Professional Builder is the leading magazine for the building sector, bringing its readers a wide variety of news, products, opinions and services from the entire scope of the industry. We probe its pages to bring to light the key topics for merchants.
Delving into the pages of Professional Builder this month and we take a look at the Carpentry & Joinery feature. Kicking us off is the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), whose campaign on ‘Trusted Timber’ is focused on making people aware that decking joists should have a Use Class 4 timber treatment, meaning they can be used or come in contact with the ground.
TTF also pointed out that merchants sell joist materials with a ‘green treatment’ which may well be timber treated for Use Class 2. This means it is suitable for interior use only and won’t last in ground contact with decking. This is the same for external timber which is Use Class 3 for above ground use only and again not suitable for in ground. It is worth pointing these differences out to customers when buying timber to ensure the differences are made clear and the right product is selected.
Staying in the Carpentry & Joinery feature now and regular contributor Tibby Singh Chodha returns to put the CAMO Hidden Edge Fastening System under the spotlight. The key to this product is that it hides the screws under the woodwork, ensuring a neat finish which doesn’t detract from the appearance of the project.
The fastening system only needs to be clamped to the decking board, with the screws loaded into the angle guided hole and then screwed into place front and back. The range includes the standard Marksman, designed with a single guide hole, to the Marksman PRO that has dual screw guides to fasten both sides with a single tool replacement.
Rounding off this feature is Medite Smartply with the introduction of its Smartply Siteprotect. Specifically designed to save time and money in the most demanding hoarding applications, it is a moisture resistant, pre-primed OSB3 panel.
The manufacturer says that it sells huge numbers via the merchant channel, and the board will now be available in a thickness of 16mm as well as 18mm and is manufactured using only FSC certified timber from sustainably managed Irish forests. The panels are suitable for maintaining sustainability throughout a site and can even contribute towards credits for environmental building standards — a key point to raise with your customers.
Moving on to the Painting & Decorating feature and Ronseal’s Trade Range is put to the test for BBA Certification. The woodcare range includes 10 Year Woodstain, Ultra Tough Floor Varnish, and Crystal Clear Varnish, which was all sent to the BBA test centre to be put through its paces.
The test from BBA included UV ageing to asses fading and colour changes, fungal resistance, abrasion, tensile strength, impact resistance, water vapour permeability, gloss, hardness and slip resistance. The test proved that the range did ‘exactly what it said on the tin’ with each gaining BBA Certification, making the range the first to achieve this recognition.
Milwaukee enters the fold now, and PB’s Products Editor Roger Bisby steps up to test out its BOS 125.0 Orbital sander. Billed as lightweight, the sander’s real benefit comes from its 18V battery, which allows it to be moved around a building untethered.
It is said to be ideal for any decorator who wants to quickly rub down fascias and works well on fillers as well as with the removal of coarser paper. It features six pre-set constant speeds, with the top speed giving 24,000 sanding strokes per minute. It also comes complete with the choice of two cordless dust extraction units — a perfect add-on for any merchant.
Closing off the Paining & Decorating feature is Tesa with its 4440 Precision Mask Outdoor tape. Described by the company as a high-grade paper masking tape for precise and flat paint edges, it consists of an extra thin and strong washi paper backing which has been coated with acrylic adhesive.
It is specifically designed to suit a variety of outdoor applications on a range of different surfaces including protecting PVC windows and masking lights in preparation of painting concrete surfaces —another great add-on product to boost trade counter sales.
A brief stop at Tools & Equipment brings us to Solid Gear’s Ocean safety shoe which has been designed to look more like a trainer than a traditional safety shoe. Workwear more and more is straying from the traditional styles and instead taking on a look that can be worn both on and off site.
Said to be built for workers constantly on the move, the shoe’s midsole is made of a poured PU rather than a traditional injected PU, in a bid to provide a more cushioned feel underfoot. The thick rubber outsole, on the other hand, provides anti-slip protection as well as durability, marrying style and function into one shoe.
Finally, and concluding things this month, is HiKOKI Power Tools with the launch of its 12V Peak Slide cordless tool series, which features a new range of slimline batteries. The range is said to be ideal for those who need to work in confined spaces as well as over long periods of time.
The compact batteries are said to also make the tool leightweight, perfect for longer use, as well as easy to handle, specifically, as none weight any more than 1.2kg.
For more information, visit www.probuildermag.co.uk.
