The nature of the construction industry has meant that concerns about physical health and safety have been priorities for longer than in most other industries. However, in recent years, it has been increasingly recognised that maintaining construction workers' mental health and well-being is equally crucial. Figures...
There's plenty of attraction in owning a historic property, but its stonework or masonry is likely to need periodic cleaning. If the building is listed or in a conservation area, this means legal restrictions on the techniques you can use. Even if this isn't the...
Piling is a standard construction technique that can be used for everything from major projects, like bridges or oil rigs, to home extensions. Lately, however, it's become increasingly popular as a means of underpinning unreliable foundations. Whenever you're undertaking any construction project, it's vital to ensure...
In recent months, we've been talking about retrofitting your basement. We've explained what a retrofit basement is and how to tell whether your property is suitable — but is it the right decision to make? How do the costs of a retrofit basement compare with...
A building might suffer from minor defects that can be easily rectified, but some issues are serious enough to threaten the structure's integrity and safety. These are generally referred to as serious structural defects. They may be caused by poor-quality materials or workmanship, but environmental...
In March, we posted part one of our essential 3-step guide to retrofitting your basement, explaining what a retrofit basement is, why you might need it, and what the essential steps are. In part two, we will look at the different conditions which may make retrofitting...
When you put a property on the market, any past underpinning work is one of the things you're legally obliged to declare. While this could, in some circumstances, have a negative effect, the picture is much more complex. It could even possibly make your home...
Many people nowadays want a basement added to their home, to provide extra space without expanding the building's footprint. One of the ways of achieving this is to retrofit an existing cellar as a basement, and over the next few months, we'll be offering a...
A well-constructed building should have masonry that does its job of supporting the structure. Eventually, however, it may become less efficient at this, either because of extra stress put on it or just because of the effects of time. In such a case, the masonry may...
Whatever type of building you have, it's safe to assume that it involves concrete somewhere. Maybe concrete blocks form the main structure, or maybe concrete has been used for the foundations, the roof or for details of the building. Like any construction material, concrete needs maintenance...