Housebuilder HbD & Developer February 2016 UK registrations hit eight-year high HBF report shows increased home building has created over 100,000 new jobs McCarthy & Stone report suggests retirees are a ‘Generation Stuck’ Features in this issue Show preview Plus the latest Bathrooms & Wetrooms Ecobuild news, events and Floors & Floor Coverings products Landscaping & External Finishes Roofing Supplement Timber & Joinery Heating & Renewable Energy www.hbdonline.co.uk Reader Enquiry 401 Contents HbD February 2016 HEADLINES bathrooms & wetrooms 37 bathrooms & wetrooms 39 Talking tiles Martin Currell, Sales Director at Domus Residential, discusses the benefits of using tiles in a 37 bathroom, the options available and the trends for 2016 7 London Help to Buy opens here are numerous benefits with tiles: they are modern, easy to clean and Tcompatible with underfloor heating. Crucially for housebuilders they provide a surface that is robust and that also greatly contributes to an attractive design scheme in the bathroom. The latest design trends coming through for 2016 are varied. Geometry will remain strong with circles and triangles making an appearance, its doors both in the tile shape and the printed designs on the tiles themselves. The industrial feel is now mainstream and this year the textures will Talking tiles become rougher – for example concrete tiles con- taining bits or more 3D texture to give a grittier or plastered appearance. Tiles are emerging with lines that appear hand-drawn, that are artistic and imperfect. the technical and aesthetic shortfalls inherent in quers that make it water resistant. To maintain the drain. When using porcelain tiles on the Contrasting this rustic, handmade feel, the trend traditional clay-based ceramics. Vastly more the floor, the home-owner simply needs to mop shower floor, consider using a linear drain; the for glamorous and luxurious marble is still strong. robust (cutting requires diamond edged tools), up and remove any excess water. It is also impor- sleek modern line of the drain eliminates awk- Coming soon, there will be new book-matched non-porous and colour-fast, porcelain is suitable tant that the room is well ventilated so there are ward tile cuts and also gives you a host of tile collections with patterns and veining joining to for virtually any cladding application, unlike its no excessive fluctuations in moisture and temper- range options. Alternatively, for an uninterrupted appear like one giant slab on the wall or floor. comparatively fragile, light bodied cousin. It is ature – these are the same rules that apply to tiled floor, look for a drainage system that sits in perfect for bathroom floors where items may be wood anywhere in the home. The benefits are the wall at floor level. dropped causing damage to ceramic. being able to achieve a harmonious design “The latest design trends Mosaics are a great way to create a feature wall, scheme throughout the entire floor plan. Design insider tips coming through for 2016 are surround or niche in the bathroom; they offering To achieve a minimalistic contemporary style Martin Currell, sales director at Domus Residential, discusses varied. Geometry will remain a huge array of designs, shapes, colours and “There is an increasing desire Ministers call on that will appeal to a wide range of buyers, choose 9 strong with circles and imaginative mixes of materials. The reflective for the wetroom look in triangles making an one tile range and specify it in two different sizes the space feel roomier and uncluttered. Porcelain to either harmonise or make a striking, contrast- nature of glass mosaic is enhanced by water and bathrooms and here the floor for the walls, for example a smaller mosaic in the appearance, both in the tile other richer precious metal finishes add instant needs to be completely rigid shape and the printed simulations have also never been more in demand ing statement. shower a larger size for the rest of the room. Go at the luxury end of the market. With the intro- luxury making them an ideal option for bath- so the tiles do not move over one shade darker for the floor in a textured bush- designs on the tiles rooms. The glass itself can also be metallic, time. Tiles are the key feature themselves” duction of inkjet technology, the quality of stone Choosing the right material hammered finish. You can also pick one colour replication is so good that porcelain tiles are mirrored, clear, frosted and iridescent - making of a wetroom so the cuts and and mix matt and gloss finishes for interesting Any bathroom surface must be hard-wearing, replacing natural stone on a large number of lux- for some truly unique visual effects. As well as the grouting have to be perfect” light and shade reflections. impervious to water and humidity, and require In terms of size, smaller tile formats are becom- ury developments. Porcelain is