Filter By Section
Filter By Year
Filter By Author
All News
20th September 2018
H+H was delighted to hold an official opening for its newly refurbished Borough Green factory on 14 September: Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, performed the opening itself with the Secretary of State for Housing, Local Government and Communities James Brokenshire also visiting the plant during the day to see the new production facility.
6th August 2018
The Government wants the construction industry to embrace off-site manufacturing, which is still seen as new and untested technology. The SIG I-House System is the solution, combining the efficiency of off-site with the traditional masonry methods the industry is already familiar with.
20th June 2018
H+H Foundations Prove They’re up to the Job for Archway Homes. Cheshire based housebuilder Archway Homes specialise in delivering small, high-quality developments in desirable locations across the North West. A family-run business, they pride themselves on the longevity of their relationships with their suppliers, which was the main reason they have chosen to specify H+H Celcon Foundation Blocks in their latest development.
20th June 2018
Building Your Own ‘Lifetime Home’ Made Easy with H+H Celcon Blocks. Building your own home can be an exciting, if somewhat, daunting experience that requires careful research. Tony Wright considered a number of different approaches when looking for materials that would be suitable for his ‘lifetime home’.
15th June 2018
Eighteen months ago we promised that H+H UK could have an entirely new production line up and running after just a three month shutdown at our main Borough Green factory. Thanks to some amazing teamwork, we have achieved just that.
27th April 2018
The government has been clear it wants housebuilders to deliver far more units per year, which means there is likely to continue to be strong demand for aircrete, a product ideal for meeting the performance requirements for modern construction.
4th April 2018
H+H Celcon blocks were used in an award-winning landmark self-build housing development in Plymouth. 24 one-bedroom homes were constructed in George Place: 12 were built for and by ex-servicemen; six homes were built for people with learning disabilities and six for general needs affordable rent. A quarter of the homes within the development are wheelchair accessible and all are designed to be capable of meeting criteria for Lifetime Homes.
4th April 2018
H+H’s Thin-Joint System is at the heart of Derwenthorpe, a new low-carbon community, the first phase of which recently scooped the Best Affordable Housing Development Award in the 2017 Inside Housing Awards. The latest win follows three prestigious RIBA awards earlier this year.
13th March 2018
With significant progress being made on site at the Borough Green facility, H+H Managing Director, Calum Forsyth, provides an update on the most recent developments, but the message remains clear, BG is bang on schedule.
7th March 2018
On 1st March 2018 H+H International completed its acquisition of the eight plants of Heidelberg Kalksandstein (HDKS) in Germany and Switzerland.
21st February 2018
Having previously experienced the system first hand, the Managing Director of Hill Bespoke specified the RåBuild method of construction, which uses the H+H Thin-Joint System, on four new build homes in Cambridgeshire.
5th February 2018
Matthew Carter, Sales Director of aircrete manufacturer H+H looks at supply issues faced by merchants.
23rd January 2018
With the clients requiring completion as soon as possible, contractors in Gloucestershire opted for the R? Build method from H+H to take advantage of the system?s unmatched speed whilst not compromising on quality.
17th December 2017
Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust’s Derwenthorpe low-carbon community, built with H+H’s Thin Joint System, has scooped the coveted Best Affordable Housing Development Award 2017 in the Inside Housing Development Awards 2017.
15th December 2017
Peter Buttle, Chairman of Buttle plc, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Builders? Merchants News Awards. H+H is proud to sponsor this category and attended the lunch to present Peter with the award.
1st December 2017
H+H is delighted to announce that we are sponsoring the inaugural Builders Merchants Journal (BMJ) Industry Awards. The ceremony will be held on Friday 18 May 2018 at a prestigious venue in London.
1st December 2017
H+H is delighted to announce that we are sponsoring the inaugural Builders Merchants Journal (BMJ) Industry Awards. The ceremony will be held on Friday 18 May 2018 at a prestigious venue in London.
29th November 2017
H+H Works Manager, Rob Wilson, provides an update on the developments at Borough Green ahead of our multi-million-pound upgrade investment.
14th November 2017
The SIG I-House incorporating Celcon Element by H+H has won the Best Product award at the Housebuilder Awards 2017.
19th October 2017
A new acoustic Robust Details, E-WM-31 is now available for high-performance cavity separating walls using Celcon Elements, H+H?s storey-height aircrete panels. Used in conjunction with the SIG I-House System, Celcon Elements provide a high acoustic performance which exceeds the requirements outlined in Part E of the Building Regulations.
19th October 2017
A new acoustic Robust Details, E-WM-31 is now available for high-performance cavity separating walls using Celcon Elements, H+H’s storey-height aircrete panels. Used in conjunction with the SIG I-House System, Celcon Elements provide a high acoustic performance which exceeds the requirements outlined in Part E of the Building Regulations.
19th October 2017
Is the UK housebuilding sector ready for a drastic change? Reforms to delivery and ownership models will likely decrease volatility and a cross-party consensus on the need to increase housebuilding must surely provide confidence in the long-term outlook for the sector.
12th October 2017
The new SIG I-House System incorporating Celcon Elements from H+H has just received official accreditation under the Build Offsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS).
20th September 2017
With an enormous multi-purpose residential project to complete, contractor AC Lloyd in Warwickshire reduced costs and simplified logistics by continuing their decade-long collaboration with H+H.
18th September 2017
In the first of a series of blogs, H+H Technical Director Cliff Fudge highlights how contractors and end-users can benefit from the simple change to aircrete as a foundation material.
6th September 2017
H+H has made accessing its brochures even easier with the launch of its new, interactive and informative Brochure App, available now for download on Apple?s App Store and Google Play.
5th August 2017
An update from Robert Wilson, Works Manager
July marked a real turning point in the upgrade project: this month we have sent five members of the Borough Green team from production and engineering to Germany to see the first of our new machinery being tested at manufacturer WEHRHAHN.
