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weberend protect by Saint-Gobain Weber is the perfect solution for invisibly protecting external renders and other building substrates from water and liquid ingress. This hydrophobic coating prevents absorption of most types of surface contamination including water, oil and graffiti and reduces the risk of algae, moss, lichen and mould.

Easily applied by roller, brush or spray, this protective coating keeps the building exterior clean and dry, providing permanent protection against the elements while allowing the substrate to breathe, ensuring the façade looks better for longer. Water beads simply run off the treated surface removing contaminants at the same time.

“weberend protect ensures dirt, stains and other atmospheric contaminants do not adhere to the surface,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber, “so preventing deterioration of surfaces. By doing so it increases the substrate lifespan and reduces maintenance costs. It is also ideal for areas of high weather exposure where substrates might be damp, such as coastal areas.” weberend protect is UV resistant, non-flammable and non-toxic.

The colourless protective coating does not stain, and can be used on external renders, decorative finishes, masonry and concrete substrates, in newbuild, refurbishment and retrofit projects, and on historic buildings. weberend protect is also suitable for ground and horizontal surfaces that receive high levels of foot traffic and prevents chewing gum from adhering to the surface.

weberend protect is sustainably manufactured in the UK, pre-packaged and ready for immediate on-site use.

For more information about this product, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.

A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

Major refurbishment is underway at the Saint-Gobain Weber HQ in Flitwick, Bedfordshire where weberfloor products are being used extensively. The work involves renovation of 240m² of industrial and commercial floor space.

The Flitwick warehouse project involves the demolition of the old training workshop to make way for a new product storage area. Here the floor area has been pre-treated and primed with weberfloor 4716 primer which is designed for use on all substrates prior to application of weberfloor products to achieve a thin but tight membrane. It regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion while reducing the formation of pinholes in the levelling layer. weberfloor 4716 primer should be diluted with clean water and can be spray-applied for use on large areas.

weberfloor 4160 industry top industrial floor screed was then applied to a thickness of 10mm. Compliant with BS8204 it is a pumpable, rapid hardening and self-smoothing floor screed for use as a surface layer on industrial flooring with a compressive strength of C35 and flexural strength F10. It is especially suitable where renovation time is limited and is ready for foot traffic 2 – 4 hours after application. weberfloor 4610 industry top is designed for intensively trafficked industrial floors with medium or heavy rolling loading where exceptional flatness is required such as factories, production areas or warehouses. weberfloor 4610 industry top does not require any finish but may be coated with a suitable resin and is ideal for use on both new floors and renovation projects.

In a separate area of the building work is ongoing in the creation of a new open plan office area. During the preparation stage a slip membrane was installed to create a floating floor and to effectively de-bond from the existing substrate. This has been reinforced with alkaline-resistant weberfloor 4945 glass fibre mesh. Mesh is normally used on weak substrates or in case the screed is laid un-bonded.

Fibre-reinforced for added durability, weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has been applied to the mesh at 25mm thickness but can be applied up to 50mm. This high performance, pumpable, levelling floor screed is ideal for solid and floating floors, in both commercial and residential applications. It has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics, is suitable for heated or wooden floors and, importantly on this project, can receive foot traffic after only 2 – 4 hours.

“Ease and speed of application has been critical to allow early access by following trades,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber. “These facilities are used regularly by staff and overseas visitors so downtime essentially had to be kept to a minimum.”

“The transformation of this space is really impressive,” continues Dempster, “and no one understands more than Weber that time is money and floors must be laid in the shortest possible time.” Weber’s comprehensive floor screeds, which are manufactured in the UK, have been developed for optimum speed, durability, strength and smoothness and are the most technically advanced products on the market.

For more information about this project, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.
A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

Saint-Gobain Weber takes training in the specification and application of their innovative, market leading materials responsibly. A team of technical advisers are available to support and advise, either over the telephone or on site, on the correct use of a diverse product offering.

“In addition to the Saint-Gobain Technical Academy here in Bedfordshire, one of several across the country,” says Rob Speke, training academy manager, Saint-Gobain Weber, “we now have a wide inventory of How To videos posted on You Tube for specifiers and applicators who are unable to attend a related course at the Academy.”

How To Videos have been created to address the most frequently raised technical enquiries received by Weber’s technicians for tile preparation, flooring products, renders and external wall insulation systems.