easier to look after glass, mosaic is also available in many varieties of For a classic look, a monochrome design low maintenance, as well as being aesthetically ing more prominent, 20cm square or less, than stone and you are assured a uniform thick- natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, and even pre- scheme is a great option that will always with- the benefits of using tiles in a bathroom, the options available inviting. Ceramic and porcelain are generally combined with very large format tiles up to ness, consistent colour and design throughout cious metals and natural hardwood. Wet wet wet stand the test of time. In addition to classic black the most popular materials that meet all of 1597x3197mm. the development. Porcelain examples include With the natural look still as popular as ever, There is an increasing desire for the wetroom and white, also think about mixing textures and these requirements. Housebuilders are presented with a plethora of marble, limestone, onyx and a wide variety of many customers are using wood effect tiles that look in bathrooms and here the floor needs to be finishes to add depth and interest to your design. Ceramic tiles are made from clay which is look like floorboards but are actually porcelain construction industry to options with a clean, white bathroom no longer distinctive stones from around the world. completely rigid so the tiles do not move over Try a combination of high gloss tiles with matt shaped and fired. It is lightweight and easy to cut providing enough of a wow factor to attract dis- The tile colour is also important. Popular tiles in a large format. However, despite the pre- time. Tiles are the key feature of a wetroom so the surfaces, or textured tiles with smooth ones and and install, however, it is also more prone to wear cerning buyers. colours at the moment are soft muted shades conception that you cannot use wood in the cuts and the grouting have to be perfect – an experiment with varying shades of black and grey. and chipping than porcelain tiles. Popular currently are textured finishes which of blues, greys, reds, pinks and yellows and bathroom, due to moisture penetration, it is pos- expert tiler is required. 'Slim' porcelain tiles are Also consider black/white or grey/white marble- Porcelain for use in tile manufacture was create a softer feel to the hard surface. Large for- for larger bathrooms we are seeing the sible so long as you chose a quality engineered ideal as the ultra-thin (4mm) depth makes them look tiles which add a touch of timeless luxury to developed some years ago to overcome many of product that has been treated with oils or lac- mats are also favoured with less grouting, making introduction of coloured grouts which are used easier to cut and easier to create the falls down to a monochrome design. Enq. 149 Continued overleaf... and the trends for 2016 respond online at www.hbdonline.co.uk respond online at www.hbdonline.co.uk invest and build home grown talent 58 oors & oor coerings oors & oor coerings 59 Improve the 58 build quality with ALSO IN THIS ISSUE... glue-less flooring Between 50-75 per cent of Improve the build quality with traditional vinyl installations in new housing developments require remedial work, which is Industry news 4 - 25 costly to housebuilders and tiresome for home owners. However remedial work can be dramatically reduced if housebuilders opt for loose-lay installation times, lowering on-floor costs by up manufacturers research decorative trends and acoustic flooring of 17db or greater levels of rather than glued flooring, says to 30 per cent compared with traditional vinyl, apply them to new floorings. As the design scope sound insulation; extra safety underfoot can be glue-less flooring and reducing remedial work dramatically. of vinyl is endless, it has much to offer in terms of provided by an R9 or R10 slip resistant vinyl with Garry Martin, sales manager Combining fast, cost-effective installation new looks from natural woods in on-trend an easy-to-clean surface that does not trap Private Sector Housing, with the benefits of top quality flooring, these colours, classy mineral effects and highly contem- dirt, while added thermal and cushioning can Events 8 Gerflor Limited floorings come in two types: textile-backed sheet porary patterns for both country and modern be achieved with a textile backed vinyl of vinyl, that can be typically laid in one piece, and décor schemes. 3-4mm thick. ingenious, interlocking lock and click tile and Vinyl is essentially practical, easy-to-clean and t is widely accepted that every new home plank system floorings, both of which eliminate does away with waxing and polishing, however needs to settle and gently dry out over a lengthy subfloor preparation and do away with “But all too often flooring is an the thickness of its wearlayer will determine its Iperiod of time.