels to help prevent gable end staining.
Avoid a leaky problem in the first place…
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SIMPLY BETTER ACCESSORIES
marley.co.uk/Ashmoredryverge

NFRC Tech Talk
HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT: TOP TIPS
FOR SELF-DRILLING FASTENERS
Bob Richardson, NFRC’s Head of Technical, shares some simple tips to stop burning out
self-drilling fasteners and adding costs to your sheeting and cladding project.
With the hardness – or tensile strength –
of metal purlins, rails and spacer bars
increasing, so have the burn-out rates
of self-drilling fasteners. However, the majority of
fastener-related problems encountered on site
are simply caused by installers of sheeting and
cladding using the wrong installation tools at the
wrong speeds, as well as poor technique. Let’s
tackle this last point first.
Avoid excessive bodyweight
It might seem the natural thing to do, especially
on thicker, hot-rolled or heavy section steel
supports, but avoid the temptation to apply too
much bodyweight while the fastener is drilling. It
simply increases the risk of the fastener burning out
because you are effectively increasing the end load.
Avoid high-speed drilling
Given the increase in the hardness of steel, you
might assume that fixing self-drilling fasteners at
very high speeds is the thing to do. However, drill
points don’t actually perform that well at high
speeds and if the first attempt at drilling a hole
has failed, the case hardening of the support
steel makes subsequent attempts even more
difficult. This is why the NFRC recommends a
maximum of 2000 rpm. Yes, this may seem
counter-intuitive, but the burn-out rate will be
substantially less and you’ll avoid adding the
costs associated with increased installation
times.
Above: A depth-locating nose piece with tapered sides.
Use the right tool for the job
Precision-engineered
fasteners require
compatible tools to
optimise the
installation time and
ensure the quality
of the attachment.
Screw guns, which
ensure the optimum
mechanical
performance of a selfdrilling
fastener is obtained and
so guarantee the integrity of the building
envelope, should therefore always be used.
“Never use an impact
driver as its repetitive
action can, among
other things, lead to
drilling failures”
Never use an impact driver as its repetitive action
can, among other things, lead to drilling failures,
reduce the fastener’s pull-out performance and
strip its moulded head. Neither should you use a
drywall screw gun, which operates well over 2000
rpm.
Use a 110v or battery-powered cordless screw
gun with a compatible socket/bit and fitted with a
depth-locating nose piece, unless the fastener
design incorporates features to prevent
overdriving. This nose piece should ideally have
tapered sides allowing the installer to check the
EDPM washer compression during installation.
For bi-hexagonal (nylon moulded heads),
Left: Different types of socket.
hexagonal and other
external drive
fasteners, the socket
must be deep
enough so that the
drive is on the
flange at the base of
the fastener head.
This makes drilling
more efficient, as well as
prevents damage to the
fastener head, which is particularly
relevant to magnetic sockets where on some
designs the magnet is very shallow and could
damage the coating on the fastener head.
Screw gun speed selection
Below is guidance from the leading fastener
manufacturers for a screw gun speed selection
when installing self-drilling fasteners into the
different types of steel encountered on site:
• Installing fasteners into Light Section Rail:
1800-2000 rpm.
• Installing fasteners into Heavy Section Rail:
1800 rpm max.
• Installing stitchers into 2 layers of 0.7mm thick
steel 1800-2000 rpm.
This information is taken from the NFRC's
Guidance Note Self Drilling Fasteners -
Installation tools for self-drilling fasteners
(GN01) available to NFRC members.
Contact the NFRC
020 7638 7663
www.nfrc.co.uk
@TheNFRC
32 TC AUGUST 2019

New name,
serious roofing heritage
Redhill 1936
2019 see’s BMI Redland celebrate 100 years of concrete tile production
and we’re proud to look back even further to 1837, when our first
Rosemary clay tile was made. Ever since we’ve been delivering innovative
roofing and waterproofing systems. Now as BMI we continue this work
by providing shelter, protection and peace of mind for architects, roofers,
building and homeowners alike - through roofs that are designed to
transform the way people live and work.
bmigroup.com/uk
Providing total roofing solutions

Low Pitch Extensions
PERFECT LOW PITCH EXTENSIONS
Stuart Nicholson, Roof Systems Director at Marley, gives his top tips for creating the perfect
low pitch extension.
The relaxation of planning regulations for single storey domestic extensions has proved very
popular, with over 110,000 extensions completed in the past five years. The good news is that this
temporary relaxation, which was due to expire in May 2019, has now been made permanent. This
means that homeowners will no longer need planning approval for single storey extensions up to six
metres for terraced and semi-detached homes, and eight metres for detached properties.
This is a great opportunity for roofing contractors as it will enable thousands more extension projects to
take place without lengthy planning delays. Yet, pitched roofs for rear extensions aren’t always as
straight forward as the homeowner may think – as well as trying to match existing roof tiles, contractors
have to create a lower pitch roof due to the position of first floor windows, which can be restrictive and
has implications for water run-off. Below, we give our top tips for creating the perfect low pitch
extension roof:
Top tips for a perfect low pitch extension:
Pitch Checker: How low
do you need to go?
30º: Acme and Hawkins clay plain tiles
17.5º: Lincoln clay pantiles and Maxima clay
double romans
Edgemere slate effect thin leading edge
concrete tiles
15º: Wessex and Mendip tiles
12.5º: Melodie clay pantiles – now available in
Natural Red and Slate Grey colours
1While the planning laws have been relaxed,
you still need to match the new roof to the
roofing material on the original property
and in some designated areas, such as
conservation areas, the homeowner will still need
to get planning permission.
2If the tiles you want to use don’t go down
to the minimum pitch you need, consult
the manufacturer for alternative options.
We have a selection of low pitch tiles that can be
used to match a traditional clay, slate or concrete
aesthetic (see our pitch checker above).
3Never be tempted to use a tile below the
manufacturer’s recommended minimum
pitch, even by half a degree, as it could
invalidate your warranty! If you have to install at
a lower pitch, then seek manufacturer advice as
a weatherproof sub roof system may be required.
4If you need to match in with existing clay
tiles, there are some very good low pitch
options on the market. For example, our
Melodie clay interlocking tiles have a single
pantile profile but can be used on pitches as
low as 12.5º, making them particularly suited
to extension projects. We also offer two other
interlocking clay tiles which can be used down
Low pitch: Marley’s Melodie clay pantile.
to 17.5º, the Lincoln pantile and Maxima
double roman.
5In low pitch projects, natural slate can be
limited by geography because driving rain
has to be considered. This means that
pitches of 20º can be achieved with natural slate,
but it requires increased head laps and therefore
more slates, with the consequences of additional
weight.
However, there are some very good slate effect
tiles that can replicate the slate look at a lower
pitch for extension work. For example, our
Edgemere range of thin-leading edge concrete
slates give a slate look but are more cost
effective and can be used down to pitches of
17.5º without geographical restrictions. They
come in a variety of colours and textures,
including Riven, to help contractors match the
slate aesthetic they need.
6Extensions still need to comply with
Building Regulations and British
Standards. Therefore, pitched roofs on
extensions still have to be fixed according to BS
5534. You can get a free fixing specification for
your project from our website,
www.marley.co.uk/specritetool
7Consider ventilation terminals if mechanical
extract or soil vents are to terminate through
the roof tiling on low pitch roof slopes to
ensure minimum pitches of the chosen vents are
achieved. Normal in-line contour vents can usually
only be used down to a pitch of 20º, so vents with
cowls may be the best alternative as they will
share the same minimum pitch as the tile. For low
level roof space ventilation, continuous over fascia
eaves vent systems can be used.
8A low pitch roof on an extension may have to
deal with an increased amount of water
coming from a larger roof above, so it needs
to be designed carefully with consideration given to
where the water run-off will be.
Contact Marley
01283 722588
www.marley.co.uk
@MarleyLtd
34 TC AUGUST 2019

Reliability...
our strength
When you need a reliable solution, you need a team behind you with experience,
dedication and quality unrivalled in the delivery of industry leading products.
At SR Timber, RELIABILITY means:
n Consistent quality from our managed sawmill to the roof
n ‘Full to size’ in all dimensions GOLD battens
n Our ranges are certified and compliant to British Standards
n Treatment with a waterbased, organic preservative, VACSOL Aqua (Vac-Vac)
n 60 Year lifetime warranty against insect attack and wood rotting fungi
(when installed above dpc level in buildings)
With decades of experience, our team is more
passionate than ever, offering you expertise,
independent advice, experience and industry support.
TIMBER SPECIALISTS
TEL: 01623 446 800
sales@sr-timber.co.uk
www.sr-timber.co.uk

Traditional and modern gutters, pipes and hoppers come in a
comprehensive range of aesthetic styles, materials and colours to
suit all buildings and budgets.
For more information please call 0113 279 5854
or email sallyann@rainguard.co.uk
www.rainguard.co.uk

FREE
DELIVERY*
(quote ref TC07)
*On orders over £500

An Inspector Calls
INTO THE VALLEY: ‘OUT OF SIGHT,
OUT MIND’ IS NOT AN OPTION...
In our regular monthly column – ‘An Inspector calls’ – Total Contractor has teamed up
with the experts at BMI UK & Ireland, leaders in pitched and flat roofing solutions, to
help you achieve roofing success and avoid the common pitfalls that can often cost you
both time and money.
This month the Inspector looks at
maintenance concerns regarding valleys.
Despite horror stories about rogues taking
old people for a ride over unnecessary or
extortionately over-priced repairs, most
roofs will need tending at some point and thus
there is a ‘repeat business’ opportunity;
especially for the original installer. Although not
especially difficult to do, your customer will not
have the equipment, experience or skillset to do
this safely – unlike you.
Never out of sight or mind
In that context, “out of sight, out of mind” is
never a phrase that should be used in connection
with a roof. The roof is a living, breathing system
and while we happily go about our business in the
buildings below, the roofing materials above are
having to cope with everything that nature can
throw at them.
First, they are constantly
bombarded by UV
radiation putting the
materials through
their paces. Then
there is rain, wind
and, somewhat
obviously, winddriven
rain doing its
best to penetrate the
covering and find its way
into the property beneath.
Changes to temperature in the form of
freeze and thaw constantly expand and contract
the roof covering, trying to find that weak spot in
the materials that can be exploited into a full roof
failure. And finally, in the images above and
below, we see moss growing on top of the tile
surface which can block essential water drainage
channels on the roof.
“Maintenance of your
customer’s roof is
essential”
Essential maintenance
For this and other reasons, maintenance of your
customer’s roof is essential. Gutters, valleys and
other water channels on the roof are designed to
carry what can be at time large volumes of water
and when they fail the results can be
catastrophic for the building below.
Clearing gutters on a regular basis is an essential
part of the maintenance of any building. This is
Green roofs for all the wrong
reasons! Above and below: A
build up of debris and moss
on roofs cannot be ignored.
especially the case
if the roof is prone
to moss growth or
during the autumn
where leaf debris
can quickly build up
and create blockages.
Valleys and box gutters, for
example, can be hard to access but as
you can see from the images they cannot be
ignored. A build-up of material such as this will
cause the rainwater to back up and pour onto the
roof space either side of the valley. Also, do not
forgot your customer’s dormers if they have
them: where the dormer roof intersects with the
main roof space, it will create a small valley and
these water channels are often forgotten.
Extra care
When undertaking maintenance, beyond normal
concerns about working at height, extra care
must be taken on the roof itself – especially with
older, fissile tiles. Where you do find failures,
expect more: a decent rule of thumb is 10:1 – for
every four missing, there’s bound to be 40 about
to go. Also, be mindful about the soundness of
the structure.
Contact BMI National Training Centre
01285 863545
www.bmigroup.com/uk
@_Redland / @Icopal_UK
38 TC AUGUST 2019

