Apr 10 2007
Apprentices trained by Minett Group, one of H+H Celcon’s Recommended Contractors for the company’s Rå House and Thin-Joint Systems, are taking part in what is believed to be a unique initiative on a Twigden Homes site at Tempsford, near Sandy, Bedfordshire.
The show home for this development of 14 cottages is being built entirely by supervised apprentices – with a demanding build time of just 10 weeks. The team of three apprentice bricklayers trained by Minett Group are using H+H Celcon’s Thin-Joint System, a Modern Method of Construction, to build the inner leaf of the walls. The combination of lightweight, large format blocks and quick-setting mortar enables a storey height to be built in a day. The complete aircrete, weatherproof, high-quality shell of a house is quickly completed, so that trades are able to start work on the inside of the house while the brickwork cladding is going up. This significantly cuts construction time.
Comments from the apprentices on the H+H Celcon Thin-Joint System include: “I prefer Thin-Joint to traditional construction, it’s easier” and “Thin Joint is neater and cleaner, after a few days’ practice I found it easier.”
Commented Simon Minett of Minett Group: “We find apprentices take to H+H Celcon’s Thin-Joint System very quickly. It is very easy to work with and they quickly see the results of their work. I am confident these apprentices will make an excellent job of the show home.”
The Minett Group specialises in training young people to a high standard for the construction industry and providing a service for the supply and laying of thin-jointed aircrete blockwork.
Other apprentices involved on the project include carpenters, dry-liners and plumbers. A trainee building inspector will also be making supervised visits to the site. Twigden Homes, part of the Kier Group, has a rolling programme of 13-14 apprentices who are recruited as they achieve a professional standard of work.