Builders Blog of Belfast Jamie

Founded in 1908 by the Daily Mail, the Ideal Home Show (formally Exhibition) was originally envisaged as a publicity tool for the newspaper and as a way of increasing its advertising revenue.

In this section we explore more of the history behind the show, from the fascinating facts to the varied features that have appeared at the show. Over time we will continue to add more from the archives that stretch over the past 100 years, and most of the 20th Century!

The Brief History

It’s hard to imagine what the world was like when the show first opened its doors in 1908. Suffragettes were chaining themselves to railings, the first Model T Ford rolled off the US production line and the UK’s first ‘skyscraper’ the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool was being built.

The vast majority of the British public rented their homes, but mass production methods were changing society and improving their living standards. For the first time people were beginning to have a greater disposable income which meant that the dream of owning a home was becoming a step closer to reality.

Visitors in the early days would have been amazed by the full size ‘Tudorbethan’ houses that were built at the show and wowed by the fantastic gardens that were constructed. In the 1920’s several crowned heads of Europe designed the gardens which were lit by special gas lamps that mimicked daylight so that visitors could see the true colours of the flowers.

Throughout the 1930’s the show became even more famous for introducing a marvellous array of gadgets and new inventions and became the launch pad for many of the products that we now take for granted. The vacuum cleaner, electric kettle, toaster and the Teasmade all made their debut at the Ideal Home Show.

WW2 meant that show was suspended, reopening in 1947 and over the next few decades it continued to grow in popularity, culminating in a record attendance of 1.5 million visitors in 1957. Visitors of the day would have seen the first fitted kitchen and rooms that demonstrated the height of interior fashion – open plan living!

The Royal Family has always taken an interest in the show; HRH Queen Elizabeth II has visited eleven times! The 1960’s saw cult of ‘celebrity’ begin to take a hold with visits to show from many of the leading faces of the day, such as Tom Jones, Eric Morecambe and even the Rolling Stones!

Whole villages were built throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s and by the 1990’s up and coming architects were invited to enter a competition to have a house built at the show. Green issues were tackled as far back as 1989 when the first green kitchen was shown with energy saving appliances, CFC – free cleaners and using wood from sustainable sources.

In 2008, the show changed hands for the first time in its history. Now owned by the multi award-winning media company Media 10, the show looks forward to the 21st century, bringing the latest innovations, the brightest ideas and the most inspiration (and of course fantastic shopping) to the hundreds of thousands of visitors that continue to enjoy the biggest and best home show in the business – the Ideal Home Show!

Builders Blog – Chimney demolition

Chimney Demolition	34 & 36 Richill Park Belfas BT5 6HG
6th December 2018	Duration = Both Chimneys in 1 Day

Builders Blog Introduction.

First item in our Builders Blog is chimney demolition. This demolition is quite odd as both Chimneys had already been demolished and rebuilt with full Chimney lead trays costing thousands of Pounds. However when they were rebuilt they both had the very same problems & symptoms they had before all the the money.

Builders Blog Summary.

Unfortunately this is yet another unfortunate error of mistaking Moisture & Mildew caused by Condensation/bad ventilation etc for Water ingress was made.

Conclusion

Don’t take the advice of just one Builder. Especially If it’s going to cost a lot of cash. Get a second opinion, preferably from an expert.

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Dry Lined Partition Wall

Drylining – Partition Wall	Mercedes Boucher, Belfast BT12 6HU
February 14th 2017	Duration = less than 1 day.

Introduction

This partition is odd as it has neither Thermal or Acoustic insulation and No Fire Rating.

Its only purpose is to stop light coming into the Photographers area were he Photographs the Cars. It only required a very basic single boarding either side and for or effect all the uprights and track were cut off site and Hot mud – “Easifill 20” (which goes off in 20 Minutes) was used. On top of this we used 3 coats normal White emulsion.

 

Summary

Because the job was relatively small it was deliberately scheduled for one day to show the obvious advantages that dry-lining has over traditional finish etc when surfaces are painted and finished the same day.

Conclusion

Drywall compound is a lot more versatile than Gypsum Plaster.

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Concrete Repairs 

Concrete Repairs	Fifth Ave Bangor
June 2015	Duration = 1 Week

Velux Belfast

Velux Window in Bangor	15 Southwell Road
May 2015	Duration = 1 Day

Down in Groomsport here at the Lodge House.

At 1 Donaghadee Road Groomsport BT19 6LG

This is a Listed building with a Date of Construction of 1860

Which basically means its an excellent example of a rather grand 1860

Stone House and building of local & Regional importance.

What this really tells us is that these Stone Chimneys have been taking a

hammering from the North Down Coastal Winds for 160 odd years.

So I suppose the serious damage and degradation of some the stone over this

time is no real surprise.

Some of the chimneys were repaired in Stu while others were completely

rebuilt using stone from other salvaged chimneys on site.

Unfortunately a few of the Chimneys were in such a serious condition they had

to removed completely Carefully Bubble Wrapped & bound before being

lowered to the ground and stored on Pallets.

The flues of these demolished chimneys were first closed off and filled with

granular insulation before being capped off capped with 40N High strength

Concrete and then sealed with SBR Tanking Slurry.