With green blankets covering the buildings and cranes looming darkly overhead, Britain’s commercial building boom doesn’t seem to be much affected by the economic slump. As other industries cut back, the commercial building industry is not doing so, which is resulting in a noticeable shortage of workers to meet the demands of British construction companies.

The shortage of skilled construction workers becomes increasingly evident when looking at last year’s figures. In 2007, 13,000 building projects were started, and around 87,600 workers are needed to support these projects. The skill deficiency is widespread, extending to both the trade and non-trade. In the common trades, the biggest annual requirements are in wood and electrical trade, as well as brick layers and building specialists. In non-trades, all from construction managers, business processes managers, office-based IT recruits, to architects, professional and technical staff are on high demand.

These shortages are mainly a consequence of three variables: 1) the demands of the building boom; 2) the decline in the number of East Europeans in the trade; 3) the misconceptions about construction work that recruiters have.

The first reason is quite self-evident and has already been discussed previously – the higher the project demands are, the more individuals need to be hired to do the jobs.

As the British trade has been largely dominated by highly-skilled Polish workers over the years, the impact of Poland’s recent economic boom has driven many Poles back to their home country, which is a big loss for British construction companies.

The third reason for the shortage of workers is because of the misperceptions job hunters have when it comes to construction work. Many recruiters still view the job as being bound to construction site, while in fact, a lot building jobs are either managerial or office-based.

A variety of steps have been taken to bridge the recruitment gap in the building trade. One way this is achieved is through encouraging diversity in the work place. Instead of just hiring white males with degrees in mathematics, some companies are looking beyond traditional recruitment pools and encourage women and various ethnic groups to work in construction. The National Association of Women in Construction is one of the organisations that takes this approach and by doing so, is not only allowing for fresh ideas to be brought into the construction industry, but cultivates diversity in the workplace.

The Sustainable Employment Legacy Forum and Inspire Scholarships are two programs that provide initiatives to get younger generations interested in the industry. They not only organise trips for children to visit construction sites, but provide training courses, student funds, and apprenticeships for those in the poorer areas of London, by doing so encouraging more graduates to enter the trade.

Another important initiative to acquire more employees is to change the ways in which the building industry is viewed. By getting communities to realize that construction is about so much more than just hard hats and light-reflecting mesh jackets, more recruits might start believing construction work is a suitable career.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about heating systems, boiler, plumber London, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

A shrinking economy has made many businesses look into cutting corners wherever possible, at least with regards to their financial expenses. Many small businesses these days are doing everything to cut costs including hiring employees who are not yet fully qualified. It is very important that the heating and plumbing industry does not follow this trend. Rather it is important that the industry makes sure that its plumbing and heating engineers are fully trained.

Here are a few reasons why companies need to do everything they can to make sure that their plumbing and heating engineers are fully trained.

1. The government requires that engineers in the heating and plumbing industry obtain required certifications. These guarantee that the engineer has up to date knowledge of all of the current building codes and local laws that they must adhere to when they are working. A few of the certifications that are required include the CORGI registration (for gas work), the Unvented system training and assessment, the BPEC, the Part P Electrical and Building Regulations.

2. Engineers in the heating and plumbing industry who have obtained the proper training and certifications can charge more for their services. Some plumbing and heating companies tend to determine an engineer’s starting wages and raises based upon the number and type of qualifications the engineer has.

3. Engineers in the heating and plumbing industry who have made sure to get the correct certifications and complete their training classes usually do better work and are more reliable than those engineers who try to learn “on the job.” The trained and certified engineers are a better investment for any company in the industry.

Many companies choose to hire plumbing and heating engineers when they are just starting out because they prefer their engineers to be trained in certain ways. For companies who choose to do this, there are several governmental programs available to help fund the certification process. The CPS (Competent Person Scheme) is one such program, being used by several players in the plumbing and heating sector.

It is important that plumbing and heating engineers stay informed about the up and coming “green” methods that are being developed. The world is turning towards environmentally friendly practices and, in order for a company to be competitive in a modern market, the engineers hired should be as well versed about the newer technologies as they are about the traditional ones. Such new technologies include solar thermal panels, underfloor heating and ground source heat pumps.

With the economy as unpredictable as it is, plumbing and heating engineers need to make sure that they are fully certified. When customers are given the choice between hiring someone completely qualified and saving a few pounds on someone who hasn’t gotten all of their certifications, we believe customers will choose to spend more on a professional and certified engineer.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about corgi plumbers, central heating, plumber London, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

In present times most residents of the United Kingdom take properly working plumbing systems for granted. Most do not take the time to think about the history of plumbing or the way plumbing technology has evolved over time. Plumbing has a long and interesting history: a history that is worth exploring.