31st July 2017
The most recent MARKIT PMI survey of purchasing managers suggests a softening of confidence in the construction sector. However, my personal view is that if there is any area for confidence in the current volatile political environment, itﾒs the provision of new housing.
24th July 2017
H+Hﾒs Benny the Builder has finally tracked down all of his missing holiday memories thanks to the help of more than 5000 Whereﾒs Beanie Been competition entries.
The ﾣ1000 winner isﾅ
18th July 2017
The new Celcon Elements from H+H form the basis of the radical SIG I-House System being used to construct 164 residential units on a Barratt Homes site in Bromsgrove.
The SIG I-House System, based on the storey-high aircrete panels, delivers a complete house shell with weathertight roof and wrapped in insulation in just one week and is the result of a unique collaboration between H+H and SIG Off-Site. It is one of a number of building types being trialled by Barratt Homes which is keen to experiment with new methods of construction that offer improved speed of build.
7th July 2017
We believe the SIG I-House incorporating Celcon Elements is the future for housebuilding in the UK, but donﾒt just take our word for it. Watch the SIG I-House animation for yourself and see step-by-step how H+H and SIG are working to build better homes for the future.
11th May 2017
Many of our customers may have been surprised to see the announcement this week that H+H has been shortlisted in the Offsite Awards. Aircrete? Offsite?
10th April 2017
Managing Director Calum Forsyth, explores the situation currently affecting the concrete industry and the steps H+H is taking to provide continuity of supply for its customers.
6th April 2017
Awards continue to gather for the SIG I-House System incorporating Celcon Elements by H+H, an innovative collaborative housebuilding system created by H+H UK Ltd and SIG Offsite.
31st March 2017
The SIG I House, a collaborative housebuilding system created by H+H UK Ltd and SIG Offsite has won the Product Innovation award at the recent Barratt Developments? Supplier Excellence Awards.
31st March 2017
In response to requests for information on the supply of aircrete blocks and the upgrading of our Borough Green factory, H+H have put together a frequently asked questions section, which we hope readers will find useful.
29th March 2017
H+H, the largest UK manufacturer of aircrete blocks, has launch a third module onto its already popular online training academy.
20th March 2017
In a unique collaboration, H+H UK Ltd and SIG Offsite have worked together to create the SIG I-House ? an innovative house building system incorporating Celcon Elements from H+H.
The SIG I-House provides all the speed of offsite construction with the familiarity of a traditional build, from foundations to roof in just five days.
19th February 2017
Launching the Housing White Paper today (7 February), Homes and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid focused clear expectation on the need to build more. ﾓThe only way to halt the decline in affordability and help more people onto the housing ladder is to build more homes. Letﾒs get Britain buildingﾔ. If only the action supported the rhetoric.
31st January 2017
H+H Technical Director Cliff Fudge has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Kingston University in recognition of a 20-year collaboration with the School of Natural and Built Environments on a range of research and testing programmes.
Presenting the degree, Professor Mukesh Limbachiya observed that the outcomes of these have contributed to the introduction of sustainable building products and construction systems in the market place.
30th January 2017
That target of a million new homes by 2020. Is it feasible? And what does the simple fact of its existence mean for the housebuilding industry in the UK? Look out for a change in direction and prepare for a very busy year is the way Iﾒm thinking at the start of 2017.
19th October 2016
Requiring speed without sacrificing quality for their project, Hockley Homes specified the Thin-Joint System from H+H and were amazed with the assistance they received from the manufacturer as they produced nine beautiful homes in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
19th October 2016
Requiring speed without sacrificing quality for their project, Hockley Homes specified the Thin-Joint System from H+H and were amazed with the assistance they received from the manufacturer as they produced nine beautiful homes in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
26th September 2016
H+H is facing the uncertainties around the Brexit referendum with a resounding vote of confidence in the UK market ﾖ a multi-million pound investment in our Borough Green facility and significant product innovations planned for the year ahead.
15th September 2016
Jenny Smith-Andrews, Marketing Manager at H+H, the UKﾒs largest manufacturer of aircrete products and systems, explains the companyﾒs latest move into the self-build market and how this is assisting SME builders.
11th August 2016
For decades, a factory in the heart of Yorkshire has been responsible for producing the innovative aircrete blocks that have made their way into thousands of homes throughout the UK.
15th July 2016
The widely reported shortage of pulverised fuel ash (PFA) and its impact on the supply of concrete products is affecting individual manufacturers to different degrees. MD Calum Forsyth outlines the current situation at H+H.
12th July 2016
Housebuilders could save up to ?60/m2 on the build cost of a new home. What?s more, the savings are not hard to achieve when you take advantage of the inherent thermal efficiency of Aircrete and use approved aircrete construction details to minimise the energy lost at wall, floor and roof junctions.
12th July 2016
Housebuilders could save money on build costs by using aircrete blocks and calculated values for fabric thermal bridges according to research commissioned by aircrete block manufacturer H+H UK Ltd.
30th June 2016
MD Calum Forsyth considers the H+H reaction to the Referendum vote and the immediately pressing challenges of pulverised fuel ash (PFA).
13th June 2016
H+H's Ra Build method has been used by design and build contractor Canning Ericsson to speed construction of a three-storey apartment block on a confined site in Brighton.
9th June 2016
H+H is proud to support architect Parsons + Whittley, shortlisted in the Rural Category of the Passivhaus Trust Awards 2016 for Lime Tree Lodge.
7th June 2016
H+H is proud to announce that the H+H Academy is now available online to anyone wishing to learn more about our innovative aircrete material and construction methods.
11th April 2016
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Calum Forsyth as Managing Director of H+H UK. He will succeed Mark Oliver who leaves the company after being at the helm for over 8 years.
