Roofers and Carpenters in London

Roofers and Carpenters in London

Wooden staircase

Wood bespoke stairs or laminate staircase ?

This is a job where we used laminate wooden flooring , a much cheaper option than hardwood bespoke stairs we normally do.


The staircase before

wooden staircase laminate kit
The staircase , after – view from the top

Transformation of single flight of stairs with matching wood flooring

Fake skylight


ach artificial skylight is fitted with a solid layer of nanoparticles that causes light to scatter.

The layer also creates an illusion of depth to make the ‘sun’ appear to be far away.

It can specifically mimic the brightness and quality of light from the Tropics, Mediterranean and northern Europe.

CoeLux 60 produces ‘cooler vertical’ rays with the ‘maximum luminance contrast of light and shadow,’ as seen in tropical regions.

The Mediterranean-based CoeLux 45 skylight features a 45-degree ceiling beam that offers an equal balance of light and shade.

While CoeLux 30 uses a 30-degree angle beam relative to the horizon to reproduce ‘a warm, Nordic grazing light.’

Rayleigh scattering occurs when light is scattered in different directions by small particles, typically smaller than the wavelength of the light being scattered.

The phenomenon is commonly seen in gases, but can also apply to solids and liquids.

Rayleigh scattering is what causes the sky to appear blue. When sunlight travels through the atmosphere it is scattered by other particles.

Blue light is scattered more efficiently than other wavelengths of light which causes the sky to look blue the majority of the time.

During sunrise and sunset, the sky appears red and orange because the sun’s rays are passing directly through the atmosphere and red light isn’t scattered as much, so passes through the atmosphere unaffected.

Ventilation for flat roofs

Not all flat roofs needs ventilation.
flat roof ventilation

The picture above shows a warm deck – warm roof with ventilation, 25mm. Notice the gap between the insulation and woodwork.

flatroof extension plastering
Plastering a flat roof with a Velux window

fibreglass flat roof and velux window over extension
Fibreglass flat roof and Velux window over the extension

cold roof ventilation

If you have a warm roof – to have ventilation is optional.

warm roof ventilation

If you have cold roof, you do need ventilation for the flat roof.

Our roofers always prefer to build the roofs with ventilation even if its a warm deck – roofing.If it is a kitchen extension, there will be a lot of condensation, the plaster will absorb most of it , but sometimes people think there is a leak.

When a roof slate slips, how to hook it back

Slates and tiles are nailed or hooked on to battens running along the roof, spaced apart according to the size of slate or tile covering them. The battens are nailed to the rafters. In old houses you’ll be able to see the battens and the underside of slates or tiles from inside the attic; sometimes it is possible to manoeuvre a slipped tile or slate back into place from within, in modern houses this won’t be possible because of the layer of waterproof felt or membrane between the rafters and the battens which helps keep wind and driven rain or snow out.

roofer working on a natural slate roof

Slates are nailed in place, either at the top or about half-way down each side, and in older houses they tend to slip because the nails rust through. (Use rust proof nails for repairs.) The tool you will need for replacing slates, and possibly when replacing tiles, is a slate ripper you can buy it from a good tool merchant or you may be able to hire one.

Major roof repairs are best left to professional roofers, but an amateur who doesn’t mind heights can tackle and works safe, replacing the odd slipped tile or cracked slate provided it can be reached without difficulty. Use long-enough ladders or a working platform and if necessary a roof ladder; if in doubt, send for a roofer. Heights are dangerous.

Dividing a room with a timber framed partition

WALLS: Extra rooms

timber partition walls
The first step in building a wall is the same as with other major building jobs – write to the council. The local building inspector must approve your plans, check that they are construotionally safe and that the divided room meets building regulations for fire safety, light and air. The details below are for a wall with a door at one end; it could be modified to form an alcove for a baby’s cot or a dining area.

The advantage of timber framing walls covered with plasterboard is that it can easily be modified, or later removed completely without much work or mess. The door can go anywhere in the length of the wall; a window can be set over it; the wall can contain a serving hatch. Start by locating the joists in the ceiling above by probing with a bradawl ; when you find a joist,probe some more to locate the centre. If the new wall is to run in the same direction as the joists, then it must be directly beneath one of them; if it is to run across the joists you’ll have to locate all of the joists (they’re usually 16in, to 18in, apart), but the new wall can be anywhere along them. Mark where the top of the wall is to go. The frame in the picture, is made of 4in by 2in (100mm by 50mm) timber, the 4in making the thickness of the wall, joined with nails and screws.

you can read more here http://robuild.co.uk/builders/index.php/building-a-partition-wall/