Full mag 2018

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What is Resin and What are it’s benefits area. Polished concrete in particular is the flooring op-
tion of choice for those looking to create an industrial
Resin flooring varies according to the manufacturer, style kitchen. With the correct seal, they are water-
but is made from synthetic materials such as polyure- proof, stain resistant and anti-slip, so are perfect for
thane or epoxy resins, or, in some cases, natural mate- use in the kitchen or the bathroom.
rials. Resin flooring is poured on site for a perfectly flat Poured floorings are seamless, and lend themselves
finish. It is waterproof and hygienic, as well as anti-slip to the continuous look of an open plan space. They
and low-maintenance, and can be used with most can also be used outdoors, so they offer the perfect
types of underfloor heating. It can be installed on any opportunity to incorporate the same flooring through-
stable substrate, provided that it is free of movement out, making the garden feel connected to the rest of
and moisture. It won’t crack, become loose or peel off the house.
over time. Additionally, resin adopts the given room’s If you are going for a minimalistic look in a bedroom,
ambient temperature, which makes it warm in the whether it’s part of a contemporary or Scandinavian
winter and cool during summer. scheme, resin flooring makes a practical replacement
The colour possibilities for resin are endless, and for floorboards and complements a streamlined style.
flooring can be found in every shade in the RAL and
NCS colour charts. Some companies also offer op- Installing a Concrete or Resin Flooring
tions for quartz and decorative flakes, which can be
added to the resin. Poured concrete flooring or resin is sold as a supply-
and-fit product and should be laid by a professional,
How much does Poured Resin Flooring Cost? who should also give you a warranty or guarantee for
the work.
With resin flooring, as with concrete, the larger the If you opt for cost effective concrete flags, you can ei-
room, the cheaper each square metre will cost. A resin ther pay a professional to do the job, or with enough
floor can be applied as a thin layer on top of an time and a bit of patience, you can lay the tiles on a
already existing floor structure and this will be DIY basis. Similarly, you could employ someone to
cheaper than installing a whole floor from scratch. finish the floor for you, but again this is a job that you
Resin flooring may need to be finished with an anti- can successfully complete yourself.
slip coating which will add to the cost. If a substrate
or structural layer needs to be applied to the ground Resin flooring is a highly specialised product and
before the flooring is poured, this will increase the can only really be applied by a professional. It has
cost of installation. The average costs are similar: made the move from the commercial sector recently;
expect to pay upwards of £100 depending on your so cheaper alternatives either don’t exist, or haven’t
specifications. found their way to the market yet.

Where should you use Resin or Maintaining and Cleaning Concrete
Concrete flooring? or Resin Flooring

You can use a concrete or resin floor in any room in Both resin and concrete floors are very low-main-
the house, and although it may seem like they are tenance: simply sweep away any debris then use a
only appropriate for modern homes, the variation of recommended cleaner. Most concrete and resin floors
colours and textures makes them suitable and practi- only need mopping with a damp cloth but some can
cal in any home. They were originally designed for also be steam-cleaned. You may also be required
the commercial sector because they are hardwearing, to apply a clear glaze, wax or sealant every now and
hygienic and low maintenance.
The glossy finish of a resin or polished concrete floor again to protect the surface from minor scratches.
is a good way of reflecting light around a space.
Incorporating it within a kitchen extension, with plenty
of glazing, is a sure fire way to create a naturally light

South West

t: 0120 873 085
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e: [email protected]
w: www.stevenkoskenbuilding.co.uk

Family Run Business
Over 10 years experience
Most Building Work Undertaken

Roofing
Barn Conversions
Patio’s & Driveways
Masonry & Rendering
Kitchens & Tiling
Old Barn Renovations
Extensions

Traditional & Modern Building, years of experience in most aspects of the
Building Trade, with a good client base, offering a good & Reliable Service.



Rooflight
Options

Getting as much natural light as possible into the similar products, but Velux remains the best-known
home is high on the agenda for many homeowners. brand.
Find out what the options are when it comes to roof
glazing and how to choose the best type for your What was once a relatively simple product has
home. Rooflights introduce natural light into areas become more complex and could include:
where conventional windows cannot be installed, or
would be aesthetically obtrusive, such as: · collapsible balconies
· escape windows
· loft conversions · conservation rooflights for use in listed buildings
· lean-tos
· dark corridors There is a wide choice of blinds and awnings, and
the rooflights themselves can now be opened
What is a Rooflight? manually or automatically, powered either by the
mains or solar cells. There is also a range of glazing
Sometimes building terms can be straightforward, and options to choose from, including triple glazing for
the term rooflight (sometimes referred to as a skylight energy efficiency.
or a roof window) is a good example. A rooflight is
an opening in a roof designed to let light in. Behind Off-the-Peg or Bespoke?
the apparent simplicity of the definition lies a diverse
group of products with differing purposes and very Off-the-Peg Solutions
different price points, such as: Flat roofing is becoming popular again, so we are
seeing a growing number of daylighting solutions
· simple fixed skylights, costing a few hundred pounds designed for horizontal use:
at most
· At the basic end, a polycarbonate rooflight costs as
· huge glazed openings sometimes costing as much little as £250. It can be double or triple skin and
as a small house. configured to open for venting.