New name,
serious roofing heritage
This 1902 advert in Architecture is a testimony to BMI Icopal’s flat
roofing heritage, and we’re proud that we can look back even further to
1849 when we manufactured our first tarred flax felt. Ever since we’ve
been delivering innovative roofing and waterproofing systems. Now as
BMI we continue this work by providing shelter, protection and peace of
mind for architects, roofers, building and homeowners alike - through
roofs that are designed to transform the way people live and work.
bmigroup.com/uk
Providing total roofing solutions

Low Pitch Tips
THE LOW-DOWN ON LOW PITCHES
Finding a roofing solution for a low pitch or a complex roof can be frustrating and confusing.
Crest’s high quality range of roof tiles offer solutions that allow you to easily design roof
pitches from a minimum of 10º. As Rodney Hogg, Crest Nelskamp National Roofing
Product Manager, explains: “The key for this solution to work effectively is ventilation”.
Here are his 10 top tips to help you through the fixing practices:
1Roofing membrane A good quality roofing
membrane must be used. We recommend
a vapour air permeable breather
membrane – normally about 180gm. The overlap
should be increased by 100mm and the joints
must be taped.
2Support trays At the eave use a good
quality PVC support tray, 1.5m in length.
These are quick and straightforward to
install, ensuring the breather membrane fitted
under the roof tiles is not carried into the gutter. It
will help with long-term maintenance at the
eaves, does not deteriorate, prevents the
membrane from being exposed to UV degradation
and avoids ponding behind fascias which can
cause the membrane rot.
3Counter batten The roof must be counterbattened
using graded tiling and counter
battens in accordance with BS 5534. Fix a
25x50mm counter batten on top of the felt up the
length of the rafter from eave to ridge line, or on a
mono pitch roof to the top abutment. Fix the tiling
battens (25x50mm) at the roof tile gauge. This
will create a 50mm airspace between the
underside of the roof tile and the top of the
membrane.
4Roof tiles & gauge Crest Nelskamp has
three clay roof tiles which will perform at
roof pitches down to a minimum of 10º:
the G10, H10 & H14. The gauge of the tiles
should not be ‘stretched’, do not exceed the
maximum gauge for the tile. Work within the roof
tile tolerances. The Crest Nelskamp roof tiles will
go to roof pitches of 15º: These include the
*Planum, *Planum Duo, Double Doman and
Double Pan. On lower pitches of 22º and below,
these tiles should have an increased head-lap of
100mm.
5Eaves Simple to install, an eaves closer is
a quick and effective way of preventing
birds and vermin from entering the counter
batten cavity. They are fixed directly into the
bottom of the counter batten at the eaves or onto
a continuous edge batten along the complete
perimeter length of the eaves.
6Ventilation Always ensure good
ventilation. Mount a 25mm over fascia
vent on top of fascia board. Every 1.2
linear metres install a purpose-made ventilation
tile as high up the roof as possible, to assist with
ventilating the airspace; these will be needed to
be placed across the roof line.
“It’s important to
consider the material
of your low pitch
roofing”
7Fixings All the roof tiles are to be
mechanically fixed with purpose-made
stainless steel tile clips. Do not nail as this
will cause potential water ingress points.
8Verge At the verges use the Crest cloaked
verge purpose-made tiles. These are
mechanically fixed and do not require any
mortar giving a tidy and maintenance- free solution.
9Finishing All areas around the roof
perimeter and abutments must be
correctly finished.
ridge system If a ridge is
required, use the Crest Nelskamp
10Dry
dry ridge system and mechanically
secure all ridges in accordance with BS 5534.
Contact Crest
01430 432 667
www.crest-bst.co.uk
@CrestBuildProd
*As per European trademark Nr.7287956, filed on 2nd October 2008, the Trademark PLANUM belongs to La Escandella. It is Dachziegelwerke Nelskamp as authorized licensee of the owner allowed to use the mark PLANUM for its concrete product.
Low pitch roof counter battened and clipped. Crest clay right hand cloaked verge. Crest purpose-made stainless steel tile clips.
40 TC AUGUST 2019

Mansard Roof Tiles
Purpose made to
suit roof pitch
Contemporary Living: Crest’s High Quality
Concrete Interlocking Double Pantile in Rustic
Crest Creative Roofscaping
Crest Nelskamp have a large range of internal and external Mansard
roofing tiles available in clay and concrete profiles for both modern and
traditional projects.
Crest *Planum high quality concrete
flat tile in anthracite grey
Architect’s are now finding more creative and practical uses for both
residential and commercial new builds with different roofing styles and
colours becoming extremely popular. By incorporating Mansards and
Vertical Tile Cladding, cost savings on installation can be achieved
allowing the discerning specifier greater flexibility in their design.
To find out how we can assist you with our bespoke fittings and unique
tiles, please get in touch with our technical support team.
A selection of our special roof fittings:
Crest H14 interlocking black gloss
clay tiles with 70° angle roof tile
Double Pantile
External
Mansard Tile
Double Pantile
Internal Mansard
Tile
Double Pantile
External Mansard Tile
Left Hand Cloaked Verge
Planum
External
Mansard Tile
Planum Half
External
Mansard Tile
More special tiles available on our website
For more information on our quality roof tiles or
to order a FREE sample call us on 01430 432667
TECHNICAL
S U P P O R T
30
GUARANTEE
Y E A R
01430 432667 info@crest-bst.co.uk www.crest-bst.co.uk
* As per European trademark Nr.7287956, filed on 2.October 2008, the Trademark PLANUM belongs to La Escandella.
It is Dachziegelwerke Nelskamp as authorized licensee of the owner allowed to use the mark PLANUM for its concrete product.
ROOFING TILES

Pitched & Flat Roofing
CELEBRATING THE PAST WHILST
ADAPTING FOR THE FUTURE...
In the first of a series of articles from BMI previewing 100 years of concrete tile
manufacture, the team take a look back at the formation of the various brands which have
come together to form BMI UK & Ireland today...
2019 sees BMI UK & Ireland celebrate –
through its iconic BMI Redland brand – 100
years of concrete tile manufacture, making
it the oldest concrete tile maker in the UK. With
celebrations due later this year, the company is
recalling some of its milestones over the next few
months: not just 1919, but from a heritage and
pedigree dating back over 180 years.
November 1919 was when the Redhill Tile
Company was founded, making its first roof tiles,
at the rate of 40 per hour in a sand pit in Reigate,
Surrey. The tiles found popularity in the mass
market following the General Strike of 1926, when
coal-fired plants producing clay items were
inoperative as a result of the widespread
industrial action.
Yet the BMI story started much earlier in 1837,
the year of Victoria’s coronation, when George
Lewis began making Rosemary clay plain tiles in
Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire. The tiles were made
from Etruria marl clay and the same Staffordshire
clay is still used to make the tiles today at BMI’s
clay plant in the Midlands. He
named the tiles after his
daughter Rosemary and, for
many, a ‘Rosemary’ or ‘Rosie’
remains the generic term for a
clay plain tile even today.
Anderson & Sons and Icopal
Not long after in 1849, and a hop across
the Irish sea, Anderson & Sons was founded at
Lagan Felt Works in Belfast where they
manufactured tarred flax felt. Flax felt is simply
composed of jute or flax, which is felted and then
saturated in asphalt or bitumen and in a far cry
from traditional roofing, the products were used
in the Crimean War to make huts for the armed
forces. Because of its great flexibility and the way
it can be flashed around details, it is still used in
roofing today, where it is often known as ‘Irish felt’
– no doubt a nod to its Belfast heritage.
In 1876, and slightly further afield in northern
Denmark, Jens Villadsen, a master carpenter
specialising in the repair of old
tarred-felt and zinc roofs, founded
Icopal, and in 1894, Jens
patented Dansk Tagpixtjære, a
revolutionary bitumen-based
technology to improve the
waterproofing of flat roofs.
Operating in parallel, both Icopal and
Anderson became incredibly successful flat roofing
and waterproofing businesses, with Jens’s patent
preceding the invention of the concrete roof tile by
the then Redhill Tile Company by 25 years.
Rich Heritage
As November’s concrete tile centenary
approaches BMI, formed in 2017 following the
coming together of Icopal and Monier Redland,
will be sharing more about its rich heritage,
innovation and achievements leading right up to
the present day. The company’s experience,
traditions, expertise and brands mean that it is
able to see a roof and the sector in terms of how
support, service and roofing technologies
integrate with the built environment; rather than
just through the collection of products that protect
a building.
BMI UK & Ireland is part of BMI Group, which has
more than 11,000 employees worldwide in 40
countries and runs over 150 production facilities.
With the group having made its home in central
London, BMI UK & Ireland is settled in its head
office premises in Milton Keynes.
Contact BMI UK & Ireland
Pitched: 03705 601000 Flat: 0843 224 7400
www.bmigroup.com/uk
@BMIUKandIreland
42 TC AUGUST 2019

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Roofing Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
PEACE OF MIND FOR R&R
To R&R Roofing in Shropshire, it’s the fine detail that makes the difference to the overall performance
and aesthetics of a project.
As a result, MD Billy Rogers chooses the Danelaw Interlocking Plain Tile Dry Verge to finish pitched roofs with
Ashmore interlocking plain tiles. “It’s easier to use to my mind than a continuous verge system,” explained R&R Roofing uses Danelaw Interlocking Plain Tile Dry Verge.
Billy. “It gives a better end result, as you get a better fit when fixing back: you don’t have to worry about the straightness of the underlying structure. You can’t depend
on the quality of workmanship of other trades, but the interlocking plain tile dry verge means we have control over the quality of our work. It has a wider maximum
batten gauge than similar products so gives us greater flexibility on site to address any variation in the brickwork or board. It gives, to my mind, a better finish.”
R&R Roofing now uses the mechanically-fixed verge detailing as standard practice for compatible jobs. As a matter of course, the company also uses Danelaw
LR120 tile and slate roofing underlay where relevant, sourcing the membrane and Danelaw dry verge system from Roofing & Salvage Depot. “It’s more costeffective,”
concluded Billy. “It also means we have simplified stockholding in the yard – both the LR120 and the Dry Verge we can, and do, use on numerous
sites.” www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk
GREEN LIGHTS UP CASCADE RANGE
Brett Martin Plumbing and Drainage has launched a new colour option to the Cascade Cast Iron
Style Rainwater and Soil Systems range, adding Chartwell Green to the mix of eight heritage
colours.
Brett Martin has added Tranquil Chartwell Green to the
Cascade Range.
Sought after for its tranquil aesthetic and historical appeal, Chartwell Green will bring a touch of
country charm to homes and is a welcomed addition to the Cascade Cast Iron Style Rainwater and
Soil System. Other heritage colours include Classic Black, Anthracite Grey, Oxford Blue, Olive Green,
Graphite Grey, Sandstone and Porcelain White. www.brettmartin.com
GLASS RAFTER ROOFLIGHT
Howells Patent Glazing has announced the launch of Ultraline, its new glass rafter roof light.
Designed to maximise daylight, Ultraline offers the freedom to use larger expanses of glass. Each
joint is supported by a glass rafter, or fin, which reinforces the structure without breaking the
sightline. The low-pitch aluminium rooflight is non-intrusive and typically measures 2.4 metres long
and 1.2 metres wide. However, as each rooflight is designed and made to order, specifiers can
increase the width and depth to suit the application. www.howellsglazing.co.uk
KEAH LAUNCHES ONLINE STORE
KEAH Products has launched a new online store.
Ken Johnson, MD of KEAH Products, has
launched an online store to ‘shift mindset’ on
adoption of new construction products.
After launching the Roof Batten Joint in 2018, the father / daughter team has taken the step of creating the online
shop in response to increased requests from contractors and tradespeople. Ken Johnson, MD of KEAH Products
said: “We need to make sure that products are easily accessible in ways that suit tradespeople. In addition to the
support from our UK-wide stockists, we felt it was important to offer a ‘direct from the manufacturer’ option to
encourage a shift in mindset that supports the adoption of newer technologies that make the daily working lives
of tradespeople easier, safer and which contributes to less waste.” www.keahproducts.co.uk/shop
44 TC AUGUST 2019