4th March 2016
In this fast paced world of the internet and social media, it is not very often we hear of people who have spent their lives working in one industry and itﾒs even more unusual when they have worked for the same client. That, however, is exactly what Mick Woolard did and has now proudly clocked up 50 years doing it.
26th February 2016
H+H knows the importance of delivering cost effective and energy efficient solutions for clients. That?s why it has stepped up the offering for small to medium sized (SME) builders and produced the innovative Thin-Joint Package Sale
24th February 2016
H+H understands that SME builders are the backbone of the UK construction industry and what better way to support them than by teaming up with the FMB, the UK?s largest trade organisation representing the interests of SME builders.
11th February 2016
Many people are well versed in the virtues of Facebook in their everyday life and regularly share, like and follow new content and brand pages. As time goes on, more and more people are using Facebook as a tool for business. There is a lot of expectation for companies to be on social media and they are often trusted more than those that are not.
1st February 2016
H+H?s Thin- Joint System of aircrete blocks and Celfix Mortar is a key element in the construction of a Passivhaus development of 16 semi-detached houses and 12 sheltered accommodation apartments on the Isle of Wight.
1st February 2016
H+H UK have created a short animation explaining how to build a house using the Thin-Joint system. The video is approximately four minutes in length and takes you through each step of the build process, from foundations to roof and more. A weatherproof shell is built first, allowing first fix trades access to a dry environment whilst the outside brickwork is being laid. The Thin-Joint Masonry House is a must to see if you are interested in building a home.
15th December 2015
"We were very impressed when we visited one of England's first Passivhaus homes in Denby Dale and this confirmed our view that we would aim for a fully certified Passivhaus," say Mr and Mrs Young.
15th December 2015
It was no surprise that the distinctive-looking ArcHouse won the H+H UK sponsored Homes for Britain category in the Sunday Times British Homes Awards. Designed by architect McInnes Gardner, the three-bedroom home?s distinctive curved roof gave this futuristic home a barn-like appearance that helped the scheme stand out from the five other impressive shortlisted entries. Almost one third of the people who voted in the competition chose this quirky scheme for garden city-type developments.
15th December 2015
Benny the beanie wearing builder, find out where heﾒs been in our latest update and picture gallery. You could also get your hands on a free H+H beanie to keep you warm this winter.
15th December 2015
Predicting the future is tough, but Mark Oliver, MD of H+H is getting pretty good at it. After being spot on in his forward thoughts for this year, here are his market predictions for 2016.
28th October 2015
ArcHouse has been voted as the blueprint for the home of the future in the Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2015.
24th September 2015
H+H is proud to announce that it is sponsoring this year?s Build It Awards.
24th September 2015
H+H is pleased to announce it has partnered with the Federation of Master Builders for the coming years and the partnership is the perfect fit for both parties.
22nd September 2015
H+H Celcon Plus Blocks and Thin-Joint System using Celfix Mortar have been used in Southern Housing Group?s first ever scheme built to the Passivhaus standards, Cameron Close on the Isle of Wight.
14th September 2015
For some time now our managing director at H+H, Mark Oliver, has been speaking about the need for better planning and the benefits of long-term working partnerships within the construction sector. This is something, in my role working with major house builders on a day-to-day basis, that I am now seeing an urgent need for.
3rd September 2015
The Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2015 in partnership with H+H UK Ltd, Redrow Homes, BRE and the AJ invited submissions for visionary designs in a standard house type suitable for planned Garden City developments and constructed with H+H UK?s aircrete building materials.
30th July 2015
H+H, leading manufacturer of aircrete blocks, has lowered the density of its High Strength and Super Strength Grade Celcon Blocks from 750 kg/m3 to 700 kg/m3. This has led to an improvement in thermal conductivity and lighter weight blocks. The change has been accredited by the British Board of Agr?ment (BBA) in a new certificate issued to the manufacturer.
30th July 2015
Like a fine wine, true quality comes with time. Innovation, while key to development, isnﾒt the only way forward. Graham Sargeant, Applications Research Manager at H+H discusses how well-established products are being constantly evaluated and tweaked to make sure they stay relevant in the current market-place.
16th July 2015
The H+H Thin-Joint System combines high quality, accurately dimensioned Celcon Blocks with a specially developed Thin-Joint mortar called Celfix.
23rd June 2015
The first five homes of a substantial development for Mid-Wales Housing Association have been built at a rapid pace, with the inner leaf construction going up in just five weeks, thanks to the H+H R? Build method and Thin-Joint System.
23rd June 2015
Excellent service provided by H+H staff has made building a breeze for the team at Sherborne Homes Ltd during the company?s first development for a housing association. High quality service and additional benefits from using the Thin-Joint System, allowed for a speedy delivery of a project in Gloucestershire.
27th May 2015
Responding to the publication of the Cities Devolution Bill and the Government's policy on Right to Buy, Mark Oliver, managing director of H+H, leading building materials manufacturer, has dismissed any talk that either of these initiatives will have a significantly positive impact on house building numbers in the next five years.
12th May 2015
Mark Oliver, Managing Director of H+H takes issue with government attempts to dictate how houses are built
6th May 2015
H+H, the UK?s leading aircrete manufacturer, is proud to be sponsoring ?Homes for Britain?, the 2015 Sunday Times British Homes Awards
30th April 2015
This time next week the polling stations will be open and the politicians will have taken part in the obligatory photo call on route to the ballot box. .
14th April 2015
Celfix Mortar, made by H+H as part of the aircrete manufacturer?s Thin-Joint System, can now be used from 0?C and rising, a full degree lower than traditional mortar systems.
9th April 2015
Mark Oliver, Managing Director at H+H, discusses the Governmentﾒs attempts to tell the housing sector how to build more houses.
