refurbishment

Many people have now heard of lightweight metal roofing systems, but many have not seen one in action. Because they look so much like a traditional roof, its easy to miss. A recent example of an award winning roof from Metrotile is the replacement roof for a hospital in South Wales.

When Metrotile was asked to provide options for re-roofing part of Glanrhyd Hospital in South Wales, the company’s Barry Jordan suggested Metrotile Woodshake for a number of reasons and John Rhys-Williams, the Project Officer for Capital Planning agreed.

In these difficult times, it’s important to look at your options when making a decision on which type of roof to use on new build or replacement roofing projects and to consider why it is that many social housing organisations are switching to using lightweight metal roofing systems for a number of their projects.

The list of benefits that come with using steel roofing panels is a long one and its one that needs careful consideration before going with more expensive options. Can these lightweight metal roofing systems be cost effective and easy to fit, as well as looking good?

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

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

Manufacturing windows and doors to keep communities safe has been a key driver for Shelforce for more than four decades.

The Birmingham-based company provides high-quality PVCu products and Fire doors for specialist window and door projects tailored to local authorities and housing associations and employs some of the city’s most vulnerable people with 75% of its workforce disabled.

As a result, Shelforce has developed effective relationships and works with national contractors and leading house builders within Birmingham and beyond.

The switch to non-combustible construction materials continues to impact housing, with ever-changing regulations leaving property managers looking for compliant and cost-effective options for fire-safety remediation projects across the UK. We spoke with Richard Izzard, managing director of AliDeck to see
how they’re leading the way in providing fire-safe aluminium decking and balcony components.

When concealing external pipework, building services and other utilities associated with low carbon district heating schemes or air-source and ground-source heat pumps, our metal pipe boxing range provides protection against accidental damage and improves a project’s aesthetics.

Bespoke manufactured to the individual project specifications from 2mm aluminium, as standard, Pendock metal boxing is available in two styles. CHM is a three-sided channel profile, for securing to a single flat surface, while the MXM is a two-sided 90-degree design for fixing to adjacent surfaces, such as walls and ceilings.

Hazel Verschuere, building products director from Deeplas, highlights some of the wide-ranging PVC-U product choices that can deliver budgetary and operational advantages for housing associations.

Housing associations must continually optimise the support and services they provide, while at the same time delivering high levels of tenant comfort and satisfaction.

As a result, it is important product specification choices take account of upfront costs, material performance, aesthetics, and ongoing maintenance commitments. Of these, any reduction in repair and maintenance can help cut financial pressures.