Are you trying to achieve a clean minimalist finish, or make sure period details take centre stage? In either case, the last thing you want is an eye-catching loft hatch dominating the ceiling and spoiling the aesthetic. It is really important to consider loft access as early in the design process as possible. Doing so not only ensures easy access to valuable storage space, but can also make sure that the ladder you choose works with the aesthetic style you are trying to achi

A nationally renowned flooring specialist is making use of Marmox Multiboards as part of a high-specification installation covering much of the 13th floor to Moor House, an architecturally striking commercial office building located on the capital’s historic London Wall. Epping based OSF is a family run business serving clients from the commercial, residential and other sectors across the UK, and recognised for carrying out work to the highest possible standards. In this case

Oscar Acoustics recently hosted a roundtable at dMFK Architects' London offices in association with RIBA to discuss why construction treats acoustics as an add-on, and what specifiers and contractors can do about it. Acoustics is not a snagging issue. It is a foundational design element, influencing how people work, feel and behave in a space. When it is left until late in the design and build process, or cut from the budget entirely, the consequences are measurable and expen

Elaine Gilligan at K Rend examines the role of colour in external facades and how the right render can elevate a building’s aesthetic. For architects, colour is much more than an aesthetic choice. It is a design tool that can shape how we experience the built environment. When colour is applied through render, it can significantly influence how people perceive and interact with architecture. The colours specified for a building’s exterior are often the first thing we notice a

Facadeshield FR Class B is the latest addition to Proctor Group’s range of external wall membrane solutions. The vapour-permeable membrane can be used as the breather membrane in external wall build-ups. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, from low-rise timber and steel frame structures to high-rise rainscreen façades and offsite modular systems. A key focus in the development of Facadeshield FR was achieving the right balance of fire performance, water resistanc

Jon Knaggs, Technical Manager for Industrial Lightweight Construction at EJOT UK, explains why the ETA is crucial for compliance and key to faster, lower-risk project delivery. Higher performing and better quality building façades rely heavily on the right fastening and framing systems. But how do you establish which products and systems will meet the brief with confidence, as well as minimising non-compliance risks and delays when the façade design is reviewed by building co

Andy Williamson has joined the board of QuickFix Profiles as the company’s new Non-Executive Director.

It’s a damp protection approach used by many builders in new building or when forming an opening in a cavity or solid external wall, extending a building, or tackling an existing damp problem. A Wellington Boot keeps the wet out and prevents wet soaking upwardly or inwardly – and that’s exactly what the Type LTT Tray does. Simply bed it in position, and the shape protects the opening at ground level, including the reveals and extending into the cavity. Wellington Boot It or

The EJOT CROSSFIX facade support system has enabled Kovara Projects to install a complex timber cladding feature as part of a large new building at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The EJOT CROSSFIX system, which will be showcased at the Zak World of Facades event in Manchester in June, has been used in a project to create Tech Edge West. Delivered by main contractor Glencar, this will provide 70,000ft2 of mixed use office space on the campus near Didcot to su

Mykor secures £4 million to scale low-carbon construction systems grown from industrial waste

Already widely specified for flooring applications and creating ‘protected zones’ in roof-spaces, FIREFLY FB 180 ablative batts are now also being used to provide fire compartmentation beneath raised access floors. Raised access floors are commonly used to accommodate power, data and other building services, creating concealed voids beneath the finished floor. Without appropriate fire protection, these hidden cavities can allow fire and smoke to spread unseen beyond the point

Sika has partnered with housebuilder Cala Homes to deliver the external render for 89 new homes in Stirlingshire, Scotland. SikaWall-580 Monorex GM UK, a one-coat through coloured render, has been specified to meet planning, aesthetic and functional requirements. Weather resistant and breathable, the render provides a durable solution for the new development, which is in an area severely exposed to wind-driven rain. Manufactured in the UK and certified by the British Board of

RAUVIPEX, REHAU UK’s pre-insulated district heating pipework solution, has won the ‘Commercial HVAC Product of the Year – Components and Peripherals’ category at the 2025 Heating & Ventilating News Awards. RAUVIPEX provides a combination of low thermal conductivity and high bending flexibility, manufactured with REHAU’s proven PE-Xa carrier pipe, combined with PU foam insulation and an SN8 rated outer jacket. This robust construction ensures long-term durability and addresses

FrameSafe FR fire-rated external wall breather membrane has been installed to help improve safety standards as part of cladding remediation works in Greater Manchester. Specify & Build reports. FrameSafe FR, Glidevale Protect’s Class A2, fire-rated external wall breather membrane, has been installed to help improve safety standards as part of the cladding remediation works being undertaken at a major medium-rise residential development in Greater Manchester. The Life Buildin

Reynaers Aluminium UK has received the Commercial Project of the Year award at this year’s prestigious G-awards thanks to its involvement in the high-profile Wembley Park regeneration project in collaboration with Everglade Windows. Reynaers’ systems played a central part in the North East Lands NE02 and NE03 development of the extensive regeneration project, which helped to achieve developer Quintain’s vision for this ambitious £227m project. Designed to provide high-qualit