Introducing
ACCESS 360
SAFE ACCESS ALL AREAS
Three of the UK’s leading access specialists, Bilco UK, Profab Access
and Howe Green, have come together to form the Access 360 portfolio.
Together they provide a total manufacturing solution for roof, ceiling,
wall and floor access products for the construction industry.
Find out more at www.access-360.co.uk
Three brands – one objective – safe access all areas

Roofing Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
B5 FITS THE BILL FOR CONVERSION
Cembrit B5 has been used as the roofing material on a recently completed barn conversion project in the
beautiful village of Itchen Abbas near Winchester, in the Hampshire countryside.
Designed by Cover Storey Architects of Havant, the building work was carried out by Ascia Construction and the
roofing by G+M Services from Gosport. Once part of a busy farm, over the years the stable buildings had gradually
fallen into disrepair through lack of use and neglect. The building was outside the area considered by the local
planning authority as suitable for residential development, so they were insistent that any conversion would need to be
Cembrit B5 was used on this barn conversion.
undertaken without significant alteration or extension, and be designed in keeping with the traditional agricultural look of the building. The project was
overseen by Contracts Manager, Andy Small: “This was a great project to be involved in,” he commented. “There were lots of complex technical issues, such
as keeping the original roof trusses in place while we carried out the work, which meant that nothing was particularly straightforward. That said, when we
found B5 from Cembrit and chose it as the roof covering it was a very smooth process from design through to installation. We were able to take advantage of
Cembrit’s wide range and get the sheets at the correct lengths for the rafters, so time on-site was kept to a minimum. The finished roof delivers the exact
‘agricultural’ look we were after and the client and planning authority are absolutely delighted with the finished result.” www.cembrit.com
ROBUST SCHOOL ROOF SOLUTION
New Elgin primary school in Moray, Scotland, has had a Sarnafil HD system installed.
Work in progress on the New Elgin primary school robust
roofing system, in Moray, Scotland,
The school needed a system to improve the building’s thermal performance, save energy and improve
robustness – providing a solution tough enough to mitigate damage caused by vandalism attacks
experienced at the school. By combining the thickest single ply membrane available – 2mm – and the
most robust insulation board – SarnaTherm HD – the Sarnafil HD system offered a resilient and wellinsulated
solution. Plus, with the 2mm membrane outperforming all other membranes according to
puncture test data, the system guarantees a long-lasting roof. http://gbr.sarnafil.sika.com
HEAVY 3 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
CUPA PIZARRAS’ Heavy 3 slate was specified due to its close resemblance to the original Scottish slate used
on the Braeholm, a listed building in the seaside town of Helensburgh which required a complete re-roof in
order to accommodate new luxury apartments.
Built in the 1860s and extended by
celebrated Scottish architect William
Leiper, the Braeholm building is an
outstanding testament to the Gothic Revival
architecture and design of the period.
“We were really keen to get started on such an iconic, heritage building, especially with the prominent roofing features,”
said Darren McGhee, MD of DMG Roofing & Building. “Heavy 3 helped these features as although it was easy to cut, the
slates themselves did not break easily and were incredibly durable. This in turn helped with costs and with labour time,
as minimum breakages meant less slate was wasted, reducing the need to order new slate.” www.cupapizarras.co.uk
SAMAC BRINGS ROOFTEC FLEX TO UK
Samac has brought the lead replacement system Rooftec Flex to the UK market for the first time.
Samac now supplies Rooftec Flex in the UK.
Already widely used across Europe, it provides a high-quality replacement for traditional lead. Unlike other lead
replacement products, Rooftec Flex is made from the extremely durable EPDM (ethylene propylene diene
monomer), a material that is already extensively used in flat roofing systems. James Robinson, Sales and
Marketing Manager at Samac, commented: “We’re always looking for innovative products to add to our everexpanding
range, and we’re delighted to have become the only UK distributor of Rooftec Flex.” Samac also
supplies the necessary Rooftec Flex fixings and accessories. www.samacfixings.co.uk
46 TC AUGUST 2019

SIKABIT MAKES ITS MARK
A pub in Salford has become the first building to be refurbished using SikaBit, the Safe2Torch bitumen roofing
system recently launched by Sika.
The existing felt covering on an area of the busy pub’s roof had reached the end of its service life and the pub’s owner
was keen to carry out a roof refurbishment without disruption to the business while the works were undertaken. The
SikaBit was used on this Salford pub project.
project specification called for a cost-effective bituminous system that could be applied as an overlay onto the existing
roof build-up, in full compliance with the NFRC Safe2Torch Guidelines. The SikaBit system offered a Safe2Torch solution that was fully-compatible with the
existing roof surface and could be installed safely within a short programme while the pub remained open. With its best-of-both-worlds hybrid technology
combining the flexibility and tensile strength of an SBS membrane with the hardwearing properties and UV stability of APAO technology, SikaBit also offered an
upgrade to the existing bitumen system. Mick Raistrick, Contracts Manager at LRL Roofing Solutions, commented: “The fully self-adhered underlay went down
well, with great lap seals that enabled us to leave it overnight prior to installation of the cap sheet. We achieved an extremely consistent bleed from the selfadhered
cap sheet, providing us with great confidence within the Safe2Torch element of the system. The SikaBit cap sheet was really easy to apply, and we
found it more pliable than other bituminous membranes.” https://gbr.sika.com/
LONDON CITY PROJECT TAKES OFF
Prater has been appointed to deliver the full envelope package at London City Airport.
The redevelopment of London City Airport will quadruple
its size to increase passenger capacity and offer more
destinations to customers.
The extensive scope of works includes a roofing package (which includes standing seam and inverted
roofing), anodised expanded mesh rainscreen, composite cladding, soffits, roof safety systems,
structurally glazed curtain walling and blast enhanced facades. Having delivered projects for a
number of high profile airports throughout the UK, this will be the largest aviation project that Prater
has ever worked on. Patrick Flannelly, Pre-Contracts Manager at Prater, said: “We are delighted to
have been appointed to work on such an extensive and high-profile project.” www.prater.co.uk
MINIMISING MAINTENANCE IS KEY
Marley Alutec’s high quality aluminium Evolve and Evoke roofline systems were selected to
provide a low maintenance, durable solution for Milestone Farm in Wymondham, Norfolk.
Milestone Farm owner David Ford: “Being involved in the
design and specification of every aspect allowed us to
create something unique.”
A key factor in the design and construction of owner David Ford’s 6 bedroom, 435m² property was
longevity and minimising maintenance requirements. The marine-grade aluminium used by Marley
Alutec is highly corrosion resistant due to its naturally occurring protective oxide coating. This means
the system will not require regular maintenance throughout its expected 50-year lifespan.
www.marleyalutec.co.uk
ULTIMA CHOICE FOR ARCHITECT
When David Proctor of dPArchitects NW required a roof window that could significantly reduce
noise and provide low U-values for his home, he opted for Dakea’s Ultima roof window.
Dakea Ultima: “I’m extremely impressed with the
product all around. The windows not only look great, they
are an excellent specification for a cost-effective price.”
Seeking high quality products, David met with Greg Beers, Account Manager – Housebuilder GBI at
Dakea: “I was immediately impressed by the sound reduction technology,” said David. “The design
of the conversion meant that the windows would be facing the street, which gets a considerable
amount of traffic.” Dakea’s Ultima incorporates Noise Block Technology which consists of several
elements designed to work together to lessen noise. www.dakea.com
AUGUST 2019 TC 47

Cladding Specs
TOP TIPS FOR CLADDING SPECS
Getting down to the detail of specification at the start of a project can save you time, money
and hassle, says Ben Haveron, Operations Manager of Vivalda.
Main contractors are always under
pressure to deliver projects within
agreed timeframes and within budget.
And as day follows night, this burden generally
gets passed along the supply chain to the
cladding and roofing contractors. However, in our
experience this can sometimes lead to subcontractors
overlooking vital details during the
specification of façade systems. And that can
come back to bite them at the end of the project.
Based on our 25 years’ experience of working
with architects, specifiers, main and subcontractors,
here are our top five tips to ensure
you get cladding spec right from the outset.
1Safety first: In the aftermath of Grenfell the
correct specification of cladding material –
especially on buildings over 18m in height –
is rightly top of the agenda. Is the material you
are being asked to fix to the building suitably noncombustible?
The consequences of the wrong
material going on the wall don’t require
elaboration.
The cladding panels may be tried and tested, but
get advice from those in the know to make sure all
components in the entire fixing / framing system
are rated and approved. It’s a few quick phone
calls to ensure you’re not potentially putting
people’s lives at risk – and your firm in the dock.
2Don’t be fooled by ‘consultant speak’: the
current economic climate can make it
tempting to cut costs – which is usually
carried out in the name of ‘value engineering’.
Subbies need to be wary of this as they may end
up carrying the can in the event of system failure.
In an effort to achieve the lowest price, it’s
tempting to source materials and associated
components from different manufacturers and then
assemble them as a cladding system, when it is
nothing of the sort.
Unfortunately, this results in a
system that has no approved
design, no U-value
calculation confirmation and
no tested fire boundary
rating. This raises serious
issues for the structural
integrity, thermal performance,
fire performance and lifespan of the
materials and has serious implications for the
building owner. In the event of a problem, there is
no recourse to a sole manufacturer and there is
no system warranty – however as the contractor,
you may be in the legal firing line.
3Devil in the detail: Cavity depths are a
vital aspect within any cladding system
design, but it’s amazing how many
contractors end up asking us, the supplier, for
technical advice on this issue. It’s a key
calculation within any façade system and affects
the insulation spec, subframe spec, U-value and
overall price of a project. It also has to be right as
the cavity depth affects the interface with other
systems. Get it wrong and the whole building will
look dreadful.
Our advice is to understand the importance of this
calculation and ensure you get the correct figures
from the drawings. Don’t ever resort to guesswork.
4Size matters: When it comes to panel
sizes, it’s vital to get clarity from the
outset, as this can have a huge impact on
the amount of waste (and so cost) of a job. We
understand that it’s often difficult to obtain exact
sizes of panels at the beginning of a project, but
an indicative projection of panel sizes required
can make all the difference.
A higher level of detail enables us, as the
supplier, to look at fixing systems and whether we
can utilize 6 or 9 fixings per panel, for example.
Fixing costs account for a surprisingly
high percentage of cladding
systems, so it’s really important
to get this nailed down early on.
Similarly, waste is another issue
that is hugely affected by badly
informed panel size specification.
Without accurate indication of panel
sizes, it’s impossible to calculate the amount
of waste, which can range from 5% to 70% on
any given job. That’s an incredible range that
needs to be managed effectively to reduce waste
and cost.
5Consider offsite fabrication: This is a
major trend within the wider building
industry, and the cladding sector is
increasingly reaping the benefits of offsite
fabrication too. When panels arrive cut-to-size,
drilled, have brackets already attached and are
correctly packaged, all that is required by the
contractor is to lift them off the pallet and hang
them on the frame. That clean, simple process is
becoming much more popular.
This approach cuts out machining on site. Not only
is space limited, you also have dust control
issues, high material wastage, a poor environment
to fashion expensive architectural cladding
panels, and the problem of waste disposal.
There are many other important issues – such as
transport, logistics, packaging, cutting accuracy and
site safety – that deserve careful consideration, but
these five points are a good ‘starter for ten’ to make
life easier for sub-contractors in the highly
competitive cladding market.
Contact Vivalda
0121 328 9381
www.vivalda.co.uk
@VivaldaLimited
48 TC AUGUST 2019

