NEW FOUNDATION SYSTEM SHORTLISTED FOR INTERBUILD AWARD

A revolutionary new foundation system for conservatories and lightweight structures has been shortlisted as ‘Best Exterior Product’ at next week’s Interbuild 2007 at the NEC, Birmingham.

Called Quickbase Foundations, the unrivalled modular system has been pioneered by Shire Structures in partnership with Thor Helical Remedial, part of the Wykamol Group. 

Quickbase is one of four finalists in the ‘Best Exterior Product’ category of Interbuild’s New Product Awards for 2007, with winners being announced at the show at 1.30pm on Monday, 29^th October in Hall 3 in the New Product Showcase area.

Quickbase promises the highest quality construction with significant environmental and technical benefits, as well as major cost and time savings on traditional methods.

The Quickbase system – being launched on the Wykamol Group stand, 05-B175 - comprises Shire’s helical screw piles, on which sit lightweight, part-recycled plastic beams connected via a series of push-fit joints to form a frame.

The frame carries the load of the building through the piles to suitable bearing strata, uniquely removing the need for mass concrete foundations.

It can be fitted with a lightweight, pre-manufactured, damp proof floor slab onto which the inner wall of the conservatory is built.  Modular buildings could also be fitted onto the frame.

The Quickbase system can be built in a matter of one day, rather than the usual three to four days (weather permitting) required for digging out deep foundations.

Clean and quick construction will make the system attractive to homeowners.  As well as minimising site excavation work, it avoids inconvenient mess and drastically reduces spoil removal to landfill.  Only topsoil needs to be disposed of with Quickbase, making the new product ideal for houses with limited access.

Significant labour savings can be achieved with the reduction in build time and the simplicity of construction.   

The Quickbase system delivers unique benefits for the builder and homeowner alike, with major advantages over other recent approaches to solving the problems associated with deep foundations, explains Jonathan Thomas of Thor Helical Remedial.

“People have recognised for a long time there must be a better, more reliable way of constructing conservatory foundations.

“Other companies have looked at addressing the problem, but have come up with solutions which either cannot be used by all builders and installers or are subject to corrosion and still require wet trade finishes.

“Quickbase is the only solution that can be installed by any builder, provides guaranteed, high quality, non-corrosive foundations and gives complete peace of mind to the homeowner.

“We’re delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award, which recognises the product’s unique potential – and we look forward to the announcement on Monday.”

The Quickbase system will be available on the market by early 2008.  For more information, contact Jonathan Thomas at Thor Helical Remedial on 0116 237 4412.

ENDS (454 words)

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Information for editors

Shire Structures and its sister company Shire Consulting combine the expertise of specialist structural building contractors and structural/civil engineering designers with a track record of designing construction projects up to £25million in value.

Shire Structures’ first designed product was the Shire Stabiliser, for the support of subsidence damaged buildings.  Shire Stabilisers are widely specified throughout the UK and are now the most popular small diameter pile used for building repairs.

Shire Piles are a development of this and are used for the support of a new build construction. The piles have been used to support garages, conservatories and extensions, and are now used as the helical pile in the Quickbase modular foundation.

Thor Helical Remedial produces a unique range of stress free masonry reinforcing products along with application methods that provide a cost effective, concealed, non-disruptive solution for many forms of remedial masonry stabilisation, including crack stitching, lintel repairs, overbeaming, expansion joints, lateral restraints and remedial wall ties.  For more information, visit www.thorremedial.com.