Concrete

Sustainability and Significant Cost Savings with Celcon Foundation Blocks in Shrewsbury

Building Products Index Ltd July 23, 2019 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

H+H Celcon Foundation Blocks have been used in a new residential development in Shrewsbury. Sweetlake Meadow is well under construction, where a total of 175 new homes with two, three, four and five bedrooms are being delivered.

Shropshire based developer SJ Roberts Construction Ltd wanted to make sustainability a key priority for the project. It was their aim to make the new houses as environmentally friendly as possible, with enhanced thermal properties to reduce the cost of heating for the homeowners at Sweetlake Meadow.

Company Buyer Oliver Heighway explained: “The sustainability of H+H’s Aircrete Blocks speak for itself and aligns well with our inherent focus on ecological benefits: from sourcing of materials through to whole lifetime costs to the end user with reduced energy running costs.

“We’ve worked closely with H+H UK for many years and have established a good working relationship. Communication has always been a key part of this relationship, especially given previous supply issues with Aircrete products.

“Specifying H+H Ltd Celcon Foundation Blocks was therefore an easy decision, with guaranteed allocation from the manufacturer and stock locally, H+H can fulfil supply requirements through a number of avenues, which is imperative given time constraints of any development.”

Aircrete is often overlooked as a foundation material due to misconceptions about its load-bearing properties, however H+H Foundation Blocks are capable of comfortably supporting a three-storey residential building. Constructing foundations with aircrete can also deliver significant savings for the contractor.

An independent Cost Comparison Study by property and construction consultancy firm Calfordseaden found that simply changing the foundations to aircrete could reduce total build costs for a typical UK semi-detached three-bedroom property by almost 25%.

This is achieved through aircrete’s naturally quicker build speed which leads to reduced labour costs and the solid construction means that fewer materials are needed.

As the UK’s largest manufacturer of aircrete, H+H is able to provide full technical support throughout the lifetime of a project for specifiers and contractors. To find out more, visit the H+H website: www.hhcelcon.co.uk.

Cost effective coastal erosion prevention

Building Products Index Ltd March 27, 2019 Concrete, Precast Leave a Comment

View the Elite Precast Concrete entry on BPindex

Visit the Elite Precast Concrete website

In December 2018 Elite Precast Concrete were contacted by Richard Roseveare, owner of specialist groundwork and civil engineering company C-Shore Ltd to discuss what might be the quickest, easiest and most cost effective method of stopping further coastal erosion at a site in Cornwall.

A 45m stretch of the coast line was gradually being eroded by the sea which was in turn threatening to wash away sections of three back gardens above the cliff line.

The base of the cliff was only accessible from the beach at low tide so a solution that was both quick to install as well as being incredibly durable and able to withstand the harshest of stormy Cornish winter weather was needed.

Richard chose Elite’s largest range of high strength interlocking blocks (which have a design life of over 100 years) for the job and having settled on the design he and Elite set about planning the work.

Such was the remote nature of the construction site the blocks had to be delivered to a nearby holding area from where Richard could take them one by one to the foot of the cliff. So having cast the steel reinforced foundation slab using ‘no-fines’ concrete Richard set about installing the blocks.

Working quickly to avoid the incoming tides C-Shore were able to lay the blocks in a matter of days and of course without the need for shuttering, formwork, steel fixers and pumping large volumes of ready-mixed concrete.

The result is three very relieved and happy home owners who are safe in the knowledge that their gardens have been protected for many years to come by Richard’s ingenuity and Elite’s high strength Legato blocks.

For more information on C-shore’s specialist coastal erosion prevention services email Richard at c.shoreprojects@gmail.com or Elite Precast Concrete sales@eliteprecast.co.uk

C-shore coastal erosion prevention concrete blocks Elite precast concrete Legato blocks Precast concrete blocks

Facing Masonry, a ‘value engineering’ alternative for your project

Building Products Index Ltd April 26, 2018 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

View the Lignacite entry on BPi

Visit the Lignacite website

Designed for internal and external applications Lignacite’s Architectural Facing Masonry (AFM) blocks combine an inherent decorative appeal with strength and durability. They are one of the most sustainable and long-lasting building products available with many different textures from clean flat surfaces to heavily textured and irregular faces to stunningly beautiful polished masonry.