Hazardous environments
Potential risk of high corrosion
H
Pollution Hazard
Moisture Content
!
Coastal Zone
EJOT Corremaks ® JA1 / JZ1
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to hazardous atmospheres such as swimming pools, tunnels, coastal regions and industrial
processing areas.
EJOT Cronimaks ® JZ7
For tapping into high strength steel, EJOT Cronimaks is manufactured using a unique alloy
composition creating a much harder thread fl ank and screw point offering corrosion resistance
equivalent to A2 stainless steel.
EJOT JT6
For applications in areas where corrosion is a known risk - typically coastal zones - EJOT’s JT6 bimetallic
range is manufactured from Grade 316 stainless steel (A4) and engineered with a high quality
grade case-hardened carbon steel drill point, providing a much higher level of corrosion resistance.
EJOT® the quality connection
Call 01977 68 70 40 email: info@ejot.co.uk
www.ejot.co.uk

Contractor’s Qs
TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD LINES
OF COMMUNICATION ARE ESSENTIAL
HS RoofClad offer total building envelope solutions for all roofing, cladding, waterproofing and
specialist requirements. Total Contractor caught up with Karl Sands, Roofing Director, to talk
difficult and challenging projects, dealing with customers and never leaving a project until its
completed to a standard you’d expect if you were the customer...
10
questions for Karl Sands:
“The biggest issue we
are currently facing in
the industry is late
payments from larger
main contractors”
TC: What was your path into roofing and
to your current position?
KS: At the age of 21 I found myself at a
crossroads in my life after serving as a Police
Constable for three years, feeling disheartened in
an occupation that I had envisioned for my future.
I made a conscious decision to look towards a
new horizon and having always had a passion for
working with my hands and somewhat a natural
eye for detail, I sought out a career in the
construction industry.
After some time looking for the right opportunity,
it was a friend who offered me a position working
with his labour only roofing and cladding team.
Following only a week on site, I quickly realised
that this was an industry that I could easily enjoy
working in and from there, I took it upon myself to
Above: The Mitre, roofing and cladding package.
gain every qualification made
available to me and progressed
to a supervisor role.
Following five years in the
industry, I decided that it was
time to start up on my own. Ten
years later I had a decent business
and a roster of clients from end users and
main contractors. At this point I had a realisation
that yes, I had plenty of work coming in and a lot
of happy clients, but I didn’t have time to enjoy
my life outside of work with my fantastic wife and
two wonderful sons. At a crossroads again, I
found myself investigating what options were
available to me.
I was lucky to have been given the opportunity to
act as Roofing Director of a newly formed division
Left: Karl Sands, Roofing Director of HS RoofClad.
in a successful company within
the industry and with the
support of some fantastic
colleagues, in 2018 HS
RoofClad was born.
TC: If you had one piece of
advice about working and
progressing in the roofing sector,
what would it be?
KS: Ensure each project you work on is completed
to a high standard, never leave a site until the job
is completed to a standard that you would expect
if you were the paying client. To progress in the
roofing sector, my advice would be to take every
available opportunity to better yourself through
training, I believe that hard work and persistence
really does pay off.
TC: Tell us about a current project you’re
working on…
KS: HS RoofClad have just started work on a
development project overlooking the water in
Trafford, Manchester. Our specialist roofing team
are providing a full roofing package with a flat
single ply Sika Sarnafil roof – this is a really
exciting time for the team as this will be their first
installation since becoming registered contractors
with Sika Sarnafil earlier this year.
TC: You must have worked on some
difficult projects over the years. Does one
in particular stand out?
50 TC AUGUST 2019

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AUGUST 2019 TC 51

Contractor’s Qs
KS: Yes, we have worked on several challenging
projects in the past. Commonly issues arise
when certain elements have been overlooked at
design phases – this can often be relative to
incorrect cladding being specified for the
required build up.
A project that stands out is The Mitre, a state-ofthe-art
flagship wellbeing centre located on a
tight 3-way junction in the centre of Burnley. The
project was logistically challenging to undertake,
due to four adverse situations that required
addressing suitably:
• The steep slope of the site
• The size of vertically laid panels
• The proximity to three ‘live’ roads and busy
junctions
• The window pods needed to align to AWP
shadow lines, leaving minimal tolerance.
Taking all of this into consideration, we ensured
that there was minimal disruption to ‘live’ roads,
which remained open and undisturbed whilst
vertical panels were vacuum lifted above the roof
areas and into place, assisted by a mechanical
work platform.
TC: What about difficult
customers? Any situations
that stand out that you
can tell us about?!
KS: I can honestly say that we
are lucky enough to have not had
any difficult customers. Although
client expectations may occasionally need to
be realigned with what is achievable, I always
find that transparency and good lines of
communication are essential to maintaining a
positive contractor/client relationship.
TC: What’s the most frustrating thing
about your job?
KS: That the industry has not evolved as quickly
as others with regards to training. It is a common
occurrence that subcontractors will supply poorly
skilled personnel, claiming to be experienced in
roofing and cladding. It is now time for an
industry change, and I have hopes that training
bodies will take ownership of the skills gap in the
future to mitigate these issues.
TC: And the most satisfying?
KS: I’d have to say that the most satisfying and
rewarding part about my job is securing works for
new projects, no matter how big
or small it excites me to see all
of our hard work pay off.
Equally, the successful
delivery of a project, along
with seeing our client satisfied
with the works completed, is
always rewarding in itself.
TC: What’s your most important tool as a
roofing contractor, either in the office or
on site?
KS: Good communication skills are pivotal when
working as a contractor, both in the office and on
site. It is imperative that information is relayed
correctly to ensure the highest quality result for
end users.
TC: What is the biggest issue currently
affecting you as a contractor?
KS: I feel that many of my fellow contractors will
agree, the biggest issue we are currently facing in
the industry is late payments from larger main
contractors following the completion of projects.
Wider supply chains are majorly affected by these
late payments, despite the fact that legislation
has been in place to ‘stamp out’ such behaviours
for 20 years now. It is time to evolve from the
standard 90-day payment terms!
TC: How has the start of 2019 been and
are there reasons to be positive for the
remainder of the year?
KS: Following the launch of our new brand and
website at the end of 2018, this year has been
our most successful to date, with an anticipated
year on year growth which is only increasing.
Having recently secured a £4.5 million contract
for a cladding replacement project in the centre of
London, I’m positive for the remainder of 2019.
Images left: Twine Manufacturers, asbestos removal
and re-sheet
Contact HS RoofClad
020 3002 6865
www.hsroofclad.com
@HsRoofClad
52 TC AUGUST 2019

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AUGUST 2019 TC 53

Fixing Focus
FASTENERS & FIXINGS: A ROLE TO
PLAY IN RAISING PRODUCTIVITY
Vincent Matthews, Marketing Manager at SFS, discusses how fasteners and fixings can
raise productivity once again and help keep construction work on track.
The challenges faced by the construction
industry are widely acknowledged. Even
though construction contributed £113
billion to the UK economy in 2017, according to
research from Parliament UK, it is impacted by
many different issues, and there could be even
more difficult times ahead.
One of the biggest issues for construction is poor
productivity. Common factors that lead into this
are delays in equipment being delivered to site,
poor weather, not ordering enough materials, and
not specifying the right product from suppliers.
Further hampering productivity is the ongoing
skills shortage. According to The Chartered
Institute of Building (CIOB), the UK needs to find
157,000 new recruits by 2021 in order to keep up
with demand. Brexit is set to compound this issue
even more. With a lack of available labour to fulfil
the work, projects are falling behind and costs
are going up.
Then there’s the digital transformation being
imposed on all layers of construction, through the
likes of government schemes like Digital Britain
and the need to work smarter with new
technology. The initiative aims to transform how
construction comes together, placing more
emphasis on BIM (building information
modelling).
This isn’t a slow-moving beast either, and the use
of BIM has progressed rapidly. From 3D BIM
(sharing graphical and non-graphical information
digitally), through to 4D BIM
(which adds time-related
scheduling data), 8D BIM
is now emerging.
While the intention is
for the greater good,
implementation is
far from perfect,
with architects and
specifiers relying on
BIM-enabled
manufacturers.
Suppliers are also
racing to provide BIM
information to their entire
back catalogue of products – a
task that is much easier said than
done.
While the future may
sometimes seem
unpromising and the
answers to these
‘big picture’
challenges are not
immediately clear,
there are different
methods of speeding up
construction. One key
aspect is through the
specification and use of fixings, fasteners
and the products used on site.
“Cleverly engineered fixings can yield
efficiencies that are somewhat hidden to the
naked eye and often aren’t considered”
Left: The SXC5 fastener; Below: The TDBL
fastener; Right: SFS’s Soter offering.
Faster fixings,
engineered for
efficiency
Fasteners and
fixings are arguably
seen by many as
one of the most
unremarkable
components of a
construction project.
Most will view them as
simply a means to an end of
fixing down other larger
materials, the fashionable products
like floors, walls, ceilings, panels. The
‘showpieces’ of construction
materials, so to speak.
Yet, with hundreds upon
thousands used every
day on construction
sites around the
nation, they really are
the ‘everyday hero’.
Cleverly engineered
fixings can yield
efficiencies that are somewhat
hidden to the naked eye and often
aren’t considered.
Take, for instance, the SXC5 fastener, one of the
latest generations of self-drilling composite
fasteners from SFS. The tip of the fixing itself has
been re-engineered to have an optimised tip
geometry that helps with easy setting, enabling
installers to drive the fixing into the material they
54 TC AUGUST 2019

