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Roofing Awards 2013 - Winners Announced

On Friday 17th May, the eighth annual Roofing Awards took place at the Hilton Metropole in central London. The event had brought together over 600 guests from across the roofing industry to congratulate this year’s winners, the ceremony was hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid.

Seaton Delaval Hall by Team Force

In conjunction with the National Trust, Team Force conducted extensive repairs to the famous Seaton Delaval Hall. This project consisted of three main restoration projects, encompassing all the expertises that Team Force have to offer.

The Care and Maintenance of Cotswold stone

"What attracts us to the rural idyll of the Cotswolds?" Asks Martin Hall of Hall and Ensom.

Even in these difficult market conditions the attraction of a stone cottage in this beautiful countryside is hard to resist. The stone buildings in the Cotswolds embody the best English traditions of craftsmanship and ordered beauty. Nothing gives our landscape such richness, individuality and charm as the local building materials.

Window opens on Middleton's historic mystery

The 500-year mystery of Middleton's most famous window – which is widely believed to be the world's oldest glazed war memorial – looks to have been solved.

For centuries Moonrakers have believed the magnificent Flodden Window at Middleton Parish Church of St Leonard was created in the 1520s to commemorate a 1513 battle between the English and Scottish.

Wudu ablution washing station joins specialist portfolio

Wudu literally means cleaning oneself in preparation for prayer. The communal act of washing before prayer is directed by the holy Quran. All Muslims must use clean water to wash hands and feet before performing salat (prayer) in Mosques, schools and places of Muslim worship all over the world.

To make refitting or installing this important area as cost effective and efficient as possible, Franke Washroom Systems has added a new Wudu Ablution/Washing Station to its portfolio of stainless steel commercial products. The new Wudu increases its range of products designed for the particular needs of different religions and cultures.

Repair of State Room windows at Manchester Town Hall

The State Room windows at Manchester Town Hall had been in a poor state of repair for many years and so in 2011 a scheme was proposed that would deal with health and safety issues raised by their condition.

Green Deal and traditional buildings

The UK has committed to an 80% reudction in CO2 emissions by 2050. The regular revision of Part L of the Building Regulations will help the UK achieve its targets for new houses but the realisation that most of the building stock in 2050 is already built has turned attention towards our existing houses and offices - and in particular the older housing stock which is rightly seen as, in general, being far less energy inefficient than the most recent housing stock.

St Paul’s calls for Darlington business

A County Durham specialist repair and maintenance company is completing thousands of pounds worth of work at one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks.

Darlington-based Stone Technical Services is already the only lightning conductor contractor approved to work at St Paul’s Cathedral in London and has worked with Clerk of Works for over 20 years on aspects such as maintenance and structure surveys.

Burial Authority Adviser

An interesting new part-time position has become available for a NAMM Burial Authority Adviser. This will be initially for a trial period of six months and for 2 / 3 days per week.

'Cathedral' is the word on the street!

If you have walked along Victoria Street recently, you would have witnessed the construction of Manchester’s newest religious building – the Cathedral on the Street! The original Cathedral building will be in the hands of contractors from the 3 April until the end of November so that we can replace the heating system.

The current underfloor heating mechanism, which dates from the 1950s, is no longer efficient and is being exchanged for a more up-to-date energy-saving heating scheme. Ground source heat pumps that use natural energy stored in the earth will heat and cool the cathedral, making it one of the greenest in the UK.

Saint Leonards Church, Cambridgeshire

This Parish Church, dedicated to St Leonard, dates from the 13th century and has many interesting features. It is a Grade 1 listed building located in Little Downham, Cambridgeshire.

We were called upon by Archimage Architects of Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, to convert the choir vestry into a disabled toilet facility.

Baroque masterpiece takes centre stage

In 1714 a number of wealthy coal merchants in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, undertook the construction of St George's Chapel, on the town's King Street. The new chapel was modelled on St Clement Dane in London designed by Sir Christopher Wren and in the news recently as part of the route taken at the funeral of the late Baroness Thatcher. The Grade One-listed building is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of baroque-style architecture outside London today.

After many years service to the town as a place of worship, the chapel fell into disrepair and was deconsecrated. Then, after a period of around 25 years as a theatre and community space following major repairs in 1974, the chapel was deemed unsafe and closed in 2006. Its future once again became unsure.

Consider the alternative

The increasing costs of lead theft are leading building owners, estate managers and specifiers to consider viable alternatives. Zinc is one of the most likely choices, but can you be sure you choosing a green alternative? Jonathan Lowy, Product Manager at VMZINC, states that the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’.

Zinc is among the most sustainable metals used in construction today and has been used on the roofs of Paris for almost 200 years. VMZINC rolled zinc products are used in construction industries throughout the world for their sustainability, distinctive appearance and low maintenance requirements.

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