Mortar News is an occasional electronic newsletter promoting the use of factory-produced mortars and the skilled building trades associated with its use. Each edition has changing case study information relating to the MIA producer members involved.

If you would like to be added to the electronic Mortar News mailing list, please email your details to Brian.James@mineralproducts.org.

The self-build market remains down year-on-year by 12 per cent, from 13,500 to 11,850 homes but the recent figures suggest it is recovering. Completions in the final quarter of 2011 were 3.4 per cent higher than the same quarter a year ago. It looks like the self-build sector has proved more resilient than general private and public housing. The report says self-builders were responsible for 8.25 per cent of all new homes completed in the UK in 2011 and a startling 31 per cent of all new detached homes.

For building materials suppliers, self-build looks like an area worthy of continued close study.

‘Mort’

Mortar News is an occasional electronic newsletter promoting the use of factory-produced mortars and the skilled building trades associated with its use. Each edition has changing case study information relating to the MIA producer members involved.

If you would like to be added to the electronic Mortar News mailing list, please email your details to Brian.James@mineralproducts.org.

Professor Roberts, the principal of the Technical Innovation Consultancy and emeritus professor of civil engineering – Kingston University, was explaining the intricacies of Eurocode 6, Design for masonry structures and its link to CE marking which will be mandatory from July 2013. He called for more leadership from industry on what should be specified in order to raise overall standards.

Also speaking at the session, principal consultant in sustainability and construction materials for CERAM Research, Dr Andrew Smith, reviewed the development of standards and guidance relating to manufacturers’ testing and declaration of the release of Regulated Dangerous Substances. For the factory-produced mortar industry, Dr Smith said the aim should be to develop a strong enough case to demonstrate to the European Commission that there was nothing of issue in terms of releases from its products and so there would be no need for continuous future product testing.

Third speaker was the principal of Hi-Dry Consultancy, Ed Hiam, who described recent developments in external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), especially with regard to the use of environmentally-friendly breathable insulation systems. He explained ETICS place in property refurbishment and underlined its growing use in new build. Mr Hiam said that the mortar industry has an important part to play in the supply of levelling and dubbing out render coats and for multi-coat or one-coat final surface renders.

Private sector registrations increased by 9 per cent (5,977, compared with 5,484), whereas, as in previous months, public sector registrations contracted year-on-year, with a 20 per cent decrease in January 2012 (1,854 compared with 2,304).

But it is an even bigger shame that in January, the total number of new homes registered throughout the month was only marginally higher (7,831), compared to the same period last year (7,788).

For the rolling quarter November – January 2012, the number of registrations across all sectors was 21,110 – 16 per cent lower than the same period last year (25,022) although some areas of the country bucked the trend. In the north east and north west of England, registrations levels increased 12 per cent and 39 per cent respectively.

Let’s hope the measures being taken by government aimed at stimulating both private and public sector housing start to have an effect.

‘Mort’

He says this is a result of private developers targeting the family home market where funding is more available.

The first-time buyers’ sector has proved more difficult with most lenders requiring a 20% deposit although most major builders have taken advantage of the funding announced in the budget to offer assisted first-time buyers schemes.

Mike believes that the private sector may weaken as a result of continued restrictions on lending and a fall in consumer confidence but we may not see the effect of this in the short term. The missing factor is the smaller developers who are being largely excluded from the market due to lack of bank lending in the sector.

The public sector has also started reasonably well as registered social landlords use up the various funding streams still available. As the year progresses demand from this sector will fall steeply as the effect is felt of a 40% cut in the budget for new social housing.

While the one-off registration of the Olympic Village housing has distorted the early numbers, Mike Leonard says he remains confident that starts will remain static compared to 2010/11 with an overall market of circa 105,000 homes for the year ending March 2012.

Thanks Mike for a glimmer of light at the end of the new housing tunnel.