Building with facing blocks offers a number of benefits including structural strength and durability, sound control, fire protection and energy efficiency. Laying one standard block to 6 bricks, shows construction savings too. Maintenance costs are reduced as moisture for example, which can undermine other building materials has no adverse or weakening effect on concrete and the blocks are not subjected to large daily temperature fluctuations, having a positive effect on ventilation, heating or air-conditioning.

A ‘value engineering solution’ – The cost of building materials such as natural stone can be a prohibitive factor facing architects and designers. Research and development has enable us to create of a number of man-made alternatives which closely replicate these natural products, whilst showing cost savings and environmental benefits. An example of this can be seen on some of the recent phases of the Royal Wharf housing development in London, E16.

Our ‘Roman Brick’ is a smaller, lighter, contemporary designed block, measuring 440mm x 65mm. This module has the length of a standard block but the height a standard brick. Having all the benefits and flexibility of a brick and only weighing 6kgs, it makes an attractive alternate to brickwork or conventional facing blocks. This provides both material cost and labour savings giving architects and designers the opportunity to design modern buildings which can blend into more traditional settings.

We use a range of different manufacturing techniques to achieve a varied range of finishes and textures:

Natural or Fair Faced masonry is best suited to situations where clean crisp lines are required in conjunction with monotone colours. Enhanced visual effects can be created by using bands of different textures and colours. This may be particularly desirable where wall heights span several stories.

Splitting creates a craggy and heavily textured finish producing a decorative masonry finish. Whilst shot blasting to create our Weathered finish exposes the natural aggregates within the block, producing a flat but weathered texture.

Polishing produces a high gloss finish with a shine that is both lustrous and distinctive whilst creating further visual interest by exposing the raw materials beneath the surface.

The Planished finish is subtle and distinctive. Neither matt nor polished, it has an appealing and tactile finish. The surface is non-abrasive, making it ideal for external and internal use where people may brush past areas of walling in corridors and public spaces.

Stone Faced masonry offers designers the opportunity to use high quality natural stone, normally granite and marble, in a conventional facing block manner with a bed of mortar, in a very cost-effective way. 10mm slips of stone are bonded onto a dense concrete backing block. The bonding process uses the latest construction adhesive technology which has been rigorously tested for shear resistance and bonding. In addition, the finished product has been subjected to fire resistance and freeze/thaw testing.

Due to the increasing demand for more ‘environmentally friendly’ products, we are constantly searching for new and improved methods of production, including processes such as the refinement of our raw materials and the use of greater quantities of recycled materials such as glass, shells and flint and selected secondary aggregates. As a result, our commodity blocks have extremely high recycled content, with our facing blocks containing in excess of 75% recycled materials.

In conclusion, both the Lignacite facing masonry and commodity blocks offer an extremely versatile building unit. Available in a wide variety of colours, textures and formats, and offering good design flexibility our blocks can create both unique and stunningly visual impacts on buildings in a cost-effective manner.

For further information please visit our website www.lignacite.co.uk.

A full colour Swatch Guide showing all our block finishes can be requested via our website as well as many other useful documents in our Technical Library including a Design Guidance booklet. We offer a CPD on the benefits and uses of

concrete masonry. Please contact us for further details on 01842 810678.

Architectural Facing Masonry Blocks concrete blocks Facing Blocks Fair Faced masonry Lignacite roman brick

Ronafix Refurbishes Barbican Centre

Building Products Index Ltd March 26, 2018 coating, Concrete, conrete repair, waterproofing Leave a Comment

View the Ronacrete entry on BPi

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The barbican centre was constructed between 1969 and 1980 restoring a bomb damaged part of the City. Architects Chamberlin Powell & Bon planned a network of pedestrian precincts above and separated from traffic. This enclave contains the renowned Barbican Arts Centre, residential towers and blocks, a school, college, commercial premises, gardens and lakes.

The Centre took over a decade to build and was opened by The Queen in 1982, who declared it ‘one of the modern wonders of the world’ with the building seen as a landmark in terms of its scale, cohesion and ambition. Its stunning spaces and unique location at the heart of the Barbican Estate have made it an internationally recognised venue, set within an urban landscape acknowledged as one of the most significant architectural achievements of the 20th century.

Ronacrete was involved with construction at the Barbican. Ronafix was used at the Arts Centre by John Laing Construction and by other contractors working on various other parts of the scheme. Ronafix was used for bonding of tiles, for bedding of paving, for bonding large areas of render in the concert hall, for screeding and for repairing fire-damaged concrete.

A Grade II listed building; the Barbican is Europe’s largest multi-arts and conference venue and one of London’s best examples of Brutalist architecture.

