One of the most basic jobs on a construction site is cutting wood. It’s a common task that’s often carried out with little thought, but it’s also one of the most advanced construction techniques used by builders.

Cutting a piece of wood requires skill. Cutting a piece of wood well, and with consistency requires understanding and mastery of the tools used and the material being cut. Even with the advanced power tools that are used today, traditional skills and knowledge still come into play.

You could have the most advanced tools available, but there will still be a margin for error and a possibility to improve the cut. It could be in the finish, or the speed of cutting multiple items. Cutting a piece of wood is a fundamental skill and a foundation of building that can show understanding of construction processes used since their conception.

Decorative coloured and stained glass panels are often used on building projects as a way to add an ornate feature into a window fitting. They are delicate and require a little more care to install than standard double glazing style windows, but this can be done relatively easily with the right tools and planning.

Installing The Panels

When installing coloured and stained glass window panels into an aluminium or wooden frame, it’s recommended that glazing foam strips are used. These are often preferred over standard putty or silicone.

Installing panels into UPVC frames is easier as the rubber gaskets in place fit neatly around the panels, so don’t require any further fitting components. When installing any glass panels, spacers should be placed under the bottom of the glass. This raises it up from the base of the frame and helps to avoid moisture building up inside.

Structural glass is often used on buildings that utilise windows as a major feature. This can include glass boxes and glass extensions. It is a way of using glass whilst maintaining the structural integrity of the building.

Structural glass works using stainless steel fittings to connect glass panels to the main building. The fittings can either be attached to the inner sheet of the double glazed unit, or sealed with a high quality silicone sealant for a bonded glass link. This allows the glass to be supported without any additional framing whilst maintaining a strong joint, making the glass structure much more visually appealing.

Using structural glass is also an effective way of maintaining the temperature inside the building. Glass allows heat from the sun into the building, keeping it warm in the same way as a greenhouse, maintaining a comfortable temperature whatever the weather outside.

 

Many different bricks are used in construction projects, each with their own characteristics and visual aesthetic. Engineering bricks are one of these, and are used regularly in modern building projects. But why are they so commonly used?

Engineering bricks are used mostly because of their strength. They are one of the strongest types of brick available and useful when constructing stabilizing walls or foundation areas. They also have low water absorption properties which make them useful for buildings that see a lot of heavy rain, or may be against bodies of water.

Engineering bricks are rated as either Class A, Class B or Class C. The rating is in accordance with their strength, with Class A being the strongest, it’s also the least common type of engineering brick. When it comes to visual looks, red engineering bricks are the most common colour used. Blue bricks are also available but are used less often.

 

 

It’s common practice for building companies to outsource their materials from overseas. Foreign countries can sometimes offer better prices, higher quality or more specialised products depending on the supplier. However there is an important factor to consider when opting for foreign import, and that’s the shipping charges.

Some foreign logistical companies that handle the overseas shipment charge for their services in a specialised way, a way that can catch building companies off guard. Shipment providers tend to offer a very good price in their initial estimate and increase the price over shipments. By the time the shipment has reached the building site, it’s accrued far more than the initial asking price. This is especially regarded as consistent practice for Chinese logistics companies.

This issue can be avoided however by using logistical companies that simply don’t charge in this way. Use companies that have a well received and long-standing rating, as they will charge for shipment in a single estimate.