Melius Homes uses DuPont™ Tyvek® and Airguard® construction membranes and accessories to renew houses and improve their comfort and energy efficiency.

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Breathable Membranes, Membranes Leave a Comment

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Using DuPont Tyvek® and AirGuard® construction membranes and accessories Melius Homes re-skins
walls and roof with modern materials that provide greatly enhanced performance,
protecting the occupants from the harmful effects of heat, moisture and air leakage.
Photos courtesy of Melius Homes, all rights reserved.

Melius Homes (www.meliushomes.co.uk) is a building firm with a clear philosophy: build high quality, affordable, flexible new homes and transform existing dwellings into energy efficient, comfortable and healthy homes Rather than demolish structurally sound houses, Melius Homes re-skins walls and roofs with modern materials that provide greatly enhanced performance, protecting the occupants from the harmful effects of heat, moisture and air leakage. In order to achieve these goals and to be suitable for use in any location, Melius Homes specified a selection of DuPont construction membranes and accessories.

“With this project, we retain the existing building, and therefore it’s embodied energy. We encapsulate it to provide minimal air leakage, typically < 1m3/hr/m2. This is an improvement of greater than 90% over the building regulations and can be applied to almost any existing structure, whatever its type, across the whole of the UK.” said Paul Clark, Design Manager at Melius Homes.

On the wall panels warm side, DuPont™ AirGuard® SMART is incorporated as the AVCL and this provides a 100% airtight layer, combined with a controlled level of vapour resistance, in order to minimize convected heat losses. On the external, cold side of the Melius Homes panel, a W1 rated DuPont™ Tyvek® Reflex is fitted, and this means that not only can the panels be used in any exposure area, the uniquely lacquered, metallised surface, provides a protected low-e material, to permanently boost the performance of the insulation. DuPont™ Tyvek® Metallised tape is used to seal the membrane laps and maintain the systems thermal performance.

On the roof panels, a similar build up is employed, but here a layer of DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro underlay is used. Unrestricted when tested to BS5534 +A2 2018, Tyvek® Supro can also be used in any location in the UK, regardless of site location, height above sea level, proximity to water, site topography and ceiling condition. Adding to the convenience is the roll size – being 3.0 x 50m means minimizing overlaps which increases the speed of installation in the factory.

All buildings have penetrations and here, Melius Homes make use of DuPont™ Tyvek® Flexwrap EZ. The flexible nature of Tyvek® Flexwrap (a 1m length will stretch to 1.6m) makes it ideal for any sealing application, regardless of shape or size, with the need for separate grommets eliminated.

“We never seemed to have the correct size for the job! Tyvek® Flexwrap EZ means that all we need to do is cut it to length and this, in turn, means that there is no waste, an important consideration when constructing low carbon homes”, commented Paul Clark.

Quick and easy to install, the Melius Homes approach, and the Tyvek® and AirGuard® membranes and accessories that are used, ensures the best performance possible and utilises the best of both worlds – retained masonry construction for thermal mass and timber panels for maximum thermal performance and airtightness. This is vital because airtightness ensures that the system performs “as designed”, with virtually no performance gap, and keeps heating bills to a minimum.

About Melius Homes (www.meliushomes.co.uk) – Melius Homes brings years of experience to the challenge of creating a bespoke home with the consistency and reliability of a manufactured product. Their homes are built in a systematic and controlled way, with much of the fabrication undertaken in an enclosed factory environment.

This approach allows the firm to manage the construction and assembly processes with real rigour. Factory fabrication reduces the number of construction faults and improves the internal fit and finish of materials, built-in fittings and appliances in bathrooms and kitchens. The same approach is applied to the vital ‘hidden’ elements – the wiring, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems – that form an increasingly important role in new, low-energy cost homes.

About DuPont Performance Building Solutions – A division of the Water & Protection segment of DuPont, DuPont Performance Building Solutions is a global innovation leader in the building and construction industry, providing products and materials for the building envelope. With today’s focus on the reduction of emissions and improved energy efficiency, you can count on brands such as Tyvek®, AirGuard®, Great Stuff™, InstaStik™ and Froth-Pak™ that have been at the heart of

building solutions for decades backed by unmatched industry insight, building knowledge, and technical support.