They are usually manufactured by specialists who · Switching to glass roughly doubles the price but
rarely produce conventional vertical windows. adds to the longevity. Velux carries a range of
modular rooflights that can be installed in series to
Pitched Rooflights give a glass-roof effect.
The pitched rooflight came of age in the 1970s when
the loft conversion boom started. Before that, the · For locations where a conventional rooflight isn’t
main way of getting light into roof spaces was via suitable, the sun tunnel is an effective alternative.
a dormer window. They had three problems: Bespoke Solutions

· They are relatively expensive Some specialists supply bespoke glazing solutions for
· They are also relatively bulky roofs, often combining vertical, horizontal and sloped
· They break through the roofline glazing. Bespoke glazing solutions start at around
£10,000 and have almost no upper limit.
In contrast, planners take a more relaxed view of loft
living when the existing roof shape doesn’t change. The possibilities are extensive:
The Danish company Velux popularised the pitched
roof window in the 1970s and 1980s. Critically, it was · Glazing can be made strong enough to walk on.
possible for a carpenter to fit a Velux in a day, from
the inside of the roof, thus reducing the need for · Glazing can be made retractable so that you can
scaffolding and tarpaulins. The success of Velux open up the room below to the elements.
played a big part in the popularity of loft conversions.
There are now several other businesses offering · It can be configured as lanterns or even stairwells for
use where the roof becomes a terrace.

Glass is being used as both a walling and roofing Other Considerations 18
element, and bespoke glazing solutions are beginning Building Regulations
to move away from the basic rooflight concept. Yet Rooflights need to comply with Building
their attraction is much the same: bringing light into Regulations, with the required U value satisfied.
dark places. It can be a complex area — factors that impact on
the U value include:
Overheating
· your roof pitch
Modern double or triple glazing is so effective that
people are more concerned about summer overheat- · whether you’re building new or replacing/adding a
ing from rooflights than overall energy efficiency. Sum- rooflight to an existing home
mer sunshine can sometimes cause spaces behind the
glass to become uncomfortably hot. This is a possibil- Extensive ‘glass roofs’ may be subject to more strin-
ity if the rooflights face south and the room they light gent control. Slight relaxation may be granted where
is relatively small. the aesthetics of a rooflight are the main concern,
such as on listed homes.
Solutions include:
Selfcleaning glass
· Specifying solar reflective glass, or glass with a low g
factor, such as Velux’s Glazing 60, which keeps the so- If your rooflights will be difficult to access, then self-
lar radiation levels down to as little as 30%. This helps cleaning glass is a good idea. The surface reacts with
but does dull the quality of the light. sunlight to break down dirt, loosening its adhesion, In
turn this allows dirt to be more readily washed away
· Using physical shading, either using removable by rain.
awnings or fixed panels (brise soleil). These keep off
the high summer midday sun but not the lower-angle For flat rooflights installed with a shallow fall, water
sunlight enjoyed in the evenings and in winter. droplets can be eliminated by use of a coating prod-
uct such as Ritec’s ClearShield.
If none of these options are possible, the best ap-
proach is to limit the ratio of rooflights to floor area to Safety
around 10%. This should provide plenty of light to the
room without too much discomfort during heat waves. All glass used should be toughened (to prevent it
Many rooflight solutions come with built-in ventilation, from shattering if broken).If the roof is particularly high
and this can also be deployed to even out tempera- above floor level (5m+), then glass should also be
ture differences between inside and out. heat soaked to strengthen it further.
Frame Materials
Ensure the material complements or matches your
windows:

· Metal suits period properties, barn conversions and
contemporary houses. Steel (often required for barns
and homes in conservation areas) or aluminium are
the most common options.

· Timber is popular, but getting onto the roof to
maintain the timber can be tricky. Consider timber-
aluminium composites, which offer the look of wood
inside but are lower maintenance outside.

· PVCu is a low-maintenance option, but it will not
provide the slim frames that metal is capable of or the
natural look of wood.

Whatever the material, rooflights must be fitted to
allow water to drain away. Weather-resistant flashings
can be visually obtrusive but are essential to avoid
leaks. Ensure they complement your roof as closely as
possible.

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