‘Mort’

You can get updates on the state of the masonry market at www.masonryfirst.com

Head of architecture, housing and sustainability at the Concrete Centre, Guy Thompson, points out that tucked away in an appendix to the budget, government has announced that unregulated carbon emissions produced by cooking and electrical appliances such as televisions are to be excluded from the definition. These account for between one third and half of a home’s total emissions, with the rest coming from lighting, heating and hot water production.

Under original government plans house builders would have been required to fund renewable energy projects to offset emissions from household appliances, substantially increasing the price of new homes at a time when the house building industry can ill afford it.

If you want further information on building to Code level 5, see the Concrete Centre publication ‘Achieving Code level 5 in Concrete and Masonry’ at http://www.concretecentre.com/online_services/publication_library/publication_details.aspx?PublicationId=695, but please note this is currently under review to reflect the changes in Part L outlined in a further publication, Thermal Performance: Part L1A.

‘Mort’

Using mortar in colder conditions needs careful thought and the taking of a few precautions. It all comes down to a simple equation which can be related to daily temperature x number of days. It’s the basis of how mortar cures safely and gains its working strength. Don’t be tempted to think because you’ve left your mortar for three weeks before the frost comes you’ll be safe. If your daily temperature has been lower than, say, 1^o or 2^oC, the mortar will not have gained its safe working strength. You need at least a temperature of 3^oC for a number of days. If the temperature is lower, curing will take proportionately longer.

You can take a few measures to help things on its way when cold snaps are about. Drape sacking or bubble-wrap over the brick or blockwork but if you use sacking, cover it with polythene sheet to avoid saturation. Take special care where there is a north or easterly aspect, especially so if the ground falls away and there are no buildings or trees to provide a windbreak. Also, don’t forget that for every 1000 feet increase in elevation the temperature falls by 2^oC, (that’s why the temperature outside your holiday jet is around – 42^oC).

And if you have any doubts, consider postponing the work until the weather forecast looks a little more promising – remember, best practice suggests a minimum temperature of 3^oC and a rising thermometer.

‘Mort’

In the report, (http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/publications/housing-planning/fire-safety-in-london) the assembly included a call for improved fire safety during the construction phase of timber-framed buildings, better fire risk assessment processes and that residents of tall buildings should have better information about evacuation procedures and the way DIY modifications can compromise fire safety measures. It also asked the CLG to ensure all social landlords publish a full register of fire risk assessments online; provide existing and new residents with better information about what to do in the event of a fire; and ensure that inspecting for unauthorised or damaging works are part of routine estate inspections by housing staff.

In response, CLG concluded that further regulation is “not an appropriate approach at this time”

Following up the department’s decision, chair of the London Assembly planning and housing committee, Nicky Gavron AM, pointed out that the assembly was not asking for further regulation, but that the evidence received suggested that existing regulations may be flawed and therefore require urgent review.

I may be biased but I can’t help feeling that use of traditional construction – bricks, blocks, mortar and concrete – is a much simpler and safer answer all round – and demonstrably more sustainable to boot!

‘Mort’

A physics teacher at a local school, the man obviously had good, green ideals and was ahead of his time in recognising the need to insulate the single-brick construction. Trouble is, although presumably a good teacher he wasn’t a good builder and his approach was to stick 25 mm-thick sheets of insulation board directly to existing plaster.

The result? Partial covering of period features such as covings, ugly overhangs on traditional wainscoting and, where structural changes have been required, some very hard graft in removing the insulation. It has also adversely affected the proportions of some rooms in terms of depths of clearance under cills.

Now, if the well-minded school teacher had thought about external thermal insulation his life – and my daughter’s – would have been made much easier. The house is an end of terrace so the complete end façade could have been insulated in one relatively simple operation with a suitable render finish. The same is true of the back of the building, which would have left only the attractive front of the house with its brick detailing in its original state.

External thermal insulation is a modern building technique we are going to see much more of in the future as we face up to the need to minimise energy losses on our existing building stock.

‘ Mort’