Tradesman4u.com’s Trade and Construction Blog: Find a Tradesman the fast and easy way

Find a Tradesman the fast and easy way

If you have ever needed to find a tradesman quickly and easily then we are glad to say that we can help. Tradesman4u.com is proud to introduce its innovative and user friendly website designed to make finding a tradesman easy, quick and free.

The website allows visitors to freely post details of the work they require doing in their home and then the system does the rest. If for example you were looking for a Blackpool Builder

then all you would need to do is select the appropriate options from the dropdown boxes on the homepage and tradesman4u will then instantly notify their registered members by both text and email of the details of your work.

Find a tradesman

From there all the interested builders in the Blackpool area who are available and ready to provide you with quotes will contact you based on the information you provided. They are provided with your name, telephone number and the description you input when posting the job. This makes the process much easier for the customer as the builder has all the details they need in front of them.

Once you have been contacted by the tradesmen interested the customer can sign back into their account and they will see the details of the builders and have the ability to read through previous feedback left by other customers who have used their services.

Once you have instructed your workman and the job is completely you can then return to tradesman4u.com and leave appropriate feedback for them

Why not check it out today.

via Tradesman4u.com’s Trade and Construction Blog: Find a Tradesman the fast and easy way.

Guest Blog from Asbestos.com providing helpful advice on the dangers and health risks of exposure to Asbestos.

Which Construction Jobs have the Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

The construction industry has been one of the largest sources of asbestos exposure. Before regulations in the late 1970s limited the use of asbestos in construction material, more than 3,000 asbestos-containing products were made with asbestos.

Products like cement, paint, insulation, drywall and roofing materials all contained asbestos. Workers, who mixed, installed or removed these products likely experienced exposure if they failed to wear protective gear. At the time, most workers were completely unaware that asbestos could cause serious diseases later in life.

As a result, many former construction workers have developed mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These conditions are typically fatal and treatment options usually only relieve symptoms for a short period of time. The best way to fight an asbestos-related disease is to detect it early. With symptoms taking as much as 50 years to arise, former construction workers who handled asbestos should receive annual screenings to check for an asbestos-related disease.

Jobs at Risk

Although every job in the construction industry could have placed workers at risk for inhaling asbestos, certain tasks carried higher than average risks for exposure. Construction jobs that have historically been associated with high exposure rates include:

Roofers and Siding Installers – Roofing materials have been a big source for asbestos exposure because shingles and roofing felt were made with asbestos. The installation of a roof with asbestos products or the removal of one that was built with asbestos materials certainly could result in airborne asbestos fibers.

Siding installers also faced asbestos risk factors on a regular basis. During the housing boom in the 1960s and ‘70s, asbestos siding was a very popular material. Today’s construction workers should be careful when replacing old siding on a house.

Demolition Worker – Demolition work is one of the most at-risk jobs for asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers become airborne after being disturbed and demolition work is certain to damage asbestos products if they’re present.

Insulation Installer – Asbestos insulation has possibly been responsible for more exposure occurrences than any other asbestos product. The material was used in attics, basements, walls, electrical boxes and anywhere else that required insulation. Asbestos naturally possesses insulating and fireproofing capabilities, so incorporating it into insulation materials made perfect sense.

Drywall Installer – Before the 1980s, drywall was often made with asbestos. The installation or removal of drywall has always been an occupation with higher than average exposure risks. If asbestos-containing drywall needed to be cut to fit into a specific space, asbestos fibers were likely released into the air.

Abatement Worker – Anyone who performs asbestos abatement is certainly at risk for exposure. Abatement workers are called in to physically remove asbestos-containing materials. If done improperly, exposure can easily occur.

Although most workers fully understand the risks involved and take all precautions to avoid inhaling asbestos, accidents can happen. Some companies hire employees unfamiliar with asbestos abatement practices and do not protect them with equipment. However, it is illegal to let uninformed workers perform asbestos abatement and all safety precautions must be taken. Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strictly enforce safe asbestos procedures.

