The success of a construction project often depends on the quality of the work done by first and second fix carpentry contractors. In this article, we want to discuss in detail the second fix carpentry process for residential new builds and refurbishments. We hope this will help you be more confident when discussing your needs with prospective contractors and putting together an outstanding team.

As every construction project manager knows, ensuring that all first fix joinery work is solid is a crucial part of any residential project. First fix joinery involves structural work, ranging from floors and ceilings to door frames, wall studs, and other space divisions that are put in place before plastering can begin. Therefore, high-quality first fix carpentry and joinery are essential when it comes to ensuring the structural stability of a new building.

Choosing the right professional painting and decorating service provider matters to the overall quality of a construction project. Choosing the right professional painting and decorating service provider matters to the overall quality of a construction project. Working with an experienced contractor can help make project completion smoother, while ensuring compliance and helping build a solid reputation as a developer.

Saturday 10th September 2022 marks #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, a day designed to raise awareness of, and to promote action to reduce the number of suicides globally. Here at SC4, we believe in making sure everyone under our employment feels safe, enjoys what they do, and cares about the community and environment. We feel this is important not just for our work, but also for the wellbeing of our staff.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd is pleased to announce that we have won Best Carpentry Business - Southern England at the SME News UK Enterprise Awards. "We pride ourselves on providing a high quality service to our customers, safely and to programme, working in partnership with our clients – and are pleased that this has been recognised by this award."

Working in construction can be dangerous and accounts for thousands of injuries every year in the UK, which is why companies should place health and safety at the heart of their organisation in managing a commercial construction project. Keeping alert on-site requires knowledge of health and safety guidelines covering a wide range of areas, including:

In August 2022, SC4 Carpenters Ltd was thrilled by another glowing testimonial from very satisfied client, Redrow. The quantity surveyor and site management team described SC4 as "a pleasure to work with - showing great professionalism, craftsmanship and constant attention to health and safety on site, dedication to the development and willingness to help and find solutions."

SC4 were recently awarded a £5,000 grant from the CITB Skills & Training Fund, which we are using to fund training for our workforce, as part of our commitment to ongoing quality improvement, professional development, and health and safety. Our managers, staff, and subcontractors are all encouraged to engage with regular training and professional development courses that align with their job objectives and working patterns.

There are plenty of carpentry contractors you can engage to work on a development project, but not all of them will have the same levels of experience and expertise. In this article, we look at the essential ‘tricks of the trade’ that a competent carpenter will definitely know and apply in every project – and which a Project Manager or QS may not necessarily be aware of if he or she is not themselves trained as a carpenter.

Timber framed buildings are strong, durable, and cost effective – and also boast an impressive array of green credentials. Here are a few of the surprising benefits of timber frame construction for property developments, refurbishments, and conversions. Organic materials such as wood have properties that are impossible to mimic with synthetic options.

SC4 is proud to have once again been certified by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and TrustMark for our commercial carpentry, timber frame and decorating works. The FMB has carried out an independent inspection of our works and has certified that we meets its strict membership requirements and government-endorsed TrustMark quality standards.

In Summer 2022, SC4 Carpenters Ltd and SC4 Decorators start work on Phase 2 of the Foreman Homes project at Selborne Road, Alton, Hampshire. SC4 frequently wins multiple phases with existing clients reflecting the high standard of work and customer satisfaction offered by SC4 as well as the benefits of working with an established contract carpentry and decorating company.

Working in construction during the heat of the summer can lead to increased risk of injury from falls and other accidents and incidents as concentration wavers due to heat-related illnesses (HRI), tiredness, dizziness, disorientation or confusion. It can also result in heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, fainting and heat stroke leading to serious illness or even death.

Read more for some tips on how to stay safe in the heat.

The week of 9^th to 15^th May 2022 was Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, in which hundreds of charities and businesses throughout the country staged local events and awareness-raising activities to help break down the stigma surrounding mental health. At SC4 Carpentry, we believe in the importance and promotion of mental health which continues to be high on our agenda.