The products and services portfolio of DuPont Performance Building Solutions enables customers to focus on what they do best, no matter where and how they choose to build. To know more about DuPont Performance Building Solutions in the UK, please visit https://www.dupont.co.uk/building.html

In support of its aspiration to lead and partner in delivering solutions that transform how lasting affordable shelter is created for people around the world, DuPont Performance Building Solutions

(PBS) has set a series of Sustainability Goals, aligned within the framework of DuPont’s 2030 Sustainability Goals. Specifically, DuPont Performance Building Solutions aspires to:

Direct 100 percent of the innovation portfolio to meaningfully advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and create value for customers;
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from operations by 75 percent from 2019 levels;
Advance the circular economy in the building industry through innovation in materials and business models, collaboration, and end-of-life plans that eliminate and upcycle waste across the product life cycle;
Collaborate with customers and partners to bring green chemistry innovations to market and will drive continued reduction in the presence of priority substances in the product portfolio;
Work to build communities, strengthen families, and empower the next generation across the globe.

About DuPont – DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com.

DuPont™, the DuPont oval logo, Tyvek®, the Tyvek® logo system and all other products denoted with ™ or ® are registered trademarks or trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours Inc., unless differently specified. Other logos, trademarks and registered trademarks are a property of their respective owners.

STONEBOUND RESIN BOUND PATHWAYS FOR SOUTH WALES POLICE HQ IN BRIDGEND

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Resin Bound Surfacing Leave a Comment

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Addagrip Terraco resin bound Stonebound has been installed by approved contractor Thortech Ltd for paths and walkways as part of the stunning new development at the South Wales Police HQ site in Bridgend, Wales.

The new 6,500m2 facility designed by Powell Dobson Architects offers a combination of offices and learning in an open plan 4-storey building to provide a centralised location for delivery of courses and examinations for recruits.

The client was looking for a decorative, low maintenance natural aggregate surface that would be hard wearing and provide a seamless paving option for the walkways around the new building. Porosity was an important consideration to ensure good drainage and reduce surface water.

Thortech Ltd were appointed by Horan Construction, on behalf of Wilmott Dixon, to install 2517m2 of Stonebound resin bound porous surfacing to create decorative, hard wearing, permeable pathways around the building and as part of the landscaping.

Stonebound resin bound in a Rock Salt blend was selected to complement the contemporary style of the new building and offer a slip resistant surface for the pedestrian areas.

The installation commenced in October 2021 and was completed in January 2022, much to the client’s satisfaction.

SUSTAINABILITY AND THE 40-YEAR MORTGAGE

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at aircrete manufacturer H+H, outlines the arguments for a building method that focuses on the long term.

Aircrete makes the perfect structure for certified Passivhaus homes

The arguments around what constitutes sustainable building practice continue to shift focus. Back in 2007 the emphasis was on zero carbon in use for new homes. In 2022 much more attention is being placed on embodied carbon and the race is on for manufactures to decarbonise their businesses.

Both objectives are hugely important, of course, and H+H has demonstrated its ability to deliver on the first and now has a robust plan to deliver on the second. However, we would argue that there is an important third: the need to consider the long term.

It has always seemed strange to me that there is so little attention paid to how long a building should be expected to last. Most guidelines seem to anticipate a sixty year design life but surely this is insufficient?

Replacement rates

Stone clad to suit the local style, these houses are based on modern Thin-Joint construction

In the UK we demolish about 9,000 homes per year. If we continue to replace the current housing stock at this speed, we would need every house built today to last not sixty years but several hundred.

This is not new information, but in this context it is odd that lightweight housebuilding systems are encouraged, based on their ability to meet speed of build and energy efficiency standards, with no apparent focus on longevity.

The crunch may come with the financial model. With house prices in 2021 averaging £198,000, mortgage finance is essential for most first-time buyers, and the length of available mortgage terms is rising.

Mortgage terms and housing durability

this new home, built with underfloor heating and an air source heat pump is a glimpse of the future.

The English Housing Survey finds that 45% of first-time buyers in 2018-2019 had a mortgage of 30 years or longer and 40-year mortgages are becoming increasingly common. 2021 saw one company launching a 40-year fixed term mortgage.

