On the economic front, last month commercial construction came close to doubling 2013 figure according to the latest BarbourABI report.  India’s biggest housing developer is to spend £3bn on UK projects and China continues invest in infrastructure.   It is also Brickies boom-time as skills shortages mean subcontractors ramp-up hourly rates. Construction wages rose 4%[…]

Howard Chapman, Buildingtalk Editor, reviews the construction industry response to the Scottish Referendum on Independence and offers his personal view on the vote. Yesterday 100 Scottish business leaders backed the NO vote, including Sir Fraser Morrison, former Chief Executive at Morrison Construction. The overall message was that there are far too many unanswered questions if[…]

Latest products, projects stories, news and comments from Buildingtalk Editor, Howard Chapman With pitched roofs problems being implicated in 60% of NHBC claims, the latest Buildingtalk Newsletter features a new roof putty solution that looks useful. There is also an industry debate going over the value of dry fix systems v. mortar for roofing –[…]

Latest products, projects stories, news and comments from Buildingtalk Editor, Howard Chapman Sapphire Balustrades demonstrate the value of offsite construction Follow the link to detailsof the Sapphire Balustrades record-breaking demonstration of the value of offsite construction, with an entire residential project’s pre-assembled balconies being installed in a single day!   We also explain the benefits[…]