1st April 2015
Why are H+H sponsoring the British Homes Awards 2015?
27th March 2015
There is much current debate around the need to build 200,000 homes per annum to satisfy the country?s growing demand, regardless of the mix between private and social housing. It is the number agreed by all interested parties on the levels of housing needed to begin reducing the waiting list for UK homes. Everyone including Government, industry specialists and those with the responsibility for building new homes is very aware of this target and its potential impact on the housing situation which exists currently.
6th March 2015
During our visit to Brooklands College a few weeks ago, we heard about Tessa Meade ﾖ the only female student currently on the level 2 bricklaying course. We caught up with her to find out what lifeﾒs like in a male dominated industry.
6th March 2015
With National Apprentice week just around the corner, we caught up with H+H Apprentice Jos Smith-Andrews to see how he is faring as an electrical engineer in training.
3rd March 2015
Cliff Fudge, technical director at H+H, analyses the house building market for 2015 and discusses the need for SME house builders to get building again and the help they need from all stakeholders in the sector.
16th February 2015
The NHBC has launched its new guide on Part L of the Building Regulations to help house builders and specifiers understand the changes. The guide, entitled Part L 2013 - Where to Start, is available for download though the National House Building Council (NHBC) Foundation website.
5th February 2015
Through project support, social media and collaborative school visits, Kerry Truman has encouraged architecture and design students to use aircrete after realising himself that its properties made it an ideal model making and prototyping material.
3rd December 2014
Mark Oliver's thoughts on the Autumn Statement
For the construction industry all the excitement of the Autumn Statement has come in advance of Chancellor George Osborneﾒs star turn in parliament later today.
26th November 2014
There are plenty of commentators starting to suggest that the much-discussed recovery in the housing market could be short lived. However, my own view is that 2015 will see a sustained growth in new housebuilding with the resultant increase in demand for merchants' stocks.
30th September 2014
H+H has donated 1000 Celcon Blocks to the Gilead Foundation. The blocks are being used to build private counselling rooms and offices as part of an expansion of the foundations drug rehabilitation programme.
24th September 2014
H+H, manufacturer of Celcon Blocks, has launched a new technical support package to help smaller building contractors and those involved with self-build projects. The Masonry House Package is designed to take the hassle and worry out of building the fundamental elements of a build project ? the walls and foundations.
22nd September 2014
H+H is again at the forefront of increasing levels of efficiency in UK house building after findings from the AIMC4 project revealed Retro Fit Joist Hangers to be a faster and more airtight way of hanging supporting floor joists. Retro Fit Hangers are now being recommended as an alternative to traditional methods when using the H+H Thin Joint System.
11th August 2014
To improve efficiency and in turn increase block capacity, H+H is updating the sizes of three of its product ranges.
7th August 2014
In March of this year the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that the rate of inflation faced by households in the UK had fallen to 1.6 per cent in the year leading up to March 2014.
7th August 2014
Rewind back to January 2013 and there was an air of cautious optimism surrounding the industry, but no one was expecting anything dramatic. As a company we forecast a modest 3 per cent increase in new housing starts. Come March, this cautious optimism began to wane after the country had been besieged with bad weather; the year ahead was not looking promising. Our sales in the first quarter of 2013 were lower than 2012.
17th July 2014
This time last year the industry was in a state of shock. With more than a respectful nod to Help to Buy, the number of new housing starts in the first half of last year was the highest for that period since 2008.
8th July 2014
H+H is leading the way in Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the aircrete sector and remains the only aircrete block manufacturer in the UK to offer downloadable BIM objects.
17th June 2014
After the success of the AIMC4 Conference on 16th June 2014, the AIMC4 Consortium are now holding a technical workshop so that the detail and findings of the project can be reviewed and shared with all interested parties.
22nd May 2014
Mark Oliver, managing director at H+H discusses the upturn of costs and product demand.
19th May 2014
A prestigious development of five luxury apartments has been constructed to Passivhaus principles using H+H aircrete Jumbo Blocks, Foundation Blocks and the H+H Thin-Joint System. Oyster Reach in Whitstable, Kent, was built by contractor Masonry Frame Systems Ltd in a prime central location facing out to the sea.
15th May 2014
Course Date: 18th June 2014 commencing 9.30 am
All those interested in the design of masonry to the Eurocode. This course will provide an overview of the changes in both the design procedures and supporting documents resulting from the introduction of the European Codes and Standards and compare the new requirements with the previous British Standard BS 5628.
15th May 2014
For the first time H+H has sponsored Inside Housing?s search for the top 50 affordable housing developments in the UK.
7th May 2014
The Thin-joint System is widely used across the UK and is the preferred method of building in much of Europe. It is designed for speed of build and air-tightness, whilst reducing cost, build time and waste on site. So, it is no surprise that knowing how to use this modern method of construction is a valuable skill to have.Here are my top tips to get you on your way:Use the correct toolsIn order to achieve the best results using the Thin-Joint System you need to use the correct tools. In doing so, you can prevent any irregularities or imperfections should
7th May 2014
The unique characteristics of aircrete make it ideal for the construction of cavity walls. With its combination of strength and resistance to moisture, it provides superb thermal and sound insulation properties.
24th April 2014
The H+H Thin-Joint System is designed for speed of build and air-tightness, but in order to achieve this you will need to use the correct tools and materials.
24th April 2014
The base course of a solid wall construction starts from the ground floor, above the damp proof course (DPC). The DPC can actually be laid into the bedding mortar or base course if required, but it is usually under the floor you are building the solid wall onto.
2nd April 2014
Since spring last year Britain has been in recovery mode. The country is slowly getting back on its feet after the worst recession in living memory. Surely that means our future as a world leading economy is secure. But is it? Perhaps we are simply climbing up a rather precariously balanced economic ladder and, similar to what happened in 2008, we will have another spectacular fall from grace.