A popular and frequently viewed Weber video identifies the benefits and characteristics of weberpral monocouche renders. This is a high performance range of low maintenance, cementitious, through-coloured renders in which small knocks and abrasions are not as noticeable as with traditional painted render. But if a fine crack appears, caused by drying shrinkage, aesthetic repairs can be easily carried out.

“With over 3,000 views this video is designed to help render applicators ensure that perfect aesthetics are easily achieved when dealing with fine cracks in monocouche render,” says Rob Speke. “By following a few simple stages – from opening the crack, to accurately preparing the render repair mix, achieving the correct application technique and the final finishing treatment – a perfect and satisfactory remedial job will be delivered.”

This How To video is one of 30 currently hosted on YouTube with plans for many more over the coming months. For more information, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.

A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

“Staff recruitment is exclusively a people business and providing the best possible facilities for my staff is priority. weberfloor 4310 fibre flow pumped screed was the fast flooring solution for our new recreation centre,” reports Jason Adams, founder and managing director of I4 Recruitment Limited, Norwich.

I4 has taken over the neighbouring premises to its office complex in the Vulcan Road Business Zone of the City. The commercial building had previously been a recycling centre and required major refurbishment which included renovating and levelling the main floor area. Smart Renders of Norwich brought their expertise and Saint-Gobain Weber products to the project. Ray Smart, managing director, surveyed the building and with support from Weber’s technical team drew up the technical specification.

“The existing substrate sloped down to a central gulley and this required a sand blinding to achieve a reasonable level which was then covered by a 100 micron weberfloor DPM. 60mm Expanded Polystyrene Insulation was laid and taped together with weber DB matting as a slip membrane covering. weberfloor 4945 glass fibre mesh reinforcement was placed over the membrane and weberfloor 4310 fibre floor self-levelling screed pumped into place at a depth of 25mm. The finish is excellent and will carry any type of surface covering easily. The speed of this 85m² project was impressive and very quickly transformed the quality of the premises,” explains Ray Smart.

weberfloor 4310 fibre flow is a pump-applied, fibre reinforced, levelling compound designed for application at thicknesses between 5 – 50mm. This floor screed is formulated from special cements, aggregates, supplementary binders and chemical admixtures. It is supplied as a pre-blended dry powder and designed specifically for renovation of existing floors and floating floor construction in domestic and commercial applications. It is suitable for covering with a wide variety of finishes including tiles, carpets, flexible floor coverings and parquet flooring. It can also be used in conjunction with under floor heating systems. The fibre reinforcement adds durability and weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics. It has low alkalinity and low emissions during drying and is casein-free.

“Colin Allport and I started Smart Renders five years ago and have used the webertherm External Wall Insulation on many projects throughout East Anglia. The local commercial and industrial picture is changing, and changing fast, with older style dirty businesses being phased out and new technical businesses coming in. This means premises like this one in Vulcan Road need to change from rugged workshops to commercial offices with smart staff facilities. The staff of I4 Recruitment will now have their own gym and recreation centre to break the pressure cycle of their business work. We see a big future for us with weberfloor products,” enthuses Ray Smart.

For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.
A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

Saint-Gobain Weber takes training in the specification and application of their innovative, market leading materials responsibly. A team of technical advisors is available to support and advise, either over the telephone or on site, on the correct use of a diverse product offering.

“In addition to the Saint-Gobain Technical Academy here in Bedfordshire, one of several across the country,” says Rob Speke, training academy manager, Saint-Gobain Weber. “We now have a wide inventory of How To videos posted on YouTube for specifiers and applicators who are unable to attend a related course at the Academy.”

How To videos have been created to address the most frequently raised technical enquiries received by Weber’s technicians for tile preparation, flooring products, renders and external wall insulation systems.

Watch the video here.

A popular and frequently viewed Weber video identifies the many benefits of the weberfloor 4310 fibre flow floor screed. This fibre-modified material is formulated from special cements, aggregates, supplementary binders and chemical admixtures. Designed for quick, efficient and effective pump application weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics. It is supplied as a pre-blended dry powder and only requires the addition of clean water on site.

