The UK trade industry has been on tenterhooks lately due to the UK based firm Wolseley facing tough competition to stay at the top of the Merchant charts. It has emerged that other trade giants Travis Perkins have made a massive offer of £553 million pounds to take over plumbing supply company BSS. Sources have said that Travis Perkins, who has tabled a cash-and-share bid, may have to increase their offer to secure the deal as another rival could emerge on top.
Large UK Companies In Takeover Bid
Apprenticeship Scheme To Conserve Our Heritage Buildings
The National Trust has launched a new scheme to recruit apprentices in traditional trades across the country. The trusts existing work force is ageing by the day and they felt that now is an excellent time to recruit new apprentices to pass their traditional skills onto. This program starting in September is a first for the trust and they are appealing for 16 -19 year olds with a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn. Competition for the 16 places will be tough as the starting wage for apprentices is £12,000 per annum nearly double the amount a usual apprentice is paid.
Property Renovation
There are a number of considerations when you’re thinking of renovating a property, including the key facts that need to be considered and the advantages/disadvantages you will get out of renovating a property.
Firstly you will need to decide what market you want to attract so location is key. Then make plans and designs of what you will be doing. Also decide what DIY projects you will be carrying out yourself and the professionals you want in. This is essential because most people will need to borrow in order to finance the renovation of a property. The most common types of borrowing are banks, loan companies, credit unions, mortgage bankers and savings, but you can also borrow money from online companies.
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Screeding With FlexiDry
FlexiDry is a highly advanced fast drying floor screed which can be used on a number of different types of flooring. Sand and cement screeds are more commonly used both in plastering and wall and floor tiling. Screed mix consists of cement, water, aggregate and sand mix which has a chemical reaction causing the mixture to harden.
The concentration of FlexiDry in the mix water will dictate the rate at which hydration and drying will accelerate. The ratio mixture for the reaction to have effect is one part water to four parts cement, if the ratio is done incorrectly then the mixture will not set properly and be weak this can lead to the mixture shrinking.
Fitting an Extractor Fan
This brief explanation will tell how to install an extractor fan to a wall, whilst always remembering where ever the fan is mounted, there will also be an element of electrical wiring to be done, so please bear in mind, a competent and professional electrician, will be required for this part.
Before any drilling etc, always be sure where you want the fan to be mounted. It’s probably best to have the area checked for any cables or pipes behind, before work commences, whilst remembering to check outside of the property behind where the fan is to be mounted, for any obstructions – soil pipes, drain pipes etc.
Creating Extra Living Space
Have you been struggling to sell your property, but desperately seeking more floor space for the children? If so then do not panic; the perfect answer is right in front of you just think up and out.
Extending your property can drastically improve your property there are so many options. If you have space at the side of your property then you can extend on the side as a single or even double storey extension to create extra downstairs living as well as those much needed extra bedrooms.
If you don’t have the space at the side of the property then a loft conversion can give you that extra bedroom and adding either a conservatory or an extension on the back can give you that extra space. Extending your house will not only give you all the extra space that you need, it will also add extra value on to the property and make the house more attractive to buyers.
Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveways
Nowadays driveways come in all shapes and sizes and with a huge variety of materials being used you can be mistaken for being overwhelmed or confused by them all. Most paving and driveway installers have a different opinion of which one is best, some say tarmac is the best surface, some say block paved is more suitable but in the past few years patten imprinted concrete has come into light and is now a favoured surface across the country for some household so lets look at pattern imprinted concrete now.
FMB on the Hunt for Britain’s Best Builder
The Federation of Master Builders has joined forces with the popular housing expert and TV presenter Phil Spencer, known for his appearances with Kirsty Allsopp on property programmes such as ‘Location, Location, Location’ and ‘Relocation, Relocation’. Phil will be working with the FMB to find Britain’s best master builder and will present the award to the winner.
The competition is in its tenth year this year and includes categories that tradespeople can be nominated for including new builds; small, medium and large renovation projects which include refurbishment and restoration of domestic and commercial premises and extensions to properties up to certain revenue limits; apprentice of the year and an energy efficiency category which recognises building projects featuring the introduction of energy saving and carbon cutting measures to reduce the environmental impact of homes and businesses.
Great Yarmouth College Offers Construction Trade Taster Sessions
On Thursday 29th April 2010, potential students interested in studying at Great Yarmouth College will be able to attend for a taster session taking place between 4.30pm and 8pm. The college, which offers courses in engineering and the construction industry has more than 500 students studying there.
The college has recently invested £6 million in a new Centre for Construction and Manufacturing Technologies which opened in January and the open evening will be an opportunity for students looking to learn a trade to explore the college’s facilities and see the new equipment the college has to offer.
Home Improvers and Loft Converters Could be Responsible for the Decline in Swift Numbers
One of Britain’s most well loved birds whose reappearance in mid-May marks the start of summer for a lot of people has seen a considerable reduction in numbers recently, which conservation charity the RSPB has attributed to its reliance on domestic properties in providing nesting sites.
The swift usually nests around the eaves or in roof spaces as it is unable to launch itself from the ground and new findings by the RSPB has shown that in around 77% of cases, swifts choose to nest in domestic properties, and although other sites such as old barns, office blocks and commercial properties are used by the birds, loss of nesting sites at domestic properties could cause further devastating losses to the bird population.
The charity has noted that an increase in the amount of people carrying out home improvements could be partly to blame for the loss of swifts’ nesting places. More people are looking to add value to their homes by extending into attic space with loft conversions or renovating older run down properties and derelict buildings, including roof repairs and blocking up holes in soffits and fascias. By undertaking home improvements, the work often results in the loss of the access points that the birds would have used to enter their nesting site and because swifts mate for life and return to the same nesting spot every year, this can cause significant problems for the creatures.