Plumbing first made its way into urban communities while the Romans and the Greeks were the powerful empires of the world. Plumbing was used by the Romans and Greeks for the public bathing houses that were so popular. Aqueducts came into fashion while the Romans were in power and they were used to carry clean water to the bathing houses and take the dirty water away. The Roman aqueduct system was used until the 1800s when advances in technology started a replacement process of the aqueducts by piping systems located underground.

During ancient times, aqueducts were mostly built out of stone or clay while the pipes leading to and from them were fashioned from lead. Modern plumbing, on the other hand, uses vastly different materials. Today, plastic, steel, brass and copper are widely used for the construction of plumbing systems and pipes. Lead is no longer used because it is highly toxic.

The bath houses that were popular during the Roman Empire were the real driver behind modern western plumbing calling for technical solutions from the ancient engineers. When the bath houses were first used and plumbing had not yet fully developed, the water in the public bath houses was only changed once a day and people bathed only while the sun was out. This is because bacteria had not yet been discovered and Romans had not yet learned how diseases and infections were spread. Sanitation had not yet evolved and a single change of water was considered efficient for that time’s hygienic standards.

The modern toilet is, arguably, more important to many modern UK citizens than the aqueducts of the Roman Empire. The toilet that most western citizens are familiar with in today’s society was first built in Mohenjo-Darco in approximately 2800 BC. This toilet consisted of a pile of bricks upon which a wooden seat was fixed. These “modern” toilets were only available to the highest members of society and, in fact, would not be used by the masses until the 1800s when the western world adopted them.

Once the sit down toilet and the other plumbing systems that were adopted by the Romans made their way into western society, the technology surrounding them advanced very quickly. It took less than a century for plumbing and toilet technology to move from aqueducts and holes atop brick piles to become the highly attractive designs for toilets and modern showers of today.

Today pipes and plumbing fixtures are mostly located underground and the sewage drains and cesspools of ancient times have been almost completely eradicated and replaced. As technology continues to advance, the cleanliness and efficiency of plumbing and toilets will become more efficient and clean.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about commercial boilers, plumbers, plumber Reading, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

It is hard to be a plumber. Plumbing is not simply the unclogging of a sink or the snaking of a pipe. A plumber will work with a wide variety of materials and tools in conditions that range from the completely benign to the very dangerous. Plumbers work very hard to make sure that all of the pipes in the United Kingdom work properly. It is vital that plumbers both in and out of the United Kingdom take care to be as safe as they possibly can and that they take appropriate measures to make sure that they and the members of their teams are as safe as possible.

The health risks for plumbers are very high. Plumbers expose themselves to a variety of illnesses and infections. Regular contact with animal droppings can induce histoplasmosis and psittacosis. Plumbers are also regularly exposed to lead and other harmful chemicals that are contained in the solvents, adhesives and other materials they use.

Plumbers also encounter physical risks. Plumbers often are forced to work in positions and spaces that are constricted and uncomfortable. Their muscles and bones get strained and sprained and their risk increases with all of the long hours that they work on a regular basis.

Even the sturdiest of men and women would suffer under the conditions that plumbers face on a regular basis. Thankfully there are many safety measures that a plumber can take to ensure that they are safe healthy and remain uninjured.

1. Local safety codes should be memorized. Plumbers should know their local safety codes inside out to ensure that they will understand exactly what kind of safety precautions should be taken in the variety of situations that the plumber will encounter while on the job.

2. Because of the constricted spaces and high elevations that plumbers work in regularly, they should make sure to have a reliable and long lasting ventilation system at the ready. Having a steady supply of clean air will help the plumber make sure that he functions properly while on the job.

3. Plumbers should always wear the appropriate clothing: hats, boots, masks, goggles, etc. These items help to protect the Plumber’s body in conditions that would be very harmful.

4. A clean and debris-free work area is always a good idea. The less clutter and trash a Plumber has to deal with the better and faster the job will go. Having to sift through dangerous materials and trash to find the right tool could spell the difference between safety and danger while a plumber is on the job.

