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Skill Builder

Skill Builder

Written by: Roger Bisby & Dylan Garton
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 Roger Bisby and other guests talk about their experiences in the building industry, look at the latest products and troubleshoot problems listeners are having.Motion New Media Ltd. Economics Management Management & Leadership Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • 35 ~ Government Scheme Leaves Homeowners in Ruin

    35 ~ Government Scheme Leaves Homeowners in Ruin
    Nov 1 2025
    Roger speaks with Duncan, a homeowner left without heating for more than 2½ years after a disastrous air-source heat pump installation under the UK Eco4 government scheme. Installers got the heat-loss calcs wrong, fitted undersized radiators, never commissioned the system, and even added solar panels without checking the roof structure — causing further damage. The result: a cold home, big bills, and emergency repairs. This isn’t an isolated case. With minimal inspections and installers chasing grant money over quality, thousands risk poor installs, damp, and structural issues — with no real safety net. Duncan has now launched a charity to support others caught in the same situation and to push for urgent reform of government-backed retrofit schemes.
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    29 mins
  • 34 ~ Thermally Broken Lintels with Richard Price from Catnic

    34 ~ Thermally Broken Lintels with Richard Price from Catnic
    Sep 29 2025
    Thermally broken lintels minimise heat transfer through the building envelope to meet Part L of the Building Regulations. Catnic’s thermally broken lintels use two folded steel sections bonded to a high-strength, thermally efficient core, achieving psi values no greater than 0.05 W/mK without additional brackets or cold bridges. Traditional steel lintels create significant thermal bridges by crossing the insulated cavity. Separating the inner and outer steel sections breaks this thermal convection and reduces heat flow by over 90%, depending on the design. Catnic thermally broken lintels are available to suit 90-205mm cavities, in standard, heavy or extra heavy duty load capacities. ________________________ Summary ❄️ Thermally broken lintels slash heat loss by eliminating cold bridging. 📐 Fit cavity widths up to 225 mm, with future options for arches and bays. ✅ Independently verified with BBA certification and BRE thermal modelling. 🛠️ Powder-coated steel for strength and durability, with installation guidance. 📊 Free structural calculations and lintel schedules from Catnic. 🌍 Central to a “fabric first” approach — boosting efficiency before adding tech like heat pumps or solar. Find out more about Catnic: go.skill-builder.uk/catnic
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    29 mins
  • 33 ~ Heat Pumps & Renewables with Mike Geary

    33 ~ Heat Pumps & Renewables with Mike Geary
    Jul 31 2025
    Roger visits the Pipelife Academy in Cork, Ireland, to discuss heat pumps and renewable energy technology with Mike Geary.
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    17 mins
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