Maintaining the quality of the surroundings requires a continuous programme of maintenance and replacement. By late 2011 the City of London concluded that a comprehensive replacement of the paving was required to address recurring problems with the waterproofing of the pedestrian decks, raised over commercial premises.

Bickerdike Allen Partners, a practice with a strong background in providing remedial solutions to building defects, was appointed to prepare a scheme to address water ingress through the podium, which was affecting premises below the podium deck. Following extensive discussion with Ronacrete between November 2011 and September 2012, Bickerdike Allen Partners specified Ronafix Mix Design A1 high strength polymer modified mortar for screeds to be laid to falls, Ronafix Mix A1 was chosen for its ability to be laid over insulation boards at a minimum thickness of 35mm, maximizing achievable falls and for its low permeability. Ronafix Mix Design C waterproof high strength polymer modified mortar was specified for bedding of tiles, chosen for its thin bed depth, high adhesion strength and waterproof properties. Ronafix used in a mortar mix enhances long term flexural and tensile strengths of a mortar, ensuring that materials remain durable for decades longer than unmodified materials. Ronafix significantly improves resistance to water absorption and in high concentration makes the mortar waterproof. Shrinkage is reduced in mixes modified with Ronafix to 0.1-0.2%, depending on the chosen mix design and when moisture sensitive materials are to be applied, the shorter drying time of Ronafix mix designs reduces waiting time from months to days or weeks.

VolkerLaser was appointed as the principal contractor; the main elements of the project were re-waterproofing, upgrading of insulation, hard landscaping and the installation of new structural movement joints. Liquid resin waterproofing was applied to the existing asphalt membrane of a large podium, located within the centre of a residential area and insulation was upgraded. The hard landscaping included the removal of existing tiles, adhesive beds and screeds and application of Ronafix screeds laid to falls and Ronafix thin bed waterproof mortars for bedding of tiles.VolkerLaser was appointed as the principal contractor; the main elements of the project were re-waterproofing, upgrading of insulation, hard landscaping and the installation of new structural movement joints. Liquid resin waterproofing was applied to the existing asphalt membrane of a large podium, located within the centre of a residential area and insulation was upgraded. The hard landscaping included the removal of existing tiles, adhesive beds and screeds and application of Ronafix screeds laid to falls and Ronafix thin bed waterproof mortars for bedding of tiles.

Tiles were bedded on a nominal 15mm thickness of Ronafix Mix C waterproof bedding mortar by A.T. Knott & Sons Ltd; selected for their extensive knowledge of the site, gained by their involvement in the original project.

VolkerLaser laid 10,000m2 of Ronafix Mix A1 to adjust falls on the deck, thus improving water shedding from the paving to the drains.

We at Ronacrete are very proud of our involvement in the construction of the Barbican Centre and of our involvement in the more recent podium deck works. For over 48 years, Ronacrete has been at the leading edge of product development and performance. Innovation and brand leadership are enhanced by technical support which is considered the best in the industry.

View more images from the project below.

bedding of paving bonding of tiles Ronacrete ronafix Ronafix Mix Design A1 waterproofing

CPM’s Redi-Rock walling to be seen at leading Rail event

Building Products Index Ltd April 26, 2017 Concrete, Walling Leave a Comment

View the CPM Group entry on BPi

Visit the CPM Group website

CPM’s Redi-Rock™ modular concrete walling will be on show at Britain’s leading showcase for railway products and services in May at the Railtex exhibition in Birmingham.

The Redi-Rock™ walling is ideal for protecting the rail line against erosion, landslips and rock falls, as the big block solution is both quick and easy to install when you have limited ‘track time’ available or are working within night-time possessions.

With less disruption to services through quick and economical installation in any weather, the Redi-Rock™ blocks have the look of natural stone and are available in three different faces, (Cobblestone, Ledgestone and Limestone) so can blend in with the natural environment and are versatile enough to achieve height without compromising strength.

Each modular block weighs approximately one tonne and is dry laid, so walls can be built in a fraction of the time and costs compared to other methods, a real benefit when closing the rail network for trackside maintenance and improvements.

With its strength and earth retaining capabilities Redi-Rock™ modular walling keeps both the train and track safe whilst offering a pleasant viewing and safe experience for rail passengers, making it an obvious choice for the rail industry.

For further information please visit http://www.cpm-group.com/products/retaining-walls/

concrete blocks Concrete walling CPM Group modular walling Railtex exhibition Redi-Rock

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