24th March 2014
Responding to the Chancellor George Osborne?s budget announcement regarding the extension of the Help to Buy scheme and the development of a new garden city, Mark Oliver, managing director of H+H, has welcomed the short term stability the scheme brings for the construction sector.
3rd March 2014
Cliff Fudge, Technical Director at H+H, looks at the popularity of masonry construction and analyses it in relation to the recently announced Part L Building Regulations changes and the potential issue of overheating.
28th February 2014
Mark Oliver, MD at H+H, looks at the long term implications of Part L 2013 and how it will affect the zero carbon target.
18th February 2014
Hardly a day has gone by this year without flood warnings, flood risks and flood management being mentioned in the media. The Environment Agency has already issued hundreds of flood warning and alerts for England and Wales this year and in Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 27 flood alerts and 61 flood warnings between January 1st and January 20th alone. The Environment Agency estimate that already this year around 640 properties have flooded in England alone.
17th February 2014
Twelve months ago no one was predicting the significant increase in new housing starts that shocked the industry in 2013. We entered the year cautiously optimistic expecting a modest 3 per cent increase in new housing starts and after a disappointing first quarter no one could be certain what the rest of the year would hold.
12th February 2014
H+H's innovative R? Build method has been used at Britannia Crescent, Great Yarmouth. The arc-shaped development consists of 19 three-bedroom houses and is built on the site of the former Beach Coach Station car park.
15th January 2014
There is no organisation, standard, regulation or piece of legislation that requires a minimum lifespan for a building. Jenny Smith-Andrews at H+H examines the expected and potential lifespan of a home.
8th January 2014
H+H has produced a technical update for the new Approved Document Part L, which comes into effect on 6th April 2014. The document explains how Celcon Blocks can be used to meet the new regulations in different types of construction.
18th December 2013
Mark Oliver, MD of H+H, discusses how after the deepest and longest house building depression in history we are now, thankfully, experiencing an upturn. The latest estimate from the Construction Products Association predicts that by the end of this year there will be 138,139 new home starts. Thatﾒs an increase of 16.7 per cent on last year and a jump of 29.5 per cent since the darkest days of the recession in 2009 when there were only 106,635 new home starts.
14th November 2013
Demand for building materials has exploded over the summer. Why? Is this permanent? And how are manufacturers responding to the challenge? Mark Oliver, MD of aircrete block manufacturer H+H looks at some causes and solutions.
11th November 2013
November 7th marked the event of the 2013 Housebuilder Awards, held at the Tower Hotel (Guoman Hotels) London. Hosted by Housebuilder Media, the evening saw nearly 500 people hear impressionist and comedian Jon Culshaw announce this yearﾒs winners for each category, presenting every one with a different industry leader, including our very own MD, Mark Oliver.
7th November 2013
A triple extension on a private three bedroom home has been constructed using H+H Celcon Blocks Standard Grade with traditional mortar. The house in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, has been transformed over a three year period by Gill Building, which recently completed the final 3M x 10M extension on the rear of the house.
5th November 2013
H+H?s innovative Thin-Joint System, using Celfix mortar and Multi Plate aircrete blocks, has been used to speed-up the construction of a student accommodation block at the University of Reading.
5th November 2013
H+H has published details of how its products align with the new Eurocode 6 (EC6) in addition to the existing British Standard BS5628: Part 1: Code of Practice for the use of Masonry, which has now been officially withdrawn.
9th October 2013
Our updated Products & Applications Guide has now been uploaded to the Downloads section of the website.
27th September 2013
Changes to the rules that govern the installation of precast concrete flooring will allow the benefits of H+H?s innovative Thin-Joint System to be realised in the construction of more apartment blocks, care homes and other buildings with precast concrete floors.
11th September 2013
The thoughts and opinions of Neil Thomas, Director of Housing at H+H.
10th September 2013
H+H has become one of the pioneers of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in the country by being one of the first manufacturers to launch downloadable BIM objects for each of their products.
6th August 2013
H+H's innovative all-in-one building method, R? Build, has been used in the construction of a pair of semi-detached bungalows on a restricted site in Kessingland, Suffolk.
6th August 2013
Mark Oliver, H+H MD, reports on how merchants may not always capture the value they add when providing this service to builders
8th July 2013
Robust Details E-WM-23 and 24 are now available for a high-performance cavity separation wall construction using H+H aircrete blocks.
1st July 2013
How do the products contribute to the sustainability agenda, and what are their sustainability credentials?
10th June 2013
When building new dwelling-houses and flats have you considered using aircrete blockwork for separating walls which can provide significant thermal benefits? Doing so can simplify your build process, save time, money and give improved thermal benefits.
19th May 2013
In part one of our new specifiers guide, Jenny explains away the misconceptions that may exist about our range of aircrete products...
19th April 2013
In September 2012 Vince Cable announced that the Government would be developing eleven sector strategies across key industries during 2013 with the aim of promoting both short and long term economic growth. The construction industry was selected as one of the eleven sectors and a Construction Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (CISAC), representing the breadth of the industry, will oversee and steer the development of the strategy out to 2025.
17th April 2013
H+H's innovative Ra Build method has been used for a private self-build project in Bottle Lane, Maidenhead. The property stands on the site of the old house, which was demolished in favour of a masonry build.
3rd April 2013
The demise of previously leading retailers in their respective sectors, Comet, Jessops, HMV and Blockbuster, is largely blamed on their failure to adapt to online retailing. Commentators suggest that by not changing their business model to ﾓclicks & bricksﾔ (from ﾓbricks & mortarﾔ), as others like Tesco and Argos have done, these previously market leading, but now collapsed, companies missed a trick.