There are a number of additional construction jobs that place workers at risk on a daily basis, but the jobs mentioned above presented some of the highest risks. Those who performed these jobs for more than a few years naturally have a higher chance of developing an asbestos-related cancer. However, it should be noted that there is no safe level of exposure. If asbestos-containing materials are suspected, it’s best to assume asbestos is present and to take all safety precautions.

Bio: Jensen Whitmer has been writing for the Mesothelioma Center for more than three years and he has an interest in spreading awareness about the hazardous effects of asbestos exposure.

95% of homes fail to meet ventilation requirements | Magazine News | Building

95% of homes fail to meet ventilation requirements

Rise in airtight homes prompts increase in mechanical systems

More than nine out of 10 homes have insufficient ventilation to meet regulations, research has found.

The Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) has revealed that 95% of homes it tested did not meet the requirements of the 2010 version of Part F of the Building Regulations, which covers ventilation.

New homes are becoming more airtight in response to tougher energy regulations and are relying more on mechanical ventilation to maintain indoor air quality.

Jon Bootland, director of the Good Homes Alliance (GHA), which published a report on the issue in February, said the industry was struggling to cope with this rapid shift in build techniques.

He said: “How many homes had mechanical ventilation systems until about three years ago? We don’t have the skills base to get this right.”

BSRIA found improperly installed ductwork was the biggest problem, followed by undersized or insufficient fans. Housebuilders need to produce a test certificate to demonstrate compliance with regulations. But BSRIA said the standard of testing was poor as few testers had suitable equipment.

The GHA also said it found problems with poor testing.

“Someone had a commissioning certificate where there wasn’t any power supply so the system couldn’t possibly have been working,” Bootland said.

via 95% of homes fail to meet ventilation requirements | Magazine News | Building.

Regeneration of Olympic Park to Boost the Building Construction Industry

RICS flags improving construction sector | Online News | Building

Surveyors report increased Q1 activity in face of ONS data which showed 3% contraction

The latest RICS Construction Market Survey suggests the sector edged upwards in the first three months of 2012 – contrasting with the sharp fall in output suggested by official economic data.

Some 8% more chartered surveyors reported increases rather than decreases in workloads during the first quarter of the calendar year, described as a “notable improvement” on the negative reading seen towards the end of last year.

The institution said the finding reflected a “marked contrast in performance between the private and public sectors”, with the former picking up in the commercial sector in particular, while public sector construction remained depressed.

Last month the Office for National Statistics said a 3% decline in construction sector production was a significant factor in the UK economy’s return to recession.

The RICS said an important aspect of its latest construction sector survey was that some 21% of respondents expected workloads to rise over the coming 12 months – the most positive reading since 2008.

RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said there was a cautious level of optimism developing. “Workloads rose across the sector, albeit modestly, and this looks as though it could continue over the next twelve months,” he said.

“Promisingly, this could also result in an increase in the numbers of jobs created in the sector.

“There are of course still significant hurdles to overcome. Finance for development remains a problem as does macro-economic uncertainty. On top of this, the public sector will continue to scale back its capital spending programme putting ever more pressure on the private sector and institutional investors to deliver.”

Surveyors in most parts of the country saw either a rise or a steadier trend in workloads from the beginning of January to the end of March.

Those in London and the south-east reported the highest rises in overall activity, while those in the north recorded the first positive reading since the final quarter of 2007. The picture in Northern Ireland was described as “more problematic”, with activity levels still slipping.

Overall input costs – such as raw materials and labour – continued to increase in the three months to March as a net balance of 29% more respondents reported rises in outlays. The most significant increases in costs were seen in materials, while staffing costs remained flat.

New data from Savills Building & Project Consultancy underscored the RICS  findings in relation to commercial property.

It found rising development in the sector in April for a second consecutive month, with the Total Commercial Development Activity Index, a net balance monitoring the overall performance of the UK commercial property sector, registering an 8.1% increase in April, following a 13.1% rise in March.

Michael Pillow head of building consultancy at Savills said the figures raised further questions on the official statistics in relation to construction output.

via RICS flags improving construction sector | Online News | Building.