Here at SC4 Carpenters, we are committed to not only calling out this behaviour by businesses but also doing our utmost to make sure that none of these imbalances appears within our company. We understand carpentry is about skill and hard work, and the quality of the work is in no way affected by gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disabilities or social background.

Good carpenters are always in demand. According to a 2019 survey, carpentry is the top trade job in the UK, and demand for professionals in this industry increased by more than 65% between 2019 and 2020 alone. Having said that, there are different types of carpenters. Carpentry contractors can specialise in different areas, from framing and structural work (first fix) to cabinet and door fitting (second fix).

The concept of ‘social value’ has been making headlines for quite a while and is a hot topic of conversation among decision-makers in many industries - among them, construction. The term social value refers to the creation of benefits in various spheres of society, from the environment to the economy. In other words, it implies making a wider contribution beyond profits.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd takes health and safety extremely seriously. If you are working at heights at home or on site, please watch this video created by http://outtakes.co.uk/ in collaboration with Jason Anker. This is a FREE TO STREAM film with an extremely strong safety message. It's an important film for all kinds of workers to see and one that forms the basis of Jason's campaign 'Proud 2b Safe'.

In March 2022, we were proud to be named as the very first winners of the Taylor Lane Timber Frame Ltd's Subcontractor Award. Taylor Lane Timber Frame described SC4 as excelling in their approach to health & safety on site, whilst continually striving to find ways of improving in any way possible, with SC4 playing a proactive part in effective planning, with their efficient management of materials and works on site.

At SC4 we were very excited to be attending the 2022 Women’s Day Event in London, on 8th March, to celebrate female leaders in the construction industry. Since the event, we've updated this blog with a few images from the event. At the Women’s Day Event, SC4 Director, Katy Hall, joined the panel with other industry leaders for a discussion all about how to tackle issues surrounding diversity and equality in Construction.

In April 2000, Katy, Conrad, Simon and Julie launched SC4 Carpenters Ltd to bring together skilled tradesmen to provide high quality commercial carpentry and joinery services, specialising in new build construction. In 2006/7 they expanded their business to include timber frame installation and painting & decorating services. we invite you to join us in a short retrospective of the journey so far.

From roofs/first fix to second fix and finals, trust, skill and reliability matter in construction. But sometimes it can be hard to determine the criteria to use in order to select the best commercial carpentry contractor. Insurance, accreditations, skills, qualifications and experience - they're all important. Here are eight tips for hiring the best carpentry and joinery contractors for building developments.

When it comes to residential care, people are looking for names that they can trust to provide a professional and responsive service, with that extra attention to detail that makes such a difference. And leading providers in the care industry expect those same high standards to be applied in the construction of their new care homes. As part of our 21st birthday celebrations, we looked back at some of our Care & Residential Home projects over the years.

As part of our 21st birthday celebrations, SC4 Carpenters Ltd has looked back a some of its projects over the past few years.  Since 2016, SC4 has been providing contract carpentry services to Foreman Homes for 2 back-to-back projects off Walworth Road in Picket Piece, Andover. The latest, The Nightingales, included extensive exterior cladding giving a luxury finish to these beautiful homes.

In this article, Conrad Hall, owner/Director of SC4 Carpenters Lt discusses his 40 year career in construction and how his dyslexia and neurodiversity has contributed to his success. In January 2022, when I received my NVQ 7 in Senior Construction Management it was validation for years of hard work, experience and building belief in myself.

In this article, Owner/Director of SC4 Carpenters Ltd, Katy Hall, relates her story in construction reflecting on her role and changing Construction Industry attitudes to women over the last 30 years. I was an equal owner and director and was heavily involved in the commercial strategy right from the start. Yet I still saw it as their company. They were the ones on site, they had the technical knowledge and carpentry experience.