29th March 2013
H+H is delighted to announce it received a 2012 Barratt Supplier Excellence Award, as part of its Supplier Conference in February 2013.
24th March 2013
Responding to the Chancellor George Osborneﾒs budget announcement regarding the extension of the Help to Buy scheme and the development of a new garden city, Mark Oliver, managing director of H+H, has welcomed the short term stability the scheme brings for the construction sector but calls on Ed Balls to make clear Labourﾒs position on the scheme in order to allow companies to begin making long-term investment decisions.One of the first to call for of a government backed scheme as far back as 2010 Oliver has continually supported Help to Buy with regards to more houses being built. He said:
6th March 2013
H+H's Multi-Plate Package has been used to build six houses, as part of a social housing project, in Seaford, Sussex.
13th February 2013
Celcon Blocks supplied by H+H won the Bricks and Blocks supplier award from the NBG for the second year running, presented during the group's Annual Gala Dinner held in Edinburgh at the end of last year.
11th February 2013
We are all familiar now with the arguments surrounding the need to reduce our carbon emissions. The building industry has responded impressively and new building techniques, as well as new materials, mean that it is quite possible to build houses that have almost no carbon emissions related to their heating needs.
28th January 2013
Highwood Group has used H+H's Thin Joint system of large format aircrete blocks and quick-drying Celfix Mortar to meet a tight programme for the construction of a specialist care home and six assisted living bungalows.
23rd January 2013
Two newly updated brochures have now been posted onto the H+H website.
14th January 2013
External render finishes are growing in popularity as an alternative to brick, and with H+H Celcon blocks commonly used to build extensions or whole buildings it seems sensible to know how to apply external render to them.
18th December 2012
Green Deal launches for real on 28th January next year, when the first consumer finance plans can go live, to kick-start the mammoth task of making 25 million existing homes more energy efficient by 2050. I have concerns, that, unless consumers know about the Green Deal and what itﾒs trying to do, then take-up could be much slower than anticipated. Itﾒs classic marketing, if people donﾒt know about something how can they buy it?
17th December 2012
Speed was of the essence. The first phase of the Silk Meadows development included 11 homes set along a newly constructed street. The street snaked through this Crest Nicholson development of two, three and four bedroom houses on the outskirts of Taunton. The urgency was because this phase of the 67-home development contained the three show homes needed to market the development.
26th November 2012
Leading aircrete manufacturer H + H has supplied Celcon Blocks to its local Parish Council in Borough Green for a community hall rebuild, after it was destroyed in an arson attack.
2nd November 2012
The checklist for a new build is growing. Under the weight of increasingly stringent regulations, the industry is conducting scrupulous assessments of every material used, every measurement taken, every decision made. And yet no-one seems to require a minimum lifespan for a building.
1st November 2012
The H+H Thin-Joint system is a modern method of construction that offers a whole range of benefits including simplicity of installation and design flexibility. As Owen Ongley puts it: "Thin-joint can really increase the quality of the build, especially for airtightness, if you have the right guys on it who know what theyﾒre doing."
26th October 2012
"We've used H+H aircrete blocks and Thin Joint system for the last 10 years, sticking with it because it's such a good system for speed and ease of construction with minimal waste", says Steve Williams, a director of housebuilder Williams Homes.
1st October 2012
In my previous post I explored selling versus order taking and the different behaviours and skills that branch based merchant salespeople may need to have, or develop.
12th September 2012
H+H?s Thin Joint system has been used in a fabric-first approach to the design and construction of a low energy apartment block on a constrained site in Brighton.
4th September 2012
Good salespeople do more than simply ﾑsellﾒ. Someone who listens to what a customer wants and then advises them on the best product solution is far more effective.
9th August 2012
H+H's Ra Build method of aircrete construction has recently been specified for the 2000th time at a Linden Homes development in Northfields, Colchester, demonstrating the popularity of the system. Originally the build method was to be timber frame, however, the specification changed to aircrete due to the cost saving available.
6th July 2012
H+H's Celcon Plus Blocks using Thin Joint Celfix Mortar were specified for their impressive thermal properties on both the separating and internal walls for Ty Llidiard - Litchard House, the new Child & Adolescent mental health unit at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Brigend, Wales, built by BAM Construction for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board.
31st May 2012
A new acoustic Robust Detail, E-WM-23, is now available for registration which delivers very significant benefits for both existing and potential users of both H+H?s Celcon Blocks and Thin Joint system. Robust Detail E-WM-23 is a high performance cavity separating wall construction that will allow developers and clients to simplify the procurement and build process whilst addressing challenges posed by the Code for Sustainable Homes, together with Part L - Thermal Regulation and Part E - Acoustic Regulation.
30th May 2012
The recent upheaval surrounding the Governmentﾒs Feed in Tariff for small scale renewable energy generation has added uncertainty into this marketplace. Is it now as appealing for housing associations to install potentially expensive technology, such as solar PV, on new builds, as it was just one year ago? Perhaps not, and testament to this are the number of micro generation schemes either shelved or put up for review recently by HAﾒs.
21st May 2012
In a bid to ensure that the universal characteristics of aircrete are fully and impartially explained, the Aircrete Products Association has just launched a new website at www.aircrete.co.uk.
21st May 2012
The issue of linear thermal bridging is hugely significant. As U-values get even lower heat loss from junctions can now account for as much as 40% of the heat lost through the fabric.
21st May 2012
This concept of consequential improvements seems to me to be fundamentally sound, but now is just the wrong time to try and introduce it.
21st May 2012
Statistics from the NHBC, which guarantees approximately 80% of all new homes, indicate in England last year, an average of 12.25% of its homes were built using timber frame. It follows that nearly 90% were built with other means, including masonry, and aircrete in particular.