5. Plumbers should take breaks as often as they are needed. Plumbers often work in awkward and physically demanding conditions. Taking breaks to rest the body helps to ensure that a Plumber’s muscles and bones are in danger of tears or breaks.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boilers, central heating, plumber Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

Saving energy and reducing a carbon footprint is now the “cool” thing to do. People who live in the United Kingdom are trying to out do each other in living green and saving energy. There seems to be a race to find out who can be the greenest house in the neighbourhood.

So much focus is placed upon living the greenest life possible that most are surprised to learn that the waste levels for water are at an all time high. It appears that even the most energy efficient and carbon conscious United Kingdom citizens have yet to understand that saving water is just as important as saving power.

Would it surprise you to find out that the fresh water resources in the UK are expected to disappear in the next few decades? The wet climates that UK residents take for granted makes this seem impossible, but water experts insist that the fresh water resources are disappearing at a much higher rate than they previously thought. Sadly, the United Kingdom’s fresh water resources are fewer and farther between than those in Syria and in the Sudan. Those are parts of the world that are known for their lack of water and dusty climates.

What makes this hard to understand is that it is very easy to not waste water. It is not hard to just turn the sink’s faucets off when they are not being used. You should only use water to rinse off your toothbrush or when you need to fill your water cup. It does not need to run while the toothbrush is in your mouth or you are rinsing out your mouth. Most dishwashers have a “water saver” function built into its mechanism.

Take shorter showers! The amount of water that even a five minute shower uses will boggle the mind. Only run full loads when you wash your clothes or use the dishwasher. Rinse vegetables in a pan of water instead of under a running faucet. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of letting the water run to get cold before you fill up your glass. Only water the yard when it needs it. Don’t let sprinklers run all afternoon.

The amount of water a person uses in a day can be reduced by leaps and bounds and it should be. Water is essential to the survival of all living creatures. Fresh water is a resource that should not be taken for granted. It is just as easy to conserve water as it is to conserve energy and reduce your carbon footprint. Remember, it is just as important to save water as it is to save power!

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about heating sytems, plumbers, plumber London, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

If you are considering having underfloor heating in your home, there are probably hundreds of questions running through your mind. Whilst there are many advantages involved in having underfloor heating, it is not for everyone. At the same time, as well as providing general comfort, it has the added bonus of delivering significant energy and carbon emission savings. This is especially the case when it is compared to other forms of heat emitters. On the other hand, underfloor heating is not suited to everyone and can have it’s disadvantages. Whether it is for you or not will depend on your preferences and your choice of lifestyle.

What is underfloor heating?

The warm water from the boiler system is circulated through lengths of pipe embedded in the floor. Each room has its own circuit and all circuits are connected to a distribution manifold. With each room having its own circuit, the process behind temperature control is quite simple. A thermostat is fitted in the room and connected to an electrically operated valve on the circuit serving that room.

What are the advantages of underfloor heating?

One of the problems that many people have with having radiator’s in their homes, is that they take up a lot of space. With underfloor heating you will not have to worry about that. Once you have underfloor heating installed, you will have a lot more space and freedom to do what you like. In addition, an underfloor heating system can be suited to almost any type of flooring.

A further good aspect of underfloor heating is that homeowners will not have to hear unusual noises coming from the room. This is in contrast to radiators which have a tendency to make sounds when they are switched on or off. This can be beneficial for health and safety reasons as you will not have to worry about hot radiators and the under floor’s heating presence will hardly be felt.

Radiators tend to dry out the air. Fortunately with underfloor heating this will not be a problem, as the overall benefit to your home will be felt. It is also good for asthma and allergy sufferers as underfloor heating has a balance of convection and radiation which minimises disturbance.

What are the negative aspects of underfloor heating?

Although known as a great energy and space-saver in the home, underfloor heating is not suitable for everyone, and it is important to be aware of some of it’s drawbacks.

For instance, if you decide to do a complete installation, you will have to be prepared to turn your whole house upside down. In order to have proper insulation in the floors, you will have to be prepared for a complete rebuild.

Arguably one of the biggest disadvantages is the amount of time it can take to heat up, particularly if the pipe is embedded in a solid floor. If you have a wooden floor in your home, you could be looking at a 30 minute waiting time for it to warm up, whilst concrete could potentially take many hours. Furthermore, the cooling period can also equally be as long. Whether or not you will be able to handle this depends on the type of house you have and the lifestyle you lead.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about heating sytems, plumbers, plumber London, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

It is easy to get consumed in the doom and gloom of the recession. After all, this is not exactly the best of times for the housing and home improvement market. However, it is not all bad if you do have some savings tucked away and are thinking long term. There is hope to be found yet – and it is all about maximising your potential.