“The versatile weberfloor 4310 fibre flow screed is designed for covering a variety of substrates including tiled, carpeted, flexible floor coverings and even parquet flooring,” says Rob Speke. “One of its greatest attributes is that it can be applied at thicknesses between 5 – 50mm in comparison with 100mm of a traditional concrete screed. It is also ready for covering after 1 – 3 weeks in comparison with a concrete equivalent which takes 5 – 7 weeks.”

Manufactured under BSI Quality Assurance Scheme ISO 9001, weberfloor 4310 fibre flow can be used in domestic and commercial applications. It has low alkalinity, is low in emissions and is casein-free.

This How To video is one of 30 currently hosted on YouTube with plans for many more over the coming months. For more information, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 9335 2999, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie.

A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates and look out for more introductions of new How To videos.

Innovative, high performance External Wall Insulation (EWI) by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for a proportion of homes in the extensive property upgrade programme being carried out by Stevenage Borough Council in Hertfordshire. Seventy six homes have benefitted from this improved thermal efficiency and aesthetics treatment in 2015 and a further 150 properties were included in the 2016 program.

The homes, constructed in the late 40s, early 50s, are a combination of traditional solid brick and Wimpey No Fines system build. The u-value achieved for the improved properties is an impressive 0.30 W/m²K, down from the original 1.98 W/m²K rating. The webertherm XM EWI system specified 90mm EPS insulation and high performance render to achieve this substantial improvement.

Equally appealing for residents is the ‘new’ external visual results where four alternative render colours from the extensive palette of the weberplast TF acrylic based, pre-mixed decorative finishes have been applied. A new-for-this-project colour, Marshmallow, has been used alongside Antique Ivory, Winter White and Palest Pink.

Main contractor Wates Living Space, one of several contractors involved in this on-going renovation scheme, specified the Weber EWI system in order to meet the performance specification required by the Stevenage Borough Council property team who are familiar with the product’s qualities and attributes. Build-Therm Services, whose headquarters are in nearby St Albans, Hertfordshire, were responsible for the application.

Agron Sopjani, director of Build-Therm Services Limited responsible for the Stevenage program, acknowledges the value of the webertherm XM EWI system. “The application process is very straight-forward enabling our site teams to make good progress. Cutting the u-values down to these levels is impressive and the external finishes really lift the whole residential area. It’s clean and bright and together with the improved thermal performance it’s a real winner.”

The webertherm XM high performance external wall insulation and meshcloth reinforced polymer render system provides efficient thermal insulation for these refurbishments with the render coat and surface finish delivering water shedding capabilities to protect the building fabric. The 90mm of EPS insulation is mechanically fixed to the existing substrate surface and covered with a 6mm meshcloth reinforced coat of weberend LAC. This is a low density, polymer-modified cement-based mortar which is applied in two passes. weber PR310 primer is then applied prior to the application of the weberplast TF decorative finish.

“The External Wall Insulation installed in Stevenage has transformed our tenants’ homes by reducing heat loss, and making them easier to keep warm. Our tenants are very pleased with the results which should make considerable savings on their heating bills,” says Lydia Wisby, Stevenage Borough Council’s energy and sustainability co-ordinator.

For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie

A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

External Wall Insulation by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for the thermal upgrade of social housing properties in Bangor and Y Bala, North Wales. They have been transformed with the application of the innovative webertherm XP External Wall Insulation (EWI) with u-values that have been dramatically reduced while the aesthetics of the properties have been changed completely. Residents are praising these improvements, one reporting that their heating thermostat has been turned down to half its normal setting.

The properties, a combination of houses, bungalows and apartment buildings, are owned by Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd, the largest housing association in North Wales. CCG was set up in 2010 to provide good quality, affordable homes and services, as an independent not-for-profit organisation which is registered and regulated by the Welsh Government. CCG has around 6,300 homes and is responsible for their maintenance and management.

Achieving Welsh Housing Quality Standard, in which social landlords are required to improve, meet and maintain their housing stock to an acceptable level before, or no later than, 2020 is an important part of CCG’s work. A total of £136million has been committed to improving homes to meet the needs of existing and future residents since the organisation’s inception.

The houses in Britannia Square, Bangor, are post-war, system-built, non-traditional Unity Structures designed with storey-level precast reinforced panels, metal braced from within the cavity, and poorly insulated offering little thermal performance. In Y Bala the homes are of 1960s non-trad Trusteel frame construction with similar thermal deficiencies. While upgrading properties, Weber’s EWI extends the life of existing buildings, particularly hard-to-treat properties, by keeping the old structure warm and stable.