“When the fastener
reaches a predetermined
torque the
peg snaps-off, ensuring
the fastener is
installed correctly”
are fixing onto quicker.
Fixings are also commonly subjected to
‘overdriving’. This is when the fixings are
overtightened, causing damage to the substrate
as well as the fixing itself. Once this happens, it
can compromise whole sections of the building
fabric, and ultimately may need removal and
replacement, adding on capital costs, labour time
and money.
However, there are easy ways to prevent this
scenario through the use of the right fasteners.
The SDK fastener, for example, is another selfdrilling
fastener that has a unique design. It
features a square drive which is held in a special
drive bar. When the fastener reaches a predetermined
torque the peg snaps-off, ensuring
the fastener is installed correctly.
Another innovative fastener from SFS is the TDBL.
This self-threading fastener can be inserted into
punched holes to fix thin to thick metal structures
together, and is highly suitable for awkward areas
such as box sections and ‘blind’ fixings. Until the
TDBL, putting pre-drilled supports together was a
time-consuming task, requiring standard bolts,
washers and nuts, with accessibility required
from both sides, which is not always possible. In
extreme cases, this can lead to the project
needing to be taken back to the structural
engineering stage, incurring huge costs.
There are many more unique ways in which
fasteners can speed up the process for
installers when they are on site. Crucially, to get
optimised fastener performance it is imperative
that the industry at all levels are involved in
new product development to help solve common
challenges.
Less is more
It’s not just innovation in the way fixings are
designed that can produce efficiencies. Building
support frames, like cladding and rainscreen
brackets, have also evolved to make installation
more economical in time and labour, and are
further supported by online tools such as
NVELOPE’s Project Builder, which can help with
“Fixings are also commonly subjected to
‘overdriving’. This is when the fixings are
overtightened, causing damage to the substrate,
as well as the fixing itself. Once this happens,
it can compromise whole sections of the
building fabric”
project and material calculations for building
envelopes.
Another great example is the flat roofing fixing
solution for fall protection systems like the Soter
II Horizontal Lifeline system. When fixing these
systems to roofs, gravity toggles have been the
industry standard, but installation can sometimes
be tricky. The toggles can sometimes become
entangled in insulation or temperamental when
deploying the anchor to secure the system to the
flat roof. Now though, manufacturers are offering a
sleeve fastener option. Indeed, the Soter II system
can be secured using just eight sleeve fasteners,
which is a much simpler and quicker method.
Fasteners for every application
With fasteners, there should never be a ‘one size
fits all’ approach. Each application will be
different, and to realise efficiencies during the
installation processes and to minimise failures,
there needs to be careful selection of the
materials used.
Contact SFS
0113 2085 500
www.sfsintec.co.uk
@SFSintec
AUGUST 2019 TC 55

Cladding Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
THREE-IN-ONE GETS BETTER!
AXYZ Automation Group has redesigned and upgraded its well-known three-in-one AXYZ PANELBuilder machine.
It is used primarily for the processing of aluminium and metal composites (ACM/MCM) but is equally
effective when handling fibre cement board, aluminium and other non-ferrous metals, stainless steel, copper,
titanium, zinc and high-pressure laminates (HPL).
The system incorporates a specially configured triple Z tooling arrangement complete with three five horsepower routing spindles and is supported with
dedicated CAD/CAM software. It can be used to simultaneously groove, drill and profile-cut multiple sheets of material and offers processing areas of
1,524mm (60 inches) x 3,048mm (120 inches) up to 2,159mm (85 inches) x 12,129mm (478 inches) and longer in increments of 600mm (24 inches),
allowing one or more standard size sheet to be processed simultaneously to accommodate either special one-off or high-volume requirements. Key new design
features include a highly innovative panel tracking system fitted with an automated label printer (ALP) to quickly identify, via data matrix codes and a cordless
barcode reader, individual panels as they are processed. The specially designed dedicated software is supplied loaded with numerous panel designs to help, in
particular, small start-up companies. Additional design features include a powerful vacuum-based material hold-down facility, an automatic mister/coolant
device and pop-up location pins for optimum material alignment. www.axyx.co.uk/panelbuilder
WRAPTITE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS
The new campus of the Southern Regional College in Armagh, Northern Ireland is set to
benefit from the superior airtightness performance qualities of the Wraptite external air
barrier system from the A. Proctor Group.
“We have been really pleased with Wraptite which has
proven extremely cost-effective because of the many
benefits it has brought to the programme.”
Specialist building contractor Felix O’Hare, based in Newry, required a high-quality air tightness
membrane and Wraptite System as an external air barrier as opposed to an internal air barrier
system. The Wraptite System was installed as an external air barrier and alternative to a traditional
standard breather membrane. www.proctorgroup.com
NEW GUIDANCE ON COMBUSTIBLE BAN COMPLIANCE
The Metal Cladding & Roofing Manufacturers Association (MCRMA) has published an Advice Note titled AN 05 A2 Material Specification:
Combustible Ban Compliance Note 1.
The ‘combustible ban’ Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (parts 6 and 7(1)), introduced in England on December 21 2018, require that for relevant
buildings, all materials contained in (or become part of in the case of remediation) an external wall are at least A2 s1, d0 classification (subject to
certain exceptions). This advice note sets out how specifiers can comply with the ‘combustible ban’ Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and
provides specifiers with information relevant to the specification of A2 powder coated material. The Advice Note can be downloaded at:
www.mcrma.co.uk
QUICKER, STRONGER INSTALLATION
SFS has launched its new generation NVF2F vertical cladding support system.
Created by NVELOPE, part of the SFS business, the system enables floor-to-floor span rainscreen façades to be installed
quicker than ever before with fewer components and a stronger end-result. David Fraser, Business Unit Manager at
NVELOPE, said: “Our new generation NVF2F represents a step change in rainscreen attachment for multi-storey
buildings. It offers the low weight and handling benefits of aluminium whilst engineering the metal in a way that offers
great structural strength. The result is an innovative engineered system which is easy to handle, very quick to install and
completely aligned with sustainable building design. www.nvelope.com
56 TC AUGUST 2019

Our mission:
“ To provide
standards and
guidance to our
members, which
raises confidence
among businesses
and householders,
and promotes
roofing as a skilled,
professional
sector within the
wider construction
industry.”
Find out more
www.nfrc.co.uk
@TheNFRC

Cladding Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
WRAPTITE MEETS DEMANDS
Wraptite has been successfully installed on an impressive new luxury high-rise student accommodation project in
Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The new apartments are part of an initiative by developer Opto Property Group, KDP Architects and City Road Student Hall Company.
Above: Wraptite was installed on highrise
student accommodation in
Main contractor Opto Property Group and sub-contractor Halcyon Cladding & Roofing required a Class B fire rated air tightness
membrane, which was able to comply with the requirements for buildings over 18m as specified within Approved Document B: Fire Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Safety November 2018, and as stipulated by the NHBC.
The A. Proctor Group was approached to advise on a high-performance solution to comply with the requirements outlined by NHBC and the very latest building
regulations. After in-depth consultation and technical briefings, the Wraptite air barrier system was chosen. Wraptite offers a safer and simplified membrane system,
conforms with the required Class B rating, and it provides a fully self-adhered vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA. The membrane bonds back to the
substrate, ensuring a simplified design to achieve airtightness and easy installation method. Both the sub-contractor and the main contractor were impressed by the
ease, speed and quality of the application and installation. Commenting on behalf of Halcyon Cladding & Roofing, Austin Ford stated, “The self-adhesive nature of the
Wraptite membrane ensured a much faster installation process, removing the need for traditional mechanical fixing. www.proctorgroup.com
TERRACOTTA OPTION LAUNCHED
Shackerley has extended the options available from its sought after SureClad range with the introduction
of SureClad Terracotta.
The SureClad Terracotta range joins a wide choice of fire-safe ventilated façade systems from Shackerley, including
SureClad Ceramic Granite, Engineered Stone, Vitrified Glass and Natural Stone. This variety ensures plenty of choice to
answer the requirements of a project’s design, structural loading parameters and local planning considerations from a
single, trusted UK manufacturer/supplier. SureClad Terracotta is available in seven standard colourways in panels up to
1200mm long and in standard heights of 250mm, 300mm, 350mm and 400mm. www.shackerley.com
NEW DEDICATED CLADDING SITE
www.husk-architectural.co.uk is Guttercrest’s new website for its range of rainscreen cladding.
www.husk-architectural.co.uk: “The new website is part of
a huge investment in our commitment to grow the
rainscreen cladding area of the business. New machinery,
new appointments and additional manufacturing space
have also been incorporated to ensure we are set up to
deliver short lead times for aluminium and ACM panels.”
Guttercrest’s cladding, which all comes under the Husk Architectural brand name, includes a variety
of materials: including aluminium, aluminium composite material (ACM), fibre cement and high
pressure laminate panels for use in architectural cladding, rainscreen and façade systems. The
range includes excellent fire ratings of A1 and A2. Guttercrest MD Gary Power said: “The new
website is part of a huge investment in our commitment to grow the rainscreen cladding area of the
business.” www.husk-architectural.co.uk
NON COMBUSTIBLE FOCUS PAYS OFF
Vivalda Group plc has increased its annual turnover from £31m to £34m over the past year, despite strong
headwinds of economic uncertainty.
Above: Vivalda Group Chairman
Peter Johnson.
The facades specialist’s latest financial results show how the embattled architectural cladding market still presents
opportunities for fully tested products, as Vivalda has seen an increase in sales of 6% in the last 12 months. Vivalda
Group Chairman Peter Johnson said: “Our approach of the last few years to focus on non-combustible cladding is
showing strong results with good earnings growth, increased year-on-year comparatives, a solid cash position and a
robust, sustainable forward order book. www.vivalda.co.uk
58 TC AUGUST 2019

Exceeding
expectations
Our prefabricated modular
skylights are revolutionising
commercial roof design
and installation.
Faster
Install three times faster
than traditional skylights
Safer
Reduced workers at height
and no scaffolding required
Easier
Unique pre-fabricated flashing and
components offer a simple, easy install
VELUX Modular Skylights are built to the highest quality & carry a 10 year warranty
Available in mono and self-supporting duo pitch for flat and slope roofs, VELUX Modular Skylights are available with integral
blinds, comfort ventilation and smoke ventilation options.
Find out more at
commercial.velux.co.uk

