Bournemouth builder hails benefits of West Fraser panels

An experienced carpenter and builder based near Bournemouth, who has been involved in the construction of bespoke homes for two local developers, has taken to social media to demonstrate the speed and efficiency of installing West Fraser’s CaberDek, as well as the manufacturer’s SterlingOSB Zero.

Steve Mayes, who took a carpentry course in his late teens, has spent the last 15 years working on new-build and refurbishment projects, here and in New Zealand, and has now become a self-employed member of the erection team for the Glass Harbour Group and Ashhaus Construction.     

Amongst the properties currently under construction are two mirror-image, three-bedroom detached houses where the stick-build frames are being sheathed with 11mm SterlingOSB Zero to provide racking strength. Then at first floor level, Steve and his fellow chippies are laying 22mm CaberDek across the floor joists prior to installing the wall plates: as illustrated at https://www.instagram.com/stevemayeschippy/

‘High standards’

Steve comments: “These new homes conform to high standards including energy performance and quality of finish. The SterlingOSB Zero is being used to conform to the structural engineer’s requirements.  

“Then to install the CaberDek across the joists, we are using the CaberFix glue and 50mm ring shank nails to make sure there are no squeaks; the adhesive is applied to the tongue and groove joints as well. 

“We particularly like the ruggedness of the boards which means you don’t get any damage to the edges when you are pulling them up over the scaffolding, like you do with some makes, slowing things up.  

“And once you get the first row fixed down, the consistent size avoids the misalignment that creeps in with other decking, which can take a lot of work to correct. We were laying the first-floor decks for these homes in two to three days and getting a nice tight floor at the finish.”

Supplied in this instance through the local branch of Travis Perkins, CaberDek panels measure 600mm wide by 2400mm long. CaberDek is available in an easy to install and familiar T&G format, making it the ideal choice for housebuilders or sub-contractors to ensure rapid installation, ready to face the toughest of conditions on site.

All West Fraser panel products produced in the UK are net carbon negative and manufactured in mills that have obtained the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation. Responsibly sourced, the panels are FSC certified and created from locally grown timber, cutting embodied carbon from transportation.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com