What this essentially means is that to be attractive to buyers your home needs to be pretty sure to have a service life comfortably longer than a normal mortgage term.

Not surprisingly, H+H has always argued that masonry homes, designed to last for one hundred plus years, are the best long-term option in terms of financial security. We would also argue that the most sustainable homes are surely those which last a very, very long time.

Meeting the immediate

a modern material to last for centuries

Right now, with the pressure to increase the volume at which we build new homes, the priority for builders is to ensure that familiar building methods can meet current building standards.

The latest collaborative project to involve H+H aircrete is Project 80, a research project designed to demonstrate how masonry building methods will meet the Future Homes standard, requiring a reduction of 75% – 80% over current building regulations.

Sustainable building – a holistic view

The arguments around what constitutes sustainable building will continue and the wisest course is surely not to focus on one performance aspect in isolation but to consider the bigger picture and take a holistic view.

For H+H this means building energy efficient homes whose creation involves the minimum possible immediate environmental impact and which will continue to provide a resilient, dependable asset for generations.

To find out more about aircrete from H+H, visit our website at www.hhcelcon.co.uk

Watch how the ACO Patented Blue Roof design can benefit your next project

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Building Drainage, Drainage Leave a Comment

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The newly patented ACO blue roof attenuation system forms an independent tank that can be constructed on any new or existing flat roof where roof waterproofing has been applied. The system can be installed on a warm, inverted, or uninsulated roof using a single ply, cold or hot melt waterproofing system.

ACO have just launched a new series of animation videos to show how the system is built up and how it functions on a number of different roof types. The system provides the following benefits:

Reduces overall building risk by providing greater design resilience for all types of flat roof construction
Ensures compliance with Flat Roofing and Drainage building standards and The Building Regulations, allowing the system to drain slowly in normal use and quickly in extreme conditions.
Ensures compliance with The SuDS Manual hydraulic design guidance and planning conditions
Simplifies design responsibility
Is suitable for new build or retrofit schemes
Is ideal for use as part of a combined passive irrigation or active rainwater harvesting system and embraces the ambition of integrated water management

Kevin Bohea, Divisional Managing Director, stated ‘ACO is proud to bring this patented, market-leading system to the roofing industry. Using ACO RoofBloxx as the key attenuation product in the system, ACO can advise on the build-up of the system for projects and provide the hydraulic calculations needed for different roof types.’

Visit www.aco.co.uk/blue-green-roofs to learn more about the ACO System and watch the animations here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7UPS7iqIPE . Call 01462 810421 for design enquiries

High performance & contemporary styling that lets more of the outdoors in.

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Doors, PVC-U Leave a Comment

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The fashion for bi-fold doors shows no sign of slowing down.

Why would it, when it offers all that extra natural light the whole year round and the added advantage of throwing open a ‘glass wall’ to let the outside in during the summer months?

So to give you even more of that bi-fold ‘wow’ factor Eurocell offers StudioGlide®. With so many options and configurations to choose from, StudioGlide® meets your needs exactly.

Dual colour and multiple threshold options. Double or triple glazing… the choice is practically limitless. Not to mention, of course, the improved sight lines, increased door sizes and slimmer profiles that come as standard with this breakthrough bi-fold design.

All easily fabricated and quick to install with a full 10-year guarantee against warping and frame failure for your complete peace of mind.

The secure choice

It might be designed to let the outside in, but not much else gets past StudioGlide®. That’s thanks to industry leading security features that give you all the peace of mind that comes with full PAS 24 accreditation.

10-year guarantee

StudioGlide® bi-fold door profiles and door furniture are guaranteed for ten years. That means you get all the assurance of a robust, well-designed, precision-made product that’s built to last.

StudioGlide® frames are available in a range of classic colours, complimented by shootbolt and door handles in a wide range of colours & finishes

FIND OUT MORE – https://www.eurocell.co.uk/specifiers/doors/studioglide-aluminium-bi-fold-doors

Benjamin Moore Now Available at Brewers!

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Paint Leave a Comment

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Brewers are thrilled to announce Benjamin Moore paint is now available on Brewers.co.uk and selected stores across the country. Benjamin Moore & Co is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of premium quality maintenance coatings.

