A Guide to BS 8612

What is the BS 8612 and Why has it been Released?

BS 8612 is a set of industry standards, developed by the British Standards Institute, for dry fix roofing methods. Recently, dry fix roofing methods have been increasing in popularity – over half of new roofs in the UK use dry fixing – due to revised recommendations for roofing and slating best practice (BS 5534). In this revision, the dangerous problem of failing mortar and loose roof tiles was addressed with new guidance stating that ridges and hips need to be mechanically fixed, regardless of whether mortar is also used or not.

March & April Deals From Hitchcock & King!

SAWN TREATED C.16 QUINN CEMENT

IRISH 3.0 METRE LENGTH 25KG PAPERBAG

100 X 47……………………….£3.85 EQUALS £1.28 PER METRE

75 X 47…………………………£2.87 EQUALS £0.96 PER METRE

QUINNLITE
100MM BLOCKS EACH …….£1.06

140MM  BLOCKS  EACH ……..£1.49

215MM BLOCKS EACH …….E2.29

PLASTERBOARD SQ EDGE

2440 X 1200 X 12.5MM …….£5.05

1800 X 900 X 12.5MM ……..£3.30

OSB2

2440 X 1220 X 11MM……….£11.50

OSB3

2440  X 1220  X 18MM……….£18.45

OSB3 (T&G)

2400 X 600 X 18MM………..£10.25

Christmas Opening Hours

Fulham
Hammersmith
Streatham
Ashford
Ashford 2
Burgh Heath
Epsom
Twickenham

21st Dec
7-6
7.30-5
7-5
7-6
7-5
6-4.30
7-5
7.30-5

22nd Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

23rd Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

24th Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

25th Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

26th Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

27th Dec
7-3
Closed
Closed
7-3
7-3
Closed
Closed
Closed

28th Dec
7-3
Closed
Closed
7-3
7-3
Closed
Closed
Closed

29th Dec
7-3
Closed
Closed
7-3
7-3
Closed
Closed
Closed

30th Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

31st Dec
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

1st Jan
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

2nd Jan
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open

The Case of the Real (and Legally) Haunted House

Everyone knows that neglecting home improvements can diminish a property’s value. But what if it’s the work of the spirit world that’s causing you selling problems?

The Ackley Family

Nestled next to the Hudson River is a large Victorian house, known as 1 LaVeta Place. In 1990 this home in Nyack, New York was the centre of a one-of-a-kind case, now widely known as the Ghostbusters Ruling.

The couple Helen and George Ackley had lived in this house since the 1960s – but they were not alone! They claimed that family members would be woken up by shaking beds,

Which Roofing Material Would Be Ideal for Your Roof?

Renovating a roof is a massive undertaking and a project you shouldn’t set out upon lightly. For instance, failing to invest in the right materials or expertise for your roofing project could prove calamitous; your roof could leak, let in draughts, or even collapse if your roof can’t support the weight of your new tiles or shingles.

To help you avoid the worst, here we’re going to look at which roofing material would be ideal for your roof and the crucial things you must always consider.

What to Consider When Choosing Roofing Materials

When you first set out to find new roofing materials for your roof,

6 Ways To Avoid Business Stagnation in Construction

If there’s one worry that all construction companies share, it’s the risk of stagnation. Stagnation is a sustained period of low or no growth, and can lead to having to lay off employees or cut wages just to keep the business afloat.

The causes of stagnation are myriad, but one area of note is that periods of stagnation can ebb and flow with the market. Although stagnation affects all industries when the market fluctuates, the very real risk posed by stagnating inflows of work isn’t something that is wholly external and out of your control.

Here,

How to Fix High Staff Turnover in Your Construction Company

At the heart of a successful construction company is the workforce; having a team of professional, efficient and skilled employees is tantamount to success, or at least half the battle. The other half of the battle is retaining your amazing workforce. High construction turnover can have major repercussions to the quality of work your company produces, as well as your ability to deliver even basic services.

In this article, therefore, we’ll be looking at how you can fix high staff turnover in your construction company. In doing so, you’ll ensure that your construction company continues to succeed for years to come!

Hitchcock & King Welcome Back a Familiar Face

Here at Hitchcock & King, we understand that without a valued and experienced staff ensuring all our services are performed to the highest industry standards, our high-quality customer service would undoubtedly suffer.

That said, we are extremely proud therefore to be welcoming back a familiar face! Karen Miller, who has worked at Hitchcock & King for 20 years, is returning to work after her maternity leave.

In October 2015, Karen had a lovely baby boy called Milo. Congratulations were shared all round, and Hitchcock & King were there to offer our support wherever it was needed throughout Karen’s maternity.

Top Tips for Growing Your Construction Company

No matter what your business is, the key to growth is an almost unstoppable ambitious drive. While you may have all the know-how in the world, if you haven’t got the motivation to push your business forward you’ll stumble at the very first hurdle.

All the largest businesses in the world, from Facebook to Virgin, Apple to Bechtel, weren’t overnight successes. Their founders all had the ambition that was needed to push their businesses toward success, plus a few key tips. You may have the ambition, too, but you’ll need the focus these tips provide to truly excel.

Main Issues for Your Construction Company in 2017

With each new year fresh hurdles reveal themselves that could impede the continued success of your business. Although previous forecasts for 2017 have looked optimistically on the construction sector, there a number of issues that could arise. Knowing what these issues are in advance is often all that separates the successful construction company from the ailing one. As such, Hitchcock & King are here this month to help you identify the biggest risks to success you might face in 2017 so you can easily avoid them and succeed!

Skills Shortages

Despite the consistent growth the construction sector has seen in recent years,