Air Leakage
FOCUS ON: THE EFFECTS
OF AIR LEAKAGE
The experts at A. Proctor Group talk air leakage, its impact on
projects and how contractors can prevent the issues.
As the standards for buildings’ thermal
performance have increased over the
years, an understanding of the amount of
energy lost through air leakage has grown.
Uncontrolled air movement through cracks, gaps
and holes in the building envelope, and through
improperly sealed building elements such as
doors and windows, cause a significant reduction
in the energy performance of even well-insulated
buildings. This is because leaking air reduces the
benefit of thermal insulation by allowing heat to
bypass it.
The benefits of increased thicknesses of higherperforming
insulation materials may be rendered
largely ineffective if the airtightness of the
structure is not also addressed. If energy
efficiency is to be improved within buildings,
measures to ensure airtightness must be taken
alongside improvements to insulation.
Contractors’ role in airtightness
Contractors are largely responsible for installing
air barrier systems in new builds and
refurbishment projects, and so they play a major
role in the final airtightness level of a building.
The two ways contractors make the building
envelope airtight are either through internal or
external methods. Another way of looking at this
is whether the airtight layer, most commonly an
airtight membrane, is placed on the inside of the
‘services zone’ or on the outside.
The use of internal air barriers, often the vapour
control layer (VCL), is a traditional method of
achieving airtightness from the inside. However,
the installation of internal air barriers is generally
more complex and time-consuming. This is due to
the need for contractors to fit the membrane
around building services that extend from the
services zone and into the building’s interior
spaces. These include all electrical and data
points, lighting, heating vents, plumbing and
drainage systems.
From an airtightness perspective, the internal air
barrier is only as good as its installation. Every
outlet, vent and pipe that passes through the
airtight barrier creates a point of weakness where
air leakage can happen. All penetrations through
the airtight layer must be well-sealed to preserve
the barrier’s integrity. Any penetrations that are
missed or not adequately sealed will compromise
the performance of the layer and the overall
airtightness of the building over time.
External air barriers on the other hand have been
used in North America for many years. In this
case, the air barrier is installed on the external
side of the structural frame and outside of the
services zone. This means the airtight membrane
has fewer penetrations to work around, resulting
in an airtight layer with fewer weak points and an
installation process that is faster and easier.
Compared to internal options, external air barrier
systems are better at achieving airtightness from
the outset and are more effective at maintaining
the integrity of the building’s airtightness
throughout its life. With less building services and
Wraptite was used on Trinity Picadilly, Manchester.
structural penetrations to be sealed, external air
barriers also make life simpler for contractors.
Wraptite System: Total external
airtightness solution
The Wraptite external air barrier system from the
A. Proctor Group is the only self-adhering vapour
permeable air barrier certified by the BBA.
Wraptite combines the properties of vapour
permeability with airtightness into one selfadhering
membrane.
Combined with vapour permeable sealing tape,
pre-formed Wraptite Corners and gunable
Wraptite Liquid Flashing, the Wraptite System
quickly provides effective secondary weather
protection allowing a faster work progression on
site.
The self-adhered external installation method of
Wraptite saves contractors both in labour and
material costs, and supports the thermal
performance and longevity of a building through
airtightness and vapour-permeability.
Contact the A. Proctor Group for information on
Wraptite and for hygrothermal calculations:
Contact A. Proctor Group
01250 872 261
www.proctorgroup.com
@proctorgroup
60 TC AUGUST 2019

Insulated Panel Systems
UK & Republic of Ireland
The QuadCore Envelope
Your high performance insulated
building envelope by design.
#MoreWithQuadCore
QuadCore Topdek Flat
Roof panel with U-values
as low as 0.14 W/m²K
QuadCore Architectural
Wall Panel Systems with
4 hours Fire Integrity to
BS476: Part 22
QuadCore RW Trapezoidal
Pitched Roof panel with
U-values as low as 0.12 W/m²K
Manufactured with an
HCFC, CFC and HFC free,
fibre-free QuadCore
insulation core
Protected for up to 40 years
with a QuadCore Envelope
System Warranty
All QuadCore
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tested to FM 4882
Manufactured at our UK facilities
that are certified ‘Very Good’ under
BES 6001: Responsible Sourcing of
Construction Products
Single-Source System Manufacturer:
Structural Steel, Daylighting, Fabrications,
Safety Systems and Rooftop Energy
Systems all available from Kingspan
QuadCore Architectural Wall Panel
and RW Trapezoidal Wall Panel with
U-values as low as 0.12 W/m²K
quadcore.kingspan.co.uk
Kingspan Limited
Greenfield Business Park No.2, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 7GJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1352 716100 www.kingspanpanels.co.uk

Fabric First
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR A FABRIC
FIRST APPROACH ON PROJECTS
Dramatically reducing emissions that cause global warming with known technologies is
essential if we are to meet the net zero target for the UK, as recently proposed in the latest
report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) “Net Zero: The UK’s contribution to
stopping global warming”. The IMA says a well-designed, fully insulated building fabric will
make a significant contribution to reducing heat loss, improving energy consumption and
cutting carbon emissions. Below the association outlines the fabric-first route to long-term
energy efficiency and the role that insulation plays in creating efficient buildings and curbing
the impact of climate change.
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC)
report stressed the importance of tackling
the inefficiency of new and existing building
stock. Good insulation is essential if homes and
buildings in the UK are to become more energy
efficient and sustainable and off-set some of the
increasing energy costs and climate change
conditions. The fabric-first approach to energy
efficiency ensures that a thermally insulated
building envelope will achieve high performance,
low maintenance, reduced energy bills and longterm
energy efficiency.
Some improvements have been made over recent
years and plenty of our draughty, leaky and
inefficient homes are better than they were. But
we still have many homes that are woefully
inadequate, with occupants and owners either
unaware or unwilling to understand even the
basic energy improvements that could and should
be carried out.
Fit and forget
Fabric first is essentially a ‘fit and forget’ solution
that homeowners or occupiers will appreciate
without even realising it. With little or no
maintenance, energy efficiency is built into the
building fabric for the life of the building. A fabric
first approach is considered by experts to be more
sustainable than installing energy saving
technology or renewables; these should only be
considered after the fabric approach has been
completed as they can be expensive and may not
be used efficiently by the consumer.
The thermal performance of a building envelope
makes a significant contribution to reducing the
overall building energy usage – so tighter U-
values in walls, floors and roofs will help to
deliver the standards required. To achieve this,
PIR and PUR insulation offers a highly effective
solution, achieving excellent levels of thermal
performance. The versatility is testament to the
fact that this insulation is available as boards
and blocks, cavity injected, composite panels as
well as a spray and panel insulation.
Utilising the very high levels of thermal efficiency
that PIR provides can mean the difference
between a building’s success or failure, and the
“Competency in installation is vital because
when a high performing product such as PIR/PUR
is installed incorrectly, it could compromise that
performance”
growing popularity of rigid PIR insulation
throughout Europe demonstrates how designers
can achieve the highest insulation values from
the minimum thickness of material.
With lambda values as low as 0.021 W/mK, PIR
insulation performance can be achieved with less
thickness than other commonly used insulation
materials. It has become increasingly popular on
residential, commercial and refurbishment
projects because of its exceptional insulating
properties, high strength and light weight.
Fitting the bill
In order to meet the design values of a project,
fabric insulation should be correctly fitted with
appropriate attention paid to airtightness and cold
62 TC AUGUST 2019

Above: Roof installation of PIR Boards; Left: Flat roof boards being installed: “To achieve more thermally-efficient building envelopes we must have a fabric-first approach.”
bridging. Competency in installation is vital
because when a high performing product such as
PIR/PUR is installed incorrectly, it could
compromise that performance. All contractors
need to make sure that not only the levels of site
supervision are of a high standard, but the
manufacturer’s installation instructions are
followed and installation instructions around
potential cold thermal bridges and awkward
details are achieved. Eliminating poor installation
will drastically reduce heat loss.
Once the high-quality building fabric has been
completed there should be no need to worry about
it. Fabric-first will enable specifiers to futureproof
their designs which can be employed on
projects of any size from the largest public
building to the smallest domestic extension. A
more energy efficient fabric from the outset can
“Eliminating poor
installation will
drastically reduce heat
loss”
be upgraded later on through improved services,
ventilation measures or the addition of renewable
technologies.
While insulation clearly has the biggest role to
play in improving the thermal performance of a
building, fabric-first is about giving consideration
to ensuring continuous insulation, minimising
thermal bridging and achieving high levels of
airtightness. Addressing these aspects of
construction means the Building Regulation’s
thermal targets can be met and those
performance levels can be incorporated into the
finished building’s performance targets.
To achieve more thermally-efficient building
envelopes as well as comfortable buildings, we
must have a fabric-first approach which includes
insulation such as high-performance PIR.
Ultimately, the ‘fabric-first’ approach will remain
the most direct route to achieving the net zero
target as well as compliance with the energy
performance requirements of Building
Regulations. When a structure is built correctly in
the first place, it will continue to perform as
intended for many years to come.
Contact Insulation Manufacturers Association
0161 672 7387
www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk
@IMA_Org
AUGUST 2019 TC 63

Envelope Efficiency
IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
OF BUILDINGS: A SENSIBLE SOLUTION
By James Patrick, Technical Services Manager, Kingspan Insulated Panels.
From the estimated 1.4 million young people
around the world taking part in climate
strikes, to the government’s pledge to
reduce its emissions to net zero by 2050, the fight
to tackle the effects of the climate crisis has
really gained momentum in recent times.
However, a report released on 12th July by the
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select
Committee warned that unless we make energy
efficiency policy the priority when it comes to
buildings, both in terms of enforcement and
investment, the UK stands little chance of
meeting these goals.
Approximately 80% of the buildings which will be
occupied in 2050 have already been built and many
of these use energy inefficiently. This presents a
great opportunity for contractors who can provide
retrofit solutions, helping to futureproof them
against any further legislative changes and tackling
the problem at its root.
Starting from the top
The first step in improving a building’s energy
performance should always be to address the
thermal efficiency of its envelope. On buildings such
as warehouses and supermarkets, which feature
large roof areas, it makes sense to start at the top.
Whether it is flat or pitched, replacing a poorly
insulated system with high performing insulated
panels can considerably improve thermal
performance and airtightness. This is shown in the
thermographic images above, taken during an
industrial roof refurbishment project.
Images 1 and 2, taken before the pitched insulated
asbestos cement liner roof was replaced, show
variation in temperature caused by patches of
thinner or poorer performing insulation, as well as
significant air leakage at sheet end laps and around
features such as the gutter detail (purple areas in
Images 1 and 2 (above and right) show variation in temperature caused by patches of thinner or poorer performing insulation.
Image 3 and 4 (above and right) The uniform yellow colour seen in image 3 highlights the continuity of insulation throughout the
roof even at the joints. Image 4 also shows greater overall heat retention.
“Once the existing roof
deck has been stripped
back, the clock is
ticking to get the
building made
weathertight again”
image 2).
Once replaced with insulated pitched roof panels,
the difference is immediately visible. The uniform
yellow colour seen in image 3, highlights the
continuity of insulation throughout the roof even at
the joints. Image 4 also shows greater overall heat
retention and only minor changes in temperature
around the insulated guttering.
In addition, the enhanced thermal conductivity of
the panel’s insulation core allows required U-values
to be achieved with thin and lightweight panels.
Their excellent spanning capabilities often mean
that there is no need to reinforce the structural
integrity of the building, eliminating the requirement
for extra supportive steelwork.
Additional benefits
Timing is also key on re-roofing projects. Once the
existing roof deck has been stripped back, the clock
is ticking to get the building made weathertight
again. What’s more, some occupants may not be
able to shut down operations, leaving contractors
with very tight deadlines that must be met. The
single component design of the roof panels means
there is no need for multiple layers to be
assembled, whilst the factory-engineered jointing
simplifies detailing, helping installers to easily
minimise thermal bridging and create a highly
airtight envelope. With careful planning this can
allow sections of a building to remain in operation
whilst re-roofing is taking place – further reducing
disruption.
64 TC AUGUST 2019