Product performance and extraordinary colours are presented through Benjamin Moore’s commitment to colour and dedication to search for the perfect hues, leading customers to say: “that’s the colour I want”. With Benjamin Moore’s famous colour collections, choosing the perfect colour scheme has never been easier!

Every product has been designed with a specific purpose in mind, which is the secret to a wide range of products that deliver longevity, durability, and superior application properties.

Ultra Spec Scuff-X is a revolutionary interior paint which has been specifically engineered to resist scuffing in the most demanding high traffic areas. This breakthrough product offers superior durability with easy application. Scuff-X is also available in a wide range of finishes to be able to achieve the desired look of your choice ranging from Matte, Eggshell, and Satin.

Aura perfectly demonstrates Benjamin Moore’s commitment to colour and durability performance. Aura provides the most advanced way to bring colour to life using their exclusive Colour Lock technology, bringing your richer, truer colour. Aura is available in Matte, Bath & Spa Matte and Eggshell finishes.

Browse the Benjamin Moore range today on Brewers.co.uk

Howe Green and DMC Contracts create strong foundations at Whitechapel Elizabeth line station

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 access covers Leave a Comment

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As an important interchange for both the Hammersmith & City and District Lines and London Overground, Whitechapel station will be an integral element of the Elizabeth line, with services running every two and a half minutes at peak times.

Featuring a design approach that weaves the new Elizabeth line station between the existing transport services to an elevated station concourse that acts as a bridge to improve community links, the full route will allow passengers to travel through to Paddington, Heathrow or Reading in the west and Shenfield or Abbey Wood in the east.

As part of the construction process, 900 of Howe Green’s 7500 Series Floor Access Covers in standard and bespoke depths have been specified and installed by official Crossrail sub-contractor and one of the UK’s leading fit-out contractors, DMC Contracts.

Supplied in single, duct and multipart configurations, the resilient steel floor access covers have been installed throughout all areas of the station, including the new ticket hall and station concourse, to provide secure and concealed access to under-floor services.

Howe Green’s durable 7500 Series Floor Access Covers were specified in standard and bespoke depths in conjunction with Granazzo floor tiles, to create a streamlined visual appeal, whilst also delivering the highest standard in safety and security.

Suitable for up to 5 tonne pneumatic tyre wheel loads, the medium-duty floor access covers will also withstand heavy footfall throughout all areas of the station with ease, whilst the easy lift mechanism will ensure minimal disruption to passengers when engineers are accessing below floor services.

Conor McCann, Director at DMC Contracts, said: “The new Whitechapel Elizabeth line station was a significant project for both ourselves and the team at Howe Green. The sheer size of the development required a significant quantity of floor access covers to provide consistent and secure access through every area of the vast station.

“By working in close partnership with Howe Green, we were able to ensure each project specification was successfully met. The end result is a flooring installation that not only reflects the polished, calming aesthetic of the entire station, but is also functional, safe and compliant.”

Manufactured to BS 476: Part 22, the 7500 Series Floor Access Covers provide resistance to fire and smoke for up to two hours, eliminating the potential transmission of smoke and fire from below floor services in the event of a fire. This was a key consideration throughout the specification process, to ensure the access solutions provide the highest standards in safety and performance throughout all areas of the station.

Chris George, Business Development Manager at Howe Green, said: “Our relationship with DMC Contracts spans over 15 years and it was a real privilege to be able to collaborate together on such an iconic and significant infrastructure project.

“The design of the new Whitechapel Elizabeth line station required bespoke specifications, which our inhouse team of design and engineering experts in Hertfordshire were able to quickly and successfully accommodate, to ensure a functional yet visually appealing finish.”

For further information on Howe Green’s complete range of floor access solutions, visit www.howegreen.com or call 01920 463230.

QIC Trims feature ceiling and glass partitions are an ideal fit

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Aluminium Trims Leave a Comment

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QIC TRIMS FEATURE CEILING AND GLASS PARTITIONS ARE IDEAL FIT FOR SPORTSWEAR COMPANY’S STUNNING NEW CAMPUS

QIC Trims supplied a stunning feature ceiling and a series of glass partitions for a multimillion-pound state-ot-the-art campus that is designed to inspire innovation and further the success of one of the world’s fastest-growing sportswear brands.