21st May 2012
In 2009 H+H joined the repatriation initiative, one of the first manufacturers to do so. Since then the number of pallets collected has increased dramatically:
14th May 2012
April saw the official announcement of a ﾓdouble dipﾔ recession, and the DCLG tells us that housing starts in England in the first quarter were 15% down on last year. So why are the housebuilders sounding so cheerful and what do their pronouncements mean for the materials producers and sellers?
30th April 2012
H+H joined forces with, Stewart Milne, Crest Nicholson and Barratt Developments and the BRE to complete 17 cost-effective low carbon homes in England and Scotland for the AIMC4* development scheme. This project has been made possible by a ?3.2million investment by the Technology Strategy Board, which has also been matched by the AIMC4 Consortium.
16th April 2012
It was originally billed as ﾓconsequential improvementsﾔ, part of the consultation document on revisions to Part L. Then someone labelled it The Conservatory Tax, discussed it with the national media and suddenly itﾒs a very public embarrassment for the Government, with the Prime Minister hastily distancing himself from the whole idea.
30th March 2012
With the announcement in March of the New Buy initiative, the Government clearly signalled some active support for the housebuilding sector. Personally, I think New Buy is an excellent initiative (and one I have been advocating for the last three years) as it targets resources precisely where they are needed ﾖ at the new housing market. Let us not forget that the home building supply chain is a significant contributor to the UK economy ﾖ we estimate that each additional house start per annum generates 2.4 jobs.
22nd March 2012
Sustainable businesses will have the opportunity to provide information and data that will shape how the Green Construction Board (GCB) will deliver its plans for a low carbon built environment.
8th March 2012
H+H?s Standard Grade 440 x 215 x 100mm and 140mm thick 3.6N aircrete blocks have been installed at the Newbury Parkway Shopping Centre, providing a robust shell in a mix of solid, single skin and cavity walls. Situated in Berkshire and designed by BDP architects, the retail park forms part of a new town centre for the local community. H+H blocks were used due to aircrete?s inherent qualities as a material.
23rd February 2012
The number of new houses completed in recent years has been, and remains, lamentable. With a steadily rising population and huge pressure on existing housing there is no lack of demand, the key to reigniting the housing sector is finding how to release this demand.
23rd February 2012
321 building industry professionals completed our online poll investigating the reasons for specification choices in the design of internal partition walls. Respondents represented a good mix of large and small companies, involved in both new build and refurbishment projects.
23rd February 2012
The current government is driving a huge expansion of green technology and environmental initiatives in the construction sector. Politically it cannot fail to achieve results and the Green Construction Board is one of the mechanisms by which it proposes to both encourage progress and monitor developments.The Board itself consists of thirteen industry representatives supported by nine government appointees. The idea is for practitioners to interpret the government objectives and suggest ways that they can be met profitably by the building industry.
23rd February 2012
H+H was once of the first manufacturers to join the pallet repatriation initiative, launched at Ecobuild 2011. We have just received the analysis of numbers and are delighted to see that the number of pallets recovered during 2011 was over 400% up on 2010.
10th February 2012
The priority of economic policy in the UK for decades has been a focus on keeping the inflation rate under control. The most recent inflation figures (February 2012) point to a falling rate, although still well above the Bank of England target of 2%.
2nd February 2012
There are a number of industry experts suggesting what growth (or otherwise) can be predicted in the housebuilding sector for 2012.
There is a surprisingly broad range of views on the subject, but the consensus seems to be that private housebuilding (in sharp contrast to most other sectors within construction) is set for a better year.
5th January 2012
Housebuilder Cawrey Homes specified H+H Celcon Blocks rather than competing products for their new build development of energy efficient homes in Ratby. All thirty six of these homes meet level four of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Cawrey Homes focused on a ?fabric first? approach, therefore relying upon H+H Celcon Blocks to build as airtight and thermally efficient building envelope as possible.
21st November 2011
Hotel guests always appreciate a clean room and comfy bed, but what about noise from the people next door? Sound travel between rooms was a critical issue for Project Manager Kevin Wood when building an extension to his Elme Hall Hotel.
7th November 2011
With BIM being widely touted as the future of the construction industry, Mark Oliver offers his opinion.
7th November 2011
The UK has been a world-leader in the development of aspirational codes for the construction of new buildings with the zero carbon definition, originally planned for introduction in 2016, being the most ambitious yet conceived.
7th November 2011
Launched at Ecobuild 2011, the pallet repatriation initiative is supported by the CPA, WRAP and BRE. H+H was one of the first suppliers to join the scheme, and within the first year we anticipate that we will have 15% of our pallets returned. Our objective is to achieve 30% in 2012, amounting to approximately 200,000 pallets.
7th November 2011
Prior to the latest revision of Part L, heat loss through party walls had not been considered as it was thought that the loss would be insignificant. However, research on completed homes showed that the heat loss was in fact the equivalent of having a wall U-value of 0.5W/m2K.
30th August 2011
The R? Build method of masonry build using Thin Jointed large format aircrete blocks from H+H was specified for 44 new council dwellings being built by Ashford Borough Council for its exceptional thermal performance, design flexibility and robust durability.
26th July 2011
Town & Country Housing Group (TCHG) in Kent decided to construct a low carbon prototype home to act as a test bed for building to level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. In the process they used the H+H Thin Joint system with large format Jumbo Bloks.
23rd June 2011
H+H has provided Solar Thermal 215 blocks as part of a new partnership with Sussex Coast College in Hastings to elevate the profile of sustainability in construction. The blocks will be part of a 100m? eco house, an initiative of the European funded Interreg project, Eco Fab2. The eco house is being built indoors at the Ore Valley site within the Sussex Coast College Hastings as an opportunity for students to create, design and work on a fully-sized and operational house.
8th June 2011
There has been a range of conflicting statistics published over the last few weeks. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say a range of interpretations of the statistics. We have Grant Shapps quoting the CLG figures as showing a 16% rise and NHBC showing a 16% fall ? so who is right?