QI INSULATION FACTS!
Ever watched the QI comedy panel game on television? If you
have you will recognise the format of this regular monthly
column that will provide facts that are believed to be true but
are actually misconceptions. Unlike the QI TV show, this
column will focus purely on flat roof insulation but it will
follow the guiding principles of the QI TV show and it will
provide you with the true facts. As an introduction, we’ll talk
you through the guiding principles of QI...
Kingspan insulated roof panels form a walkable platform as soon as they are fixed to the
supporting frame for a safer and quicker installation.
Insulated panel systems can also often be supplied with a range of ancillary
elements that can further improve overall energy efficiency, such as rooflights
and, depending on the orientation and structure of the roof, solar PV systems.
These can further reduce and even eliminate energy demand. Products such as
insulated guttering can also help to maintain the thermal integrity across the
whole roof. Ordering all these components from a single supplier helps to
reduce the number of deliveries, limit installation issues and reduce waste.
Become part of the solution
Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings will be crucial to cutting our
greenhouse gases, combatting fuel poverty and creating a more sustainable
and cost-effective environment for us all to work and live in. Insulated roof
panel systems provide a sensible solution for a wide range of building types,
allowing energy use to be reduced with a proven and predictable build
programme.
1. Everything is interesting: Provided that you look at it in the right way.
2. Ask more questions: Everyone asks lots of questions at a young age, then
you are told it is best to let people teach you things, which are often wrong.
3. We all know less than we think we know: This is what General
Ignorance is. We still do not know how or why the universe began, what
consciousness is, what light is, or even the best way to bring up children.
4. Look for new connections: Write down the things you do not know
already. Interestingness cannot be defined or taught. It is a spark that
arcs between two previously unconnected things.
5. If it’s worth writing down, it’s worth writing down clearly: Jargon,
technical terms other confusing pieces of language are the enemies of truth.
6. What you leave out is as important as what you leave in: It is better
to be interesting than to be comprehensive.
7. Digressions are the point: QI is about making connections, not lists of
trivial facts. One piece of interesting information leads to others just as
interesting.
8. Take your time: It may take a long time of reading boring information
before you finally find a gem that will change your life.
9. Walk towards the sound of gunfire: Do what is right and say what is
right, without fear of what other people will think of you.
10. You already have everything you need: Instincts, curiosity and your
own ignorance. The paradox is that you have to stop talking about how
much you know.
Kingspan insulated roof panel systems can also be supplied with a range of ancillary options,
such as rooflights, which can help to transform a building both in terms of its energy usage
and its internal appearance.
Contact Kingspan Panels
01352 717 251
www.kingspanpanels.co.uk
@KingspanIP_UK
Next month’s QI by QI: ‘All XPS inverted roof insulation achieves the
same U-value at a given thickness’
Have you got a flat roof insulation
query for the experts at Quantum
Insulation? Contact the team:
Contact Quantum Insulation
01858 456018
www.quantuminsulation.com
@QuantumInsulate
AUGUST 2019 TC 65

Insulation Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
KINGSPAN PROJECT’S A REAL GEM
Kingspan Kooltherm K110 PLUS Soffit Board and Kingspan Kooltherm K118 Insulated Plasterboard have been
installed as part of the conversion and expansion of Beaufort House, a former office building, adding luxury
accommodation to Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter.
To ensure the new apartments provided a comfortable environment for occupants, the design team looked to address the
performance of areas of the existing building fabric – bringing them up to the standard of current Building Regulations. To
insulate the ceiling of the basement and an undercroft below the ground floor, they specified over 650m² of Kingspan Above: Beaufort House in Birmingham’s
Jewellery Quarter.
Kooltherm K110 PLUS Soffit Board. The soffit board has a thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/m·K across all thicknesses,
the lowest of any commonly used insulation material. This allowed heat loss through the ground floor of the building to be minimised without significantly reducing
headroom within the basement area. Installers mechanically fixed the boards to the basement ceiling and concrete undercroft soffit. The building’s stylish, glazed roof
extension has been designed to provide contrast with the brick façade of the main building. To insulate its external walls, 57.5mm Kingspan Kooltherm K118 Insulated
Plasterboard was installed. The product combines vapour control, 12.5mm plasterboard and a premium performance insulation core in a single product. This allowed
installers to rapidly fit the insulation and begin decorating the apartments. www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
BBA PROVIDES MAX REASSURANCE
Isover’s Polterm Max Plus stone wool insulation has been certified by the British Board of
Agrément (BBA) for use in façade applications.
Designed for both ventilated rainscreen cladding and overcladding systems, Polterm Max Plus delivers
excellent thermal conductivity alongside acoustic performance, while achieving the best attainable A1
Euroclass fire classification according to EN 13501-1. In order to achieve a BBA certificate, Isover’s
Polterm Max Plus passed a number of comprehensive assessments including laboratory tests,
production inspections and a rigorous set of quality management checks. www.isover.co.uk/polterm
STO SOLUTIONS FOR SPANISH CITY
A century-old Grade II listed landmark building in the north east, which had fallen into disrepair,
has undergone extensive refurbishment using a portfolio of products provided by Sto.
Picture courtesy of www.graeme-peacock.com. Spanish City
is widely-recognized as an important Grade II listed building
in the area, but it had fallen into disrepair and Sto products
have helped restore it to its former glory.
The Spanish City building in Whitley Bay has benefitted from the use of Sto’s external wall insulation,
finishing render and innovative paint technology, as part of a £10 million restoration project. Sto’s Peter
Bishop explained: “Our StoTherm Classic K insulation, Stolit MP render and StoColor Dryonic paint
formed a perfectly integrated system. They have helped bring the building back to life, and they now
also protect it from the harsh weathering effects of its coastal location.” www.sto.co.uk
BUILDING INNOVATION’S BEACH VIEW
A new watertight roof using Building Innovation’s Inno-Fix insulation has been installed on a
clubhouse at Coopers Beach Holiday Park, Mersea Island.
Coopers Beach: www.building-innovation.co.uk
Architect Leisure Concepts looked to ensure continuity of design with the existing structure by replicating
the look of a traditional standing seam metal roof. Additional requirements were that the new roof should
be light enough for the building’s timber frame whilst also able to combat wind uplift pressure. A Sika-
Trocal system has been installed; it comprises Sika’s vapour control layer, Building Innovation’s Inno-Fix
insulation, and the Sika-Trocal Type S waterproof sheet – creating a lightweight, low maintenance roof.
66 TC AUGUST 2019

MANCHESTER UTD FC STADIUM
2ND OCTOBER 2019
Roofing and
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01892 732047 | WWW.CONTRACTORSDAY.CO.UK
SHOW SPONSORS
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Cordless
SPONSORED BY
Tools
TAKING TOOLS TO NEW HEIGHTS
When working at height, every precaution must be taken to lower the risk of falls and
ensure the safety of those on-site. Here, Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita
discusses how selection of cordless, light-weight tools can help achieve this.
In 2017, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
released statistics stating that working from
height was the most frequent cause of fatal
accidents to workers – accounting for 28% in
total.
It is imperative to lower the risk of falls in any
way possible and the selection of the right tools
from leading manufacturers can help with this.
Selecting cordless machinery comes with a range
of benefits that increases site safety when
working at height – the most obvious being the
lack of cables. Trip hazards are virtually
eliminated and there’s no risk of snagging them
on ladders or other equipment.
When specifying cordless, the battery technology
available should also be considered. Lithium-ion
batteries are the ideal choice as these are 40%
lighter than NiCad batteries and the larger cells
contained within ensure that less are required,
helping to lighten the weight of the battery.
With less weight, the tools are easier to carry and
manoeuvre at height, reducing the risk to roofing
contractors from a loss of balance.
Manufacturers such as Makita have created
lithium-ion battery technology that ensures
longevity and protects the machine.
The tools are equipped with a tool/battery
protection system. This system automatically
cuts off power to the motor to extend tool and
battery life. The tool will automatically stop during
operation if the tool or battery is placed under one
of the following conditions:
Overload protection: When the tool is operated
in a manner that causes it to draw an abnormally
high current, so the tool automatically stops. In
this situation, turn the tool off and stop the
application that caused the
tool to become
overloaded.
Thermal protection:
This will prevent the
tool and/or battery from
overheating during use, which
can cause damage to both machine and battery.
When this occurs, the machine will turn off
automatically and the battery indicator will blink
for about 60 seconds. In this situation, allow the
tool to cool down before turning on again.
Over-discharge protection: When the battery
capacity becomes low the tool will stop
automatically before the battery is overdischarged
to a level that can potentially damage
battery cells. If the product does not operate in
this situation, operators should remove the
battery from the tool and recharge the battery.
‘One-fits-all’
Makita has developed its 18v LXT batteries with a
‘one-fits-all’ approach. This means when the
user is finished with one tool, they can unclip the
battery and simply attach it to another. This
reduces not only the cost to contractors, who will
only need to purchase the tool bodies, but also
increases safety as it takes away excess
equipment at height.
Lithium-ion batteries also allow for significantly
longer run times and less time spent on charge.
This is because they do not naturally drain,
meaning energy is not wasted. In addition, Makita
LXT products offer industry leading short charge
times for batteries provided they are properly
maintained – such as being able to fully charge a
3 amp-hour (AH) in as little as 22 minutes.
This saves time on site as the user will not have
to stop and charge the
machine as regularly,
and even when they
do, it is for a limited
amount of time.
Another consideration that
should be taken into account is the motor.
Brushless technology has allowed for motors to
be much smaller – meaning tools themselves can
be compact and therefore lighter.
Powered by a magnetic rotor, the need for
brushes used armature powered motors is
completed eliminated. This means that there are
no touching parts inside the motor – completely
eradicating friction and therefore wear on the
motor, as well as sparks or heat.
This brushless technology makes for a motor that
has a longer functional lifespan, and also can
provide longer run times for the machines – 30%
longer on average. As no brushes need to be
replaced, this also reduces maintenance costs for
the end user.
Of course, leading manufacturers will recognise
there is an increased price difference, and will
also continue to provide high quality cordless
tools with brushed motors for contractors to
purchase, depending on budget.
Working at height comes with increased risk, and
accidents at height are the cause of a large
percentage of fatalities in the construction
industry. By considering cordless, lighter tools,
the risks of an accident can be greatly lowered.
Contact Makita
01908 211678
www.makitauk.com
@MakitaUK
68 TC AUGUST 2019

The choice for your polycarbonate project
Whether it’s a carport or garden centre, we have the
polycarbonate product, machinery and expertise to
get the job done. Our large multiwall polycarbonate
sheet range is so versatile that there is sure to be
a product for your needs. We hold stock on all
associated accessories including glazing bars,
profiles and fixings, together with cutting facilities.
Our technical knowledge and advice are second to
none enabling our clients to feel confident when
quoting on projects. So, if it is a conservatory roof,
carport, north light replacement, school canopy,
covered play area or even a garden centre, why not
give us a call or visit our website to download our
product catalogue.
• large stock range cut to size
• technical knowledge and advice
• nationwide express delivery
• competitive rates
tel: 01922 743553
www.areco.co.uk
t: 01922 743553 e: sales@areco.co.uk
ARECO, Unit 2A Coppice Park, Coppice Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 9AA