The 56,888ft² building, which is located in Solihull near Birmingham, is the creative HQ of fitness clothing and accessories provider, Gymshark. The company’s astonishing rise is one of the most inspiring business success stories of recent years. University friends, Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan, founded the business in 2012 whilst still teenagers. What started as a cottage industry, with the pair manufacturing clothes in Ben’s parents’ garage, has less than a decade later mushroomed into a worldwide brand with offices in cities across the globe. In 2020, the Gymshark brand was valued at more than £1 billion.

The company’s new campus stands alongside its UK HQ, as well as its gym and innovation hub on the same West Midlands site. Every aspect of the new building is designed to fuel creative energy amongst employees and boost Gymshark’s promotional output. Its uber-contemporary open plan offices provide huge floorspace for the inclusion of a number of innovative installations such as meeting pods, podcast recording suites and a photographic studio. In-keeping with the offices’ stylishly-industrial aesthetic, the client required a ‘statement’ ceiling to facilitate the design of a tunnel-effect entrance that leads into the building’s most creative area.

For this imaginative architectural feature, QIC Trims worked alongside fit-out specialists Proline Internals to design and manufacture the 30m x 5m metal-based meshed ceiling. The free-hanging raft system, which ‘floats’ between walls and the ceiling to allow natural airflow, was used to inspire a ‘wow’ factor amongst staff and visitors. From its outer perimeter section to the bespoke mesh tiles which are fitted within a bespoke grid design, QIC Trims supplied the entire free-hanging ceiling system. The feature achieved its aim; it’s inspired a ‘wow’ factor amongst staff whose work involves innovating projects and ideas to maintain Gymshark’s industry-leading profile.

Additionally, a double-glazed system from QIC Trims’ glass partition range provided an acoustic barrier for a series of office meeting rooms within the campus. The partition’s minimalist and sleek profile belies its robust capability in reducing sound transference, allowing meetings to take place in private despite the offices’ open plan nature. QIC Trims also supplied skirting trim for the office; its specially adapted channels allowing for the incorporation of LED lighting.

The Gymshark installation provides further proof of QIC Trims’ ability to bespoke design and manufacture ceilings and other vital ancillary solutions which meet a project’s practical and aesthetic demands. It certainly helped ensure the sportswear specialist’s new building is fit for purpose as a creative campus.

Renderplas PVCu render beading recertified by the BBA

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 PVCu Beading Leave a Comment

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The extensive range of Renderplas PVCu beading has been reapproved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA). And Renderplas movement joints are the only movement joints that the BBA have certified as compliant with the relevant building standard. This is welcome for construction industry professionals tasked with specifying render materials or constructing wall build-ups.

Renderplas’ high-quality beading is compatible with all main render manufacturers and is popular amongst rendering contractors and plasterers across all sectors of the building trade. Cutting-edge manufacturing techniques mean their PVCu products typically outperform and outlast stainless steel equivalents. This is good news for anyone looking for lightweight, easy-to-handle cost-effective materials.

Renderplas has been leading the PVC bead market with innovations and developments since 1990. With over thirty years of experience, they have also developed strong relationships with major national builders’ merchant networks. Their products, from standard bellcast and corner beads to stop beads and movement joint beads, are widely available throughout the UK and stock can typically be delivered within 48 hours.

Thanks to recertification from the BBA, designers, architects, specifiers and rendering contractors can continue to select Renderplas products with confidence in their suitability, quality, and performance.

British Board of Agrément (BBA) approval for PVCu render beading

The BBA has been the major authority approving products, systems, and installers across the UK construction industry for over 50 years. It examined Renderplas products against a range of measures before reissuing an updated Agrément Certificate.

The construction supply chain depends on BBA certificates to set the bar for construction quality. They are only awarded once a range of tests and analyses have been completed including checks on structural integrity, durability, and maintenance requirements.

In the case of Renderplas, the BBA states that Renderplas uPVC beads are proven to be suitable for fixing external rendering to walls made up of masonry, dense concrete, or timber-frame. They can be installed by a competent general builder experienced in external rendering, and that Renderplas beading is resistant to mechanical damage and that maintenance is unlikely to be required over their 25-year design life.

