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Architectural ceramics skills saved by experienced team

Jon Wilson and Steve Allen, both former employees of a specialist clay building products manufacturer, have set up Darwen Terracotta Limited and in the process been able to re-employ 25 skilled and experienced craftspeople in the new business. Their former employer, Shaws of Darwen, closed its terracotta and faience business to concentrate on their domestic sink range, leading to skills that could have been lost forever.

Jon explains, “Steve and I have over 50 years combined experience in this industry having worked on some of the most prestigious building projects in both the UK and USA. All of our people have spent most of their working lives in this trade and preserving these skills is vital. We are a close knit team with a strong commitment by everyone to support the business and succeed together.”

Cathedral Centenary War Repair Fund helps conserve Chester Cathedral

Essential conservation work has begun on the fabric of the ancient Chester Cathedral.

In 2014, Chester Cathedral became one of 31 English cathedrals to be awarded a grant as part of the £8.3 million First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund.

This award provided a once in a generation opportunity to re-lay the Cloister Roof and to reset the decorative pinnacles added to the cathedral by the esteemed cathedral architect Sir George Gilbert Scott.

ATLAS launches awards to celebrate 70th anniversary

The Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS) has launched a series of new industry awards to mark its 70th anniversary.

The ATLAS Awards 2016 mark 70 years of excellence within the lightning protection and steeplejack industry and will promote the high quality and scale of work of Specialist Contractors within the sector. The winners will be revealed at the ATLAS Gala Dinner in London next May.

Cabinet makers maintain the highest standards

Set within the heart of Devon, Colin Layzell Cabinet Makers pride themselves in maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship in all projects undertaken. Their reputation has been established through traditional values and by working with the finest materials - and never compromising cost over quality.

The company are a dedicated team of skilled craftsmen with a wealth of experience and knowledge across all aspects of their trade. They pride themselves in offering the highest standards across all of their work and love the challenges each new project brings.

Public and private works make up an enviable portfolio

Based in the evocatively named village of Cringles, near Silsden in West Yorkshire, is the team of highly-skilled stonemasons that make up Heritage Masonry and Conservation Ltd. Between them they cover all types of masonry, stone walling and cladding, operating across the country. The company has many years of experience in the industry and has worked hard to build up a first-class reputation for the quality of the work and service it provides.

Over recent years the company has been involved in a number of projects in both the private and heritage sectors, some of national importance.

Ancient Highland seat prepares for new occupants

A three-year restoration programme is reaching its conclusion at the historic Mingary Castle on the west coast of Scotland.

Mingary Castle stands by the sea a mile or so to the east of the village of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula – the most westerly village on Great Britain. It is a castle with a long and rich history, the seat of the Clan MacIain, a sept of Clan MacDonald and once one of the most powerful clans along the western coast of Scotland.

How revitalisation of Caernarfon Castle has brought the town to life

This summer saw the first ever live performance of songs from a Welsh television rock opera, Melltithar y Nyth, as part of the GŵylArall arts festival, one of several community events held at Caernarfon Castle.

Community involvement is one element in a multi-million-pound scheme to revitalise the castle and parts of the historic town.

Another vital component is the new interpretation and the new entrance to the castle itself — a £780,000 investment through Cadw and the Welsh Government’s Heritage Tourism Project, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Building made better with bimbricks.com

MBH PLC remains at the forefront of industry innovation, by continuing to invest and evolve its manufacturing processes. At the same time, it leads the way in offering intuitive, informative and supportive product data through the most up-to-date construction technology procedures. Acting rapidly on the Government's Construction Strategy, published in May 2011, MBH PLC responded with its first range of clay products files. As the first brick manufacturer to introduce Building Information Modelling (BIM) files in the UK, it is now delighted to see a surge in industry support, acceptance and participation.

Cupola installed in period 1920's property

Glasgow-based Verrier Art Glass Designers have recently completed the installation of a Cupola for a client who had purchased a house built in the early 1920’s. The original cupola had become ugly over the years through exposure to nicotine and general dirtiness.

Rather than trying to clean it, the client decided to replace it with something in keeping with the period of construction that would allow light through into the hallway, but also obscure the view of the roof.

ISCE announces seminar programme for ISCEx2016

ISCE has announced dates for this year’s ISCEx2016 exhibition, along with details of its seminar programme.

The two-day event is returning to the picturesque rural location of Coombe Abbey, outside Coventry (March 8-9) and will bring consultants, specifiers, installers and manufacturers together under one roof. The Institute’s AGM during the afternoon of March 8 will be followed by a networking dinner and entertainment in the evening.

A brief history of stained glass

Ecclesiastical and Heritage World The origins of the first stained glass windows are lost in history. The technique probably came from jewelry making, cloisonné and mosaics. Stained glass windows as we know them, seemed to arise when substantial church building began.

By the 10th century, depictions of Christ and biblical scenes were found in French and German churches and decorative designs found in England.

There is a mystery to glass: It is a form of matter with gas, liquid and solid state properties. Glass is most like a super-cooled liquid. It captures light and glows from within. It is a jewel like substance made from the most ordinary materials: sand transformed by fire.

More and more roofers are raising the competence standard

Competent Roofer Ltd is the leading Competent Persons scheme for roof refurbishment in the UK.

Launched in 2010 with backing from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), Competent Roofer has enjoyed great success in raising the profile of the roofing sector over the past five years.

In that time it has signed up over 500 members, issued over 26,000 job notifications and saved millions of pounds in Building Regulation Compliance Certificates (BRCC) charges.

Plastering Techniques by Milestone Lime Plastering

Many older properties can suffer from damp problems, cracking and hollow render. Before the 20th Century the building techniques and materials used were very different from those used today. Traditional properties need to be able to "breathe" to allow moisture within a solid wall construction to evaporate from the external stonework or render.

Lime putty was the base product mainly used to produce mortar, plaster and lime wash for traditional buildings. The advantages to using lime putty mortars instead of cement based mortars is that they are porous, thus allowing the property structure to breathe, they can accommodate general movement and the self healing nature of lime products reduces cracking problems.

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