CCG awarded the main contract to Willmott Dixon’s Conway office who in turn appointed specialist EWI contractor R W Hough & Sons of Flintshire to apply the BBA certificated webertherm XP EWI system with webertherm M1 render. Martin Hough rates the Weber system highly: “The webertherm XP system is a very good product. We have experienced no problems at all with these materials that offer speed and simplicity while protecting tired facades and minimising heat loss.”

Challenging u-value improvements for Britannia and Bala homes were calculated by Weber: properties at Britannia Square, Bangor were slashed from 1.42W/m²K down to 0.28W/m²K whilst an even more dramatic result at Y Bala saw the poor 1.60W/m²K pre-installation U-value reduced to 0.29W/m²K.

To achieve these tough target U-values the webertherm XP EWI system required 90mm of EPS insulation which was mechanically fixed to the external wall surfaces prior to the render application. The Britannia Square properties had an angled corner coin feature and the client required this to be altered to a normal square edge corner profile for a more modern look. R W Hough masked this original feature with an extension of the EPS insulation prior to render application.

The revolutionary webertherm M1 render is a through-coloured, factory-batched, lightweight mineral render formulated for one-coat application. The system was applied with a combination of pump delivery and skilled hand application. The first pass of render is applied at 6mm and the meshcloth laid-in and, as the render takes up, a second 6mm application is made to deliver a total of 12mm of render for durable, low maintenance protection. CCG specified a dash finish to match other properties in the region and Ashton Cream was selected from an extensive colour palette. Over 4336m² of EWI have been applied at these two locations.

Geraint Jones, project manager for R W Hough during the six month program, reports on the success of the project: “Everyone is really pleased with the results here. We had good weather right through the program. The webertherm XP system requires such a straight forward application process and my team are always pleased to be using Weber high quality products.

“The properties now look clean, modern and rejuvenated and already the residents are commenting on the radical change in warmth. I’m sure they will also notice that the internal noise level is also reduced. One resident has told me that their thermostat is now set at half the usual level and they have plenty of heat and are very comfortable. This will mean considerable savings in energy costs.” Gary O’Brien, Assets and Contracts manager, CCG, said: “We are very pleased with the product and the assistance with specification and supervision provided by Saint-Gobain Weber. We look forward to continuing our good working relationship with the company.”

For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie.
A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

A combination of remedial products and renders by Saint-Gobain Weber has been skilfully used in a private renovation project in Newport, South Wales. Built in 1820, a brick and stone faced granary at Rogerstone had an attractive olde worlde appearance and had been converted to domestic residency many years ago. The property changed hands 18 months ago and a survey of the premises confirmed extensive levels of damp. Further specialist inspection attributed this to the high level of water ingress transferring through the external fabric of the building where pointing had failed over time. This had been compounded further by the previous owner who had removed some surface render.

The new owner’s building advisor invited Saint-Gobain Weber to examine the property and recommend a solution as, by this time, internal plaster was failing and the level of damp was destroying furnishings as well as the comfort and wellbeing of the owners. Weber identified the technical materials required and recommended specialist applicator M P Plastering of Highbridge in Somerset.

Mark Picktall, of M P Plastering, visited the property with the client and confirmed that the stonework would have to be covered to achieve a sealed surface. The owner was initially disappointed to lose this attractive aesthetic but agreed that making the property watertight was critical. Ultimately, with the application of Weber’s high performance materials, and the skills of the M P Plastering team, an equally attractive visual effect has been created for the granary which now has the benefit of a weatherproof outer skin.

The first operation was to clean the building with weber CL150, a water based anti-fungal wash containing carefully selected biocides that are effective against a broad range of bacterial, fungal, algal, yeast and mould species. It is used to remove green, black and other organic growths on masonry materials, prior to the application of renders and decorative finishes. This process was followed by the application of weberend aid which acts as a preparatory key coat for render. weberend aid is a polymer modified cement and sand mix which includes an integral bonding agent. This equalises the suction performance of various materials ensuring successful bond of the render and also enhances the weatherproofing performance of the finished surface.