Workwear:
SPONSORED BY
Trousers
STEP INTO THE RIGHT TROUSERS
Performance workwear brand Scruffs shares some no-nonsense tips about what to look for
when investing in a pair of workwear trousers.
After safety boots, trousers are the highest
value item in a workwear wardrobe. With
most tradespeople and skilled
professionals having an average of six pairs, it’s
essential trousers are fit for purpose.
With the cost of a pair of workwear trousers
ranging from £19.99 to £150.00, it’s vital to know
what to look for.
Just like any good tool, good workwear trousers
for roofing should offer a perfect combination of
performance, comfort, and value. But what
exactly are the main things to consider?
Fit for purpose
With workwear trousers what’s great for one
trade could be totally unsuitable for another. It’s
important to review the basic features of any
trousers to ensure they are right for the job.
Roofing contractors specifically need trousers
that are both very flexible and robust. Straddling
a ridge requires fabric designed with a suitable
amount of give in it or even a stretch gusset for
maximum comfort.
If stretch is important look for technical materials
designed to give flexibility and support, ideally
with either a 2-way or 4-way stretch.
Leading brands do real-life wear
trials to help with the design
process too, with users
testing both practicality
and performance. Check
if wear tests are done
as standard.
Tools for the job
Lots of workwear trousers
offer a wide range of pockets,
along with tool or hammer loops.
Ensure the selection of trousers has the
appropriate easy access pockets for tool storage
and the right number of pockets in the right place
for the task at hand.
Hanging tools from holsters and tools loops can
make trousers heavy. Ensure trousers come with
a sturdy belt, otherwise ensure that one can be
added if needed, and make sure that the loops
are reinforced. Velcro tool straps at the waist offer
additional storage options for power tool cradles
and hammer holders, as do reinforced cargo and
carpenter pockets.
If access to a mobile phone on the job is vital
then ensure that there’s a dedicated pocket for
that purpose. It has to be handy and secure too.
Another key component that needs to be very
robust is the zip. Scruffs recommend checking the
quality of all zips – they only use market-leading
YKK zips throughout their entire trouser range.
A stitch in time …
Hard wearing fabric is essential in workwear, and
with the on-going development in fabric
technology, the choice of performance fabrics
available is increasing with specific focus on
comfort and flexibility.
High performance workwear with mechanical
stretch improves both comfort and
flexibility without compromising
on strength. It holds its
shape well and so it’s
easy to care for. The
best mechanical stretch
fabrics have moisture
wicking properties too,
which draw sweat away
from the body to keep you
cool and dry. Then there’s highend
4-way stretch with nylon, which is
not only super flexible, it’s also lightweight and
strong too.
Above: Pro Flex Holster trouser; Below: Pro Flex Holster
Black detail.
Some of the best regarded fabrics to look out for
include names like CORDURA, which is designed
to be highly durable and is resistant to abrasions,
tears and scuffs, which is why it’s often used on
high wear areas such as the knees.
Name you can trust
With such a vast range of trousers available on
the market, look for the reassurance of a good
workwear brand. These brands can be trusted as
they invest heavily in research and development.
They employ the experts who focus purely on
workwear to deliver the most suitable
performance fabrics, the best designs and
functional features that work.
As well as choosing a brand name it’s a good idea
to check out independent reviews for products to
get an honest opinion from others in the trade.
So, whether working in cold, wet or dry conditions,
up high or indoors, trouser requirements remain
the same – the highest levels of comfort,
durability, protection and styling.
Scruffs has been creating innovative safety
footwear and workwear for tradespeople and
skilled professionals since 2003 and is launching
an exciting range of innovative new workwear
trousers in September 2019.
Contact Scruffs
www.scruffs.com
@scruffsworkwear
70 TC AUGUST 2019

• Experts in Insulation –
Quantum Insulation brings
together over 100 years of flat
roof insulation expertise to aid
roofing contractors to select the
right product for each individual
application; supporting this
process with thermal and tapered
design services, contractor
friendly purchasing and delivery
options, and comprehensive
compliance documentation.
• Calculation Services –
thermal calculations to BS
5250:2011+A1:2016 Code
of practice for control of
condensation in buildings and in
accordance with ETAG 031.
• Design Services – comprehensive
design service for tapered and VIP
insulation schemes, including site
assembly drawings.
• Customer Focused – helping
you deliver a professional roofing
service to your customer.
• Bespoke Delivery Packages –
designed and priced to your site
requirements.
• FORS Deliveries – Bronze,
Silver and Gold delivery options
available.
T: 01858 456018 E: sales@quantuminsulation.com

Insurance
SPONSORED BY
Options
A GUIDE TO INSURANCE FOR
SELF-EMPLOYED TRADESMEN
Going self-employed brings benefits in flexibility, time management and more. However,
with the full burden of contract work falling on one person, it’s vital you’ve got the correct
insurance to keep you covered if the worst happens. As such, Actavo Direct has put together
a guide to insurance for self-employed tradesmen. Below, we take a look at the options...
Going public
Public liability insurance covers you against legal
costs or compensation if you’re sued by a
member of the public.
This keeps you covered if you damage someone’s
property while working on a domestic job, or if
someone happens to get injured while entering or
walking around your site.
As a self-employed trader, you likely won’t have
the protection of a big business behind you if you
get into trouble, so taking out public liability
insurance is recommended.
Making it personal
As a self-employed worker, you’re relying on
yourself to be able to go to work every day and
earn a living to keep your business afloat. So, if
you find yourself injured, ill or unable to work, you
could find yourself in financial trouble.
Taking out personal accident insurance (also
called personal accident and sickness insurance)
keeps you covered if you’re temporarily unable to
work. You’ll be able to claim a weekly allowance
to cover any missed work you’d have completed if
you were fit and healthy.
If you suffer a permanent injury or illness which
means you’re unable to return to your normal
trade, you’ll receive a lump sum from your
“Equipment insurance
will usually cover any
damage to your tools,
plus accidental loss or
theft”
insurance. This will help you while you look for
new work or train for a different trade that isn’t
affected by your illness.
Covering legal costs
For many industries, professional indemnity
insurance (also called professional liability
insurance) is non-negotiable, and part of
requirements. However, for many self-employed
tradesmen, it’s simply a way of protecting
themselves against any legal costs as a result of
allegations from clients.
If you provide a service your client isn’t happy
with, professional indemnity insurance will help
you pay legal costs of any action taken and could
save you in the long run against court costs or
settlement fees.
In some instances, a client may even request
evidence of professional indemnity insurance
before agreeing to work together.
Need a hand?
As a self-employed trader, you may occasionally
need to hire temporary or short-term employees
to help with bigger projects. However, even if
you’re just bringing them on board for a short or
one-off project, you’ll still need employer’s
liability insurance.
Employer’s liability insurance covers you and
your employees against any costs or loss of
business related to your employees. This includes
losses incurred from illness or injury to
employees, plus any medical costs or legal fees
you may face as a result of injuries on the job.
If you’re found to be employing someone and can’t
“If you’re using a vehicle
to drive to different sites
for business, you’ll
probably need
specialist business car
insurance”
provide proper employer’s liability insurance, you
could be fined up to £2,500 for every day you fail
to provide the proper coverage.
Other considerations
If you’re using a vehicle to drive to different sites for
business, you’ll probably need specialist business
car insurance, as your personal policy won’t cover
it. Otherwise – if you’re involved in an accident
while driving for business – you could be left to
pay any damages out of your own pocket.
As a self-employed tradesman, you’ll need tools
– and they can be expensive. Equipment
insurance will usually cover any damage to your
tools, plus accidental loss or theft. If you keep
your tools in a building or at home, you may also
want to take out contents insurance to cover any
damage while your belongings are stashed away.
Taking out credit insurance will protect you if your
customers can’t pay for any reason. If customers
go bust or can’t fulfil an invoice in time, you could
be left to take the hit. Credit insurance will keep
you covered if this happens.
Contact Actavo Direct
0800 1337494
www.actavodirect.com
@Actavodirect
72 TC AUGUST 2019

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Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
MAKITA MAKES AN IMPACT!
Makita has launched its new 18V LXT Brushless Impact Driver, alongside a host of new tools, cleaners and accessories.
The DTD171 18V LXT Brushless Impact Driver delivers high-end performance in a compact and lightweight package. Suitable for use across a
number of high-intensity tasks, the new tool has a max tightening torque of 180Nm, meaning it ranks as the company’s most powerful
cordless impact driver. Whilst striving for outstanding performance, Makita has taken great care not to overlook the importance of
comfort and ease of use. To this end, the tool has been fitted with an ergonomic soft grip and number of highly functional features.
The new tool features an electronic four stage impact power selection, as well as four separate assist modes. These assist modes have been
specifically tailored for use on particular tasks including; a wood mode, T-mode for thick metal plates, T-mode for thin metal plates and a bolt mode. With a
quick mode switching function, the tool can easily shift from one task to another without having to interrupt work, helping tradespeople to progress jobs at a
far faster rate.
The tool’s functionality is further improved with the addition of a variable speed trigger, which allows tradespeople to exert more or less power as they desire.
Additional features, such as one-touch bit installation and twin LED job lights help tradespeople to work without interruption and make working in areas of
poor visibility far easier. What’s more, as with all of Makita’s products the tool comes with a three-year warranty if you register online. www.makitauk.com
ADDED PROTEC-TION ON SITE
ProtecWork is a new collection of protective working clothes and accessories from Snickers Workwear.
Above: ProtecWork from Snickers.
The market-leading risk-protection properties of the clothing are integral components of the extensive range of Base, Mid
and Top-Layer garments for men and women that combine well with the Snickers Workwear hallmarks of best-in-class
durability, comfort, ergonomics and fit. Fully accredited as appropriate to a variety of risk and weather conditions such
as heat and flame, electrostatic, chemical and bad weather working environments, all the garments are manufactured
from tailor-made fabrics designed to respond to the demands and risk factors of the conditions in which they’re worn.
Check out the new Snickers ProtecWork range to fit your workday and well-being on site. www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
NEW SOUTH EAST SITE FOR EASY VAN SOLUTIONS
Europcar Mobility Group UK has officially opened the latest of its van rental supersites in Purfleet, Essex.
Ideally positioned just inside the M25, the state-of-the-art station provides easy access for customers and businesses trading within East London as well as
Kent, East Anglia and Hertfordshire. Stuart Russell, Director Commercial Vehicles, Europcar Mobility Group UK, commented: “The South-East has firmly
established itself as a pivotal cog within the UK economy over the past few years and continues to see significant growth. With its links to East London as well
as surrounding areas, Purfleet is the ideal location for Europcar Mobility Group UK to build on our investment in supersites around the country. The station is
strategically positioned to provide the numerous businesses trading within this area with easy access to flexible and cost-efficient transport solutions that can
enable their businesses to grow.” www.europcar-mobility-group.com
STAY IN CONTROL WITH BOSCH
Bosch has expanded its range with two new direct driven random orbit sanders, the GET 55-125
Professional and GET 75-150 Professional.
Above: The GET 75-150 Professional orbit sander.
Both tools are equipped with a powerful 550 or 750 watts motor meaning they can achieve a fast
removal rate with a high surface quality. Not just that, but with just one click tradespeople can
change from fine sanding to coarse sanding or polishing with the direct driven function, achieving
three times faster material removal. www.bosch-professional.co.uk
74 TC AUGUST 2019

Roofing and
cladding uncovered
OLD TRAFFORD
2ND OCTOBER 2019
REGISTER FOR
FREE TICKETS AT
www.contractorsday.co.uk

METAL RAINWATER &
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the contractors. Let us take the strain - we are here to help:
• We can visit your site to discuss your exact
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• We supply high quality metal roofline and
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• Excellent lead times and keep you informed of
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