Many people get carried away with dreams of having a big property. Regrettably this remains a dream for many, however there are ways for homeowners to get around this. This is through the way of creating an illusion in your home. The illusion of having larger space. It is all about making the most of what you have already.

The bathroom is usually a popular choice for home improvement. It can be certainly one of the most busiest in the house and not to mention sometimes the smallest. Many people have to often choose between having a bath or a shower cubicle in the bathroom because of the shortage of space. Quite often people decide to go for the shower cubicle with the idea of saving space.

Nowadays it easier to have both, as modern baths are being designed to accommodate any size of bathroom. Their versatile shapes and sizes ensure that they can be fitted in smaller bathrooms. Many that prefer showers opt for having a wetroom installed. A wetroom has the bonus of not only being able to fit into smaller sized bathrooms, but also looking sleek and modern at the same time.

Some other handy tips

Another way to create the illusory of space is to install frameless glass panels. These are useful as they can be used to section off the room to make sure that the water stays where it is needed without making the space feel enclosed.

If you are thinking of adding an additional bathroom, you may even want to consider having it made in the attic or alcove.

Increasing made-to-measure lifestyle

Numerous advances in technology mean that homeowners can have sheets of glass cut to whatever size and specification they need. Therefore you can now fit your ideal wetroom even in the smallest of spaces if you wish to do so.

If the homeowner uses their space in a way that is quite strategic, then it might be possible to have both a shower and a bath. Some homeowners prefer not to have a wetroom. A wetroom is just one option amongst many as there are a wide range of enclosures available. It is just about exploring these options and making the best informed choice.

Before installing an enclosure, it is often best to closely consider the door mechanism. Some might find this quite obvious, however it is essential that enough room is left in the bathroom for the door to open. If you are really short for space you may want to consider installing an enclosure with sliding or bi-fold doors so you do not loose floor space when opening the door.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boiler, central heating, plumber Watford, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

Many homeowners have become increasingly attracted to having wetroom floors and non-enclosed showers in their homes. This growing surge has baffled many industry experts who are wandering why trays and enclosures were even invented in the first place.

Many homeowners face the problem of experiencing leakage in their bathrooms. With the introduction of power showers and shower heads, this problem has only increased. It all comes down to individual preference. Some homeowners simply prefer the style of a wetroom. If you are one of these homeowners. then you should install tanking to prevent water seeping through the floors to the ceilings below. The trays can then be inset to sit level with floor surfaces.

Here is where the conflict between fashion and practicality comes in. If you want a fashionable shower, then shower enclosures should be frameless and there are many stores that offer products that work to minimise frames.

Never underestimate the power of leaking

The first precaution for any homeowner is to prevent any form of leakage in the shower. This is so you can protect your other furnishings in the house from getting ruined. Homeowners today often face problems of carpets getting ruined, and having to deal with musty smells around the house. Not to mention the other inconvenience that comes with a leaking bathroom. The cost of repair and installation can prove to be more than bothersome.

Many shower enclosures are built in a way to prevent leaks from occurring. None the less, leaks do occur and they are not 100% fool-proof. If you look carefully you will notice a small square at the bottom corner where a hinged edge meets the tray or floor. This is its most vulnerable point and liable to cause trouble for the homeowner.

Homeowners can try using seals, however the trouble with seals is that they have to usually be flexible so that the doors can move, and water collecting there can actually seem to be sucked out because of its own surface tension. There is a similar problem with using bath screens. With the combination of flexible seals and flat surfaces, the small gaps allow bits of water to get through.

Can silicon sealants be a good alternative ?

It is not highly recommended for homeowners to use silicon sealants. Silicon sealants are not very reliable as they can be highly prone to mould growth and discolouration. In addition, they are also prone to being affected by the shifting weight of shower users, or by slight movements in the building itself, which can cause them to become detached from their anchorage.

Look around carefully

Although many homeowners prefer watertight shower enclosures and it is the fashionable trend for them to be quite spacious, for some, space-saving overbath solutions suit some installations better. Homeowners should be quite cautious when shopping around and should explore a number of different options before making their purchase. For instance, all the suppliers claim that their products are easy to install. However, it is well known that some screens and enclosures are much more user friendly than others. You would be better off going for a product where you will be guaranteed no leaks rather than taking a risk for fashion purposes.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about boilers, central heating, London plumbers, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.