Once the preparation was complete weberend OCR base coat render was applied to cover the original stone and brick fascia. weberend OCR is a single coat, pre-blended render formulated from Portland cement, lime and sand. The render, which is factory produced to ensure consistent quality to meet the British Standard mix formulations, only requires the addition of clean water and onsite mixing. It resists the penetration of external water and has excellent weather resistance and durability, whilst at the same time allowing the structure to breathe. It also achieves the same final appearance as traditional sand and cement but in significantly less time. weberend OCR, which can be applied up to 25mm deep for external applications, was applied by trowel and ruled level. Approximately 100m² of external surface was treated by this comprehensive and protective render.

On the recommendation of M P Plastering, decorative brick slips were obtained locally and fixed with weberset SPF to create a traditional soldier course around the windows in order to reclaim some elements of the original aesthetics. The final surface coating was achieved with weberpral M monocouche, a through-coloured, decorative render, which was chosen in Earth from an attractive natural colour pallet. weberpral M is a ready-mixed, cementitious and weather resistant render designed for fast application and has been awarded an A+ Green Guide rating in the BRE Guide to Specification. The surface was carefully scraped to give an attractive, low maintenance, textured final finish.

The property now has a fresh yet traditional appearance and, most importantly, a totally weathertight exterior surface. Counting the layers of material applied, an outer skin of at least 30mm now protects the property from everything the Welsh climate can deliver. “High-tech products from Weber enabled a great technical installation to achieve a watertight property. At the same time we were able to bring out attractive features to mirror the original character of the building. The owner was so relieved to have the granary looking beautiful again that she commissioned us to renovate the adjoining outbuilding, in exactly the same way, to create a fine looking home with great weather protection,” says Mark Picktall.

“The finished product is stunning, I have not lost the beautiful integrity of the historical building that is my home,” comments the satisfied homeowner, “but I have gained a fantastic exterior that is both watertight and fits in with the natural landscape around me. I would highly recommend Weber as a supplier due to their professional but not pushy service, easy to understand clear consultation and communication with me and ultimately the final excellent quality product. Thank you.”

For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie.

A free download of the new weberapp for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

The market leading, high performance weberpral M monocouche render by Saint-Gobain Weber has an improved formulation to combat the war against algae.

Algae growth on external surfaces is not a new phenomenon but its increase is due to warmer winter climates and prolonged damp weather conditions which are being experienced across large areas of Europe. In conditions that do not fall below zero temperatures algae spores continue to grow and can affect many exposed surfaces.

“Environmental factors cause algae growth to occur on almost all external surfaces including stone, glass, metal, plastic, fencing and brickwork and whilst algae doesn’t affect the performance of our BBA approved monocouche render it can sometimes become unsightly,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber.

“We’ve worked closely with French microbiologists to understand the effect of the composition of the render and also the effect that external factors have to play – such as dew point, surface condensation, temperature and rain fall. In achieving the lowest capillary absorption rate performance of W2, as classified in EN998-1 for weberpral M, we have gone a long way in combatting unattractive algae growth on vulnerable properties by effectively repelling water from the surface of the render, ensuring that Britain’s homes and buildings remain looking better for longer.”

Factory produced to ensure product consistency weberpral M is a cementitious, through-coloured render suitable for one-coat application to suitable brick or block work substrates. Produced from carefully selected raw materials, weberpral M monocouche render is formulated for pump application which allows quick and efficient installation. This contributes significantly to shorter programme periods, reducing associated scaffolding and site costs and permitting the completion of ground works at an earlier state. It is supplied ready-mixed with only the requirement of clean water to be added on site and is applied in a two pass operation to a thickness of 20-28mm; it is then scraped when green giving a minimum render thickness of 15-25mm.

Saint-Gobain Weber is the first manufacturer of monocouche renders to be awarded an A+ rating as defined in the BRE Global 2008 Green Guide to Specification. This audited material helps specifiers to make selections that will collectively reduce the environmental impact of their buildings while achieving a higher number of BREEAM material specification credits. weberpral M has excellent weather resistance and durability whilst allowing the structure to breathe. Its through-coloured characteristic requires no decoration, is truly low maintenance and offers a variety of ways to achieve architectural features. It is available in a palette of 24 attractive colours.

For more information, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk (Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie).
A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.