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Timber frame design and build specialists Frame Wise is to use Interbuild as the launch pad for insulated wall, floor and roof panels that it claims will help developers meet the 2016 zero-carbon targets. The in-house designed zero carbon panels should help housebuilders achieve high ratings under the Code for Sustainable homes with U-values of 0.1 or less for walls and roofs. They incorporate thermal and acoustic mineral glass wool insulation from Saint-Gobain Isover which is manufactured using sustainable silica sand with up to 80% recycled glass.

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An outdoor show garden created using products supplied by leading deck manufacturer Arordeck won a top prize at the 20007 BBC Gardeners World Live evenmt at the NEC in Birmingham. Created by Nottingham-based Halycon Garden Design, the decked garden was judged by a committee of judges from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and awarded a bronze medal for its design. The garden featured Arbordecks's reversible deck boards which were installed smooth side up in order to emphasise the attractive, flowing design of the spiralling decking. The company holds the deck mark, a quality assurance from the timber decking association, along with a 15 year performance guarantee, Boards are tanilith treated for long-term protection against fungal and insect attack. A wide selection of boards is available, together with a range of ancillary products such as joists spindles, handrails and fittings

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An Anglesey pub has transformed its outdoor area with Timeless Timber in the wake of the smoking ban. The Gaerwen Arms turned to Timeless Timber after drawing up plans to build a timber-decked garden for smokers, drinkers and diners. It is just one of a number of businesses in Wales who have applied for planning permission to construct beer gardens, canopies and smoking shelters. Bryan Crennell, marketing manager at BSW, which distributes its Timeless Timber decking brand across Wales, said: 'The Gaerwen Arms approached BSW Timber about revamping its outdoor area and we enlisted Richard Reeves Fencing in Cheshire. The subsequent result illustrates what can be achieved with Timeless Timber. More and more businesses are enjoying the pleasure of outdoor living and dining. If you are keen to transform a pub, then adding a timber deck is a really good place to start.'

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Elevated timber decking can help housebuilders make sloping gardens more usable and decking specialist Richard Burbidge has introduced a new range of outdoor balustrade to suit. Designed around a simple structure of stylish metal brackets that are quick to fit, Fusion Round handrail incorporates timber rails, newels and balusters to create a contemporary look. The system is capable of resisting loadings of 0.74kN/m.

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With the aesthetic of natural wood combined with the practicality of laminate, Formica Veneer is a sustainable option incorporating reconstituted real wood veneers derived from fast growing species such as poplar, obeche, basswood and bamboo. They are all sourced from sustainably managed forests. The 30 designs are available in a 2440x1220mm sheet size and have a tactile surface. Two distinct textures have been developed to give each species a complementary and natural look and feel.

Details for Formica Ltd

With the aesthetic of natural wood combined with the practicality of laminate, Formica Veneer is a sustainable option incorporating reconstituted real wood veneers derived from fast growing species such as poplar, obeche, basswood and bamboo. They are all sourced from sustainably managed forests. The 30 designs are available in a 2440x1220mm sheet size and have a tactile surface. Two distinct textures have been developed to give each species a complementary and natural look and feel.

Details for Formica Ltd

Timber frame designer and manufacturer, Prestoplan, has developed a fully tested timber frame system to achieve 90 minutes fire rating. As part of the company’s technical development programme, and in partnership with MiTek, both wall and floor elements were subjected to rigorously controlled fire tests by Chiltern International Fire, a leading fire consultancy and test laboratories. The test was carried out under 100 per cent load bearing capacity, and maintained structural stability, integrity, and thermal insulation for 114 minutes, at which point the test was stopped. Part B of the Building Regulations requires 90 minute fire resistance for structures with a top floor level in excess of 18m above ground level. Prestoplan then commissioned Chiltern International Fire to extrapolate the test results to develop an assessed 120 minute solution to cope with areas like fire fighting stair shafts. Prestoplan technical director, Ian Loughnane said: ‘It’s important for us to be able to offer our clients the reassurance of fully tested solutions to the range of challenges they may face. All our timber frames are designed to meet specific project requirements including compliance with Building Regulations. ‘Timber framed structures are getting taller and we have the ability to develop solutions on buildings that hitherto would have been rejected on fire rating grounds. Our reputation for technical excellence and quality is a critical element of the Prestoplan brand, as well as our ability to work alongside our clients’ design teams to deliver bespoke quality schemes on time and on budget. ‘To our knowledge we are unique in being able to offer a fully tested timber structure with a 90 minute fire test,’ said Mr Loughnane. It is extremely important to us as a business to be at the forefront of raising standards on safety and sustainability,' he added.

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In response to the increasing popularity of timber cladding among architects, designers and builders in recent years, John Brash - one of the UK's leading manufacturers of roofing battens and scaffold boards - now offers a cladding range. The product is attractive, versatile, allows for great flexibility in design and can be used for any scale of building or project. The use of timber cladding can also reduce building costs, due to the low weight and high insulation properties of the material. If used with similar lightweight roof coverings, such as shingles, the need for bulk masonry walls is eliminated, reducing the level of foundations required. Western Red Cedar is said to be a popular choice, being highly durable and resistant to decay.

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Cape Cod, natural and sustainable timber cladding designed to give a genuine 'New England' look is imported into the UK by Vincent Timber. The product is produced from kiln dried wood, band sawn to give a texture face. Two coats of water based paint are then applied under factory controlled conditions. The result is a low maintenance cladding.

Details for Vincent Timber Ltd

International forest products company Weyerhaeuser has introduced a eucalyptus hardwood called Lyptus. The product is said to be carefully grown, dried and processed. The timber is clear, showing fewer knots than other species, due to the manual pruning process as the crop grows. Side limbs are removed while the canopy is left intact, encouraging the growth of tall trees with few knots. With logs air dried for 12 months prior to kiln drying, the resulting timber is straight and dimensionally stable. Lyptus products include solid wood, plywood and veneer, as well as unfinished and pre-finished flooring. They are claimed to be hardwearing, maintaining a fresh appearance.

Details for Weyerhaeuser Europe