8th June 2011
The Futures Group was formed in 2007 as an alliance between the Modern Masonry Alliance and the Home Builders Federation. The objective is to research the issues around the increasingly stringent energy efficiency requirements of building regulations. It was formed in the context of some market scepticism that masonry would prove to be a practical solution.
27th May 2011
A R? Build, thin-jointed solid wall aircrete masonry shell was the most cost effective solution for the Stondonfield social housing development in Essex. Principle Contractor Collins and Beckett looked at timber frame and off site methods before opting for H+H Hi-Seven 7.3N/mm2 Jumbo Bloks for the ground floor external walls of the 6 houses and 2 flats that make up the scheme.
10th May 2011
After successfully obtaining planning consent, the AIMC4 consortium, created to research and deliver mass market Code Level 4 homes using a fabric-first approach, has announced the project's chosen sites.
6th April 2011
Scottish house-builders Malcolm Allen used H+H Celcon Blocks Standard Grade in solid external wall constructions at their Broadmeadows development of family homes near Aberdeen. The solid wall design was chosen for its speed of build and excellent thermal insulation.
17th March 2011
The latest statistics from NHBC show that timber frame building methods now account for 16% of all new housing starts. This is down from 24% at the start of 2010 and marks the third successive quarterly fall.
16th March 2011
H+H has launched an online training module, designed to give general information on aircrete as a material, how it is used and its performance characteristics.
14th March 2011
H+H has been shortlisted in the Manufacturer of the Year category at this year?s Building Awards. The Awards are judged on a company?s innovation, industry commitment and sustainability credentials and recognise the top performers from the last year.
11th March 2011
There has been much discussion on the subject of cavity wall dimensions required to meet the increasingly stringent Building Regulations? requirements. Aircrete, with its inherent thermal insulation characteristics, contributes to a cavity wall width for masonry that will compare favourably with timber frame structures.
7th March 2011
H+H, the UK?s leading manufacturer of aircrete building products, has appointed Neil Thomas to the critical Director of Housing role. Neil joins H+H from British Gypsum where he was responsible for sales to national housebuilders.
11th February 2011
H+H UK Ltd Hi-Strength Grade 100mm and 140mm aircrete blocks have been specified for a ?1.7 million project at Batheaston Primary School in Bath. The blocks have been used to build a new hall, reception, classrooms and a kitchen facility with the aim of the project to achieve U values 25% better than the current Building regulation requirements for walls.
25th January 2011
H+H UK has recently become one of the first manufacturers in the UK to be awarded BSEN 16001 ? the latest European standard to focus specifically on energy efficiency and also the British Standards Institute Energy Reduction Validation (ERV) Kitemark scheme for demonstrating reductions in carbon emissions.
21st January 2011
H+H UK is Britain?s largest manufacturer of aircrete products and has signed up as an associate sponsor for SHIFT, joining the list of companies already in support of this nationwide sustainability initiative.
18th January 2011
Jenny Smith-Andrews, H+H UK's Marketing Communications Manager talks to Cortexa about the reasons behind the development of their e-learning Academy. In this interview, created for Cortexa, Jenny explains the process, her expectations and the future of e-learning for H+H.
6th January 2011
H+H UK is using Ecobuild as a platform to demonstrate how its aircrete building products fit within a sustainable building agenda.
16th December 2010
Contractor Masonry Frame Systems completed the aircrete inner shell of 39 new build houses and flats two weeks ahead of schedule at the Pinefields development in Addlestone, despite last winter being the coldest for decades. This was made possible by using the H+H R? Build method of construction with thin-jointed aircrete block-work.
1st November 2010
The increasingly stringent thermal insulation requirement for walls is leading to speculation about the building types that will be most effective in the future. At the centre of this discussion is the cavity wall, with some going so far as to suggest that this familiar construction method has had its day. Ali Riza examines this suggestion in the light of the new Part L.
1st November 2010
Is current government thinking logical and fair when it comes to the green agenda in the building industry? Mark Oliver, MD of H+H, looks at some aspects of new build legislation in the light of David Cameronﾒs much vaunted commitment to fairness and considers recent policy announcements for clues of future direction.
21st October 2010
Our poll of 500 building industry professionals suggests that, while there is still considerable scepticism about the drive to achieve Zero Carbon, the vast majority have accepted the need to build more sustainability and are committed to doing so.
21st September 2010
Estimator Mike Solomon of Clevedon based Russell Construction won top prize in the inaugural H+H Green Poll, an Apple iPod Touch. Mike took five minutes out of his busy schedule to offer his expert opinion on building to the highest levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
9th August 2010
Ribbon Court, a ?6.5m care home in Coventry built for Accord Housing Association, was completed four weeks ahead of schedule due to the use of large format aircrete Multi Plates and Thin-Joint Celfix mortar. H+H supplied a through-the-wall solution including all of the lintels, aircrete, ties, mortar, damp-proof course (DPC), cavity trays and bed-joint reinforcement ? everything except the doors and windows.
9th July 2010
Flexibility is at the core of H+H?s commercial relationships with its merchant customers: the willingness to work as a partner to develop new service models that support the merchants? changing business models.
23rd June 2010
While placing an overall target of 25% reduction in carbon emissions from new buildings, the 2010 revisions to Part L also focus very clear attention on the U value of external walls.
20th June 2010
?Having been fully prepared for a slow to moderate start to 2010 we, like many other suppliers to the housebuilding industry, have had a much better first half than we had dared to hope. The reason is simple: NHBC statistics for the months of March to May indicate that the number of new housing starts is 60% up on the same period in 2009. Even when this is moderated by a significantly less impressive opening to the year, it does still reflect a market on the road to recovery.