These conclusions were reached following impact and heat-ageing tests, weathering tests and pull-out resistance tests. Movement joints were also tested for their strength and durability.

As a result of the above, the BBA has issued Renderplas’ Certificate with the Product Sheet Reference 11/4823. It states that in the opinion of the BBA, correctly installed, used, and maintained Renderplas PVCu beads satisfy, or contribute to satisfying, relevant Building Regulations.

Choosing uPVC beading for your render

BBA certification ensures choosing uPVC rendering beads for your next project comes with reassurances. This is why it is increasingly becoming the product of choice for architects and designers looking for something modern, effective and easy-to-use. Renderplas beading can be colour matched to the render material too – opening a whole range of aesthetic possibilities.

Daniel Leedham Green, Managing Director at Renderplas, comments on the news.

‘We’re delighted to have our product recertified with the BBA. It is a welcome seal of approval for us, our work, and our products. Our PVCu alternatives to traditional stainless-steel beading remain as popular as ever. Our recycled product is unparalleled when it comes to sustainability targets and, as there’s not enough organic material within a render system to support combustion, Renderplas beading maintains the highest of safety standards too.’

Renderplas’ dedicated team of experts are available to help with advice and customer support regarding British Standards and their BBA certification for uPVC beading, as well as any other queries regarding their extensive range of render beading products.

Balconette Balustrade boasts spectacular views of the Cairngorms

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 balustrades Leave a Comment

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Looking smart and boasting spectacular views towards the Cairngorms, this stunning self-installed Balconette balustrade in Ballater, Aberdeenshire has quite rightly made its retired owner, John Monks, very proud.

It took the former Army engineer four months ‘just pottering away each day’ to transform the garden and its old ‘haphazard patio’ with new low-maintenance composite decking and more than 18 metres of Balconette balustrading.

He installed Balconette’s Hybrid^® Orbit System, with its circular handrail in a Royal Chrome anodised finish, above the finished decking. The base plate covers, support posts, and end posts, where required, are also finished in Royal Chrome to give a uniform look.

“I am very proud. I’m not shy of the fact I’m 68 going on 69 and I actually managed to erect this entire balustrade system myself; that actually says something about Balconette’s product. It’s a good product,” says John, who had also worked in the offshore oil industry.

Knowing what he was looking for, John found Balconette via an internet search and liked the look of their website and customer case studies. “There were a couple of competitors, including some in Scotland, but Balconette was very responsive, and I had no complaints.”

Despite some issues due to the pandemic, John praised the company’s efficiency with delivery and helping him with technical advice, saying: “I had 26 big panes of glass delivered and none of them were broken, which is testament to some good packing and good courier services. Only one the last one was the wrong shape, but Balconette was very understanding – and a new one arrived on my doorstep in 10 days.”

For John, self-installing the balustrade ‘had its frustrations, but Balconette’s instructions and video were good,’ though the system required him to find his own screws and bolts to secure the support posts to the decking.

“That actually works better as I knew exactly the strength of the decking and what I would need in terms of fixings. I’ve got a fine array of power tools, so I wouldn’t say it’s easy to erect,” he continues.

“But the fact that a pensioner who doesn’t have an engineering degree to his name, but just a bit of common sense and the confidence to go about it, I was able to do it pretty much on my own says a lot…because you look at it and think that must need at least two people.”

In fact, with help from his wife Sue, ‘sometimes holding a piece of glass while I put bits and pieces together, John says he ‘probably handled 99% of it himself’.

“It’s testament to the product more than it is to me,” says John, who admits he was nervous about getting the angles right for the balustrading while he was constructing the decking, helped by his son-in-law.

“I just knew where I wanted the bends in the decking, and then only when I’d finished it and contacted Balconette about the balustrading, I was advised that the measurements had to be exact. We got there eventually, and it works perfectly!”

Asked what he likes best about the Orbit system, John rates its ‘attractive appearance, safety protection, and shelter from the wind.’

He adds: “We wanted glass to keep the view, especially when we’re lying on the sun loungers or in the hot tub, and the glass also provides shelter from the wind. The handrail height is perfect too, as you can lean on it and admire the view.

“As the elevated decking is up to two feet above the lawn, the balustrade creates a secure area so the grandkids can ride their bikes and not fall off. It’s great; we love it!”

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